1936 Terraplane Progress

 

Check out Tim's movie of the front vent window action.  

Keep rotating the handle and the mechanism jumps gears to a different action.

Yeah, it's a Series 62 alright.

 

Click here for some vintage Terraplane literature

 

 

LATEST

April  2010 

 

 

Tim Anderson is doing the body and mechanical work.

Paul Anway is doing engine and transmission work.

 

Tim assures me that even though the body appears tenuously perched between the frame and a single 2x4 on a short stepladder, 

that it's entirely suspended by the ropes above;

and that it "wouldn't fall."  (It didn't and is now back on the frame.)

 

 

 

 

 

Highlights

20 April 2007 Car arrives in Warrensburg, Missouri from California, where it had been delivered from Minnesota.
30 Nov 2007

Powerdome Out
30 Nov 2007 The engine water jacket was clogged with a mess of rusty particulates and 'stuff'.

Need to replace the Number one piston and the connecting rod for cylinder 6.
   

The front brake forks were missing. After two years of fruitless searching (stopping short of buying a parts car), I got some from NAPA that were close and had them machined down.
  Paul grinding the radiator mount bolts off
June 2008

One of the first things I did was send the dash cluster off to be refurbished in Arkansas.  When I got it back, it went back inside for a few minutes.

By Oct 2009  we'd gotten the front down to the frame.
 

 

stripped

       Major Milestone: November 2009  Tim and Paul remove the body from the frame and bead blast the entire thing.
 

15 Nov 2009

 

Trunk floor isn't all that bad, except where the gas tank straps attach, and some perforation

 

After blasting, lots of pinholes everywhere, as to be expected.  The passenger front floor is gone.  No-one seems to have floorplans available for the '36, so I'm using pans made for a '37 that have to be modified to be made to fit.  Not quite 'right' looking, but will be solid and good enough.

Terraplane shock absorbers' were being listed on ebay for $149 for a set of four, but I got a new set from NAPA for $17 a piece.  

NAPA also had new Front Wheel Seals, the original Timken number is still valid there.

10 Dec 2009
All shackle bushings were replaced. Most all were completely shot. There were complete assemblies being listed on ebay for $90+ each, but I got a complete set of just the shackle bushings from Rare Parts in Sacramento, CA for about $12 each.  

They fit perfectly.  It really does pay to shop around a bit when getting parts for these Terraplanes.

28 Feb 2010 Tim reports good progress on removal and replacement of rusted out sections of metal.  There was a lot to replace, but the gas tank strap attachment points have been restored now.  The U channel under the floor connecting to the seat frames had to be replaced, and we found excellent replacements at Mill Supply (rustrepair.com).  They were a bit oversize, but still fit just fine.

The rear stabilizer arm ends are completely shot and will need replacing. I've contacted Rare Parts to see if they can help.
23 Mar 2010

Continuing progress on removal and replacement of rusted metal.  The frame is essentially completed now.  All cracks repaired and the frame beefed up here and there. Brake lines replaced, shocks installed - looking pretty good.  The is now back on the frame, for good.  Tim's still working replacement of rusted metal.

Obtained a set of '36 correct wheels from Tom Pett in Illinois and they're at the powdercoaters now.  They were baked and then blasted to clean them up.

31 Mar 2010

 

The wheels are back from the powdercoaters. They're a nice dark red color to match with the maroon color planned to go back on. 

Managed to score four reasonable hubcaps off ebay.

At this point am undecided between radials and bias ply tires.

10 Apr 2010

Finally got a replacement right rear fender, also from Tom Pett.

 Arrived via Greyhound bus Parcel Express from Chicago to Kansas City in just about 10 hours. Not bad. Except Paul and Tim had to go get it.  On Troost.

It's not perfect but is certainly completely usable, and as Tim says, "better than anything else that came on the car".

The original was really trashed beyond repair.  The right rear seems harder to come by than others - not sure why.

10 April 2010

Sent one of the rear stabilizer sway bars to Rare Parts - they say they can replace.   

Also, I've obatined a new steering wheel, but I may have to put off it$ re$toration for $ome time.......