Driving golden era cars in the modern era

David Conwill · Jun 6, 2011

birkie said:
A Very good point! By then babbitt bearings were gone, and fully pressurized and filtered oil systems were standard too. It brings to mind some debate on whether it makes sense to restore the old chevy 216 stovebolt 6 engines, or just drop in a 'modern' 50s 235 version and get more driveability.

You should talk to old-car guys about Ford Model A transmissions!

I own a 1928 Chevrolet engine (last Chevrolet four-cylinder in the U.S. market until 1962), and after following discussions about how difficult it is to find the obsolete insert bearings used in many conversions, I’ve decided to stay with babbitt when I build it.

-Dave

Rathdown · Jun 7, 2011

David Conwill said:
You should talk to old-car guys about Ford Model A transmissions!

I own a 1928 Chevrolet engine (last Chevrolet four-cylinder in the U.S. market until 1962), and after following discussions about how difficult it is to find the obsolete insert bearings used in many conversions, I’ve decided to stay with babbitt when I build it.

-Dave

There is nothing wrong with poured bearings; that said, if I was planning to do a lot of motoring I'd replace the con rods and machine the crank to make use of modern shell bearings.

Rathdown · Jun 7, 2011

birkie said:
A Very good point! By then babbitt bearings were gone, and fully pressurized and filtered oil systems were standard too. It brings to mind some debate on whether it makes sense to restore the old chevy 216 stovebolt 6 engines, or just drop in a 'modern' 50s 235 version and get more driveability.

If my interest was in having a trailer queen, then I'd rebuild the original engine. If, on the other hand, I wanted the car for maximum pleasure while touring, I'd drop the newer engine into my '37 Chevy and never give it a second thought.

Bourne ID · Jun 10, 2011

Hey everyone, the motor and trans have finally been successfuly mated and mounted in the car for the final time. New custom motor mounts for the new 350 and a custom crossmember for the trans. Driveshaft is being cut to length and should be back in this weekend. All the wiring is in place and a few new guages mounted under the dash to keep track of everything (I'll get pics of those some time) New upper shock mounts can be seen with shocks attached, New fuel line can be seen snaking up the firewall on the right with pump and filters in line under car. Left side stock headers will work just fine but on the right side..Ians gonna have to custom fab them up. Still much to do and I fear that it'll be July before I see the car back on the road, I'll have missed much of the cruising season but that's the risk you take when dropping your car off at a new custom garage. I knew he could do the work but his scheduling is a disaster.

Gregg Axley · Jun 11, 2011

Very nice....
Geez that looks close to the engine I've got in my streetrod.
My valve covers have higher "fins" and they aren't chrome, but polished out.
I have the same oil fill cap too, that's just too funny.
The only difference I see on mine is a different carb. I had the Edelbrock with the Edelbrock intake, but changed to a Weber carb for some reason. 10 years has erased that reason! Started with a Carter but got tired of changing out metering rods. Good luck with the car, they take time and money, and you've realized both are in short supply some days.

Derek WC · Jun 12, 2011

How long do you guys think it would take to restore a car, assuming that all the parts worked if not very smoothly, including the engine, but the upholstery and ceiling upholstery are messed up, along with components of the dashboard and just wanted to get it roadworthy?

I am moving to Wisconsin in about a year to a year and a half but wanted to take a certain Chrysler Imperial with me, be it pretty or not. I was going to completely restore it when I got settled down. To give you an idea of how dern long I need to drive, I live in Oregon.

Michaelson · Jun 13, 2011

Hate to give you the 'short answer', Derek, but that depends entirely on who you get to do the work. As Borne has been showing in his adventure, he's at the mercy of his mechanic's schedule. Then we watch shows on TV all the time where a crew can do a complete frame out restoration of all components in less than 3 days. It's all in who you get to do the work, and how much you're willing to pay to get it done. It could take a couple days...it could take over a year. Just depends.....

Same answer if YOU do the work. How much time do YOU have to put into the project, and you HAVE to factor in all those little things you aren't aware need fixed/replaced that have a habit of revealing themselves the deeper you get into said project that just add cost and time to your quest.

Regards! Michaelson

Derek WC · Jun 13, 2011

Oh I know what needs to be done. The car is practically brand new, it's just been sitting rotting for about ten, twenty years. I plan on doing all the work myself, it's just the upholstery I haven't got a clue about.

Next time I go out to my Grandpa's house I'll take a few pictures to show you the condition of 'er.

David Conwill · Jun 13, 2011

How bad's the interior? Could you just put slipcovers over the tattered seats, or does it need new padding, etc?

EZ Boy, by Lebaron Bonney, is supposed to be a decent, vintage-looking replacement seat cover for budget builds.

-Dave

Derek WC · Jun 13, 2011

The last time I saw the car was last Christmas, but I've become a much reasonable person since than, it might not be as bad as I think, but it might need new padding.

Thanks for the links. Any experience with them yerself?

