Art Deco Chev

[johnfenn]

Thought I would put in a few pictures of my old Chev. I got rid of this to pay for the resto of the Caravan. I spent 7 years retoring it and when it was done I really didn't like it. It was just too rough and too slow to use as a daily driver.

[johnfenn]

I agree with you totally. I am not a purist, but there was a shortage of money, and I wanted the van. Since buying an old Range Rover a few years ago I got interested in 4 wheeling and camping. The Caravan has been an escalation of that. I was going to do up the Chev and make it livable, in fact I have a 270 cubic inch straight 6 Chev motor sitting in my shed (Ya want it?) But the Caravan won out.

In the states my daily driver was a 1948 Chev pickup, with a 235 motor, a 4 speed Saginaw box, power brakes and a high ratio diff. I would drive from 3mph to 80 mph in 4th gear without a hiccup. Cruise all day on the freeway at 70mph and the engine just ticking over. That was a lovely truck

Look forward to meeting you one day.

John Fenn

[johnfenn]

Having lived in the States for so long I have access to many parts that you may not be aware of. If you need parts let me know at [e-mail] and I shall look them up for you. They are easy to buy, easy to import and most times they slide thro customs without a huge ding to your wallet.

John Fenn

[4hammers]

Hi Guys.
John, I don't suppose you would mind me posting shots of my Chev would you?
This is my new toy. Body number 6 & very rare in "black". Couple of Chev "Gurus" didn't think the 37 Slopers came out in Black, but this one definately did!






John,
I would be after some parts. Especially some accessories, like a heater & Radio. Would they be hard to track down?

Rob J

[johnfenn]

For general parts and accessories there are 2 great firms in the US.
1) www.fillingstation.com/
2) www.chevsof the 40s.com

For heat and air there is a manufacturer of combined heaters/airconditioners for antique vehicles. They are http:///www.vintageair.com.

For radios if you car has the holes for a radio most people in the states get a modern radio and fit an aftermarket antique faceplate and knobs. That way it looks the part, and it actually works.

Check out www.antiqueautomobileradio.com/
and www.antiquecarradio.com/

I spent many years looking for a heater in the states and all the originals I found were either rubbish or way expensive. Same with radios. I subscrive to jailbarjuice and believe that if a car is worth having it is worth ising and being usable, so I have no qualms about putting in a modern fake that actually works.

One thing you need to look at too is that although you car maybe an Australian 1937, it may have many parts from earlier US models. I have found that usually there is a 2-4 year lag before things were fitted to Australian built cars. Also most Chevs built in OZ were supplied as cowl chassis and the bodywork was done by Holdens in SA. So American body parts won't fit although often the things like hinges, doorhandles ets were from previous years American products. However everything forward of the windscreen line was US made.

For rubbers parts everyone in the US uses Steels at 166.82.96.9/homeframes.html Their on line catalogue is second to none.

Also another good source in the Vintage Chev Club of America (http://www.vcca.org/), they have a lot of great links for parts and info on repairs such as how to repair a straight 6 engine at:-
vintagechevrolet.org/

They also have a chat room for prewar Chevs at www.chevytalk.org/threads/postlist.php?Cat=0&Board=UBB3

There is a wealth of info there.

FInally are 2 site for souping up these old Jalopies. The StoveBolt page at www.stovebolt.com do a lot of work and have a lof of info and links. Probably my favorite tho is Patricks of Arizona at
www.patricksantiquecars.com/index.htm At Patricks you can walk in and buy a brand new 1948 Chev in as original or as souped up as you like. It is really worth you time to check out his site.

Is that enough to get you started?

John Fenn

[4hammers]

Hi John.
Is that all you cold come up with
Seriously though, thanks. Should keep me busy for awhile.

Although I know what you mean about getting later aftermrket stuff that works, I am keen to use all orginal bits, including the radio & heater. The guy I bought the caroff, actually owns a radio restoration business, so that is cool. I am not planning on dressing it up like a Xmas tree, just adding an accessory here & there.

The rest of the car is pretty much perfect, so I will keep it as is. Just enjoy the driving.

Thanks for the help.
Rob J

[johnfenn]

That's cool, after all it is a pretty special car. Although Patricks does have some soup up parts that were from that era, say edelbrock duel carb setup and extractors?

Just pulling your leg.

Let's have some photos of you van and car together when you get it all set up.

John

[willandlyn]

;D
Black is beautiful Rob
and that is one beautiful car

Will

[4hammers]

Thanks guys, pretty proud at the moment!! My first Chev!

John, I love that "Patricks" site. You see those engine mod kits? Twins or Triples, Fenton headers & a Wayne Alloy dress up kit. Now THAT is tempting. I can always put it BACK to original.
I love the Hot Up stuff. I am a Hot Grey motor fan. I own a Norman Supercharger that was built for the Holden Grey Motor, so I like that old look.

