Cleveland Transit System 4223

A lot got done on Saturday, things which have seen a lot of prep work and give great results.

Window Work

Alex Randow is cleaning the aluminum frames of side windows for the car, assisted by Nancy Ring.  This work is tedious but gives a great sense of accomplishment when viewing the transformation.  After cleaning, Alex applied some clear coat finish to help prolong their clean appearance over time.

Wiring

Eric Lorenz worked on cleaning and rewiring the three bulb housings for the dash lights, to be mounted on the front of the car.

Headlight Headaches

Alex Randow worked in front of the car, positioning and adjusting the headlight.  And at this same time - - -

Headlight Headaches

Eric Lorenz was inside the car lodged under the front dash, reaching in yet another convenient spot.  He is then locking the light in the position which Alex is holding from the outside.  I guess labor was cheap since many seemingly simple tasks require at least four hands to accomplish.

Dashed

And by days end here is one of the completed dash light assemblies mounted on the car.  This is one of those small items that really improves the look.  Before Thanksgiving we had thirty or so items for painting which we hoped to install on the car over the winter.  These intrepid volunteers have less than a handful remaining to be done.

Dashed

Lorne Tweed did some work on the window tracks for the many side windows, but also worked on the dash lights for the front end of the car.  It is not simple a matter of screwing them on, and some parts were missing, so Lorne fabricated new ones!

The Frame Up

Meanwhile, Simon Harrison got 'framed' into cleaning more of the aluminum extrusions for the side windows.  Remember, there are two sash in the openings, and here he is at work on the smaller of the two.

Sometimes you work for weeks and wonder what progress you have to show for it.  Sometimes all that prep work comes together quickly and shows gratifying results.  Such is the way of restoration work.

First Rear Marker

The crew got busy early with Rod Turner on the ladder and Eric Lorenz working from the ground.  New threaded inserts had to be installed to allow the marker lights to be installed - we hoped.

Right Marker

Eric was up on a ladder most of the day, here wrestling the right rear marker into place.

New Step

Meanwhile Alex Randow was working to mount several other items.  This one is a fold up step to access the roof, here mounted on the side behind the exit doors.  There are only three of these to scale the height, and not much to balance upon if you were the unlucky guy that had to climb up there.

On the Roof

This is another of the items installed by Alex.  Once up all the steps you were considered lucky to grab this rung and haul yourself upright.  Woe be to you if it was rainy or snowy.

Rear End

Now to see what the opening paragraph was all about.  Here is the rear end of the car with most of all the accessories and parts installed.  Rear windows, retriever bracket and retriever, two rear marker lights, two rear stop lights, and the three rear bumpers.  It looks like a complete car!!

Installation

The weather has turned much colder so work in the Barn means hats and coats.  But a lot of the parts are going back on the car!  Alex Randow seems to be enjoying a private joke, smiling broadly, as he runs a tap into the threaded holes in the side band mounting pads.  This serves to clean them out - removing any paint accumulated inside these.

Strike Up the Band

Alex, Eric Lorenz, and Lorne Tweed worked to mount each band.  These are low on the car sides, and served as rub bands while negotiating the street traffic in Cleveland.  There are a lot of machine screws to drive to complete the installation.

Left Side

All bands are mounted on the left side.  The final finish coat of paint will be applied after they are in place and when the weather warms up, or we can move the car to a warmer shop.  More parts, including the retriever ring and retriever now appear on the car.

Windows

Yes the inevitable "W" word.  Lorne Tweed was cleaning and prepping more of the sash for the side windows.  Will it never end?

Retriever

John Faulhaber works to get the right fit between the painted retriever and retriever mounting ring for this car, while Pete Galayda and Jim Followell 'supervise'.  Before mounting on the rear of the car, we thought to check the fit and had to sand away some of the new paint buildup.

Lorne Tweed has returned from his travels and he and Simon Harrison continued their work on the car, cleaning and refinishing side window sash, and working to get some of the newly painted parts and trim back on the car.  More parts were delivered by the paint contractor, only two pieces remaining to be delivered.

There was a large crew on hand, following the holiday hiatus, and we passed another milestone in the restoration tasks for the Cleveland PCC.

Parts

A large number of parts had been sent out to a contractor for painting.  These represent a lot of the trim and detail parts removed for repairing the body and getting that painted.  Now they are back, in record time.  SOME of them are seen staged in the shop in the above view.  More are expected later this week.

Front Bumper

In short order, Eric Lorenz and Alex Randow turned to the task of starting to install them.  Tricky business, and you almost had to be a circus contortionist, but the front bumper was installed.  Actually there are three such pieces.

Rear Bumper

Before I knew it the rear bumper parts were appearing on the car.  Eric and Alex watch as Nancy Ring tests the location of the rear retriever mounting ring.

Side Windows

Several volunteers spent some time during the day continuing to clean up and restore the myriad of side window sash.  Julio Mojica joined the crew scrubbing off years of corrosion and dirt, and Alex and Nancy put in some time there also.

Lower Side Sash

As each sash resumes wearing its clean bright finish, we are applying a protective clear coat.  Nancy tried her hand at that, and perhaps six were so coated by the end of the day.

The remarkable changes to the appearance of the car are giving the project team a big boost, and those following the progress admire the transformations.