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Street Beast builds......Tips, problems and solutions.

291K views 804 replies 73 participants last post by  shortsteven618 
#1 ·
Street Beasts is out of business, so is their tech support.
A couple of us thought it might be a good idea to have a thread where
tips, questions and solutions regarding these car kits can be discussed and hopefully solved. We seem to have a number of newer members with these kits and a number of members that have built these cars and have solved many of the problems. This thread would give these members to get together with their common problems and solutions.

We did have some employees of the company on our board a while back. Their input would be welcome I am sure too.

BTW, this thread is about the build, not the company that produced these kits. The mods will be monitoring the thread and talk of the company and policies of the company will be edited out or deleted, whatever it takes to keep it just about the build......so, lets keep it that way.

Since this thread will discuss a number of different subjects, from body to framework to suspensions etc, I thought it might be best to have this thread in the lounge.
 
#227 ·
Centerline said:
I don't think it matters one way or the other as long as you bill a replica as what it is.... a replica. Be it steel, fiberglass or papermache. My Deuce is a glass car and if someone asks that's about the first thing I tell them. When it comes right down to it, the only place it would make any difference is in a judged show where there was a distinction made between stock and modified. Anyone who would try to pass off a glass car as a "stock" vehicle (unless it's a Corvette or some other stock glass bodied car) should be booted from the show anyway. In non judged shows it doesn't matter. The NSRA (may they rest in piece) makes no distinction between steel or glass... but it does pay to be honest, so if its a reproduction or replica then the owner should say so if asked.

Centerline

I cannot imagine someone trying to pass a fiberglass as a metal in a judged show.. pretty hard to pass that one off! I agree that in any show, you present it as it is. I guess I'll just continue to represent mine as a '34 replica and leave it at that.
Thanks
Bart in FL
 
#228 ·
btsave said:
Centerline

I cannot imagine someone trying to pass a fiberglass as a metal in a judged show.. pretty hard to pass that one off! I agree that in any show, you present it as it is. I guess I'll just continue to represent mine as a '34 replica and leave it at that.
Thanks
Bart in FL
Doesn't have to be a fiberglass replica. There are some pretty nice steel reproductions around too. Brookville Roadster makes a very nice steel 32 3 window coupe and if done correctly, only a knowledgeable deuce guy would be able to tell the difference. There are also a couple excellent glass bodies that with some very minor mods could appear to be stock steel. The only way for most people to tell would be to stick a magnet against the body. The point is that it could be done if someone was bound and determined to be dishonest and do it.

Centerline
HotRodsAndHemis.com

"Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves." - Albert Einstein
 
#229 ·
Centerline said:
Doesn't have to be a fiberglass replica. There are some pretty nice steel reproductions around too. Brookville Roadster makes a very nice steel 32 3 window coupe and if done correctly, only a knowledgeable deuce guy would be able to tell the difference. There are also a couple excellent glass bodies that with some very minor mods could appear to be stock steel. The only way for most people to tell would be to stick a magnet against the body. The point is that it could be done if someone was bound and determined to be dishonest and do it.

Centerline
HotRodsAndHemis.com

"Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves." - Albert Einstein
I'm sure that's happened before. I've seen certain muscle cars (60's Mopars, Chevy Novas, etc.) clones trying to be being passed off as factory big block cars to the unsuspecting buyers, and unless you're savvy, you've just been screwed!
 
#231 ·
Street Beast

LaughingLarry said:
Thanks for picking up where Street Beast left off.
I guess I missed something, are you saying thanks for helping people where Street Beast didn't, or are you saying something else? This thread is for people that have the cars and need help with them. If you need help just ask. if not just read or give answers that will help. Please don't bash the cars as we have heard it all, and this forum is about helping, life is too short. :thumbup:

Welcome to the forum. :welcome: :thumbup:

Bob
 
#232 ·
35terraplane said:
Hey where you been? putting in some long ones on the car? How about some pictures.

Bob
Hi Bob,

All good here. In a series of unfortunate events, our shop is moving at a very slow pace. They're good people, but the gent working on our car, his father passed away and we'd rather wait for him than use someone else on the build.

Thanks for askin' Bob,
:thumbup:
Jay K.
 
#233 ·
Street Beast

JGK95 said:
Hi Bob,

All good here. In a series of unfortunate events, our shop is moving at a very slow pace. They're good people, but the gent working on our car, his father passed away and we'd rather wait for him than use someone else on the build.

