'36 Woodie Build

[toddle321]

I've been working on a '36 Woodie for a couple years, I thought some of you might like to follow along as I enter into what is hopefully its last winter before hitting the road. Give me a couple days to get some background pictures uploaded to get up to current day.

A little about me - I'm 31 years old and have been working on cars with my dad since birth. I'm a '36 guy, I have a Cabriolet that I drive pretty regularly in the summer (I live in downtown Chicago, so it's an adventure sometimes), a Woodie being restored and a Roadster Ute and 3-window coupe ('35) that are on deck once the Woodie is done. I'm not interested in dead nuts originality, but I'm not a street rodder either. I don't have the skill (or time unfortunately) to do paint, interior or wood working in this case, but I do handle the assembly with occasional help from my brother and father.

This is what I started with - purchased on ebay with a new wood kit "installed." It was sitting on a '40 frame with no driveline or seats, most of the Woodie specific stuff was there.

[toddle321]

I apologize for the quality of some of the pictures in these posts, a lot of them were taken on a cell phone. I'll try to use a better camera going forward.


I was looking for a Columbia for the car, and found a really nice '36 frame in California with an original Columbia with all of the controls. Here are some pictures of the frame painted and partially reassembled. It has bendix brakes from Richard Lacy (I have them on my Cabriolet, no extra holes in the frame and outstanding stopping) and a '36 LB flathead built by H&H.

[wga]

Nice ride. 36 woodies are rare, and this one is real nice. There is a woodie get together up in Crystal Lake area at the end of July, that would be a real nice addition to the event.
Woodies on the Wharf in Santa Cruz is next June, and we have woodies from the east coast in attendance - get that car out here for a great time!

[toddle321]

Thanks WGA - I went to the Logriders spring dust-off drive in 2010, and I thought about going to the one in Crystal Lake this year but was busy that weekend. I was hoping to ship the '36 to California for Wavecrest last month and drive it home, but getting the wood properly fitted and finished has me about a year behind.

[toddle321]

Here are a few of the car in paint - it's a dark shade of blue I color matched from Washington Blue in my '36 dealer book.

[34coupe]

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Very nice ! keep us posted, Dave

[quickchange34]

Your build is looking really great. Its going to be a nice woody.

[Gumpy]

very nice woodie love the h7h flathead pls keep us posted!

[tierod]

Had one years ago that was all original incl a clock mirror. Mechanicals and sheet metal excl and it ran. Like a dummy traded it for something else not as good. Oh well. Good luck with yours

[31chevy]

Very nice. I would imagine driving with mechanical brakes would be , shall we say exciting in Chicago.
Gary.

[toddle321]

Thanks guys - it's been frustrating at times, but the thought of taking it to Wavecrest and driving back from California next year has kept me going.

@tierod - I found one of the late 36 clock mirrors with the pull string, and it's being restored to match the gauges.

[toddle321]

I put the wood back on it (and fenders), but was not happy with the fit on the wood, and I couldn't figure out what the varnish was that was on the car. I spent a few months trying to get the wood fit, but it became clear that there were a number of pieces that had to be re-made, and the whole thing needed to be stripped and varnished consistently. This is what it looked like before I sent it to Hensler Woodworking in Michigan.

[wga]

Regarding your varnish issue, I have had excellent results with Schooner 96, blends with other brands, it is the prep work prior to application that is necessary. It is the same product that Nick Alexander used on his cars. Sprays easily, flows, and can be sanded and polished. BTW, the cost is around $60 per quart, usually the cost per coat works out to be in the $450 - $600 range.

[sawzall]

love it..

I'll be at wavecrest next year.. but I'm flying..
sent you a pm.

[Mike in AZ]

beautiful....almost looks like it's been chopped at windshield.....Mike

[35cab]

Woodie is looking good Todd, I would love to see it for real and the rest of your fleet, a good excuse for me to get back to Chicago. In the mean time keep us posted with updates.
Thanks,
Gordon

[JM 35 Sedan]

Looks like you are doing a very nice job on the woodie. Should be a super ride when finished. Your cars waiting in the wing also sound nice. I was looking for a '35 3W for some time but finally settled for a '35 5W. It's good to see young guys involved with these early V8's. Are you a member of the EFV8C/A? Would be nice to see you and your woodie at one of their future meets. Like maybe 2013 GNM in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Keep posting here on your progress. It's always nice to hear and see what others are doing.

[toddle321]

Just a quick update on the woodie. All of the wood is finished and it's being put back together. It's supposed to be done on Sunday, so going to take a ride up to Saginaw to pick it up. The mahogany paneling isn't original to '36 woodies, but I love the way it looks.

[toddle321]

pics

[toddle321]

more pics