GSW38

If you look in the standard catalog of Buick 3rd edition a 38-44 is a 2 door sedan. My car is a 4 door sedan with dual sidemounts. Does the body no. L1917 mean its a 6 wheeler?

What do the numbers on the firewall engine compartment name plate tell you? STYLE N0 38-4419 Body No L1917 Trim No 400 Paint N0 515

Have 38 model 41 parts car with solid floor and trunk. Will post pictures soon.

Thanks for all the info

I am under the impression there is a article in a magazine (skinned knuckes) that tells how to fix a broken temp gage. Is this article availble and how could I get it? Thanks George

Babbit to insert good idea!! I did this to my 38 Special 3 years ago and have never regretted it. I used rods from a 49 buick they were used. I did this because at the time I was rebuilding my engine and my machinest strongly suggested this. The machinest I used was very knowlegable with old Buicks. This whole procedure was not expensive probibly because I was getting the engine block and crank machined reguardless. The car has run great no regrets!! Good Luck! Will read forums for comment. GS1938:)

JEFF, I REBUILT MY 38 MODEL 41 AND USED 1949 BUICK CONNECTING RODS WITH NEW .O2O OVER PISTONS. I BOUGHT THE PISTONS FROM TERRILL MACHINE SHOP IN TEXAS.I HAD THE BLOCK AND CRANK SHAFT MACHINED BY GOOD MACHINE SHOP.I HAVE ABOUT 3000 MILES ON THE ENGINE SINCE THE REBUILD RUNS GREAT WITH THE INSERT BEARINGS.DONT THINK YOUR MAKING A MISTAKE WTTH THE INSERT BEARINGS.

Thanks to everyone for the info.My next course of action is going to be a completely rebuilt oil pump.I have a complete parts car and I will take the oil pump from it have rebuilt and try that.The pump that is in the car now does have new gears,relief spring ball check.I am not positive of the clearance of the cover plate. Thanks again and I will let you know how I make out. George from Western Pa.

I know new pump gears were installed but I do not know if the clearence between the gears and cover plate was checked.I have been told that there are high volume pump gears made for this oil pump but I do not know where to buy them.

I have tried different oils with no increase in oil pressure.I do not think the cooling channels are blocked because they cleaned out with rods compressed air then entire engine block was boiled out after all machining was done, thanks for the change oil suggestion.

I HAVE A 1938 BUICK MODEL 41. ENGINE RECENTLY REBUILT, ON START-UP THERE IS 45 PSI OIL PRESSURE AS ENGINE TEMPATURE RISES OIL PRESSURE DECREASES AT IDLE LESS THAN 10 PSI AT45 TO 50 MPH OIL PRESSURE IS ALMOST 25 PSI. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO INCREASE OIL PRESSURE AT RUNNING TEMP.? DO THEY MAKE GEARS FOR THE OIL PUMP TO CONVERT IT TO A HIGH VOLUME PUMP? THANK YOU GW1938

Looking for 38 Buick parts.Running board crome,stromberg AAV-1 Carb,any 38 parts.

I have a 38 parts car with the parts you want.I dont know where you live but if you are interested in these parts let me know and we can talk.I live in western PA.

Is there a web site that I could see paint chips of the various factory exterior colors? I would like to see what van gogh green actually look like. I have seen the Buick judging manual it tells what the origanal colors are but does not show samples of them.

I BOUGHT A NOS FUEL PUMP ON E-BAY FOR MY 38 BUICK.I REBUILT IT AND INSTALLED IT. THE FUEL PRESSURE AT THE CARB IS 3 1/2 PSI.I HAVE SOLVED MY FUEL PROBLEM.I INTEND TO REBUILD MY ORIGANAL PUMP WITH THE SAME TYPE KIT AND KEEP IT FPR A SPARE. THANKS GEORGE

MY 1938 SERIES 40 BUICK HAS A OCCASIONAL POP BACK THROUGH CARB.I INSTALLED A VACUME GAGE NEEDLE OSCILLATES QUICKLY BETWEEN 18 AND 20 IN OF VACUME AT IDLE.AS ENGINE RPM IS INCREASED OSCILLATIONS GET MORE VIOLENT BETWEEN 16 AND 22 IN.I SUSPECT WEAK VALVE SPRINGS. IS THEIR ANOTHER TEST I CAN DO TO CONFIRM THIS? THANKS GEORGE

I rebuilt my 1938 special 248. The machinist that worked on my engine talked me into using insert bearing piston rods ( I know I cheated). He said he has seen too many babbited rod bearings go out after 100 miles. I asked the machinist about the main bearings his reply was that the mains do not get the pounding that the rod bearings do therefor babbited mains were fine.My 38 special is a driver and believe me I use it. The one precaution That I do is to keep my oil clean as insert bearings are less forgiving than the old babbited ones .Good luck on your 36 enjoy it!! George

Jon I appreciate your help.Jon I live in western Pennsylvania the temperature is in the 20's the fuel line is ice cold to the touch.The high fuel pressure is very noticeable at about half speed (61/2 to 7). If I run the engine at half peddle for a short time gas will leak out between where the air horn and carb body scew together. If I look down the carb as it is running at half speed there is a noticable increase in gas entering the engine as the pressure increases. Thanks again George

I CHECKED TANK LEFT THE CAP OFF FUEL PRESSURE STILL JUST AS HIGH.SHOULD I PUT THE OLD RETURN SPRING BACK INTO THE FUEL PUMP AND CHECK THE FUEL PRESSURE? GEORGE

JON MY 38 HAS A STROMBERG AVV-1 ON IT. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REBUILT WITH A KIT FROM A REPUTABLE PARTS DEALER. THANKS GEORGE

I have a 1938 Buick special. The fuel pressure at the carb is between 61/2 and 7psi.This high fuel pressure is forcing gas past the needle valve and causing too much gas into the engine.The result my spark plugs are being fouled.How can I easly regulate the fuel pressure down? Thanks George

The hoods are not the same size. Century has a longer hood.Buick special and century front fenders are not interchangeable either. Good Luck with your restoration.

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I contacted the machinist that did my engine, his opinion is buick would not have done this to their lifters if it was not important(crown them so the pushrods turn).You must consider the fact that he(machinist)is very finichy. I also asked can you run the engine with-out machining the lifters and not hurt the engine? His answer was you can do a lot of things to an engine that are not correct and get away with it. The lifters should come out with out removing the cam. Be sure to number every part and return them to the place you removed them from!! Hope I Helped George

I rebuilt my 38-41 Buick motor last winter.The machinist that worked on my engine told me that the push rods should make about a 1/4 turn each time the lifter comes up.The way you get the lifter to do this is to have the proper crown machined on each lifter.The older gentleman that did the machining on my engine said this turning keeps wear uniform, his experience with late thirties buicks is quite extensive. Good Luck George

My question is can the ring and pinion gears from a 38 century ratio (3.90:1) be used in the 38 special(4.40:1) rear end? I understand the speedometer will not be accurate. Thanks George