1954 Nash Metropolitan Convertible
The customer already started on this car before he brought it to us. It has had custom suspension installed; the engine, transmission and everything in the cockpit has been removed. We are to fine tune the suspension, fit it with a Buick V-6 engine and transmission, late model steering column, aftermarket brake system, fabricate a firewall, transmission tunnel, front floors, steering linkage and install the wiring along with anything else it needs to get it up and running.
Click on a photo to enlarge.
This is Fred (right) and the customer unloading the car off the trailer when it first arrived at our shop.
Here's Fred adjusting the front suspension. The front crossmember had to be moved about an inch to achieve the proper wheel base alignment and ride height.
This is what the engine compartment looked like before engine mock-up...
and this is after. Notice the majority of the firewall had to be cut out to make room for the larger-than-stock engine and transmission.
Here's Fred using screws to hold the custom fabricated firewall in place...
so he could weld it in.
This is what the engine compartment looked like after everything was final welded...
and this is after all the welds were cleaned up and it was painted.
We made the transmission crossmember so it can be removed.
Fred's pointing to the gusset that was added to the engine mount. To the right of his hand is a gusset plate that was added to tie the new front stub into the existing frame (something that should have been done by whoever put the stub in); 2 were needed for both front and rear of the stub. These gussets were added on both sides of the car.
Here's what the firewall, transmission tunnel and floors looked like in the cockpit after final welding and clean up...
and this is after paint.
This is the late model steering column we used for this car before we modified it...
and this is after. We removed about 9 inches from it to get it to fit.
The steering linkage was carefully planned so it would clear the obstacles yet not bind.
An aftermarket brake booster was installed on the firewall.
This is what the pedals ended up being...
and this is showing the modified late model steering column.
Here's the finished steering column/linkage in the engine compartment without the engine...
and this is with the Buick V-6 engine. Now you can see why we have so many hyme joints. That's one tight fit!
The customer wanted the holes in the dash filled in...
so we removed the dash from the car, welded in patch panels, ground down the welds...
media blasted it...
and shot primer on it.
Here's the dash reinstalled in the car with new aftermarket gauges.
Fred modified the headers to gain proper clearances.
Because the headers have to wrap around the starter on the right side, they stick out more than on the left side and that caused a clearance issue that had to be dealt with. We notched the frame rail...
and plated it so no strength is lost.
This view shows the notched frame while looking down beside the engine.
A custom fan shroud was fabricated to utilize a stock mechanical fan.
The exhaust system was installed at our favorite muffler shop...
then we loaded the car on our trailer and delivered it to the customer.