Skip to main content

Re-assembling Cord 1509 A Westchester

  • Tom_Parkinson
  • Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Moderator
  • Registered
More
29 Jun 2014 17:04 - 21 Oct 2018 14:20 #27760 by Tom_Parkinson
Replied by Tom_Parkinson on topic pix
Hi,

Here are pix of 1509A in 1950. The hyperlink won't post correctly, so you'll have to copy and paste.

Perhaps some of the details may be helpful to other 810-812 owners.

onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=20ACF37336...ithint=folder%2c.jpg

--Tom

With brakes, two cylinders are better than one.

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, The Hardtop News Magazine, the Journal of the Michiana Dunes Region, Lambda Car Club International

See pix of 1509A here: mbcurl.me/YCSE
Last edit: 21 Oct 2018 14:20 by Tom_Parkinson. Reason: correct the serial number.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Tom Georgeson
  • Offline
  • Moderator
  • Registered
More
20 Jun 2014 06:42 #27725 by Tom Georgeson
Replied by Tom Georgeson on topic rear window
Stan of "Auburn Cord Parts" has a kit which I used. It is real simple.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • 1748 S
  • Offline
  • Platinum Member
  • Registered
More
20 Jun 2014 03:13 #27724 by 1748 S
Replied by 1748 S on topic Re-assembling Cord 1509 A Westchester
What type of glue holds the rear windows in place. Is it black RTV???

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Tim Gilmartin
  • Offline
  • ACD Club Past President
  • Registered
More
19 Jun 2014 21:54 #27721 by Tim Gilmartin
Replied by Tim Gilmartin on topic Cord resto
Tom: rear windows are glued in, yes, glued in! No rubber on the rear windows.
Tim.[/i]

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Tom_Parkinson
  • Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Moderator
  • Registered
More
19 Jun 2014 20:17 #27719 by Tom_Parkinson
Replied by Tom_Parkinson on topic Re-assembling Cord 1509 A Westchester
Well, after the ravages of a Biblically rough winter, thyroid surgery, and a Holiday Heart Attack, it's time to work on 1509A again.

I have three--make that FOUR-- questions concerning windows:

1. How is the windshield glass installed to the steel windshield frames? I have assumed that a glass-setting tape is used, but of what thickness?

2. How is the door glass installed to the glass channels in the regulators? Same setting tape? What thickness?

3. How are the rear windows set in place? I see gaskets from Steele or Metro, but are rubber gaskets correct?

4. How are the fuzzies (I have many feet of new Cord fuzzie material bought 30 years ago) installed to the doors and/or the window frames? Are there vertical channels to be installed? Does anyone have a drawing of what goes where, and how it's all attached?

MANY THANKS to those who sent get-well wishes! Now I have to get the CORD well also! I still want to drive this thing!

--Tom

With brakes, two cylinders are better than one.

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, The Hardtop News Magazine, the Journal of the Michiana Dunes Region, Lambda Car Club International

See pix of 1509A here: mbcurl.me/YCSE

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Tom_Parkinson
  • Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Moderator
  • Registered
More
08 Apr 2014 23:16 #27356 by Tom_Parkinson
Replied by Tom_Parkinson on topic Re-assembling Cord 1509 A Westchester
Finally!

At long last, it appears that this never-to-end winter may have run its course. 1509A is coming home this week to the home garage from its winter warehouse storage spot. Work will start anew!

--Tom

With brakes, two cylinders are better than one.

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, The Hardtop News Magazine, the Journal of the Michiana Dunes Region, Lambda Car Club International

See pix of 1509A here: mbcurl.me/YCSE

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Tom_Parkinson
  • Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Moderator
  • Registered
More
29 Dec 2013 21:49 #26548 by Tom_Parkinson
Replied by Tom_Parkinson on topic Re-assembling Cord 1509 A Westchester
Hi,

The simultaneous arrival of Winter and a heart attack on December 21 will postpone noticeable Cord work for a while. The body is now stored in my warehouse in order to allow inside winter garaging for my "real" car. (I hate scraping snow.) When Spring arrives the Cord will come back home for work directed to making it self-mobile by Auburn and Saugatuck.

