[Sunbeam Talbot Email List] 55 Alpine Restoration

[starcars8 at comcast.net]

The louvred bonnet first appeared on the factory saloon team cars before the introduction of the Alpine.They were i ntended for extra cooling under rally conditions. The louvres were carried on to the Alpine with cover plates for use under normal conditions which also cut down on engine noise.There are two small plates that cover the rear louvres behind the bonnet hinge panel which when removed allow warm air from the engine compartment to flow onto the windscreen to aid defrosting,with I think limited success.  The gaiters on the rear springs were indeed to keep grease on the springs to aid the leaves to "slip". I don't see burlap being a good substitute as it retains moisture does it not?      Pete 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan Gooding" <degooding at suddenlinkmail.com> 
To: "Don Herr" <donherr123 at hotmail.com>, staowners at sunbeamtalbot.info 
Sent: Saturday, January 30, 2010 9:33:17 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific 
Subject: Re: [Sunbeam Talbot Email List] 55 Alpine Restoration 


Don, 

Great job!  Thanks for sharing your tour de force.  That was a wonderful discussion and my wife and I enjoyed the photos a lot, too.  Sure wish I had your mechanical aptitude/experience. 

As to springs' boot, I was told by senior Packard guys years ago that they were used for keeping dust/grime out/off the springs to some degree.  Packard had boots over all the leaf springs (in leather) on some models.  Can't imagine they helped much, so I thought it was more a cosmetic thing really.  Cosmetics might have been the goal with these cars too, but one can't see these very well.  Long gone from my car, in any case.  Oh, I heard from the respected gentleman here who looked after the car collection of a local zillionaire that had included an Alpine Sports (it was sold to a guy a couple of states over about ten years ago) that the louvers were closed to keep the engine compartment warmer in the winter and cleaner too.  He said that the louvers were meant for show/a fashion look---sort of like a silk pocket square in a suit or sport jacket breast pocket---only slightly functional.  That didn't make sense to me really, but I wasn't about to debate an expert in his late seventies that had probably forgotten more than I will ever know about mechanics.  Of course, as you point out, you were drawn to the car in part because of those louvers.  I was too.  Maybe he has a point. 

I have to look into that Caswell kit.  Never heard of it.  I have a bunch of little things I would like to plate. 

I don't know about our other STAR members, but I was surprise to learn that you are keeping your column shift, given that you are converting to a racer.  What is your thinking there?  

I think about 70% of our cars on the road have been changed to the floor shift, now.  That from a discussion here some time back.  I was happy to hear that though you were keeping yours as is.  I wish my car hadn't been converted to the floor shift as the column to me is pretty cool, even if less efficient.  And, it is original. 

Who is making your racing screens?  I would like to have a set myself (I'd want two). 

My car is heading to the upholster in a couple of weeks to have a tonneau made for it.  I have to get after the "new" radio soon, too.  Too many distractions of late!  Hey, I helped with your project some Don, by buying your radio!  

All the best,   

Dan 
Daniel E. Gooding . 
Lewisburg, WV , USA 

From: staowners-bounces at sunbeamtalbot.info [mailto:staowners-bounces at sunbeamtalbot.info] On Behalf Of Don Herr 
Sent: Saturday, January 30, 2010 9:40 AM 
To: staowners at sunbeamtalbot.info 
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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