Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

[BB767]

That is actually an H, somewhat smaller than an M. an M was around 39 pto HP, and the H was 26 or 28. Looks nice though, electric start, hydraulics, pto, lights, belt pulley distributor instead of a magneto. Pretty much all the options except a wide front. What happened to the plow?

Thanks
Mark
BTW, I have both an H & an M.

Thanks Mark. As I said tractors, and Ag in general, are not my strong suit. so I´m counting on you guys to help out and keep me straight. Jump in anytime! I saw the `H `decal and wondered but was told it was an M. You would know! Sounds like it was a pretty nice H at that.

All the implements plus about 2 trailer loads of other AG items were donated to an auction that supported a local farm historical society. I did keep some items which I will post here as I start cleaning out the tool shed in the next few weeks. Thanks for the information.

Thomas

 

[ZRX61]

While I didn´t do any training in a biplane .......
Thomas

Want to?

Altho we have the struts apart right now..

Rides begin the week after next...

 

[BB767]

The Case tractor looks like a 430 to me. I am not real up on the Case so its just a guess. The tag should be behind the loader brackets on the left side I think. It may be on a plate attached to the dash also. Just dont know for sure.

When I post several other photographs of it, that might help. The data plate was not obvious. Who out there is a Case expert?

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Hello everybody, pto shafts are 6 or 21 splines, Iwould rather think of a gearbox shaft where such long splines are used to pile gears syncronisers....
The beveled gear at the right end indicates an old gearbox or an economical one as the the straight teeth would be noisy.

Very interesting thread and please do not stop digging in rusty things

The rusty things are what´s so interesting, especially when brought back to life don´t you think? I´ve got the lean to and the tool shed plus what´s left in the two car garage to go through and you can barely walk in them.
Thank you for your input on the shaft. Would that apply to American machinery also?

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Want to?

Altho we have the struts apart right now..

Rides begin the week after next...

Just in time when I get back from a trip. Somebody has to test fly it right?

Thomas

 

[maxipouce]

The rusty things are what´s so interesting, especially when brought back to life don´t you think?

It sure provides more pride that new imports bought with nasty money.

I´ve got the lean to and the tool shed plus what´s left in the two car garage to go through and you can barely walk in them.
Thank you for your input on the shaft. Would that apply to American machinery also?

Thomas

The 6 spline shafts were proudly invented in usa by IHC in the beginning of the previous century (iron wheels, rocker arms with no cover...),i am pretty sure that 21 and 20 (even more power to be transmitted) are north american, the crazy ones of land rover have created some 10 splines shafts, and 8 splines shafts can be found on european trucks but it is not a "plug an play" system such as the ones quoted above.
Ford had an artistic delirium (2n 9n 8n models) with 6 splines shafts with a smaller diameter (1 1/8 instead of 1 3/8) leading to an important business of adapters, replacement kits and even some surgery.

WORD OF ADVICE
The thing people have to really care about when using a PTO on a collectible;
Some pto shats are (or can be) mechanically linked to the transmission instead of the engine, if you are using some implement with high inertia such as heavy duty rotary cutters, that machine can power the transmission for some yards and then crush that cute fence you just wanted to clear.
You have to know how your pto works and the exact movement to do when you want to stop it.

As usual read the manual and stay safe

 

[ZRX61]

Just in time when I get back from a trip. Somebody has to test fly it right?

Thomas

Yup, lol! It was restored about 25 years ago & hasn't really been touched since so now we're in full "catch up" mode.
Previous mechs chased oil leaks on the thing for 20 years... tube seals, starter seals, mag seals, etc etc ad nauseum....
Then we got hold of it about 5 years ago & discovered you had to remove both mags to get the starter off.. well thats not how it should be.. hmm..

So we drop the starter off at the O/H shop & the owner looks at us with a WTF is THAT & just Where TF did you find it???

Then he pulls a stock starter off the shelf & it was half the size of the one we pulled off the engine...

The one we took off was from a Sherman Tank.......

Fitted the correct starter & no more oil leaks

 

[bindernut]

The one we took off was from a Sherman Tank.......

Are you serious??!! It was from a Sherman? IF so, did you keep it? Gotta be worth a few$$$ one would think.

 

[ZRX61]

Are you serious??!! It was from a Sherman? IF so, did you keep it? Gotta be worth a few$$$ one would think.

Nope, left it at the O/H shop

 

[Abbott]

Wow what a beauty!

 

[3bay]

Great build and thread, congrats! And you for sure have an H. I've restored 5 or 6 over the years.

 

[BB767]

Great build and thread, congrats! And you for sure have an H. I've restored 5 or 6 over the years.