While recuperating from the heart attack, I am upgrading my hopelessly obsolete 1950's Vernon milling machine with a DRO, adapting pieces to make it accept additional collets, and cataloging its tangled-belt maze of various spindle speeds. When done, it will be very serviceable. I hope I am serviceable as well!

Look for progress on 1509A come Spring!

--Tom

With brakes, two cylinders are better than one.

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, The Hardtop News Magazine, the Journal of the Michiana Dunes Region, Lambda Car Club International

See pix of 1509A here: mbcurl.me/YCSE

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • ilikescars
  • Offline
  • Moderator
  • Registered
More
24 Oct 2013 22:57 #26185 by ilikescars
Replied by ilikescars on topic Cord
Tom: This is the kind of thing some of us "gear heads" love to look at! Keep up the good progress.

Mark

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Tom_Parkinson
  • Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Moderator
  • Registered
More
21 Oct 2013 20:05 #26149 by Tom_Parkinson
Replied by Tom_Parkinson on topic Re-assembling Cord 1509 A Westchester
Hi,

Haven't done a lot with 1509 A in the last few weeks. But she went on display at the Michiana Dunes Chapter of the Lambda Car Club International festivities in Saugatuck, Mi, in mid-September. No prizes for this disassembled Cord, but my '37 Buick Roadmonster won the President's Choice Award!

The new dual master cylinder is installed in its fabricated bracket:

[img



Parts have been obtained to install two remote brake fluid reservoirs. They will ease the addition, future flushing, and monitoring of the DOT 3 brake fluid that I will be using. McMaster-Carr offered these really neat clear-view oilers (Part number 1169K17) that will do just fine for brake fluid reservoirs. Plus McMaster had the hardware to make a good looking set-up. No pix of that yet.

It's slow, but each task brings me one step closer to driving my Cord!

--Tom

With brakes, two cylinders are better than one.

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, The Hardtop News Magazine, the Journal of the Michiana Dunes Region, Lambda Car Club International

See pix of 1509A here: mbcurl.me/YCSE

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Tom_Parkinson
  • Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Moderator
  • Registered
More
25 Aug 2013 22:33 #25812 by Tom_Parkinson
Replied by Tom_Parkinson on topic Re-assembling Cord 1509 A Westchester
Hi,

I received my new dual master cylinder and proportioning valve from JEGS. # 555-631402 for the master cylinder and 555-63025 for the proportioning valve. If you are going to run 1/4" line you'll also want two 1/2-20 x 1/4" line nuts for the master cylinder, for which you'll have to call JEGS to get the line nuts ordered.

My welding guy is fabricating a clone of the MC mounting bracket with its two funny angles for mounting the two-hole master cylinder, and I should have that in a couple of days.

There IS room for the dual cylinder in the limited original space, and all important dimensions will be retained, making the brake pushrod, clutch rod brace, clutch switch, springs, and whatever else all easy to install in original positions without modifications.

I'll post pix when the bracket is ready and installed with the new MC in place. If you come to Auburn, please feel free to stop by the "in process" trailered vehicle section to take a look at how easily this conversion can be done.

My thanks to Tom Clarke for bringing up this subject in the forum. To my thinking, this is an inexpensive but important safety upgrade.

--Tom

With brakes, two cylinders are better than one.

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, The Hardtop News Magazine, the Journal of the Michiana Dunes Region, Lambda Car Club International

See pix of 1509A here: mbcurl.me/YCSE

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Tom_Parkinson
  • Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Moderator
  • Registered
More
06 Aug 2013 00:21 #25679 by Tom_Parkinson
Replied by Tom_Parkinson on topic dual master cylinder
Hi,

I looked into using a dual master cyclinder in my 36/37 Westchester. Since the car is so completely disassembled, it seemed to me this was the best time to do it or forget it.

I have chosen to do it. After correspondence with the tech people at JEGS.com, I have ordered their recommended dual master cylinder and a proportioning valve to be put in my car. Cost is a tad over $200.00.

It looks like I'll have to fab up two brackets, but that's no big deal in the scheme of things. The car is already getting all newly-fabbed CuNiFer brake lines, so there's no additional cost there.

I'll post pictures in this thread as I get to work on it.

--Tom
_________________

With brakes, two cylinders are better than one.

