1934 DeSoto Airflow Restoration

The 1934 DeSoto Airflow four door was delivered to Lloyd's Automotive in Arcadia, Indiana on September 11, 2013 by Mike Terry.  Photographs were taken of the car on September 11, 2013 to document its condition before restoration began.   After the photographs were taken the spark plugs were removed and oil was put in each of the six cylinders.  The spark plugs were reinstalled and the car was hauled to the Cicero, Indiana garage on September 13, 2013.  No attempt was made to check the cylinder movement.  Oil was added weekly for one month.  On October 15, 2013 Lloyd's automotive personnel made a house call to the garage.  After a little more than one month of adding oil to the cylinders, the car was put in first gear and rocked to see if the engine would move.  It did!  A 6 volt battery was put in the car and the starter was used to turn over the engine and check the compression of the six cylinders.  Based on the compression test the decision was made to pull the engine for rebuilding. 

Between September 13, 2013 and November 25, 2013 the radiator fan and radiator were removed.  The radiator was taken to Nick & B's Auto-Truck in Anderson, Indiana on November 13, 2013 for re-coring.  The radiator brackets, bolts, fan, and supports were removed sand blasted, painted, and stored for restoration.  The generator and starter were rebuilt by Van's Electrical Systems, in Indianapolis, Indiana.  The water pump was rebuilt by EGGE Machine Company.  A new old stock distributor was provided by Chuck Cochran.  The engine mounts were loosened but were not removed. 

Photographs of the engine removal were taken on November 26, 2013.  The hood was removed at Lloyd's Automotive before the car was placed on the lift to disconnect the drive shaft.  The transmission was removed from the engine.  The engine mounts were loosened and removed.  The exception is the engine mount located behind the water pump.  The car was lowered to the ground and the engine was removed for rebuilding.  The transmission was serviced by Lloyd's Automotive.  The engine mounts were cleaned, painted, and stored for restoration. 

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The engine was transported by Lloyd's Automotive to B & C Engine Services in Cicero, Indiana for rebuilding.  While the car was on the lift the gas tank was removed.  The gas tank was taken to Custom Blacksmithing for repair of holes in the tank.  The restoration of the gas tank interior was completed at Lloyd's Automotive.  The hood was put back on the car and Lloyd's Automotive transported the vehicle to the garage in Cicero, Indiana, on November 26, 2013. 

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​This document is being revised and it may contain typing, spelling, and grammatical errors.