The purpose of this Blog

This blog is to detail my 50 years (1973 - 2023) with a 1928 Chevrolet tourer, affectionately called "The Red Chev".

The acquisition, restoration, improvements and my experiences over the years are covered in as much detail as I can remember.

Some of the later postings include car club outings and other vintage car items that I hope will be of interest to people.

If you have the time, scroll back to where it all began in 1973 and follow the journey so far.

Thanks for dropping by.

Regards Ray Dean


See my new section "The Red Chev - Repairs, Improvements, Maintenance and Technical Details" located on the left hand side of the screen.




Pages

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Molasses bath versus rusty 29 Chev wheel, and the winner is?

Molasses every time.

Have had this what was a very rusty 29 Chev wheel soaking since mid January, for a Chev mate Terry.

Out today, pressure washed, came up pretty good indeed.


1936 Chev Assembly Line





From a time when cars had a soul??

Monty The Chev ( A video slide show of the restoration)





Every time I see this it brings back great memories.

1926 Chev Owner In Switzerland needing Help

I received the following email this morning.........

Dear Mr Dean

I am an owner of a Chevrolet tourer from 1926.

Some part of the engine went lost a decade ago. Im now trying to figure out how to bring back to old glory this car.

I live in Switzerland, and I didn’t find any support in Europe regarding my problem.

Do you have a piece of suggestion about where a may find the missing parts or even a whole overhauled engine?

Best regards

Fabrizio Verga=


Later in the Morning Fabrizio sent me the following pictures of his nice looking 1926 Chev










These are the parts Fabrizio is looking for, and if anyone has any contacts in Switzerland or Europe please let me know as I would love to help him to get this baby back on the road.

-8 push rods
-8valve lifters
-connection rod bearings and bearing caps (theoretically 1 but I can change all the bearing if it is not too expensive)
-crank shaft bearing and bearing cups, all 3 i guess
-crankshaft gear
-4connecting rods
-fan belt
-4spark pugs
-complete gasket kit engine + carburetor
-starter motor
-tons of nuts and bolts





 

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

28 Chev Restoration - The things you find stripping an engine.

Came across a surprise yesterday while stripping a rusty engine for parts.

Tucked in between the end of the cam shaft and the cam shaft welch plug was this.........

 
A 1923 penny


With no indication of wear, why was it fitted.

As a joke?
For good luck?
 Or as a thrust washer that did very low miles?

Sunday, February 21, 2016

1928 Chev Resto - Change of Plans




The 1928 Chev Ute restoration project will be on hold for a few weeks while I set up a 3 x 3 meter shed to store the Chev 4 parts that Grant (Monty the 1928 Chev) and I have accumulated over the last 12 months.

With the molasses tank working overtime the last 9 months or so, and a couple of spare part collections we have acquired it is time to sort out everything so we know what we have, get it cleaned up, and sorted into some sort of order.

The age of rust and greasy old parts is under severe threat, soon to be the age of sorted.

Cheers, will be in touch soon.

Monday, February 15, 2016

Day 92 - 28 Chev Ute Restoration (16th February 2016)

Received two parcels in the post today containing my relined front and rear brakes and reconditioned front brake actuators.

Whose a happy boy?









Sunday, February 7, 2016

When something old is something new

I brought back from the states a couple of distributor caps that I purchased on spec and had delivered to my son in Santa Monica.

One appeared to be an after market, with aluminum contacts and little wear, the other an original with brass inserts and looked unused.

The after market one cracked during cleaning and went to landfill, the brass one cleaned up as good as new, straight to the spares cupboard. There was also an after market rotor button good enough for a spare.

For $10 US a good deal, very happy.

The one on the right is the after market aluminum unit


Before it cracked the aluminum cap did not look too bad


The brass cap prior to cleaning


Brass cap looking good


Outside like new

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Day 91 - 28 Chev Ute Restoration (7th February 2016)

Pleased to say I am back into it, even though its in a small way. I had a few parts in the molasses tank while I was overseas, and took them out, pressure washed, checked them, and put them back in another week or two, if nothing else to soften a few original areas of paint here and there.

First up was a very good set of rear brake drums, looking very good and well serviceable. Appear to be after market, made by Paton"s Brakes (PBR) with a part number of PBR13.



Next up was a 29 disc wheel for a mate, Terry Petredis. Also looking very good, with just a few more rust areas to dissolve and a bit of paint here and there.

A Fine Looking 1928 Chev Truck - Tallahasse USA



Just got back from two weeks in the States, during which time I spent a very enjoyable weekend with Jerry and Linda Ongley in Tallahassee, Florida.


Jerry has a beautiful 28 Chev Truck which received a full repaint and new tray a couple of years back.

The Green Jalopy as I affectingly call it, now looks a million dollars.

Its a credit to you Jerry, and thanks again to you and Linda for the making me feel right at home.





You can see the full story of the Green Jalopy on Jerry's blog http://jerrys1928greenchevtruck.blogspot.com.au/?zx=243debe5cc3380c4