Some believe I've crossed over to the dark side. 39/40 vs. '36

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 1952henry

I will enjoy following along.

Well, I suppose I should try to "catch up" with you guys.

Thus far, well, I'm having a blast. Amazing how much less anxiety there is NOT restoring a car as I'd done for decades.
So, thus far (as it comes to me) some of what I have done:

*Disassembled the entire rear chassis. New gaskets, seals and NOS bearings. Ring / pinion are beautiful.
*NOS rear spring installed along with NOS shackle pins.
*Rebuilt transmission. Used mostly NOS gears from '38 so helical vs. original spur cut. Should shift easier and run quieter.
*Rebuilt clutch assembly and NOS universal joint of course.
*Brakes: Drums are at 12.000" and appear to be new / never used. They are beautiful. I have installed a NOS cross shaft mechanism (old one was shot), all NOS clevis's and last but not least, Ted's floater kit.
Amazingly, even the backing plates are gloss black on the inside.
*NOS exhaust system from front to back, including correct muffler
*Front chassis was quite tight. I did install a NOS spring and shackle pins.
*Rebuilt steering gear assembly. Gears were great but figured a good time to clean it out and replace bearings and seals / gaskets.
*Engine: Ah, the engine. I did take it mostly apart. It appears to have been rebuilt. .060" over, crank is .010" / .010". No cylinder ridge, no wear.
Cleaned everything very well and reassembled. Managed to obtain a pair of NOS aluminum heads and will install those before I put the front clip back in place.
*Rebuilt (correct) fuel pump, water pumps, carburetor, distributor, generator, etc. Just got a set of NOS plugs yesterday to install.
*Radiator has been boiled / rodded out.
*Okay, don't laugh but I did install a NOS governor. I removed the throttle plates, so it's only purpose is appearance. It is not functional.

I have been busy as time allows.
So, what ya think? I'm crazy? Or?

[Bored&Stroked]

That is a great addition to your stable! When I think back on it, I don't know if I've ever seen a 36 panel? What a fun project to NOT restore to perfection. You'll be able to drive it and not care about every little thing being perfect. If a broom handle falls against a fender - who cares, etc..

I've always thought that I need to acquire a 36 3 window or roadster some day . . . some day . . . some day! LOL

[tubman]

I thought you made the right decision, but after what you found, I'm sure you did. I've taken apart some where the grease shields still had shiny black paint, but never the backing plates.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by tubman

I thought you made the right decision, but after what you found, I'm sure you did. I've taken apart some where the grease shields still had shiny black paint, but never the backing plates.

I am still a bit perplexed as to why this truck received a rebuilt engine and then apparently wasn't used too much after that. Last time it was on the road was at least as far back as 1964.

I do think you guys "pushed" me in proper direction on this project and to you and the others, a big thanks!

[oldbugger]

To your question in post 61, yes your crazy, like so many of us. Wonderful plan

[Kube]

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Originally Posted by oldbugger

To your question in post 61, yes your crazy, like so many of us. Wonderful plan

Um, thanks?

Nah, seriously, I feel I am in great company

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by tubman

I thought you made the right decision, but after what you found, I'm sure you did. I've taken apart some where the grease shields still had shiny black paint, but never the backing plates.

When I first got my 32 Cabriolet, I noticed that the oil-change stickers only went up to about 5,000 miles in 1957 . . . and it had been up on blocks since about 1959 or so.

Also, all the tires were very old pre-WWII type stuff - down to the cords. They were probably from the wartime, and it had not been driven much afterwards.

I think the reason it was parked is somebody rebuilt the distributor and had the points plates misaligned on one side - so it was only running on 4 cylinders.

When I rebuilt the original mechanical brakes, all the backing plates (once I cleaned them out) had all the original black paint on them.

Also, none of the fenders had any splits or other signs of being on the road for long.

This is why I believe the car only had 5,000 miles on it . . . just the way everything looked. But who knows - it refuses to speak to me and tell me the stories of its life! LOL

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

When I first got my 32 Cabriolet, I noticed that the oil-change stickers only went up to about 5,000 miles in 1957 . . . and it had been up on blocks since about 1959 or so.

