Passengers side rear brake drum November 17, 2013.
Passengers side rear wheel November 17, 2013.
March 20, 2015.
Passengers side rear brake drum November 17, 2013.
The original DeSoto hub caps were removed on November 12, 2013 and the hub cap skins were removed from the five hub caps. The five hub cap steel backing plates for the hub cap skins were sand blasted at the Cicero, Indiana garage repainted and stored. Four DeSoto hub cap skins were purchased from the Airflow Club of America. The spare tire hub cap skin was chrome plated by Custom Metal Finishing. The placement of the five hub cap skins on the backing plates was completed and the hub caps were stored.
The brakes were one of the first parts to be restored. The original brake lines were removed and saved to copy. On November 12, 2013 the wheels and tires were removed. The steel wheels were media blasted by Robinson & Son, Inc. The brake drums were turned by B & C Engine Services. The brake drums were repainted by Specialty Paint Applications in Bakers Corner, Indiana. Five new bias ply tires were purchased and installed by Hamilton Auto Tire & Services, Inc. The restoration of the brake drums, wheels, and tires was completed from November 17, 2013 through December 19, 2013. The photographs show that the brake drums were body color before removal. The wheel cylinder, springs, retaining springs, and brake shoes were removed. The brake backing plates and drums were cleaned and painted body color.
The brakes were reassembled using new old stock brake shoes were provided by Chuck Cochran. The rear wheel cylinders and master cylinder were re-sleeved by White Post Restoration and returned on January 6, 2014. The front wheel cylinders are available at NAPA©. The brakes were reassembled on March 3, 2014.
The work on the frame or chassis began after the body was separated on February 28, 2014. The frame was rolled outside and photographs were taken of the body mounts. NOTE: The frame was originally painted Baden Green, like the body. It was painted this color for the restoration too. The original leather body mounts were removed and saved. New leather body mounts were made from scrap leather provided by J & F Upholstery. The frame was washed cleaned with a pressure washer, wire brushes, and elbow grease by Gary McHugh and me. The frame was allowed to dry and wiped with a cleaning solvent. The frame was wired brushed a second time and wiped with a cleaning solvent to help the primer adhere to the frame. The primer was applied and after drying the Baden Green color was applied to the frame. The engine serial number is in the center of the frame rail.
The rebuilt master cylinder, wheel cylinders, and brake lines were installed by Bill Estes from February 7 through February 27, 2015.
The engine rebuild was completed by B & C Automotive on June 2, 2014. The engine was stored at B & C. The engine was transported from B & C to Lloyd's Automotive on March 17, 2015. From March 18, 2015 through March 20, 2015 the engine, transmission, and drive train were reassembled on the frame. The rolling chassis with the engine and drive train was transported back to the garage by Lloyd's Automotive on March 20, 2015.
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Companies that helped in the restoration of the 1934 DeSoto are listed on the home page of the website.
This document is being revised and it may contain typing, spelling, and grammatical errors.