The craze for quite some time now has been to drop a GM LS engine into an older vehicle. Modern technology mixed with vintage styling has plenty of advantages. But putting a modern and reliable drivetrain with more horsepower into an older vehicle definitely isn’t a new concept. This 1936 Chevrolet Coupe, submitted by reader Rocco B. and found here on Craigslist, is a great example of that.
The owner claims to be only the second owner and said that they parked this old hot rod in the barn in 1972. It wouldn’t have been uncommon to park a 36-year-old Chevy in the barn after those years of service, but this one would be a little bit different than the rest. Right away you’ll notice that the original engine has been replaced by a small block Chevy. This 265 cubic inch engine and transmission were robbed from a 1956 Chevy pickup.
The seller doesn’t state whether any go-fast goodies were put in place when swapping the powertrain, but it wouldn’t be too hard to speculate that some level of hot rodding would have happened during its time on the road. The interior is said to be gone. I’m not sure if this means literally gone or gone in the sense that it’s seen better days.
For those interested in vintage hot rods, this car would be worth checking out. This would have been the LS swap project of that time and it would be great if someone saved it as such. This car would be great with a redone interior, a matte clear over the patina, and some new life back in that 265 V8. Is the $5,800 about right for a project like this?
You can’t stop rust by painting over it, in fact it will probably excelerate the decay the body needs to be properly prepared which would include rust inhibitors. If you like RUSTINA then you might as well leave it bare and let it go to $h!t. As for the car one of my favorite cars this and the 37 coupe as well. I personally would have put in a 250 cid or a 292 cid inline six cylinder with four speed gear box. It would look more authentic and would get rid of that old oil slinger ( sorry Geomechs). I’d paint it forest green with black fenders or light brown with dark chocolate brown fenders. These always look prettier in a two tone paint. Custom interior would be fine by me too. You’d be surprised at the nice seats that can be had for cheep out of the boneyard. Nice find.
Pretty much agree totally with your comments and the 292 sounds good also but being and early 265.a rebuild would be fine also. Had a very nice 37 coupe 350, 400 trans, Ford 9″ Mustang 11 front, tilt wheel, body stock except tires and wheels. Loved it but bought it and didn’t build it so it never felt like it was mine.
Looks like surface rust to me. If this is an original CA car it may be relatively sound. In any case it’s really just a shell. You’d be better off pulling the old drivetrain and replacing it with something more modern. Probably no more expensive than rebuilding and upgrading. I’ll bet you could buy it for $4k if you flashed the cash, and since it’s in Sacramento you could stop by the Rancho Cordova graveyards and pick out a nice interior or two, plus engines, trannies, etc.
No need to be sorry, Mark, I agree with your comments as well. If you’re going to keep the rust, then WD-40 is the best way to preserve it. A clear coat will just seal the rust in and drive it inwards.
I’m completely satisfied with a 216 babbitt pounder, which is a good improvement over the original 3-main 6 it would’ve had. But if I was changing the engine I’d probably stay more with a 235 or 261, but there’s nothing wrong with a 250/292, or even an SBC. I sure don’t object to an SBC in an early Chevy. Keep it in the family…
I’ve herd from many sources that we Canadians say sorry a lot. In fact so much so that there are provisions in our laws that state saying sorry is not an admission of guilt. We also say eh! a lot. Sorry guys for going off topic eh!
I agree with the 261 that was a pretty good engine
I agree👍👍👍👍👍
My ’36 coupe high school project with original black paint cost $15.00. The 265 and powerglide was $40.00. They came out of a Chebby wagon. I sold the car two years later for a ’59 MGA thinking that the ’36 was why I couldn’t get dates. Still couldn’t due to the MGA’s electrical humidity related problems. Never dawned on me that it was because I was an ugly kid.
“My” coupe still exists and is driven as much as possible. The family of the boy I sold it to won’t sell it back to me. Don’t blame ’em.
love this car
Wash and vacuum then drive as is!
Lots of rust, but will be beautiful restored and painted. Hope someone saves this one.
This needs saved & painted … patina be damned
Not everything has to have an LS.
I hope that fad passes quickly.
Is this car really worth $5800?
It will pass about as quick as the small block chevy fad.
If I had found this car a few years back I would hasve bought on the spot for asking price . Bet it would get more here in Phoenix .
Arley
Me to ,LS is so boring 😴
Revive the 265 V-8 and the powerglide
tranny, add a new interior, PAINT THE
DAMNED CAR, and enjoy this old gal
for what she is–a great old school hot
rod that would give you years of faithful
service. Saw a lot of cars like this at the
1st annual Street Rod Nationals in Peoria,
Ill. Folks back then actually built cars like
this themselves using whatever parts they had to build them with. There was
a lot of inginuety being shown in these
cars too. I met such a builder in Peoria
that owned a ’41 Stude sedan powered
by a 225 slant 6 and Torqueflite tranny.
His car wasn’t finished, but he drove it
there anyway. And seeing this car
brought all those wonderful memories
back again. Pre-fabbed rods are nice,
but builders are best!
Nope. This is worth maybe $1000
Dark burgundy with black fenders..3fitty/4sp
Silverado high back buckets
If money were no object I’d stuff it with a bunch of Ford. OK, ok, not really. I’d probably want to preserve that old time hot rodder’s hard work. But I’d think about it.
should be gone already……
265 V8 with a wooden framed body. Awesome combination. Not.
Sorry Wayne 1936 was the first year for the all steel body. It would of been very hard to wood frame this body style, just too many curves. I would love to have it, and I have a 261 to stuff in it. But to many projects right now.
HI, I have a 36 it has a wood frame around doors ,rear glass and bottom of cab. I’m in the process of a frame up build. 327 4 speed. I’m retired and enjoying life. Thanks Alan