First off, thank you to everyone who answers my posts, in advance. Just got registered and set up to access your useful information here. I might be considered to be a youngster here, and this 34 project is definitely much older than I, but what I'm up to is putting a 59 AB in this 34, with an original 3 speed. I assume the 3 speed has the fork interlock in it, making it the later trans. Don;t know for sure, but there are numerous things I am going to be needing to make this project go. One thing is a stick for the 3 speed. I want to end up with an old time (not necessarily bone stock original, but period almost correct) looking 34 fordor. This car is being built by myself for one purpose- it is going to be a "tribute vehicle" to my father. He raced this very engine in the early fifties, it has been around the horn, owned by many people in my area, but I was fortunate to have it end up in the hands of a very noble man who saw to it that it "came home to rest" where it should be. I have it now and want to put it in this 34 fordor, which I also bought from the same friend. Anyway, other things I will need include a column with steering gear and drag link. And I would like to put juice brakes on the original hubs. I am contemplating putting an 8" rear under it, which would leave me needing only front juice brakes. But I haven't got into the logistics of trying to put an open driveline axle in a torquetube trans output situation. I am sure by the time I'm done with this, I will have a much better understanding of how all those old components and concepts worked together. I will be looking into retaining something of an original front suspension, but trying to lower it a couple inches if possible. So if all you folks have any suggestions on where to get this stuff, or what I might consider doing to get where I need to be, feel free to lead me to the watering trough. This is going to be a longterm project, with no set completion date. Thank you everyone for your responses and guidance. By the way, I have been fortunate so far to find a grill and radiator (original pieces). But I think I need some small pieces that go around the radiator and grille to tie it all into the fenders and other front end pieces. If anyone has a diagram of how the front sheet metal/grille comes together, it would be most helpful.
34 fordor project
- Thread starter dieseldr
- Start date
Charlie Stephens
Well-known member
I would stick with an original '34 rear end. Note that there was a different rear end (driveshaft length) used for the 4 and the V8. I like the original wire wheels (maybe 16 inch bent spoke Kelsey wheels is you want to get radical. You can get a small amount of lowering with a reversed eye spring and that is as far as I would go. Remember if you go to far it will look like a street rod and you may encounter fender clearance problems. I would suggest that since you are using a screen name that you add your general location to your profile to enable people to suggest local sources of parts for your project.
Charlie Stephens
Charlie Stephens
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Mike in AZ
Well-known member
welcome to the 'Barn....hopefully you will be able to get answers to your questions as they come up.....your transmission has a number on the bellhousing above the inspection cover??.....can tell whether original to your car if that number is the same as the one on the frame.....and if you can post a pic of the trans, that might help, too.....as Charlie said, keep the rear end in there and see what it's like when you get it running and driving.....then maybe change gears, etc.....link is to MacVP's website, showing grille setup, etc.....lots of good info on Mac's website, including transmission info, as he wrote the book on the '39 trans......good luck and have fun.....Mike
http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/FH_images/FH_rad-grill-pics/Flathead_rad-grill_1934car.jpg
http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/FH_images/FH_rad-grill-pics/Flathead_rad-grill_1934car.jpg
I've got many of the parts to put a 34 rearend together. I'd give some thought to donating them to this project if (1) he's reasonably close, and (2) he's committed to keeping it reasonably stock, meaning no open drives, no 8-in. JMO
(I put my 34 together from a mostly complete original car, but missing some stuff. I'm sure he already knows, doing it this way is not cost-effective - it's less expensive to just go out and buy a finished car. I suppose you can guess how I have to keep learning this, over & over.)
(I put my 34 together from a mostly complete original car, but missing some stuff. I'm sure he already knows, doing it this way is not cost-effective - it's less expensive to just go out and buy a finished car. I suppose you can guess how I have to keep learning this, over & over.)