GE Dictator 1928

Robert, I'm on Long Island, New York Keith

Robert and Stude 8, Thank you! Stude 8, Thank you for posting this. This will help me greatly when I get to this point. Unfortunately my entire unit from the middle of the steering wheel, including horn button, and bakelite "quadrant" is missing and I have not been able to find another one, so I have been looking for the entire assembly.. I feel so bad that Seve is out of the buiness now. I was lucky enough to get the water pump coupleings from him last year and I beleive that was it. I unfortunately got my car just as he was closing up shop. Robert, If you ever get back out to the building when it cools off, just send me an email at wurli1@live.com and we can talk further. Many thanks everyone!! Keith Gramlich

This wil be interesting. My car is Club Sedan, which was not part of the original line up for '28. My car looks like a '27 (torpedo cowl lights and rounded radiator shell with an Atalanta radiator cap, but has a '29 242 cu.in. engine (exhaust manifold is straight rather than the one that curves up like a sunrise) and a '29 dash. I am assuming it's a Type 1 or Type 2 car. The upholstery is the original mohair, and i assumed that the floorboards are original too. There is no carpeting in the car, just a sort of ribbed rubber matting both in front and back. I'd love to know if the orignal rubber escutchens and grommets for the shifter, pedals and steering wheel are being reproduced also! Thank you! Keith Gramlich

Hi Robert, I hope all is well. Was wondering if you might have found any of the parts we were discussing? I assume I wouldn't be looking at engine/tranny parts as it would be too costly to ship to Long Island, NY Thanks! Keith

Thank you! Now I know where to get the battery cabes too! I will probably call Rhode Island Wiring as they seem to be the most experienced with this type of stuff. Thank you again for the tip! Keith

I am needing to do some rewiring in my GE Dictator. Including spark plug and coil wires. Since I am going to this work, I'd like to do it as correct to period as possible. Can any one advise what wire (including color, etc.), and terminals would be correct> I will probably be getting this stuff from Restoration Supply Company Restoration Supply Company unless someone can recommend another place. Also would like to make new floor boards with the proper comvering and also running boards with their respective covering and would love some advise on how to properly do it. At the same time, does anyone know where I can get a replacement coil (mounted insode the firewall), and what spark plugs to use (Champion W-14 in there now). Many thanks as always! Keith Gramlich Long Island, NY

Robert, My sending unit from the Gas Tank is not in great shape at all, although it is currently covering that hole in the tank. I am complely missing the gauge in the dash. Someone was going to fix it for my Grandfather back in the '70's and never returned it. WIth regard to the linkages, I am really looking hard for the insides of the column. The rods, steering wheel assembly with horn button and the bakelite disc that shows "throttle", Lights" Spark, etc. In understand the levers themselves are white metal and disintegrate, so i understand I would need to try to purchase reproductions, but when the prrevious owner of my car had the problem, he ripped everything out of the steering column leaving only the column itself. I would be interested in the drums certainly, and possibly the headlight parts as well. I have a 2 door "Club Sedan", which ends up being a 2nd series ('27 style with a '29 interior and '29 engine). I hope to have the car along time, so please take all the time you need. I am thankful to know of a parts source, and appreciate your time and assistance very much! Thank you!! Keith Gramlich

Robert, Would you happen to have any other parts from that '28 GE? I am looking for the gas gauge and the internals for the steering wheel levers. May also be interrested in some other parts as spares. Thank you! Keith Gramlch

Kenny, What a fabulous find! That looks like one for AACA's HPOF (Historical Preservation of Original Features) class. A very nice straight original car. I think I would call her "Rosie" with those beautiful headlight lenses. Best of luck to you! Keith Gramlich

Congratulations on a beautiful automobile! There was a guy selling the reproduction interior door handles on eBay. I don't know if they are 100% proper for your car, but you camn check them out and they should be close.

Studepeople, Thank you!! I'll give you a call a little later. Both things you mention make sense to me. I wondered if the transmission oil that was put in made everything a little too "lossey goosey". I'll check that. I also wondered if i may have taken the clutch lining down a little too much in my first days of getting used to the car. I'll need to explore both if an adjustment does not work out. Thanks, Keith

No one that I know of has ever done the clutch, at least as far back as 1964 when the car entered our family. Thanks, Keith

As most of you know, my '28 GE is on the road and we're having a ton of fun with it. I just drained the radiator for the winter, and will be driving again come March or April. While she's laid up, I'd like to adjust the clutch. It seems that no matter what I do, the gears grind between 1st and 2nd and again between 2nd and 3rd. This happens no matter how fast or slow I shift and no matter if I double clutch or not. I am assuming clutch adjustment. Can someone give me a primer on how to do this, tools needed, where I need to access on the transmission, etc.? Would be greatful as always, Regards, Keith Gramlich Long Island, NY 1928 GE-F

