1930 Chevy Coupe build

[Burninmalibu]

Hey Guys,

   My name is David Green, I have inherited a 1930 Chevy Coupe that was bought new by my Great Grandpa (Papa). I fully intend to build this car to be a driver. After getting ripped apart because of my build choices over at H.A.M.B., my faith in these forms is very low. I am wanting to build a street car out of this Ole Girl, one that my wife & I can jump in & roll to California if we want. We could care less about putting her in shows, she will not be a trailer queen & she will be powered by a Twin Turbo LS 408 Stroker & have a Tube Frame Chassis. I am asking for Tips, Tricks & Pics on the best way to replace all the wood with steel. I have the entire car, its is all there except just about all the wood and I do not want to wait a couple of years for a wood kit. Any info on doing this would be GREATLY APPRECIATED !!!!! Also my wife & I own & operate Fat Boyz Kustoms & Marine in Shawnee Ok. We specialize in Marine repair (I am a certified technician for Mercruiser, Mercury, Johnson/Evinrude, Yamaha & all) and Custom Engine building. You can check us out at WWW.facebook.com/FatBoyzKustomsandMarine. We have accounts with serval companies such as Eagle, Callies, Manley, Cam Motion ProCharger, SCE Gaskets & so on. We also have our own machine shop as well. If there is anything you guys may need & think that we may be able to help you out, please do not hesitate to ask.

           THANK You Guys,
                                     David Green

[FATnLOW]

Welcome from a former Okie now in Ft Smith....I don't believe you will get any abuse in this site......these guys are very free with there input on how they accomplished their builds....they are always willing to give information or help in parts or lead you to who has parts.... They have always been helpful to me as this is my first early Chevy  build that had wood in it........If your in Ft Smith give me a shout....Welcome to the site.....Post some photos of your project

[madmike3435]

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/termites-and-bowties-early-chevy-group.323303/page-46#post-12258258

there is a section on the HAMB where CHEVROLETS have their own section........TERMITES AND BOWTIES   , strictly for Chevrolets.  You will find there and here much more friendly than the regular venom spewing from the ford lovers.

mike                                          

[TFoch]

Hi David,
Welcome to the site!  Looking forward to watching the build of your Chevy.  Very cool that it's been in the family since new and that you're giving it new life.  Glad to see you're going to build a driver. There should be plenty of ideas in the Member's Build section.  If you have any questions or need some pics of how I replaced the wood in my 33 Chevy let me know.
Tom

[Burninmalibu]

Well ... I would post some pics of the ole girl but the site will not let me.

[Senior31]

David, 

      Don't worry about getting "ripped" apart here.  I built a '35 2dr Sedan and was greeted with the same response from the HAMB because I didn't build it traditional.  Like you I wanted a driver and since I put air conditioning, an overdrive tranny, and billet wheels it wasn't acceptable.  You will get nothing but help from the fellas around here.  Being one of the "younger" rodders it is nice to have guys that are willing to share their knowledge instead of judging everything you do.  So, welcome to the site and I think you will be surprised on how much help you will receive here.

-Justin

[sammons]

David, welcome to the site. Ed just recently HAD to update the site. With the help of his daughter they almost got all the bugs out, be patient.    I doubt you will catch any flack here.  Worst part of replacing the wood with steel is scratching your head on where to start first. Once you get it all squared and braced the ideas flow more quickly Good luck and give a holler when you get a headache.

     Steve

[sixball]

David, You came to the right place. The HAMB is vast but limited in scope. It is what it is. It is smaller here but there is lots of freedom and excellent support. Madmike is a master at replacing wood as well as full of lots of other handy information. TFoch and others are familiar with replacing wood. There are master mechanics, body men and everyone else you'll need. It sounds like you have a solid plan to turn your heirloom into something future generations can still use along with the skill and means to pull it off.

It seems that the big difference in here and the HAMB is a difference of opinion about "tradition". The HAMB is tradition of the day, period correct within an arbitrary time slot.  A day when someone thinks "Hot Rodding" ending and something else took over. I don't remember that day. Here it is tradition of the way, using what you've got and what you can get to build what you want. The first guy who dropped a flathead V-8 in a Model-A was not concerned with period correctness and neither was the first one with a SBC. I understand both views and even why the HAMB would want to limit their scope to what they like. Our limit is pretty much Bowties, mostly Bowties.

[ghost28]

Hi David . I posted on your thread over on the hamb and I knew you would get crap.  You will like it over here

[Burninmalibu]

Right On guys. This is more like it.

[vette59jdwl]

  Welcome aboard  and there there is guys like me. I have a 32 chevy roadster and of course i would be just a little different i am using a 1934 chevy front axle with 1959 chevy truck spindles and hydraulic brakes out back i am using a Dodge D50 rear axle to retain the six bolt wheels either off the 32 or off of my 2005 silveradeo for an engine i am using a 250 cu in chevy 6 banger with a 700 R-4 overdrive automatic. not sure what i am going to use for steering yet Will probably keep the body and appearance as close to 32 as possible .I could not find rear fenders but found a pair of 30 chevys which i am modifying with JB Weld to look like 32's and will probably make my own trunk lid as apposed to a rumble seat.The wife and i would not have much use for a rumble seat.To each his own have it your way It is your DREAM   vette59jdwl

[chopper526]

Welcome aboard, David! The guys here are great and pretty knowledgeable. I started out on the HAMB and met some of the guys there. Then when Ed started the RBT, well, I've spent most of my time here. I replaced all the wood (there wasn't much left) in my '32 with, mostly, 1" square tubing. My car had also been channeled, and the floor and the trunk filler panel was completely gone. I bought a welder and taught myself to weld....sort of, and jumped right in. If I can do it, so can you! Good luck!

[62131]

David welcome my friend I'm building a 32 2dr sedan, I have removed all the wood and replaced it with 1" sq. tubing. Not really that hard to do just takes some thought and planning.

[Burninmalibu]

Thank you 62131, Do you have any pics of what you did ?

[62131]

I'll look thru my picture file and see, I know I have a few. I get busy out there and never take pictures. I'll post some of what I have completed and not covered by my inter panels to possibly give you some ideals.
Post pictures of your project, that will help give us some ideal what your working with. We are all here to help.