Grandpa

Hi Gene, See the attached photo. I don't have the measurements. Grandpa

Hi BJM, You could ask the seller to measure the overall length of the exhaust manifold. For the Special's 248 cubic inch engine, the exhaust manifold is about 31½ inches long. For the Century's 320 cubic inch engine, the exhaust manifold is about 34½ inches long. If the car has the body tag plate, have the seller give the information to you and post it on the forum. Grandpa

Hi BJM, The 1937 Buick Special has the 248 cubic inch engine. The 1937 Buick Century has the 320 cubic inch engine. These are two different engines and not a case of the bigger one being a bored out version of the smaller engine. The 320 engine is about 3 inches longer than the 248 engine. Thus, the whole front end of the Century is about 3 inches longer than the Special. Look at the distance from the edge of the front door to the back edge of the front fender on the attached images - The car with the top up is a Special. A side view photo is needed from the car's seller to determine if the car is a 1937 Buick Special or Century. Grandpa

Want to Buy Need the windshield washer control valve that is mounted in the left side "Accessory" position of the central dash panel of the 1941-1942 Buick (all series) and the 1946-1949 Buick Special (only). Thanks, Grandpa

All, Here is a neat video clip (with audio) from the 1931 movie "The Public Enemy" with James Cagney and Jean Harlow. My guess is that Cagney is in a LaSalle. Visit: Grandpa

Hi Clincher, I believe that the car is a 1914 Packard 2-38, 38 hp, 140 inch wheelbase, second series, phaeton runabout. See the attached factory photographs. Grandpa

Speedster, For example, Evanston (a Chicago suburb) required that cars parked overnight on a public street must have a tail light on in the left rear. Most Evanston car owners had a low wattage lamp installed (in or around the tail light)to comply with this law. I think this law was on the books into the late 1950s. Grandpa

Want to Buy The windshield washer control valve that is mounted in the left side accessory position of the central dash panel of the 1941-1942 Buick (all series) and the 1946-1949 Buick Special (only). Thanks, Grandpa

Hi Rusty1951, The rear carburetor on the 1941-42 Buicks is only operational on high demand for power. Thus, the weighted damper should remain closed during starting and at low rpm. Try some WD-40 on the damper shaft. If that fails, you will have to take the carburetor apart to check for interferences that may cause the damper to stick open. The damper should open and close freely when moved manually when the engine is not running. Grandpa

Hi New1966, More than likely, the scuff plates are for 1941 Buick Super (50 Series) and Roadmaster (70 Series). I don't think that the design of the door / rocker panel on the 40-60-90 Series Buicks could accomodate the scuff plate. Grandpa

Hi New1966, These could be 1941 Buick scuff plates. They are mounted on the rocker panel and centered under the door. In 1941 Buick deleted the running boards. The rocker panels are curved out a little at the bottom. Grandpa

Tom, According to a vintage Hollander manual, the rear axle gear carrier assembly is interchangeable from 1940 through 1955, except for series 80 and 90 Buicks. The 1953, 1954, and 1955 Buick Specials, with an automatic transmission, have a 3.6 gear ratio. Grandpa

Tom, I believe that the Buick rear end gear case assembly is interchangeable from 1938 through 1955. Changing the center section as an assembly is another option for you. In 1941, the Century and Roadmaster had the 3.9 ratio as the standard gear ratio. Grandpa

1935 Packard, Tire pressure - I suggest 30 psi to 35 psi on a cold tire. Grandpa

Steve, I think that the cork stoppers offered by McMaster-Carr will solve your cork material problem. McMaster-Carr does not have a minimum order size. You can also purchase 4"x8"x3" cork blocks (for floats) from the Restoration Supply Company (RSC) in Escondido, CA. Visit: http://www.restorationstuff.com/ The floats that I have replaced were coated with (as I recall) vanish to seal them. Grandpa

Steve, For cork materials, check the web site for McMaster-Carr. Grandpa

Re. the factory photograph of the 1936 Phaeton (above) - The back side of the factory photgraph is marked: "Packard Super Eight, Fourteenth Series, Model 1404, 8 Cylinder, 150 Horsepower, 139 Inch Wheelbase, 5-Person Phaeton (body type #951)." Grandpa

Re. the 1936 Phaeton on eBay - Perhaps it is the same car as shown in the factory photo of one with a spotlight. Grandpa

A neat old photograph - The picture is of Wallace Reid, a silent film movie star, was photographed in Chicago in 1921. The photographer noted the actor's name on the emulsion side of the glass plate negative, thus, the mirror image writing on the print. Wikipedia states that Wallace made some automobile racing films about the time that the picture was taken. Perhaps the car pitured appears in Excuse My Dust (released 1920), Too Much Speed (released 1921), and Across the Continent (relesed 1922). Grandpa

Hi TexRiv_63, If you wish to restore the original unit, check the following two sources for gears: 1) McMaster-Carr 2) Boston Gear You may be able to find similar brass, stainless steel, or nylon gears to replace the zinc die cast originals. Grandpa

Hi Lowegan, A friend has a 1941 steering column for sale. I sent you an e-mail via the AACA system, but I don't know if I did it the right way. Grandpa

Hi, The attached pictures are of the 1933 Packard "Brown Bomber". Grandpa

Hi, The pictures are of the 1944(?) Packard "Brown Bomber". Was this car a functional show car or a mockup? If it was a functional car, does it exist today? I can't see any steering wheel in the pictures and changing a rear tire looks like one would have to remove the fender. Also, it looks like the front bumper is mounted too low on the right side. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks, Grandpa

Another view of C-D car no. 105.

All, Here is another image of car no. 105 (another view shown above), which seems to be the same body type as the Jack Johnson car. Grandpa