Carl 61 Fleetwood Phyllis

[Clewisiii]

Well I waited two months before I asked SMS for a status on my order.  I think that was a generous amount of time before asking for the first time for an update.

I pick up my engine next week.  I need to find the time between my work schedule.

[Clewisiii]

My engine is finally home. And my hoist works great.

I have to go through the bolts that they used. I bagged and labeled every bolt with it's location. But they did not follow it.  The water pump, headbolts, and thermostats bolts all holy down engine accessories and brackets.  They did not put these parts on so they used whatever bolt would fit in there place.

SMS says my material order will ship out at the end of July. I do not believe them but I am not worried.

I need to start thinking about trans and drive shaft.  I need a new drive shaft. Mine is very corroded.  The trans might be great but I want it professionally gone through for safety sake.

[cadsquatch]

Looks good Carl.  I was following your journey on the old 61/62 page, glad you moved this thread here.

[Clewisiii]

I am happy to be able to continue my restoration threads. It keeps me interested and helps to organize my planning.

I do miss the specificity of the 61 62 forum. It was great to see people working through the same issues right along side me. I was happy to give help whenever I could. And it helped others since my car was in pieces for 4 years. I could get to and photograph everything.

[James Landi]

Carl,

Carefully check your flex plate that mounts on the fly wheel. I drove a 61 convertible for nearly a decade back in the 60-70's, and the car developed a weird vibration on torque loads... a tech found the flex plate "ears" had snapped in multiple places.  His take was that the design created a weakness-- could be that as a young man, I more than tested its limits!.  (he "fixed" the problem by spot wielding the breaks in place?).  Thanks for posting your progress...it's engaging content, and always enjoyable to follow along.   Happy day,  James

[Clewisiii]

I just realized that I never explained in this thread why my car was named Phyllis.

It was originally purchased by an older couple. They passed away leaving it to their daughter who was also an older widow at the time. She parked the car in the basement of her barn and there it sat.   She eventually passed away and her estate was in probate for quite a while. Her son was finally able to sell the house and this was one of the last things on the property he had to sell.   I did overpay for what it was but I do not care about that any more.

[Clewisiii]

And I still did not explain. Phyllis was his mother's name.

[Clewisiii]

Ok I have a problem.  I was cleaning parts for reassembly and found that the under Carb "Spacer" is cracked.

What is the proper name for this part?
Are they available?
Is this repairable, I don't think so. I don't want to just JB weld it.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

The crack in that position will not affect the running of the engine, as it hasn't compromised the actual Air/Fuel operation of the Carby.

If you cannot find a replacement, an Exhaust Cement will seal the exhaust gases from escaping as they pass over under the Carby base.

The part is called an Insulator.

Bruce.

[Clewisiii]

Thank You.

[Clewisiii]

I am getting excited. I want to drive the car to the body shop for finishing and paint. It may still be a year till then. But it is very close in my mind.

First coat of engine paint tommorow. Then reassembly and finish coat.

[Clewisiii]

I had to order a new complete engine gasket kit.  Prepping for paint and some other reassembly, I had to destroy the valve cover, intake, water pump, and oil pan gaskets. 

The new gasket set will be in in a week. So I will not be able to finish paint until then.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

So I take it that you aren't going for the "Factory" look on your rebuild?

At the Factory, the engine was painted with everything that you took off, on it.   Maybe not everything, but the engine was a complete unit from carby base to sump plug, and Exhaust Manifold/head flange to the opposite side.

Bruce.

[Clewisiii]

Yes the problem with painting it assembled means you do not get paint behind the water pump or between intake and valley cover.  I did not want to leave those primer or raw. 

So after assembly I am top coating it to cover all the bolts etc. 

[Clewisiii]

One quick point or question on authenticity. The power steering pulley. I have heard people argue both ways to paint it engine blue or black. I think it should be black to match the power steering pump.  In production it would have to of been painted separately since it attaches to the black pump and not the blue engine bracket. 

[David Greenburg]

FWIW, on my original ‘61, the pulley is blue.

[Clewisiii]

I have a question about the thermostat. I bought a new old stock thermostat that said it fit 61 in the listing. But the box said 56 to 58. 

When I install it slightly hits a formation in the water pump that partially offsets the thermostat.  Does anyone know if this is correct.  Or should I just buy one from advance of rock auto.

[Roger Zimmermann]

I have never seen such a thermostat for 1956-58. I'm wondering if the box was mislabeled...The illustration in the 1956 shop manual is not very sharp, but the thermostat is not looking like the one you have.
By looking at the 1928 to 1936 parts list, the 1934 La Salle has a very similar thermostat!

[James Landi]

Carl,  You're right on target to be concerned: if the physical geometry is "off," and it is off set and, apparently, not resting in place, you should not experiment with using it, for once you torque it in place, the frame of the mechanism will likely bend it, and negatively affect its proper function.  Hope this helps,   James

[Clewisiii]

All,.  I have a gasket question. I received extra gaskets from my engine rebuild. I have identified most and separated out parts I need and do not need.  Some I assume they got gaskets from multiple kits so extras.

But the ones in the picture below I cannot identify. Can you help. Was there a gasket under the distributor they may have missed?