Well I `HAD `an H. One of the sons now has it of course.



BTW, once I get back home among the photographs I´ll be posting will be several of one of the Ford flathead engines and it´s components that were left behind. This engine is completely disassembled and was slated to be overhauled which never happened. As I know only that it´s a flathead any Ford flathead experts out there might lend a hand on various parts ID. The engine block was bolted to wood blocking and had a complete gasket set as well as a NOS ( new old stock ) ring set in boxes along with what appears to be all the other various parts for it awaiting a rebuild that never happened. Thanks for your patience.

Thomas

 

[Daves69]

Here are a few more articles removed from the shop. There were boxes of various publications. Most survived in good condition.

One of the sons drag raced so there are boxes of National Dragster and performance catalogs.

Thomas

If you ever get a chance to go through the National Dragster Magazines. I would appreciate you keeping an eye out for a Buick that ran Pro Stock driven by Tony Branson in N.C. He said the car made National Dragster after winning best dressed crew and car during the Winter Nationals in Gainsville Fla. possibly in 1970 or 1971. I have been searching for some pictures of this car.
Thanks
Dave

 

[toytech40]

My hat is off to Thomas and his crew for their hard work and dedication to do such a wonderful job and restoration and customizing of this beautiful shop. I just spent hours over the past 3 days getting all the way through 35 pages of great detail of the whole project and those involved, and the history behind the property and shop, makes it a little more well rounded, not just another shop. I will have to say this has made it to my list of things to see before I die, even if it is just driving by and admiring the work of a true craftsman/visionary's work which will stand long after we are all gone.

Just can't think of anything that hasn't been said many times over already, so I just echo all the same compliments again and again.

Keep it coming, it is all good, shop restore, rusty treasures found, any and all is welcomed and will be received very appreciativly.

Andrew

 

[DrRidge]

...Speechless...

Thank you for taking the time to share this with all of us!

 

[BB767]

Thomas

If you ever get a chance to go through the National Dragster Magazines. I would appreciate you keeping an eye out for a Buick that ran Pro Stock driven by Tony Branson in N.C. He said the car made National Dragster after winning best dressed crew and car during the Winter Nationals in Gainsville Fla. possibly in 1970 or 1971. I have been searching for some pictures of this car.
Thanks
Dave

Dave I will be only to happy to have a `look see` and contact you with what I find out. At first glance they´re fairly complete in those years so I bet I´ll have it. It might be helpful if you can pin down the time frame as close as possible to when it appeared.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

My hat is off to Thomas and his crew for their hard work and dedication to do such a wonderful job and restoration and customizing of this beautiful shop. I just spent hours over the past 3 days getting all the way through 35 pages of great detail of the whole project and those involved, and the history behind the property and shop, makes it a little more well rounded, not just another shop. I will have to say this has made it to my list of things to see before I die, even if it is just driving by and admiring the work of a true craftsman/visionary's work which will stand long after we are all gone.

Just can't think of anything that hasn't been said many times over already, so I just echo all the same compliments again and again.

Keep it coming, it is all good, shop restore, rusty treasures found, any and all is welcomed and will be received very appreciativly.

Andrew

Andrew, thanks for sticking with it and winding your way through all of it. I guess you are correct about this thread making the shop background being `a little more rounded `LOL. However it would awfully dissapointing to get to the end of all that and then feel you just wasted several hours of your time!! More is forthcoming...........

Boy wouldn´t it be great if I could drag my office along on my flights and there wouldn´t be this´lull in the action` so to speak?

Thomas

 

[markviii]

It's a good thing Tom can't drag his home office on his flights (gives him time to reflect on things and rest on those short layovers), just like it's great that he can't bring his flying work home with him (JEP charts, log books, flight bag, etc stay at the airport). Our fun has become our "work", I guess. And WE decide how much to do and when to do it.

At least 9 others countries have added written replies to this thread! Looking at many other people's threads has been enlightening, as well. Lots of people doing some awesome and inspiring work out there!

Chris

 

[jmh21586]

How's that jack coming?

 

[Enloe]

i am glad this thread is moving again

 

[markviii]

Hi, everyone.
It seems as though a few of you are having withdrawal symptoms or something. Must not have enough to do or you're bored with the Olympics if you're sitting around (reading this) waiting for the next project someone else is doing (for inspiration?)! (although I have seen on other threads that some of you are making some progress)(and if you missed the men's and women's Curling events, shame on you - it's about the only tv I've watched in a few years and it turned out to be very engrossing - honest!)

