Front axle rebuild

     To rebuild the front axle assembly, I removed the leaf springs, shackles, steering bars, drums, brake shoes and brake backing plates. King pins were still tight (thanks Dad for being a big fan of using a grease gun) so I left them alone.

      Stripped and painted everything black.  New brake shoes and adjusters, new spring center bolt, drilled out and replaced shackle bushings and complete new shackles.

The Little White Barn (Red Flyer work shop)

     This little building was built in the 60's when my parents became interested in owning Quarter Horses.  It originally had 2 small stalls and an area for hay and grain and oat buckets and a gravel floor.  Many horses and a few cows past thru this little structure including a few dogs and cats as they were not allowed in the house. Oh what great memories.  It was always cozy in the winter and cool in the summer with sliding barn doors on two sides.
     As years past and the animal population dwindled,  now in my teens I wanted to make a work shop.  I cemented the floor, put in lights and a small work bench, a wood stove and most importantly cranked up    music, the likes of the "Beach Boys" and "Beatles" on the old AM radio while working on my 1955 Chevy 2 door wagon (almost didn't fit) and painted my first paint job a "62" VW convertible. Life was good in the"Little White Horse Barn".
     Now 40 plus years later here I am back at 60 years old working in the "Little White Horse Barn" reliving great times while restoring the Red Flyer which sat in the back, covered up, waiting its turn.

Painting primed parts

Next step was to cut out rusted areas and weld in new medal in the lower parts of the cowl and frame. Then remove all dents in the gas tank. Next re-prime and block sand all pieces 3 times till smooth. Next installed gas tank back in cowl with new welting installed Then a coat of sealer. Finally all parts were painted 3 coats of base coat red then 3 coats of clear.
              Types of paint used : PPG Epoxy Primer w/hardener
                                                 PPG Base Coat Code# R513 Honda Civic Red

                                                PPG Clear Coar w/hardener

Sand Blasting finished

Picked them up 1 week later and headed home to get all parts primed right away, Used a good urethane primer with hardener.

Heading for the sand blaster

Taking Frame, and all sheet metal, which includes cowl, gas tank, 4 piece hood, and cross members.

Tearing Down

Thank goodness my father didn't own a welder.  He drilled and bolted everything.  The La Salle rear end was bolted directly to the frame and the 2nd transmission was bolted in with cross braces.

1965 Photo

Here I am at 14 years old, after giving the "Red Flyer" a fresh coat of barn red rustoleum with a brush.  My first paint job.