West Peterson Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 I'm thinking chrome snap ring and painted wheels. Maybe a darker shade of the body color. Thoughts?I would agree. Dark wheels look best. Look at Bob Valpey's Packard speedster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted November 23, 2014 Author Share Posted November 23, 2014 I could go black wheels but not sure how that would work with the red. May need to spray a couple out to see how it looks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 No. Not black. Darker shade of what's on the body, lot darker, and without metallic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted November 23, 2014 Author Share Posted November 23, 2014 That was my initial inclination. I thought about respraying the whole car in the correct color but I have to draw a line somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 A.J. and West you comprise some of the very last FB holdouts - it's only a matter of time, gents.How's about a few more pics of the process, A.J.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted November 25, 2014 Author Share Posted November 25, 2014 FB is a different format than a forum like this one. It is user centric instead of topic centric. I just don't think it is a good way to talk about cars. Here are some more pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K8096 Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 (edited) What is the 2nd picture of? I see it says DELCO on it. Edited November 26, 2014 by K8096 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted November 26, 2014 Author Share Posted November 26, 2014 That is the switch mechanism for the lights that goes at the bottom of the steering column. The contacts were all junk so no lights before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagerodshop Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 The Reo Light switch has to be one of the more expansive switches out there. I believe it is the same as the Duesenberg switch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted November 27, 2014 Author Share Posted November 27, 2014 I think I mentioned this somewhere else but there were 2 Reo Royales in Bill's Junk Yard down in RI back in the 50s,60s & 70s. Any time we were there my dad would pull some other part off of it and tell me it was Model J Duesenberg. I'd ask him what the car was and he' tell me it was some kind of Reo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K8096 Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 Does your dad still have any of those parts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted November 28, 2014 Author Share Posted November 28, 2014 Does your dad still have any of those parts?Fortunately he did still have some of the parts and now I have them!Brakes are almost done:1. Guts of the Master cylinder are now NOS2. New brake lines3. New brake hoses4. Rebuilt wheel cylinders.5. New shoes6. Drums turned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 The Reo Light switch has to be one of the more expansive switches out there. I believe it is the same as the Duesenberg switch.Just an aside about the light switch....It will fit the following cars:1929 Reo C1929-30 Reo Mate 151930 Reo 20-251931 Reo 251930-31 N 30, 311931 N 351932 8-31, 35, 531933-34 Reo Royale 8 N-2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 West, what do you think? This is the body color minus the metallic. Not sure it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 I think that if you just run body color minus metallic that it will look odd. People will look at it and wonder if they're supposed to match or not. There definitely needs to be some contrast or else an exact match. Pretty close only looks like someone made a mistake mixing paint. That's just my opinion but I'd go for something much darker or much lighter so that the contrast is more noticeable. The wheels alone in the photos above look great, but how do they look against the rest of the car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 The wheels alone in the photos above look great, but how do they look against the rest of the car?^ What he said. The wheels look much darker in the photo than the body color, so it's hard to say. Take a photo next to the car. For us, it will probably still be hard to give an opinion. I think it's something you have to see in person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted December 16, 2014 Author Share Posted December 16, 2014 Good advice. Fenders are out at strippers. When I get them mounted I'll put the wheel on. It is much darker but I think it clashes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted December 23, 2014 Author Share Posted December 23, 2014 My friend Steve Pughs sent these photos to me. These are his comments:There were 4 Reo Royales on a farm in Fresno in 1970. There were two coupes and two sedans. They were eventually sold and I don't know where they ended up. I bought some Franklin parts some years ago and there was a letter in with the parts that talked about a Franklin ( the one the parts came from) and also mentioned that the Reos were for sale. There were a few snap shots of the Franklin and these two of one of the Reo Royal coupes. The back of one of the photos say "This is the worst one". