'38 112 Convertible Update

[Deleted User]

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[Deleted User]

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[Deleted User]

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[Deleted User]

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[Deleted User]

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[Deleted User]

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[Deleted User]

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[Deleted User]

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RL Chilton

Hey Dave! Long time no see! Glad to see you are still at it. Looks like the second effort is almmost back to where you were before. Are you much happier with the latest results?

It's looking really good.

[Deleted User]

Much better Russell! Took out a bunch of filler, welded in new metal and used a minimum amount of filler to smooth everything back out. The body is now much stronger and straighter. I on the other end am poorer for the effort. Should get painted within the next couple of weeks. I still need to locate shocks for the car. If anyone on the Forum can cross reference me to "modern" replacements I would be grateful.

RL Chilton

" I on the other end am poorer for the effort."

LOL! Tell me about it, my friend. I can relate. My convertible is currently in the paint shop and should be out in about 2 weeks. My 8-year project is rapidly coming to a close (thank God). Now if I can afford to put a little gas in it, I'll be good.

The metal work looks good from the pics, Dave. I know in the end you will be much prouder of what you have achieved.

[Deleted User]

I never wanted to sacrifice time for quality Russell. The end product has always been what is important to me. I do not want the next owner to be able to come back and claim there was anything other then quality work on any part of the car.

RL Chilton

Rick & Dave-

I take it the welds are not stock? I also assume that the ring gear is simply (i.e., put on hot and left to cool) pressed on, is that correct?

If that is the case, then most assuredly, the welds were meant to keep the ring gear from breaking loose.

This car is looking more and more like it has a very interesting past. I was thinking about this very automobile, when, this last Thanksgiving, I went to the Indy museum/gift shop. Upstairs, there is a photo library for all things Indy Speedway related. One of the questions I had about pacecars back in the day was if they used multiple models as they do in more modern times. Unfortunately, nothing definitive was ascertained. One thing I did notice is that all pictures from '38 that I could locate that showed the pace car was that there was always only one car and near as I could tell, it was always the same car (on and off the track).

Oh, if these cars could talk!! I'd REALLY like to hear this one's story.

[Deleted User]

For those of you that require a little refresher course on the car. Here are a few "modifications" we found when we started on the restoration. The manifold was re-worked and now has tin exhaust. There was an electric fuel pump installed on the car. The left rear suspension had a three inch wedge installed above the leaf spring. The leaf spring on the same side was moved a few inches forward. The left rear frame had been hit at some point and had to be re=welded. It has been a while but these are the changes I can remember.

[Deleted User]

Sorry for the duplication. Having a little trouble getting the pictures up this AM>

[Deleted User]

Looking good, Dave!!!


Kevin C.

Park_W

Re the welds on the ring gear . . . these differentials had only six bolts to hold the ring gear to the differential gear housing, and there was somewhat of a history of these bolts shearing under stress. My 37T and a friend's 37 suffered this failure, no doubt both from suffering too many traffic-light drag races. The welds were done by a previous owner to "share the stress" with the six bolts. Hudson changed to using eight bolts in '39, and that solved the problem.

[Deleted User]

Makes sense Park. Thanks for you imput regarding this issue.