40 special front end questions - Antique Automobile Club of America Discussion Forums

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#505178 - 04/25/08 08:41 PM 40 special front end questions
edalfa edalfa Member Registered: 07/02/05 Posts: 163 Loc: Franklin, MA	Well, I've pulled the front sheetmetal off-partially to yank the radiator but also to clean 68 years of accumulated crud from the suspension, frame, etc. I am once again amazed at the solid condition of the car. There is virtually no rust! The lower cowl was just a little dirty! Funny thing, I found an old radiator cap below the grille in the hollow created by the lower sheet metal shroud. Now for my questions-were there originally rubber dust seals at the outer suspension pivot points? I see some mention of them in the shop manual but for series 80-90. Mine, if there ever were any, are long gone. Is there any benefit to tearing down a tight front end to install the seals? I understand what their purpose would have been but will keeping the car well greased be enough to keep things in good repair? Also, are the inner fender wells and radiator shroud finished in the same finish as the body? (In my case, that is black.) Ed
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#506303 - 04/30/08 09:33 AM Re: 40 special front end questions [Re: edalfa]
edalfa edalfa Member Registered: 07/02/05 Posts: 163 Loc: Franklin, MA	No surprise, I need a new core for the radiator. It's kind of pricey but what can you do?! I'm figuring on backflushing the heating system and the block after seeing the goop that was in the radiator. I haven't looked but is there a drain on the block anywhere? Ed
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#506311 - 04/30/08 10:16 AM Re: 40 special front end questions [Re: edalfa]
Grandpa Grandpa Member Registered: 07/10/07 Posts: 41	Ed, My Roadmaster has a drain plug on the engine block low on the right side ahead of the starter. More than likely, your engine's drain plug should be in same location. If little (or no) water comes out of the drain, you have built-up rust deposits in the back of your engine block. If your car has overheating problems, back-flushing the engine block may not remove the years of built-up rust desposits. Grandpa
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#506319 - 04/30/08 11:15 AM Re: 40 special front end questions [Re: Grandpa]
Matt Harwood Matt Harwood Member Registered: 10/09/01 Posts: 1605 Loc: Cleveland, OH	A lot of people have success pulling the freeze plugs and digging around in the cooling passages with various tools to dislodge the gunk. As long as you have the thing apart, now's the time to do it. It certainly can't hurt. You should have seen how much crap came out of the Century's engine when they disassembled it. Even after the hot-tank, it was pretty well clogged. Dig then flush with a hose with the freeze plugs out, repeat several times for best results. Hope this helps. _________________________ Matt Harwood (BCA #38767) 1941 Century Sedanette If you have a 1941-42 Buick with dual carbs, please visit: The Dual-Carb Registry
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#506480 - 04/30/08 09:42 PM Re: 40 special front end questions [Re: edalfa]
Podster Podster Member Registered: 02/25/00 Posts: 30 Loc: Highland Lakes, NJ 07422	Ed- It is pretty ironic that I don't get onto this forum as much as I should, but I was trying to figure out the best way to get my radiator out of my 40 Special tonight and decided to post the question here! And there you were! I thought that perhaps if I just took the water pump out and of course the hood, maybe I could slide it past the rest of the engine parts. But I guess you tried that. Did you loosen the fenders from the radiator support and pull the support (the part that the radiator bolts on to) and the radiator out together? _________________________ John Podd "The Podster" BCA #36236
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#506507 - 04/30/08 10:50 PM Re: 40 special front end questions [Re: Podster]
edalfa edalfa Member Registered: 07/02/05 Posts: 163 Loc: Franklin, MA	I took the fenders, grille and radiator and support together. I used an engine hoist to pull the whole deal up. I plan on replacing the radiator and support first and then lowering the rest around it. Ed
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