possible purchase of '36 Tudor

dean from bozeman

dean from bozeman

Well-known member
For many years I have owned a Model A (or two or three..) but have always thought that owning a Ford V8 would be fun. Now I am looking into the possibility of purchasing a restored '36 Flatback Tudor (Ford Maroon).

I'm asking for information, photos, web sites, etc. that can gihelp me make an informed decision. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Dean
 
Good hearing from ya Dean. Did you get to Hershey. I was tied to my booths so I didn't get around. And yes you needs an eV-8
clem
 
Howdy Clem,

I did get to Hershey. Sorry that I missed you. Also missed the chili feed and Kalinka's e28 meeting.

Anyway, my desire to get an eV-8 was rekindled at Hershey. Joe Revinsky and I had talked about the pros and cons of V-8s from '32 to '41 years ago but one, my memory isn't what it should be and two, I might be able to get one from a trusted friend. It's a restored Maroon Tudor on a fully restored chassis. It also has a Columbia two speed (overdrive?).

I'm a total novice in the field of eV-8s so any information or sites that I should visit would be evry helpful.

Clem, I must say that I thinkof you every time I see a restored plane flying or on display.

Thanks for your response.

Dean
 
Dean, if you are thinking about purchasing an early V-8 you need to consider the following.1 ) first look at your age. If you are over 50 buy one already restored. Even if you are mechaically handy it takes about 5 years to complete a project plus lots of $. You can buy one cheaper than you can build one and start driving it from day one. The initial outlay is a little scary, but you will spend the same or more on a project. The difference is the project money disappears a little slower. 2) Buy a car with the best sheetmetal you can find. Don't buy something that is full of patch panels just because it's cheap. Nice cars hold their value,so if you ever need to sell it you can get you money back. 3) DO NOT buy anything without inspecting it. If you are not knowledgeable about V-8's take a friend who is knowledgeable with you. A second set of eyes will spot things that you missed. There's a lot of "buyers remorse" out there from people who bought cars without a personal inspection(e-bay,auto trader, etc.). 4) If you decide to buy one make sure it has the proper title(clear title with no lien holder or lienholder has signed over the title) and the ID on the title matches the frame number.5) Try to get some history on the car(previous owner, how long ago was it restored, photos of restoration process if possible, miles on the running gear and was it rebuilt,etc). Don't be afraid to ask questions. It's your money you are spending and you want to get the most bang for the buck. If you have reservations about the car,don't buy it. You want this to be a happy experience. Just remember you are buying a used car , so expect to make a repair or two the first few months you own it. Good luck and if you buy a V-8 be sure to join the Early Ford V-8 Club of America. You'll enjoy the magazine.
 
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Dean,

A '36 Tudor would be a great way to get involved with V8's.

Is it a Bozeman car? And, how soon do you plan to buy it? We're ******* here for about another month and are hoping to be out before/at Christmas.

(Dean lives down the road from my son ... he also is a very savvy Model A person and is not a newcomer to old cars.)

First, I don't think you are going to immediately find a "V8 Marco" here. Not that there isn't one, it's just that the discussion does not usually involve fine point topics. The right questions might encourage some restoration experts to post more. On the other hand, mechanical/technical information is really good.

The Early V8 Club has a lot to offer as well with a forum and a decent book:

http://www.earlyfordv8.org/forum/viewtopics.cfm?Forum=18
http://www.earlyfordv8.org/store-product-item.cfm?id=18&pid=2

Back to your '36. If I were looking at the car ... and it was in fact a good restoration ... I'd want to know three things mechanically about it.

Does it have the original mechanical brakes or have they been converted to hydraulic? I favor the originals for a car that may not be driven much. They are improved over the Model A's design and are just as reliable.

Has the transmission been modified to the later '39 style gears. The original transmission is fine, but the newer blocker synchros are better. If it shifts well, that's all that really matters unless you are overly involved with transmissions. The transmissions were designed to accept upgrades via dealer rebuilds.

Does the engine have babbitt main bearings or is it an LB ("loose bearing" or insert bearing) engine? In October 1935, Ford began producing some of their V8's with insert bearings and installed both inserted and babbitted engines in '36. The LB is more desirable, but babbitt should not stop a purchase ... the same issues as with Model A engines.

Plus, the Columbia 2-spd rear is a big deal. That's the prize overdrive for a V8.

Dean, I only mention these items as possible icing on the cake. The present owner will be familiar with all of this.

Joe
 
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Thanks TJ and Joe for your replies.

TJ, your advice is on the money when looking for a car. Fortunately for me, I know the owner/restorer. He will be able to fill me in on the history of the vehicle. If I am successful, I will be sure to join the Early Ford V-8 Club of America. Thanks.

Hoop, first of all, I hope that is on you on your avatar. Second, whenever you are in town contact me. It would be great to see you again. Third, I appreciate the links and the three mechanical things that I should find out about the car.

The more I think about the '36 Tudor and V-8's in general, the more I'd love to get one. My first love is very early 1928 Model A's but it is difficult to get my 6'4" 225lb frame in them. The last time I visited my friend I sat in the '36 Tudor and actually fit. Also, living in rural Montana, it would be nice to be able to travel at a safe speed when going to town.

Again, I thank TJ and Hoop for their replies and hope to revisit this forum in the future as an owner.

Dean from Bozeman
 
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