32 Coupe Bodies

[HotRodN]

Hey gang,,,, I'm sure this has been gone over before but until I can find the posts figured I'd start one instead. Okay,,, it's a long story but I now have what is supposed to be a TCI Pro-Street 32 frame,,, not sure how to confirm it's a 32,, but I'm pretty comfortable it's a TCI. Any input on how to get to the skinny on it is great.
The thought is to build a 32 5 window coupe. Question is,,, with all the bodies you can find out there,,, getting one I know will fit and not have to tweak everything is the goal.

I've found a company in GA named Timeless Rods that sent pix and from what I can see, the body looks well built with good lines and an okay support structure.

Also checked out Wescotts and really like the metal support structure they have incorporated. Just didn't see pricing on the website,,, I assume that comes from the vendors???

There's a big swap meet at Texas Motor Speedway the end of the month and plan on going to check out what I find.

Budget is a BIG deal for me so the really high end bodies I can't touch,, would like a Brookeville body but man,,, that's pricy LOL.

Any help with knowing where to measure the frame to use as reference would be great. My thought was to use the front cross support as a starting point and take width measurements at given distances from there.

Okay,,, back to the pro's

Thanks for the help,,, HotRodN

[Henry Rifle]

Go to this page and click on the '32 Ford Frame Dimensions' link. Everything you need to know. Wescott Auto

[Scooting]

Don? Roger? I know you guys have a strong opinion about a really good body manufacturer.
Are you both in Texas? HotRodN needs some guidance from experienced builders.

[rspears]

In my opinion the best value body out there today is from N&N Fiberglass Reproductions in Belleville, Arkansas, but it's a three window, not five. If it's gotta be a five window then your choices will be limited.
I'd be VERY cautious with Timeless Rods in GA. There was a recent thread where a guy was trying to do his "dream car" and ordered from Timeless, and he went through HELL. From the outside looking in it appeared that they were running cash poor, taking the down payment from one guy to build the last one promised, and getting further behind with each one. As I recall that fellow was about 18 months into the process, after being promised his roller in 4 to 6 months, but don't hold me to that. Just be very, very cautious.
Gibbon's makes a five window, but once again they've been through a ton of problems and left a trail of unhappy people. The guy who started the company built the name, and then his son ran it into the ground and all but destroyed the business. Again, twice cautious would be the rule, IMO.
One place that seems to be getting high marks is New Age up in the NE - New Age Motorsports & Hot Rods They make an American Graffiti clone that's one of the only glass cars out there with drip rails. One of the guys on here has been working on one, but hasn't posted lately, and another guy has become an expert on the precise details of the Graffiti coupe pieces and parts. Sadly he's been gone from here for a couple of years.

If you can live with a 3-window give Duane a call at N&N. You'll not be sorry, and you can take your chassis to him for the body to be built on frame, eliminating any issues of fit, shimming and gaps. N & N Fiberglass

[Matthyj]

My tip here is call some local rod shops around your area, see what they say they have good luck with. There is more trash than good I know and it makes it hard for the home builder to get junk. I have used Show-me's body with good success and know alot of rod shops sell his bodies. I think Gibbons molds have been sold more times than anyones, with alot of bad history, Pete & Jakes years ago sold the Gibbons bodies when they where in the Midwest and good products now they sell Show me's bodies. I think I would rather save a extra year and get a better body than deal with some issues that we have seen on here. Roger says N&N and he has built one so that's a great plus, some people have taken junk and made a nice rod out of it at great costs I just don't want it to be me! Have the body made on your chassis helps alignment issues alot like Roger said, most reputable companies will do this for no additional costs. Redneck use to also make a great body too, but haven't heard as much since it sold. Best of luck but do your homework, no chopper glass body!

[DA34GUY]

New Age ( Ed and Chris) #1 Russnomore #2 Kilborne #3 in that order and nobody else. Have built all 3. If yer lookin for cheep ferget it and get another hobby.
Here's sum pics of a Russnomore

[rumrumm]

Inexpensive is not inexpensive in the long run. A very good body as mentioned above requires less body work to prepare for paint. More hours in the body shop getting it prepped can easily exceed the cost of purchasing a good body.

[rspears]

You say

Budget is a BIG deal for me....

The key to a budget is in the details. You need to develop a detailed plan, and then work that plan without changing direction as you go. Parts are expensive, and it's pretty easy to bust a budget if you start buying pieces/parts with no plan, and then end up with a bunch of stuff that you can't use, and have to sell for pennies on the dollar.

