DKW Auto-Union Project: DKW Meisterklasse Project Update

It's been many months since I last provided an update on the progress of my DKW Meisterklasse restoration. To be fair, progress has largely ground to a halt. There have simply been too many things going on in my personal life for me to focus on the car. In addition, I've been waiting on the engine to be rebuilt and the arrival of a handful of outstanding parts. Let's start with the parts...

For several years I've been looking for a freewheel cable for the F89P. It appeared that this was almost impossible to find. I was considering buying a later model cable and customizing to fit, but one eventually popped up in Germany and was bought for me by my good friend and parts supplier, Ralf Muller. Ralf also managed to secure a lot of window rubber for the car. Virtually all the rubber for my car is rotted so it all needs replacing. Rubber for the F89P is scarce.

After several months in the post, the box of rubber arrived this week. An early Christmas present. There is a lot to sort through!

In this shipment I also picked up a reconditioned F93 starter motor. My 1959 car's starter motor is fine but I always worry that it will fail one day and then the car will be off the road for six months or more while I search for a replacement overseas. This will go on the shelf for a rainy day.

The Engine

Disappointingly, the engine was opened up today and the results are a little depressing, When we opened the brake drums at the dockside in Fremantle all those years ago, it looked as though the car had sat in water at some point. There was a distinct rust/water line that ran across the middle of the drums. That speculation was conclusively proven when the engine was opened. There is also a distinct rust/water line inside the engine. At some point in the past - who knows when - the car has done a nose dive into water, at least as far as half way up the front wheels and deep enough to fill the crankcase with water.

The clutch side with very obvious rust line.

Clutch face off.

The Dynastart coils. The water line and rust is very clearly visible. I think we can safely say this rotor will be toast.

The Dynastart. This one looks ruined but fortunately I have half a dozen spare Dynastarts in my parts store. I will need to go through them over the Christmas break and choose the best replacement.

Is it catastrophic? I don't believe so, but it sure does mean a lot more work, a lot more cleaning. Fortunately I have four or five decent Dynastarts, a couple of clutches (although they'll be wet style motorcycle clutches suitable only for the F89P three speed) and boxes of other spares I'll now need to dig through. If all else fails, I'm committed to the car's restoration, even if it means buying another refurbished engine.

DKW Auto-Union Project

Tuesday 21 December 2021

DKW Meisterklasse Project Update - December 2021

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