Monty The Chev (Revisited)

The following posting is from the blog of a good mate of mine Grant Fowler, the very proud owner of Monty the 1928 Chev. Take the time to visit Grant's blog, you will not regret it.

http://montythe1928chevrolet.blogspot.com.

Just Recapping - For Any Newcomers

Gidday,

Just a few early photos of this 1928 Chevrolet's beginnings, sort of a very quick, contained timeline for new lookers and sure there are many more detailed photos and postings going back over the last 3 years of the restoration, but this just gives you a quick insight - Cheers

Below - Dad and my brother Stuart - 1969 in our front yard with dads workshop in the background.

As it sat for 41 years

In late 2010 just before first starting up the engine and being a complete vintage car novice I didn't even know 6 volt electrical systems existed, so when I needed a new battery, a new modern 12 volt one was purchased for the "start up", luckily nothing was cooked... 

After a few attempts I could not get it to start, basically I did not know what any of the dials and switch did or where the kill switch was hidden under the dash so I rang a mate Trevor who is right into old stationery engines and has a 1936 dodge himself, Trev came around to the shed and fired it up.

After a few months of driving it around the block on Sunday mornings at 6.00am as to not get caught be the local police which by the way I was very happy to keep doing, as to just have the car running after all these years and I say running in a loosely used term, was a great amount of fun, and I was starting to learn a little about its working, also the fact that it had only very low mileage on the speedo and was in original condition made me to begin searching for some more information bout these cars on the internet.

 It was at this stage around December of 2010 that I began to chat on a Chevy forum to a bloke by the name of Ray Dean from Melbourne, who had a fully restored 28 Chev and basically over the next 2 years after many many hours in the "resto shed" on weekends working on and rebuilding "Monty", a very good friendship was formed and has been made and I would not have got this old car back on the road if it was not for the encouragement, guidance and constant reassurance from Ray and for that I once again say "thanks mate".

Below - June 2010, the day we removed the bodywork, there was no turning back now and so the restoration began for the next 16 months and below are just a sample of the many hundreds of photo which are listed in the blog, all taken in a timeline as the restoration rolled along.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rewarding piece of paper below which made it legal to drive the chevy on the roads

 

And once it was registered the first trip I made was up to the cemetery with a couple of cold beers, that was a fantastic feeling.. 

 

 Below is a list of the works completed during the restoration plus the many many hours of cleaning everything up again to be refitted but also the hardest and most time consuming thing was to rebuild and then refit the parts so that the car still appeared as is and in that "barnfind" state when completed - This was dads wish and what a great choice he made to - Cheers 

• Removed radiator, replaced lower mounting bolts
• Replaced timing cover seals and gaskets
• Replaced coil, condenser, distributor cap, rotor button, plugs and points.
• Replaced orginal canaster oil filter with an early Holden external inline filter
• Replaced Rocker Cover gaskets
• Reset valve clearances
• Adjusted steering box
• Replaced steering arm
• Stripped and cleaned both drag links.
• Replaced all shackle bushes in chassis and springs
• Replaced all shackle bolts
• Stripped all U Bolts, recut thread, fitted new spring washers
• Reconditioned fuel Vac tank, carby and replaced all fuel lines
• Replaced wiring harness.
• Removed body from chassis
• Replaced main timber rails,
• Replaced majority of body timbers
• Cleaned de-rusted and repainted chassis.
• Refitted body onto chassis with new webbing.
• Drained, cleaned and refilled gear box and uni joint housing
• Replaced all brake linings
• Stripped and cleaned front wheel bearings
• Stripped and de-rusted all rims and brake drums
• Replaced front brake adjusters
• Repaired any rusted body work.
• Removed rear axle shafts, replaced bearings, seals and gaskets
• Drained, cleaned diff and replaced all gaskets
• Replaced complete exhaust with a stainless system
• Drained and cleaned fuel tank.
• Fitted battery isolating switch
• Replaced tyres, tubes and rust bands
• Reconditioned wooden spoke wheels
• Installed new laminated windscreen and rubbers.
• New rear view mirror glass.
• Complete new Upholstery fitted, carpets, door trims etc..
• Fitted all new light globes to 1928 specs.
• Installed new 4 x new indicators with Hella lens and globes

It is now a ongoing process, a rewarding hobby plus also to be the caretaker of this old rustic car is good fun before the next person steps into my shoes one day.

For more detailed information go to the start of the blog and I hope you enjoy the read.

Cheers
Grant Fowler