Kegan 36 Posted February 18 Oh I skipped one of the steps. Larry put the pistons in the lathe and turned down the ring grooves so we can fit it with model A rings. We can’t find original rings anywhere without buying new pistons and Norman’s are really nice. Motor is going back together nicely. Larry said there crank was a little tight so Curt Connors stopped over and helped figure out what was up. Waiting for rings to come in. Chasis saver is gonna go on probably this week. I’m finally getting low on parts and pieces in the engine compartment and front end to clean and get ready for paint which is a good feeling.also started restoring the vacuum fuel pump right about here.... float was cracked all round it, springs were junk and the gaskets were cashed out! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 36 Posted February 18 Well it’s official, the race engine got its heart back yesterday. The master race engine builder Larry Middlebrook showed me how to clean up the cylinders, taught me how to put the rings on the pistons “without breaking them”, and insert the pistons into the cylinders and attach them to the crank. It was a big step in the forward motion of bringing Norman back to life. We couldn’t get rings for the pistons without buying brand new pistons. My pistons were in great shape so there was no need to spend all that money. Larry figured out that Ford Model A rings would work great if he put the pistons in the lathe and took just a little off the ring grooves. There was plenty of meat on the ring grooves to do so. Larry’s idea worked perfectly and there just happened to be a set of rings there in the garage that were about to be returned. We had to order an extra set of four. I got the head all cleaned up from the oven and ready to install. I have run out of engine parts to clean finally! I was gonna buy a new shaft and impeller for the water pump but Larry decided there was no need. He’s gonna put some weld on the worn shaft and turn it back to stock on his lathe. Now if we can just find an 8 bolt top Stewart Warner vacuum fuel tank, life would be great! HUGE THANK YOU TO LARRY FOR ALL HE HAS TAUGHT ME AND TAKING THE TIME AND SACRIFICING HIS BARN FOR THIS PROJECT! These rusted piles of scrap iron and younger people out there that don’t have a clue but want to need more people like Larry in this hobby. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JayG 59 Posted February 18 Here's the cowl lights on a 27 Dodge sedan and a 25 roadster. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 36 Posted February 18 Picked up this awesome original advertising mailer for 9 bucks! Not one other bidder😳. Advertising the new powerful fast four Dodge Brothers engine and Graham Brothers trucks to go with the other one I found last year. Both are gonna look awesome framed to display with the truck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 36 Posted February 18 Took the old rotted running boards to a friends shop and he fabricated up some new ones. They turned out beautifully. we mocked up the newly bent pieces and came up with a plan. Larry drilled and welded them during the week and then cut them to size today! They couldn’t look any better. Seriously they look exactly to a T like the originals and so much better than the rotted hole filled ones that were on it. Now I need to find linoleum matting to put on top of them before the trim goes on. which I think I found from Battleship Linoleum. They look awesome! I painted the frame, front axels, and steering gear box with chassis saver. Looks really nice! These posts are slightly out of order but I’m trying to go back through old Facebook posts for pictures just to get everyone caught up to where we are now... once I get caught up I’ll do posts as things are going on.. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sean26graham 3 Posted February 19 Loving the work. inspiring me to get my butt into gear and start working on my truck again 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 36 Posted February 19 I got to hear the starter turn over on a battery. The middle bearing was trashed. More garbage pot metal. Larry machined a new one, cleaned it up and she works as good as new now! One step closer to hearing Norman run! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 36 Posted February 19 Pulled the trans and did a complete run down on it and pulled the little brake controller apart that was froze up and cleaned it all up. Works like a charm now! Surprisingly the trans was in great shape! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ArticiferTom 196 Posted February 19 Great work and thanks for sharing ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 36 Posted February 19 Got the Delco Remy Corp. Klaxon 18B horn back together and tuned after I took it apart and sandblasted and knocked all the dents out and straightened it up. Larry tuned it and filed the points. Sounds pretty damn good! It’s gonna get a coat of gloss black paint and she’s ready for Norman! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 36 Posted February 19 Started with a filthy grease, dirt and oil covered mess. I see why it costs so much to have somebody refinish wood spoke wheels. I lost track of hours a long time ago. there are lots of hours into sanding and cleaning. this from start to finish... I chose to keep the wood grain and use spar on them. I researched many different product all having good and bad. This was what I chose. I love the look. The amount of time and energy spent on these wheels in uncountable! