VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 31 Phaeton Questions

Took the 31 Phaeton Right Hand Drive to the upholstery shop today. A few questions:

1. The windshield frame top is drilled in the center with two holes 2 5/8 inches. What inside rear view mirror will fit and be appropriate for this car?

2. What mirrors will work on the outside for this open car? Filling Station descriptions don't give me enough information to make a good choice and don't want to have to send them back if they don't fit.

3. Does anyone have pictures, patterns or any information about the side curtains? The doors have the sockets at the rear top of each door, but there were no frames to go from.

4. Anyone know where I can get the two little chrome plated fasteners that go through the rear bow and bolt it to the frame? Looks like a tee head bolt from some pictures I have seen but can't find them in any of the catalogs.

Thanks for any input.

Ron

The tee bolts are available here.
http://antiqueautotophardware.com/
Here is a discussion on the tee bolts in the Chat Photo gallery.
Tee Bolt pictures

I can only comment based on US models.

1. There is a mirror bracket used on Roadster, Phaeton and Roadster Pickup. It is different than all other '31 Chevys. They were reproduced 20+ years ago. I need a couple for all my projects and have several for patterns.

2. There are no accessory outside mirrors except for the Trico sidemount mirrors. Any of the aftermarket mirrors will fit on the bare tires or with fabric covers. Take special mirrors for the metal covers.

3. You might check with Ralph or Maylon DeFord or other '31 Phaeton owner on side curtains and irons. I have '31 Roadster irons and pattern for Roadster pickups. Basically the irons need to have tapered square ends to fit into the sockets and a 90 deg bend and another 90+ deg.

4. There was a thread about the "T" bolts about a month ago. Might search for it or wait for someone to look it up and post a link.

The tee head bolt is not chrome plated, they are painted black. Since I&I had them plated years ago everyone thinks that is correct and it's not. I can show you at least 3 factory photo's that shows them not plated. Also my dad's roadster which is a 10k mile car, these are not plated.

Your best bet for patterns is to call Ralph, I think that is where you got your body. When Uncle Mahlon had his made, I don't think they made them completely right.

Thanks a lot for the responses, as usual this site provides much invaluable information!

1. Yes, I did get the body from Ralph and he has been a tremendous help. However; he doesn't have patterns or prints for the side curtains.

2. I found the "T Bolts," now only have to do some measuring to see which of the two sizes I need to order. Also picked up on the fact that they are painted, NOT CHROME PLATED.

3. Found an inside rear view mirror from FS that looks like it may work. FS 379 Universal. It doesn't look as if it will bolt into my existing holes, but will likely work OK.

4. Am thinking I may buy a pair of VT69 outside mirrors, drill and tap the side stanchions for the windshield and mount them there. My car doesn't have side mount spares, so that isn't an option.

5. One other question I forgot to ask previously, the wiper motor was melted in the fire, nothing left to work with. I am looking at the FS Universal Electric Wiper Kit, VT-6VK as an alternative. Won't be original, but just don't see any vacuum wiper motors for that vintage. Thought perhaps I would run the wire through a vacuum hose to give it a little more authentic look from that standpoint. Anyone have any different thoughts?

Thanks again for all the input and suggestions.

Ron

Ron , I have some pictures of side curtain rods from a 1930's tourer , but do not know which make they are for. I can email them to you to help you get some more ideas on manufacturing them to suit your 1931 phaeton.
A picture I have of a 1929 - 1930 windscreen frame mounted mirror shows it as a scalloped out triangular shape with a pressed in detail, mounting on 2 holes through the frame.

Hello Jack, I would be happy to get the photos, my e-mail address is:
ron@eyres.com

By the way, I used to live in a Sydney suburb, Castle Hill, was MD of the Coleman Operations in Australia from 1985 to 1989.

Thanks again for the offer,

Ron

The Tee bolt that you want is part number 146, it is the one that is a 10-32.

The vacuum wiper motors show up on Ebay fairly frequently. A wiper motor is nearly useless so just install one for looks and use RainX.

Ron, I can help with the photos of the side curtains and curtain rods. I have a '29 Phaeton and a '30 Phaeton. I tried to post the photos here, but was unable to make it work. I will email the photos to you.

All the Best, Chip

I can't find the card right now, but the place is called Vic's wipers and that is where I buy all my motors. I got the one for my uncle's 31 phaeton there. Its the same motor for a Ford if I remember right. So they are easy to find.

I'll keep looking for the card for the wiper guy.

Is Vick's wiper on Long Island NY ?

I believe he is referring to Ficken wiper Service. Try this site: www.Wiperman.com. He is in West Babylon N.Y.

Nope none of the above!

I was wrong on the name, it Vav's vintage auto parts and the number is 740-635-2975. I see them all the time at Hershey.

Bruce

Thai is the one I was thinking about but could not remember the name.

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Here is what I plan to do for outside mirrors on my 35 roadster. I found some beautiful motorcycle mirrors on ebay USA from a hong kong seller. They are billet aluminum and multi manually adjustable for up and down setting to suit the drivers view. See if I can find some similar ones again.


To get around making unnecessary holes in the windshield frame or the body I devised a plan where I would make an aluminum bracket that would attach too the door wood on the inside and come up high enough to mount the mirrors on. Only a triangle of screws into the wood and easily covered up.

ebay usa seller TMSHELMET from Pomona calif title of auction...... black Aluminum motorcycle racing mirrors for cbr ninja

they have 2 pivot points for mirror adjustment and square mount to got to a piece on the door

mike

I will email you pictures of my 31 Phaeton with side curtains on. Please note that my phaeton, being sold new in Oslo, Norway has the 'gypsy' top, on which the rear flap wraps around the rear sides. Regarding the T-bolts for the oak top bows, my originals were painted black, as stated elsewhere on this tread. Jo Storaker, VCCA# 18184

I can email you pictures of my 31 Phaeton side curtains if you would like.
Gary

Once again, thanks for all the input. I have ordered the "T" bolts, will paint them black as per recommendation. Thanks for photos of side curtains, working with the upholstery man he says he thinks we can make it work. Yes Gary, I would like to get your photos as well, every photo I can get lends just that much more information.

Will call the wiper source tomorrow.

Still working on the mirror issue.

Thanks again!

Ron

Ron,
If you want to make or get some made I can send a mirror for you to copy. I can make the copies but not likely meet your timing as I will not need another for a year or so. I can check with a sheet metal guy that I use around here to see if he wants to make them. The next couple of months are his slow season.

Ron, Sent you a PM.
Gary