1932 Ford Chopped 4-Door Sedan Conversion

[Plowboy]

I can't wait to see what you do with this build! I'm not a fan of Fordors. But, I'm sure you'll change my mind about them.

[Dennis Lacy]

UPDATE!

After being away from this project for a while I decided to make some changes to back-date the chassis to a truly traditional appearance.

I smoothed out the center floor then added the frame center "X" from a Revell 1940 Ford Coupe.

I smoothed out the rear floor and added the rear cross member also from the '40.

I put together a rear axle assembly using the '40 Coupe axle (which is rendered with a Columbia 2-speed overdrive) and the radius rods/spring from a Revell 1948 Ford Convertible. the brake plates are '40 Ford while the finned drums, wheels and tires are from Revell's '29 Roadster.

Up on all 4! The '32 Sedan kit front axle was lowered by trimming the top of the spring. Another pair of '40 brake plates and, again, the finned drums, wheels and tires from the Revell '29 Roadster. The engine is the ARDUN equipped 8BA flathead from Revell's 1950 F-1 Pickup.

That's all for now. More to come soon!

 

[Kit Karson]

Alright!  I have always enjoyed watching your builds come together... your 1:1 hotrod knowledge translates so well in scale!  This is exciting and so worth the wait!  So far it reminds me of on of my all time favorite Chopped Mordor Deuce Sedans:

Wait... there's one other, too:

For some reason, I'm thinking yours is going to be hoodless... -KK

Edited February 21, 2020 by Kit Karson

[Dennis Lacy]

21 hours ago, Kit Karson said:

Alright!  I have always enjoyed watching your builds come together... your 1:1 hotrod knowledge translates so well in scale!  This is exciting and so worth the wait!  So far it reminds me of on of my all time favorite Chopped Mordor Deuce Sedans:

For some reason, I'm thinking yours is going to be hoodless... -KK

Thanks, Brother!

Yes! Brandon Mead’s sedan is one of my favorite Mordors. Really good dude, been doing business with him for many years. The primer red one was actually his second. The first one was a black patina paint body that we sold and shipped to him. He set it on a chassis that he already had and chopped it oh so nicely. Sold it before it was driveable. ?

[adamelvis]

That "step chop" method works great !!

TCB,

Adam

[Dennis Lacy]

UPDATE!

I've done more to this over the last couple of weekends.

I cut out the bulky front motor mount cross member (original kit add on piece for the flathead engine option) and scratch built new mounts. I also had to add some material to the front edges of the mounts on the engine so that the steering gear wouldn't get interfered with.

I accessorized the ARDUN flathead with a Vertex magneto, carbs from the Ed Roth Tweedy Pie, rear breather tube/fuel log from Revell's '48 Ford Convertible and a modified oil pan from AMT's parts pack Chevy engine. 

I plan to use over the frame lakes style headers so to make room for them I had to build a new lower profile steering linkage. I made this linkage from a modified shaft piece found in Revell's '26 T Sedan Delivery.

I mounted the lakes style headers from AMT's '32 Phantom Vicky and then made a full exhaust system using front "pipes" from Revell's '29 Roadster and rear pipes/mufflers from their '48 Custom Coupe. The down spouts on the headers had to be moved as far back as possible to get around the hairpin radius rods, the mufflers were shortened 1/4" and the tailpipes were shortened at both ends. The front pipes also had to be shortened at the muffler end and lengthened at the header end. The whole thing pins together. Right now it's just floating so I need to make some mounts to positively located it all.

And some new mock ups.

Still more to come...

 

Edited March 6, 2020 by Dennis Lacy

[afx]

Great stuff Dennis, I like it all!

[Dennis Lacy]

On 3/6/2020 at 6:10 AM, afx said:

Great stuff Dennis, I like it all!

Thanks!

[Kit Karson]

ADL,  the progress you've made is right inline with what would be done in a professional rod shop!  Your knowledge of period perfect hot rods is outstanding!!  I am truly impressed with your execution and parts selection!!!! -KK

[Dennis Lacy]

UPDATE!

