stretch cab

The paint I was using was probably mild compared to some. It was Eastwood's chassis primer. So if that bothers me I figure the epoxy that I will be spraying soon on the wheels will really be a pain. I bought a paint suit and new respirator so I should be ok. The fresh air unit will follow when I have the funds.

Got some more primer on today. I'm using the primer experience to learn a little more about painting and I have learned that I need more light. I also think that I could use a fresh air breathing system as I seem to be affected even with a carbon filter. Going to check for a use one. Probably wont get to touch the car next week but will have two grandsons visiting the following week for spring break and they will be helping me move the frame in and out as I prime and paint it with their help.

Not like painting the body but I did get a bunch of chassis parts primed today. Had to set up the whole system so it took awhile but as you can see, I got a lot of little parts done. When I finished with the cleanup I hooked my frame to my engine stand to make it a little easier to move around. Having such a small garage creates its own problems but with my new lean to shed I can now paint under a roof. I tried out my HF mini sand blaster on the rear hubs and have to say that it worked just fine or would have worked just fine if my compressor would have been big enough. I was able to reach some areas a wire brush wasn't so at least it helped. I would recommend the handheld canister blaster for small jobs if your compressor will handle it. May get to work some on Tuesday so hopefully will get the top coat on this week.

My schedule has gotten worse since starting this post but I did get some paint prep in tonight. I'm ready for a lot of the frame and breaking parts so if Saturday is a good day I will be a happy camper and will see some primer at last. Thanks for the encouragement!

I thought I would start this post to let you see my project and also have a platform for questions that I have as I work to complete it. My grandfather started this car in the early 60's and as you can see never finished it. Not sure why but he was kind of that way. The car is built around what I have always thought were brass era American LaFrance parts i.e. radiator, headlights steering column and wheel. The running gear minus the motor is I think from a 1919 490 Chevy give or take a year. I need to be clear that I really do not know if the firetruck was an ALF or the year of the chassis but that is family lore. The motor is in fact a Y400 Continental from a stationary water pump setup, I do not know what year and I can't find much info on this power unit. It is hand crank. I have kept the car over the years and I guess I am its guardian. I have been asked why put money into finishing a one off car and the only real answer to that is that it was Grandpa's car. Now having said that, he probably wouldn't like how I'm finishing it but that will never be known. Because of its firetruck heritage of prominent parts I am finishing the car as a Fire Chief's car. It will be painted red of course with the moldings black and lots of gold pin stripping. I picked up a firetruck spotlight that looks like it came with the car at Hershey last year so now I need a bell and siren. The body is all aluminum riveted around a wood frame. My dad (the son in law) bucked the rivets and is not fond of the car. My work has me in Florida where I have a tiny garage 12 x 20 so the car is partly here and partly in my shop in NC where my other cars are stored. At this point I have the front end painted and rear end almost ready to paint. The frame is ready to paint also but my work takes me away from home and also out of the country a lot so time is my enemy. Open heart surgery about the time I started the project didn't help either. My first question is what color should the engine be? The Continental originally was green but what color would a Chevy of that period be? Can't promise a lot of updates but I will do my best to chronical the build if for nothing else my enjoyment. I should have the inner rims and spokes done in a couple weeks so that will be progress.

I am getting ready to paint my wood wheels and I checked with the rep at SPI as to what to use. He advised me to use an epoxy primer and then top coat with whatever top coat I will be using for the car.

Seems to me the good luck charm didn't help them too much as no cars were built.

Excuse my question but, HOW DO YOU LOSE A HOOD?????????

Thanks so much for the update. I really am enjoying your build. I get encouragement for my project.

I have a Y400 motor that probably came out of a stationary water pump unit. I am interested in what year these were made and what other uses they had.

I would think that is the book I heard about. Thanks I will pick up a copy. Probably not a lot of tech info as the reviews say but still another link to the history of my car. I will post in the Stak. Thanks John

That looks like a good book and maybe what I have in PDF format but what I'm looking for is more of a historical book on the Continental motor company as a whole. From what I understand there is a book giving pictures and data of the cars that used the motors including machinery which I suppose my motor would fall under. It is more historical than technical as I understand.

Here is a picture of my car, or at least the body. The frame is from around a 1919 Chevy with its front and rear ends. The radiator, headlights and steering are from a brass era Seagrave fire truck. The body is hand formed from aluminum over a wood frame. The aluminum was run through a hand cranked beading device giving it some beautiful beading for looks and to strengthen the body panels. I will be finishing the car as a fire chiefs car in honor of the history of where its major parts came from.

Thanks Bud for all the information. As the tag shows it is a Y400 but I'm not sure what the 126 denotes. It came from a stand alone power unit that ran a water pump. My grandfather had two of the units and used the motor from one for this project. Now that I have the tag info I will be contacting the people listed in the first post on Smokestak. I was hoping that the Continental book I have heard about would answer my questions as to year of manufacture.