coletrain777 Posted February 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2013 I will be converting this business coupe to a "club coupe" by adding a rear seat, with a wife and two children something without a rear seat just doesn't make sense to build. I realize that the rear seat won't have a lot of headroom, but it will suffice while the children are young. This will be a "hotrod" (overused term) type build with the chassis slightly lower (planning on using stock frame with updated brakes/steering), and an efi 5.3 chevy and 4l60e trans. The interior will be swapped from something a little more modern and it will have power windows, locks, seats, and of course AC. These will all be retrofit from modern vehicles (which I have several of for parts on other projects). Not sure what route I will take for a steering column, but I will decide on that a little later. As a sidenote: I have read lots about using the stock chassis and updating brakes/steering. If I were to do a disk brake conversion and add power steering, and then add new shocks and rebuild the stock suspension components will I end up with something that will be a decent driver at modern speeds? I am not looking for something that handles like it's on rails, just a good highway/backroad cruiser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andydodge Posted February 15, 2013 Report Share Posted February 15, 2013 Coletrain..........you are doing it the best way in updating the brakes etc rather than a chassis swap..........I have had 4 wheel discs, rack & pinion, 318/auto in the 40 Dodge since the early 70's, much better and it goes well..........intend to do the same with the Plymouth.....andyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbobs48 Posted February 15, 2013 Report Share Posted February 15, 2013 Nice project with the son. I see you are a Denver fan too.. Come to OKC and Paint my 48 plymouth. Ha Good luck on the project and keep us updated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coletrain777 Posted February 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 Andydodge - thats what I was hoping to hear. I need to go out and measure the rear track width on an 02 Mountaineer parts car I have... The 8.8 rear end with disk brakes and 3.55 gears would work well (my 47 has a Ford 9 inch under it currently). I think it will be a little wide, but maybe not??? mrbobs48 - Maybe if you were a little closer Good to hear from another Denver fan... Go Broncos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james curl Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 On Tim Adams advice I used a 1990 Dakota 3.55:1 rear end and it fit with only the spring perches replaced and relocated. I have about 25,000 miles on this setup since I installed in the summer of 2007 without any issues. I seem to recall that the Durango used the same rear end but with disc brakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coletrain777 Posted February 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 James - thanks for the info, it's good to have options. I also believe that a Jeep Cherokee has the same track width in the rear as our cars. I need to check the gear ratio in the current 9 inch that is under it... If it is a 3.00 or a 3.23 I will probably stick with it for a great interstate cruising setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Horne Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 I have a 98 Cherokee 2wd for a part vehicle. The rearend with Dodge wheels is a great fit for my 38 Coupe, 67 inch from the outer edge of the tire tread, to the other side. I recently installed a 95 Ranger rearend, but added 1 inch spacers to get a good tire fit. The Explorers have a very good fit rearend, but my wife would not let me use her Explorer's rearend... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg g Posted February 17, 2013 Report Share Posted February 17, 2013 A bit of inspiration for you and your son. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coletrain777 Posted February 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 greg g - thanks for the pic, yes that is surely inspiration! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
55 Fargo Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 hey ct777, that paint and patch work looks excellent. You know doubt not what the heck yall doin in the shop. Enjoyed those pics of you and your Boy, fetchin that coupe, reminds me a lot of my old car escapades with my youngest Son. Lookin forward to your progress, and rod job on the coupe too............rockwood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coletrain777 Posted February 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 C38Spitfire6 - Thanks for the kind words... I hope that this is a great experience for my son and I. With my wife and I involved in professions that we love... but don't pay much, I spend free time doing work for others to help pay the bills (and hopefully save a few dollars here and there). The problem is, my son will only be this age once, and I don't want to wake up one day and realize "I missed it". We will probably start on the coupe in the late fall/early winter, but I want to have most/all the parts ready and waiting before we do... and a good plan of attack to maximize our time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40plyrod Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 Looks like a great project made even better by being able to spent time with your kid to build it. It should turn out well by the looks of your other projects. I'm looking forward to following along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19fortybizcoupe Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 Your coupe looks very solid, glad to see another one getting saved. I wish you great times in your father/son adventures on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coletrain777 Posted February 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2013 Thanks... Right now I am coming up with a build gameplan... I have been looking at leather front and rear seats to see which ones will fit like a glove Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coletrain777 Posted February 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 My poor coupe is sitting outside with 12" of snow on it right now... I got it to the upper lot and about 4 feet from getting in a storage shed and we got buried under a foot of snow... it was supposed to be 2-4". The first time my coupe has seen moisture/weather in over 20 years if the previous owners are correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
55 Fargo Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 (edited) My poor coupe is sitting outside with 12" of snow on it right now...   I got it to the upper lot and about 4 feet from getting in a storage shed and we got buried under a foot of snow... it was supposed to be 2-4".  The first time my coupe has seen moisture/weather in over 20 years if the previous owners are correct.Coler, just get out there and get all the snow cleaned off the coupe ASAP, its frozen water, it'll be fine, get her dried out, it's not salt you be fine...........Look what I dug out of the snow after a major wind storm last week. The temp the day I cleaned the snow was -25 http://mopar.pairserver.com/p15d24ph_forum/index.php?/topic/32309-for-california-and-minnesota-guys-ot/ Edited February 24, 2013 by C38Spitfire6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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