arturos 36

[elturo]

I recently picked up this 36! Now that my 50 Shoebox is "done" - I'm so stoked that after years of trying to buy this car, "he finally gave it up!" I've always wanted a 36 and feel that it's one of the holy grails of pre war cars.
I feel privileged to have this car look forward to learning about it and sharing my progress with everyone.

[cmbrucew]

elturo
Welcome to the ford barn.
Nice coupe. I had one about 50 years ago. Merc engine, glaspacks, and two speed rear.
Enjoy your nice ride.
Bruce

[Willit Stop]

Looks great! I finished mine up a couple of years ago.I'll help if I can.

[dwaynec]

Welcome to the barn! That is one nice looking coupe. Have fun with it.

[38Tudor]

Great car! Have fun!
I love the 36!

[green50]

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That's one beautiful car! Congrats and good luck!

[PeterC]

Very noce - Some more details?

- does it have a drive train? - looks light up front
- was the body/floor pans previously repaired for rust etc - looks really nice
- is the interior complete?

What are your plans for what she'll be?

[elturo]

Thank you everyone! So far the only major rust issue I have found is in the trunk. The rest is pretty good. Floors are solid and rust free or little to very minor rust. My Plan. Get it running and drivable. I plan to leave the body alone/stock. I want to run 15" with 6.70x15 bias. Lower the rear somehow and run skirts. I'm thinking 4" dropped axle and disc brakes up front. Some say do a mustang 2? I have already a 289 that I will be using. Any feedback would be appreciated.

[elturo]

A few goods I have. Obviously I need to do something to the top.

[Fe26]

Welcome to the Barn. You are right, the '36' is IMO one of the Holy Grails of prewar Ford design. Your car reminds me so much of one I had and then foolishly sold.

Glad you are keeping the body stock, not so glad to hear what else is on offer but that's your choice. One thing I will say (hoping to persuade you) I watched as two car designers on Top Gear were asked to design a 'new' sports car. Neither designer could see what the other was doing. Both men started by drawing the wheels first, then they drew the wheel arches to suit. Clarkson commented on their approach and both men said the wheels were the fundamental design element for a car. Get that right and everything else follows.

Since then I've looked and looked again at 15" wheels on arches designed for 16" wheels and, I've had to agree...

[the cooch]

'36's are definitely among the coolest Fords! Beautiful lines everywhere and well engineered /constructed. Lowering/ brake conversion thread by "mr will" on a '35 here recently that is awesome. If you want to run the patina and keep it original looking, consider a later flathead drivetrain and juice brake system that requires only parts juggling to fit instead of frame and inner panel cutting on what appears to be a really clean car. I'll cut up some sheet metal if there's no rescuing the vehicle or it's a part of a car I've never met, but a '36 would have to be wrecked badly up front before I'd consider grafting in a modern front clip, and even then I wouldn't if I could help it. Might chop a roof on one of those, cause Joehnck's car looked so f'in' awesome... But I digress- jealous for sure, congrats! Whatever you decide to do just make it niiiiiiiiiice, it's a really fine example of early, American industrial design, that you see everyday but can make a great modern ride. It may be so clean I'd vote restoration, at least mechanically. Enjoy your car how you want to is the bottom line, they've made great chicken coops for people too! -Chris

[jrvariel48]

Very nice! Good luck!!

[elturo]

Fe26 - I guess I'm considering 15's because I want to lower the car as much as possible without bagging it. I'm just not sure about clearance with the 16's. IMO stance can make a break or a car. I want it to sit low but still be drivable. I'm thinking I will most likely c notch the rear. I'm not saying 16's are out, i'm just starting to do my homework.

[elturo]

@chris the cooch - I ran a flathead in my shoebox for a while and it was one thing after another. So i'm 110% done with them. Just not for me, however I highly respect the guys that do run them. I want to be able to drive this thing at high hwy speeds for long distances... you know. 65-100 mph! At least I'm keeping it all ford and not dropping in 350 as so many people say I should do. I thought the drop axle & discs up front was the way to go keeping it more traditional than a mustang 2. Split the wishbones. I left the drums on my my 50' and it kinda sucks. At this stage, i'm just seeing what's out there for what I want to use the car for. The outside and inside I'm trying to keep original, just want to really make it a driver. I'm just learning about the 36 and do plan try and not hack on it as much as possible.

thanks and i look fwd to your input and advice.

[41ford1]

Reverse eye springs front & rear and 580 Lbs of flat head power will make the stance more to your liking. Removing 2 or 3 leafs from each end will drop it a bit more and soften the ride. You may find a C notch won't be needed.
You have a good one to start with. Have fun making it the way you want. Please keep us posted.

[Bassman/NZ]

Much as I would love to see it with hydraulic drums and a flathead, I think your ideas of dropped axle, discs, and SBF are sound, and the best part is it can all be done with no cutting of frame or body panels. Chassis Engineering and Hot Rod Works (amongst others) will be your friends in this instance. Please dont ever consider bagging it. Bagging is an invasive abomination. Also there are kits for the roof.
The best car I ever owned in my life was a 36 5W coupe, with worked Merc engine, skirts, lowered all round, straight copper pipes that glowed in the dark and custom upholstery. I must have had a brain explosion when I swapped it for a channeled fenderless 34 coupe. Sigh......

[Fe26]

elturo, this might be a good time for you to check out our sister site The H.A.M.B. The guys and gals over there are more tuned into your approach than many of us here.

[elturo]

Originally Posted by Fe26

elturo, this might be a good time for you to check out our sister site The H.A.M.B. The guys and gals over there are more tuned into your approach than many of us here.

Thanks Fe26. I'm very familiar with the hamb. I'm just looking on a fresh set of eyes with this build. I know what language they will use. Bag it, chop it, mustang2, taildragger, SBC... etc. I'm sure I will eventually post a thread on the hamb. Right now I was hoping to learn about the 36 in it's original state, so I can make decisions on what to do & what not to do. The car is so nice that I am trying to keep it as original as possible. How do I do this and make it a comfortable safe driver? Or do I build it oirginal, right, stock, and buy a trailer?
I appreciate eveyones opinions and value the input everyone has to offer. Maybe I'll go with a flattie.. we'll see !

[Tinker]

How low do you want to go?

A 2"-3" drop axle will get the front down without splitting the bones. Reverse eye and longer shackles in the back.

I'm not a fan or M2 setups only because I like straight axles in the old fords. But, I'm sure it will get you low and the ride will be nice as well.

I prefer the look of 16" wheels as well.

Are you planning on using the 3sp and banjo behind the sbc?

[elturo]

Tinker- thanks for the input. I'm liking the 3" drop idea & reverse eye /shackles idea. I could probably get away with 16's up front ? Is it a bad idea to go 16 up front and 15' rear? I'm looking at magnum drop axles.

I'm for sure NOT going with a M2 front end or SBC.

Since I have a 289 SBF, I was thinking ford 9" rear end.