An old family friend tells me he has a 26 Durant Star and if I want it, its mine. I saw a few pictures of scrap metal but figured the time with my dad and an old friend is worth it. This just might end up being yard art for all I know. Prior to coming out, he told me to bring a front and rear axle to get it rolling and well try to get it together as much as possible for the ride back home. Below is a very rough build. The car will be taken back a part and redone this is only for transport. We did this much in less than 3 days. Since my dad and I have really no experience at this, we thought it was pretty good. Our friend on the other hand has many car projects. Youll see one further below. Not the original Repair Manual for the 26 Star I have since the book says 1923 but still pretty nice to have. The emblem is original and in near perfect condition. With the car came the original engine, transmission, front and rear end, wheels, dash etc My 48 Ford now has a friend While at our friends house We had to enjoy the 1913 Mercer replica. This thing was built from scratch meaning he made a mold for the wheels which were made out of cast aluminum, made the frame, fenders etc If my memory is correct, he built this in the mid 70s and drives it often. Once I got home I see LAs road condition did not sit well with the frame. =( Its a bit bent mounting the 350 engine prior to reinforcing the frame probably didnt help either. Ill have to find someone in the LA area that can give me advice in saving this frame if possible. Being that not many people have heard of Durant Stars Im hoping to make something of this. Wish me luck. =)
Very cool! There is an old Durant Star dealership here in Livermore... Google "Livermore Herritage Guild, Duarte Garage". I think they were made in Oakland... or somewhere up here. As far as making something out of it... you have the makings of a very killer hot rod. I don't know how "Correct" you want to make it... but I would make a phaeton or "tub" out of it. Pretty simple... if you know how to weld. You simply make a steel tube structure to hold the body together. I would use 1" round tube... You can bend it easily... and for it around the belt line. Use angle iron or square tube for the floor. I like angle iron because you can lay 3/4" plywood for the floor boards. For the frame... it would be nice to box the rails. Do a "step box" for strength and ease of fabrication. Makes a nice place for a fillet weld and is strong because you don't end up grinding most the weld off to make it look nice like an edge box. Just get it straight first. You just need something flat and strong (like a garage floor) to straighten it... and hold it while you weld the box plates in. Might just get a BIG piece of I beam... or steel tube to hold the rails straight while you box them. Don't be afraid to remove all the crossmembers and then box them, then weld the cross members back in. Also... AS MUCH AS I THINK THE CHEVY MOTOR IS THE GREATEST ENGINE EVER BUILT... I think this thing needs something different. Like, and Olds motor. And Olds would be different... and I am sure you can buy aftermarket parts for them... or, make your own 2x2 intake. Anyway, very cool project. Feel free to contact me for help along the way... or for ideas... I really like it. Have fun, and stay TUNED! Sam
Also... I went back and looked at your original post. On rear ends. S10's will be TOO NARROW. Basically, that car is pretty wide... and the one you have mocked in there is too narrow. You want a little room so the tires don't rub. A few inches at least between the tire and body. I would keep the transverse springs front and rear... don't let anyone talk you out of that set up. It'll work great. I know a guy who sells dropped axles... and I think he has one like the one up front, and it's dropped like four or five inches. He bought old MorDrop axles when the owner passed a few months ago... I see him at all the swaps, nice guy. Anyway... as far as rear ends go... it depends on what wheels you want to run... but a 50's-60's F-100 width should be about right. They are like 61 1/4" flange to flange. For something different... you could get the front AND rear end out of a '55-60 Chevy or GMC pickup... and run 6 bolt wheels. They have a really nice looking steel wheel... With bias plys and bigs-n-littles... it would look bitchen. You can also find 16" skinnies in that pattern too. Anyway... get in touch with me... Sam
Thanks for all the information and advice. The rear is a Mustang 8". The wheels do not have the correct offset. I'm hoping with a good offset (and spacers) and I can get some skinny firestore whitewalls in there like on my 48. The car sat fine with plenty of room until I hit LA. The roads are unbelievably horrible here and broke a few of the welds holding the body up higher and in place. My plan is to use as much of the original items as possible: old landaus from the back corner near the rear windows, original dash, original front seats, spare tire rack as seen in one of the pictures (spare tire in picture not mounted correctly). I'd like to make it fairly "Correct" with the hot rod look. As far as engines, the 350 was free along with the transmission shell. I'm not sure the 350 is even usable. I'd love to get a flathead in this thing like in my 48. I have the original Durant engine but once again I don't know its condition and pretty sure it will be too under powered. Time will tell... Really appreciate all the information Sam.
You will not see a Durant on every street corner and I only remember seeing one as a hot rod back in the 70's and it was a good looking car. HRP
How does it compare to this one? My radiator looks to be in really good condition. My shell is pretty beat up.
I'm not sure, but I might have cherry-picked this image from one of the Friday art shows. You might find some of inspiring. Gary
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