Some Chevs from Sydney

Reclaimed from the Scrap Heap? Part 3 - Crankshaft

This is the final installment of my project to reclaim parts from a probable rusty grave to where at some stage in the future they may once again help propel a Chev 4 down the road

In this posting its a crankshaft.

I must explain at this early stage, this crank may already be beyond reclaiming, but in these days of spray welding, and very skillful machining, who knows, it may help either me or someone else in the future. At least and if nothing else, I have halted the rusting process, and stabilised the part so it can be put into storage.

This is the last item processed from a grab bag of bits and pieces that I picked up from a deceased estate in  Castlemaine, when Grant and I were returning from the Bendigo Swap meet.

This is what it looked like

The next stage was about 3 days soaking in a tank of Rust buster.

The finished job, wire brushed and a healthy coating of WD40. I would like to think it was worth the effort, what about you?

There is a bit of pitting on the journals, but who knows?

Reclaimed from the Scrap Heap? Part 2 - Various

On a roll now, and wanting to get all these parts either sorted out or thrown out, the soaking tank of Rust buster has been working overtime for just short of a week.

Let the pictures tell the story, first being 3 x 11/42 differential pinion gears, appear to be NOS but were very rusty. Now in great condition, slight surface pitting, but I have run pinions a lot worse. These were the find of the parts collection.

2 Oil Pumps, in good serviceable condition

A used but very good 11/46 Crown Wheel

A Thermostat housing, couple of shackle plates, half an oil pump, and a truck steel hub cap, that I will convert to wheel puller.

Uni Joint bits

2 good single blade fans, in primer after being de rusted.

The same item ready for selling on EBay.

Piston Rods (before)

And after



Reclaimed from the Scrap Heap? Part 1 - 1928 Cylinder Head

This is the first of a few postings regarding a grab bag of Chev parts that I picked up from a deceased estate from Castlemaine, Victoria, when Grant and I were on the way back from the Bendigo Swap Meet. The major item was a cylinder head and manifold, which had spent the last 40 tears in a potato sack.

Was it rusty? Yes very.

Is it cracked? Don't know

Can it be reconditioned? I think so

My thought was that these are getting rarer every year so I might as well grab it, clean it up, see what it looks like, and put it away for the rainy day that may never come. Who knows, in 50 years if there is still petrol to run combustion engines, some one may stumble across this same head, and get their 130 year old Chev on the road.

Any way got into it, stripped off a good serviceable set of rocker arms, so I had already recovered half the purchase price. Pretty rusty, so into the Rustbuster you go for about 3 days.

Took it out of the Rustbuster, hit it with the wire brush on the angle grinder, then back in the soaking tank for another 48 hours. Washed it off, was just going to pack it away, but it got the better of me, so I spent several hours wire brushing and cleaning it up. All rust gone from the cooling system cavities, so I figure its time to pack it away and get on with the next job. I was going to get it crack tested, but I already have 2 spare heads already, and have no idea if the are cracked or not, so now I have three. But the main thing is I have the spare heads to choose from in the future.

A few more photos below of the different stages, and yes, for the time being, and the next few years, this 1928 Chevrolet head that spent 40 years in a potato sack has been spared the fate of being scrapped. Who knows, it may fire an engine into life one day in the future.

Gas Stations of the 1920's - When Autos were Young

The place is a Texaco Gasoline Filling Station (primarily they filled gas tanks). But what is that contraption with the ramps?The mechanism appears to be driven by the cars wheels.Hydraulic lines go to that can with a raised top. What could it be? A pump for lubing a car's under parts? The little sign does say "Havoline" which was Texaco's brand name for its oil products. An early engine dynamo-meter? Maybe it's a primitive car wash. I dunno, any guesses?          I guess there was no signage limitations back then.I count eleven Texaco signs on that station.  Land wasn't at a premium then like it is now. Note the wide open layout and the nice row of little trees. This was a Texaco Gasoline Motor Oil Service Station. The concept had become a "service station," which included more than just filling your tank. They even filled it FOR you, no "self-service" needed.      Ford Sales and Service. Look at all those Model T's. Simplicity itself. No name gas and motor oil for 20 cents a quart, Wow.           Dome Gas. You better try it 'cause "It's Better." It better be good since they want 23 cents a gallon for it!         Leman's Tire Shop, Barney Oldfield tires only $9.99 each. Sounds kind of expensive to me. Note the water can by the side of the road and the barricades around the trees. I guess people just drove up on the sidewalk to get their tires and the trees were in the way.     Here we have Super Motor Fuel. I hear Dome Gas is better, but this stuff is SUPER. Note the name of the station "Toot-An-Kum-In." King Tut was big news in the twenties so why not capitalize on it. This is a really modern looking station with the full roof and multiple islands of pumps. AMOCO Gas (still around today), but what does "filtered" mean. Obviously they consider other gas to be "dirty" Four Wheel Drive Autos sales and service. The SUV's of the 20's The first high rise car park Some pretty primitive cars in this picture Home mechanics have always been safety first???? Yeh ok, I will have the one over there. Can you check the tyres, and respoke the wheels, please Nice Tow Truck Self service back then to. No comment required

Who Said There is No Money in Old Cars Or Bikes, just ask Leroy

You will not believe some of the prices

Results for the The Lee Roy Hartung Collection held 3 - 5 November 2011.
Very interesting and well worth the 30 minutes plus a few surprises to go through all
the 79 pages.
The Lee Roy Hartung Collection - Results

More power to the collectors

Ouch, Where is my Roll Bar and Seat Belt

And you reckon driving is dangerous these days???

http://devour.com/video/vintage-race-car-crashes/