What’s
Happening! |
- The hardy group continues to work through the winter months and braved
15" of snow, blizzard conditions and freezing temperature to get to
the regular Tuesday work session on 12/12. As Don wrote,
"those volunteers that could dig out made it - they’re either
nuts, crazy or just like the challenge to drive through this stuff –
go figure". (Or maybe it is Carols hot lunches every Tuesday that
is the attraction – Dean)
- Del Carpenter and Wayne Jackson
have rebuilt the complete front
axle assembly with Weller Truck overhauling the components. The
springs have been rebuilt by State Spring Service as noted below.
- The roof redesign by GM is done. We should be receiving the
drawings shortly.
- The lower left cargo door frames have been rebuilt by Jerry
Sigler. The front left access door has been painted by Wally Snow
in its final coat of "Target Red". Next comes the addition of
the trim pieces.
- Montana Paint
through a local distributor (Wyrick)
continues to donate paint products as needed. In fact, the first parts are
being painted the correct "Target Red" color supplied by Wyrick.
This is a very significant commitment from them for the project and is
much appreciated.
- Weller Truck
is again helping us locate a source to repair the
brake air compressor and the power steering piston assembly. They also
rebuilt the power steering slave cylinder for us.
- The two rear access doors as well as the front door are also under
restoration and require significant reconstruction.
- The cab body has been the focus of replacement of all body structural
metal. Approximately 30% has been replaced and through the winter, we
will be working on the balance.
- Connie DeJong
has done extensive welding in the cab area and Bud
Dinger has been doing most of the fabrication work. Jim Baker continues
to fabricate body structure braces for the rear of the Futurliner.
- Sparta Steel
has been supplying metal that we cannot bend through
our contact and volunteer worker Ed DeVries. His son Ryan
DeVries has also been making some of the special tools for us.
- Bill Bicknell
is well along on the engine restoration at his place
in Ohio. It should be ready to set up on the test stand and fire it up in
the Jan/Feb timeframe. Progress so far includes:
- 2 NOS shortblocks have been received with sets of new piston rings
and gaskets
- Our original engine is apparently a 1955 or 56 model based on the
casting numbers and has very few miles on it.
- The engine is partially disassembled and various parts cleaned. The
cylinder head has been machined with exhaust valve inserts installed.
All valves and intake seats have been reused (except 1 intake which was
open for 40 years) since no measurable wear was found.
- A standard transmission flywheel has been obtained for test stand use.
The automatic transmission flywheel will be installed after the engine
is done and tested.
|
| Web Site |
- Jim Crame
has added a
"Scrapbook" section to the web site (address is above) with
much of the material supplied by Vic Garske and Tom Van Voorhis. This 35
page section, like most all of them, has many links to specific photos
(over 46), letters, press info and other information of interest.
- The web site now has over 125 web pages and over 400 photos. Thanks
to Jim, all the Paraders and others that have provided this material.
We will have the most comprehensive collection on the Futurliners,
Streamliners and the Parade of Progress. Be sure to hit them all.
- Don received a note from Cathy Grubman of the American Bus
Association commenting on the "best web sites I’ve ever had
the pleasure of surfing. SO complete and fun to read – truly a great
job". She is preparing an article for the magazine that will be
in their Feb or March issue.
|
Other
Volunteers |
- Mike Ball
has volunteered to
lead the effort to organize catalog all the material collected so far.
This is no small task but a much needed activity to preserve all the
information being received.
- Dave Mikol
purchased a 1936 Parade of Progress postcard on eBay
and donated it to our archive files.
- Rick Sheehan
who owns State Spring Service in Grand Rapids has
completely restored the front spring assemblies for the front axle
including bushings, pins, shackles and thru-bolts.
|
Project
Needs |
- As we look ahead to the time when the restored Futurliner is again
on the road, we would like to obtain some of the memorabilia
that would show a little about the Parade of Progress. Some of these
things are connected to the Paraders. It would be nice to have:
- Uniforms – Work and Lecture
- Traveling trunk that the Paraders used.
