1940Super

https://blackhawksupply.com/collections/plumbing-brass-fittings-double-compression

Ken that document you created is amazing for detail. I look through the whole thing and picked up other little details too. When I get time I'll add my own detail notes to it and send it back to you. As for the bracket at the front muffler its more like what the Shop Manual shows as the 40s and 60s series. I haven't had any luck trying to find NOS brackets except for the tail pipe so it's something I'm going to have to make myself. Yes please send me photos of the series 51. Many thanks

Thank you Ken, I simply welded up a rectangular frame and attached lifting eyelets to it. Then clamped unistrut to the frame and bolted to an engine leveler to adjust the angle when lining up with the spline. Worked out well. Next thing to work on is fitting the new brass fittings on the oil lines i had you send over and then the exhaust. I remember you saying you documented the exahust brackets on that chassis you bought. Could you send some photos of the front brackets please Matt

I have a new exhaust system to install but I'm missing some of the original brackets front of the muffler. In the workshop manual it shows the series 50 having a long single sided bracket but then the master parts book says the 50 series has a clamping from both sides similar to the rear. I'm thinking the workshop manual is correct but can anybody confirm? @kgreen I hope you can assist here as your car should have the same brackets. From workshop manual. Circled in blue is the long bracket and another bracket at the front that I am also missing. master parts book pictorial. Shows the long bracket as being for the 40 series

6 months passed without making any progress on car due to work commitments. Last weekend the engine was reunited with the frame. I decided to lift it all assembled including gearbox except for removing the generator and starter for anchor points. Minus the weight of the frame and chains the weight was about 304kg(670lbs).

I agree that the size used for 1941 instrument panels are 3/8" or close to it. I can see that clearly in Matt's picture. I mentioned the size of the swirls on my panels are close to 7/16" which is a standard size. For example Buick used that size for bolts on cylinder head, connecting rods, lower control arm shaft, shock absorber to axel. I managed to get a couple of good shots of my 1940 panel next to a ruler. Looks to me each swirl is around 5.75mm radius. Diameter being 11.5mm. 7/16" converted to mm is 11.1125. If the emery brushes were exactly 7/16" in size the larger swirl diameter would probably be because of expansion upon contact of the brush to the surface. So why would there be 2 different sizes used between 1940 and 1941? After more research I'm led to believe that 2 separate companies manufactured the panels for Buick and they changed from one to the other. It's not just the size that's different. The swirls are pressed in opposite directions and upon close-up photos the swirls appear to be much neater circles on the 1941 Buicks. If I can find engine turned vinyl between 3/8" and 1/2" will be close enough.

I tried to look for the size on the first one, could you point out where it says 1/8. The 2nd definitely looks too big.

The inner rings of what is left of the engine turning on my panels are not visible to naked eye, as demonstrated at the beginning of this thread. I'd be guessing where the center is

I measured mine, I think it's closer to 7/16". As Matt said it's difficult to measure with the overlap but placed drill bits over the circle to see which was the closest.

The 2nd link looks better. It's good that they turning is staggered diagonally like the original. I think adding a tinted yellow laquer (said to have been done by Buick) over the top of the vinyl and it could look promising. Shipping my panels to the US to have them professionly done is too costly for me, I was going to simply clean and polish them but I'm likely to buy one of these rolls now and see how it goes.

That makes sense with the firewall and would explain the difference in the B & W photographs. Was the same done to the fenders? They sprayed the whole fender the body colour and then only buffed the outside?

I found some information in relation to shimming body mounts in convertibles which may be useful to you: "Convertible models are to be shimmed using hard shims except for #6 and #7 center body bolts which use the closed car soft body shims. When shimming, the top should be loosened and when lowering the top , care should be taken to see that the top pilots of the windshield with no excessive strain." My 40 super has 22 mounting locations. Between the body and frame was a square piece of rubber that was about half an inch thick and soft. Under the frame was a thicker and harder round rubber I think acted like an insulation washer against the bolt. A friend gave me a sheet of rubber built for absorbing vibrations in machinery mounts. I will use that for the square pieces between body and frame. On other forums I've seen the word "hockey pucks" used in relation to body mounts. I'm not sure if they actually used hockey pucks as a substitute or just called them that because they are similar size and shape. I haven't found anything suitable for the round ones yet and I'm not prepared to pay the price for Cars/Bob's body mounts.

Hi Ken, I haven't been able to find any documentation on this. From 1940 production photos this is my observation: Vertical section of firewall appears to be a different colour from both the chassis and body colour. This extends to the angled section were the pedals are. I can't tell what the colour is. The flat section on top is same as body colour. Radiator housing same colour as firewall. Stoneshield and under fenders appears same as colour body. The body floor was sprayed with a sound insulation paint (this is documented but it's not clear to me if they are talking outside or inside the body. I know the outer side of the underseat heaters were sprayed with the sound deadening material. Matt

You can buy a reproduction copy of 1940 buick facts from BHA which is what I did. The book must have been printed after the seamless filters started to be used.