My Babys Back #4 1931

essexcoupe3131

Hi All, just a progress report on the old girl, we have just finished all the wiring and started her up for the 1st time since 1945 and to here the trob a a new high preformance small block ye ha

Have set up all the lights with halogen bulbs and work really well and have indeciators in the side lights

have just installed dyna matting all through and are currently templating the glass for the electric windows

Went to a show on Saturday (Kumeu hot rod show) and there would have been 60,000 people over the 3 days only saw 1 hudson it was a step down

while I was there I brought a set of peep mirrors to go on the doors

and they look kool, front bumper is back on

I have spoken to my upolsterer and because of his work commitments it my take up to 12 - 14 weeks to get her done

Still waiting for my new set of Junk yard Dogs to arrive in country , have been told another 3-4 weeks Darn that would make it 14 weeks in total not that great of service

Its nice to see my to do list at last getting down to the dozen or so bits to go, definatly not a long way to go now

Will put some new picks on shortly was waiting for the new mags

Have been getting plenty of good feed back from lots of people who didnt even no what a Essex was



Mike

[Deleted User]

Congrats Mike,



I have been following your progress over the last few years and it is good to hear that you are about to wrap it up. As they say, 90% finished and 90% to go.

I'm sure it is a great feeling to look back at all the time and money and see what you accomplished. The pictures I have seen of your car look great.



Scott

Unknown

good to hear. im thinking of selling my 31.

essexcoupe3131

thanks for the comments Scott, will be sneaking it up the road this weekend to give it a bit of a road trail and shake down, will be watching out for the cops

Hey James, thought you brought some goooodies to go into her?



Mike

Unknown

i did, but maybe some purist out there would like to pay me enough to hand it over. if not then whats the big deal about making a hot rod out of it. im kicking the ball around.

essexcoupe3131

Hi All, got a couple pics for you, got the central locking working over our long weekend, hopefully get sign off for glass this week and saftey belts



Mike

essexcoupe3131

Hi All, just a update for those that are interested, snuck the old girl up the road a week or so ago for a road trial just to see what it was like, the suspension feels really good and is no where as hard as I expected,

The brakes had to have a return sring fitted to it as they where staying on a bit, found a few leaks on the trans and diff, popped the drive shaft out and fitted a new rear seal, that sorted that leak, I am a little concerned about some sloop in the tail shaft and are going to talk to a trans guy next week as this has been fully rebuilt and are a bit dismayed by this, went to the rear end to sort the leak there and had to drop the pinion out of the 9", glad I did as the o ring on the housing was missing, this was also done by a specialist but good people seem just hard to find, got a call on Friday to tell me that the new Rims have arrived in the country, so next week Iam off to have them fitted, a set of Junk yard dogs (Boyds) 17" x 235 x60 tyres in the front and some 18x10 with 285x 60 -65 series on the rear, once these are on place its the big full chassis alignment and then we can finish of the ends of the exhaust system, as they are going to dump done behind the rear tyres.

The small block power is exhilerating to say the least, 435lbs of torque, I cant wait to get some milage on it so she lossens up

Its still another 12 weeks before the upolstery will be finished, we a putting in a complete custom interior in a cappacinno colored leather ,a friend has got me a deal on the leather and was only $60-00 a square metre (or about $35-00 US a square yard) My upolster says we need to do something special and he's right so we just dont blend into the crowd I will keep you all updated on this

when the mags and tyres are on I will post a couple pics



Mike

Unknown

if you have any extra parts for a 31 please let me know

bob sellsauction@1st.net

Unknown

yeah come on mike, hook us '31 guys up with some mascots....

essexcoupe3131

Hey James you are in Luck, I have a blank that needs 1 more bolt welded into it, these threads were a bit bigger than the originals but I drilled my 1 out no problems and the chroming needs to be done, as I did the rest a little differently, I only found this 1 the other day

I was going to do another run but the costs kept going up and the time I had to put into them, made it not worth it but if there is people out there that want them I can recost it all up again

I was spending 2 - 2 1/2 hrs @ finishing them ready for chroming, they will never be exactly as the originals as the process makes them a little smaller but still they look bloody good IMHO

Mike

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essexcoupe3131

Hi guys, was going through photos etc and fouund some pics a the old girl the day I picked her up from the barn with my mates 56 chev (1984) and a pick when it was in the grass at my house as I needed the garage to start my business in 1994, and the latest pic with the new feet on her



Mike