My '46 Austin gasser project

2421083 Views 1655 Replies 48 Participants Last post by 1937Austin, 2 mo ago

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · Mar 28, 2011 (Edited)

Decided I'm going to start doing the bodywpork on the Austin soon. I planned to wait until this fall, but I don't want to drive it all spring and summer with the ugly original paint.
I'm going to do one panel or fender at a time, then shoot black epoxy sealer on them as I finish each one. That way I can enjoy it and drive it as I progress. I'll save the doors for last, so I can keep the name on them as long as possible.
I wired an alarm system in the trunk today, with dead pin switches on all the doors, trunk lid, tilt frontend, and motion switch. No door locks on the old Austin, so we were concerned about it. With plans to put lots of miles on the Austin, I don't want to be concerned about going in somewhere to eat and not be able to see it from a booth or table.

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mt94ss

· #2 · Mar 28, 2011

At least someone is working on their car! I need more hours in a day.

Besides having someone tow your car away, have you thought of a keyed kill switch? I have one on my old truck and it was easy enough to install. Just need to make it a little harder for someone to take so they either don't try or just give up.

It's too cool of a car to get swiped.

Later,

Mike

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 29, 2011

I already have a battery disconnect sw. with a removeable key, so got that covered. I wired the alarm ahead of the sw. and the ignition side of the alarm after the sw. to make the alarm stay hot. It's the only thing I have connected ahead of the sw. so it will help keep thieves from driving away. I just wanted something else to keep them from getting inside, or jacking it up. I wont be taking any overnight trips, but just wanted some extra protection for when I'm parked and not around it, like a restaurant, or bigger car show.
These Austins didn't have any door locks when they were new, and I've looked at some solenoids, or some kind of electric lock, but most just don't seem like they would work on my car.

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 29, 2011

Almost forgot a question I wanted to ask you Mike! I saw in a reply you mentioned that your '55 used to be a 4DR? Did I read that right? Did you convert it to a 2dr. from a 4dr sedan? That's a pretty big job I assume? I've been trying to talk my buddy with that orange and black 4dr into making it a 2dr, but he thinks he's gone too far to take that step back now.

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 2, 2011

Picked up these cool old school modified Corvette valve covers at the swap meet on Thursday. They'll look much better on the Austin's 327 than the new plain polished aluminum that I have now!

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DaveS

· #6 · Apr 2, 2011

Great score man!!! Going to look great on the Austin, for sure!!!! The covers sure do look to be in excellent condition, somebody must have really taken care of them!!!

mt94ss

· #7 · Apr 3, 2011

1946Austin said:
Almost forgot a question I wanted to ask you Mike! I saw in a reply you mentioned that your '55 used to be a 4DR? Did I read that right? Did you convert it to a 2dr. from a 4dr sedan?

Yeah, I'm going to do a build thread on what I did to where I am now. It's just going to take some time. I did the conversion myself with donor 2-door sedan parts. I think it was way easier than doing a chop or the like.

I spent all day at the swap meet and the only thing that I managed to need was a manual trans pedal assembly.

Mike

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 3, 2011

Were you over there today Mike?

mt94ss

· #9 · Apr 3, 2011

1946Austin said:
Were you over there today Mike?

ALLLLLLLLL day

My feet are killing me!

mt94ss

· #10 · Apr 3, 2011

Woo Hoo Mark! Musta been the tilt front that clinched it!

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 3, 2011

mt94ss said:
ALLLLLLLLL day My feet are killing me!

Mine are still hurting, and probably will be for days!

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 4, 2011

Got the valve covers installed today. I really like them way better than those billet looking ones I took off!

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406Rich

· #13 · Apr 4, 2011

Val those fit the build perfectly.....

Marks63PontiacGasser

· #14 · Apr 4, 2011

Guys I'm sorry I must have come back and made a double post. I was tired after the all day show and probably should have done this morning. Did not mean to jump into your thread 46. Mark L

mt94ss

· #15 · Apr 4, 2011

Nice valve covers, Vall. What is an Orvett? They fit the car much better than billet. Cool anyway!

I used to love it when my dad, when he was in his 70's used to tell people that he had a 'Vette... they'd say 'No Way!'... then he'd show them his Chevette!

Looks like you did much better at the meet than I did. If you need somewhere to put those 10" slots, I think that they would fit on the back of my '55.

Is there a remote locking mechanism, like for a street-rod, that would work for your car, since most 30's cars didn't lock either? Would you have to replace the whole door latch mechanism? Maybe check with Zigs, or Wescott around here to see if they know.

Later,

Mike

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1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #16 · Apr 4, 2011

Marks63PontiacGasser said:
Guys I'm sorry I must have come back and made a double post. I was tired after the all day show and probably should have done this morning. Did not mean to jump into your thread 46. Mark L

No problem Mark! I saw that and was a bit puzzled, but I've done it too, so figured it was one of those things!

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #17 · Apr 4, 2011 (Edited)

mt94ss said:
Nice valve covers, Vall. What is an Orvett? They fit the car much better than billet. Cool anyway!

I used to love it when my dad, when he was in his 70's used to tell people that he had a 'Vette... they'd say 'No Way!'... then he'd show them his Chevette!

Looks like you did much better at the meet than I did. If you need somewhere to put those 10" slots, I think that they would fit on the back of my '55.

Is there a remote locking mechanism, like for a street-rod, that would work for your car, since most 30's cars didn't lock either? Would you have to replace the whole door latch mechanism? Maybe check with Zigs, or Wescott around here to see if they know.

Later,

Mike

Orvett was the prototype sportscar from Chevy, but after some careful consideration the people at Chevrolet wanted something that started with a "C", so the name was changed for the production model!

The swap meet was very good to me! The 10" Ansens and slicks will see some occasional use either on the drag strip, or for fun at a few cruises.
I also got a chrome tube grille for the '69 Suburban for $5! It's for the later Burb without the center bar mine has, so I'm going to cut the two center tubes out to make it fit above and below my center bar. My plastic grille portion is broken, so this will clean it up and give it a custom look.
Haven't looked much into remote locks, although the alarm does have a remote lock wire for it. I did find a pair of door handles at Old Car Parts that Joe had cheap, and they fit the Austin perfectly, plus had keys. Problem was they had to be turned to a odd position to enable the key to be turned, and the handle looked cheap. I bought them figuring I could cut and weld the square shaft to make them level when locked, but after test fitting them they just loooked ugly, so took them off. Hopefully between the battery disconnect, and the alarm it wont get away from me! I don't plan on being away from it really.

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406Rich

· #18 · Apr 6, 2011

Val how bout a micro brake switch, turn the switch on hit the pedal once, all brakes locked...

DaveS

· #19 · Apr 6, 2011

Dakota Digital makes a very nice remote lock (keyless entry) system. Their solenoids are rated at 45 lbs. I've installed them on a number of different Hot Rods and no problems. With a bit of wiring and relay work, the remote can be used to roll down the windows or most any other electrical function. These days all the systems do little more then keep the honest people honest, when the big time thieves want your car, it's gone.......

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #20 · Apr 6, 2011

406Rich said:
Val how bout a micro brake switch, turn the switch on hit the pedal once, all brakes locked...

Problem with a brake sw. is it takes battery power, and I'm not sure how much power they draw. I'd hate to come out to a dead battery after a couple nights with the solenoid on.

Thanks Dave! My alarm system has a door lock relay, so I'll check into solenoid plungers. The back doors lock from the inside, as do the fronts, so I could put them on just the front doors and secure it.

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