sidevalvepete

I found this in my '38. I did check that they were original, or same as original in Workshop Manual and Parts Manual. Then I had them all reconditioned and stainless sleeves installed. They work great and I don't have some possibly inferior, modern aftermarket replacements. May be an option for you...

Had a '36 years ago and it had the lever shocks up front. A good family story though. Congrats to you for getting it mobile again after all this time. Welcome to the forum!! There are a number of good threads on the basics here. Fuel system, brakes, steering, tuning, wiring etc. All will be important to have covered. Member @keithb7 has some good u tube videos on some of these basics. You obviously have some abilities to get this far. A Workshop Manual for your car is more than handy too. Am sure more pictures and some more of this cars story would be well received here... Look forward to learning more!! And this post would do better on the main forum page to get a better response...

Pretty cool when you can find those year specific period accessories. I would sit in my car in the dark and watch the lights operate too...😃

I never get tired of looking at that truck...

No mistake there. That's a great find. Well done. Those woodies are quite something. Them and the 30s Airflows are something special.

Glad to see this post added to. Great work all round. Interesting reading about your work on the springs. My project spanned many years with large periods of inactivity. I had all the springs refurbished back in the mid 1980s by a local old time engineering firm. Over 30 years later when I was finally getting good progress on the reassembly, I was worried how high the body was sitting with those rebuilt springs under them. Slowly, as more weight got added with doors, guards, bumpers, interior etc it would come down. The weight of the trunk lid is surprisingly heavy too. Lots of trim pieces all add to it. Everything is metal or glass. No plastic. Handles, lights, even the badges. In the end, the old German engineer, George Ottens, was spot on. By then he had long passed so he never saw the finished job. Thanks for sharing this Jim. Glad you are out driving another old girl too.

My smart arse answer is to have a right hand drive car. Steering column is out of the way and they have the push button starter, not the pedal job... However, those rachet gearwrenches look the best bet. I have only ever removed the starter from a removed engine or one where the body has been removed first.

A nice clutch of cars in a very nice setting Tim.

Good info above, especially Rich and Loren. Maybe using a laser type gun thermometer that you point to measure temperature at different parts of the block and head may help reassure you that the water distribution tube is working OK and that there aren't residual problems from unremoved sand/slag/rust etc from the water jacket when it was rebuilt.

A picture of the Southern Lights from the farm tonight. About 7.30pm, late autumn. Not usually visible at our latitude but quite magnificent tonight. Next pic shows the daytime vista from a similar place on the farm. Not sure why it is so strong tonight but I think the Northern Lights are putting on a show for you guys up north. Haven't seen this before in my 65 years...

Hi Rich. My input says do whatever works for you. I think your car has fantastic style. I love the art deco look of these pre-war autos and how so much architecture of the period drew from these themes. Like you, I endeavor to keep my vehicle in period. I have the 6 volt system intact and equipped with the reflector/bulb technology. The lighting is pretty appalling by today's standards but so far that doesn't bother me. Have rarely driven at night and when I have it reminds me of what grandfather's world was like. Folks in our rural areas had only just got electricity so 32 candle power lights were cutting edge back then... Those Trippe lights are pretty special and meant to go on a car from that era and were an excellent acquisition. Maybe they would suit a big Duesenberg or Pierce-Arrow better...your call though. Whatever you do, fit them so you can still see that beautiful front clip. Best wishes from NZ

Yes. That is nice work. Not at all unworthy of the car...maybe even a better choice than the full chrome effect. We'll done and thanks for sharing. Am enjoying your progress...

Looks like a solid restoration project. Interesting, rarer piece of mopar history too. Hope someone picks it up and does a good job with it...

Welcome aboard. Nice looking truck!!

Awesome work. We'll done Sniper for your contribution...have stored this info away for future reference...

Thanks for posting. Very nice, considered and well engineered work. Your '34 is particularly suited to this tasteful upgrade. And, in theory, it should deliver improved performance and not just looks. I look forward to seeing the performance outcome. Art and engineering combined...worthy of the art deco ethos around automobiles.

Mine is the 'flatback' or sedan version but probably exactly the same as the other body styles that had a trunk...hard to make out completely in the pic but is welded to gutter of trunk and very similar to shape of your top mount...

Mine is a '38. Gauges not central on dash but as others above state, the design of the dash lets the clusters be mounted on either side, depending whether left or right hand drive. The firewall is also a bit like this. Not completely symmetrical but it is stamped to allow the right or left hand drive steering column to be accommodated. The chassis, bell housing etc are also adaptable to both drive versions too. Smart design I say.

Here's a few pics from a '38 rebuild. Might help...

Thanks Lloyd. When I drove my '38 sedan forty years ago it never had side mirrors and I don't recall pining for them. Different story now ... probably because of the many vehicles driven since that have them as standard equipment now. I feel they are a must have, both sides really. To answer the original question in this thread, I am not sure for the '39 year mopars but the '38 only had a left or driver's side one and only available for the limousine. Interesting because the frods had them for the early thirties and even earlier. I will follow PA's advice and mock some up before committing further. Want both sides, want functionality and esthetics. Probably means a convex version for the passenger side as alluded to here. Will come back with what I finish up with...

Resurrecting this thread for a bit more of a shake out... Would like to know effectiveness of function for both sides for the '39, '38 or '37 cars. Particularly the sedans. They have tapering bodies that the mirrors need to see past. Comments anyone?

I agree with you Andy, exceptional. What a beauty. I can really picture it in my mind as I have the '38 D9. I think all I would share would be some of the dash knobs. Many similarities in design though. Mine would look like the middle class rural nephew next to this Park Lane dame.

Yes, welcome...glad you have let us into your story. The period your vehicles come from is right up my alley. Haven't had experience with the straight eights but really looking forward to learning more. Folks will be keen on pictures - me included!!

Seasons greetings to you all. And some fine advice Rich. Being at the bottom of the world, just to the left of the International Date Line, it's summer and my Christmas day will start at 4.00am. Just over six hours from now up for milking. Ho ho ho!!!

Regarding the spare, mine is located under the floor. Accessible by lifting the plywood panel with an attached strap. Just as handy but of course subject to the dirt of the road. I like your location Tim. If you haven't seen one of these in the flesh it's hard to appreciate how small they are compared to modern commercial vehicles. I am old enough to remember seeing many of them still used by rural mail contractors, plumbers and electricians etc. Nowadays the utes are huge, although they don't have much more space in the back than what these little fellas do... I have certainly enjoyed seeing what you have done here Tim.