Thanks for askin' Bob,
:thumbup:
Jay K.
I thought you and your dad were building it, you win the lottery. :thumbup:

Bob
 
#235 ·
35terraplane said:
I guess I missed something, are you saying thanks for helping people where Street Beast didn't, or are you saying something else? This thread is for people that have the cars and need help with them. If you need help just ask. if not just read or give answers that will help. Please don't bash the cars as we have heard it all, and this forum is about helping, life is too short. :thumb up: Bob
Oh, I'm NOT bashing mine! I got a great deal and am enjoying the heck out of it! Rebuilding the AOD tranny as we "speak"! Which I wouldn't do if I wasn't really appreciative of the car! I thrash this around like it'll take it all day, an haven't done that with ANY of my other rods in quite a while! I've been considering pin stripping "Made in Miami, USA" on the back trunk lid! Proud of her!
 
#236 ·
Street Beast

btsave said:
Oh, I'm NOT bashing mine! I got a great deal and am enjoying the heck out of it! Rebuilding the AOD tranny as we "speak"! Which I wouldn't do if I wasn't really appreciative of the car! I thrash this around like it'll take it all day, an haven't done that with ANY of my other rods in quite a while! I've been considering pin stripping "Made in Miami, USA" on the back trunk lid! Proud of her!
Just wasn't sure which way you were going, I have been running like a chicken with it's head cutoff, on too many threads.

Bob
 
#239 ·
In a hat tip to Randy aka NEW INTERIORS, we'll be molding the floor to the body as his suggestion was a better one. There's a gentleman who shows up to the shop every cruise night who's already built several of these cars. He also mentioned the same approach as well! :thumbup:
 
#240 ·
Misc Parts Search: wipers & rear lamps/ lens

Need to replace wiper arms/blades on the bottom mounted wipers of a '34 Coupe SB. Anyone know supplier/ part #'s? Having a heck of a time finding replacements that fit/work...

Also, broke rear lamp on same vehicle, are the supplied teardrop assemblies the same as what is sold for other '34; i.e. '39 teardrops? I ordered a set from Speedway yesterday and got to thinking that maybe they're different. Advise?

Thanks!

Bart in FL
 
#241 ·
Street beast

btsave said:
Need to replace wiper arms/blades on the bottom mounted wipers of a '34 Coupe SB. Anyone know supplier/ part #'s? Having a heck of a time finding replacements that fit/work...

Also, broke rear lamp on same vehicle, are the supplied teardrop assemblies the same as what is sold for other '34; i.e. '39 teardrops? I ordered a set from Speedway yesterday and got to thinking that maybe they're different. Advise?

Thanks!

Bart in FL
They should all be the same. If you would have looked, around other places sell just the lens, could have saved some money.

As far as the wipers, if you have one you can measure it and call, someone like Bob Drake, Carpenter, Yogi's might have them,Cody Parr, Just to name a few.

If you don't have one, or a wiper arm you could do some measuring to find what you need.

Bob
 
#242 ·
35terraplane said:
They should all be the same. If you would have looked, around other places sell just the lens, could have saved some money.
Good point, but had some corrosion in the bucket as well... plus the single bulb/dual filament seems to be brighter

35terraplane said:
far as the wipers, if you have one you can measure it and call, someone like Bob Drake, Carpenter, Yogi's might have them,Cody Parr, Just to name a few.
have yet to find anyone willing to measure their inventory item for me... so thought if anyone else had already "been there, done that..."
 
#243 ·
Street Beast

btsave said:
Good point, but had some corrosion in the bucket as well... plus the single bulb/dual filament seems to be brighter



have yet to find anyone willing to measure their inventory item for me... so thought if anyone else had already "been there, done that..."
Got ya on the light.

On the wiper do you have either one, the wiper arm or wiper.

Bob
 
#249 ·
Street beast

Big dog 34 said:
I hope some one has done this before. I just don't like AC, and wish to find a a way to install a cowl vent in my 34 coupe. I've looked but haven't spotted any one with a kit. Thank's guy's. Jim
Well I think it could be done, but you would have to make brackets so the cowl swings and also for the handle. You would almost need to get the stuff off of a real 34, and it still might not work. To me they are more trouble than they are worth. Dirt blows around, they take up room for something you might need more. JMO.

