sunnybaba

1930 Air Cooled Franklin SedanThis is the First Car that had a Revolutionary Airplane- Type Engine …. Air CooledThe 1930 Franklin engine produces the greatest power for cylinder capacity of All automotive power plants of it’s time. It traveled from New York to Los Angles in 69 hours, 31 minutes – a new all-time record for 1930... It was a high end luxury car of it’s era, holding it’s own with Packard and Cadillac. This car is not restored to original showroom condition, but has been rebuilt and renewed, to make it a DAILY DRIVER ….. for safe use on today’s highways…..It has four wheel, Rebuilt, Hydraulic brakes, on 14” drums …. Full elliptic springs for a smooth ride, even on rough roads….. Recently Rebuilt, Fully Balanced, High Compression, 6 cylinder Air- cooled engine, putting out 105 hp…. Recently Rebuilt 4 speed transmission…. Powder coated wire wheels, with new, 6 ply tires….. New, Real Leather upholstery….very comfortable seats, with interior fully insulated, with sound proofing…. New safety glass installed, after recent paint job….. 12 volt conversion, with new, Bright, LED Headlights, Tail lights and Turn Signals….. It has original, Trunk/Luggage Rack and Dual Side mount spare tires on Powder coated rims…..This car has been driven all over the USA, from coast to coast and from the Deep South up into Canada to the Northwest Territory, Arctic Circle and back… It will cruise all day long comfortably at 55 – 60 mph, accelerating up into the 70’s when needed….. It is truly a Fine Touring car, Ready to be Driven Often…. I have all written records, of all the work done on this car, since 1944…… It has a clear New Mexico Title in my name, and is presently insured and Driven….This Beautiful, Full Classic Automobile is priced to sell on today’s slow, virus restricted Market….. I will accept $16,000

Terry... I have built a few 4x4 trucks made out of model A sedan bodies... see photo... And Mike West has a real nice Franklin pickup, he and his father built... and I think Mike is building another Franklin pick up right now... The truck in the photo above is ill proportioned , in my opinion.... I don't think it looks right...

I so appreciate, each of your interest, friendship and your encouragement to keep this awesome automobile, the Franklin...... It is a really good car for my needs here.. and I know what these roads have done to my four wheel drive trucks... it really abuses the suspension and front ends, (steering, ball joints, tie rod ends, etc,)... it is either thick dist, and loose gravel, or deep mud.... and because I like the Franklin, and think it is a fine car that I value and enjoy... I hate to see it sit at home, not being used half the time, because I don't want to abuse it and have it loose it's resale value.... because if I keep it , I will not have any extra money or extra income, above my daily living needs, to buy and start another project car or truck... this is how I have been able to afford to buy unfinished project cars or to rebuild prewar cars and trucks, over the years..... I have renewed and rebuilt, and built cars from the frame up...... using the money from selling the previous vehicle to finance the next one..... and I have done this with about 25, prewar vehicles in the past 50 years.... enjoying the process of bringing them back to life and enjoying them for a while and passing them on.. to reinvest that money into another one.... If I got attached to any one of them, then I never would have been able to experience , the uniqueness of all the others... It is just the way a poor man (with income below the poverty level), has been able to afford to own, repair and build so many really nice vintage vehicles..... So... If I keep this beautiful Franklin... it will be my Last vintage vehicle... I am 75 years old and have had a wonderful, full life, full of creativity and adventure... and I have to feel into whether or not I am willing to make this my last...... I love the Franklin ride (suspension and handling) as well as the comfortable interior... but I would love to build one that was four wheel drive, and a truck that could haul our hay from town, handle the mud and abuse... easy to get parts for.... but has those beautiful curves of the 'old time' bodies... that wonderful, 'old time feeling' of the ride itself (the journey) is the best part, and not the destination.....it would have the full elliptic spring ride of a Franklin.... a 30's body with plenty of leg room (I'm 6'4").... be able to haul 3/4 of a ton , of hay, rooks, firewood, etc. in the bed... and have vintage wire wheels and the vintage look... but be a rough off road, 4X4 work horse ...... That would serve my homesteading/Farming lifestyle of daily use... and satisfy my need to drive a nice looking, vintage looking vehicle........ anyway these are my thoughts & feelings about my selling or not selling this amazing Franklin...... I may be willing to make it my Last vintage vehicle/project....... I am a very practical, unattached character .... we will see..... thank you for your support and caring... a great bunch of fellow vintage vehicle Lovers... Sunny

