What other hobby's do you have?

[zozo]

Thankyou @foxfish most appreciated. And it only taken 33 years to get to that state.
Only runs in 4*, no lead replacement.
For those that wish to know 200ml of tetraethyl lead to 23l of petrol.

That's a stunning Chevy... You did a very nice job... I guess most replacement parts had to be handmade if it is beyond restoring?

What kind of petrol does it run on? Can it run on Ethanol 5% or also 10% or do you have to go for the Ether version?

 

[Kerrycarp]

Believe it or not most parts can be bought online from the States, they have very good service and unbelievably quick delivery.
I ordered a water pump Monday before Easter 2019 fitted it on the Good Friday.
Petrol is strictly 4 star made by adding tetraethyl lead to e5 or e10 petrol but my wife mixes in her fume cupboard as the fumes are horrid.
We found it in 1989 in a field near Chichester as a rusty chassis and it was just an exercise to see what we could with it.
The engine and gearbox are original but the wooden cab had to be remade and the panels were sourced from various places.
Straight six, 3 litre, 23 14 hp
I have new drop sides ready to go on it and it will be the bridal car for my daughter later in the year!

 

[zozo]

That's really remarkable indeed, didn't expect the parts for a 90-year old model still be that easily available... Mine is 1982 and 50 years younger obviously German made and new original spare parts getting rarer day by day, a lot is out of stock no longer in production. Some aftermarket brands started to remake some rubber parts but with a bad fit and inferior quality.

Then I must add that even some so-called genuine Mercedes parts no longer are what they once were. For example, the German factory SWF that made quite a few sturdy alloy parts back in the day does no longer exist. Had to buy a replacement for a worn-out SWF part and ordered it from MB dealer and they gave a plastic replacement for a Genuine Priced MB part with Made in the Chez Republic on the label. Nothing wrong with the Chez Republic, but still said as the nitpicker I am I was disappointed. Didn't buy an old MB to restore into a genuine Skoda for a price that makes you want to cry. The same goes for most Bosch fuel injection parts, no longer in production, Bosch maybe can be depending on the defects still restore the old parts and then it needs to be shipped off to Berlin for assessment and restoration. I did a few years back since after 30 years all are worn out. Quite a dent in the wallet.

+ side is it makes me appreciate what I have even more since mine is still in a pretty nice original condition.

<I had to do some digging> I'm from the Netherlands and we don't know 4-star Petrol or don't use the term, nor does Germany and or Belgium. I can only find Unleaded E5 or E10 which is not recommended for old original engines, I should take Super + RON 98 or higher which should still be without Ethanol, which is sparsely available only the larger filling stations still sell it. That would be BP Ultimate or Shell V power and quite more expensive due to lack in demand.

It's a point of concern in the back of my head, should I sell when I still can or go on? I fear the uncertain future a bit regarding petrol availability for old engines. since 2035 should be the end of petrol engine production for the automobile industry. I guess before that time arrives we will have environmentalists booing and following us around throwing rotten tomatoes on our windshields.

 

[Kerrycarp]

4 star petrol was the old leaded petrol.
When the time comes and the ecomentalists get their way all these vehicles will become static museum pieces.
These old chevys are still very popular in America and Australia and a lot of the parts were used on different vehicles for over 30 years and so are interchangeable.
There are also companies that specialise in making spares from old original machinery and some that, unbelievably, were actually NOS from old service stations and grandpa's shed.

 

[Kerrycarp]

Those statistics above should read 23 and 1 quarter horse power, not 2314

 

[zozo]

not 2314

I figured that was a typo, or else it would be burning rubber and rear tires and sparks flying all over the place every ride. 😂

Since I'm a picker for nostalgics I sometimes like to watch the American Pickers show and the USA indeed is the total opposite of Europe regarding NOS. It's baffling how many NOS and antiques etc. still can be dug up as barn finds. Mainland West-Europa is about picked clean and what's yet not picked is shredded and trashed. In southern or eastern Europe in the back countries, we still could get lucky, but that is also about finding needles in the haystack.

If you are also into old American motorcycles, I can recommend the Youtube channel Wheels Through Time, if you don't know it already. It's the largest antique motorcycle museum in the USA with a lot of one of a kind rarities all technically restored and running. They post lots of interesting vids about the restorations.