I have one in my 46 never open it, same in my 35 Terraplane, just never open, any little bit of dirt and it's flying around.

Bob
 
#250 ·
streetbeast help

Hi everyone.

I'm new to the forum and was looking for some information. Me and my father have been rebuilding a streetbeast 34 Ford coupe. We made the mistake of buying the car without seeing it, but whats done is done and what wasn't done right the first time soon will be. The car was fully assembled and a good driver when we got it, but my dad noticed some imperfections in the paint and decided almost immediately he wanted to paint it. Upon further inspection we noticed some places where the previous owner had cut a few corners. We decided to tear the car completely apart and rebuild it the way we wanted it. I had a few questions and was hoping someone out there could help me out. First off has anyone ever had any issues with one of your front fenders being wider than the other ( driver side is about 3/4 to 1'' wider). Second, I was pretty sure these cars came with 5x4.5 bolt patterns (generally Ford 8.8's or 9") but I was measuring the wheels the other day and noticed that it has 5x4-3/4. Is that unnusual? Camaro rear end maybe? Different front hubs? Last questions, for now, what combo wheel set ups are you guys running. We like torq thurt's, and more of a old school look with more tire in the back then giant wheels. Mayble 14's front, 15's back. Not sure what kind of backspacing to use though. Currently the car has 15x11's with 7"BS in the rear with no rubbing. The wide rear tires look great and do not rub, however we dont want to go with smoothies & white walls. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks Abunch,
Jason
 
#251 ·
Streetbeast

Jason0779 said:
Hi everyone.

I'm new to the forum and was looking for some information. Me and my father have been rebuilding a streetbeast 34 Ford coupe. We made the mistake of buying the car without seeing it, but whats done is done and what wasn't done right the first time soon will be. The car was fully assembled and a good driver when we got it, but my dad noticed some imperfections in the paint and decided almost immediately he wanted to paint it. Upon further inspection we noticed some places where the previous owner had cut a few corners. We decided to tear the car completely apart and rebuild it the way we wanted it. I had a few questions and was hoping someone out there could help me out. First off has anyone ever had any issues with one of your front fenders being wider than the other ( driver side is about 3/4 to 1'' wider). Second, I was pretty sure these cars came with 5x4.5 bolt patterns (generally Ford 8.8's or 9") but I was measuring the wheels the other day and noticed that it has 5x4-3/4. Is that unnusual? Camaro rear end maybe? Different front hubs? Last questions, for now, what combo wheel set ups are you guys running. We like torq thurt's, and more of a old school look with more tire in the back then giant wheels. Mayble 14's front, 15's back. Not sure what kind of backspacing to use though. Currently the car has 15x11's with 7"BS in the rear with no rubbing. The wide rear tires look great and do not rub, however we dont want to go with smoothies & white walls. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks Abunch,
Jason
Jason get a beer and get ready. First off welcome to the board.

My front fenders were not right, my back fender on the drivers side was a inch to wide so that meant the running board was too wide.
First off I wanted my front fenders to come down over the tire, as the front cross member is too wide. I have a older car, I don't think this was ever fixed by SB. So I had to widen the front fenders 2" each. I did all that by making a cut down the fender and onto the running board, I would keep opening them until I got 2"'s, and no pressure on it to pull back, so I had a big pie cut 3/4 of the way down the running board. Glassed it all together, a friend worked on one side, me on the other. Got done and put the hood sides on, the grille in, ( which had been laid back 3" already.) After putting it all together I noticed that the angle from the top of the fender to the bottom of the inside of the fender were not the same. There was no way that I was going to get that right. Check yours the drivers side was right on mine but could have been wider, as the other fender from the crown to the inner bottom was a steeper angle and would have made that fender not as wide.

I decided to cut the front fenders off and put different ones on. I ordered some Wescot fenders, They were already 2"'s wider. I measured everything out, so that I could cut them and fit them to the part was still on the car. When I cut the old fenders off I had to leave the part under the grille, as that was laid back. Got it all back together, I think it looks pretty good for all that we had to do.

I put a Jag rearend in mine that had Chev bolt pattern, so when I did the front I had it the same. I don't remember what size tires I have. Tires and wheels are pretty much what will fit and what you like. I will post some pictures of mine. I don't have the wheels or tires on it, also nothing is fitted in these pictures.

Bob
 

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