It is Running nicely... I don't really have a broken transmission..... just one broken fork... and the rest of the transmission was completely rebuilt when it was installed, 23,000 miles ago...... it looks real good inside, no wear on the gears and no chips in the teeth, tight bearings, even the forks show very little wear... I screened the oil out of it with a very fine screen... no metal flakes or metallic sheen in the oil... the new fork is on the way... and will be installed early next week..... when driving with the 4 speed tranny, it makes zero noise, and even putting my ear on the shift lever... it is quiet.... so... by the time someone responds to my ad... and they want to drive it... it will be back on the road... running nicely as it should..... The good..... It is the most comfortable prewar car I have ever driven ,owned, or ridden in..... very smooth ride on rough roads..... very comfortable leather 'couch-like' seats.... With the brakes all rebuilt, and having the big 14" drums.. it stops very nicely, without locking up the brakes. For such a heavy car (4,360 lbs)..... it stops amazingly well..... The Doors shut with that nice high quality 'click' that a true, well built, luxury car should have.... There are NO body rattles... even on these Rough, dirt roads. With this rebuilt steering box, and rebuilt king pins and tie rod ends..... it steers straight and does not wander or shimmy at all.... you can even take your hands off the wheel going 30 mph on a gravel road. It starts right up... runs smooth.... accelerates smoothly and has LOTS of power..... and loves to climb hills.... no smoke from the exhaust after it warms up a little....... The engine was completely rebuilt about 23,000 miles ago, fully balanced to racing standards. 6:6 high compression head, rod inserts, new stallite coated exhaust valves, new clutch plate with lining installed. 12 volt conversion, rewired starter & generator ... compression test; 135,130,128,130,128 and 131 welded in steel plates to reinforce frame where the front spring hangers bolt on.... installed a complete front end from a series 16 Franklin... New, Bright, low voltage LED, headlights (with new reflectors) , Turn signals (with hazard flasher), tail & brake lights, and backup lights..... It even has a good heater, new glass and window channels, entire body and floor, insulated with sound proofing..... The paint is intentionally a matte or low gloss finish , recently done to protect the body from the weather..... not meant to give it a new, shinny, restored look.... 'she' looks good for being 90 years old.... There are way too many things done to this car, by the previous owner Richard (Dick) Lamphere, to list here... but I have 5 volumes of his detailed records of work done on this car since 1944 The Bad.... The speedometer cable just broke (easy fix) and the dome light is not working (easy fix) and all my non-essential income is tied up in this car..... and it's resale value will go down rapidly as I continue to use it as a daily driver on these rough, dusty, bumpy dirt roads.... so I wish to pass it on to someone else that will drive it often on smooth paved roads, and park it inside out of the weather.. and enjoy it and maintain it as I have.... thanks for listening............. Sunny

The reason it was half the price... is the broken fork in the transmission.... and I didn't think I could fix it or even find the part needed.... Some one should have jumped on it then.. they would have gotten a steal of a deal.... now that I can fix it with the correct part it is priced at it's fair value...... ready to tour again........ subtract my paying half of the transport fees and I am getting about $14,500.....

This Is Mine... and I didn't post it here because of the critical nature of the preservationists, and the people who critique the authenticity of each car for sale.... such as, 'those are not original Franklin tail lights', or 'the parking lights are missing', or look at the mess of gauges and switches on that dash board'...... you all know how it goes here on this Cars For Sale sight.... so I thought I would feel out the general public's response, using Craigslist in several large cities near me, in the western states.... before I advertise it here or on the Franklin sight, or HCCA, or Hemmings....... I now have it running well again, and looking fairly nice, and it will never be in better shape than it is right now, as long as I own it and drive it often on these rough dirt roads where I live... so while it is in a decent, derivable, very usable condition..... I thought I would go FISHING in the bigger pool.. and see what the interest might be ...... I sure hate to ruin and beat up, a nice vintage 'DRIVER'........ I actually enjoy the process of making them road worthy and looking nice again... more than the 'owning' of them.... I am ready and interested in starting another project.... thanks for listening, Sunny

Thank you all for your help and suggestions..... I was able to find the correct part, in good condition, for a very fair price, from Mike West... after it is installed and shifting normally again, I will let you all know.... Sunny

I am going to the machine shop to have one built, I don't think you can weld this CAST metal.... and the weak area on this shift fork is the recessed hole where the bolt goes through...(where it broke)... and that area is only 1/8" thick.... I will get this fork replaced with good strong steel.... thanks for looking Mike.... good to know you have a complete one..

