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Post Info TOPIC: '37 & '38 Hot Rod Chevys
cranks38


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'37 & '38 Hot Rod Chevys
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I'll be posting both projects in the same thread, because one is dormant and the other is active.

I'll start with my long term project, a '38 Sedan. The car kinda found me when I wasn't looking for any project of any sort, but I bought and brought it home anyhow. I didn't touch it for a few years, but did tons of research and sucked up anything I could find about '37 and '38 Chevrolet cars. That quest eventually led me to specific Canadian information and subsequently, the history of GM's plant here in Regina. 

Anyhow, I learned my car was built here, one of 211 "Special" sedans. All that really means, is it had some Master Deluxe bits added to a Master model... nice to know, but I'm not restoring the car, I'm planning a hot rod. 

I've picked away at it here and there since. I don't have a good picture of it as it was, so these two will have to suffice. 

 IMG_0040.jpg

 

IMG_0041.jpg

Some rattle can experiments are evident, as is the damage on this side. I believe it was stroked repeatedly by farm equipment, because the other side is straight and relatively unmolested. 

 

The other side dusted in faint rattle can red. 

IMG_0257.jpg   

To be continued... 

.

       



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CdnGMfan


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That is some lovely steel vintage tin.

You know what would be cool under the hood? A hopped-up straight six!

 

Sissel-6.jpg

 

Here's a picture out of a 1947 GM Canada parts book you might enjoy:

37-38 Cdn Chevrolet.jpg



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67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.

In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...

Cam, Toronto.


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cranks38


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Thanks Cameron. Is that page from a master parts publication? Is your stroker intended for your Chevelle?

I'm not building a 6. I might if I didn't have other plans.

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CdnGMfan


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The pictures are from a Selected Parts Book of the most often ordered parts for service etc. It is like a 400+ page encyclopedia.

 

That inline six isn't mine, that is an old Kay Sissel 292 engine built for dragging. I do have a stroker six still on the stand that I paused on installing due to the many other things necessary (electric fuel pump & system, alternator etc) and my reluctance to destroy the originality of my family heirloom Chevelle. A less original car I wouldn't think twice about dropping it into. I even looked at a '67 Tempest that was a former OHC-6 but had a 305 Chevy in it. That would have been interesting to drop the six into.

 

I'm looking forward to your build. Now where's that louver punch? smile



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67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.

In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...

Cam, Toronto.


I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
cranks38


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More rattle can nonsense. I only did this to get a visual in one colour, and I love black on nearly anything.

IMG_0262.jpg

I repaired most of the body damage as things progressed. Somewhere along the way, I removed the original drivetrain. Before I did that, curiosity forced me to remove the valve cover and look down the carb. 

 IMG_0621.jpg

 

IMG_0622 - Copy.jpg

 

Nice shape. I'm sure it would run, but the wiring was all chewed off and the distributor guts were missing. No time or patience for that. I yarded it and slid it under the bench. (Someday I'll drag it out and play with it.) 

I have a couple big blocks and one will make its way into this car. I also have a TH400. I have an empty TH400 case and a core engine, so they served as mock up. 

IMG_0676 (2).jpg

 

 IMG_0692.jpg

Above, you can see I've repaired the body damage and rattle canned the whole car black. 



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cranks38


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Thank you for your explanations, Cameron.

I won't be modifying the body much, except to tub it.
.

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jmont64


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My cousin in Alberta has one of those very similar vintage 38-40. Will try find a picture of it. He is running an LS in it and I just about think he dropped it on another frame. He's an old drag racer out of Edmonton.

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cranks38


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jmont64 wrote:

My cousin in Alberta has one of those very similar vintage 38-40. Will try find a picture of it. He is running an LS in it and I just about think he dropped it on another frame. He's an old drag racer out of Edmonton.

 I'd like to see it. I know a few old drag racers in Edmonton. What's his name? 



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DonSSDD


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Did these years have that knee action front end?

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jmont64


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cranks38 wrote:
jmont64 wrote:

My cousin in Alberta has one of those very similar vintage 38-40. Will try find a picture of it. He is running an LS in it and I just about think he dropped it on another frame. He's an old drag racer out of Edmonton.

 I'd like to see it. I know a few old drag racers in Edmonton. What's his name? 

 His name is Kerry Leeuw.  He raced mostly in the late 60s and early 70s.  He had 69?  Nova that was race prepared with a big block by one of the Edmonton dealerships brand new similar to the Yenkos.  He is a character and has more than a few stories to share.  Haven't found a picture yet.



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cranks38


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DonSSDD wrote:

Did these years have that knee action front end?

 Master Deluxe models did. Master models were parallel leaf as is mine.   



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cranks38


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jmont64 wrote:

 

 His name is Kerry Leeuw.  He raced mostly in the late 60s and early 70s.  He had 69?  Nova that was race prepared with a big block by one of the Edmonton dealerships brand new similar to the Yenkos.  He is a character and has more than a few stories to share.  Haven't found a picture yet.

 I don't know him. A little before my time!  



