Hope someone can help me identify the year of the ch***is of my car... In the past year, I found a neat ford-based teardrop car that Ryan covered earlier this year in the Jalopy Journal. It was built by Ronald Gougeon in the late 1930's on what we believe is a 1935 Ford Ch***is - and that's where I need some help. Here's a link on the story Ryan did on the car: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=1929 The car has an unbroken chain of ownership since it was built, and the history of the car is do***ented quite well. In fact I found a film showing the car in a parade in the 1950's - for those of you interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kubbjEYjeE What I would like help on is identifying the exact year of the frame that the car was built on. The drums appear to be 1935 or earlier with the later steel wheels fitted to them (that is the streamliner does not have the wide 5 drums/rims). However...I'm not sure of other ways of identifying the exact year of the frame. I have attached a few more pictures for your review, and hope someone out there can help - or identify other features I can photograph/post so I can validate the exact year of the ch***is/engine. Thanks for any help out there on this project... Geoff Hacker Tampa, Florida
Trans looks to be no later than very early 1935...look on bellhousing right above the little grease cup, tell me the serial number: *18-****x* Then follow frame rail to original area of steerin box , the original right rail alongside the wishbone...should be a serial there. Originally, the two would have matched. Other stuff...I'd like to see a shot of about outer third of front axle...underside of engine front showing crank pulley and neighborhood from below...top of engine from frony. I'm thinking 1934. '33-4 brkes would differ slightly from '35.
Bruce... I'll check it out. You're right...it could be early than 1935. I'll get some pix on it tonight or tomorrow AM. Thanks.. Geoff
Look at this one, from Ford: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=295356&highlight=normal+ch***is Just as yours does, the rearrangement of familiar bits addles my mind on identifying things. On front axle...if spring is atop axle, that would be '33-4; if ahead of axle, '35...
Bruce... The cross member was cut out of my car during restoration by the previous owners. The arrangement can only be identified thru the pictures I posted before it was taken out. I have the remaining parts of the front axle and steering, but am missing the cross member for identification. Can you tell anything from the pictures I posted per your question above? Geoff
X member and wisbone look '33-4, so does trans. Pretty sure its that. Serial on frame will tell for sure, in case there are mixed parts. I have trouble identifying stuff because the arrangement is so odd!
I'm certainly no expert, but the rear kickup doesn't look like '35-'40 at all. The x-member is definitely not '35 either. Could have been modified, but even the body mount holes on top of the frame rails don't look like '35. I'm repairing and modifying a '35 frame right now so I've been looking at that damned thing alot lately, so my guess would be earlier, '33-'34?
Dumb question: Is there a serial number stamped on the frame, that could be referenced to determine the year?
I've seen the car in person, and it did have some spare parts that were with it that were '34 stuff....brakes and such....It does support it being '34.
Thanks for posting the photos, good luck with the rebuild. Looks like the ch***is has been widened, do the crossmembers look like they have been modified?
With help from Bruce (above) I believe the frame is 1934 and the transmission 1932. I will post the numbers I found to show its history (tomorrow). The cross member was removed from the front before I bought the car. I have pictures of what was there - some posted here and others not posted yet. I don't think the cross member was modified until the restoration began. Can you tell from the pix? Not sure here. Thanks for your interest... Geoff
Well, the X-member is definitely 34. The later X-members had longer front legs. Kickup and wishbone look like 34 too. Another vote for 1934.
Frame shows nice, clear mid-1934 serial number, so that's wrapped up. Plenty of remaining puzzles and challenges on this thing!
Hi Gang.. I've uploaded many pictures per Bruce's guidance. I have uploaded the frame number which confirms it is a 1934 frame (I believe). I have uploaded the number stamped on the transmission. I think Bruce said it confirms it is a 1932 transmission, but I uploaded the pictures to confirm the number and the year (still need confirmation). Bruce suggested I take pictures of the bottom front of the engine and underneathe which I tried my best to do. These are uploaded as well. Not sure what year the engine is, but Bruce confirms heads are from 1934. Finally...I uploaded 2 pix of the brake drums. I believe these are from 1935 or earlier. All thoughts and confirmations appreciated. Thanks.. Geoff Hacker Tampa, Florida
After looking at the pics, and the cars current condition, things are starting to make sense. Very interesting use of parts. Still have to figure out the pully system for the shift. That thing will be on the road yet! Tim MBL
Here are some pix of the car some years ago with the original seat in place. Much of the interior had been ravaged/ripped out by then.
Damn, thought that it was a Tatra in your other post due to the roof profile. Neat car. I totally forgot about that post earlier this year. As I am definitly no expert I will just wish you good luck. PS what is the red car that you have in your carport?
Great story, I had missed this earlier. What can you tell us about Bucky Fuller? He is one of my favorites... does your Dad have any old pics, schoolwork, cl*** projects? I concur on the parts... your geting them. I have all those same parts here if you need any pics, etc. Good luck.
Hi 73roundlight. It's a cool old custom I'm restoring. I'll post pictures of it soon. Neat history... Geoff
Hi Devil... Hmm...I knew him as "Uncle Bucky". My parents were going to SIU in the 1960's when I was growing up and "Bucky" was their professor. They helped build several domes and I was on the sidelines (flower child??) watching as they were building. I've known about the Dymaxion all my life and learned directly from Bucky (as told to a child - mostly pictures) but the car always interested me. I never thought I'd find something similar, so was suprised as heck to find this on the market earlier this year. I'll ask them for pix and see if they have any....Best. Geoff
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