My 1938 Sixty Special

[Bill Ingler #7799]

Joe: If you want to get away from the distracting color of the Fram CA 148 air filter then consider getting a NAPA Gold 2055 which is black and does not stand out like the orange of the Fram CA148. Pictures of both below.   Bill

[las39]

Looks good. Couldn't you just run a garden hose from the water tap? Sounds like oil hasn't reached the valve tappets yet.

[James Gray]

Jack Pot!!! Gotta love it when a plan comes together. Can't wait to get a ride in her.

[hudson29]

I pumped a quart and a half of oil into the lines running to the top end. It filled the lifters nicely and it's running nice and quiet now.

That is great news! You are making such rapid forward progress that any delay is most unwelcomed. Then again, I feel the same way about my own project which has been anything but rapid . . .

Vintage Paul

[Stinson]

Man, you know your stuff.
Ty Stinson

[hudson29]

I used a kit like that some years ago to simulate the grey cad plating used on an old Norton motorcycle. It worked surprisingly well. I never thought of buffing it down, how did you do that?

Vintage Paul, more Bondo on the steering wheel today . . .

[James Gray]

Wow! It is coming along very nicely.

I watched the engine start up too. It prompted me to send you a message with a question about adjusting the carb.

And the plating?! You sir, are a very ingenuitive person.

[hudson29]

The results look pretty good from the picture you showed. For the sake of (foolish?) consistency of appearance and future structural integrity, possibly it might be worth doing all of the fins with the reinforcement? That way only the dedicated 1938 observer would know something was amiss.

The 1939 models had trouble too. Both of the top pieces on my car have been welded back together. One side has a bow in it that make the grill look a bit wonky from certain angles.

Vintage Paul

[hudson29]

I had no idea that the '38 grill was an assembly. How does this make things tougher for the restorer?

The '39 grill is all one piece, great for construction but hell to restore. The fins are just too close together to make repair easy.

Vintage Paul

[Steve Passmore]

[quote
Cadillac learned their lesson and switched to a grille that wasn't 100 separate pieces.
[/quote]

I don't know about them learning anything when you consider the large series had a die cast one piece grill. The 36 grill was when they should have learnt,    that was lots of separate pieces,    they went to one piece in 37 for all series then took a step back with the grill like you have just on the 60 and 60S for 38??  what was that about?   and to make matters worse my 60 series grill is actually different than your 60S. One extra bar for the 60 series?? go figure.

[las39]

Looking good Joe. I wish mine was at this stage. 

[las39]

You should be. Restoring a pre-war is not that easy, and a headache to get parts except if you own a Chevy or Ford.

[hudson29]

It must have been fun just to get the old girl back on the road after so much work. Your progress has really been astounding. I'm into the 4rth week on the steering wheel project right now with another three weeks to go if all goes smoothly.

How did the motor run? With the oiling issues and used coil you had one or two items to watch. Was all sooth sailing?

Vintage Paul

[hudson29]

Would this have cleared up with some sort of high detergent additive? I have used things like Rislone & Marvel Mystery Oil in the past with dirty engines.

Vintage Paul

[Smedly]

Joe, I am not usually a fan of red, but that car is gorgeous. I would even consider driving without the hood just to show off the Flathead. Great Job, Hope to read more.
S. Hay

[las39]

Joe, I am not usually a fan of red, but that car is gorgeous. I would even consider driving without the hood just to show off the Flathead. Great Job, Hope to read more.
S. Hay

Yes Joe's red looks great.
Some years ago I attended a rally, mostly 60's cars, with the side covers off. Two guys stared into my engine and the burst "wow, look at the size of the heads, it's a HEMI" 

[las39]

For anyone working on restoring one of these engines. The timing is critical for easy starts. The plug wires are critical for easy starts. The grounds are critical for easy starts. The point gap is the same. If all these things are not correct then starting will be difficult, especially when the engine is hot. Even more so when the engine has been rebuilt and is tight.

When they are all within the specifications laid out by the original engineers, starting is VERY easy. Hot or not.

True. So was mine even with worn pistons. And idle was revving ridiculous low. Wonderful engine 

[joeceretti]

Working on the rear brake cylinders today.

[hudson29]

The last few days the car has been harder and harder to start and then it started missing more and more. I think it must be the plug wires. I do have copper core wires on there but from all the work the wires have been on and off many times. Some of the time the clips for the distributor would get pulled off... I theorized that soldering the clips on would ensure a good connection.

Soldered all the clips on. SUCCESS!!! It is now back to starting on less than a full crank.  It starts much easier than my modern car.

Did you check the wires & clips with a meter? Were they OK  when you installed them but worked loose later?

I made a set for my car a couple of months ago and checked them all for low resistance. I didn't think to solder the ends going to the distributor.

Vintage Paul

[hudson29]

Your car is very striking in its bright red paint. I hope it drives as well as it looks!

Vintage Paul