[Sunbeam Talbot Email List] 55 Alpine Restoration

[Dan Gooding]

Henry, 
 
Did you reinstall these "gaiters" on your Alpine?  Mine had none when I
acquired it.
 
I forgot about the lubrication aspect of those spring covers, but with the
jog I recall that those Packard old timers told me about that, too.  My
Packard's were too new to have them. ('41 and '42 models were all I ever
had.)  I never gave them a thought since and was surprised to learn that
these Alpines had them too.
 
Don Herr wrote me that he had removed his under-hood louver covers
altogether.  He said he did so to allow heat to better dissipate in summer
driving.  I did the same thing last summer for the same reason, after
talking to the technician who looked after and restored the cars in the Clay
collection near hear.  (I never use the car in the winter anyway). 
 
All the best,
 
Dan
Daniel E. Gooding
Lewisburg, WV, USA
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From: staowners-bounces at sunbeamtalbot.info
[mailto:staowners-bounces at sunbeamtalbot.info] On Behalf Of Henry Gillard
Sent: Saturday, January 30, 2010 5:18 PM
To: donherr123 at hotmail.com; staowners web-site email list
Subject: Re: [Sunbeam Talbot Email List] 55 Alpine Restoration


Don
The purpose of the "boots" aka "gaiters"  is to keep the springs lubricated,
so they don't rust and so they flex easily - ie the leaves don't stick to
each other.
 
On Scumbag (my 1950 Humber SuperSnipe MkII) the gaiters were full length -
they covered all of the springs, not just part.   Fitted to the rear
springs.  (I don't think that the big transverse leaf spring at the front
had one, though there is no reason why it should not have had one.)    The
gaiters each had two grease nipples, into which the owner was supposed to
pump thick grease (can't remember the spec and don't have the workshop
manual with me)    
 
On my Snipe, fifty-five years took their tool and the gaiters fell apart
when I tried to remove them during restoration
 
HMG
 

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From: donherr123 at hotmail.com
To: staowners at sunbeamtalbot.info
Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:40:02 -0500
Subject: [Sunbeam Talbot Email List] 55 Alpine Restoration

Hi All, Attached are some pictures of the 55 Alpine I am restoring. 
 
SOME NOTES:
1. I am zinc plating all bolts /nuts and mechanisms that were originally
plated i.e.the emergency brake lever mounted to the rear end and gear shift
linkage etc. Using a Caswell Kit - it is quite easy and rewarding.
2. One picture shows the boot on the back of the leaf springs. I put out an
inquiry about this boot to STAR but never got a reply. I do not know the
purpose of this boot but both my 55 Alpine and a 54 Sunbeam Talbot 90 spare
parts car I bought had these boots. Maybe they are just for appearance when
viewing the car from behind? I made them out of burlap as the originals and
coated the with rubber(the kind you dip tool handles into)
3.I have all parts detailed  just waiting for reassembly. Every item has
been rebuilt or NOS parts found on Ebay. I spend 1hr.+ every evening on Ebay
looking for parts.
4. All body parts are ready for paint(Coranation Red), waiting for warm
weather. I fabricated and rebuilt the floors, tailight surrounds(salvaged
from parts car) and surrounding structures ,rocker panels,wheel well
surrounds, spare tire compartment, 6" and bottom of doors,tunnel cover,etc.
All repairs are welded and leaded. In some areas I had to use polyester
glazing to scim. All parts sprayed with zinc chromate etching primer than
topped with 2x high build primer and blocked. I made a body rotisserie out
of two HD motor stands- the body work would have been impossible without the
ability to position the body in any position for welding.
5. The frame was in pretty good shape. Had to make two new front leaf spring
mount wings-originally they never incorporated a weap hole for water
drainage so these units were totally rotten. I also beefed up the backs of
the front motor mounts which were both cracked from engine tork on fairly
thin metal. Frame painted with Imron.
6. Large chrome parts(bumpers,grill etc) are being done by NEL in Phila. I
am picking them up next week. I am doing all the small parts myself, ie
headlight rims on down in size. Using the Caswell product. VERY FUN.
7.Rear end totally rebuilt-the crown carrier was cracked-luckily the one
from the spare car was good. Motor being rebuilt by Tivvy Autocraft in
Danville VA. An Englishman who rebuilds high end English and German cars and
vintage races his own XK120-the fastest one on the east coast. Was able to
get +40 pistons from Bob Hamilton. I am also buying the recently rebuilt and
tested overdrive and trans for Bob Hamilton. THANK YOU BOB!
8. Staying with column gear shift- But do have a Kneer floor shift from the
spare car if anyone is interested in it.
9. I am a woodworker by hobby and re-did the steering wheel in walnut. The
original plastic grip was totally gone.
10. Modifications I plan or have done-Contempory Bilstien shocks on the rear
mounted on custom towers I made that bolt to the frame were the original arm
shocks were mounted. I had to make new mount tabs for the axle,which could
easily be changed back. Bilstein shocks on the front mounted inside the
front coil. I modified the bottom A=arm bottom plate for mounting but kept
the originals from the parts car if someone wants to turn it back. I plan on
running an Alternator and converting to negative ground. I am having a
racing windscreen built as per the Rootes option. I will run an AC electric
gas pump and radial black wall tires. Other than these modifications the car
is plumb stock.
 
Regards to All,Thanks to those who helped me along the way and thanks in
advance for those who will help me to completeion. I bought this car at a
local auction(rural NC-but it came out of NYC 20 years ago) for $3,000 and
knew nothing about them other than I thought it was cool looking-especially
the factory hood louvers(why did they have plates to close them off?). I am
not new to restoring cars so the challenge was welcome and I am enjoying
every minute.
 


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