November 12, 2011 -- Fun Pictures

Jenn and I got married today and Jack and his wife Norma were, of course guests of honor at our wedding.  As a wedding present Jack and Norma gave use these amazing original photos of Jack's uncle Harlan and the old car circa 1940.

It was interesting to see the old car with the original pinstriping on the side and also around the rims just outside of the hubcaps.  These photos were back on the farm in Indiana.  The only reason the car looks as good as it does today was because anytime they weren't driving it, it lived in the barn.  This kept it, for the most part, rust free!

I love this shot of the old car out and about, seeing the sights.  I only wish I knew where this photo was taken so we could some day bring it back and take a new picture right where it was 70 some years ago.

This was the other half of the wedding present and it will come in handy for the reassembly process.  This is a Motor's Auto Repair manual, it is the only way to see how this baby goes back together

Thank you Jack and Norma,

None of this would be possible with out your trust, support and vision of where this car will end up in the (near) future!

October 28, 2011 -- Day 17

Well Ladies and Gentlemen, there it is!  The first real progress has started on the old car project.  We have a rolling chassis again.  Thank god, that sucker is heavy to move with out wheels under it! 

Jack, you can now see the progress of your car coming back together.

I can honestly say, with out a doubt, you will never find another 1936 Oldsmobile with a more beautiful, original chassis under her!  It is a shame we have to put a body on this and cover it back up forever, but we now have the photo evidence of how beautiful it is.

Thanks to Lou and Tony at Section 8 Powder Coating for all your hard work, powder coating all the parts and making this all look so good!

Everything about this chassis and suspension is new and or rebuilt, down to the rubber on the bump stops for the rear springs.  Most of the chassis and hardware is powdercoated as well so it will never again have a speck of rust or corrosion on it again! 

Front shocks rebuilt, front springs blasted and powdercoated, front suspension and steering powdercoated and looking better than factory new!

Four new tires mounted (Thank you, Discount Tire Co.), new brakes, rebuilt rear differential thanks to Jesse and the guys at Baker Machinery.

All that is left to do here is some fuel lines brake lines and mount a refurbished gas tank.

Oh and I guess an engine will be nice!....I guess you will have to wait and see how that comes out.

This car will be finished by the end of 2012!

I have to finish it before the end of the world right?

Don't tell me you are not laughing a little right now.  :)

October 8, 2011 -- Day 16

The reassembly has begun!

The rear springs are going back on the chassis.

Ok, my hat is off to who ever figured out how to put this thing together at the factory, and do it efficiently.  We fought with the rubber bushings forever trying to coax this shock into place with the the lower control arm and spindle.

 

The lower control arms were a snap to reinstall.

 

Now that is a good before and after shot there.  Old knee action shocks are so strange looking.

These springs were tough to compress because of the clearance with the knee action shocks and lower control arms.

 

OK, Here are some great before and after shots of the brake drum backing plates.


 

And here is one with all the brake hardware.

Almost ready to roll!

May 25, 2011 -- Day 15

So my neighbor came over today and asked if I had changed my mind and was now building a boat...

No I told him, it is a body dolly for the car project.

Well there it is the new car/boat dolly.

Sure makes it easier to get the old car body around the garage.