VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 '40 update-fenders?

Well, I got the front brakes up ta snuff and working properly, so I moved around to the back. The right rear wasn't so bad to take apart; not too much leakage, and the pistons moved to finger pressure. I had to Woomp on them front ones to get them apart but once broke free they were pretty easy to clean up and hone and slap back together. But that right rear has it's own little set of idiocyncracies. I knew the fender was beat up pretty badly, but when I removed both the fender and the brake hub, I got the true story of what happened. The backing plate has the bottom ground offa it like axle, hub and wheel came outa place. Gotta bouta four inch chunka steel ground offen the plate.

And while there is small damage on the front of the wheel opening, the back part of it looks like it was folded back and up when the rear axle broke loose and went visiting on it's own with the tire, wheel and brake drum. Looking closely at it, I may not be able to repair the damage done to it; couple cuts and a buncha the back side that looks like it was beat on with a sledge hammer to "somewhat" straighten it out. I will try to repair it in my quest to bring it back to life with as many of it's original parts as possible.

But, just in case, can any one tell me what years had the same right rear fender as a 1940 Town Sedan SD. And mayby the trunk lid? Looks kinda like a big ole Buke run inta ut. I can probably cut the bad part out and replace the skin where it is needed.

The left rear was the worst wheel cylinder with the pistons frozen up solid and the whole brake fixture soaked in fluid. I got it apart and cleaned up the pistons and cylinder and adjusters and hope to get that back together when the springs come in from the FillingStation. The return spring came apart and buggered up the works making it difficult to remove the hub. I loosened up both adjusters all the way and was able to beat and pry the hub off. Stil gotta remove the Master cylinder and rebuild it, too.

Then I've gotta weld up a pair of brackets for bolting the tow bar to the front or the frame horns. I've just about got it ready to tow down to a dealer for a value assessment....

Hi Richard, Thanks for the update. Always interesting to see how folks are handling their restorations. I have always assumed brake work was the most critical part of any restoration so I want to caution you on not trying to penny pinch in this area. The finest restoration becomes a tragedy if brakes fail? So do not be to quick to rebuild things when maybe new parts should have been purchased. I spent about $800 on my brake job and did all the work myself except turning the drums. I replaced all the brake lines, master cylinder, all the wheel cylinders, shoes, springs and pin-locks, and sandblasted and painted all the parts. In the process I had found only one old brake cylinder was not leaking and the car I had test driven had the rest of the shoes contaminated with brake fluid. Luckily, I had not driven farther than around the block and not over 20 miles and hour? I would also suggest that if the alignment has been compromised in the right rear brake plate (and parts of it are ground off) you look for a replacement. You should be able to find whole back axles with even their drive shafts and springs from guys who hot rod cars? In my case, I have purchased two parts cars and salvage all but the sheet metal for parts I might need for restoring my 41.

Last week we had an auto auction at our antique fair and a SOLID 40, 4 door sedan with 4 brand new tires and new front shocks sold for $900. The car was worth atleast $3,000 to $5,000. This has happened before here where naive sellers get taken advantage of because of the limited number of bidders on an item??? In this case it was an elderly couple who had given up their 20 year dream of restoring their car. Have fun, and enjoy your project, Mike

P.S. I videotape all the work I do on my car to remind me how things go back together??

idiocyncracies !! Your higher education is showing up. I would have had to spell check that one...grin

Glad you are making progress and keeping us updated. Sounds like you're all over this project. Good work and interesting results. I enjoy reading about your car. Stay after it. Sounds like you're going to have one heck of a nice dependable car after all is done.

Try to hold down the big words so me and Charlie can understand whats what. I once got stopped by a cop and he said "you got any I.D?", I replied "Bout what?"