HPI Customs "ProRod" : 1940 Plymouth (Pro Touring meets Street Rod?)
 

Here is another HPI project. Don't really have a name for it, but I guess it could be a merging between Street Rodding and Pro Touring? I tend to think street rods are generally unusable or too over the top that you loose some comfort and functionallity, but we wanted to do something different on this car.

Our customer also wanted to keep the patina "for now" ( as the project went on he started to regret it, and it looks like when we are finished he will drive it for a summer and then we are tearing it down for paint) I hate rat rods, but theres nothing ratty about this car.

The car is super minty for the age, considering it didnt come from a dry state like Cali. Notice no real fender dents etc... On original 6 volt flathead 6 cylinder it drove to Back to the 50s weekend twice (8 hours each way) and the story goes on and on. Our client bought it from his friend, and promised not to paint it.

The basic list is as follows:
2008 5.7 HEMI
525 auto trans
8 3/4 Mopar rear end
Kore3 Brakes
Air ride Shockwaves
MustangII with some geometry tweaks
triangulated 4 link (done on computer program, not just put where it fits!)
Accuair Suspension controller
Hotwire ECU/harness
Afco Rad
HPI rad shroud
HPI 3 inch stainless exhaust
Custom hand made dashboard
Touchscreen stereo
GPS
GPS driven speedo
HPI CNC gauge cluster and other CNC goodies
Corbeau seats
Newport wipers (modified)
American Autowire Highway 22 harness
Coys wheels
Goodyear Eagle F1's
Electric life power windows
Linear actuated trunk
Tons of other mods!

Here is the start
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...youthstart.jpg

The frame was modified on our frame table. From the front clip to the narrowed rear frame and suspension design.

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...framestart.jpg
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...sionmockup.jpg
Here is our "bends" for the rear frame. 4 sided laser cut 3/16 welded together.... I know its not one piece rails, but we couldnt get some of these bends out of a bender, and we fishplate/gusset everything!
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...framebends.jpg
The start of our rear crossmember with integrated exhaust mounts and shockwave mounts
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...rameboxing.jpg

Please ignore the crappy compressor, it was humble beginnings before we could afford proper stuff!!! But here is the rear rails installed
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...amerailsin.jpg

Rear suspension install. Triangulated 4 link, with all the suspension points plotted in a program to "theoretically" give us a decent roll center and traction. I'm not an engineer, but the numbers are ok.

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...uspension1.jpg
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...uspension2.jpg

Front and rear brakes are Kore3 C5 stuff. The rear is interesting, its for a ford 9 inch but we made custom housing ends that use mopar axles and torino offset/bolt pattern.

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...metable1-1.jpg
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...rearbrakes.jpg

Here is the frame on the ground!
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...edoutframe.jpg
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...Rod/frame2.jpg

Machined body mounts (ok so it HAS to be pro touring if it has these right? :_paranoid )
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...bodymounts.jpg
Trial body mounting
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...bodymockup.jpg
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/..._9452small.jpg
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/..._9445small.jpg
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...odymockup2.jpg

Here is the custom firewall. Those hemis are huge! Had to do a 6 inch setback, BUT the plymouths had a larger interior compartment that the dodges, and our client is shorter so its ok. Plus we raised the floor a bit, so we tried to get rid of the bent knee street rod syndrome

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/.../firewall1.jpg

Custom floors and wheel tubs
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...rearfloor1.jpg
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...rearfloor2.jpg
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...rontfloor1.jpg

And the front
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...od/mockup3.jpg

I got more to show, but its pretty late. Enjoy!

nice work. looking forward to your progress

I vote to keep the paint as is, as long as it's not fake patina. :thumbsup:
Nice work !

Its real patina all right! :yes: The only fake patina on it is around our body mods and repair, to try and hide it!!!!

I dont know, when I post some pics of all the front end components in the engine bay in original green, it looks pretty slick. I am torn right now, don't know which way I would go.

Wow. Looks great. Nice job on the chassis.
Keep us posted.:thumbsup:

Very cool! Nice work.