So I haven’t done a build thread in a looooong time but in interest of being the change that I wanna see I thought I’d start one for this 37 coupe I am in the process of bringing back to life. some of you may have seen my post about twofer Tuesday on a Saturday about how I got this 37 as part of a package deal with a super clean 32 5w as well. both were put in a climate controlled ba*****t and 1960 only to just recently see the light of day. *****er and I drug the 37 home first, also I don’t know why the primed fenders are on the car but the originals thankfully came with it and are completely rust free
So now that I’ve got her home it’s time to start pulling that thread and see how much unravels first thing I wanted to do was take out this ****ter shield that he had in there. I’ve never seen another one or even heard of one for an early ford trans so I can’t imagine it’s a production piece but DAMN it’s made really nicely!!! Also check out that clutch arm!!!!!
Aside from curiosity the other reason I wanted to pull the ****ter shield was so I could get the oil pan down. now I didn’t particularly want to drop the oil pan but he had a sending unit for an oil temp gauge screwed in to the dipstick hole which was fine because the dipstick hole dumped right into the header so I needed to move it over a couple of inches. Also if you’ve never dropped an oil pan in a 37 ford it’s an experience. I had to drop the front end and raise the engine to get it out!
At this point I have dropped the radiator off to the radiator shop, the carbs have been sent to be rebuilt and the charging system and starter has been dropped off to be gone through.
So while I’m waiting on that stuff I started bleeding money and ordering parts. got a gas tank, sending unit, new water pumps, wheel cylinders, m/c, and most importantly a oil pan dipstick boss from 3rd gen. Thank god for Mike. I tried to harvest one from an oil pan a buddy gave me and it crumbled as soon as I cut the riviera off
And then I remembered that I have a dropped axle that @Nailhead Jason gave me a few years back so I called up @thunderbirdesq and he gave me the run down on how to make sure it’s in good usable shape. Thank god for good friends!!!
However what’s not pictured here is this axle has been sitting for a many a year and the king pin and perch pin holes were grown up so a wire brush on a drill wrapped in Emory cloth and eventually a brake hone finally got it cleaned up enough where the kingpin would drop in!!!
Usually, "was a hot rod back in the day" is code for butchered pile of ****, but that little car was put together pretty well. I would do exactly what you are doing, keep it up. -Abone.
Blew the rest of the axle apart and was pleasantly surprised at how well it went! also got the dropped axle in the wish bones, took some finaglin but we got it then made sure I put a good slatherin of anti seize on the perch pins!! also the brakes on this thing are CLEAN!!!!
The spindles are super clean too. got some work to do on my steering arms though, the p***enger side hits hard.
Also got my oil pan ready to go back in Drilled the pan and bolted the boss I got from 3rd gen on there. It worked out great! also I got the pan and block prepped for the oil pan gasket. And last but not least I cleaned a bunch or sludge and old waxy oil out of the pick up screen, she’s clean and ready to roll now!
Trust me when I tell you I’ve owned plenty of clapped out **** too. Over the years I just keep hustlin and working my way into clean cars. Grateful as can be where I am now.
That 37 is just ***s. Reminds me of mine picked up 25 yrs ago out of Nebraska. Clean and straight. Have fun!!
The Jalopy Journal