Btw best wishes on your daughter's wedding, that will be a hell of a unique bridal car.

 

[Kerrycarp]

😄😄😄 the brakes are blocks of wood on an asbestos belt to stop any fire. 2314 hp would make them slightly ineffective!

 

[zozo]

I've heard that before that USA cars were famous for their bad brakes relative to the engine sizes and the total weight of the car till well into the 80s... But I have no hands-on experience. It was a Dutchman telling me, and Dutch roads and traffic surely are a disaster for most big and heavy American classics. it's like threading the eye of the needle.

 

[Kerrycarp]

Hi @zozo. They are cable brakes, wooden blocks against wooden drums with an asbestos strip to stop any fires.
Today's modern bicycles with their disc brakes are actually more powerful and effective.
Also, because pedal layout wasn't uniform across all vehicles until many years later, the brake and accelerater pedal positions are reversed and I really have to pay attention to the surrounding traffic conditions or I could end up re building it all over again! 😅

I'm not a massive fan of motorbikes but I am a fan of old machinery and engineering so I watch all the programs I can find.

Thanks to all the people that liked my (expensive) toy!

 

[fredi]

Thankyou @foxfish most appreciated. And it only taken 33 years to get to that state.
Only runs in 4*, no lead replacement.
For those that wish to know 200ml of tetraethyl lead to 23l of petrol.

Couldn’t you replace the valve seats, then it would run ok on unleaded

 

[Kerrycarp]

Hi Fredi, good question but the aim is to keep it as original as possible.
Lead was the 'new thing' when this vehicle was made, prior to that all gasoline/petrol was unleaded. Funny how things come around isn't it?

 

[fredi]

I can understand that, i have a 1968 GTO, which is fairly original (bar incorrect colour paint and soft top, to be addressed at some point), all numbers match etc
I did get the valve seats machined, and guide seals etc
For me, it was for convenience, and ease of use

 

[Kerrycarp]

Well, if I had a 1968 GTO I would have valve seats done as well but then you wouldn't ever get me out of it again. I do love my chevy but... a GTO now you're talking!
To be honest I only do maybe 1 or 200 miles a year in the old girl ( don't tell anyone but it is blinking uncomfortable!)

 

[fredi]

At 14 mpg, driving like miss Daisy, it’s not used often, it’s currently on stands, under cover
This is current project
Should be up and running by the summer

 

[dean]

When lockdown finished last year I took up fishing
I use to go as a child up to starting work then I got married kids etc so time just for me was none existent
Now it’s wonderful to get out into the countryside watch the wildlife and hopefully catch a few fish

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[fredi]

This is what the engine is going in

Despite the look, Impreza’s are fairly practical. 5 seats, easy to drive, good visibility (even with mad boot spoiler)
Made a new exhaust, as i couldn’t purchase what i wanted

This is the centre section before silencer cover is fitted
It’s taken me an inordinate amount of time, but almost there

 

[foxfish]

Nice one Dean, I have been a keen fisherman all my life.
I was a very competitive match angler at one stage then a mad carp angler and always sea fishing.
Unfortunately sea fishing has died a death in recent years and our local lakes are overcrowded and overfished but I have a lifetime of joyful memories.
I also loved reading about fishing, characters like Chris Yates have written some fantastic atmospheric books .

 

[Garuf]

Fun story about the guy who added lead to petrol and saw that it was “good”. A right horrible blahblahblahblah of a man called Thomas midgley, often referred to as the single most environmentally damaging organism in the planets history with his inventions leaded petrol and cfc’s.
Added bonus is Lead exposure from leaded fuels (and water pipes) have lead to a measurable lowering of iq in populations of highest exposure and he himself suffered lead poisoning, knew his fuel caused it and chose to ignore all that and keep going.

 

[Kerrycarp]

Hi @Garuf he also invented a system of ropes and pulleys to assist him when he was bed ridden and died of strangulation whilst using it.

 

[Hanuman]

This is my pride and joy. She is 90 years old and she is running in London to Brighton historic commercial vehicle rally on May 8.
She is a 1932 Chevrolet LT, right hand drive, built in UK from American kit.
This photo was taken in Windsor Great Park and I like to think it looks right for the time it was made!

Someone in the vast ocean that Internet is tried replicating your car. Seems it didn't work out just as well. Oh well, it still drives...