Restorer32

As the old song goes..."Paint it black"....

We are beginning a full frame up professional show restoration to original of a 1938 Willys Sedan. Looking for suppliers of parts. Especially need engine parts, taillights, headlight parts etc. Any help greatly appreciated. Google has not been very helpful.

Some rust in the wheel wells and rockers but all in all not too bad. Last ran 5 years ago or so. Call me at 717-515-8617 to discuss. I will give you more info re the history of this car.

OK, will listen to any offer, even ridiculous ones. This car deserve restoration and comes with 1/3 or so new wood. Can't see much in pics, it's basically a pile but it is complete with all woodie specific parts.

We were there. Finally got towed out Sunday morning. I remember Herco brought in something like 60 ton of gravel to make the main road thru the Green field passable. Another year it rained felines and canines most of the week. We had a client's freshly restored '32 Packard Coupe Roadster in our trailer in the Green Field. Our client insisted that the Packard had to be on the show field regardless. I drove that '32 Packard with wheels spinning and sliding maybe 300 yards thru the mud to the main road. Had two employees running alongside the car and pushing where necessary. It was raining hard, 25 ft high mud rooster tails behind the Packard. The car was covered in that famous Hershey mud but it was raining so hard that the car was almost clean by the time I made it to the show field. By 11 0'clock the rain stopped and the sun came out. We won the First Junior Award.

Beginning disassembly of a badly deteriorated '38 Willys Sedan for full restoration. Under the rear seat we found a 1946 Readers Digest as well as a Baltimore Sun newspaper from August of 1941. Always interesting what turns up when doing automotive archaeology.

I believe there is at Otto engine in the Rough And Tumble museum collection in Kinzers, PA.

We have all our magnafluxing done by a local NAPA machine shop. Any shop that rebuilds engines should have the necessary equipment and expertise.

Maybe 15 years ago there was a fellow at the Annual Meeting discussing the restoration of his '32 Packard 12 Conv. He had the interior, top and sidemount covers upholstered by a well known shop in Ohio that has done several Pebble cars. He said the work is perfect but cost him almost $50 grand. As always, the nicer the nice the higher the price.

Once again the old adage "You get what you pay for" rings true. Do a restoration or an interior or rebuild an engine and carefully keep track of all your time. Then multiply that time by an hourly rate that would cover your overhead, your employee costs, your insurance and a modest salary for yourself. Your eyes will be opened.

Regardless of what you do the Camaro with the shiniest red paint will always win the People's Choice award.

Wife and I drove MGBs as our daily transportation for maybe 5 years. Loved those things. As stated above rust is the enemy. The mechanicals are simple and easy to repair. Wish I'd kept the rust free '64 I paid $250 for.

Hal Fillinger always has a large display of fire trucks and parts for sale.

Front end looks like a mud carp.

Dang, I would love to restore a couple of those.

When you find the solution let me know. I know where there is supposed to be a low mileage '63 Vette that a guy died in. They are selling it for $500 because of the smell.....

Years ago I owned a 1949 Chrysler Highlander conv with the red plaid interior

Aww shucks, thank you Sir.

Pity the Philistine who knows the price of everything but the value of nothing.

These discussions make me appreciate our glass bead cabinet even more.

Took me a while to figure out what a "spigot end" was, as found in British transmission manuals.

My copy arrived this morning in South Central PA.

OK you can ban me for trolling for work but I have to say it. Please forgive me. Just opened CRANKSHAFT #6 and am overjoyed to see the '49 Olds Woodie we restored from a pile of junk on the cover. I think I still have nightmares about those curved finger joints I did on the milling machine. I have seldom been as proud in my life. Wish Dad were here to see it. A love of old cars was literally one of the only things we ever shared when he was alive. For me at least pride in our workmanship is worth more than money. I'm sure my Son will be just as proud. The young person referenced above will be visiting our shop the week after she graduates. I'll be quiet now.

My undergrad degree is in Archaeology so when pressed as to what use my degree is to a car restorer I describe myself as an "Industrial Archaeologist". My graduate school years in South Asian Studies is more problematic.

I was well into a PhD program at an Ivy League university when I decided that what I really wanted to do was work with my hands and mind together. Have I made a living? Yes. Will I ever be rich? No. Do I still, at the age of 75, still wake up every morning anxious to get to the shop? Absolutely. I know so many "money chasers" who can tell you almost to the day how long they have to work until retirement. Different strokes for different folks I guess.