1918 Buick 2 door roadster

Hello to all members,

I just came into possession of a 1918 Buick 2 door roadster convertible. It is a six cylinder 3 speeds. This is some of this car story.

The car was originally registered in Colorado, it was owned and refurbished in the 1950 by GM. The car was lend, given or sold to The Walt Disney World Co in 1994 (title is dated 1994) and it was used as a prop in front of one of their resorts. In a scale from 1 to 5 the car is a 3 maybe a 4.

The only thing missing is the ignition key, the crank handle and one of the wheel bearing caps. Tires and rims are like new. I have not tried to spin the engine or for that matter i have don't nothing to the car, i just parked and raised on jack stands. I am trying to establish a price for this car and i need to get some of the parts. I also need some advice on how to start the engine. I am a mechanic but i never worked on anything this old. I will post some pictures later on or i can send them to any member that is interested in helping. What is the designation of this particular model ie E35 , E45 i just don't know.

Any Help will be greatly appreciated

Dear Sir, since your car is a 1918 model Roadster it is designated as an E-44. The six cylinder models were the 40's and the 4 cylinder models were the 30's. Please post some photos of your car. All of us Buick enthusiasts would really like to see what you have.

Terry Wiegand

South Hutchinson, Kansas America

I will post some pictures by next weekend. Thanks for your help.

casianobi

There were 10,391 E-44 roadsters built for domestic sales and 275 for export out of a total production of 77,691. They have a 242 cu inch engine and a 118" wheel base. I would clean the gas tank and the vacuum tank before starting as they will probably both have sediment in them. To start the car, fill the vacuum tank with fuel and ensure it is running into the carburettor float chamber. When you turn the ignition on you can hear the starter/generator running ( motoring ) this allows proper engagement of the starter gear and the flywheel ring gear. The starting instructions say to have the spark and throttle levers 1/3 down the sector, but my car will only start when the spark is fully advanced ( at the bottom of the sector ) and the air regulator in the hot position. These engines have no oil to the rocker gear so ensure you oil the rockers. The front and back of the starter/generator also need oiling and the distributor drive shaft. Pic three is the sediment I got out of my vacuum tank,

Rod W

I also have a 1918 roadster (EX 44 presume x is export) currently undergoing resto. Its a big jigsaw puzzle as I did not pull it to bits. I'm interested in how the dynastart works - how does starter engage? -  what drives it (through water pump drive??) - how do i time it ? etc.

Thks in advance

De Brazil,   All the best with your 1918 roadster.  As you probably know the starter/generator is one unit,  and yes it is driven through the water pump shaft.  When the ignition is turned on the s/g turns over slowly ( motors ).  This allows engagement of the gears  onto the flywheel when the starter pedal is depressed.  When the starter pedal is depressed,  the generator  brushes disengage and the starter motor brushes engage so the s/g operates  as a starter motor.  When the engine starts and the starter pedal is released,  the starter brushes disengage and the generator brushes engage.  Buick used this system through until 1925.  

To time the distributor,  turn the engine over till number 1 piston is at the top of its stroke  ( firing stroke )  if you take the spark plug out it is easy to see when it is at the top.  Set the fly wheel at the 7degree mark.  Loosen the nut at the bottom of the distributor so  the rotor can be turned.  Position under the No 1 terminal.  Set the points so they are just rocking.  Don,t forget to tighten the nut at the bottom of the distributor again.

Many thanks Rod. You may well hear from me in the future!!!

Rod's instructions are correct, as long as both valves are closed when the #1 piston is at the top of it's stroke.

On my '18 E 45, the cam for the points is held in place by a tapered screw under the rotor inside the distributor. You have to loosen the screw to be able to turn the cam assembly to time the engine.

Here is a photo of my distributor adjustment screw