Thanks, I will be keeping this thread going as I mess with it here and there. The car is staying 30 miles away from me or I would be messing with it 24/7 haha. I am short on space and my uncle has let me keep it at his place! This might make updates take longer than I would like, but I am not complaining!
Charlie I am so excited for you! It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Keep us updated! Let me know if I can help in any way. Your in good hands with Jim and your uncle to say the least! It was sure nice talking to ya at the Revolution too! Congrats!
Thanks for the kind words Andy! Lunch is on me when your in OKC! Jim and my Uncle will keep me headed in the right direction! I would be lost and confused with out them!! They even took me to a Rockabilly concert and educated me on what that is all about! The Hot Rod Revolution weekend was great! Haha Keep me posted if there are any car shows/swap meets in your area, I am always good for a road trip. -Charlie
With the help of my friend Jon Barrett and my Uncle Dave we got the lil 327 running today, and it runs good!! I even drove it down the street for the first time sitting on a plastic crate. I can't think of a better way to end the 2011 year!! Here are some pictures from today. The row of 32's is at Jon's place, and my car is being worked on at my Uncle's. My Uncle tried to get video of me driving down the street but the video didnt work out like planned lol. It was kind of sketchy driving the car with no brakes, and a very low tech throttle cable, but it was worth it!! -Charlie
Here you go Andy! It is time to take it apart now that we know it runs well! After I took the grill shell and radiator off the car I had the radiator pressure tested and they found 2 leaks. Now it is fixed and is good as new. The grill shell and cowl were both sitting on spacers . It was incorrect and didn't allow the doors to close properly. We got the cowl to sit on the frame and now the doors close much better. The windshield also fits much better. Here is a picture of how high the body was off the frame. We got the car on the lift so we can get started on the brakes, front and rear suspension. I got the old brake booster off, cut the old exhaust off, and with the help of my uncle we started building the 8inch rearend that we got from the junkyard. Here is what we are dealing with The old single brake booster was only mounted by two bolts! We have a dual booster that we ordered and is waiting to go on. We have some reengineering to do there! We got the old leaf spring perches off and welded on new ones in the proper position. I got the rearend and drive shaft media blasted. I also got new u-joints in the drive shaft. I need to take my new I-beam axel and rearend housing with backing plates to the powder coater. The belly should start shaping up quickly . My uncle also gave me a set of original 1932 running boards, and 34 commerical headlights!! Here is a picture with the big headlights just kinda mocked up. I have a lot on my list to do this weekend. I will keep at it! -Charlie
Wow. Congrats and thanks for posting the story and how you got it. I always like to hear these kinds of things-really makes you think there's still hope that you'll be able to find and obtain "the one". Now enjoy the **** out of it!
Wow . You must be living right. I live in Oklahoma in a farm community no less but all my barn finds are of the 1950's variety. That is so cool . Its also kinda cool to fix what's wrong on someone else's old rod! So very jealous indeed.
Thank you! I think they will look pretty good on there! I am enjoying it like crazy. "The One" type of cars are still out there! This is proof. I didn't find the last one thats for sure. I like the 1950's variety!! How do you manage to be able to take a look in those barns with out getting shot at?
Well It's best just to go u to the nearest farm house and poiltely ask who owns the barn then ask if they have any old cars or trucks. Also Go to some of the surrounding small towns go to a local hang out for old farmers ask them, you would be susprised what they say. ( Another tip is to wear something very subitle _ Blue jeans plain sneakers or boots , T shirt with a simplt logo or plain . ) Basically don't look or ack like a punk ( I'm 31 so I go by these rules to ) . Oh Try not to menton hotrod right off the bat. Don't lie but don't say I'm gonna chop it .... And just like shopping at a car lot don't get all excited when you see someting real cool. Gotta have a poker face!
man that car needs some steelies and white walls bad other than that drive it and have a blast. You are one lucky dude
Man alive! I don't struggle with envy too often, but stumbling upon this thread makes life tough! I have a great truck I rebuilt with my Dad and his dad when I was in HS and I wouldn't let it go. But my mom's dad built a 32 roadster back in the day and raced it at Bonneville. When I was about 6 or so I got to see old 8mm footage of the car being raced and being shot for Hop Up Magazine. Ever since then I loved that car. I randomly have dreams of that car. Sadly my grandpa sold the car when my uncle was born and the kid who bought it wrapped it around a tree a few days later. Like you I can't afford to buy one off of e-bay, but I watch every old barn and tree line for old steel hoping maybe some day I'll find one. At 29, I suppose I can wait a few more years...money's harder to come by than time at this point. Keep updating! Peace, Jim
I have got a pretty good poker face! I held it together long enough to buy this one!! haha The wheels are coming soon Sakelley!
very cool no doubt! keep posting updates. and i'll take you up on that lunch offer. i'll have to have sid drop me another axle soon so i might be out that way!
Pulled the engine and transmission so we can really clean things up! I am glad we did because a good cleaning is much needed. Media blasted the rearend and drive shaft. I painted the drive shaft black after replacing the u-joints and getting balanced.I had the rearend housing/backing plates poweder coated black. Now that the engine and transmission are both out We can really clean everything up nice before we install all the refinshed parts. (sorry for the boaring pics. I know drive shafts and blasted rearend housing isn't exactly mind blowing lol) The old single booster was only held on by 2 bolts! The frame had two holes cut out so the studs on the booster could slide into the frame. There was no way to put a nut on the stud the way it was. I didn't have chance to take a photo of how it looked before...but it was bad...My uncle and his friend came up with this bracket that works much better! The brake lines are in process. Everything is about to get removed so we can degrease and powerwash the underside of the car. Waiting on nice weather! The car will have new brakes on all four corners. We have done more work to get the cowl to fit the frame better, but we still have some more work to do in that area. The doors are not quite a perfect fit because of how the body is bolted to the frame. I wont bore you with those pics lol. My to do list is growing like crazy!!
Thanks Don. The OKC Nats is the same date as the Lone Star Round UP in Austin! If it is done by then I will be headed to Texas in it. It's not unrealistic to think I might have it ready by then. The thing holding me back is my work schedule. I only get to work on the car one day a week. The main goal is to put the car back together the right way and not cut any corners. I will definatly keep you posted but right now I think I got a 50/50 shot of having it done by that date. KillerKustom- Thanks!!
Great find and good job bringing back to life. Keep the pictures of your progress coming along and hopefully you'll have it up and running in no time.
Today I got the fire wall out. It was causing us some problems, and I think we can do better. The floors look pretty good. I am about ready to clean this car from top to bottom. Body Tag. Getting closer each day!
4th day without an update. I guess since you can only work on it 1 day a week I'll wait another couple of 3 days before I ask for an update!!! Looking good!
Thanks Andy! I still only get to work on the car one day a week. I have been bringing some of the small parts back to the city with me so I can work on them after I clock out from work! I got the original running boards media blasted along with the headlight buckets, and few misc parts. I have them in primer and ready for the next step. I am doing what I can little by little. I am going to recover the old running boards. I hope I can get them to turn out good. I need to do some research but I am about ready to give it a shot. I am ready to get my hands dirty and really start on degreasing/cleaning the car....the wiring needs some attention too.. I don't have a shortage on things do to for now lol.
Mr Griner is the one to listen to when rebuilding the car. Looks like a Lolifer car to me. Jon told me about the car a little after you bought it. Good find and listen to Mr Griner Trammel from the land of OKLAFORNIA.
The Jalopy Journal
