'37 olds coupe build
March 1st, 2016, 06:37 AM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 96
'37 olds coupe build
Hi,
I'm going to attempt to document the build of my new '37 coupe.
I bought the car from the 2nd owner about a month ago...he bought it earlier this year, did no work to the car...simply 'flipped' it to me.
According to him, he bought it from the original owner. The original owner told him he bought it in 1937, drove it for about 10 years on the farm, parked it in 1947, & took it apart to have it painted.
Apparently he never got around to putting it back together; it sat in the barn for the last 60-70 years.
The engine/trans, axle, interior, etc is long gone; all I received was the body & frame...
Here are some pics of the day my dad & I picked it up:
I'm going to attempt to document the build of my new '37 coupe.
I bought the car from the 2nd owner about a month ago...he bought it earlier this year, did no work to the car...simply 'flipped' it to me.
According to him, he bought it from the original owner. The original owner told him he bought it in 1937, drove it for about 10 years on the farm, parked it in 1947, & took it apart to have it painted.
Apparently he never got around to putting it back together; it sat in the barn for the last 60-70 years.
The engine/trans, axle, interior, etc is long gone; all I received was the body & frame...
Here are some pics of the day my dad & I picked it up:
March 1st, 2016, 06:45 AM
#3
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 96
the paint is old. when you look closely at it, it looks like a road map with all the cracks. there are some yellow rust stains, but no real rust to speak of.
I removed the hood, side panels, fenders, & grill.
I simply washed the hood & side panels with soap & water, then put some CLR (calcium, lime, rust remover) on a rag & wiped them down.
Attached are some before/after pictures:
I removed the hood, side panels, fenders, & grill.
I simply washed the hood & side panels with soap & water, then put some CLR (calcium, lime, rust remover) on a rag & wiped them down.
Attached are some before/after pictures:
March 1st, 2016, 06:49 AM
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 96
this weekend I will continue cleaning the fenders, grill, and possibly the body; I will follow up with pics. I will also start to formulate a plan for the suspension, frame, and chassis work...more to follow.
T
T
March 1st, 2016, 11:03 AM
#6
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 96
Thanks,
I'm going to start at the back & work my way forward.
I picked up an axle housing from a 57-64 olds Pontiac. It was removed from an old drag car; it was narrowed 8" (from 55" to 47"), had a kinda crude backbrace, ladder bar brackets, leaf spring brackets, and wheelie bar brackets. Not a bad set up, but the welding was done so poorly I knew I had to re-do it.
I removed most of the brackets, ground the welds smooth, and dropped it off at the sand blaster. Hopefully i'll get it back this weekend and can measure it up for some axles...
I'm going to start at the back & work my way forward.
I picked up an axle housing from a 57-64 olds Pontiac. It was removed from an old drag car; it was narrowed 8" (from 55" to 47"), had a kinda crude backbrace, ladder bar brackets, leaf spring brackets, and wheelie bar brackets. Not a bad set up, but the welding was done so poorly I knew I had to re-do it.
I removed most of the brackets, ground the welds smooth, and dropped it off at the sand blaster. Hopefully i'll get it back this weekend and can measure it up for some axles...
March 22nd, 2016, 11:32 AM
#14
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 96
one of my dad's friends gave him an old set of cragars & tires...my dad gave them to me. the cragars are 15x12, and the tires are goodyear bluestreaks. I cleaned them as best I could. they are a little rough, but so is the car.
I guess the next move is to build some ladder bars, and start building the frame.
anyone interested in an original 1937 Oldsmobile frame? it's in perfect shape & complete...
I guess the next move is to build some ladder bars, and start building the frame.
anyone interested in an original 1937 Oldsmobile frame? it's in perfect shape & complete...
March 29th, 2016, 03:19 PM
#18
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 96
so, I'm having a hard time deciding on the rear suspension. I have 2 olds axles; one is 60" width, the other is 52" width. if I use the 52" width, I have to tub it. if I use the 60" width, I have to radius the rear fenders.
personally, I prefer the look of the radius of rear fenders...but don't really want to cut the fenders because they're in such good shape.
does anyone have a spare set of 37 olds (rear) fenders they would sell cheap? they don't have to be in good shape.
thanks
rob, not sure on the drivetrain yet...I'm trying to focus on the chassis for now.
personally, I prefer the look of the radius of rear fenders...but don't really want to cut the fenders because they're in such good shape.
does anyone have a spare set of 37 olds (rear) fenders they would sell cheap? they don't have to be in good shape.
thanks
rob, not sure on the drivetrain yet...I'm trying to focus on the chassis for now.
March 29th, 2016, 07:21 PM
#19
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Aledo, Texas
Posts: 2,386
Cut and respline the axles to the correct track, adjust wheel backspace or sell both differentials and buy one that accommodates your needs. You don't want to cut up a good car unless it was a lost cause in the first place. There are plenty of those examples returning to the earth as we speak. Tubbed chassis' are for folks with quarter mile intentions, if that is not your true intentions it is a waste of a good body, your time and money. Then again it is YOUR car, time and money......do as you wish!
March 31st, 2016, 02:08 PM
#20
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 96
so, I've been thinking it over, and I'm going to use the 52" wide axle. either axle would accommodate my needs, but would like to save the 60" axle assembly for a future project.
I bolted the ladder bars on it & will start taking measurements this weekend for the tube frame. the ladder bars are 48" (they measure 52" from the center of the axle.I've attached a pic of the ladder bars/housing/wheels & tires...I've also attached a pic of the ladder bar crossmember bracket i'll be using; I've had good luck with these.