David Conwill · Jun 13, 2011

No, I've been fortunate in only owning vehicles with great interiors so far. I've heard only good things about Lebaron Bonney, but they've got kind of a limited stock as far as vehicle-specific kits go (if you were doing a '40 Ford, for example, you'd be set). The EZ Boy stuff got a lot of press a few years ago in the hot rod scene, but I don't know anything first- or even second-hand.

I'd suggest plugging "'EZ Boy' site:jalopyjournal.com" into Google and seeing what they've said on the HAMB. Those guys don't pull any punches.

-Dave

Rathdown · Jun 13, 2011

Despite what you may see on Discovery HD, nobody can restore a car in three days-- it takes longer than that just to paint one. If you want to turn your Imperial into a nice driver condition car, as a basic do-it-yourself project, figure that it will take about five years from start to finish. As to the cost, that will depend on how much work you have to farm out, and how many parts you will have to buy. As a general rule of thumb, expect to spend about $5000 sorting out mechanical and electrical problems. A complete interior will probably cost the same. If you do all of the preparation work (remove glass, chrome, and strip off all the old paint) a good paint job will probably add another $5000 to the cost. So, five years plus $15,000 should equal one really nice Chrysler Imperial.

Derek WC · Jun 13, 2011

I was planning on doing everything myself, really, it won't cost that much.

Gregg Axley · Jun 14, 2011

Rathdown has a great point Derek.
Well you CAN restore a car in 3 days, if you are the Discovery channel, and you edit 8-9mos into 3 days on film.

Derek WC · Jun 14, 2011

Yes, I am certainly not unrealistic on how long it'll take.

Bourne ID · Jun 14, 2011

Time and money..time and money! Neither one seems to be in great abundance for me! At the mercy of the mechanic is right, especially when the car lays in pieces in his shop. No matter how frustrated you get at how little is accomplished, you've got to keep a smile on your face and don't piss him off. Unless you want your pile of parts laying on your lawn the next day!
I'm a business man myself, got 8 guys in the shop and maybe half adozen jobs runnin thru in any given month. I make my money depending on how accurate I was with my Quote before the contract and we all know that the lowest bidder gets the job. So why is it the Auto mechanics typically don't understand how that works? I got a quote (not in writing mind you) before I gave him the car. He said 3-4 grands for the motor swap and i supplied the motor. Yesterday he calls and asks to settle parts of the bill and guess what. Now he says that 3-4 was his quote on parts. And that he's been tracking his hours as he goes and it's "somewhere" around 5 grande now!!! I'll admit that I wasn't caught off guard..had my suspicions that this was going to happen. A genius fabricator but a lousy business man. I'm sure he belives that he's cut me a deal and done a great service cuz were friends but I'll not be going back to help support his fledgling speed shop.
BUYER BEWARE------------get it in writing!!!!!

David Conwill · Jun 14, 2011

Sorry to hear you're getting burned on this, Bourne. I'm awfully gun shy about farming out work, because it seems I hear way more stories like this than I do about people who were happy with their mechanic or contractor. I also have no time to do it myself, and not much skill, so as a consequence, things take forever to get done.

-Dave

Gregg Axley · Jun 15, 2011

I'm shopping around for the interior work on my streetrod.
Most I'm talking to others that own them, whether it be car shows, or local meets on Thursday nights during the summer. I think that's the best way to find out, especially if many you talk to give the same name (and the work they show you is consistent with the recommendation).

Bourne ID · Jun 15, 2011

I was at my buddies shop yesterday dropping off the front sheet metal that I cleaned all up and coated with POR15, also a little more cash to grease the wheels. The car was down off the lift and I could see how she's coming along. Despite my frustration with the schedule and now the bill, I've gotta say that he's one hell of a custom fabricator. This engine bay is gonna look clean and neat with nothin outta place and nothing rigged up looking. No short cuts with this guy and I guess that's what I'm paying for now! I guess I wont mind the job going several grand over budget....if the car performs flawlessly! So many parts are brand new and should give me years of trouble free service and since I'm no mechanic...that's exactly what i needed! I think once my car is back in my hands and on the road I'll calm down about missing the spring cruises and the undersight in his quoting.

59Lark · Jun 18, 2011

Money is all you need when owing a old car, my 59 studebaker lark is 52 years old, its 259 v8 has never been torn down , 51, 400 miles original the two speed borg and warner auto trans never touched, i have original brake lines, arizona car, too night out driving at 60miles an hour a rice burner red honda passed, the lack of horsepower did not stop, me the 20 year old tires and no seat belt did. The car is so original it has original dirt but its old and the owner is scared of a blow out . Being self employed in this new economy means no money for the third set of wheels. But hey i can insure it for $100. a year and plate it for $18. bucks so its a cheap set of summer wheels. I paid $2000. for it 22 years ago. It had 48, 000 miles on it then. The 259 has about 170 horsepower but with king pins, single cylinder brakes, original lines, twenty year old tires and slop ola steering the fastest ever gone is 100 when the accelater stuck to the floor the first week we had it, the wife turned off and on the ignitation , the muffler being new became a new shape and lost half its baffles and is a weird shape to this day. So boys enjoy your old wheels 22 years of marriage and two kids and a building and loan business like george bailey business the car is my only toy and release of stress. 59Lark

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