I've been putting my time to good use learning new skills at a 5-day picture framing course (triple matting, multiple-window mats, fillets, shadow boxes, cloth-covered mats, canvas transfer pictures using a dry-mount press to name a few). Molding choppers, v-nailers and point drivers make things sooo much easier than the old days when we had to use either nails or a bisquit-cutter to join frames. I have to find some old pictures to practice on now (do you think we may have a few hiding around here somewhere?). It's going to take some sorting to figure out what "before" pictures will be best to display in the shop. I think you really need to see the before pictures to get an idea of what it was like. Explaining in mere words doesn't do it. Even pictures, which may be worth a thousand words, don't have the same impact as having actually been there, though. I still can't believe how far we've come.... and there's still a ways to go. As I said before, Tom has the "vision". I'm just along for the ride, pitching in where I can.

Chris

 

[BB767]

How's that jack coming?

The latest I´ve heard on the hydraulic overhaul from Hiball was that everything was apart and has been checked. He found an internal nut that had come loose from the pump piston but the cylinder wall was undamaged- great, hard chrome on that old stuff! He was going to try to repair the pump piston the nut came loose from but can get a replacement if that´s not successful. Other than that he has all the neccessary parts for the overhaul and might even be close to finishing it up, if not already done. He commented that everything else looks to be in great condition. He emailed some pictures which I´ll sort through when I get home from this last trip and will post. Once I get the jack back to the shop the frame will be taken apart, cleaned up further and then powder coated correct colors. Having checked several sources as to the paint scheme used when it was new I have that all worked out. All the non hydraulic parts of the jack ( which are all but impossible to replace) show no damage and minimal wear. That´s a testament to how heavy duty they are as it was used in hard service in it´s former life. Best we can figure the manufacturing date of it is early 1940´s if not late ´30´s, making it around 70 years old. With this new lease on life I expect it to be in service another 70 years.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

i am glad this thread is moving again

I too will be happy to get it going again! Thanks for your patience. Once I´m home I´ve got another long stretch off and will be able to pick this back up where we left off. Watch this space.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

One more thing I thought of before I leave here to fly home. I believe I´ve answered all questions thus far.............. if not you might remind me and I´ll try to get to them in the next day or so as I get caught up once home. I´ll do my best, thanks.

Thomas

 

[Mustanger]

Love your shop and what you have done with it. Wish I had some of those old flat heads you had in there!!!

 

[padstack]

Amazing! One of the coolest things I've ever seen on the Internet!

 

[Daves69]

Dave I will be only to happy to have a `look see` and contact you with what I find out. At first glance they´re fairly complete in those years so I bet I´ll have it. It might be helpful if you can pin down the time frame as close as possible to when it appeared.

Thomas

Thomas

Tony's memory was not very clear, he could not even remember the year the car was 69 or 70 . My guess would be Jan - April of 70 or 71. I have some pictures of the engine which still survives today. Tony had an ex wife take all of his racing stuff and told him if he wanted it back she would come with it, naturally he declined. She later passed away a few years later.
Tony later purchased one of the old Sox and Martin Dusters to race with some factory money.

Thanks
Dave

 

[markviii]

Hello to the 13+ members from Canada. Congratulations on the men's hockey win at the Olympics. Canada earned 14 golds, more than any other country. It turned out to be a fine Olympics, despite the weather challenges (especially with both too little snow and too much snow, depending on the day).

Two young people (one male/one female) from Champaign, IL (where I taught school for 34 years) won medals in their speedskating events. Bonnie Blair, who had the record for the most medals ever in the Olympics, was also from Champaign. The town is real supportive, raising money to help the families travel to world championships and the Olympics. We've got a Olympic monument in town with the names of all Olympians from Champaign/Urbana (including pole vault, swimming, gymnastics, speed skating). We've had 35+. This adds two more.

Not specifcally garage related, but...

I've had fun reading through some of the old magazines. Found some with our friends' racing escapades "back in the day". One is a husband/wife team. They both drive cars and she helps keep them running, too. I'm not daring or skilled, so you'll never see me there! I'll look more closely for Tony Branson running Pro Stock in NC and pass it on to Tom.

Chris

 

[Chevelle69]

I'm new to garage journal but love it already! Was told you may be the one to ask about Hot Rod Power Tour and the route they are taking through our area. I am located on old hwy 106 about 20 miles south of Quincy in a little town called Hull. I own a restoration shop that is located behind an early 50s station that I am in the process of restoring. I know they are coming out of Iowa on their way to Springfield for the first night. I've emailed Hot Rod several times but haven't gotten a personal reply. Would appreciate anything you can tell me and would love to bring my son out to see your place sometime....Thanks!!!!!

