Advice Getting Started on my 1936 Terraplane

[Deleted User]

So I just got home with a barn stored 1936 Terraplane. It has been in storage I am told since Feb 1, 1960. It is mostly complete, engine is out of the car, there is the electric transmission in the car and a floor shift transmission attached to the engine. I will attach pictures later, but as long as the link below works here are some pictures now. I want to get it running before I tear it down and do a frame off restoration. I also want to make it a regular driver and not a trailered show car. So where should I start, what should I avoid.... My dad passed away this past July. These are the questions he could answer for me. He was a step down Hornet nut! I grew up with about 20 cars in various states of deterioration and restoration. So I got the fever. But I always love the pre-war cars, and he the post. Thanks for your help and suggestions! I want to do it right and want to do it as stock as is possible on my salary.

http://saginaw.craigslist.org/cto/4571044665.html

Jon B

Welcome to the forum!  And congratulations on your purchase.  It looks pretty complete, solid, and driveable as-is.

I think you're got a good plan: get it running before you start doing a frame off restoration.  In this way you can assess what needs to be fixed, what parts you're missing, and (after driving it awhile) what might need to be done to make it into a "driver".

With a bit of minor tweaking you should be able to make this car into a long-distance runner. For example,  I just completed a 1300-mile run from Virginia in my '37 Terraplane to the Hudson national meet in Indiana, and back, at highway speeds (well...55 to 60 mph!).  With no problems.  All this with the original engine.

The best part of getting your car running first (before you get into restoring it) is that you can enjoy it.  As opposed to having it sit for ten years in many pieces in your garage, while you can only sit there frustrated because you can't have fun with it. 

I don't know if you're a member of the H-E-T Club but if not, you may want to consider that seriously.  The Club's an invaluable clearinghouse of technical and historic and parts information as well as a networking center for the thousands of Hudson enthusiasts around the world.

You can use your club roster to locate someone else with a '36, hopefully not too far from you, and then you will be able to study their car up close, take photos and measurements, and ask lots of questions.  Most Hudson owners are happy to help a fellow owner out.  You may even want to join the chapter nearest you, and become involved in Hudson activities on a local level.

Meanwhile, bring all your questions here (and to the other forum at the H-E-T website) and we'll do the best to answer them!

ken1962

Lucky Boy :-)

I too own a 1936 Terraplane. My suggestion is to bypass the electric transmission and just use the floor shift. The electric transmission isn't easy to get right and it will chew up too much time for no real benefit as the total restore down the track would be the best time to tackle it . Unless you have an engineering degree, keep it un-active. I drive mine most week-ends. The more its used, the easier it seems to drive. Be warned, its like driving a truck, heavy steering, no power brakes - it ain't no step-down :-)

I'd suggest you first start flushing out the brakes, replacing the rubber seals on the 4 wheel brake cylinders and getting the handbrake working. Good time to buy new tyres

2. go thru the wiring and tape up any of the cloth wiring that might short - the loom can be replaced down the track - clean the earth battery cable, and every connection with emery cloth. Confirm all the lights, horn etc work. I wouldn't attach a battery to the car until the loom has been checked as a short can set the car alight or your garage/house!!!!

3. re-grease the chassis points and replace the grease in the rear axle

4. flush out the gas tank, lines and buy a filter

5. Then do the hard stuff - work on the engine and get it started on the workbench then relocate it into the car once you know it runs. by this stage you will have checked the clutch plate and maybe replaced the cork

Good luck

 

 

onerare39

dnpsquires,

Please read the post at the top of this forum, "Thinking about joining the Hudson Essex Terraplane Club?" , then send me an email.  You will be glad you did, the White Triangle news is worth every penny if you own a Hudson, Essex or Terraplane!

John Forkner

p.s.  to add to what Ken said about checking the electrical connections, you can use a 6 volt lantern battery to check the light circuits.  Just put it in place of the car battery for the time being.  The 6 voly battery probably does not have enough amps to ignite the car, it will not start the car or honk the horn though.

ken1962

oh, and I forgot to say, be very very very careful about that clock and chrome face - its the rarest piece on the car followed by the rear glass tail lens. Also, take care of the metal carrot emblem holder - you can easily get the replacement carrot, but the metal circular holder is a different matter. Lastly the headlight lens you have are "American" and still reasonably easy to get **just**  - (I've got the "USA Export ONLY" lens which are very rare - near impossible to find now in the US) Still, be very careful if you want to remove them as they can shatter - try and get a club member to show you how rather than follow the car manual as there is a slight "technique" to removing them as they aren't as straight forward.as the car manual would have you to believe. (I'd try and buy a spare before attempting to remove one though)

cheers Ken

 

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Jon B

I'm confused.  Didn't the clock belong on the glove box door (right side). I could be wrong (don't own a '36) but it was on the right side in most of the late-30's cars.

As to the headlight lens, yes, do be careful.  Always place a couple of blankets under the headlight when removing the lens so that if it drops, the blankets will catch it.  And, be aware that quartz-halogen bulbs are now being made which will fit right in the socket and give you plenty of light (unlike the original bulbs) -- assuming you've had the reflectors re-silvered, of course.

The taillight lenses and "carrots" are reproduced in plastic by the Eshelmans in Idaho.

Park_W

Nice car to start out with.  Looks quite complete.  The clock is rare on a Terraplane (apparently someone has interchanged the glove box doors . . .  as Jon said, the clocks were installed on the right side glove box door).