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 (edited) Here is a 8-31 for sale in the U.S.A.: http://www.prewarcar.com/index.php?option=com_caradvert&view=ad§ion_id=1&id=173591&Itemid=432928-208-5642$23,500Straight body. Runs and drives. Partially restored. Gas tank and radiator have been redone. Engine has been completely flushed out. Luggage rack and headlights have been re-chromed. Missing the chassis lubrication system. Edited January 1, 2015 by alsancle (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt G Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Back in the 1970s there used to be a pre 1942 car meet run by the Fairfield County Region HCCA in Ridgefield ,Ct. every September. It saw a huge turnout of all sorts of odd ball cars, and Peter Helck often drove down from his home in his Old 16 Locomobile racer. . (this eventually evolved into a HCCA/AACA region and moved around a bit, last I heard was a 1958 and earlier meet in Redding, Ct) One car that I was so impressed with was a Reo Royale 3 window coupe, all black with plated wheels. A stunning car, I have not seen since that time. I believe the car was owned by a gentleman of Italian decent, can't recall his name, but he resided in Ct. The Reo Royale is one of the most beautiful cars ever made, someplace I have a separate sales folder that Reo issued on the long wheelbase sedan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 (edited) By the way, one of my father's work colleagues had the 4 door convertible Show Car on the long wheelbase - it had lead a rough life though was very restorable (so it is out there still). Edited January 22, 2015 by John_Mereness (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 John, the one 4 door convertible was supposedly built by Dietrich on the 148 inch wheelbase. Do you remember about what time period this was that you last saw the car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 (edited) Correct as to it being Dietrich (and I had a Custom bodied Dietrich Franklin Convertible Sedan). They bought the car in the late 1960's and the last time I saw the car was perhaps 1975. The last time the car was seen by anyone I know was about 2000. The owner moved from the region and took the car with them and unfortunately they lost touch with my parents. It was a nice car but the body had been removed from behind the front doors and the rear body parts had not been stored well and were very rough. I think they actually bought it as a parts car for their other Royale and then found out how rare it was. BIG CAR in the wheelbase department - it filled a garage. I would love to see a picture of the car when new, but never have seen one. Edited January 22, 2015 by John_Mereness (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted March 21, 2015 Author Share Posted March 21, 2015 We are trying to determine the best tires for the Royale. I was very high on the Bedfords as I like the tread pattern but it looks like the 33.25 inch diameter is too big. Here are a couple of photos of a friends car with the Bedfords and with firestone whitewalls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted March 21, 2015 Author Share Posted March 21, 2015 Here are a couple of pictures of a bone stock 8-35 Coupe that was original purchased by the owners great uncle. It is currently be restored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 There is NO choice. You MUST use the Firestone wide white walls, any other choice woud NOT make sense. End of the debate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 Ed, you know how I feel about white walls. Can't do it. I'm going to try one of these Michelin's which has a copy of a late 20s tread pattern on it. They are really expensive though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 Steve Kelly did this rendering of a 8-48 Dietrich Convertible Sedan. Hopefully the real one looks as good as this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 AJ, I was just busting your chops. I never like to run radials on the CCCA era cars. Rim failure is the main reason. They also look a bit off on most of the cars. I just removed a new set of radials from a Pierce, and installed the Firestone 750-17 WW on the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 Hmmmm, the Michelins are radials? I need to pay attention more closely. I agree with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 (edited) It doesn't look like a radial to me. Looks like the same tire we use on the Packard Speedster. Edited March 22, 2015 by West Peterson (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 West are those 18 inch? I went back and checked and they look bias-ply although Coker doesn't seem to come right out and say it.https://www.cokertire.com/600-650-18-michelin-dr.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 The radials run about 500 each. They are heavy and feel more like a modern 17.5 truck tire. I have seen bias tires like this also, but they were all on European sports cars. From what I remember the tires handled well but seemed to wear very fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Just checked the link, that is a bias ply tire. It would be under size for the Reo. That's a Buick size tire. The Reo should run a 700 at the small end, 750 would be what I would use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 The 600/650 18 tire size was popular for mid size cars in 31/32. 1930 cars used a 700 or a 750 18 on the bis series cars, most mid size were still running a 650-19. 