Hmmmmmmmm, got me thinking now. ;D

Rob J

[willandlyn]

Hi fellow vintage car and caravan dudes and dudesses

This is a true story
We had this new neighbour (had)
and this new neighbour decided one day to spray a fibreglass boat a bright SILVER BLUE BOAT
and that day happened to be when I had just brought my newly sprayed (BLACK) new old 54 ford F100 home
yes the very first day
I think it was the first time I left my garage door where my BLACK 53 Chevy was parked
and just to top it of Lyn parked her new Maxima in the Back yard where it never gets parked to make it worse the fremantle doctor comes in ((a strong sth westerley)
in the afternoon guess when he sprayed his boat and you would never guess that our house is on the side the wind blows to

AAAAAAARRGGHH !!!##$%@*&$#


I am still recovering from the shock
whats worse is that he was moving house the very next day
As a calm sensible adult with a very logical and non confrontational attitude
I changed in fact my whole character changed from what I was before to a frothing at the mouth red faced dribbling version of a human Bulldog
Lyn had never seen me in this raging state before
I will KILL! KILL! KILL! THe b#@&*^%@# I kept on saying repeating over and over
Let me at him
just as I was about to leap the fence in a single bound to take out a full on verbal barrage on this inconsiderate scumbag
When my wife informed me that she had taken matters into her own hands and confronted the neighbour so he had been prewarned about a possible attack
and this is what happened
the guy who was so inconsiderate then offered to buff all three cars and do some minor repairs that lyn had picked up on the Maxima free
HE was a member of the rebel motorbike gang and a specialist airbrush and mural artist working on motorbike tanks and Flames etc and top class painter he was moving into a new factory the next day
All I can say is that its lucky ive got a real smart wife or I could have ended up hurt very hurt
after I calmed down I thought to myself (SELF)isnt it nice that Im such a calm sensible commonsensicle type person that takes things in his stride and can negotiate in a friendly and positive manner

[johnfenn]

Hey Jailbarjuice,

When thinking about how powerful the Chev 6 engine could be I thought of Charlie Wests #26 speedcar from my youth.

A Holden grey motor, overhead cam, dry sump lubrication, fuel injection 2.5 litres putting out 265 BHP (198kw) in 1959.

And a grey motor (and a red motor for that matter) are just smaller versions of the original Chev 6's

John

To see this car go to www.fremantlemotormuseum.net/carsimages/1959charlie.htm

Having said that my true hero at Calremont speedway was Johnny Fenton who was the first to run a VW engine in a speedcar and has been voted into speedway hall of fame in the top 7 of Australian drivers. He was absolutely the best that ever was for me.

[johnfenn]

To 4hammers,

Do yourself a favour and buy one of Patricks catalogues. For about $10 you will have many hours of perving over the photos of the engines and trucks he builds. It's cheaper than Penthouse and won't upset the missus, at least until you start buying stuff.

John

PS for the "Fix Or Repair Daily" guys he has a catalogue for them too.

[earlee]

Hey Rob - love your 37 Sloper - what haven't you got down there in Tassie? - you must have lots of storage!!

earlee

[4hammers]

Hi Earlee.
Yes, there are quite a few "Special" cars down here. I guess I have just been really lucky finding these things. No trying too hard, I just happen across them. Seems to be a high ratio of low mileage cars down here.
I do listen to anything people mention about "Rare" or "Special" cars & file everything away in my head. If I hear about a certain car a couple of times & the stories match (Or are similar), I will investigate. I found the Chev while looking for a new Stereo!

John,
Mate, who needs Penthouse when you have a catalogue with things like that in it?! Problem is, my Wife would probably be happier if I DID buy Penthouse & not be so into cars! ;D

Rob J

[Deleted]

Hey Wil
Just read your post re: Getting irrate with spray painting neighbour.
Quote"a calm and sensible adult with a very logical and non confrontational attitude".......

I wish i had a smart wife like your Lyn.
I went to court yesterday for applying a free face massage on the neighbour with the three rottweilers ( the noise they make howling at 1.00am in the morning vaguely resembles the three tenors ... read here every morning for the past 3 weeks... even after the other nights confrontation).
End result AVO for twelve months for me not to harrass, intimidate bla, bla, blah.

All this after living in peace and harmony with the previous neighbours for 10 years . They had three small dogs but where responsible dog owners and i never had a problem with them.

Might have to sell up and go bush.... somewhere with no dogs or neighbours.

Hmmmm... might put the ply van on a few acres somewhere and take up yoga and meditation enhanced with a few slups of jailbar juice to help calm the inner sole.
Waddya reckon Dennis?

Reddon'tgetmadgeteven

[4hammers]

Hey Mark.
Where di your Chev go? I wanted to show a mate, as I like the 39s & it is gone
Is it somewhere else on this site?

Rob J