Also, all the tires were very old pre-WWII type stuff - down to the cords. They were probably from the wartime, and it had not been driven much afterwards.

I think the reason it was parked is somebody rebuilt the distributor and had the points plates misaligned on one side - so it was only running on 4 cylinders.

When I rebuilt the original mechanical brakes, all the backing plates (once I cleaned them out) had all the original black paint on them.

Also, none of the fenders had any splits or other signs of being on the road for long.

This is why I believe the car only had 5,000 miles on it . . . just the way everything looked. But who knows - it refuses to speak to me and tell me the stories of its life! LOL

If they could only talk, huh?
The tires... when I'd found my '34 coupe, I knew the car had been parked in '49. It appeared to have been well used during the war years. The tries were just like the ones you had on your '32. They were mostly bald and so hard with age, they literally crumbled when I removed them from the rims.

[Kube]

Ah, a night's sleep does help the old memory bank a little anyway.
I have also done:
Installed NOS fuel tank and NOS sending unit along with a new (correct) fuel line along the frame. The tank that was in there appeared to be very nice. However, after boiling it out, it was obvious where the fuel level had been when the car was placed in storage. There were hundreds of tiny holes at that "level" on the tank.
I was so glad the car came with a NOS tank.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

That is a great addition to your stable! When I think back on it, I don't know if I've ever seen a 36 panel? What a fun project to NOT restore to perfection. You'll be able to drive it and not care about every little thing being perfect. If a broom handle falls against a fender - who cares, etc..

I've always thought that I need to acquire a 36 3 window or roadster some day . . . some day . . . some day! LOL

Like one of these perhaps?

You and I think a lot alike. I've been filling my bucket list in the past ten years or so. Only one more vehicle to acquire and the list would be complete. Never gonna happen though.

[highbeams]

Kube - congrats on your successful 11-year chase. Why are you disassembling this low-low-low mileage Ford? Personally, an assembly-line put-together Ford is thee essence of originality, so keep the soul of your Ford alive. A thumbs-up to those Ford workers.

Obviously I'm not a fan of restos; a professional rubbing compound app on your '36?

My '33 3w has a one Duncan Blue peeling-patches thumbnail-thick repaint, seen via the open patches, I see the original-gloss Duncan blue. I'd lift the repaint if any way possible to expose the Ford-applied Duncan Blue.

Nickel windshield surround on a commercial vehicle would've been done by the dealership. special order? Thank You!

[Kube]

Originally Posted by highbeams

Kube - congrats on your successful 11-year chase. Why are you disassembling this low-low-low mileage Ford? Personally, an assembly-line put-together Ford is thee essence of originality, so keep the soul of your Ford alive. A thumbs-up to those Ford workers.

Obviously I'm not a fan of restos; a professional rubbing compound app on your '36?

My '33 3w has a one Duncan Blue peeling-patches thumbnail-thick repaint, seen via the open patches, I see the original-gloss Duncan blue. I'd lift the repaint if any way possible to expose the Ford-applied Duncan Blue.

Nickel windshield surround on a commercial vehicle would've been done by the dealership. special order? Thank You!

Not so much disassembling the vehicle. Rather, doing what needs to be done in my opinion to make this car very reliable and road worthy.
My guess, and only a guess, is the windshield frame has been replaced at some point in the life of this car. Same with the horn covers on the front fenders. From what little I know about these, methinks they should be black, not stainless.

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by Kube

If they could only talk, huh?
The tires... when I'd found my '34 coupe, I knew the car had been parked in '49. It appeared to have been well used during the war years. The tries were just like the ones you had on your '32. They were mostly bald and so hard with age, they literally crumbled when I removed them from the rims.

Sounds like my situation. Rubber and tires were in extremely short supply during the war, so in my book if the tires were worn down during the war and really old, neither of our cars could have been driven much at all after the war.

I met the grandson of the owner of my 32 cabriolet . . . he said it had been up on blocks his whole life and neither he nor his Dad had ever seen it move. Was cool to meet him - he gave me the only pictures he had of his Grandpa and Grandma next to the 32. Way cool of him. The other cool thing was the house /garage it was sitting in . . . was built in 32.

