Chopped 1934 Ford Coupe.

A few months ago a friend turned up with this kit:



He started it when he was in his teens and he is mid forties now. Just look at the price. GBP2.63. Average kit price to-day is around GBP16.00. LOL.

Anyway, he'd made a start on it all those years ago. Assembled and painted (brushed) the chassis and engine block. Then given up.

So I said I would build it for him.

He had thought about doing it matt black but I persuaded him otherwise.

So now I have my sticky little mitts on it and have free range. :twisted:

This is my inspiration very kindly supplied by Sam in a Skype conversation this afternoon.



I'm going for as close to the colour as I can get and I have some scallops that might work too. I'm also swapping out the engine and gearbox.

The kit chassis is the custom unit from the John Buttera kit so I'm going to use one from the AMT 29 Ford Roadster instead. Looks to be almost spot on. Just need to scour the breakers yard for front suspension.



The roof is a separate item and needs to be glued in place. Fortunately it is a near perfect fit.

So do you have to cut the fenders off, or can you just dispense with them?

You've got my attention.

They need to be cut off Sam.

That blue coupe is SWEET !!!!!!
It should be a great rod !!

Nice project super subject Al.

I love the blue street rod. What an awesome looking car. It just looks like it is ready to jump off the line!!!

This should be a great model :D .

Sooooo sick can't wait

Great subject, great ideas, gonna be one totally wicked build when done! Keep at it Al! Can't wait to see more progress. 8)

Thanks guys.

Clay, this should explain.

I removed the centre section of the fenders and threw the rest in the parts bin.



This piece will form the floor but more importantly, gives the interior to chassis location.





Here you can see that the chassis needs to move forward a little.



That's all for now folks!

Looks good Al. That's quite a channel job. Gonna rock that's for sure.

Thanks Buck.

A bit more progress and a problem to solve.

With the rear of the floor cut back a littlle, the chassis goes forward to centralise the axle in the wheel arches. I may have to shorten the chassis at the front a little but I'll take care of that later if need be.



Floor glued in place. The hatched sections are yet to be removed. The white styrene is to help with the rake......





..... or so I thought.

It's not far enough down at the front and too high in the rear!!



I think all I can do is somehow section the interior!!! :shock:





This is new territory for me so any help will be gratefully recieved!!

The axle is temporary and the track is too wide. I'm hoping I can use the kits Jag. rear end.

There is no scuttle on the inspiration car so that is going to have to go and as there is no firewall in the kit, so I'll have to make one.

:cheers:
Interior tubs and channeling create problems.
'Swhy I seldom use the int. tub. :drunken:

Normally on a 1:1 when the body is channeled the floor has to be raised. So the floorboards would be cut out and raise however much you need to make te channel. I hope this helps. I would say to cut the floor off the tub. Then remove some of te bottom of the door panels and then test fit it. Repeat until you have the look you want.

Thanks for that Buck. That's the conclusion I'd came to overnight.

I'll make a pie cut on the floor of the interior.



This at least solves another problem.

The 'firewall' of the interior is flush with the scuttle now that I have removed the forward portion of the body meaning that any new firewall I make would be projecting forwards and not look good.



Now I will be able to move the original firewall back a tad in order to get the fabricated wall slightly recessed.

That channeled 34 is looking mean already !

Nice going so far, Yoda. Building cars is a different science to what I do. Blue will,look great.

Thanks both.

Clay, that's quite a compliment coming from you. :)

OK I went ahead and did the pie cut:





The rake looks right now while the rear height is correct methinks.......



...... BUT, I'm thinking it looks a little long at the front and may need the frame shortening? What do my peers thinks.

The rake looks good, I would do a moch up with the eng. and grille in place before shortin the frame just to be on the safe side. Going to be a awesome ride when your done. John

I agree that the rake looks perfect now. I also think the suggestion of a mockup with the engine/grille combo is right on the money.

I am really liking this string of modifications. Looking good!!

Looking good AL. Are you going to fillin the rear whell wells? Some flat styrene maybe. I agree with the mockup idea. That grille shell looks like it is laid back quite a bit.

I'm with everyone on this! Do the engine mock up! The reason it looks so long now is because it's jus' hangin' out there like a diving board off the side of a ship. 8)

Thanks guys.

Yes, I'd intended a mock up with engine first and yes Buck, I'll 'panel in' the rear wheel openings. That will get done once I have the rear suspension installed.

I believe when you get that engine in and the grill set at the 1:1 angle, it willbe nailed ! :drunken: