n any automotive project the chassis is the foundation that holds all the components together. Sometimes a stock chassis can be used, but when the suspension and drivetrain are updated, the chassis usually needs to be strengthened and reconfigured.

This is the first in a series of articles about Greg Heinrich’s outstanding ’35 Chevrolet coupe being built by Ironworks Speed & Kustom, in Bakersfield, California. This is a multi-year, no-holds-barred project and we think you’ll enjoy seeing the bleeding-edge design and fabrication lavished on every component.

The body modifications on this project are subtle, and Eric Black, of e. Black Design Co. was called in at an early stage to make renderings, which was key to keeping all the modifications harmonious and on track. The top has a sweet chop, with the A-pillar laid back, the rear of the body is lengthened around 2 inches, the rear wheelwells are raised, and the body has a wedge section–lowering the front of the grille shell a tasty amount. The fenders are re-contoured for the larger wheels and tires, and there are dozens of unique features you’ll see in future articles, making use of the latest technology available.

wapping a late-model engine into an old car isn’t a new concept, but there have always been challenges along the way. When early hot rodders were installing overhead valve V-8s between the ’rails of their ’32 Ford, there were plenty of hiccups that were eventually sorted out with custom-made and aftermarket components. Today, the technological obstacles can be much more complicated, but trusted companies in the automotive aftermarket bring new products to the marketplace to make engine swaps and customization much easier.

While Lokar is known for its famous shifters, the Tennessee-based company manufactures a wide variety of parts, including this Billet Drive-by-Wire Electronic Throttle Control Pedal Assembly, which is part of the Clayton Machine Works product line. This product offers an easy solution to a tricky issue when swapping a late-model engine into an old car.

ur project ’36 phaeton is making steady progress. Reshaping and modifying the dashboard has been a fun project that has been involved and has also evolved. One example of this was putting the final touches of detail on the dashboard. We had already mounted our ’47 Ford speedometer and clock, then we hit SpeedwayMotors.com to order up some super traditional black Stewart-Warner gauges. Once all the gauges were mounted we thought the dash could use a bit more sparkle, so we are searching for some small stainless steel moldings for the dashboard.

After a bit of research, we discovered ’35 Ford hood trim was 9/32-inch wide, making it the perfect width for our application. We also found the ’35 Ford stainless steel hood trim to be affordable. As an added bonus, the reproduction pieces come with a new mounting system involving small bolts that slide in the trim, as opposed to the original push-in clips.

igns of a charging system that’s on the brink can vary from dim headlights to a dead battery. But, regardless of the symptoms, they’re not to be ignored. An improperly operating alternator can damage sensitive electronic components if not adequately addressed, not to mention the potential of leaving one stranded once the battery is sufficiently discharged. Speaking of a deeply discharged battery, oftentimes traditional flooded cell batteries cannot be recharged once significantly discharged, requiring the replacement of not only the impaired alternator but what may have been a perfectly fine battery as well. Long story short, if you find that voltmeter reading anything less than 13 V going down the road, you might want to have a look at your charging system and give the guys at Powermaster Performance a call.

DRIVESHAFT
DILEMMAS

By Ron Ceridono Photography by The Author & Brian Brennan

t’s been said that “the devil is in the details,” which is another way of saying that many things are more complicated than they appear and overlooking all the factors involved are sure to cause problems. That more or less describes building a hot rod in general and is especially true when choosing and installing drivetrain components.

Drivelines seem simple enough: they connect the transmission to the differential. The universal joint accommodates the changes in driveshaft angle as the suspension moves up and down. A slip joint absorbs changes in the distance between the transmission and the differential as the axle housing moves up and down and rotates during acceleration and braking. But while none of that seems all that complicated, the wrong parts and/or improper installation can cause problems ranging from an annoying vibration to total failure that may result in a crashed car and injured occupants.

ur industry has accumulated history (lots of it) over the past many years. It’s because of this history that we now have iconic hot rods. Many of us know of and can talk about these memory makers. Interestingly, many of these hot rods are so well known we can speak of their peculiarities without having seen them in person. Such is the case with “The California Kid,” a chopped ’34 Ford three-window coupe that once belonged to Pete Chapouris of then Pete & Jake’s Hot Rod Parts. Oh, did I mention it has a distinctive flame paint scheme and the highly specific lettering on the door at the base of the window opening? (Today The Kid is owned by Jerry and Jason Slover, the current owners of Pete & Jakes, purchased in 1986, as well as Jim “Jake” Jacobs’ distinctive ’34 Ford coupe.) The California Kid ’34 Ford three-window coupe can be found in a movie, subject of model kits, and countless magazine articles. The Kid is a generational hot rod bringing together car types whose age difference spans decades, but their passion is totally in sync.