1932 only Cadillac,Pierce,Stutz, and Linclon ran the big 18 inch tire making them very expensive. My 32 coupe had the 600/650-18 tires on it and they looked very small and incorrect. They are half the cost of the correct size, and often that is why the cars have under size tires on them. With a wheel base of 130 inches or more you need to run the bigger tires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 Ed, check out the pictures of the Blue sedan I posted above. The Bedford black walls are 700-18 and way too big. The car is supposed to have 650-18s on it. The Bedford 700-18s will also not fit in the wheel well which would require a bunch of rework. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 We are trying to determine the best tires for the Royale. I was very high on the Bedfords as I like the tread pattern but it looks like the 33.25 inch diameter is too big. Here are a couple of photos of a friends car with the Bedfords and with firestone whitewalls.Oh look, his Firestones turned brown just like mine...The Bedfords look too big but I like the brutal blackwall look and I don't trust modern whitewalls not to turn brown like that. Save yourself the heartaches and go with blackwalls (which I know you want to do anyway). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander160 Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Looks like I'm a bit late for the Royale party, but I'm a fan for sure. I stand shamelessly guilty for the refinish of the 2 tone purple car from the Detroit area. The customer wanted the all silver finish and dark red leather and pin stripes. With polite and professional input the charcoal grey leather and stripe was chosen over the red. For decades I've taken a little heat for the use of silver on depression-era classic cars. It was indeed available and the formula exists in old paint books. Ditzler (now PPG) called the color "Steel Dust Iridescent", a very bright silver in it's original form. The poly in those days was ground as fine as possible giving an almost pearl effect when applied properly. Not many silver paints today can match that look. There is 1 that can and that's my "go to" color for anything silver from that time. The comments at shows ranged from ...was never available..." to "...got it right...". I guess one needs to read about finsihes and colors to make good choices. Frankly I felt it came out stunning. We went body-off, rechromed some things, fixed a few oil leaks, but overall it was a fine restoration to begin with. I think the color makes the car. I also think it really shows Mr Notrhrop's wind tunnel efforts the best. In the pictures you can see how the poly in the paint highlights the tucked under fender edges and rounded body shapes. The black top provides a sharp contrast to the windshield frame, further accenting how low the top assembly is compared to ther classic era cars with similar coachwork. At the tail end, the graceful curves were kept uncluttered by eliminating the gratuitous trunk rack. Having seen others minus that appendage I don't think it was a mistake. Enjoy these pictures from Amelia Island 2008. It's all I have of it finished. From the FWIW dept, I also woodgrained this car back in the late 80s or early 90s. That same finish is still there. I'll be happy to share in any comments or questions that I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V.Milke Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Highlander: Quite a post! I read with a lot of interest because on one hand I have a 1931 Reo Royale Victoria coupe project but keep and eye and have tons of pics of most of the surviving Royales, including the silver one with the gorgeous work you did on it, and a few on it's former two tone purple colors. On the other hand, I have a 1933 Packard Eight convertible coupe with apparently an original silver body and silver chassis, and I have to admit I am not fond of silver for old cars, and more so in a 30's car, but that is how it was, that is how it will stay... But your comment on "There is 1 that can and that's my "go to" color for anything silver from that time" sparks my curiosity and the need to find out about it for when the time comes to redo my car... is it possible for you to share the brand and name of the paint? Thanks,victor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander160 Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Highlander: Quite a post! I read with a lot of interest because on one hand I have a 1931 Reo Royale Victoria coupe project but keep and eye and have tons of pics of most of the surviving Royales, including the silver one with the gorgeous work you did on it, and a few on it's former two tone purple colors. On the other hand, I have a 1933 Packard Eight convertible coupe with apparently an original silver body and silver chassis, and I have to admit I am not fond of silver for old cars, and more so in a 30's car, but that is how it was, that is how it will stay... But your comment on "There is 1 that can and that's my "go to" color for anything silver from that time" sparks my curiosity and the need to find out about it for when the time comes to redo my car... is it possible for you to share the brand and name of the paint? Thanks,victorYou have a PM... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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