Roger and Arnie decided to build a primered rod using parts they both had on the shelf. The guys found an old 1929 Ford roadster pickup body up north in Richland, Washington, and the project was off and running. The body was fixable but the bed was well gone. Roger went to Brookville for bedsides and the tailgate, retained the stake pockets, and shortened the sides 12 inches. Then, Arnie fabricated roll pans for the rear and sides. Roger could hardly get in when the guys mocked up the project. So, Arnie fabbed up 3-inch-longer quarter-panels. Perfect! Arnie then did a little surgery on a 1935 Ford dash, fitting it ideally just below the 2-inch chopped windshield. Roger prepared the body for paint, including the frame, wheels, and engine components. Roger’s good buddy, Hanson Hess, was up in Portland and helped finish the final paint in Transport Green. Then, the best in the business, Mitch Kim of Portland, did the Tommy The Greek–style pinstripes.

Meanwhile, starting with ASC 1932 Ford perimeter framerails, Arnie added engine mounts, master cylinder and pedal mounts, battery box, and wishbone mounts front and rear. The Tanks Inc. 1934 Mopar 14-1/2-gallon fuel tank was installed. Looking forward, we find the front suspension, which consists of a buggy-type spring, spilled wishbones, and a 4-inch drop axle. The front spindles are a 1939 Ford with chrome shorty shocks and 1937-1948 reproduction brakes. A steering column made by Arnie tops a Vega steering box.

On the other end, the suspension consists of split wishbones and a 1939 Ford reversed-eye front spring with two leaves removed. A dual reservoir backs Ford 11-inch drums. Roger’s shop gave the Ford engine a once-over by stroking it from 302 to 347 ci. The block was then blueprinted, and a Comp Cams roller cam was installed with aluminum Trick Flow heads, roller lifters, and rocker arms. The cool valve covers were lifted off a 1964 T-bird.

Fuel delivery is by a Speedway SBF Eliminator intake manifold topped by a 600-cfm Edelbrock carburetor. The air cleaner came by “swap meet.” The boys then got together and made the 1-1/2-inch headers and Arnie did the 2-inch exhaust system with turbo-style mufflers. A C-4 Ford tranny built by a friend, Bart Ouchida, is backed by a Superior torque converter with a 2,200-rpm stall speed. Driveline Services supplied the 42-inch driveshaft connecting the tranny to the Dutchman 31-spline axles and the 9-inch Ford third member. It houses a 3.50 Trac-Lok Eaton ring-and-pinion gears.

Jumping inside, you’re looking at Arnie’s work on a modified 1935 Ford dashboard. It is filled with early Hot Rod gauges by Classic Instruments. Juice is supplied by a swap meet wiring kit, which the owner installed. The original wrapped 1939 Ford steering wheel is joined in the cockpit by a Gennie shifter and seats from Shell Valley Cobra. Roger and Arnie did themselves proud by doing the upholstery in tan vinyl and installing the aircraft-type seatbelts.

Rolling stock includes wheels from a 1936-1937 Oldsmobile in size 4.5×16. Coker was given a ring and supplied the cool bias-ply Firestone whitewalls, front 4.5×16 and rear 7×16.

You may not have noticed the Von Dutch “Flying Eyeball.” There is a hole in the grille shell for the Ford image. Arnie made a half ball, fitted it with an O-ring, and inserted it into that hole. The artist of the brush, Mitch Kim, did the rest by emulating Von Dutch with the Flying Eyeball.

With so many builds these days on the printed page being of the megabuck variety, it is refreshing to see a true homebuilt project. The boys, Roger Klick and Arnie Chupp, have taken the term to the next level.