VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 Going to look at a '36 standard tomorrow...

Howdy folks!

Ever since I got a 2005 Chevy Colorado that was a complete and total junker i've avoided the make... recenty though I ran into a '36 standard sedan and just have to go see it!

I've restored a few cars over the years, but no chevy stuff... mostly non domestic things. I'll be heading out tomorrow in the AM to go see this supposed barn find. The car itself seems pretty complete and runs and drives... how well is yet to be seen.

What are the typical problem spots on a '36 2 door sedan? What parts are near impossible to locate?

My grandfather gave me the car resto bug and my favorite of his was always the 1937 caddy "gangster car" as we called it when were were kids. I've always had a soft spot for the long nose jobbers and would love to have my very own "gangster car"... i'm excited to see the chevy!

Be aware that 1936 Standard model are very different than the Master model; most things are not interchangeable. Most of the stuff you see for sale for 1936 Chevrolets are for the Master model. I think the Standards are great! I have had a 1936 Standard Town Sedan for many years.

Good info!

My worst fear would be having to have the engine bearings repoured... I can't imagine it would be anything less than expensive, anybody have an average cost to get new bearings in the rods and block inserts?

I would pull the plugs out. Put wd-40 in the plug holes. Check the oil. Take the hand crank and give her a turn over just to be sure she was not froze up. The fuel system will have to be redone before you run the car. The fuel pump will have to be rebuilt. The gas of today will eat up the old style diaphragm. Fuel line will have rust buildup and gas tank will have rust or holes. One thing I ran into was a mouse nest on the fly wheel. I tried to start the engine but it froze up. Turned the fly wheel backwards via a screwdriver, a ball of cotton came out. It had blocked the engine from turning over! Also, be sure before going in an old set up car to wear a breather. Mouse and rat manure can make you sick. Take care and good luck on your purchase!

Thanks for the info!

I went to look at it this AM... The seller had it running, bottom end sounded great, uber quiet. Noisey valves, but other than that I couldn't find any funky noises.

I was hoping it was a standard but there seems to be some debate due to a glovebox with a clock and ashtray and a wiper on the passenger side windshield. It also had a water temp gauge of a smaller diameter to the left of the two main large gauges set into the dash outside the raised panel (but obviously of chevy make as it matched the others in apperance). No chrome trim on the hood louvers though and the headlight bodies aren't chrome, just painted as the rest of the car is. Kind of dissapointing if its not a standard (kinda had me heart set on that) but still a decent car overall. For being here in MI the sheet metal was fantastic.

How do you know if its a standard or master for sure?

If the dash has two min dials it is a Standard. The items you mentioned are accessories and worth a good sum.

Sounds like you may have found what you hoped for. If it runs good and the body is fantastic then the only thing left is the price. Good Luck, Tom

A Standard has 5 lug wheels and a Master has 6 lug wheels. Very easiy to check.

Well, we struck a deal so it will be coming home with me. It may take a while because of the holidays but its mine...

Plans are to fix what needs fixing over winter and drive it come spring. Its no show queen but the old lady still has her jewels and lots of potential!

My favorite feature so far... the two horns mounted over the engine, they are loud!

Well, that's sounds fantastic. Now you need to join the VCCA so that you can have access to some of the back issues of the G&D as well as the technical articles database.

If you use THIS page, then you can call it a present for yourself.

--Bill B

Wouldn't the standard series have the twin leaf spring front suspension on the beam axle and the master model the knee action version as used from 1934 -- 1938. ??

Thats what i would look for .

mike

In 1935 and 1936 the knee-action was optional for the Master Deluxe.. While fairly common to find a 1935 with leaf springs they were quite rare in 1936.

No knee-action on this one, just regular springs. No clear picture of the lug pattern on the wheels and I can't remember if there were 5 or 6 lugs but the headlight bodies are painted steel. I think the seller mistook all the accessories the car has for being a master.

With a bit of luck i'll get to pick it up this weekend and get the brakes back up to snuff over the holiday... I just need the weather to play ball!