You can't even roll up the windows..... fair weather car only.......... for $45K....??

I have had many vintage prewar 'Drivers'...... shipped open carrier...... it is alot cheaper and at the most you might get a few bugs splattered on it that have to be washed off... and making sure the hood is latched and doors secured is smart...... There is a web sigh,t that beats all the open carrier prices... it is called Uship... and what you do there is type in what vehicle, (not just vehicles), you want to ship.... if it runs and rolls or is in pieces, length and approximate weight...... where it is to be picked up and where delivered... then drivers and haulers from all over the nation... bid on what price they will charge you.... and you pick your hauler and you you get to talk to the driver (he gives you his cell number)... and it happens real quickly..... at very reasonable prices... many haulers don't want to travel on their return route, with out a full load... I have had several vehicles transported this way, at very low costs..... they are all insured and legal to haul.... Uship

OK Mike... I am waiting with my fingers crossed that you might have a T77 parts tranny, with a good middle fork... I need to know by Weds.. 5/20... because that is when I can go into town to contact a machine shop about building one for me.... and Mike could you Email me a price if you have one.... sunnybabaspirit@yahoo.com

Thank you for the good advice... Paul is now helping me and guiding me through this repair .... which takes away my despair...😊 Opened it up today and found a broken fork that controls second and reverse gears... it was sheared off when I mistakenly down shifted from 4th gear into Reverse, at 20 mph...... what would I expect...?? we will get her fixed.. no serious damage... easy fix,..... what a great bunch of Franklin owners.. thanks again, Sunny

OK Paul, Now I took the floor board and toe board out.... and remember the shift lever would not move in any direction... so I unbolted the shift lever cup... four bolts and pulled the shift lever out... the middle slot/Rod was pushed way forward..... and the other two on either side wouldn't move at all (they shouldn't of course)..... when the middle rod is out of neutral. So, I was able to pry the middle rod back into, what I thought was, the middle/neutral position... so all three slots were lined up in a row .... Which is supposed to be the neutral position...... so I bolt the shift lever back on, start the car, with the clutch in.... but when I try to let the clutch out, while in neutral it wants to move forward..... so I try to move the shift lever into reverse... it won't go... then I try spring loaded granny low.... it won't go..... then I try regular low/second ... it won't move into any of the gears either.... and neutral, it wants to move forward when clutch is engaged... So I turn it off, open it up again, and start trying to move each of the slots/rods back and forth..... with a large screw driver.... the middle rod will only move forward... it looks like it moves further than it should and when I look at the rod end at the back of the tranny it is a half an inch INSIDE of the tranny case... where the left rod is flush with the case when fully forward..... so I move the middle rod back to what I thought was neutral, but I see now it is NOT really back in neutral.. it needs to come back more to line up with the other two... but it will not move back no matter what I do... I keep pushing the spring loaded tab on the right one and try to move it... but it won't move..... So... at this point I feel the obstruction to movement is inside the tranny, below the rods... so I take out the 6 nuts holding the top with the rods down ....... but I can not lift it off because there is a metal angle iron brace across the top of the front of this lid I just unbolted... it probably has to lift straight up... And I am affraid actually to lift it up anyway... because something might move or fall and I couldn't put it back together again...... but I can lift it 1/2 inch and wiggle it around a little..... and then I try to move the middle rod/slot back with the screwdriver while to tranny lid is loose... and it moves back to where the other rods are ..... thus neutral... now all three rods are sticking out about 1/2 from the rear of the tranny... and I can move the left rod back and forth and I can move the middle rod back and forth.. but not the right rod........ and when I move the middle rod it goes TOO FAR FORWARD AND TOO FAR BACK, sticking out further than the left one in both directions .... This is not right and why won't the right one move..? So .. More to the story.... I bolt every thing back together, with the three slots lined up.... get in start the car (clutch in) but as I let the clutch out (in neutral) it wants to move forward... But now I can shift into 2nd,3rd, and 4th smoothly... and I can tell I am in each gear, because when I let out the clutch in 4th it bogs the engine ... in 3rd less so, in 2nd not at all,,, but it also wants to move forward (as in 2nd) in Neutral.... and it still will not go into reverse or low granny at all....... So..... I have no neutral (or maybe the idler gear is not working) I can shift into 2nd,3rd and 4th... but not reverse and not low granny But I can drive it up on a trailer to be sold CHEAP or drive it to town..... and shift into the three gears... but nobody within 600 miles will know how to work on it... and getting parts..??? Even if I was to pull off the top plate of the tranny... I would't have a clue what things in there are supposed to look like, or what looks wrong in there...I might never get it back together........ And who would have a good serviceable T77-1 tranny..?? and for how much...? and shipping to New Mexico...? I really am feeling that I got in way over my head.... on this Franklin... and I don't have anymore money to be putting into it.... any body want a good Franklin CHEAP you would have a good driver with about $500- $1000 more invested in replacing or repairing this tranny..........🙄 Any body want a slightly crippled Franklin...?? $8K