Made some major headway on this one. As of now the chassis and engine are fully assembled except for the front shocks and the wheels will get caps & rings. The body and related are all in primer and should be in paint soon which will be the same as the wheels, Tamiya TS58 Pearl Light Blue. 

[espo]

Beautiful looking engine and chassis. What color did you use on the carbs ? 

[James2]

Such handy workmanship!

[Dennis Lacy]

16 minutes ago, espo said:

Beautiful looking engine and chassis. What color did you use on the carbs ? 

Thank you! The carbs are Model Master “Jet Exhaust”

[Hotrod 97]

Coming along nicely, Dennis. The chassis and engine look excellent.

[Dennis Lacy]

On 4/21/2020 at 6:05 PM, Hotrod 97 said:

Coming along nicely, Dennis. The chassis and engine look excellent.

Thank you!

[Phildaupho]

Great to see your recent progress. Looking fantastic.

[Scott8950]

Absolutely stunning... it looks perfect.

[mrm]

Really nice seeing this build on the final stretch. I still have to finish mine. 

[Dennis Lacy]

UPDATE!

Yesterday I wrapped up interior preparations. The only thing exciting enough to take pictures of is that I set up two sets of Revell '37 Pickup handles to pin on and laid them out based on reference pics. You can also see that the interior panels have been converted from 2-door to 4-door (done previously.)

Today I sprayed the body and related pieced in the Tamiya TS58 "Pearl Light Blue". Tomorrow I will clear-coat everything but for tonight I couldn't resist setting the body and grill on to the chassis for a look. I also installed the trim rings and hubcaps with the FORD letters detailed in red to match the engine.

[gman]

That is looking really slick. The Fordor, the Ardun, the color choices, the stance, the workmanship- loving it so far.

[mrm]

I absolutely love it. 

Based on your recommendation I placed an order with Drag City Casting. I have never seen their product, but hear only good things. One of the things I ordered is that body and once it arrives I will be building similar Deuce to yours. I would also like to try your "X" crossmember approach, as I would build this one in more vintage/traditional fashion than my "Family Deuce". Which made me thinking, that it would be great if you make one of these frames with the "X" cross member and a buggy spring rear cross member for DCC to cast. I am sure it would be a hit, as it would save a lot of people not only the labor, but also having to source the components from three different kits. 

[oldrevellfan]

Great !

[geemoney]

jus beautiful!

[Dennis Lacy]

On 4/28/2020 at 9:39 AM, mrm said:

I absolutely love it. 

Based on your recommendation I placed an order with Drag City Casting. I have never seen their product, but hear only good things. One of the things I ordered is that body and once it arrives I will be building similar Deuce to yours. I would also like to try your "X" crossmember approach, as I would build this one in more vintage/traditional fashion than my "Family Deuce". Which made me thinking, that it would be great if you make one of these frames with the "X" cross member and a buggy spring rear cross member for DCC to cast. I am sure it would be a hit, as it would save a lot of people not only the labor, but also having to source the components from three different kits. 

Thanks! And glad to hear that you placed an order!!

From the discussions I’ve had with Ed about the mold making and casting process, at least the process he uses, I don’t think doing a complete frame would be possible. Especially with the multi-dimensional (channel shape) center “X”. There would be no way to remove it from the mold without permanent damage to the mold. Which is why Revell on their ‘40 Ford’s and earlier Monogram with their ground breaking (at the time) ‘37 Ford’s with this feature have these “X” pieces separate. Only the frames that don’t have this feature like Revell’s ‘37 Pickup can get away with having the frame one piece. So then you get into multiple pieces, the whole thing gets really complicated, ends up being very time consuming to produce and you can’t charge enough to make it worth it. 
 

So I’m afraid folks will have to stock up on ‘40 Ford kits and do it the hard way!

[Kit Karson]