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, The Hardtop News Magazine, the Journal of the Michiana Dunes Region, Lambda Car Club International

See pix of 1509A here: mbcurl.me/YCSE

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Tom_Parkinson
  • Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Moderator
  • Registered
More
22 Jul 2013 12:43 #25601 by Tom_Parkinson
Replied by Tom_Parkinson on topic 1509 A Hubcaps
Hi Ken,

Apparently the car did not have "holy" wheel covers when my father bought it. I recall those nasty rusty old hubcaps being on a shelf in the basement of the house for decades. I don't know where they came from, what they originally fit, or what prior owner put them on the car or if they were possibly original to the car.

The serial number and Lockheed-Wagner brakes tell me that the car is a renumbered 1936. It does not have the cowl filler pipes, so it's not an early 36. It had incorrect-for-any-year front wheel brake cylinders. For some reason it has a dual-point distributor that woulda/shoulda been on a supercharged '37 engine. <!-- s:? --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_confused.gif" alt=":?" title="Confused" /><!-- s:? -->

In fact, I know close to nothing about the car's provenance before August 31, 1950. My dad bought it from a low-end used car dealer in Cleveland, Ohio, named "Pacht Auto Sales" who had the car on his dirt lot on consignmnent. Pacht had no office, so the transaction actually took place at the Yale Drug Store lunch counter next door. I have the bill of sale, but it doesn't show the car's legal owner's name. The only clue I have to its prior ownership is that a Kent College (now Kent State University) parking sticker was on the windshield. I suppose that my Cord went to college, but I don't know any more than that. Ohio auto title records are not computerized that far back, and my written inquiry to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles went unanswered. I'd really like to know the car's entire ownership history, but I don't know where else to look.

Shortly after he got the car my dad invested in many necessary new parts, including new reproduction chromed wheel covers. The reproduction ones that he got also had no holes in them. Several years ago Henry Portz confirmed in the ACD Forum that the non-holy reproductons were a first-effort "factory" replacement item. I have those new covers, and I also have a set of holy ones that I bought new in the 1970's. (Hmmm... I'm wondering as I write this if the non-holy ones will fit on my 40 LaSalle.)

One thing he got that was a major benefit to reassembling the car is a set of pristine reconditioned front fenders. The beat-up fenders seen in the photos were, unfortunately, scrapped long ago.

Thank you for your comment, and I invite you to tag along in this forum as I try to get the car moving by Auburn.

--Tom

With brakes, two cylinders are better than one.

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, The Hardtop News Magazine, the Journal of the Michiana Dunes Region, Lambda Car Club International

See pix of 1509A here: mbcurl.me/YCSE

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Visitor
  • Guest
22 Jul 2013 09:28 #25600 by
Replied by on topic hubcaps
Tom
I do not see any holes in he hubcaps?
Ken

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Tom_Parkinson
  • Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Moderator
  • Registered
More
22 Jul 2013 03:38 #25599 by Tom_Parkinson
Re-assembling Cord 1509 A Westchester was created by Tom_Parkinson
Hi,

I am finally reassembling 1937 Cord #1509 A, after it has languished nearly 63 years in family garages. I have never had the money to do this car justice, and that is still the case, but I've decided to have it at least self-mobile by Auburn 2013. This will be a re-assembly, not a re$toration.

My father bought the Cord for $150.00 on August 31, 1950. Below are pictures of the Battleship Gray Cord in our family driveway when my father had it delivered on the end of a hook. The family car, in the background, was a 40 or 41 Plymouth. I was not quite a year old, but I am told that I witnessed the arrival from my play pen.

Drive train was all re-built in the 50's. A year ago I inspected the cylinders with a borescope and found them to be as shiny as the day my father and my oldest brother assembled the engine in 1955. I am happy to report that the engine turns freely.

About 10 years ago I painted the firewall GM #51 Dark Carmine Red, planning to do the whole car in that color. Having gotten motivated this year, I decided to put it back to the original Palm Beach Tan color and the red firewall is now PBT.

[img


[img


[img


[img


[img


[img


I'll post pictures of progress as it happens. My goal is to have exhaust smoke and brakes by Auburn 2013.

--Tom

With brakes, two cylinders are better than one.

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, The Hardtop News Magazine, the Journal of the Michiana Dunes Region, Lambda Car Club International

See pix of 1509A here: mbcurl.me/YCSE

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Powered by Kunena Forum