Another 1931 Lincoln K followed me home

[Tom Martinez]

Here are a few pictures of another 31 Lincoln K, this one followed me home late last year, It's a very early Lincoln bodied Limousine, 145" W.B.

Now that the 31 Lebaron Roadster is at my shop to get a little body work and paint touch-up, I brought this big gal home to do final assembly and sorting. I bought this car from the heirs of a fellow who passed away while coming home from the upholstery shop to check on the car. The poor guy was about 95% done, chrome, paint upholstery, etc.

It's been a great help to have this car as well as the Roadster as they both came with spares that have been beneficial to each other, not to mention I can compare parts and the correct way everything goes together.

Anybody know where I can get a shutter thermostat? I think they were common to K's, KB's and KA's.

The one I have looks right but doesn't have enough travel, maybe it needs to be repaired? but it also has early "L" part numbers on it that could be correct too because it's a very early car, # 179.

Regards from Tom in Ca.

[r1lark]

Wow, what a stately limo! I can just see a finely dressed couple, the woman in fur, sitting in the back being chauffered (sp?) to a fine party in NY city.............

The color combo is beautiful too. A great find.

Edited March 26, 2012 by r1lark
spelling........ (see edit history)

[edinmass]

Very nice automobile. So many people look past the closed cars. I prefer my closed cars to the open ones I own. Much better fit and finish, and workmanship is just wonderful. Enjoy the car......DRIVE IT. Good luck, Ed

[Ian_Greenlaw]

Hi Tom,

Very nice car. Do you know what colour that is as it is very close to the colours I want on my car.

Ian

[alsancle]

Love the colors. Especially the black walls.

[Tom Martinez]

Hi Tom,

Very nice car. Do you know what colour that is as it is very close to the colours I want on my car.

Ian

The original color this car was painted per the Lincoln records was "MM" which translates into Mulberry Maroon. I can't say what the paint number is or what the current color actualy is because I didn't comission the work but it seems to be in the spirit of the Limousine pictured in the big glossy sales brochure. It's a very nice period color for a thirties era car, particularly a sedan or a closed car.

Regards, Tom

[Ian_Greenlaw]

Thanks Tom,

I showed my wife and she liked it too.

This should look good on my 34 Dodge which I hope to get painted next month.

Regards

Ian

[Tom Martinez]

A few progress photos of the Limo, since my last post I've attached the running boards and new rubber mats. I attached the radiator shell. I assembled and mounted the side mounts. I received my rebuilt shutter-stat and reassembled the radiator shutter mechanism...quite a Rube Goldberg set up but it looks pretty robust. I partially disassembled and cleaned the carburetor, and then I replaced the float needle and some seals and gaskets.

<O:p</O:p

<O:p</O:p

My photo's show my oil pan and filter screen ready go in after de-sludging. I also got a good look for the first time at the bottom end of a Fork And Blade engine...wow! pretty impressive, the rods are foot long and are machined from billet, damned impressive. This is what you got in 1931 when you paid literally more than 10 times the price of a Model A.

The only thing I need to do before start it after sitting for 6 months is to drain the gas tank and replace with fresh gas.

<O:p</O:p

<O:p</O:p

Perhaps someone can comment about the oil I should use, since the car has roller tappets and not flat tappets, I believe I can get away without using any special oil or adding supplements.

Regards from Ca, Tom<O:p</O:p

[Tom Martinez]

Attached are some more photo's of my 1931 Lincoln Limo, I drove her around for the first time, it went pretty well so I put the hood back on, it's aluminum so one person can do it. I also finished off the running boards and installed the headlights.<O:p</O:p

<O:p</O:p

of course the hood is aluminum but so is the entire body skin. Amazingly the A, B, and C pillars are heavy structural aluminum backed up with wood...damned impressive, no wonder so many of the big classics got turned into B-24's and Mustangs, the car also has a massive aluminum crankcase and many bronze fittings throughout, these cars must have been a scrappers dream.

<O:p</O:p

I had a heck of a time with the electric fuel pump that the <ST1:pPO</ST1:p installed, it wasn't pumping so I just bypassed it and the regular pump did just fine so I hope to permanently ditch it.<O:p</O:p

<O:p</O:p

The car seems to be geared relatively high so I can tell it will be a good highway car. <O:p</O:p

<O:p</O:p

So now a bit more tinkering then off to my shop to paint the hood and touch up a few spots

[Tom Martinez]

Some recent pictures of the Limo, I've done some more work in preparation to probably sell it. It starts well, hot or cold, idles, runs, shifts, stops, generates juice, rides decent, does not overheat (the shutter system have been entirely restored) It's pretty well sorted out to be a decent driver. The paint is of a moderate quality, the interior is very nice wool, the chrome is all new. The engine compartment and underside are scruffy, but not a disaster. I have a few more things to do like restore the luggage rack, mount the smoking vanities, attach the other horn, and few other small things. I drove it in a parade last week with no problem...it was quite a hit as not many people have seen a big Classic up close. Contact me if you have interest now.

[GARY F]

great looking. on your first picture it looks like a button on top of thr shift or am i seeing things. if so what is it for?

[Tom Martinez]

Gary, yes there is a button on top of the shift knob, it is for taking the car out of freewheeling, which is default in 2nd and high gears. The operation is pretty simple, it's a quick clutch release, then push the button, then move the shift lever a short throw. If you leave the car in freewheeling you can shift between 2nd and high gear without using the clutch. I frequently take it out of freewheeling in hilly terrain, but on level roads It's unobtrusive. The button should be nickel plated and what you see is the underlying brass. Many descriptions of the 31 Lincolns say it has synchromesh, I don't know how this error has propagated but I see it everywhere in auction descriptions and the like. I can assure you, 31 Lincolns do not have a synchromesh, folks might be confusing it with the freewheeling shift operation. Real synchromesh came in 1932.

[Jakub Lincoln]

Dear Tom we are also restoring K. We are looking for some parts but mainly seeking for manuals or schemes. Any advice please? Thanks in advance Jakub