Features "Snoopy" Model A Hot Rod Survivor

Another small update, yesterday I did get the battery cable ran, then remembered that I still had to drop the oil pan & repair the oil pump pickup, looks like someone had damaged the threads in the past, I was able to run a tap and get some decent threads part way in, I will just locktite & that'l be fine I can check when changing the oil from time to time, cleaned up the oil pan & then I removed the left side exhaust manifold (right was already off) so I can clean up the gasket sufaces & make sure the studs weren't toast.
Just before I called it a day, took 2 minutes with some steel wool & got the dipstick handle looking better, small effort, big reward

Before



After...



Not perfect but enough scars that it can tell a story.

 

I love the 'sword hilt' handle, a little class on a ordinary part.

Bob

 

Small update, on Monday I go to a local transmission shop with the input / output shaft & new bearings, they guy takes one look & says "I bet these old gear sets are expensive to replace", I agree, he says "I wouldn't want to be the one to @#!* them up, bring it to a machine shop & this is the one I would bring my own stuff to" So off I go to the machine shop (well respected shop that specializes in custom driveshafts etc.) & they guy doesn't even faulter, "no problem we will get it done this afternoon" so $45 later & here they are in the trunk of my car ready for install next weekend (not this coming, other obligations...) I have already arranged for my buddy & his Dad to come back & help with the engine / transmissin re-install, they were more than happy to oblige - fortunate to have good people around me !

 

SUPER COOL more progress, Glad to see it! Gary

 

Jer, I used to work for that machine shop. Should have told Gerry, or Mark or Dave who you got the gears from!

 

Ha ha - the guy at the counter said he was going to give it to Gerry, pretty sure that's the name he said... to funny gotta love the "Soo" what a small world... they were great to deal with no fuss, no muss !

 

My machinist friend called this morning to see if I was in the shop working on Snoopy, I replied that I will be next weekend, he was dissapointed as his good friend (& fellow car nutt) was in from out of town & was anxious to see the car - I made arrangements for the shop to be opened up & he called me back later in the day to say his buddy loved the car & mentioned a few times on the ride back "how sweet that thing will look rolling down the road" - always fun when someone else shares in your madness
Also surprised me to say he got the rear drums turned, (.040 over 12"), once he got the ridge off he said a light skim cleaned them right up, he couldn't believe how "round" they were - he dropped them off in the shop so I will be able to roll the car around to get the motor / transmission back in -
The folks over on the ford barn have helped me with my 10" clutch situation... the original pressure plate had the fly weights ground down for clearance in the early transmission bell, got a part number for a "bolt in " diaphram pressure plate that doesn't need the same clearance, so I have that option if I have any issues.
Hoping to have a big progress report next weekend !

 

As I wait for this weekends flurry of activities, this arrived via an EBay seller today License plate light was not really functional on the car when I got it, light bulb was tied up with bailing wire under the car... reading some early hot rod books over the holidays, I noticed the popularity of the "hollywood light" & it did appear to be a nice solution, of course I didn't want a reproduction (to perfect for Snewpee), so here is what I found.



and also picked up a used fuel tank sending unit from my buddy today at lunch, hopefully this one works better than the one I have, chippin away, always a bit of progress

 

Whewww late night last night, but anyways got the oil pump pickup, oil pan, flywheel, pressure plate & bellhousing installed, this morning will be final transmission assembly.

Anyone interested in the solution for my pressure plate "issue" here is the link over on the Ford Barn:

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=159786

And here is a shot of my progress last night.

 

Hey Jer,
thanks for posting!
I have a problem with my kid's '40 with a '39 box.
the action is just short of total release with all the
adjustment out on the pedal.
looks like I will have to pul the trans out and put in a diaphgram
Pressure plate to get more distance.
good call on asking at the Barn.
Those guys are great.
Glad you are making so much progress.

 

Today was a good day, was in the shop about 12 hours except for eating...

Transmission is all back together, put the shift tower on & shifted into each gear nicely (well as good as you can when it's in a vise )




Nice needle bearing U-Joint...


Then installed new wheel bearings & seals in the recently machined rear drums...



And made up a battery mount,then installed new pigtail bases on the front cowl lights (now turn signals work great), installed lenses on rear lights & installed licence plate light... I'm happy with how the licence plate light looks.



