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Find out how you can get involved with the next 'Wheel of Dreams' project. Email Michael Clark today!
michaelclark@mts.net.
michaelclark@mts.net.
This is the story of the '40 Chev raffled off in '08. Reprinted with the kind permission of Michael Clark.
Previous portions of this story can be found here.
Part Twelve: Bits and pieces
Chasing down the last batch of parts for our Chevy
Norm Smith may have missed his calling.
I've heard of parts that were built tough, with lifetime guarantees and Nev-R-Break technology. As for the body mounting pad set that Smith donated to the Wheels of Dreams project car, the next phrase is the ultimate marketing endorsement. "The pigeons will be picking the eyeballs out of your coffin, and these will still be in your car," said Smith. Sold! The pads are just a dew of those little parts that are being donated for the Wheels of Dreams project car, a 1940 Chevy Master 85 two-door sedan, which is currently receiving a street rod makeover by the Hillbilly Garage near Garson, and the El Diablo's Car Club. When completed, the car will be raffled off in 2008, with all proceeds going to The Rainbow Society. (www.therainbowsociety.com)
The pads are a vast improvement over the biscuits that kept down the creaks between the body and frame in 1940. Those pieces were best described as thick canvas-style sandwiches, which had disintegrated quite nicely, as discovered during the dismantle of the Chevy. "They're the same body mounts as a '37," said Smith. He ought to know; his '37 Chevy coupe will be featured this winter in The Restoration Files chapter of Clarkey's Carport, which chronicles the many works-in-progress in Manitoba garages during the snowbank season. Look for it in the Tuesday editions of The Winnipeg Sun. While we're kicking the project tires, you'll also hear about Smith's latest find; a California-fresh 1993 GMC Typhoon. For those that can't recall the badge, this is the hot-rod version of the S-15 Jimmy, with a turbocharged 4.3 V6 mill.
Norm Smith may have missed his calling.
I've heard of parts that were built tough, with lifetime guarantees and Nev-R-Break technology. As for the body mounting pad set that Smith donated to the Wheels of Dreams project car, the next phrase is the ultimate marketing endorsement. "The pigeons will be picking the eyeballs out of your coffin, and these will still be in your car," said Smith. Sold! The pads are just a dew of those little parts that are being donated for the Wheels of Dreams project car, a 1940 Chevy Master 85 two-door sedan, which is currently receiving a street rod makeover by the Hillbilly Garage near Garson, and the El Diablo's Car Club. When completed, the car will be raffled off in 2008, with all proceeds going to The Rainbow Society. (www.therainbowsociety.com)
The pads are a vast improvement over the biscuits that kept down the creaks between the body and frame in 1940. Those pieces were best described as thick canvas-style sandwiches, which had disintegrated quite nicely, as discovered during the dismantle of the Chevy. "They're the same body mounts as a '37," said Smith. He ought to know; his '37 Chevy coupe will be featured this winter in The Restoration Files chapter of Clarkey's Carport, which chronicles the many works-in-progress in Manitoba garages during the snowbank season. Look for it in the Tuesday editions of The Winnipeg Sun. While we're kicking the project tires, you'll also hear about Smith's latest find; a California-fresh 1993 GMC Typhoon. For those that can't recall the badge, this is the hot-rod version of the S-15 Jimmy, with a turbocharged 4.3 V6 mill.
Smith hadn't turned off the generosity tap just yet. In addition to the pad set, Smith threw in a Weiand water pump, a needed power steering pump for our Macgyvers front suspension, and a roll of automotive interior-spec padding, which will be placed on the interior of the body panels to keep down the sound transfer from the Chevy's dual exhaust rumble. Smith first noticed the Wheels of Dreams project pages, in the company lunchroom. "I was bringing home the paper clippings from work," said Smith. "I'll do anything for charity."
Smith's sentiment is also shared by the good folks at Park Pontiac Buick GMC. A project like this means calling up all of your friends. I've known General Sales Manager Dave Turnley since our Red River College days. (Which means he has a lot of dirt on me, so I better be nice.) Turnley convinced Dealer Principal Jeff Dveris to provide the needed rear brake parts for our 10-bolt Chevy rear axle. Mitch Pattyn, Park Pontiac's Parts Manager, sourced the brakes drums, shoes, wheel cylinders, and necessary hardware. "I think it's a really good idea," said Pattyn. "It's great to see all the support behind it." Our upholsterer, Lloyd Gering, helped to secure a supplier for the needed interior materials. LoomTex Fabrics Limited supplies specialty products to the upholstery trade, including the automotive-grade items Gering will require. We'll show off the swatches in a later instalment.
The Chevy will shine on like a crazy diamond, thanks to the chrome kings at North Star/Fairmont Plating Limited. The company has agreed to renew the front and rear bumpers on the Wheels of Dreams project car. As for the rolling chassis, Don Park from the Hillbilly Garage will be leading the assembly process. The body shell will be sandblasted by Winnipeg Sandblasting, with an epoxy topcoat to prevent any rust from returning during the repair process.
There's even more parts coming from our neighbors to the South, including a new steering column and complete wiring harness. We'll tell you all about these parts and suppliers in the coming weeks. To keep the guesswork down to a minimum on donations, the Carport will running a breakdown of which parts we definitely have, either in our hands or on the way. Look for it next Tuesday in our continuing coverage in The Winnipeg Sun. Find out how you can get involved! Email Michael Clark today. (www.michaelclark@mts.net) Or call the Parts Hotline at 339-9331.
Smith's sentiment is also shared by the good folks at Park Pontiac Buick GMC. A project like this means calling up all of your friends. I've known General Sales Manager Dave Turnley since our Red River College days. (Which means he has a lot of dirt on me, so I better be nice.) Turnley convinced Dealer Principal Jeff Dveris to provide the needed rear brake parts for our 10-bolt Chevy rear axle. Mitch Pattyn, Park Pontiac's Parts Manager, sourced the brakes drums, shoes, wheel cylinders, and necessary hardware. "I think it's a really good idea," said Pattyn. "It's great to see all the support behind it." Our upholsterer, Lloyd Gering, helped to secure a supplier for the needed interior materials. LoomTex Fabrics Limited supplies specialty products to the upholstery trade, including the automotive-grade items Gering will require. We'll show off the swatches in a later instalment.
The Chevy will shine on like a crazy diamond, thanks to the chrome kings at North Star/Fairmont Plating Limited. The company has agreed to renew the front and rear bumpers on the Wheels of Dreams project car. As for the rolling chassis, Don Park from the Hillbilly Garage will be leading the assembly process. The body shell will be sandblasted by Winnipeg Sandblasting, with an epoxy topcoat to prevent any rust from returning during the repair process.
There's even more parts coming from our neighbors to the South, including a new steering column and complete wiring harness. We'll tell you all about these parts and suppliers in the coming weeks. To keep the guesswork down to a minimum on donations, the Carport will running a breakdown of which parts we definitely have, either in our hands or on the way. Look for it next Tuesday in our continuing coverage in The Winnipeg Sun. Find out how you can get involved! Email Michael Clark today. (www.michaelclark@mts.net) Or call the Parts Hotline at 339-9331.
Mitch Pattyn, Parts Manager at Park Pontiac Buick GMC, shows off their donation of rear brake parts for our Chevy.
