Franklin 11A Frame Rails

Here is the picture of the stained and waterproofed rails...

Nice work!

I second that.

http://www.geocities.com/roadtriprod/Franklin.html?200510

I need some help in doing mine got any tips? I am also building a 1925 11A Franklin frame. Rod Bertzyk, Roadtriprod@yahoo.com

From your attached photo, your frame rails are in far better condition than the ones I started with! I got the factory prints through the Franklin Club, and the drawings are very accurate and very detailed. Print numbers are:

37614 side Sill Assembly (Left) dated 9-27-27

40126 side sill Complete (Left) dated 5-22-28

31236 Side Sill Member dated 6-13-26

I had my son's cabinet shop (Dreamworks Cabinetry in Fairbanks, Alaska) make the frame rails. My son got the wood from a distributor in the Seattle area, and it was beautiful - nice grain, full 12" width, etc. His full cost to accurately reproduce the frames (laminate the ash, cut and precisely drill the holes, etc.) was about $2800. Wood cost was just over 1/4 of that. One advantage of the shop being in Alaska, is that it is very, very dry. Thus the wood is laminated and cut at very low humidity, and as it is brought to higher humidity it re-moisturizes and tightens, rather than shrinks and warps.

I have the car on blocks, with the front end removed and am rebuilding it. I will re-install it on the new frames in the next week or two, and then start on the rear axle and suspension. Once I have progressed further, I will post pictures.

Thanks, I have those prints. I will have a CAD template cut out in steel in the next 2 weeks. What body was on the car? How are you doing the clean up and restoration on the motor?

I will be sending mine into the blast shop, the block is very tarnished. Any pictures will be appreciated.

Do you have a name or a number of the mill he got the wood from? I will also be using a cabinet shop for my work.

Any questions or comments Email me roadtriprod@yahoo.com

Thanks Rod B

The wood came from a distributor in Fairbanks called Superior Hardwoods (907-457-8351), but I suspect you can get very good quality second growth ash from any reputable hardwood lumber supplier.

How is the Franklin comming? Got any more picts?

Making progress. Didn't do much this weekend as I spent most of it getting the three old Studebakers ready for the North Georgia Studebaker Club meet in Marietta next weekend. The front end is rebuilt and I have either restored or replaced a lot of the frame hardware. Probably next Sunday, I will round up some help and lift the body from the old frame so as to more easily remove the rear end to rebuild it. Here is the rebuilt front end (sorry for the poor shot in a way to crowed garage - anybody want to buy a Studebaker?...).

No apologies about the crowded garage, remember a clean garage is the sign of a dull mind. That's what I tell the wife. Stude8

Lifted the 11a Sedan body off the frame today. Next step to restore the rear end...

I just found the White Ash for my rails. I will put the order in tommorow.

http://us.f511.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLet...mp;VScan=1]LINK

I dont know if that movie will play for you but it is my motor running. I cant wait for a car to put it in!!!!!!

http://www.geocities.com/roadtriprod/Franklin.html?200510

With the body now off and the frame separate, we removed the rear end, rebuilt and primed it this weekend. Here is a pic.

Finally it is going back together!

Harry Jenkins and I got the axles on the new frames today. If all goes well, we will drop the engine on tomorrow. Dreamworks Cabinetry followed the prints exactly - and every bolt is lining up perfectly! The picture speaks volumes...

Engine put onto the frame today. Again every bolt fit perfectly. That was a lot of progress for a weekend (Thanks for the help, Harry!).

She looks beautiful!!!!!!! I'll PAY you for more picts of it at this stage!!

roadtriprod@yahoo.com

Also I was wondering if there was a ACN # for restoration of the chassis/wheels? How did you know what color silver to paint your rim rings and is it powder coated? Where did you get your new bolts and are they hardened carrage type bolts? Any help would be appreciated Thanks Rod!

Lowered the body onto the frame this weekend. Have fit the fenders, exhaust, brakes, etc. Should be running soon!

Everything has fit perfectly. Following the prints for the frames has worked out exceptionally well. The body bolts just dropped right into the holes in the frame rails.

I started out with the intention of replacing all the bolts with stainless, and did much of the hardware. I however found much of the original hardware unique and hand forged - so kept it if in good shape. Much of the rest was originally just mild steel, so replaced alot of the carriage bolts with the garden variety from Ace Hardware. The only thing I could not find exact or better replacement for were the #20 1 3/4 inch wood screws for the engine mounting rails. I reused about half and replaced the rest with #18s.

This is my first attempt at restoring and old car. The Franklin rails are comming slowly but surely. I should be drilling holes and staining next week. I just finished the wheels last week....... Rod