 

[Hiball]

The latest I´ve heard on the hydraulic overhaul from Hiball was that everything was apart and has been checked. He found an internal nut that had come loose from the pump piston but the cylinder wall was undamaged- great, hard chrome on that old stuff! He was going to try to repair the pump piston the nut came loose from but can get a replacement if that´s not successful. Other than that he has all the neccessary parts for the overhaul and might even be close to finishing it up, if not already done. He commented that everything else looks to be in great condition. He emailed some pictures which I´ll sort through when I get home from this last trip and will post. Once I get the jack back to the shop the frame will be taken apart, cleaned up further and then powder coated correct colors. Having checked several sources as to the paint scheme used when it was new I have that all worked out. All the non hydraulic parts of the jack ( which are all but impossible to replace) show no damage and minimal wear. That´s a testament to how heavy duty they are as it was used in hard service in it´s former life. Best we can figure the manufacturing date of it is early 1940´s if not late ´30´s, making it around 70 years old. With this new lease on life I expect it to be in service another 70 years.

Thomas

I couldnt sleep so heres the update on the Jacks, Im in the process of putting the unit back in the frame and should have that completed in the morning, I have installed the Rebuild kit and it will be load tested tomorrow. Once all that is completed i will start dismantling the 2nd jack (Very Carefully) as Thomas is gonna leave this jack in its original exterior condition as it shows very nice for its age. I dont forsee any problems because it hasnt been exposed to the elements etc.. I was hoping to be a little further along but My main job hasnt been cooperating, but i do have the next 2 days off and should get the majority knocked out.

I'm new to garage journal but love it already! Was told you may be the one to ask about Hot Rod Power Tour and the route they are taking through our area. I am located on old hwy 106 about 20 miles south of Quincy in a little town called Hull. I own a restoration shop that is located behind an early 50s station that I am in the process of restoring. I know they are coming out of Iowa on their way to Springfield for the first night. I've emailed Hot Rod several times but haven't gotten a personal reply. Would appreciate anything you can tell me and would love to bring my son out to see your place sometime....Thanks!!!!!

I come thru Hull quite a bit when i work to Decatur, IL. Im the one coming thru town at 3AM waking everyone up with my Locomotive Horn. Welcome to the Forum..

 

[markviii]

Hiball,
It looks like you keep my kind of schedule!

Chris

 

[Hiball]

Hiball,
It looks like you keep my kind of schedule!

Chris

Schedule? LOL.. Who needs a schedule? My employer expects me to be ready to roll at a ring of the phones notice. Im somewhat of a night-owl, Im used to sleeping during the day since my Job cant figure out how to run trains during the day on my division. Im just glad Trains dont have steering wheels, LOL.. Ugh.. FRA if your monitoring this thread im just kidding and Yes my Cell Phone is shut off along with all electronic devices.

 

[BB767]

Here are a few pictures of the flat head V8 that was mounted to wood blocking and had a NOS gasket and ring set by it. This lead me to believe that it was destined to be rebuilt but that was put off and it slowly got buried by other material and was never finished.

I'm told it's a Ford 160 or perhaps a 60 V8, I can't remember. Apparently it's the one of the smaller flat heads made. I'm sure someone out there will recognize it.That's the wood blocking it was mounted on. That green plastic tub to the right is full of parts.

From this end shot you can see that the blocking was necessary to give clearance to the flywheel which is still installed on the crankshaft.

Bottom view. Just to the left of the engine you can see a house jack or a railroad jack. You'll have to tell me once I get better pictures of it. There were several of those large manual jacks left which I'll get to in a later post.

There was a cardboard box right by the engine that was falling apart and it contained these parts which I believe belong to the block. A quick count shows 9 rods so clearly this is a rare, early prototype engine know only to inner circles as a Flat Head V8 + 1 .

The oil pan and a transmission, again right by all the other parts. It's a small, light duty transmission from the looks of it. There are a few other similar ones that I'll get better pictures for you.

Intake, I don't know what type of aluminum or alloy these were made from. In the tool shed are several different intakes for flat heads.

These three carb were there. Again I'm guessing one is the correct one for the engine?

A second flat head flywheel making this an even rarer prototype flat head V8 engine, one that came with dual flywheels. OK I'm kidding of course about the flywheels. , but the extra piston and rod I'm not so sure just yet.

Now that I'm back home I can get some more early shop construction pictures ready and post. Coming shortly.....

