My 1938 Sixty Special

[joeceretti]

Removing my postings. Sorry.

[Glen]

A job well done Joe, congratulations.   

[Blade]

Joe: from the original picture I didn't think there was so much to do on your car but sounds like you got a good handle everything - looks like plenty! Just focus on what a great feeling it is going to be when she is done (if there is really a point when a car is 'done').

Could you also put some pictures if possible, it would be a great addition to your story.

Keep on going!

[Blade]

Joe,

Good idea to also keep a modern coil, probably get even a brand new one if you can. My suggestion that it is probably even better if you do it the other way around, use the new one when you drive your car around and keep the old for shows. New coils give you better performance, better fuel efficiency and more reliability and you can show off with the old one on car shows. I am also planning to do it that way as it takes some of the worries off your mind when you're on the road but you can still get the looks on shows.

[gary griffin]

I am not sure about the 1938 model but I know that prewar Cadillacs had a flexible spring like wire wrapped around the wire from the lock to the coil acting as a conduit to prevent hot wiring. 

Hopefully someone will be expanding on this as I am not sure which years were so equipped and most of these cars have had modern coils attached.

I have a couple of the old style coils but have not tested them yet to see if they are serviceable but if they are I will get one ready to carry as a spare and in case I ever enter a car in anything more than a local show.

[las39]

Joe,

Good idea to also keep a modern coil, probably get even a brand new one if you can. My suggestion that it is probably even better if you do it the other way around, use the new one when you drive your car around and keep the old for shows. New coils give you better performance, better fuel efficiency and more reliability and you can show off with the old one on car shows. I am also planning to do it that way as it takes some of the worries off your mind when you're on the road but you can still get the looks on shows.

I don't trust old ignition coils due to their poor isolation between primary and secondary circuits. I took the original out, opened the lid and removed all the old internals. Then I mounted a new coil on the inside of the firewall at same height as the original.
Then from there, a long ignition wire to go through the armoured cable hole, through the original coil and out of the normal hole. With the rubber boot on, no one, will ever know where the spark came from.

[Bill Ingler #7799]

Joe: This picture you posted earlier of the coil mounted on the firewall of your 38 appears to me to be a negative ground coil used in 46-47. Looks like it could have a number stamped on the side of the coil. If that number is 1115401,1115129 or 1115351 and has a minus sign on the top of the coil, next to the stud for the wire from the coil to the distributor, then you have the wrong polarity coil. 1938 is positive ground and uses 1115128 coil.          Bill

[las39]

It's looks exactly like the coil in my 39, positive earth.

[Blade]

Coming along Joe, coming along. Keep going, it will get there!

My suggestion don't paint over old primer, just strip everything down to bare metal, reprime and paint. More often than not the new paint will desolve any old primer/paint and you have to start all over.

[James Gray]

Just killing time, saw your post and read the whole darn thing.

One word... Stellar.

[las39]

Just killing time, saw your post and read the whole darn thing.

One word... Stellar.

I second that 

[Blade]

Holly pumpkin, that's a lot of 'stuff' on your transmission Joe! I too find the wire brush and steel whool a few of my favorite friends.

[las39]

This red colour looks like the paint I keep comming across while taking it appart. It really puzzles me for it should be trim 60, Trinidad Grey, but no grey anywhere. What's the name of this red?

[las39]

Well mine is not glossy and darker like the upper left. Could it be some sort of protective under coating? Anyway is your car ready for paint ?

[James Gray]

Holy cow! It's like new vs. old comparing the 2 rods.

Nice job!

[las39]

Looking good. Looking forward to see them painted.

[Blade]

Joe, nice color selection I too was thinking about something very similar for my sedan. Nice to see how you're progressing with yours, soon as you're done painting please post some photos.

[James Gray]

Love the shape of these old Caddy's. Yours is coming along nicely.

[James Gray]

Hey Joe,

Take a close look at your passenger side rear fender. Right in the center just after the bend downward. In the picture, it looks like there may be a smudge like someone touched it after primer, while still moist. Likely just the photo but just in case, check it out.

Love the front clip on this car. It has more style that and car I've ever seen.

[las39]

Now the fun begins