Heel low:
Want to apologize here as in my first post I listed “nine” digits for the Maple Leaf serial number and there should have been ten digits.
Peggy has asked to post the first post I made up on this forum (Tech tips area maybe?) so I have made a few changes to the post and added some new things we've uncovered.
Two days sure can make a difference in this restoration game. Found out that the flywheel is NOT balanced to each engine (thank heavens) and that the machinest will be making us three carbon throw-out bearings. Also that you need to take in your flywheel when you have your clutch reworked…making another trip to the big city to drop one off.
So have added the following to revamp to what I posted earlier:
“Our next biggie is having the flywheel on one truck redone. The first contact told us that if the four or five ring gear teeth were needing redoing, you were SOL…but now we've found a great guy (machinist that seeks adventure!) who is game and he'll be making us a tool ($500) so he will be able to build her back up and re-do the teeth. The flywheel is the mother of all flywheels (about sixty pounds each--lots of metal here). This machinest will also be making us throw-out bearings. He is going to order solid carbon blanks and will be machining us three of these bearings. When you take in your clutch for redoing, remember to also take along your flywheel, as they will need this to do the final finishing touches. We found out why the first Maple Leaf had shifting issues…the pressure plate had been put in backwards!
“It is so great to find people who are willing to go that extra mile to get these old girls back to their former glory. Shop around and once you find someone actually willing to ply their craft, realize that fortune is smiling upon you.
“Bumpers can be quite heart wrenching. Our first Maple Leaf had hers in pieces held together with some pretty lousy fish plating that took ages to get off. You need to be or find, a very delicate welder that is able to gently put them back together. Thankfully both the second and third bumpers are in much better condition, but then there is the cost of plating/chroming them. Chroming items brings up the dilemma of when is it better to get a reproduction (if possible!) or better to restore the actual original. Interior doorknobs can be gotten as reproductions and cost around a hundred dollars each or you can try to refurbish your originals and have them rechromed. How original do you want your restoration and how much money are you able to justify staying completely original or making minor allowances/changes. Your decision.”
Doggone,
Tara - wife and tabulator for Too Old to Part Out