Thanks Paul, will do as instructed.... I know Dick Lamphere, rebuilt the T77-1 completely.. before installing it.... I have 5 notebooks that covers 50 years of notes, on everything he did to this car, and notes on his long distance trips with it, gas mileage, average cruising speed, repairs done, etc.. he over hauled many parts... and this engine was completely rebuilt 23,000 miles ago and a new clutch put in then... this engine has inserts and a high compression head, giving it a 6:6 compression ratio...... I will look into it in the next week... and report (with photos)... and what I find out.... thank you for telling me what to look for..... I was in third, ( the highest gear) and tried to down shift ( double clutching) into second, because it was lugging up the hill, but I hit reverse instead... the way I describe the gears is ; spring loaded Low granny gear, then first, second and third... I only use the spring loaded granny gear, for ascending or descending a very steep hill , Like out of our canyon...... I drove home in first... it is stuck in first... was stuck in reverse... will get back to you on this, as soon as I look into it... I will use this public format, because others my learn something from our discussion........ Sunny

Driving the 1930 145 into town today... climbing up a mountain grade... I went to downshift into second gear.... (I still need to feel into where the gears are, because I haven't driven it alot)..... It went into reverse... and locked up... I immediately put in the clutch..... and it just sat there in the middle of the road , on a grade, idling..... It didn't roll back wards, with the clutch in.... and no matter how hard I pulled on the shift lever with the clutch in... it would not come out of reverse... so There I sit miles from anywhere in the middle of a narrow dirt road...... it won't go forward, with the clutch in or out , it won't go forward or backward to get out of the road........ So I try starting the engine again, clutch in... it starts.... so I let out the clutch and jerk on the shift lever and it comes out of reverse and into first gear... and I let out the clutch and it moves forward as it should... (the clutch is working fine, engaging & dis engaging, as it should.... so I get up a little speed, moving forward up the hill, and try to shift into second.. and the lever gets stuck again between gears, somewhere.... and the engine dies, and I am in the middle of the road (very narrow dirty road).... and it wont go into any gear... no matter how hard I try to move the lever in any direction....., with clutch in or out, engine on or off.... so I try again, with engine running clutch let out and jerk the lever towards first... it goes in and as the clutch is let out and given gas, it moves forward as it should... so I drive it the 10 miles into town in first gear... park it at a friend's house , borrow his car for the day, and make all our goat's milk deliveries as scheduled and do our shopping and return to the Franklin, Push her backwards out of his driveway (she won't go in any other gear), start her up and slowly drive the 18 miles home in first gear... no problem... happy to have made it Home safely, with the car and all our goods..... NOW the question; Does anybody have an idea what might have happened inside the transmission to lock up like that...... and cause the shifting fork to not be able to move between gears...?? It has always shifted easily and smoothly even with the engine turn off , sitting still......... Now it won't move an inch in any direction, clutch in or out........ I will pull out the floor boards, and unbolt, and open the top of the T77-1 4 speed tranny..... looking to see why the shifting forks, won't move... maybe a pin in there fell out..... I don't know what exactly to look for..... ANY IDEAS......?????? 😏

NOTICE ..... all parts are sold as of noon today May 10th....... I didn't realize there would be such an interest..... Gone.... Gone....

Thanks Paul.... It is good to know that the filters can be cleaned and reused...

