Buicknutty

Folks; My '41 Roadmaster has the usual factory dual carb setup with Stromberg carbs front and back. The problem that keeps recurring is that it seems to draw raw fuel in down the venturis through the jets. I can see it dribbling in when I peer down with the air cleaner off and the car running. Both carbs have been rebuilt, and the front one only a month ago, and it was perfect when I put it on, but now I have the same issue once again. I have another, identical front (AAV 16) carb, rebuilt many years ago, and it runs even worse with that one. It gets a bit expensive to have it done time and again, and once done, I think that it should be good for a number of years. I think that there must be a small passage or something that clogs up. A bit other info, the engine is rebuilt, and has good compression, the car gets driven 2-3 times a week during the good weather, there is a filter in the line near the tank, I use fuel stabilizer in the off season. I've disassembled the carb and it all looks good, nice and clean, like one would expect, but it just doesn't run right. Float level is correct, as verified by checking the sight plug in the side of the carb. Back one too is set correctly. Currently running an electric fuel pump, and have bypassed the stock mechanical one. Idle is not bad, but the when cruising, it has what I used to call "chuggle", that means it feels like it is surging, and letting back, repeatedly. Under mild to heavy load, it drives well, but at cruise and light de-excell throttle, it acts up. Under full power it pulls strong in all gears as fast I dare go. The distributor has been serviced and seems to be working well, including the vaccumn advance. I'm an experienced "backyard" mechanic and have worked on old Buicks for many years. So, anyone been through this with these carbs, and can help me? What am I missing? Keith

Sounds like a very low battery charge. The buzzing is very likely the solenoid, not the regulator, then when you try to engage the starter the voltage drops to near zero. A short period of charge at 12 V is not fatal for the battery, charge it for about a day on a proper 6V charger, and see what happens. Also it is possible that the battery has lost ability to hold a good enough charge to start the engine, if so, a new battery would be necessary. Try charging it first, and as mentioned check all connections, and try again. The suggestion about putting a bit of oil in the cylinders is still a good one, as by now all of the oil will have left the cylinder walls, and it will take some running to have them properly oiled again. This will save unnecessary wear on the engine.

My experience is that the contact list is like gold, if the business was successful, that would be the most valuable part, so if you can get that, it will give you a head start. Also, if you were in the habit of doing a lot of regular maintenence work for a number of customers, they would be good ones to have, as it could provide a bit of semi regular cash flow. If you could hang on to the one wanting the major restoration, that, plus some regulars would be a decent start. My opinion, only of course. Keith

Hey, did this poor thing ever get out of the woods? Keith

The only thing I can add, is that I had the '41 out for a brief run Friday night, and it wasn't running so well, the carb seems to be acting up, again. I was hoping to take it on a long (200 + mile) tour on the weekend, but drove the modern Buick instead. Keith

Honestly, though, I don't think I could afford it, Mike. Don't want to lead you on! Keith

The '52 Roadmaster would be nice, though '53 was the last year for real woodies, I'm more partial to the '52s with the last of the 320 cu in straight eights. Keith

Looking good John! Keith

When I did this on my '41 I simply could not believe the crud that was in the block, especially at the back. This was after the system had cleaner put through it, and then flushed, but only from the front, of course. I'm very glad that I knocked the freeze plugs out (as someone had replaced them at some point before me.) and could flush it better. I also used a small pipe to direct water through the back part of the block. My reward has been no issues at all with overheating, even in hot weather, though that has been rather rare here in Ontario this year. An old gent that I know told me a story about how a hole had to be drilled though the firewall to replace that last plug at the back of the head, on a '52 he had many years ago. It blew on him one day out on the highway, and that was the only way the mechanic could fix it, other than removing the head. Keith

That was my experience in doing my '41 also, the underside parts of the dash weren't painted. I of course sprayed some paint on them while I was in there! Perhaps not quite as authentic, and I know its' lasted this long without paint, but I think that it is better with a coat of paint. I don't know what the original reason for not painting these parts was, whether it was the cost of paint, or the labour to do it, or both. Over the hundreds of thousands of cars they built, saving an ounce or two of paint would of added up to quite a bit over time. Plus I don't imagine that anyone who built these cars way back then would of thought that there would be people still trying to drive them, 60, 70+ years later. Keith

Love those old Kodachromes! Thanks for sharing. Keith

I re wired my '41 Roadmaster, but I used a harness from "Harnesses Unlimited", it was very good repro, but not cheap. I'll be looking forward to following your progress. Keith

I took the '41 Roadmaster out on Sunday for a 20 mile test drive with the freshly rebuilt Stromberg carb. Ran nice! Keith

Hey Mike, any more progress on these cars? Keith in Toronto.

That is truly one awesome looking car! Thank you for posting the pictures. Keith

I'm just finding this thread, and what a great looking car! I'd love to see some up to date pictures of it. I restored a '41 Roadmaster Coupe and it was someone else's project car, and, as you mention, the dollars add faster than you think. Though the result was worth the effort, in both time and money, as I'm sure your car was too. Sometimes that is what one has to do with these rather rare cars. Keith

For the price it looks like a very good deal. Perhaps the seller would go a bit lower and that could offset the shipping costs. I have a '56 Roadmaster, and the interior is so different, I love that huge glovebox! Keith

Too bad, as it is so rare. Don't know what he means by "the hood is completely done" as it doesn't look like it! Maybe its' an old picture?? Keith

Interesting, does this one have power windows? Keith

Great story, allcars! I too, love the look of those GM's, especially the Buick coupes from that era. Keith

Thanks for sharing, Dave. Lovely car, I have a '41 76S, quite similar lines. That's the neat thing about film, if its' kept safe from heat and water, it will last many, many decades. Especially Kodachrome and B&W film, I have Kodachromes my Dad shot in the early 50's that look as good as the day they were processed. Keith

Hopefully some stuff will be used, perhaps cars saved, but I agree with Imperial62, most of the stock will very likely be crushed. Here in Toronto, Ontario, I live in the city with all the attendent rules and such, so I have limited space, and with bylaws that prohibit storage of unlicensed cars, etc., on the property. Keith

There 2 different sizes of these "Speedlines", though the mounting holes are the same, the longer ones have "tails" about 2" longer. If the car is equipted with fender skirts, they use the longer ones, which are about 23-24" long otherwise, they mount on the rear fenders. I just checked the ones on my '41, (no skirts) and there're about 21 1/2" long. So perhaps these are for cars without skirts? Keith

Looks like it might be coming along faster than you thought it might! Keep up the good work! Keith

Well, I guess I'll add to the late comers. I remember the original posting on here from the craigslist ad about it, but I didn't realized that it was sold to a member here. Glad you got it! As I've said before, I really like the early 50's Roadmaster sedan, and this one really neat, being even rarer. Keith