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 36 Posted February 19 This steering wheel started as a mess and turned out beautifully another one I lost track of hours on polishing and sanding and sanding and sanding some more then coating with the same pecan stain and Spar. I couldn’t be happier! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 36 Posted February 19 Tail light was stuck, couldn’t get the cover off and it was filthy. Gave it a week long soak and bang she popped apart! Got it all cleaned up and reworked it. Got it working like a jewel now! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ben P. 264 Posted February 19 I see the windshield glass is out in the later pictures. Are you going to replace it with safety glass - or what are your plans with that? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ben P. 264 Posted February 19 Reason I ask is: There was a nice article on here re. testing the glass to see if it was plate glass or safety glass — something about sunlight and water drops. Tried it out and couldn’t make heads or tails of it. Not really anxious to ‘fix what ain’t broke’ and open that can of worms... But as I can’t tell.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stakeside 133 Posted February 19 Checking if there was a vin tag on the toeboard as it was on my 29DB. It is located as shown. I was able to salvage my original vin plate but it was in bad shape. I did manage to make a reproduction . Were you able to find a frame number? yours should look like this: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 36 Posted February 20 20 hours ago, Ben P. said: Reason I ask is: There was a nice article on here re. testing the glass to see if it was plate glass or safety glass — something about sunlight and water drops. Tried it out and couldn’t make heads or tails of it. Not really anxious to ‘fix what ain’t broke’ and open that can of worms... But as I can’t tell.... The windows are out. Haven’t replaced the glass yet but yes I am. I kinda didn’t want to but everybody scared me into it. The window frames need some love anyway. They were froze right up but we got them moving. They are getting a complete rebuild. Also after talking to several people apparently the vacuum windshield wiper bodies that were that trash pot metal are all destroyed and finding a good usable one is next to impossible. And isn’t not something we can rebuild so it’s getting a hand operated wiper. Already purchased one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 36 Posted February 20 (edited) 20 hours ago, stakeside said: Checking if there was a vin tag on the toeboard as it was on my 29DB. It is located as shown. I was able to salvage my original vin plate but it was in bad shape. I did manage to make a reproduction . Were you able to find a frame number? yours should look like this: This is the dash plate and the original toe board tag. I can get way better pics if you would like but these were taken the first time I seen the truck Edited February 20 by Kegan (see edit history) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 36 Posted February 20 A couple more pictures of the wheels I’m quite proud of them. I threw a tire and cap on just to see what it was gonna look like! They are not as dark as they look in the last two pics but I love the color! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 36 Posted February 20 The oil pump rebuild. Not quite sure how that oil pump was ever pumping anything. It was so plugged with sludge. The new gasket we made for it turned out quite well and then a pic of it installed! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 36 Posted February 20 (edited) All put together restored, rebuilt and painted this was a big day for me! There are so many little things I’m skipping over in these posts but if something seems like it’s out of sequence it because I just found pictures or remembered something I forgot to share. Like I said before I’m just trying to get everyone up to date so I can do a weekly post instead of a daily post Edited February 20 by Kegan (see edit history) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 36 Posted February 21 This is what I decided for the floors and bed. The floors and bed were both rotted badly. I couldn’t decide what wood I wanted to use. I had a few black walnut cut out of my front yard and had the pleasure of using a friends Minneapolis steam engine and saw mill to process the logs. The boards have been drying for two years. Gonna go through the stack this weekend and pick out the boards I want. Get them ready for the planer. I’m sure original was ash or white oak but I don’t have a stock pile of ash or white oak and not everybody gets to say those birds right there cane from my front yard and I got to saw them into lumber with a steam engine and be a part of every part of the process to being floor boards. Should be beautiful. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 36 Posted February 21 (edited) This was a pleasant surprise. Took a DA sander and wore wheel to the body. There’s a lot of original blue paint under all that filth. I think it’s gonna get a good go over and clear. I like ol Norman’s patina. There’s something to be said about original. It only original once! Edited February 21 by Kegan (see edit history) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stakeside 133 Posted February 21 Sent you a private message 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stakeside 133 Posted February 21 (edited) Here is some history . The frame will be in one of these groups Edited February 21 by stakeside E (see edit history) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
