1947 Kit Rebuild Update as of 23 February 2011

[Classic Finn]

Here are some photos from 1 of 2 1947 Kits as it is in the Tear Down Phase here in Finland. Hope you enjoy the pics. Also in the photo you see Lil Bear Fenders. 6th photo down. Fintastically Made with perfect mirror images of one another as should be. (Professionally Made) PlyWood all around "Soft As Butter" to be expected.

If you take a real close look you will see that the walls were almost totally seperated at the bottom. From inside you could see the highway pavement along the entire bottom of the wall.
Nothing like having circulating air though.

Garage Heck Yea.. A Big One At Dat. Under the Arctic Skies :lol:

Here I thought majority of the Kit Galley Cabinet Door(s) were located on the left hand side..










To Be Continued Maybe

[prohandyman]

Heikki
Nice pics! Now you have your work cut out for you! In all my photos and records I have never seen a galley with the ice box and cabinet reversed!.
I trust that is just not a photo reversed!

[Classic Finn]

Heikki
Nice pics! Now you have your work cut out for you! In all my photos and records I have never seen a galley with the ice box and cabinet reversed!.
I trust that is just not a photo reversed!

Thank You Dan. Its always a pleasure to hear from you. Yes indeed Im up to my ears or is it tears with working on these but Im enjoying it to the max.

No sir the photo has not been reversed.

Also Ive seen double, very nicely done too.

[Gage]

Heikki
Nice pics! Now you have your work cut out for you! In all my photos and records I have never seen a galley with the ice box and cabinet reversed!.

Yep, that's the first one I've seen. It must be the export model.

[Classic Finn]

Heikki
Nice pics! Now you have your work cut out for you! In all my photos and records I have never seen a galley with the ice box and cabinet reversed!.

Yep, that's the first one I've seen. It must be the export model.

Ahh yes.. Good Morning Gage.. Its a pleasure to hear from you again.

The Export Model you say? Maybe in 47 it was either a Monday or Friday build. As we say here Mondays are of no interest and Fridays everyone is in a hurry to git home from work.

PS Gage - You aint going to believe what I found inside this Kit (Galley that is). I,ll take pics of the few things found for you in daylight. Rather funny if you ask me.

[Classic Finn]

Dan

I have a question for you as always. I see on one of your rebuilt Kits there is a spare on the front of the tear. How is it mounted versus the heavy contraption on ours? Sure looks a lot lighter

I saw this in your gallery.. hope you dont mind me showing it off here. Very Nice Work Dan.



Front Spare tire holder on our Kit. One that is Heavy..



Now if I can only get the lock off in order to get the spare off. Combination given dont open it. reckon I,ll get the "General Key" as we say here. Huge bolt cutter.

[GaryW]

dig out rot , soak area with bleach
when dry, soak again, dry

then

Cut some of the old wood with a fine blade
mix that saw dust with epoxy, til paste
force into dugout area let dry & sand

[Classic Finn]

dig out rot , soak area with bleach
when dry, soak again, dry

then

Cut some of the old wood with a fine blade
mix that saw dust with epoxy, til paste
force into dugout area let dry & sand

Greetings from Scandinavia GaryW. Thank you for the good advice. I,ll have to remember this recipe down the line. For these tears however its too late. All new ply has been purchased just waiting to be cut to shape.

[Classic Finn]

More pics of the Teardown











Since these photos were taken the frames on both Kits have been taken to the Sandblaster & Painter. Waiting patiently (not):no: for them to be returned. One frame in black and the other in a red powder paint. Galvanizing has been completed before powder coating on each. Only the Best of materials will be used in rebuilding these.

The Towbars have been replaced with the Euro Hitches by Al-ko. We will be rebuilding the Kits both at the same time.

Will post pics of the frames and freshly painted fenders together with the starting of the rebuild phase asap.

I wont post the teardown photos of the 2nd Kit since the pics are all the same in procedure. The only difference the galley had been redone and it came with a small fridge that was far from repairable and was taken to the recycling center. Also the axle & hubs will be replaced with a modern one to be fitted with 5 bolt pattern rims.

Photo of other Kit Galley and Fridge..

[Classic Finn]

Here are a few more photos of the frame itself before it left for the painters. These photos were taken at night and as usual nightfall comes early this time of year here in the far north.

One thing surprised us and a few friends here as well how the wheels and hubs are not parallel to each other but a few inches off. One side is more forward than the other. As in normal axles. We are wondering as to why this is..can anyone reply to this?

Also shown is the tire rack which is kind of interesting. Debating wether to leave it or take it off.

[angib]

One thing surprised us and a few friends here as well how the wheels and hubs are not parallel to each other but a few inches off. One side is more forward than the other. As in normal axles. We are wondering as to why this is..can anyone reply to this?

The usual reason is that the torsion bars (and these look like metal torsion bars, not rubber) are long enough to reach the other side of the vehicle, so one wheel must be a few inches in front of the other, so that the torsion bars can cross over in front/behind each other.

The rear suspension of all Renault cars from about 1970-1990 was like this (eg, Le Car for Merkans, Renault 5 for Yurpeens).

[prohandyman]

Angib is correct. The metal torsion bars run all the way across and are welded to the end cap of the tube, and flexes the full width of the axle, so only 1 wheel/tire can flex on that design. So 2 axles have to be used, and since they can't stack one on top of the other, they have to put one in front of the other. Does not affect the towing. That was the technology of the day!
I have a friend who collects military vehicles, and has a military trailer used during WWII, and has the same axle set-up.

[mvperini]

Heikki
good job so far on the restoration, are you going to keep them or what ?arfter the restoration is complete

Regards Mike

[Classic Finn]

One thing surprised us and a few friends here as well how the wheels and hubs are not parallel to each other but a few inches off. One side is more forward than the other. As in normal axles. We are wondering as to why this is..can anyone reply to this?

The usual reason is that the torsion bars (and these look like metal torsion bars, not rubber) are long enough to reach the other side of the vehicle, so one wheel must be a few inches in front of the other, so that the torsion bars can cross over in front/behind each other.

The rear suspension of all Renault cars from about 1970-1990 was like this (eg, Le Car for Merkans, Renault 5 for Yurpeens).

Thank for your reply Andrew. That indeed is true they are metal torsion axles. Wow I ddint realize the Renault 5 had the same techical similarities.
Interesting to hear.

[Classic Finn]

Angib is correct. The metal torsion bars run all the way across and are welded to the end cap of the tube, and flexes the full width of the axle, so only 1 wheel/tire can flex on that design. So 2 axles have to be used, and since they can't stack one on top of the other, they have to put one in front of the other. Does not affect the towing. That was the technology of the day!
I have a friend who collects military vehicles, and has a military trailer used during WWII, and has the same axle set-up.

Hello Dan

It sure was strange as well as astonishing to see the axles as they are. Offset like that.