Rusty Bowtie
General Category => General Discussion - Intros => Topic started by: themoose on December 14, 2012, 02:16:55 PM
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I bought the 32 in 1972 (that’s right 40 years ago) and was able to drive it in its original form for a few thousand miles. The engine was tired and started knocking so I decided to open it up as see what was up. All and all it wasn’t in too bad a shape so I went ahead and rebuilt it including new Babbitt bearings and a set of nos .10 over cast iron pistons. I drove the car that way for a number of years but other projects and life got in the way so the car went into storage in my parents garage. As time went on and my schedule started to open up a little I got bitten by the old Chevy bug again and got it back on the road. It ran great but modern day traffic conditions with mechanical brakes and a non pressurized cooling system made each trip an adventure. I parked it in my garage this time where it sat for 15 more years. When retirement got close I started to look for something to fill my newly found leisure hours. I decided that I wanted to build something that was more able to cruise around without leaving me on the side of the road every other trip so started to look for a project car. I only had space for one car so I would have to sell the 32 to make room. After checking out some of the stuff that was out there it became apparent that most of the good stuff was either taken of the prices were through the roof. After owning the 32 for so long it had almost become part of the family and everyone said that I would be crazy to sell it and get something half as nice to replace it and as I remember my wife even hinted at divorce. I finally decided that even though the care was a fairly nice original that I had owned if for half its life so if anyone was going to enjoy it, it might as well be me. I have kept it fairly stock looking but totally updated the running gear. I did all of the work myself including the paint and upholstery (I worked in the automobile business for 45 years which helped) It took two years to complete and now has been on the road for almost three and I’m having a ball. It now sports a SB350, 700R4, S10 rear and Independent coil over front suspension. It has a pretty hairy cam so the vacuum was too low to support conventional vacuum assist power brakes so I adapted a Hydroboost system from an early Cadillac Eldorado that uses the power steering pump pressure for power assist. The car doesn’t totally fit the conventional hot rod mold but over the years I had done that a number of times so this time I opted to do something a little different and I’m happy with the results. Here are a few pictures of the project in a rather random condensed sequence.
Fabricating and installing some new wood
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/Untitled.jpg)
Getting the body straight and ready for paint
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/c.jpg)
Putting the finishing touches on the new paint job
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/Newpaint-1.jpg)
The front end is in the frame is boxed and the engine is in place
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/newengine.jpg)
Just about ready for the first road test
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/P1010047.jpg)
After the first cruise and all went well :-*
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/Side2.jpg)
Some photos of the finished project
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/Front2.jpg)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/Engine.jpg)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/Interior2.jpg)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/RearTrunk.jpg)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/Chassis.jpg)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/rearunder5.jpg)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/Undercar.jpg)
Off to a couple of car shows
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/Borgeson20112.jpg)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/2011Cartoberfest.jpg)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/carshow1.jpg)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/carshow2.jpg)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/carshow3.jpg)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/carshow4.jpg)
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq7/themoose524/Rusty%20Bowtie/carshow5.jpg)
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That is one VERY nice machine...looks super clean..well done. Heck I'm afraid to even touch my computer screen while looking at the pictures..afraid I'll leave a finger print on it!
Ed
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That's one fine looking coupe. You should be proud and glad you kept it around.
Wife was gonna divorce ya huh? I got a buddy that is building a 34 chevy standard 3 window that is too nice for the street, but he says he will drive it.
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Moose, I can only hope that one day my 33 will look as great as your 32 does. The attention to detail is incredible. You should be very proud. I hope someday I can see it in person. It would be worth the ride down to Connecticut to see it.
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Thanks for all of the compliments guys...I really enjoyed building this one and I like driving it even more!!!
Tom ...I don't often get to NH,In fact the last time I was there the Old Man of The Mountain was still hanging on. I don't know if it would be worth it for you to come all that way to see my car but it was sure worth it for me to go up north to see your beautiful mountains and fantastic scenery.
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Moose,
You are right that there is some beautiful scenery in New Hampshire. The foliage in the White Mountains is spectacular. I can't wait to take the 33 for a ride through some of the old covered bridges and down some of the old country roads. Maybe someday we can do it together and really turn some heads!
Tom
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I think thats the nicest vintage chevy or anything else for that matter that I've seen. Its geat that you built it for what you want as opposed to what others may think it should conform to! You are truely a craftsman.
Are those the original colors?
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I think thats the nicest vintage chevy or anything else for that matter that I've seen. Its geat that you built it for what you want as opposed to what others may think it should conform to! You are truely a craftsman.
Are those the original colors?
Thanks trbomax...Yes they are the original colors.The body is Bordeaux Maroon and Black with very fine red and gold stripes.Fisher Body put all of the paint information on the body tag and with a little research I was able to find what the car came with.When I got the car it was painted all black but when I started to get the body ready for paint I actually found some of the ordinal maroon on the door jams and got the paint color mixed to match it exactly.
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Did yoy make the wood garnish mldg ? What kind of wood ? . My 28 had metal ones that are shaped just like that.When I built the doors I recontured the inner window flange area to make wood garnish mlg's easy,but I never made them. Did you get your chrome done locally?
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Did yoy make the wood garnish mldg ? What kind of wood ? . My 28 had metal ones that are shaped just like that.When I built the doors I recontured the inner window flange area to make wood garnish mlg's easy,but I never made them. Did you get your chrome done locally?
The original 32 garnish moldings are steel that had been wood grained.Mine had been repainted black/surface rust and I wanted to keep the interior somewhat original looking so I stripped them and got myself a wood gaining kit and with some practice I was able to bring them back to the stock factory appearance. The inner windshield side moldings are supposed to be black like the dash so that's how I painted those.I got my chrome plating done locally at New England Chrome in Hartford Ct. I've been dealing with them for 40+ years and have always been satisfied. http://www.newenglandchrome.com/ (http://www.newenglandchrome.com/)
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That is one fine looking auto. Great attention to detail.
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Noted the New England Chrome Plating link below...
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Moose,
You are right that there is some beautiful scenery in New Hampshire. The foliage in the White Mountains is spectacular. I can't wait to take the 33 for a ride through some of the old covered bridges and down some of the old country roads. Maybe someday we can do it together and really turn some heads!
Tom
Hi Tom and Moose I have done this tour many times in my Model T. But I would like to get a few Chevys together and do it.
Let me know.
Don.
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Don,
That would be cool. Maybe the 1st annual "Rusty Bowtie Foliage Cruise". Sounds like fun!
Tom
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Hi Don
Nice to see you on board. As I look out my window this morning it's hard to picture that beautiful foliage and cruising the back roads of New England. Hurry up Spring!!
Moose
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Moose You got that right come on spring. I know a lot of back roads in N.H. Even a few good food stops.
It's said the ride you build, is you. If this is true, You have to be a cool guy. Because that is one cool ride.
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Your 32 is one very classy ride.
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Thanks for the compliments guys. So far the car has been a real blast to drive. I enjoy letting people go on about how it's exactly the same as the Model A Ford their father owned ;D