Wednesday, July 22, 2020

DKW Meisterklasse Project - Update June 2020


The corona virus lockdown has given me a lot more time to work on the New Meisterklasse project. For earlier updates, check out these links: https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2020/04/dkw-meisterklasse-project-update-april.html

As mentioned in earlier posts, the rusty floors have been replaced by solid metal. I must thank Ken Feast for his excellent work. The floor is very solid now and we can expect it to last for many more decades without problems. He also painted the floors and underbody with primer for me.

The rear floor did not need any metal work.

My wife Shelly has also been an active participant in the restoration work we are undertaking.

After cleaning up we have painted the floors in black anti-rust paint.

Looking good. Reproduction carpets / mats no longer exist so I have acquired some rubber matting and will fit it to shape shortly.

Nice and clean and ready to fit the new mats.

The engine in the car was seized so I had the cylinders sitting with diesel and penetrating oil. It really didn't achieve much and remained stuck fast. After removing all the bolts holding the block to the crankcase and spraying penetrating oil into the seal I was finally able to lever a screwdriver into the gap. After a lot of levering, the block began to move.

With a little bit of levering, more oil, and more levering each day, the block slowly began to move. Funnily enough, although the left hand piston was the one that was originally seized fast (diesel in the cylinder would not seep through, while it would easily penetrate in the right cylinder). once the block began moving however, the right piston stubbornly refused to move, eventually splitting at its base.

Millimeter by millimeter the block slowly came away

Until it finally popped off.

An examination of the pistons and their wear in the block suggest that the engine was probably run without oil in the fuel until it overheated and seized.

I was very excited when the engine block came away!

Update 18 May 2020

The boot had obviously been leaking for years and the back of the seat and the parcel shelf had rotten out. Note the white cloth handling down - that is the headliner, which is basically just white cloth.

I've filled the gaps with MDF paneling. Looks neat.

Now the wooden storage shelf is back in. It's pretty oily and greasy, but I've left it 'as is.' I've put rubber matting on the floor. The box in the back is a set of DKW hubcabs.

Wheels are off now as I plan to work on the brakes. The front axles need to come out anyway so that the engine can come out.

I hadn't noticed this before, but one of the rear wheel hubs comes from a later model. I need to find a spare wheel hub anyway. I've sourced tyres from our good friend, Richard's Tyrepower: https://www.richardstyrepower.com.au/

Update 19 June 2020

The rear seat was in a terrible state with springs completely rusted, rotten and falling to pieces.

From the top you can see how bad the interior is. Rusted and broken springs are pushing up against the vinyl.

After unpicking and removing the vinyl, the original seat was exposed. The original cloth seat had obviously worn through on its leading edge so the worn edge was covered with padding and new vinyl overlaid over the original seat. The seat was filled with horsehair and straw, which was absolutely rotten. That's all gone in the bin.

The metal spring frame was completely rusted and unsalvageable. After a lot of searching on the internet for advice on repairs and restoration, I came up with a new plan.

The only salvageable part, except the vinyl, was the frame.

The frame was rather rotten and falling apart and needed a lot of sanding and preparation. I used metal brackets to make it solid again.

I decided there was no point in building a spring frame, so put in a plywood floor on the seat frame.

The plan comes together

The restored frame.

The spring seat frame was replaced with a custom foam insert from https://www.foamsales.com.au/. Foam Sales in Norma Road, Myaree did a great job and provided excellent service. The foam I used was 38-200, over which I applied Dacron cushioning.

The interior of the vinyl was dirty and moldy but it cleaned up well with soapy water and disinfectant.

The Dacron filling

The foam backing was inserted and the vinyl re-stretched over the frame.

The vinyl is reattached.

I am very happy with the outcome. It looks great

And it goes back in the car. Another job done!

Motor Museum of WA 2020 visit


On 19th July 2020 I attended a classic car club meeting at the Motor Museum of WA at Whiteman Park. There are regular changes among the displays to keep things fresh.

In the new wing there is an extensive racing display

Caversham raceway display. I believe that the government has agreed to preserve the Caversham raceway, although not as an active raceway. There was a risk that the area would be reclassed for urban redevelopment and the heritage racecourse would disappear forever.

Two locally built custom racers 

1946 Ford V8 Debonde Sports

1951 "Smith's Special" V8

BMW electric roadster

Leyland P76 coupe. If this coupe had made it into production it would have given Holden and Ford a real run for their money. The Leyland P76 gets a lot of bagging as a lemon, but they were really good cars for Australian conditions.

1956 Ford Thunderbird

Mercedes-Benz 300

The Delorean

What most people come to see - Daniel Ricciardo's Grand Prix winning Renault.

Replica of Fremantle motorcycle pioneer, Arthur Grady's 1926 Douglas. On a bike like this he completed the first circumnavigation of Australia by motorbike.

1931 Cadillac

1946 Ford V8 Deluxe Sedan

Outback life

1923 Shelvoke and Drewery transporter

The veteran section

Model T Ambulance

Detroit Electric

Model T Ford

1898 Star

1903 De Dion Bouton

1900 Oldsmobile

1929 Packard

The Packard

Vintage row

The Cubitt

Austin Sevens

Rolls Royce and Bentley

Vauxhall

1950 Ford Prefect

Military version of the FJ Holden ute. The main change was the removal of chrome and brightware. Only a few vehicles were built for trials, but it never went into production.

1957 Velocette Valiant. Note the covered engine

NSU Supermax

1956 Puch motorcycle

Motobecane

The pioneers - the 1888 Benz and Daimler. Note the museum is now using the information panels I drafted for the Classic Car Show in 2020.

The Daimler motorcycle was developed as test vehicle. It was never intended to go into production. Gottleib Daimler shortly aftewards mounted the engine in a four person carriage.

1956 Lloyd 600.

1946 Salisbury Super Scooter.

1925 DOT Bradshaw, oil cooled engine

Custom FJ Holden station wagon.



1934 De Soto Airflow. One of my favourite vehicles in the collection.

1960 Honda Dream

Lambretta

1958 Lambretta Li125

Velocette Viceroy. I would love one of these rare beasts.

1938 DKW RT250

The Motor Museum of WA is open seven days a week. Check out the website: http://www.motormuseumwa.com.au/