Here are some pics from when it was found . . . the scene was like a museum from the 40's. All the old tools still in place, even had the 'girlie' pictures up on the wall. I sort of wish the whole corner of the garage could have been removed and setup some place - felt like I was walking back in time.

PS: The last picture is how the car looks now . . .

1932FordCabriolet-small-01.jpg

1932FordCabriolet-small-33.jpg

1932FordCabriolet-small-37.jpg

1932FordCabriolet-small-28.jpg

SandraSmith1.jpg

Garage2.jpg

Photo Sep 13, 9 43 21 AM.jpg

[TomT/Williamsburg]

Oh man - what a time capsule! That garage is fantastic and the car looks even better!

[Kube]

[QUOTE=Bored&Stroked;2434434]Sounds like my situation. Rubber and tires were in extremely short supply during the war, so in my book if the tires were worn down during the war and really old, neither of our cars could have been driven much at all after the war.

I met the grandson of the owner of my 32 cabriolet . . . he said it had been up on blocks his whole life and neither he nor his Dad had ever seen it move. Was cool to meet him - he gave me the only pictures he had of his Grandpa and Grandma next to the 32. Way cool of him. The other cool thing was the house /garage it was sitting in . . . was built in 32.

Here are some pics from when it was found . . . the scene was like a museum from the 40's. All the old tools still in place, even had the 'girlie' pictures up on the wall. I sort of wish the whole corner of the garage could have been removed and setup some place - felt like I was walking back in time.

PS: The last picture is how the car looks now . . .

Very cool story! Good for you too!
That '34 I had found back in 1968 shares a similar story. It wasn't until about fifteen years ago that I got my hands on it. The car sat in the exact spot I had found it in 1968. The widow could not believe that her late husband showed it to me (anyone) all those years ago. When I told her where it was when I first saw it, she got a huge smile.

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by Kube

Not so much disassembling the vehicle. Rather, doing what needs to be done in my opinion to make this car very reliable and road worthy.
My guess, and only a guess, is the windshield frame has been replaced at some point in the life of this car. Same with the horn covers on the front fenders. From what little I know about these, methinks they should be black, not stainless.

Perhaps, being commercial it may have been a 'dealer demonstrator'. They usually had funny paint schemes like blue or black body/yellow fenders and pinstriping, but maybe not all? My first V8, a 38 tonner left the factory as a DD. And a later acquisition a '37 1 1/2 ton might have. As you can see, both had chrome or ss windshield frames, chrome grills etc. Having owned a few panels, it's a rare treat to have an original passenger seat!

[Kube]

A little more "catching up".
This car was built with a hot air heater and defroster. The heat exchanger was long gone.
I really wanted to keep the heater even though I can't believe they worked very well.
I was fortunate in that Mr. Driskell had a heat exchanger that required just a little work to make it perfect.
The cable going to the heater vent was broken, a simple fix.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

Perhaps, being commercial it may have been a 'dealer demonstrator'. They usually had funny paint schemes like blue or black body/yellow fenders and pinstriping, but maybe not all? My first V8, a 38 tonner left the factory as a DD. And a later acquisition a '37 1 1/2 ton might have. As you can see, both had chrome or ss windshield frames, chrome grills etc. Having owned a few panels, it's a rare treat to have an original passenger seat!

[nelsb01]

I'm going to say that although they could have been dealer demonstrators, they may have just had the DeLuxe equipment option. Twin horns were also part of the DeLuxe package (at least in 1936 & 1937) And the 1937 looks like it may have twin wipers. I believe that the DeLuxe option was more popular on 1/2 ton commercial vehicles, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't available on bigger trucks also.

Anything to make a sale back then.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by nelsb01

I'm going to say that although they could have been dealer demonstrators, they may have just had the DeLuxe equipment option. Twin horns were also part of the DeLuxe package (at least in 1936 & 1937) And the 1937 looks like it may have twin wipers. I believe that the DeLuxe option was more popular on 1/2 ton commercial vehicles, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't available on bigger trucks also.

Anything to make a sale back then.

I don't recall the number of deluxe '36 sedan deliveries were built but do recall the number was minuscule. Perhaps one hundred or so...
I am betting the chrome windshield on mine was installed later in life.