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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Telltales for True Mileage Estimate - 1935 Coupe

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Discussion Topic: Telltales for True Mileage Estimate - 1935 Coupe

rmetzg

08-03-2015 @ 2:09 PM

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I've been working hard on this 1935 5-window coupe, and now have it running around town just fine. I recently inherited it from my father, who didn't put 500 miles on it in the 25 years that he owned it. I've always been led to believe that the odometer (which works) is correct at 14,800 miles. HOWEVER, after working on it this last month, I have some doubts about whether or not the odometer might have rolled over once, making it a 114,000 mile car.

The body is straight, it looks like it has been garaged much of its life, it's been repainted and reupholstered (I'm pretty sure), it has the original engine which runs fine, but shows a lot of carbon buildup on the pistons. My question - what would be some obvious telltales that would help me distinguish if it has 14,000 or 114,000 miles?

Here is a video walkaround - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWXH3vA6XCg

Many thanks,

Alan,
Fort Collins, CO

08-03-2015 @ 2:46 PM

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It's a very nice car. You'll have a lot of fun with it. How do you know there's "a lot of carbon buildup on the pistons"??? From the video, I'm inclined to think that it's an older restoration....

ford38v8

08-03-2015 @ 8:14 PM

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Alan, at 2:44 into the video, the condition of the original radiator can be seen. I doubt that this radiator has only seen 14,000 miles. The fact that the car has been reupholstered and painted also indicates a restored car. The later fuel pump shows that whoever restored it wasn't concerned so much with original miles as he was with drivability. The steering wheel leather cover would also indicate a desire to make it drivable as opposed to being a trailer queen. The condition of the dash and instruments is impressive, possible indicating restored or NOS instruments, which would perhaps mean resetting the odometer to zero, a practice that in your fathers time would have been commonplace at used car dealerships. You say there is no indication of rebuild tags or markings on the engine, which itself would be amazing to still be in good running condition after 114,000 miles, but replacement engines are not always identifiable as such anyway. It may well be a low mileage car, but a 14,000 mile car wouldn't normally need paint and upholstery. Look under the car and you're likely to see clues of many more than only 14,000 miles. I would be happy to simply keep track of the miles you put on it, and knowing that your father kept it garaged all those years for you. You have a very nice car, and can be proud to call it an "Older restoration of a nice original."

Alan

rmetzg

08-04-2015 @ 10:04 AM

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MG - I can see the carbon buildup when I pull the spark plugs and look inside with a good flashlight. One day, I'll open it up and remove all that - for now, it's probably boosting my compression!

ford38v8 - thanks for your input. You are probably right about it not having 14,000 miles on it. I began to have my suspicions when I started working on it. The radiator is old and probably original and the fins are straight on it, but the cap was rusted through (I replaced it with the correct model, including the bail). My dad replaced the fuel pump a while ago - not sure what the story was behind that.

Working underneath the car (replacing the brake light switch), all appears to be original, but greasy and dirty. Not any dirt buildup in the wheel wells. When I was inside the drivers door last weekend, I found some small pieces of old broken glass, as well as the object in the attached picture (about 6" long). I assume it to be related to the original window channel or regulator - but the window works just fine, so I think someone disassembled the old unit, accidentally dropped this inside, and just left it. All of this points to an early restoration as has been mentioned.

In some ways, I'm glad. If the car truly had only 14,000 miles, I might be more hesitant to put more miles on it because of value. Instead, I think I can drive it every couple of weekends without fear of devaluation - and enjoy it for what it is. As it was meant to be enjoyed.

Kens 36

08-04-2015 @ 11:45 AM

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Alan,

You are probably seeing carbon buildup on the valves, not the pistons, if you are looking through the spark plug hole.

Ken

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