Southern Rodder Article

Hunter's Custom Automotive's '33 Ford Woodie

Article by Ron Zeurlau; Photos by Chuck Belew; Reprinted by Permission of Southern Rodder Magazine

It's been a while since we've featured a woodie in SRM so we thought you might like to see the rolling parts display wagon owned to Hunter's Custom Automotive in Nashville, Tennessee. Johnny and Linda Freund asked Bobby Alloway to build them a Woodie they could showcase the rod parts they have available in their retail store and mail order department. The '33 you see on these pages and the cover is the end result of their combined efforts.

First Bobby built one of his great custom chassis. We looked to Jerry Slover of Pete and Jakes Hot Rod Parts in Peculiar Missouri to supply the traditional tube axle, spindles, springs and spreader bars. A Mullin's steering gear box gives the Freund's directional control of the truck wagon. Johnny sells a ton of Billet Specialties accessories so it was only fitting that he used their steering column and billet steering wheel.

In the reat a Currie 9" Ford housing was suspended with coilovers and a panhard rod. Bobby installed Wilwood disc brakes on all four corners for adequate stopping power. The chassis was detailed to the max and it was time for the killer 502 cubic inch Chevrolet engine.

Miller Race Engines in Alcoa, Tennessee is responsible for all the machine work and the assembly of this motoring giant. The block was finished and a Comp Cam valve train assembly was installed in the block and the monster aluminum Holley cylinder heads. The cam is a hydraulic roller setup. For an intake maniford Johnny went to the shelf and pulled a polished Edelbrock two four unit. To the manifold he added a pair of 600cfm Edelbrock carbs. Fuel is fed to the carb via a Holley high volume electric fuel pump and all stainless steel fuel lines. Billet Specialties got the nod for all the engine dress up accessories. Sanderson Block Hugger headers are responsible for getting the gases from the engine to the giant Flowmaster mufflers and stainless steel exhaust system. The pullys are all Billet Specialties units as well. To put the power of the monster big block Chevy to the pavement Johnny selected a 350 turbo equipped with a B&M valve body, shift kit and a 3500 stall speed converter. The shifter chores are handled by one of Skip and Debbie Lokar's billet shifters.

The woodie body was built by Cecil Taylor and his staff at Hercules Motor Cars. The fit and finish of this car is just unbelievable. Every piece of the wood body is finished in a light maple stain and it contrasts beautifully with the Fly Yellow Dupont finish coat on the front end, running boards, and the rear fenders. Alloyway's Hot Rod Shop did an impeccable job on the assembly. Bobby's staff of Scott, Daniel, Jerry and Martin all had a hand in the project.

Inside the woodie you find....well...more wood. The slat headliner and the satin finish door and deck panels are again a tribute to the quality Hercules puts in every project body they sell. Paul Atkins was called upon to stitch the tan leather that covers the bucket seats and the huge stereo enclosure that sits above the axle riser. Tan wool carpet covers the entire floor of the drivers compartment and the cargo area.

Another master craftsman, Curt Cunningham, of the Carriage Works outdid himself on the winged billet dash panel. Auto Meter Special Edition gauges are used to keep a watchful eye on the big Chevy engine. For tunes, a killer Sony sound system was installed.

To finish the woodie in style it had to have a great set of big and little tires and wheels. Hunter's supplied the Billet Specialties 17" and 10" rears and the 15" x 6" fronts. BFGoodrich radials were then mounted on the wheels. Up front Johnny used 195/50/15" and on the rear 275/60/17". What a great rolling showcase for all the products that are available from Hunter's and the quality builders who were involved in the '33 Woodie project. Great job guys and gals and we are proud to feature the Hunter's Woodie on the pages of SRM.

SRMSpecs:

Specs:
Hunter's Custom Automotive's 1933 Ford Woodie Wagon,
Nashville, Tennessee
Color:
Dupont Products Fly Yellow
Engine:
502 cubic inch Chevrolet built by Miller Racing Engines in Alcoa, Tennessee. Comp Cams foller camshaft and valve train, Holley monster big block aluminum cylinder heads, Edelbrock dual quad polished manifold with two 600 cfm Edelbrock carbs. Holley electric fuel pump, Sanderson Block Hugger headers and Flowmaster exhaust.
Drivetrain:
Custom Alloway chassis with Pete and Jakes front end and suspension components. Mullins steering gear, Currie 9" rear end suspended with coilovers, Wilwood disc brakes all around, 350 B&M equipped automatic transmission.
Body:
Hercules Motor Car '33 Ford wooden body finished in light maple stain, Fly Yellow cowl, hood, front fenders and running boards, rear fenders. Alloway Hot Rod Shop is the builder.
Interior:
Hercules wood headliner and all door and inner body trim panels, Paul Atkin's tan leather seats and tan wool floor coverings, custom stereo box upholstered in tan leather, custom Carriage Works billet dash panel with Auto Meter Special Edition gauges, Sony sound system, Billet Specialties pedals and shift knob.
Wheels and tires:
Billet Specialties wheels 17" x 10" on the rear and 15" x 6" on the fronts, BFGoodrich radials 195/50/15" on the front and 275/60/17" on the rear.