Projects 1934 Ford Tudor - Bonnie

GEMMER 2 STEERING BOX: I picked this up today although I don’t need it was too good to leave behind. Not sure what it’s from but has identical chassis mounting to 33-34 Ford. It stripped out and cleaned up ok and with a new 39 Ford worm and roller will make a nice 34 uncut conversion 18-1 self centering steering deal. The Gemmer 3 from the Hudson I used in the 34 has worked out great , this unit would also make a very nice conversion. The column jacket dimension is also the same as 33-34 Ford so no machining required.

 

Great looking hot rod this is a thread I’ll have to thumbnail and get up to speed on this weekend!

 

LINCOLN ZEPHYR TRANS: With the help of some LA based friends I picked up a complete 1946 Lincoln Zephyr Transmission from Hamb member @hardtimesainit so looking forward to getting that down here and install its gearset in the tudor. Where I live is called the Canterbury plains i.e. its as flat as a chesss board so I like the long gears and dont really have a need for low first and second. I fitted a LZ 26 tooth gearset from one into my Roadster awhile back and really like the gearing with the 3:54 and 750 rears. So will get this prepped to go behind the new engine.

 

This is one of my favorite threads on the HAMB.
Great car and writing.

 

@Mikko_ Thank you for the comment I am glad you are enjoying it as much as I am doing it. I am only focused at this stage on getting the car reliable and performing as well as possible using early Ford parts, and getting it legal for our roads, spoiler alert it could be some time before it ever gets a body restoration. Cheers

 

BOB DRAKE SWAY BAR KIT: (Partial) I picked this up in a trade for some early Ford V8 parts so although I realise it’s for a 35-40 and has pieces missing (Shocks, top shock bolts and bottom shock and sway bar mounting brackets) I figured it was more use than the parts I had, so fair deal. Will see what can be done with it now the weathers warming up a bit and we are coming out of what has been a cold wet winter here.
I fitted one of these Bob Drake Rear kits complete to a 35 Ford Coupe along with a Chassis Engineering front kit and the thing was like a train on tracks. So see how we go.

 

REVERSE COW GIRL SWAY BAR: OK, So the 1935-1940 Ford Bob Drake sway bar proved that it is well suitable for its intent and not really suitable for a 1934 Ford which it was never intended for, The 1934 Ford cars fuel tank is very close to the rear crossmember unlike the later frame that has a suitable gap to install the sway bar comfortably, so in the spirit of not giving up on the idea, I have had a look at how and what I could do to get a 7/8 (22mm) bar on there. So here is where its at, this bar I have had manufactured locally by Bellamy and East a spring maker here in town, in true hot rod spirit designed on the back of a cigarette packet, its 1 1/4 narrower between centres of link eyes than the Drake 35-40 bar and has a 4 1/2 hoop over about 10 inchs that is leant forward 7/8 of an inch to clear body to allow movement, will show some more when its in the vehicle.

 

REVERSE COW GIRL SWAY BAR 2: Well got it all mounted up and it worked out pretty good. Took it for a test drive and it works exceptionally well has really transformed the old girl, Minimal body roll and point and shoot feel with it now, you can throw it about a bit no problem. Will pull it apart and paint its bits after a bit of use. Brakes done, Steering done, Axle conversion done, Suspension done, I feel its ready for some extra horsepower now!

 

Holy shit, it’s been awhile since I have posted anything as I have been busy enjoying the cars and our summer events, out here summer months are October thru March. Update is the car has been going really well and over summer with all the work done on it and the different driving events and punishment dealt out I wasn’t able to break it. Very pleased with everything done to date and how it performs Suspension, Sway bar, Steering, Brakes, so it’s time to get back into the engine and transmission. My local machine shop has completed all the machine work and balanced the rotating assembly and assembled to short block. So will get the rest sorted over next couple of weeks so if I start posting again will motivate me to get it done. The 59A has 284 cubic inch Internals a SCAT 4-1/8 Crank and H Beam Rods, and JE Pistons 3-5/16 bore, Manley Pro Flow valves, 8BA guides, Isky 185G Springs and Kiwi L100 Cam, Johnson Adjustables etc. Will finish it off with Edelbrock 1126 65cc heads, Edelbrock Slingshot, Drake Water Pumps, Melling M19 Oil pump along with the current dual 97's, Stromberg E Fire, Power Master Alternator thats on the car now.

 

284 ENGINE ASSEMBLY - Got a bit more done, oil pump drive gears, flywheel, pilot bearing, clutch, oil pump and pick up, painted the block and timing cover and water pumps, Next up front cover and head installation. [/ATTACH]

 

Great build so far.

 

A tower of power! Cool car, great looking engine, I love these 33/4 Tudors!

 

GO YOU GOOD THING - Happy New Year all, yes its holiday time and I got some garage time for the next few weeks, Ok so my apologies for some gaps in the matrix here. But the good news is the 284 Cubic inch engine is now installed in Bonnie and a couple of tuner runs have been made and I have put about 50 trouble free miles on her. Really pleased with it so far and as it runs in should only get better.

For those interested its a 284 3 -5/16 x 4 1/8 Scat rotating assembly, with one of Tony Prices Kiwi L100 camshafts.

I still have a few things I want to do, which can come after summer fun, which is a new exhaust system and pressurise the cooling system and get some stiffeners fitted in the top and bottom tanks to take a 4 lb cap pressure. Then I am sure I will have found some other things to do on the old girl, but the engine completion has pretty much rounded out the mechanical rebuild with all Steering Components, Brakes, Rear Axle, Torque Tube, Front Axle, Suspension Springs and Shock Absorbers, Clutch, Transmission and now Engine all completely rebuilt.

Looking back on my first post it was August 2018... I never thought it would have taken this long and probably shouldnt have but I have tried to complete each repair to a lasting standard as I have worked through it, collect the required parts and make the best component repair I can that works!. And between jobs I have enjoyed the car and it has not let me down once so the formula is working. Touch Wood.

 

RUNNING IN? - It's not a term I think is used much anymore and I rightly or wrongly just drive the car how I intend to drive it. I figure if it's got everything in its correct place to specification along with some good quality fuel, oil and coolant all should be fine.

So, since engine installation, I have completed our Early Ford V8 Club Reliability run - 640 Kilometers and then a 1000+ Kilometer run to the 90 Years of the Model 40 Convention and back. The engines run 1500+ kilometers with an oil change prior to heading to the Model 40 run for good measure.

So far so good, no metal present in oil when changed, holds a steady 55 PSI oil pressure and with its new thermostats / regulators ran 180-degree coolant temp up hill and down dale on the two road trips to date so I am very pleased with all of that.

I am thinking about what the next steps for the car are now? and its likely some body repairs to address 90 years of use and some of the Model 40 rust areas that need work... I think I will start collecting some good quality patch panels and see where that ends up.

But for now... use it and enjoy what's left of our 2023/4 summer months...

 

Good plan!

 

Excellent John.

 

Just read the whole thread. Really well done, the perfect car. I have visions of making my truck a daily driver and finally back at it, after a lengthy recovery due to injury. This tread is inspiring to say the least.

 

Just see'n this for the 1st time 3-22-24, WAAAAAHH I want it, give to me......now!! I'd build this sweetheart just stock as can be deep black paint with very white, white walls and wires of course (my signature piece) and drop the nose just a bit, maybe an inch maybe two. Now give to me!!!!!

 

Hell no. Sounds like you want to truck up a perfect car.