Yes, now that I've had a chance to look at my car, I see the standard bendix drive unit. Still learning about all this myself. The above system is quite an interesting set up. I thouight I might have the same as the front of my engine looks somewhat similar. I have been having a problem recently where when i let the car sit for a week, it takes several hits of the starter button before the starter engages with the flywheel. It is fine then for the rest of the day, until I lay it up for a week again. Keith

WOW Thanks for the primer Doug. I had no idea tht this was a completely different set up from what i am used to (a starter and bendix unit that comes out of the car). How hard is it to get the cover off that houses this whole thing. It looks as if this is something I should attack over the winter like Stude 8 did. Thanks! Keith Gramlich

I'm confused. Doesn't the starter have a standard bendix shaft and gear that throws into the flywheel gear? I have a '28 GE Dictator that is having intermittent problems when I go to start the car. The first time or two, the motor turns without engagement, then it engages and the car starts. Keith Gramlich

Gary, Thank you. You made a couple of points that I never thought of. I am going to do as you suggest and pull out my roster and make some calls. I appreciate your advice! MB, At this point, I think it should be an East Coast Chapter, that I think should encompass anything east of the Mississippi River and from Florida to Maine, so yes, you would be included. Let me know your feelings on that. Thanks All! I just see the California members and Arizona chapter having fun and I would like to be able to see some of that happen out here too! I'll keep the forum updated as we go. Keith Gramlich

I guess there's no takers. Didn't get any replies on the SDC forum either. I would have figured there would be some sort of interest. Oh Well. Keith Gramilch

Hi All, I have been reflecting on starting the East Coast Chapter of ASC again, having now gotten my '28 GE on the road and enjoying it immensly!! Also seeing all the fun our West Coast brothers and sisters are having. I'm jealous!! I will be posting a thread on the SDC forum as well, and we'll see what we have at that time. I think this is something we need to do here to bring all the pre-war Stude's together. Vince, I will be contacting you this week to discuss as well. My Dad said he saw you a couple of weeks ago and that I guess jogged me again as well. The last time we did this, a couple of our West Coast members assisted me greatly with information including by laws, etc. With many thanks to Malcom and Buzz. Thank you!! If interested persons could please contact me at wurli1@live.com , we will see what we can do! Thanks everyone!! Keith Gramlich Long Island, NY 1928 GE Dictator Club Sedan 1st Series (or maybe 2nd?)

Robert, This was discussed last year in July as well. There are pictures and part numbers listed. One thingI learned is that there were two different 6 cyl. engines in 1928, depending on the series. The 1st series had the engine from the '27 with the high semi-circular exhast manifold. 2nd series dictators like mine had the 6 cyl engine that ended up being the '29 6 cyl. engine. This was discuss extensively in the below thread, so you should read through that. It appears my car's oil pump is OK as we just had the car running a few weeks ago for the first time and I had 30lbs pressure on the gauge. However I would be interested in another one to "ward off the evil spirits", so if you pursue this, let me know and i may go in with you. Thanks, Keith Gramlich

Hi, I have a similar problem as well. I have attached a picture of my engine below. I found that Roberts Auto Parts Roberts Motor Parts - ONLINE CATALOG (978)-363-5407 or (978)-363-5881 has made an arrangement to have the old Purolator PER1/2 (as in the pic of my engine) reproduced. Problem is that the maker makes the order when they feel like it. I waited 3 years for them to have stock again and I got 2. You can give them a try as they make them for Chrysler and Plymouth cars. The original oil filter for these cars was a "pancake" type (looks like a 1 1/2 to 2" thick pancake) that was removed from most of these vehicles years ago as they and their elements became OOP many years ago. Keith

Perfect! Thank you!

Hi All, My Dictator is almost ready for the road, though not in this incredible heat we're having which is delaying the process at this point. I need to repaint the middle of a couple of my hubcaps with the black background and red "S". Does someone know what type of paint is good to use on that metal? Thanks!! Keith

Frank, Yes, it appears Ford used these quite a bit, and I have seen ones that look idetical to real close, but they are higher temp settings (170 or 180) We'll keep looking and one should turn up sometime! Thanks again! Keith

Harry J. Thank you very much. She's not totally HPOF, but I am trying to keep as original as possible. I do keep scanning Hemmings, etc. and hopefully one will turn up. Thanks for your reply! Best, Keith