1933 Plymouth – The Hot Rod Institute’s Hot Rod

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Vehicle Quick Facts

Profile ID: 59130
Year: 1933
Make: Plymouth
Model:
Markets: Rod & Custom
Vehicle Type: American
Contact: Hot Rod Institute

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Vehicle Story

This 33 Plymouth Coupe was built by Hot Rod Institute and The Rod Shop at HRI. Like most Hot Rods it was built from parts we had laying around, with the exception of the wheels and tires, TKO600 5 speed Transmission. The Frame started out a blank 32 Ford rails from Speedway Motors. In our very first class in January of 2008 and student from KS want to build a frame, so we bought the rails and jigged it up and built a frame. We decided to pinch the front of the rails and had to buy a 32 Brookville grill shell. That's how the 33 Ply ended up with a 32 Ford Grill. The front suspension came from Speedway as well. The 9" ford (from a Lincon Versailles) was again just waiting to be use in a cool project. So, the frame was boxed, and front and rear suspension assembled, and we had a rolling chassis. Into storage for the next 10 years. Walking around a local swap meet we stumbled upon a nice 33 Plymouth body. it had a lot of surface rust, but it was very solid body. It was missing the driver's door, but came with a 34 Ply sedan door, (close enough for a fabricator) also missing was the deck lid. To find a deck lid for a 1933 Plymouth Coupe is like finding hen tooths. So, we decided to build our own deck lid, after all we are a fabrication school. The English wheel was our major tool of choice for the shaping of the deck lid skin. after the framework for the deck lid was made and fitted to the body, we rolled the skin for the deck lid. Not an easy thing to do with beginner students, but we work through it and it works and looks great. I had a lot of help with many different students and the build was a 5-year project. We did a mild 1.5 inch chop out of the windshield area and kept the rear of the roof stock height. We built a very strong floor using 3/4" thin wall tubing for the framework and sheeted both sides for a cool quiet ride. To mount he body on the frame, we had to modify the 32-ford frame. planning to run a Corvette LS 6 engine and TKO 5 Speed we had to Strech the frame 3 inches and lower the center section 3 inched, just to get the body to site right on the frame with those big 305/50/20 rear tires mounted on American Racing wheels (Gasser). We added Speedmaster's 8 Stack injection to the LS engine. Oh, we had to fabricate a Hood and side panel as well. Our Upholstery instructor wanted his hade and building a very cool custom interior. It has a milk cow theme and look awesome. We chose the olive custom candy base paint from Axalta Hot hues paint line. Had an HRI graduate to the painting and polishing and we have a very fun Hot Rod. The car already has many awards including best of show at the2022 Cool Deadwood Nites show in Deadwood SD. Not a bad car for a school built Hot Rod.

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