Thomas

 

[bindernut]

In the 2nd to last pic, the 2 barrel carb on the left looks like a Stromberg 97. Quite a popular carb for flatheads. See if you can find any brand ID marks on the flathead parts. I'm not much of a car guy(tractors & mowers & such are my scene) But before I die, I want to really build a flathead V8 powered International Harvestor KB series pickup.

 

[Chevelle69]

Hi, Hiball! Great to hear from ya! Go through Mexico on my way to Columbia every now and then. You can bet I'll be layin on the horn all the way through town next trip!

 

[ZRX61]

I'd be cleaning some of that junk* up in the beadblast cabinet & using it for wall decoration

*the rods/pistons/carbs/intake etc.. altho I'd use soda blasting on the aluminum parts That's why a previously crud encrusted '43 Willy Jeep carb now sits on top of my TV looking new.

I'd also have those old jacks painted up & displayed.

 

[BB767]

Just for fun here are a few pictures " BP "- " Before Purchase " inside the shop and contrasting current pictures.
I don't have many from this early time period but these are a few.

This is Sept of 2005, about 2 months before we closed on the property in early Nov, 2005. The welding bench is to my immediate right out of frame, looking back toward the north room. The gentleman is standing in the doorway to the lift room which is behind him. Tractor and car steering wheels, car trim pieces etc, all hanging from the rafters.

This was taken today, March, 2010 from as close to the same view as I could of the above picture.

The lift room, same early time frame, Sept 2005. The face mask to the left above the welding tanks is hanging on a pair of hooks installed on the wall which you'll see in the next picture. A lift ramp is at my sons feet and the pole standing upright in the center with the triangle support at the bottom is one used to support the lift because it had a leak.

Taken today, March, 2010. Same view as above. The trouble light is hanging from the wall hooks that I cleaned up, repainted and installed back in the same holes they were removed from. They originally held air hose and electrical extension cords. They functioned well so I reused them.

Here we are about to get a demonstration showing that the lift does indeed work. You can see one of the original shop windows to the left, still has glass in it. The old shop roof clearly seen. The shelves were cleaned up, painted and reinstalled. Here they are full of old shop manuals.

The lift is about 3 feet off the ground here. All the items on the lift ramps are items that were removed by family members.

This is the best I could do to contrast the early pictures with current ones. This is today March 2010 and the Chevy II is still having service work done and I couldn't move it out of the picture. The shelving done and installed. When I get time, the plan is to restock it with the original repair manuals.

To be continued......

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Love your shop and what you have done with it. Wish I had some of those old flat heads you had in there!!!

Amazing! One of the coolest things I've ever seen on the Internet!

Welcome guys and thanks. Mustanger I've got several more pictures of parts to the "rare" prototype flat head V8+1 that I've posted already. Should have those up soon. Later as I get into the tool shed I'll get to the other NOS flat head parts, various intakes, heads, blocks etc. Check back from time to time.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

I'm new to garage journal but love it already! Was told you may be the one to ask about Hot Rod Power Tour and the route they are taking through our area. I am located on old hwy 106 about 20 miles south of Quincy in a little town called Hull. I own a restoration shop that is located behind an early 50s station that I am in the process of restoring. I know they are coming out of Iowa on their way to Springfield for the first night. I've emailed Hot Rod several times but haven't gotten a personal reply. Would appreciate anything you can tell me and would love to bring my son out to see your place sometime....Thanks!!!!!

I'm pretty new here myself, just a few months before you and I've been made to feel most welcome and I'm sure you will too. I'm sorry but I can't help you with the Power Tour routing. Hard to believe they haven't gotten back to. Can anyone out there help out?
BTW, we need pictures of that shop you're restoring! Hope your son is helping you, it's a great way to spend quality time with him.

Thomas

 

[rrudd2]

I'm pretty new here myself, just a few months before you and I've been made to feel most welcome and I'm sure you will too. I'm sorry but I can't help you with the Power Tour routing. Hard to believe they haven't gotten back to. Can anyone out there help out?
BTW, we need pictures of that shop you're restoring! Hope your son is helping you, it's a great way to spend quality time with him.
Thomas

There is a on-going post in the Hot Rod Forums regarding the 2010 Power Tour and the Route. It includes maps and other information.

http://forums.hotrod.com/70/7593835/power-tour/2010-power-tour-countdown-maps-pictures/index.html

One of the posts (page 3 I believe) links to a map with the "unofficial" route:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=102712979471276098324.00047697ac57046659354&ll=41.017211,-90.703125&spn=3.303079,6.28418&z=8

I hope this helps!

I plan to be in Springfield on Sunday, June 6 to watch the cars roll into town and spend the day gawking at everyone's rides!