1934 Chevrolet Cabriolet Restoration

In 1934 Chevrolet made one of the most beautiful cars in the history of the company. This 1934 Chevrolet Cabriolet is being restored to exacting standards. We had to recast the 1934 Chevrolet Cabriolet Windshield on this one because the original was in bad condition. We recast it in bronze to replace the original pot metal frame.

Side Shaft 7-1/2 hp Gasoline Engine Hit and Miss

This vintage Gasoline engine was built by Ruston-Hornsby Company in 1912. When resistance is applied, and rpm drops, it fires more frequently in order to maintain the rpm. This is much different than the modern day engines that fire regularly on every forth stroke or every second stroke, depending on whether it is a 4 or 2 stroke engine. This video was taken at the 2010 Arlington WA Air Show.

The owner wrote that the engine was most likely used to run an overhead shaft which in turn ran a flex shaft that ran clippers for shearing sheep in the outback of Australia as it was shipped to Sydney from England where it was built.

The tower in the right side was actually the cooling radiator. Water was pumped up to where in ran down over the screens to cool the water.

General Jumbo Cleve-Weld Wheel

General Tire company offered a wheel/tire combination in the early 30s. Here is a nice example of what you would get. There aren't any appropriate General tires available for these General Jumbo rims, although you can get a period correct Good Year tire that fits. That is what I intend to do for my 37 Chevy Pickup Truck. It will certainly set my truck further apart from anything else out there.

1934 Chevrolet Goodrich Tire Original

Original 1934 Chevrolet tires are a rare thing to see. I would like to see one of the reproduction tire manufacturers take one of these five original tires that we have, and make a nice copy. I did offer it to one of the companies and all I got was, "We don't do custom orders" He couldn't understand that I was offering him an opportunity. At least that's what I thought. We would certainly be the first to buy a set if they were reproduced. These tires are beautiful, but they are only good for static display. Being 75 years old, you wouldn't want to tour on them. The spare tire doesn't look like it's hit the ground. It looks like we painted the red on the tire to match the wheel, but we didn't. The red on the tire was actually done that way originally.

Installing a 302 in the 1936 Ford

Les wants to put a 302 Ford engine in his late father's 1936 Ford to complete his dad's plan for the car.

Hello Doug,
 

I am currently attempting to finish the engine conversion that my father, Phil Diez had started and then suddenly passed away half way through. He was one of the original Tampa Knights and an early pioneer in real steel street rods in the 70s and 80s. I have inherited his 36/ 5 window coupe and wish he was here to pick his brain on how the heck he was going to shovel the 302 he built to replace the 327 that was originally installed.  He had cut the firewall and I have 2 special motor mount flat plates that I believe he was going to use. In a quick mock up placing the engine and tranny into the car , the engine really protrudes into the gas pedal area etc. if the fan is going to clear the radiator.. I have been flying over in Afghanistan and Iraq and am now home for good and want to try and finish the installation. It is a beautiful car that was his proudest achievement. He is a real old school resto rod streetrodder and Nascar sportsmen legend from the Tampa bay area. Cecil Taylor of Hercules Motors was a big help in letting me safely store the car at his shop until I could arrange to have it hauled to North East Ohio several years ago. What started the conversion idea was when Don Garlits was picking on him for not having a Ford in a Ford now that a rear sump option is available. ( They went to high school together) Originally he was going to install one of his old Offy powered flat heads in there but elected to build a Boss 302 instead. He was on Social security disability the last 10 years and had to watch his pennies.  Anyway, I would like to honor him with the completion and take the car to the Tampa NSRA Nats some year in the future so that all of his friends can see that it was possible and etc. I would be very appreciative of any guidance I could receive.

Best regards

Les

Les,

I encourage you to look at shortening the water pump in an attempt to fit the engine in between the original firewall and radiator. Another option is to use a 260 water pump. If you can find one, it will save on machine work expense. You may also need to shorten your fan blades slightly, in order to clear the lower outlet on the radiator. You can also pressurize your radiator in order to enhance the cooling ability. 

Hope this information helps. 

Thanks for presenting you question,

Doug

1937 Chevrolet Panel Truck

1937 Chevrolet Panel Truck shown here in an original photo offered by Darrins Photoclique on E-bay. This is a great photo showing what the custom pickup truck, in my previous blog post looked like before it was customized.

1937 Chevrolet Custom Pickup Truck

This 1937 Chevrolet Panel Delivery was converted to a Pickup Truck, similar to an El Camino. Who knows, maybe it was the inspiration for the El Camino. This original, vintage photo was used with permission from Darrins Photoclique.