Mattml430

Yes your absolutely correct Bob, doesn’t it make a world of difference. That looks a 100 times better. I till am fond of the spoke wheels though. A set of wheels can make or brake any car.

That is some great advice. I’ll definitely remember that. It seems once people know you have these old girls they want to get married in them. Yer I just can’t take to the solid wheels for some reason.

Yer I’m not going to completely dismantle it as my daughter wants both cars for her wedding in November so best I pull my finger out. Just going to tidy it up with a new interior, paint, freshen up the underneath and rebuild the gearbox. All the brakes and front end have been done before I bought it which is great. Also treat her to some new spoke wheels. Can’t say I love the solids.

Definitely not the fast four then as the distributor is to the side behind the gear.

Great thanks Robert for clarifying that for me. I’ve been a bit confused about the model since i bought it as the guy told me it was a fast four.

So I think I’ve answered my own question, the body has a different no. to the chassis is that correct.

So I’m about to start on my fast four (I think)!! resto and I was doing some research on it, and I have a number on the chassis A871-414 that Richard gave me the build date of March- April 1927. but I also have a number on the body firewall of A20541. Does this mean I have a Jan 1924 body on a 1927 chassis or did they have separate numbers. Maybe it’s not a fast four at all.

Thanks Bob I’ll check them out.

Hi guys Is there somewhere we can purchase new or reproduced distributor caps for our cars. I must of knocked a lead off mine while working on it the other day and after i had replaced it , it has created a hair line crack. I was lucky enough to have an old spare but would like a new one. I had a quick look in parts for sale. I’m hoping to get her registered this coming week or next once I get my new rims and tyres.

hes A pic of mine done. Wouldn’t call them perfect but a whole lot better than they were.

I’ve just not long done mine and did the reflector with autosol. I used a microfibre cloth and went very gently. They where very tarnished and I was suprised how well they came up. For the outer light itself I thought re plating was going to be the only option but thought ide give it a whirl on my polisher and it came up like new. I used wax polish for that on a cloth machine buff. I’ll take a pic in the morning of how they came up.

Thanks Rich.

They are an amazing looking grill. It would be a huge job to rebuild one.

So I’m about to drop all the oil in my 29 victory 6, gear box and diff. What do you guys recommend as the best oil these days for the old girls. Has anyone used a full synthetic gear oil in them. I’ve still got a bit of practice to go before I can say I’m getting a smooth gear change between 2nd and 3rd. I don’t know how long ago the oils were changed so I want to do them. Appreciate any recommendations. Cheers Matt

Got all my wheels back on today, so now just waiting on the new rims and white wall tyres to arrive. I’m excited to see how it will all look, I think the white walls will give the car a completely different look. Some will probably be a little sad I have painted brand new hickory timber wheels but I think the black with white walls is really the look I’m after.

Not sure about the thistle but it’s been a Victorian car most of its life. I have a photo of it with the old Vic plates.

This is a pic of it looking very new. It looks to be out the front of the same house.

Well you might be completely correct JF , here is a photo of the old fella that owned it originally. Not sure if he had it from new but looking at the photo it’s pretty old. He’s got a hat on, not a top hat but close lol!!

Not sure haha! That’s how it was so I just re covered it the same. It was actually quite tricky to do because I had to hang all the side material on before I put the roof back in. Have you got a pic of how they should look. I was surprised to find it had chicken wire in it, but figured that would help it keep its shape. The fast four goes straight across without a step in it.

Thanks for the comments guys really appreciate it. It’s been a labour of love, as they are!! Spent hundreds of hours on the paint work. Stripped it back to bare metal all over.

Here’s a pic of the old girl waiting for her new wheels and white wall tyres. Still have a view electricals to do and a bit of interior trim.

You did a great job of rebuilding them. It’s a trade in itself the old wagon wheels, very nice work.

Yer it’s a bit of fun making them. I used my old metal lathe and set up a view stops and a small router on it. Knocks out a spoke all sanded in about 6 minuets. So takes a while to do 48 hahah. To face them off I got some old lathe parts from a scrap yard for $60 and made a surfacer. Works beautifully. Small motor spins the table and the router faces off the wheel. I have to do the wheels for my 26 dodge as well so it’s worth it all. It has the solid steel wheels.

I faced the back to the diameter of the drum. My new spokes are about 2mm thicker than the ones that were on it. I could of gone to the outside edge but couldn’t see the point. Wanted to leave the spoke thicker on the outside edge.

So I got the wheel back together and mounted it with the front hub. It spins to within 1/16” of the inside rim of the felloes so I’m happy with that. Took a pic to show how I measured it just in case I haven’t explained myself properly. Ran a steel rule of the spring. Cheers Matt