I bolted the ladder bars on it & will start taking measurements this weekend for the tube frame. the ladder bars are 48" (they measure 52" from the center of the axle.I've attached a pic of the ladder bars/housing/wheels & tires...I've also attached a pic of the ladder bar crossmember bracket i'll be using; I've had good luck with these.
March 31st, 2016, 02:12 PM
#21
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 96
also am considering using one of the engines that has been sitting in the garage for a while. I had started fabbing a tunnel ram for it. I have the flanges & runners; will use an Edelbrock TR2x top as the plenum. I need to build an adapter from the runners to the bottom of the ram top out of steel, then weld everything together.
i'll save this for a rainy day, or in case I run out of steel for the frame build.
i'll save this for a rainy day, or in case I run out of steel for the frame build.
May 10th, 2016, 02:24 PM
#22
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 96
so, it's been a while since I worked on the olds. last weekend I trailered it from my dad's garage to my garage. I tacked together a few 2x4 (.120) frame rails and slid them under the body...jacked it up and attached a few body mounts (once the body was square on the frame). then I cut out the rear floor & dropped a few tires/rims in.
May 10th, 2016, 02:30 PM
#24
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 96
next, I modified some s&w rear rails...took about 4" out of the center, and about 6" off the front; tacked it to the rear crossmember and the front rails... & cut the angle in prep for a fish/splice plate.
May 10th, 2016, 02:34 PM
#25
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 96
got my new axles. Dutchman makes some really nice stuff...complete with bearings, retainers, studs, ready to go. they also offer stock length for the 57-64 olds Pontiac if anyone ever needs some & is not comfortable measuring.
May 10th, 2016, 02:39 PM
#28
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 96
the ladder bars are 48" long; the crossmember is visible through the old battery access panel in the floor. I will have to put a loop in this crossmember later in the build to allow for the transmission tailshaft to pass through.
May 10th, 2016, 02:45 PM
#29
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 96
the last thing for today was to start fabricating the panhard bar. the bar is 26" (actually measures 29" eye to eye of the heims). I played around with heights for a while til I could get the same amount of vertical clearance on both the axle bracket & frame bracket.
at present height, the car allows for 3.5" of compression before bottoming out. I would be surprised the car ever sees 3" of travel...much less 3.5" of compressive travel; should be fine.
I tacked the bracket on the axle, but have left the adjustable frame bracket loose; it is being held on by a C clamp. once the frame is done & the full weight of the body, engine, trans, etc. is on the wheels, I will put the bar at horizontal 0* and weld. as I'm sure most of you know the longer & leveler the panhard bar is, the less of an arc you'll have to deal with during it's range of motion.
well, that was enough for one weekend; more to come.
at present height, the car allows for 3.5" of compression before bottoming out. I would be surprised the car ever sees 3" of travel...much less 3.5" of compressive travel; should be fine.
I tacked the bracket on the axle, but have left the adjustable frame bracket loose; it is being held on by a C clamp. once the frame is done & the full weight of the body, engine, trans, etc. is on the wheels, I will put the bar at horizontal 0* and weld. as I'm sure most of you know the longer & leveler the panhard bar is, the less of an arc you'll have to deal with during it's range of motion.
well, that was enough for one weekend; more to come.
May 10th, 2016, 02:55 PM
#30
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 96
one last thing.
if anyone wants a 37 olds frame, they can have it for free.
it is located near Milwaukee Wisconsin. it hasn't seen the road since 1949. it isn't perfect, but it is very nice. I hate to take it to the scrap yard, let me know.
if anyone wants a 37 olds frame, they can have it for free.
it is located near Milwaukee Wisconsin. it hasn't seen the road since 1949. it isn't perfect, but it is very nice. I hate to take it to the scrap yard, let me know.
May 26th, 2016, 02:43 PM
#33
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 96
Last weekend I did a little more work on the coupe.
I tried to put my narrowing jig and bar into the olds/Pontiac housing...it did not fit on one end. I cut that end off of the housing, welded in the back brace & coilover mounts, slid the end back on with the jig...and welded it up.
I rolled it back under the car, and bolted up the coilovers. I built some top mounts & let the car sit on it's feet...
next up, the front frame.
I tried to put my narrowing jig and bar into the olds/Pontiac housing...it did not fit on one end. I cut that end off of the housing, welded in the back brace & coilover mounts, slid the end back on with the jig...and welded it up.
I rolled it back under the car, and bolted up the coilovers. I built some top mounts & let the car sit on it's feet...
next up, the front frame.
June 16th, 2016, 06:58 PM
#39
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 1
Nice, I will be watching, have a 1937 F37 4door deluxe touring that my grandfather purchased, during the war it was made into a pickup for farm use, but they kept the back half and I have all the parts to put it back together, picked up a 37 Pontiac shell to use the roof and back half. I am wondering about the frame, would you know it it is the same?
August 11th, 2016, 12:01 PM
#40
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 96
hi giddy, that's a good question.
I was told there were basically 3 types of bodies; Chevys were a body, buick olds & Pontiac were b body, and Cadillac/lasalle were c body. I honestly don't know what (if anything interchanges)...there are experts out there...hopefully somebody that knows better will chime in.
I was told there were basically 3 types of bodies; Chevys were a body, buick olds & Pontiac were b body, and Cadillac/lasalle were c body. I honestly don't know what (if anything interchanges)...there are experts out there...hopefully somebody that knows better will chime in.
