"To get somebody to bring that body from Prince Edward
Island to Western Canada was almost impossible," Bodnarchuk
said. "I was getting nervous because I had already paid
him for it. I didn't really know this guy from page two or page
13 or whatever. I was sweatin' a bit."
The 1932 Ford, often simply referred to as "the deuce,"
has been considered the idyllic hot rod throughout the history
of the hobby. Its design is simple and ideal for restoration
and customization. It housed Ford's first production V8 making
it relatively simple to install later V8's. "It's been
the hot rod since it was built," Bodnarchuk said of the
1932 Ford three-window coupe, the same model that has satisfied
his passion for hot rods over the last six years. 2007 marks
the 75th anniversary of the deuce.
Bodnarchuk began his project with an original 1932 Ford frame
rail and had the body manufactured in P.E.I. for two reasons:
he wanted to avoid the red tape involved with importing from
abroad and because of the manufacturing process used. Bodnarchuk's
body was built as one piece rather than in sections as many
manufacturers would. The whole body was placed into a vacuum
and resin was sucked through the fiberglass. "It's really
consistent, yet very light and very strong," Bodnarchuk
explained.
With the body manufactured to his liking and finally in his
hands, Bodnarchuk had the foundation for a project that would
consume a countless number of hours over the next six years
of his life. Bodnarchuk's deuce packs a 2000 Corvette 5.7
litre engine. To get that power to the ground he swapped in
an independent rear suspension from a 1975 Jaguar XJ12 and
a transmission from a 1998 Camaro 4L60E. With the help of
a co-worker, Gary, Bodnarchuk painted his car in the body
shop at his work.
Bodnarchuk's wife, Sandi, picked the colours and, with the
help of upholsterer John Scheels, designed the interior. The
seats in Bodnarchuk's hot rod are originally from a Honda
Accord.
The biggest shock of the build came when Bodnarchuk powered
up the thundering stereo his son in law, Grant Schmidt, persuaded
him into installing. "I turned it on and I just about
scared the crap out of myself," Bodnarchuk joked.
Dale Neduzak, an aircraft engineer to whom Bodnarchuk credited
his passion for hot rods, helped along the way and Keith Lalond,
a fellow member of the Manitoba Street Rod Association, helped
with some tricky welding.
After six years of work, Bodnarchuk rolled out his newest
project late last summer. He has put 145 kilometers on the
odometer since the end of August, but said he'll never consider
his hot rod complete. "With hot rods…you're never
done. You're always changing something or doing something.
Building it is half the fun. The other half is driving it."
CONTRIBUTORS
Melnick Motors, Pyramid Audio, Scheel's Auto Upholstery, Tinman
Auto, WesTrans.
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