On your chassis question, the '32 chassis is the only one that has the finish detail along the bottom of the side rail, arcing up toward the cowl. In the pictures that Don posted, the last three show it well, the raised reveal line that the hairpin radius rods almost touch at their rear mounting point. That fact, along with the measurements that Jack linked to from Wescott should give you peace of mind on what you've got. You could also post some pictures of the chassis if you want comments from guys here.

It's a great pastime to build a car, but it's not a cheap hobby. Seems every time one turns around there's $100 here, $100 there, and once you jump in you either take it to the end, or sell for a song to someone else looking for a project. Hope you keep us in the loop on what you decide, and on your progress if you decide to go.

[HotRodN]

Hey ya'll,,, great advise and info,,, sorry I've been off for a while. Working long hours leaves little time to get back online when I really want to.
Let me figure out how to post pix and I'll start uploading them. Again,,, need to navigate the site and read all the how to's.
I've talked with the folks over at Timeless and they have a body in stock. The plan has been to drive over taking the frame with me to check fit. After reading some of the above, I've asked them to email over pix of the actual body I would purchase if all goes well but haven't seen the pix just yet. Not going to make a trip until I've seen them.
Sooo,,, this Friday I took off with niece and possible nephew in law for a swap meet in Fort Worth only to find out it's next weekend ha ha ha,,, guess I'm just really ready to get this thing going. But hey,,, we get to do it all over again this coming weekend. Had fun anyways.

On the plan thing,,,, that's one of the things I've been wanting to lay out,,, problem is,,, where do you start??? meaning,,, do you build the chassis and all it's components first then lay on the body and work all that out?
What are the areas that can paint yourself into a corner???

I totally agree with getting a body that fits,,, having to modify,, rework,,, adjust adds so much extra time and effort.
Talked with N&N and he will build a body on my frame and no they don't have a 5 window I may have to get use to that idea or keep searching,,, oh what to do??? Should I go the build it on the frame route,,, it will be 4 months or so before he can get it done. The good part would be that it fit's right.

Well want to keep going here but I've got to get on some chores.
Thank you all for chiming in and passing all this wisdom,
HotRodN

[rspears]

No disrespect, but did you read Don's Post #6? He's built a ton of glass cars through the years, so his advice on these decisions is pretty valuable, IMO. Also, Timeless has left a trail of unhappy people in their wake from what I've read. Just my opinion, but I wouldn't spend the gas money to carry the chassis over there, but it's your decision, and you'll have to live with what you decide during the build and after. Some light reading from a while back - Timeless Rod and Customs
If your heart's set on a five window then that's what you need to get, but Caveat Emptor applies in spades. I'd strongly recommend that you try on the different models for fit, too. T's were tiny, A's were small, Deuces were cramped, and '33/34's started getting reasonable in space for a bigger guy. Just saying you want to be comfortable in your new ride.

[DA34GUY]

1st problem I see is an old 80's Pro street chassis . Lots of fab work needs 2 B done B4 ya even think about slammin a body on it. JMHO

[Bob Parmenter]

In an effort to be helpful guys here's my contribution (I self identify as a curmudgeon for a reason):

[HotRodN]

1st problem I see is an old 80's Pro street chassis . Lots of fab work needs 2 B done B4 ya even think about slammin a body on it. JMHO

What fab work do you see needs to be done??? Elaborate please.

Okay, I called N&N and feel much better about him working on this. Was asked to email up some photos of the frame and we talked about possible things that could be done. So,,, unless something just jumps, then I may head up to Arkansas this weekend to take him all I have.

Keep in mind,,, a body has been on the frame before and I have a Roadster body that should I open up where the shock mount is to allow it to lay down flat, it looks like it would fit okay.
I downloaded the drawing from Wescotts and took measurements along several places and while it's not exactly to an original, (slightly narrow in places) it's pretty close. N&N said that most after market builders do not make to original dimensions. Again I don't know so can't comment on any of this.

From the way it seems,,, N&N can get a body mounted and it would be right,,,,

Again thank you all for all the advise,,, don't' think for a moment I'm not paying attention.
HotRodN

[Deuce4dad]

You have a pro street chassis as in monstrous tires and parallel four link setup. Is this what you are building?

[jerry clayton]

I don't think that frame has much torsional stiffness to it for mounting a street body---------