`37 Chevy Rod how low can you gow

[Andy Oldenburg]

My last builds were stock and mild customs. So I wanted to do something really radical again. I´ve never done a hot rod so this amt kit was the perfect victim. I wanted to test out how much I could chop off the body before it starts to look comical. I ended up cutting off 10 mm from the bottom and chopping the roof by 6 mm. Getting the chassis dropped adds up to a lowered rooftop of about 50 cm if this was a real rod. I guess that´s radical enough.

The gaps in the roof were filled with 1mm styrene. Next to fill were the wheel housings and the area around the firewall. To be honest, I hate the putty work. Every time I think I´ve got all the cracks and dents filled I seem to find more after the next round of primer.

To motivate my self I made a mock up and was electrified by the look. The roof will receive a button down tarpaulin, rolled up towards the back. Cutting the roof succeeded without messing up.

The engine was already finished. I built it a few weeks ago from scratch and leftovers and showed the process in WIP in December. What I underestimated with this build was that chopping the body like this has consequences! Just about nothing else will fit anymore? Next on the list was the interior tub. Here too I had to cut out about 20 mm, because the chassis needs room to get lowered. Had to add a transmission tunnel for the shaft and cut down on the rear suspension.

The chassis I had to adapt to the engine.

The front suspension and steering out the kit were very crude. Fortunately I found some good images in a custom magazine and rebuilt a decent suspension step by step.

Now I´m busy with sanding, filling, applying putty on the body and making various parts that needed a work over or had to be built completely new from scratch styrene. The cooling unit with grill I´ve cut open and inserted a metal mesh grill. The radiator needed a heavy duty fan. So much left to do! Stay tuned and thanks for watching.

 

 

[NOBLNG]

Wow! That is SLAMMED!? Are you adding a periscope for the driver??

[Andy Oldenburg]

For headroom the driver has the open ceiling?. Yup, the engine is somewhat in the line of view. Everybody get out of the way!

[Slotto]

I dig this! Love the look

[ctruss53]

This is a pretty sweet build. You have my wheels turning for ideas on the hot rod I am currently building.

[Andy Oldenburg]

I´m finally happy with the primer finish of the body. I have added a lip to the roof and the holes all around with be filled by "press buttons" for the textile roof cover. Next step on this weekend will be the paint job in dark blue metallic.

The interior is almost finished. Made some door handles for the panels but the Molotow paint is still drying. I had to lower the seat by about 5mm. These are racing seats from scale production. The kit does not contain any decals except from racing flames and engine equipment. I copied images of speedometers from the web and reduced the size until they fit. Covered them with metal rings. I will not paint them with clear enamel, because the print will smear. The skull shifter knob I molded out of FIMO, a plastic modelling clay.

The wheels and disc brake parts are also from scale production. I´m still figuring out how to attach them to make it look real.

Of course the kit dosn´t have a brake booster, so I crafted it out of styrene and wire.

I feel like coming to the final round, but have a hunch that it will still take a while.

Thanks for watching!

 

[rrb124@sbcglobal.net]

Your work is over the top. Wow. Love the look and the plan. Fun to follow. Thanks for posting this.

[Zippi]

The 37 is looking good so far.  The body looks pretty good after the chop.

[Slotto]

Wow, great master cylinder and dash

[Ace-Garageguy]

[customline]

WILD, CRAZY, COOL!   That big 409 looks great! nice detailing, scratch work and chop! I don't think it's street legal, though ☺️. Cool build, Andy! Testor's Arctic Blue would work nice on this one.

[Andy Oldenburg]

Thanks everyone for your support!

I´ve got the front suspension and "steering" finished. Actually the complete front. The disc brakes were quite easy to attach, but the brake lines are very delicate and I had to take care not to put tension on those little connectors.

The grill frame and the grill itself are cut out  to make it see thru. The new grill is aluminum mesh metal from my local crafts store.

The rear suspension is also completed. I had to widen the wheel track to make the custom wheels fit around the body. Also with disc brakes, but connecting them here was a bit tricky. In the end, the wheels all fit well  and the chassis stance is loooow.

The "press buttons" for the roll roof are inserted. Short pieces of 0.8mm brass rod. I like the look of brass on this hotty. Part of the steering and the grill support are also made of brass rods and they match well to the dark blue. The roll roof is made of simple thin white cotton painted with water based white glue. Before it got too dry and hard I cut it to size and rolled it up tightly. Did a little weathering on it with my airbrush.

Next move will be the final assembly. I already have a hunch that I will have to rework something to make it all fit. And of course a final rubdown and blowing to get all those nasty cotton hairs off. I will show the finished build in the Under Glass forum. Thanks for accompanying me here and hope you look at this dude in a few days.

 

 

 

[Kenmojr]

Excellent work. Looks fantastic.

[spidr]

A friend of mine sent me a link to your build because the similarities to my full size version are awesome. My original plan was actually to put a 409 in it, but I couldn't get my hands on one for a reasonable price.

I absolutely love your build, and staring at it made me realize that I miss building models. So thank you for some inspiration, the build looks amazing .

Hope I'm not out of line sharing a picture, I apologize if I was.

Edited March 10, 2023 by spidr
Text spaced way too far out

[SpikeSchumacher]

Very cool builds of yours you two.

[milo1303s]

Where is the engine from or what kit did it start from ? Other then the wheel tire package I thought my father RIP was building this (it would have the biggest slicks and smallest fronts on it) lol ! nice build !

[Claude Thibodeau]

HI!

Al I can say is: "deliciously impractical". That's the charm of it!

CT

[bobthehobbyguy]

Both are very cool builds.

Andy love the creativity of your build. Lots of great work.

[customline]

The word that comes to mind is "Deathtrap". I would not get in that thing on a dare. I love it! Very nice work on the front end/brakes/etc..the paint looks great.

[Andy Oldenburg]

Hi everyone,

again, many thanks for your replies and thoughts!

@Bob - This engine is a scrap build, from about 4 different kits. You can check the topic from DEC 26th. Had a lot of fun fitting unfittable parts together for a charged 409.

@Ryan - I am stunned! Someone out there had the same idea and made a REAL car out of it. I do hope that the project will come to an end one day!

Yes I know, that this car is probably undrivable, at least on public streets. I believe that a free street view is overrated on the 1/4 mile or a flying mile. ?lol!

I finally got finished today but have to find time to take neat pics. Hope to introduce it on Under Glass this week.

Best wishes!