Thread: Project American Graffiti Coupe

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Hey Guys,

Here a few NEW pictures of the coupe sitting on it's chassis. The body and chassis has been moved to my buddies shop (Vintage Mid-West) as the weather here is Kansas is a little to crazy to guess at. This means I now can work on the coupe anytime I feel like it (it's nice to have friends into cars). Last night I got the front traction bar hangers added to the frame and next comes the tranny mount and boxing plates. It shouldn't be to long and you all will be able to see the chassis painted and ready to go !!!


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Do yourself a big favor and replace that concrete block with a jackstand, especially if you are going to be sliding underneath it. Concrete blocks are dangerous. We wouldn't want to read that you were the victim of an accident.

Project, just to be straight... the Painted car and the one in your avatar is the same car right?? Or you got two?

Originally Posted by rumrumm

Do yourself a big favor and replace that concrete block with a jackstand, especially if you are going to be sliding underneath it. Concrete blocks are dangerous. We wouldn't want to read that you were the victim of an accident.

Hey rumrumm,

Yeah the concrete blocks were used just to take pictures of the project. I ALWAYS use jackstands when working on the chassis but at the time when I was taking these photos my other stands were being used so I had to use the blocks. Thanks for trying to keep me safe!

Nice job on your build(s). It 's not hard to believe how much time it takes for research on things like this. I grew up in the Turlock, Ca area. My mom went to "Turlock High". Went to many events during the Graffiti Nite era in Modesto in the '80's. I've met Paul a few times and often wondered how hard it would be to get Harrison Ford's autograph on things like that plate that Steve is holding.

Very nice build. The graffiti coupe is what got me into hot rods, I'm only 21 so the movie was my introduction to hot rods.
Cant wait to see some more pics!

Project, I have run into a snag. The garage I was renting, just went down the tubes from foreclosure, and I am going to have to move operations. Can I bother you for a front end mesurement? Front outside rim to front outside rim? I would like to know how wide the car is, so I can figure space. Thanks, Rick L.

Originally Posted by Weasel Diesel

Project, I have run into a snag. The garage I was renting, just went down the tubes from foreclosure, and I am going to have to move operations. Can I bother you for a front end mesurement? Front outside rim to front outside rim? I would like to know how wide the car is, so I can figure space. Thanks, Rick L.

Hey Rick (Weasel Diesel),

NO PROBLEM BUDDY, the coupe is just about 70 inches wide in the front end. This is allowing for the tires as the sidewalls do stick out a little from the rims. Hope this helps you out and sorry to hear about your garage.

Great attention to detail.

Hey Guys,

I figured I better post something to show you all that I am still working on this coupe. I have been setting the coupe at ride height to tac weld the traction bar setup to the rear end. At the present time I am still to high in the rear (by 3 inches) so I have to take out the springs to get them De-Arched AGAIN. That's right I said again. I have already De-Arched the rear spring 3 inches and after getting everything installed it still needs more .

The one thing that makes this coupe is the stance (or at least in my book) so it is VERY IMPORTANT to make the car sit just right. The Traction Bars should have a pretty good angle running down hill to the doors. These on this coupe will do that once I get the spring problem taken car of as this is how I welded the traction bar set up to the rear end. So PLEASE take note when looking at the photos the traction bars do run down hill but they will have the proper angle once I get the springs back from the shop. Once all this headache is taken care of I will be putting in the boxing plates and then getting the chassis ready for paint . Hope you enjoy the photos!!


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not to ask a dumb question but what welder are you using?

Originally Posted by matysik27

not to ask a dumb question but what welder are you using?

I am using a Clarke Mig180EN 230V. Trust me, it's not the machine it's the guy running it.

Hey Guys,

Sorry I have been away so long but I have been battling kidney stones for the last month and to tell you the truth I haven't felt much like doing anything! Well the good news is that I am feeling MUCH BETTER and I couldn't wait to get back in the garage to start working on this Graffiti Coupe Project.

First off, I FINALLY got the rear end to sit just right after making a couple trips back to the spring shop. Seems you have to have the rear spring de-arched quite a bit if you want the coupe to sit like Milner's. I still left room for the spring to settle and adjusted for the body weight. Once everything is sitting on the chassis the traction bars have that nice down ward slope to the doors like Milner's. At the present time the traction bars do run down hill but they look a lot better once the body is on the frame which will be coming up here VERY SOON.

I also completed the correct drag link! YES, this has taken be sometime to do but the wait was well worth it in my book! I also have the shock setup on the front axle. This setup was made by my friends over at NEW AGE MOTORSPORTS. The shocks I used are the Monroe 5819 (I had them chromed) which allows the coupe to have plenty of shock travel and will keep the old girl ridding very smooth.

I hope you like the new updated photos! I still have to mount the rear bumper brackets and tac weld some other pieces in place as you can see in the photos but the next set of pictures should make you all go WOW!

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