I glad to see that your not changing a ton of the car (so far) so as to not loose the home made character that is was born with, otherwise it becomes just another updated-pretty-car. Our Hot Rod history is extremely important.
My goal is to keep as much as i can that Frank built, but make it safer. I love the character this car has.
I replaced part of the rain gutter under the back window and the curved trunk panel. Also the two running boards are shot .
Here is a pic of me and Frank when i drove up to his place. I hope to finish the car and trailer it up to his place so we car take it for a ride.
Yes i wanted a pic with Frank . I am keeping the lower bracket he cut with a torch and welded to the axel. I could have just cut that off and install the typical shock mount . This just adds interest to the car. I installed new shocks the same style he had on the car. to the car.
Dammit, life just isn't fair. I've moved 22 times in 53 year of marriage and NEVER found anything like this left behind by the previous owner. This really sucks, man!
Just to be clear i did not buy the house. I just bought the car. My friend the realtor would call me to look at fixer uppers that i might want to fix and sell. Also i told her if she sees any old cars let me know about them.
This is a fantastic story! You preserve and refine some HotRod history, and the vealth of informations from Frank`s life with the car is invaluable! Perfect, it came to the right person .
Frank had a new headliner and side panels installed in 1958. Here is the bill. He paid $85 labor and materials.
The master cylinder was missing from the car. I had a hard time finding the correct one. Frank could not remember what car it came from. After 60 years i don't think I would remember. After looking at lots of pictures of old cars and trucks I found a match. An old international truck. It bolted right up to the holes he drilled. Half of the fluid reservoir is for the brakes and the other is for the clutch slave cylinder. I don't have the luxury of telling the guy at the parts counter that i need a part for a 1930 Model A. It's part of the fun to chase down the mystery parts.
The clutch slave cylinder came form a 1959 Ford F100. I picked up a new one. He made the bracket with his torch and bolted to the inside of the frame.
The old Sun Tach transmitter box was mounted under the dash. I found two corroded batteries inside the box. Not sure why they could not use the 12Volt power from the car to work the Tachometer. I found a place to install modern electronics in side the box and calibrate the tachometer. The Tach is mounted under the dash. I am not sure if i will leave it mounted there or find a better place up closer to the steering column. I need to figure out where i have room as i put this car back together. I think i might be nice to have it more visible in side the cab.
The steering wheel is a Superior 500. The chrome is in poor shape and i would like to clean it up. I am thinking i could give it a light sanding and some " chrome paint" . Any one have ideas on how to make the wheel look better?
A Hamber just polished up some grungy center caps and they look fantastic...don't use sandpaper yet... @RiffRaffRoadster had pitted chrome and he used Coke or something seriously...his steel slots were real shitty looking and they came up very credible... Heres his slots and air cleaner at the links below...Man that fella brought back so many things back that looked nasty... https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/model-a-body-on-‘32-chassis-with-fenders-help.1133905/page-43#post-13233353 https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/model-a-body-on-‘32-chassis-with-fenders-help.1133905/page-41#post-13065390 Grungy Caps 2 posts on this page at this link below... https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/37-38-chevy-gasser-and-i’ve-got-the-pink-slip.1220246/page-5 Now it's up to you Coke or #7...
If it's was my car I'd cut out a lot of that inner gas tank baffle and underside to give me more room for the wiring. None of it shows, so you won't be hurting the looks.
...love that torchwork on the inner tank...even some Smoke effects...mine was cut entirely out underneath including baffles with the gas axe and maybe a hatchet here and there...period correct indeed...
Another Master of Finishes, Restoring and making new gently used is @Runnin shine His Thread which is lengthy but informative and he may have done Old Chrome restores here and there within...as he prefers Old Chrome... https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/hubba-hubba-my-32-4-tudor-tribute-to-gramps.983704/
Man-O-Man that car is so cool!! Great job bringing it back to it's original shape. You have made some smart decisions on safety upgrades as well. Keep on keeping on bro
I'd not use the chrome paint on the wheel. Just never looks that good. Instead I'd carefully sand and polish just the rusty areas and then buff all the metal to a high finish, and then spray it with clear. That will save the patina, and improve the looks of the rusty areas, without making it look bad. I've polished out steel before and cleared it, and it looks a lot better than paint.
The Jalopy Journal