I believe you have a 36 Standard because you have the two main center gauges. Be glad you have the temperature gauge on the left by itself. A master has 3 gauges the same size centered on the steering wheel. The master headlights are chrome. The frame for a master has open side rails with a cross member in the center similar to a X. I believe a master has chrome along the side of the hood as well. I have a 36 standard coach that I purchased this past October. Mine has front and rear leaf springs with Delco Lovejoy shocks. My frame is fully boxed on the sides and has no X shaped frame cross member. I hope you have as much fun with yours as I have. Just try to take your time and enjoy the journey with the car. The VCCA site will give you tons of information and you can easily ask questions and knowledgeable folks will gladly help you out.

Well Saturday is the day... I woke up to a snow storm this morning though, yikes! I'll be watching the weather like a hawk... its supposed to clear out overnight Friday... fingers, toes, eyes crossed!

Good luck with the car. I'll reiterate what everyone else is saying: The 36 is good car, and while parts aren't quite as plenitiful as for 37 and up, they are there. Ignition and other like items are still available at auto parts stores. It is a good driving car and you'll get to learn the unsynchronized transmission if you haven't before I've owned my 36 Standard Town Sedan since 1983 and thoroughly enjoy driving and working on it (well, except when on the side the road on a rainy day with a stopped-up carburetor jet ..)

The accessories you have are very desirable. If you need any parts, especially mechanical, I have a good many extra.

Good luck with your car. My '36 standard also has a straight axle in the front. No temp gauge. Two doors. One sun visor. One tail light. One windshield wiper. It is a Town Sedan. Came with carpet in the front and bucket seats. The owner added a heater. It does not have a backward fan on the dash to de-ice the windshield. Just how he got by with that in East Chicago(the oil change stickers are still on the driver's door) is beyond me! The interior is still original as I have not restored it yet.

A 1936 Standard didnot come with carpet in the front.
The first Chevrolet to have carpet in the front was the 1950 BelAir.

After some to-do with the u-haul people I dropped that and found a nice gent on u-ship that will bring it home in an enclosed trailer for what it was going to cost me with a u-haul rig + gas... Needless to say I got a heck of a deal on shipping and it should be here by 3pm tomorrow...



... is it 3pm tomorrow yet??????

The eagle has landed...





Now that i've had a chance to look it over VERY close (and join the VCCA!) I can see its a standard. Its also been repainted at some point, the original is a sort of dark blue/grey/green color.

It ran great for 3 minutes and then died... LOL! A quick test pointed to loss of spark but there wasn't time to monkey with it before it got dark and I had to take the Mrs out to dinner. I enlisted the help of Mike next door and we got it pushed into the garage.

Mice have been living in the back seat, and I found all sorts of other assorted goodies. Also ripped out the soggy house carpet installed up front by a previous owner, rolled down some windows, and started her drying out.

This holiday weekend will be a complete systems check and gathering a repair list.

My wife loves this car too!

More pics for those who dig 'em

WOW - An accessory banjo steering wheel. Thats worth a few bucks. And accessory dual horns. All the accessory stuff on the dash and no radio. Kinda of strange.

Its a later 1936 as it has the ribbed valve cover. Good indication that is has the all steel dors used in late 1936 Standards. The steel doors didn't sag like the heavy wood doors did, especially in a 2 door model.

Congratulations...! That is in nice shape...!

Several good points....the steering wheel is really neat. And the horns are cool.
Maybe best of all you say, "my wife loves the car." That's a GREAT start
on future endeavors.

Congrats on a fine purchase!!!

Very nice looking car. Be careful of mice manure & urine. It has a life span of 30 days. It can make you sick. Wear a breather. Moth balls will keep the mice out. Look behind the horns to see a plate on the firewall. First line has: Body no. (year) 36 (model series) 12 (body type) 11; If the second line, Body No. ends with a "Z" it has the new "Safety" steel doors and also comes with steel door post. Third line has: Trim No. 50 (trim design and material) Forth line has: Paint No. 196 (Navy bluish on mine) color combo. Other numbers like 3FC50718 may be found. 3 is St. Louis, 05 is May and 50718 is the production no. The carpet in front is standard for a Town Sedan. My car is exactly like yours. Good Luck!!!