alsfarms

Harm and chistech, I agree with you comments fully. The machine processes, what every they are, or welding then fabrication are very therapeutic. I enjoy the thought process of how can I accomplish a fabrication or repair, then devise a plan, draw it out with dimensions and then set about building the thing. Harm, do you have other projects besides the Model A and the Cleveland? Al

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Good for you Harm, You can never have too much equipment! (even if some of it only gets used infrequently). I finally have given up on my small shop and am in the middle of a 60' x 60' shop extension that will allow for farm equipment storage, automobile storage and a 20' x 60' machine shop. You must have a shop bay that you dedicate to your car projects? How much snow and serious cold weather to you have in your area? Like you I have a small lathe (9" South Bend) and a bigger brute, a 16" Lodge and Shipley from 1926. Fortunately the previous owner paid the price to have the original electric motor rewound from 3 phase to single phase so I do not need a phase converter to run it. (I do not have access to three phase where I live). Al

What is the total length pf the gauge? That would let us know what size tank this unit will work in if accuracy is important.

Layden, That is a very peculiar quadrant for sure! Not quite what I had in mind. Al

Hello Mike, You sure know how to put the heat on the rest of us! Nice progress you are making. With your ventilating doing much better, your engine better look out as you will be all over that shortly and have a runner! Al

I am looking for a quadrant arm for a brass era car. This is the piece that fits in the middle of the steering wheel and allows for control of the spark and throttle. If you have one that you can't identify and don't need, drop me a note. If you have the spark and throttle arms, that is even better. Al

I must admit, Studebaker, of this vintage, made some BEAUTIFUL cars. I hope someone with patience, time and a desire to see things through, buys this elegant old lady and restores her. A few years ago, it could have been me. (My garage is full now). Al

My what a nice "Dyke" motorcar. Excellent pictures. Thanks for posting! West, I could not agree more. It would like to think that we are evolving back to being a more "doer" oriented hobby. I mean that in the sense that we do more of our own work again instead of thinking that we simply must farm out everything we do because we are thinking of money $ in the end. Other areas of our world enjoy the hobby at a different scale for sure. Thanks for your comment and thoughts. Al

I know exactly what Chistech is speaking about regarding the term "CRS". I suffer from the same issue. Harm, did you heat treat the CRS after boring the hole used for punching out the raw copper coins? I may have some specific questions regarding your set-up for stamping the coins. Did you solder each coin to the parent copper tube? Keep up the good work. Al

I just looked over the RM auction results, that are available on the Internet. It appears that our hobby pricing is now backing off and appears to be heading in a more realistic direction, when it comes to car selling prices. Hmmm, I wonder if that general price shift will also have an impact on restoration shops who have been used to some of us spending big dollars hoping to end up making HUGE dollars on automobile sells. It has been years since I recall seeing nice restored "Classic" sedans selling for the 20's. What are other of your sensing with our market and hobby price shifting? Al

Hello Harm, Does your steering gear have stops internal to the gear box? That box sure looks the part! Al

Hello Spinneyhill, If I get the picture you are trying to paint, they are simply building a small "truss" with the addition of the spreader bar under the axle. It is easy to see that they are trying to minimize deflection/bending at the outside edge of each front spring in this case. Al

Hello Harm, I didn't know that the Cleveland and Mitchell used or shred the same type of front axle. Good for you. It looks like the Mitchell owner installed his own under the axle truss rod for additional strength? How many cylinders is powering the Mitchell in the picture? My axle is a bit more robust than yours. Are you going to use steering wheel on your car or try to build back to the tiller device? I plan to use a steering wheel on my project. The only picture I have shows a wheel on the car. You are doing a very nice job on your Cleveland. Have you done anything yet with the actual engine? Regards, Alan

This before and after example was my first test of the Ultrasonic parts cleaner. I have learned a few things already and know for sure that I can get even better success with a few changes in the cleaning procedure. What novel tools or hints do you use to make our Speedster lives easier? Al

After:

I thought I would post a "before" and "after" picture of a brass fuel delivery casting. I did a test of my new toy, a Ultrasonic Parts Cleaner. As we who frequent this Speedster forum are always building, scrounging, restoring and looking for new ways toi do things that makes are life a bit easier. These pictures show us an option to parts cleaning. Enjoy.... Before:

I am providing a good "TIP" on using an Ultrasonic Cleaner to clean and free up antique auto parts. In this case my first test batch contains the front torque arm spring assembly, a brass fuel line sediment bowl and the heart of the fuel delivery system (also brass). I will only post a picture of the unit working for only about 10 minutes. If you want to follow more, a complete story of the Ultrasonic Cleaner learning curve is at the HCCA website under "TIPS and ADVICE". I need to open up this torque spring assembly to replace a spring and the cross-wise spring. This is a perfect test for the Ultrasonic cleaner and will help me along with the restoration of the Locomobile. If you have any suggestions or questions about this parts cleaner, please post. Al

You mentioned that you have addressed and sorted out the front axle. I am curious how your completed your front axle. Did you simply update the existing axle or locate and purchase a different and more suitable axle? Does you axle have the truss rod support under it? Al

I have not heard of much in the way of Locomobile parts being made available at Hershey or other Swap meets this year, (being available for sale). Does anyone here know otherwise? I have only seen a few serious items on EBAY being listed for sell that are directly for Locomobiles. Al

You have made a serious investment in time, effort, money and tears on your home and it has turned out beautifully! Al

Nice project! I looked at it before the time that you bought it. I am glad that the project is in good hands and that you have a plan to get the project together so you and your wife can enjoy it. Al

You are right, I suppose that is why we have turned into a "throw away" society. As a matter of fact, almost all parts of our so called modern life, we are throw away. HA, except for a few of us that savor the past! Al

I have limited knowledge on the interchange between 1936 and 1937 but I doubt that they interchange. I do think that 1937 and 1938 fenders are much more likely to interchange and likely a Dodge, Plymouth, small Chrysler and DeSoto could be made to work. I am anxious to learn what you eventually learn for my own confirmation so please do a follow up post. Al

Hey Joe, Your point is well taken, however, my point is that I have a few friends that simply lost control and also lost friends, wife and family. A few years ago, I visited a friend in Oklahoma who had lost control of his hobby, lost all that should have had value and was living in the corner of a quansut hut among his stuff. This much I know, I certainly have my share and seem to have my eye open for the next piece all the time, but I do try to keep a balance. As I said before.....sometimes I am not sure I know what that best balance is. Back on subject, I am studying my 9" South-bend with the idea that I would sure like to be able to fit collets in my headstock as you have done and use so frequently. To remove error I use the four jaw chuck a lot and am good at dialing it in, however, it would be great to simply install a piece and start the machining process and know that it will stay much more repeatable. Al