- Just as Don made this plea in a November e-mail, Parader Raffee
Johns stopped (by as reported below in the "Paraders"
section) to solve the problem.
- The oil filter housing apparently is a standard military
version that we need to locate.
- The work group needs a small, narrow (2’ wide x 4’ high) scaffold
to better work on the body and a commercial type floor mounted
buffer.
- Photos of the Futurliner used by Square D Corp for
hauling equipment for a race car team.
|
| Paraders |
- Raffee Johns
and his wife
Esther visited the project site on 11/14 from Middleburg Heights, Ohio.
They brought photos, newspaper articles, one of his lectures and other
documentation. He was hired as a trainee in 1954 and the first job he
was given was to take a stick with a nail in it to go pickup the paper
on site. As all the Paraders did, they were very versatile. Raffee still
has memorized his speech that he gave inside the Aer-O-Dome tent.
- Raffee
also brought with him his parade of Progress uniforms.
The work uniform consisted of green slacks, a tan shirt and a green
jacket. The lecture uniform consisted of a gray business jacket, dark
blue slacks, white shirt and dark blue and tie. All had "GM"
and "Parade of Progress" embroidered on them. Don has borrowed
them and hopes to have them reproduced for the future display. Thanks to
Raffee and Esther!
- Harry Hardenbrook
wrote and sent old info and pictures for the
archive. He writes" I was happy to hear that the info and pix were
to a great extent new. Anything I can do to make that great crew you
have continue to enjoy the fine job they are doing and add to the
background and history of the show and Futurliners I will do. There are
a lot of anecdotes and stories that I can recall that I hope to pass on
later."
|
Hershey
Report |
Don attended the big annual old car swap meet
in Hershey PA this year along with others in the work group. Some of the
key "finds" include:
- Wayne Jackson
located and obtained the 4 running lights that
were the basis for modification for the Futurliner. GM used 1940 Chevy
truck front fender lights, cut them shorter with other slight
modifications. Thanks to Wayne’s sharp eyes for spotting these lights
and to recognize how they were modified for the Futurliners. Now al we
need is to find the proper glass lens.
- Del Carpenter and Ed DeVries
set up a box at their swap met
spots and "sold" Futurliner pins for donations to the project.
It brought in another $70 to the cause.
- Ryan and Linda DeVries
displayed a neat Futurliner leaded glass
picture that Linda made. Don bought one and she has one other for sale.
- Don met with Tom Langdon who is very knowledgeable on the 302
cu in engines used in our vehicle. He is helping find a number of
parts and gaskets we need.
|
Status
of
Other
Futurliners |
- Peter Picknelly
of Peter Pan
Bus informed us that their restored Futurliner is being featured in two
publications – NATIONAL BUS TRADER and BUS RIDE. This one as you
recall is being used for advertising of various products.
|
| Misc.
Notes |
- With this issue, we are sending it via e-mail to over 60 of our
friends who have expressed an interest in receiving the newsletter
electronically. If you are getting a hard copy and prefer an electronic
one, please let the editor know. These are also all on the web site if
you prefer.
- Gary Irwin
of Kettering University (formerly GMI) ran an article
in the Alumni News about the project last year and it has been updated in
the latest issue of the "Kettering Perspective", Vol 40, #3 sent
to all alumni in December.
- The west Michigan Mustang Club held their Nov. monthly meeting
in Don’s pole barn with the Futurliner. In addition to donating $100
to the project, they provided valuable information on possible sources
to rebuild the steering wheel and the 220V generator. Other clubs are
welcome to visit the site also.
- The magazine "The Private Coach Enthusiast" (Vol 1,
Issue 6) was just published with two excellent articles on the
Futurliner and the Parade of Progress. We want to thank Karla Jensen
for an excellent job with these articles and promoting our restoration
project. Check out their web site also at www.PrivateCoachMagazine.com.
|
Financial
Status |
- Contributions continue to come in from various sources. Any donation
is welcome. The Financial Donation form can
be used to send financial contributions directly to NATMUS if you
desire.
|