Then cleaned up shop & called it a night - my buddy & his Dad will be down in the morning to assist with engine & transmission install

 

Go Man Go!!!

 

Thanks for the updates. Looking good. CTJ

 

Keep pluggin' away man, you're doing a great job. You'll be toolin' around in that time bandit in short order!

 

Nice work and it is cool that you're really keeping things original and as true as possible to the period of the car! Nice that you managed to get your clutch issue resolved - I was one of the buys on FB chatting away on changing the pressure plate to 9". Looks like that diaphragm setup worked out well - cool that they made a plate with the 10" bolt pattern.

B&S

 

Great progress. Good for you.
Torchie

 

I will post more details later (have to wait for my buddy to send video's) but I can say it runs again & I drove it forward & back !
Clutch squeel'd the first time I pushed the pedal in but quiet since, no grinding going into 1st & reverse.
Transmission was sadistic SOB to go back in, motor was easy.

Very, very Happy !!

 

WOW JUST WOW Gary

 

Here is a video that I shot with the camera on a stand, after 1st attempt at firing up (and discovering it works better when you hook up battery cables !) This video starts at my 2nd attempt, then after filling carb fuel bowl it pulls fuel and runs & it smokes less later in video Just wanted to see it go forward & back, then we packed up to catch the kick off for the Superbowl... Realizing how much I need to get the brakes working, had to shut er' down a couple times to stop Considering I haven't replaced the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, condensor & the carb still hasn't been rebuilt, I was happy with how it fired up again, good oil pressure - and clutch was quiet after one screech on first depression



Next weekend I will make a transmission access plate for the floor, install radiator, fix leaky fuel pump to carb line, maybe get carb rebuilt, install new plug wires etc. etc.
Then move onto brake lines, suspension bushings etc.

 

Excellent !!

Bob

 

Did I see that this car will be in Detroit next month?

If so, looking forward to see it.

 

I was originally hoping for Detroit, but when I discovered the transmission issues, I thought it might be a bit ambitious, so I decided against applying... ironically it will probably still be done in time (or close enough)... ahhh well try next year I suppose, it will be shown in Michigan this year but in St.Ignace at the end of June.

 

That Hollywood light is cool. But being that you are an MG fellow, ever consider a 1950's-60's Lucas L467 Light? I put one on Weeze. Looks like the Hollywood, but more curvy. Just a thought. You can get them for $20.00 on The Bay. Snoopy already is part British. She's moving along real nice.

Can kinda see it here:

IMG_0165 by Weezy1930 posted Feb 2, 2015 at 9:47 AM

 

Cool. You guys are having fun.

 

Nice car- see you in St Ignace in June- live 30 miles away- go every year- 1946 may even make it there-

 

"Time Bandit" I love that description - Perfect !

Funny you should mention, I do have that light on my 67 & considered except I didn't want to drill mounting holes in the body, but it does look really nice... food for thought !

I'm just over 50 miles from the other side, looking forward to saying hi, still a great show, not what it once was, but still by far the biggest show within an hours drive for me, I have a hotel booked for all 3 nights, great town & area, look forward every year.

 

Yes, I agree 100%. No new holes. Good call.

However, they do repop an MG/Triumph bracket for the light just like your Hollywood uses. So...

 

Yes but then a repop would have perfect chrome & then it wouldn't match the rest of the cars chrome, So ....;-p ha ha

 

Just got pictures via my buddy's phone tonight, his Dad got some "in progress" shots from this past weekend.

Transmission in & waiting for motor...



And a pose with the brute before being hoisted in...



Getting the mounts lined up & couple bell housing bolts in before going back on the hoist (you can tell I was the one under the car putting in a couple bell housing bolts !! )



Me thinking "ahhh finally, I get to see you going back together !!"



Back on hoist & then adjusting the clutch lever (about 1/4") wasn't siezed... hilarious so far have only broke one bolt on the car & that was a 1/4 bolt holding the gas tank in, I like this shot, kinda neat angle..



Good times.

 

Love the profile!!!
Don't get more 'old school' than that....the silver paint looks great for it's age.
Tasteful single red pinstripe or your monogram on the doors??

Bob