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My name is ___ but you can call me Vern

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jmont64


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cranks38 wrote:
jmont64 wrote:

 

 His name is Kerry Leeuw.  He raced mostly in the late 60s and early 70s.  He had 69?  Nova that was race prepared with a big block by one of the Edmonton dealerships brand new similar to the Yenkos.  He is a character and has more than a few stories to share.  Haven't found a picture yet.

 I don't know him. A little before my time!  

 Yeah when we talk old on this site we aren't talking about any 50 or 60 year olds!  You guys are just kids.



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jmont64 wrote:
cranks38 wrote:
jmont64 wrote:

 

 His name is Kerry Leeuw.  He raced mostly in the late 60s and early 70s.  He had 69?  Nova that was race prepared with a big block by one of the Edmonton dealerships brand new similar to the Yenkos.  He is a character and has more than a few stories to share.  Haven't found a picture yet.

 I don't know him. A little before my time!  

 Yeah when we talk old on this site we aren't talking about any 50 or 60 year olds!  You guys are just kids.

 biggrin

See my "what did you do in your garage / shop and or driveway today ?" post.



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Prince Edward Island

'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.

Pontiacanada


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Cool cars to fool around with, young Vern!



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Prince Edward Island

'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.

cranks38


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jmont64 wrote: 

 

 Yeah when we talk old on this site we aren't talking about any 50 or 60 year olds!  You guys are just kids.

 Tell that to my knees!  



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cranks38


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Moving along...

I cut the wheel houses out and chopped the rear frame section off. Then I dragged out a narrowed diff and an old pair of slicks. I didn't have any wide wheels to mount them on, so I went to my scrap pile and made a pair out of four steelies.

IMG_0399.jpg

 

IMG_0410 (2).jpg


Slipped under the car.

IMG_0489 (3).jpg

The narrowed diff was too, too narrow. The tires were way inside the fender lip and from the side, it looked like a big frickin' roller skate. 

So I kept moving the wheels outboard until they stuck out a little.

IMG_0507-Copy (2).jpg

This is the "old school" look I want it to have, like the street/strip cars I used to see... Friday nights hunting the boulevard, Saturday morning loaded on a trailer headed for the track. 

.



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My name is ___ but you can call me Vern

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Pontiacanada


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Wow, that's a lot of rubber. Nice.



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Prince Edward Island

'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.

cranks38


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Pontiacanada wrote:

Wow, that's a lot of rubber. Nice.

Thank You. 

Like I said off the top, this project is lying dormant due to higher priorities. ( I can't believe I said that, but it's the truth.) When I get back to it, I've got a 468" BBC and an 8.8" diff in store. 

One last photo before I move on. In this shot, I've got a tube axle under the rear and the little tire/wheel is just stuffed into the opening loose. 

 IMG_0310 - Copy.jpg



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My name is ___ but you can call me Vern

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cranks38


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Next: We're building... or more appropriately, rebuilding a '37 Chevy coupe.

The search for a suitable candidate was extensive and a few years long. In the end, good old word-of-mouth led us to perogy country and an abandoned project.

As we found it, living in a semi-trailer, 90% disassembled. Sorry for the lousy pictures. Apparently, our lunch stop applied chicken grease to my camera lens. (I'm not happy about it, but I can't undo what's been done.)

 Bert found3.jpg  

 Bert found1.jpg

 Bert found.jpg

A deal was struck that day, but winter was closing in and unloading the car wasn't reasonable nor sensible. We didn't have a trailer with us even if it was... anyhow, we returned in the spring and retrieved the car. 

 



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My name is ___ but you can call me Vern

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Yukon man


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LOVE THE 37 AND 38 HOT RODS WICKED COOL!!!
I realy wish I was half as talented as most of you guys on here. I think that this old school mechanic wrench pulling body modification is definitely starting to be a lost art.



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MC


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Cool coupe project!  Love the '65 Chevy taillights on the trunk lid!  There's a customizing idea I've never seen before.



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cranks38


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Thanks guys.

When we went back for the car, the seller provided some old snapshots.

Bert 37-1small.jpg

Bert 37-5small.jpg

Bert 37-6small.jpg

Bert 37-7small.jpg

Dig the crushed velvet, turbine wheels and '70s style. All that is out the window, except for the chrome garnish moldings. They're in nice shape and will stay.

 



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dcneric


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If I didnt welcome you before, welcome from Regina as well.

Your friends coupe and sedan are sweet. Best of success on the builds.

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1935 Chev 3 Window Std Coupe

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cranks38


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dcneric wrote:

If I didn't welcome you before, welcome from Regina as well.

Your friends coupe and sedan are sweet. Best of success on the builds.

Thanks. Maybe we'll actually meet... someday. (???) 

 

The coupe is also Canadian made, built in Oshawa.

Here, it has arrived in my buddy's recently completed shop...

Bert 1.jpg

Bert 2.jpg

 

Bert 3.jpg

When the tools moved in, the tail lights moved out immediately. The car was completely disassembled and we got started on the chassis. 

Bert 5.JPG

Bert 7.JPG

 

 

 



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