1938Mike

Thanks for the input!!

Thank you for your thread it is very informative and interesting!

The 1938 Buicks definitely had inner axle seals. See some of the photos in other replies. Thank you, Mike

Thank you for the photos. They are very helpful.

My 1938 Buick Service manual is a reprint and does not have a separate lube chart as an original manual does. However taking your advice, my original owner's manual had an original lube chart insert in it for 1938. The lubrication chart states and shows that the rear wheel bearings are "lubricated by lubricant in axle housing". Also according to the chart the rear axle is to be drained and thoroughly cleaned twice a year or every 10,000 miles with flushing oil(?) and refilled with 90weight Hypoid lubricant. Oil level must not be lower than 1/2inch below filler plug. Sounds like the bearings are lubed by gear oil according to Buick. However using two seals lends credence to using axle bearing grease. The mystery continues. Thank you for the input and hint! Mike

Are the rear axle bearings on a 1938 Buick Series 40 packed with grease or do they rely solely on lubrication by the differential gear oil? The purpose of the inner seal is a bit puzzling to me because it would form a barrier to oil coming from the center of the differential. I haven't found anything concerning this in the Buick Shop Manuals or Motors Manuals from that era. Does anyone have any knowledge on this? Thank you! Mike, call or text 916-842-7396

Are the rear axle bearings on a 1938 Buick Series 40 packed with grease or do they rely solely on lubrication by the differential gear oil? The purpose of the inner seal is a bit puzzling to me because it would form a barrier to oil coming from the center of the differential. I haven't found anything concerning this in the Buick Shop Manuals or Motors Manuals from that era. Does anyone have any knowledge on this? Thank you! Mike, call or text 916-842-7396

On my 1938 Special you loosen the anchor bolt nut, then turn the anchor bolt shaft which has two flats. The anchor bolt is off center so it acts like a cam to make the shoe closer or further from the drum as you need. I don't know about 1940 model Buicks but I suspect that it is a similar setup.

The AACA Library found the information in the 1939 Buick Dealer Service Bulletins. In 1938 Buick recommended welding the propshaft and pinion gears together. Buick later rescinded that repair due to loss of heat treatment of the pinion gear causing breakage. Buick recommended adding approximately 1/2 pint gear oil into the hollow propshaft thereby lubing the pinion and propshaft splines to prevent excessive wear.

Thanks Don

Thank you Don! The weld may have been done early in the cars life. Do you have any extra propshaft female splines that you would be willing to sell?

My 1938 Buick Series 40 propshaft to pinion gear splines are loose. Buick had a Dealer Service bulletin addressing this condition that was issued in 1938. The correction was covered on BPS 2.026, page 464. The reprint Dealer Service Bulletins do not have the page 464 and best as I can tell 465 either. If anyone has an original set of dealer service bulletins with these pages addressing my propshaft concern or a quality repair procedure to repair the looseness I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. Thank you! Mike Frerichs 916-842-7396 call or text

I am interested in purchasing these items. Please contact me at 916-842-7396 Thank you, Mike Frerichs

I checked my 1928 to 1950 Buick Masters Parts List and it shows the lifters in the engine group 0.459, the lifter number 1310479 fits all series years 1936 to 1947 Inclusive; 1948 up to engine number5192693 on 1948-70 DynaFlow jobs; 1949 -40;1949-50 firs jtobs on conventional transmissions; 1950-40 conventional trans.

For Sale- 1 set of new solid camshaft lifters (16) for a 1938 Series 40 Buick from EGGE Machine. They were installed but never ran. Originally cost over $200. Will sell for $100 plus shipping, approximately $25. I checked my 1928 to 1950 Buick Masters Parts List and it shows the lifters in the engine group 0.459, the lifter number 1310479 fits all series years 1936 to 1947 Inclusive; 1948 up to engine number5192693 on 1948-70 DynaFlow jobs; 1949 -40;1949-50 firs jtobs on conventional transmissions; 1950-40 conventional trans. Contact: Mike Frerichs, phone 916-842-7396, frerichs4@surewest.net, Elk Grove, California, Pacific Time Zone