1931 Chevy Independence Coupe Build

[Dr Crankenstein]

Good to see you here and keep up the good work!


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[05snopro440]

Well there are quite a few jems sitting around in farmer's fields and backyards on farms, but most of them give you the same...." My son/grandson wants to fix it up one day " stories...

I've lost a lot of potential projects because of that, and those vehicles never did get done. The projects I ended up getting instead were way better and more unique though, so I guess it all works out.

I'm planning on being a little different. I've got a '56 331ci Hemi for it. I'm going to back it with a TH350. Not sure about rear end yet.

That's going to be a sweet powertrain and should get a few guys angry. Perfect.

 

[Restorex]

Got the passenger door framed and squared up. Then took 1"x2" tubing and made the front door post to mount the door to. The passenger front of the body feels pretty solid now. 8 hours later, I had the door mounted and working decent. Now I turned the car around in the garage to start the work on the driver's side door. That door will hopefully be done by next weekend.

 

[Gulf Rat]

Wood, I hate it...good job on that door.

 

[31chevrod]

thats sweet ride, I'm doing a 31 chev five window also in Red Deer,Alberta.
I have front fenders and rear fenders in great shape for sale look on kijiji. check out my build, I'll be watching yours!! Mike

 

[93blazer4dr]

sweet!!! love these little coupes.... I love the way you did the doors, im goin to do something similar to mine. ill be watching your build also. I have a 32 chevy coupe but I don't post a lot of pics.

 

[Restorex]

Well the build has been pretty slow as I have been down with a cold for the last couple weeks. Starting to feel a bit better so figured I'd get back out to the shop. After replacing the two week old regulator on my mig tank, I got back to the driver's door. I had it all welded up and hung it.......argh...out of square!!! Take it off and cut it apart I did. Rewelded everything and hung it again. Fits good this time! [cl

From day one, I knew I didn't like the style of the trunk lid. I didn't like the way comes all the way up to the back window. Kinda looked funny to me. So I ended up finding a '32 trunk lid here in Sask that I picked up. I'll be bracing up the rear deck area and filling it in. About 10" of rear deck will make it look better I think.

This first photo is the original trunk lid.

The next photos are of the '32 lid sitting in place.

Now that's enough for tonight. Tomorrow's another day!

 

[MercuryMac]

Mister, you're turning this Ford guy's head. This is a build to follow. I agree with you on the '31 versus the '32 trunk. Keep up the good work.

 

[chevellelovermichael]

great job on the doors! you 31/32 chevy guy's are coming out of the "woodwork" lol. sure wish I could get back to work on mine keep the pictures coming, might have to steal some idea's from you.

 

[1952B3b23]

Looks great. I agree on the trunk mod, it will look much better that way.

-Chris

 

[31chevrod]

are you going to run side glass? I'm just about to start my side glass frame work it sucks.

 

[Restorex]

are you going to run side glass? I'm just about to start my side glass frame work it sucks.

I was planning on it. But I'm hoping to be driving it before I worry about the side glass. I figured that it would be a p.i.t.a to fabricate window tracks. That will be the last thing on the list though.

 

[93blazer4dr]

love the 32 deck lid. I was thinking you was goin to chop the top but after seeing your frames im guessing not. [cl

 

[Restorex]

love the 32 deck lid. I was thinking you was goin to chop the top but after seeing your frames im guessing not. [cl

I am planning on chopping it. But I want to make sure that I have the whole steel structure solid inside the body so there is absolutely no movement when I remove the top. Once the structure is done, she'll be getting a haircut for sure. Not sure how much yet though. I'm 5'11" so I still want to be comfortable. I plan on a 5" channel as well.

 

[Old Iron]

Be careful, you run out of comfortable space quick when working with coupes
Not just you but, your 6' 6" buddy will hate riding with you

 

[93blazer4dr]

Be careful, you run out of comfortable space quick when working with coupes
Not just you but, your 6' 6" buddy will hate riding with you

The chevy coupes have way more room then a ford coupe.

 

[05snopro440]

The chevy coupes have way more room then a ford coupe.

Chopping them and channeling 6" still makes them rather compact, and I'm with Old Iron, a lot of guys go overboard.

 

[Restorex]

Only had a few hours in the shop tonight so I figured I tackle the supports for the trunk. ****Note to self.... Don't go apesh!t and weld every cut in the tubing all the way along, because you'll end up with the curve not even being close to what you had it tacked to.*** I ended up making more and more cuts until I ended up with the proper curve. Now to trace it out and make the next one in about a quarter of the time tomorrow.

 

[RickyBobby]

Looks good, I rolled my tubes with a tubing roller, saves the cutting/welding headache. I agree with 93 blazer, Chevys are way bigger, mine is chopped 6" and channeled 6", I fit no problem and I'm 6'1". I have a 32 Hudson that makes my chevy look small. Haha

 

[Restorex]

Got some work done this weekend. I made up both trunk braces and have them welded in place now. Also, the trunk opening had spread apart about 2" because of the rear quarters being so flimsy do to the rotten wood. Needed to use a come-a-long to pull the sides together before I welded all of the rear supports in place. Starting to get real solid now.









Next will be installing the drip channels inside the trunk opening, working on the rear deck, and installing the trunk lid hinges....