Roger... my 1930 145 might be 2 1/4" opening.... I don't know... I didn't take off my K&N filter, and measure it, when I responded... you might ask other franklin owners.. I think the 1930 and 1931 have the same carb...

Roger..... My filter is K&N # RU-3560 ...... It fits snug over the 2" carb opening ( I first lubed it with a thin coating of wheel bearing grease, it is rubber) It is 6 " long and the small end near the steering box is 4 3/4" .... the big end by the carb is 5 1/2"..... I kept the number because I will surely need another using it as my driver to and from town each week, on this dirt road....

Hi,.......... these parts came with my 1930 145 sedan.... and I am not going to use them.... The backup light works fine (lights up)...$20 the Air cleaner/filter is original... but I need a better Filter for dirt road driving.... $20 and the two spare side mount locks are original and not needed, (no one around here could make use of them)...... the locks work smooth and the key is for both of them...... $50 All these prices are plus shipping and the locks and maybe a few of the other items will fit in a $8-$12 Priority mailing box..... sunnybabaspirit@yahoo.com

I am posting some Franklin parts for sale on the For sale link under Franklin...... Two side mount tire locks with key... original air filter, and a period backup light.. for more info and more photos....... look at the buy & sell page..... all parts cheap....

rjp .... I have installed the Best K&M high flow Air Filter... that I read about, here on the Franklin discussions...... nothing bigger will fit between the carb and the steering box...... unless you installed a remote filter with tubing...... It was pricey.. but one of the Best for our dusty dirt roads... well worth the investment......

Thank you Ed... coming from you, the three thumbs up is a great sign of approval........ not that I am looking for approval...🙄 as you all can see... many items on this Franklin are not original..... and it hasn't been Restored to original condition...... it all started with Richard Lamphere .... changing all kinds of things on this Franklin.... and he drove it long distances ... Putting over 200,000 miles on it...... and it has been rebuilt many times..... it is still running real good and strong........ and I have added many things that it did not have originally..... making it more drive able under today's driving conditions.... keeping it maintained under the tradition that Mr. Lamphere did.... I know I won't be getting much approval from the preservationists, or the folks that can afford a true Restoration....... This is a poor man's attempt to enjoy the hobby of owning and driving a vintage automobile................

Ply33 I have to use the Tennessee plates that Dick Lamphere had with the car, when I bought it, Because the motor vehicle department is closed (because of the Virus scare), here in New Mexico.... so The state is allowing people to drive their vehicles without current registration or plates, but you must have insurance.... I guess I could get away with it anyway, if I didn't get stopped by the police, and asked for my registration.... With most businesses, closed in most of the towns... it is pretty boring going into town... very few cars on the road, all these people wearing masks.... and I can't hug my friends... oh well... This too will Pass .....

First off I would like to thank the other Franklin owners and club members for you freely shared knowledge and advice..... Air cooled engines and Franklins in particular, are new to me...... I have owned, worked on and driven, many pre 1931 Dodges, Chryslers and model A's ...... But none of them have even come close to the exceptional way this Franklin handled, on these rough, wash boarded dirt roads, that I have to drive on to get to the nearest small town. After buying this 145 sedan in November of last year, and working on it all winter and early spring... it is now finally insured and back on the road as my weekly driver to town... The ride is sooooo smooth on these 18 miles of rough roads... and it has to climb out of this canyon, where we live on a 1,500 acre Nature Preserve, bordering the Gila Wilderness area...... we climb and descend 1,000 ft elevation in less than a mile on a narrow loose dirt and rock, one lane road ...... the tires didn't slip or spin on the steep inclines..... the low 'granny' gear was excellent for crawling out of the canyon and especially good for descending....... saving the use of the brakes.... Up on the flat mesa areas, where I could drive in third gear... it has so much power and smooth acceleration ...... I am impressed...... and the steering was very tight and it was not a constant struggle to keep it driving straight and smooth on the uneven, bumpy, wash board road...... the suspension was very smooth... and we did not even feel the wash board areas... that normally rattle my false teeth in our Toyota 4x4 pickup.... it was like floating on a cloud... driving on these rough dirt, country roads ....... This Franklin is by far the most comfortable pre-war vehicle I have driven...... here are a few photos of it's maiden 'voyage'...... on roads of it's era...... Our House and gardens are seen down in the bottom of the canyon by the creek