1954 Chevy Dead Sled

I'll give you a hint.

Chris55 wrote:I'll give you a hint.

yeah yeah

That's the way I'm heading but more of them.

ok

 

Yeah Chris. That's IT!

Alright guys. Back to the quarters. Went this morning and grabbed 10' of 2" pipe. It's about to get interesting.

I know that most don't like continental kits but I have always wanted a sled with one. This will be it.

I came up with two styles One is like the Ford coming straight down the other is an arch. What do you guys think? I'm leaning towards the straight down like the Ford.

This is just mocked up. You have to use your imagination a bit.
Here the arch.





Here is the one I think I'm leaning too... No arch, just kicked back and down.

I did some horse trading and ended up with a 56 chevy front bumper. I had to drive all the way to Louisville Kentucky to get it but it was worth the drive....


The bumper is too high as it sits not. I have to adjust it. It will be dropped down 2 or 3 inches to get it level with the bottom of the car.

THAT CONTINENTAL KIT LOOKS ABOUT LIKE WHAT JEFF AND I DID ON THE BACK OF MY MERC. IF IT'S A SLED, IT'S GOT TO HAVE A CONTINENTAL KIT. THE ONLY THING IS IF YOU GET IT TOO LONG AND LOW IT GETS HARD TO GO UP ALMOST ANY INCLINE. I THINK MY BUMPER ENDED UP ABOUT 18" BACK FROM ORIGINAL. THAT'S ALMOST TOO FAR.

Doug if you pull up in the driveway at first glance it looks like your car with the kit on the rear.

I have eyeballed that green one many times.

Reb Stew wrote:Doug if you pull up in the driveway at first glance it looks like your car with the kit on the rear.

Yeah buddie, mine was a well finshed piece just like yours. We used one of those spare tire mounts for the front of an RV/Pickup that has a lever and flips down. I was always going to have a friend make some pans to cover the frame in the rear but never got around to it. Guess it just wasn't that high on the list. That's all going to change now though. The old Merc will still have the continental but won't be quite as long. Make sure that thing will fit in the garage when you're done. Mine was within an inch or so of being too long. Jeff and I got lucky on that one. LOL

Slope it steve like a 54 merc

I tried and tried to get that 2" tube to bend. It isn't happening with what I have here. It kinks in the tube bender. I cut relief cuts in it and tried to bend it. I can get it to the angle but with such a hard bed it would kink the outside part. I got tired of messing with it. I found these two 1 1/2 elbows in my scrap pile. I can shape the metal around this and get a better look than dealing with the kinks and dents from the bend in the 2".

Again you have to use your imagination a little. It's no where near close to done but you get the shape.

FalconEddie1964 wrote: THE ONLY THING IS IF YOU GET IT TOO LONG AND LOW IT GETS HARD TO GO UP ALMOST ANY INCLINE.  I THINK MY BUMPER ENDED UP ABOUT 18" BACK FROM ORIGINAL.  THAT'S ALMOST TOO FAR.

I checked while I was outside. this one is 12" from stock.

Grabbed some 1/4" round stock to start the shape.

Crucial wrote:if the bumper was tucked in a little more so that you didnt have the flat spot above it, it would look alot better ...

I'm with Nick on this...too much bumper coupled with the long flowing bodywork makes it seem excessively long out back.

Later,

Lee

That is looking really good, Steve! Love seeing you save this '54 from certain death by garage rot.  

Later,

Lee

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Saw this on FB.  It's For Sale on Craigslist $50,000.  How about a rear like that if it's worth that much.  Started life as a 54 Ford convertible.  The front was even more futuristic.  Thought you might want to duplicate this.  LOL

Someone got a new pipe bender for Christmas. lol

How about these tail lights.  No idea what they are but they look pretty cool.