Tyler Gimbert Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 (edited) Greetings, Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays. I am working on a friends 1902 Curved Dash Oldsmobile. The goal is to get it running/ move under its own power. From what I have been told, the car hasn't run since before WW2 and the engine isn't seized. From what i can tell, the data plate and coil is missing. I have removed the panels on the front and back of the car. What kind of coil does this car need? does this car use a battery or Magneto? What is missing? I would appreciate any help, since this is the first curved dash olds that I have worked on. Thanks again Tyler Gimbert Edited January 2, 2017 by Tyler Gimbert (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 You will need a timer, battery & buzz coil like a Model T Ford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brass is Best Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Looks like a lot of fun, keep us updated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F&J Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 57 minutes ago, Mark Shaw said: You will need a timer, I never worked on that particular car model, but this part seems to be the timer? ...and the arrow points to what might be a cable-operated retard/advance? Opinions?... Yes it looks like a fun job. One thing on the primitive cars is to figure out the engine oiling system, and make sure everything is correct including oil levels etc. Some can be tricky. Someone that owns one could save you a lot of time to advise/make sure the oiling is correct before test running the engine. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caf Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Looks like a great car, quite authentic in all respects. It does have a timer, the battery goes in the box under the seat left side, and the coil goes in the lower box underneath the battery box. If it has a compression release pedal (right side heel panel) it should have a serial number stamped on it. I don't see a gas pedal on the floor, might get one from Monroe Miller. The big problem is, I don't see a drive chain and it is not availiable. It is an obsolete size. The late Gary Hoonsbeen was a great help, also someone was remaking them but I don't remember who.. The oiling is simple, there is a lubricator on the cylinder, take it off clean it and adjust it to 10 drops per minute and you are in business. The engine is a total loss system so the excess oil just leaks out.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caf Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Looks like a great car, quite authentic in all respects. It does have a timer, the battery goes in the box under the seat left side, and the coil goes in the lower box underneath the battery box. If it has a compression release pedal (right side heel panel) it should have a serial number stamped on it. I don't see a gas pedal on the floor, might get one from Monroe Miller. The big problem is, I don't see a drive chain and it is not availiable. It is an obsolete size. The late Gary Hoonsbeen was a great help, also someone was remaking them but I don't remember who.. The oiling is simple, there is a lubricator on the cylinder, take it off clean it and adjust it to 10 drops per minute and you are in business. The engine is a total loss system so the excess oil just leaks out.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caf Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 One last thing, make sure you understand the advance and retard movement on the timer, cranking with the spark advanced can be painful it has quite a bite!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Gimbert Posted January 2, 2017 Author Share Posted January 2, 2017 (edited) Thank you for your speedy replies, i do have the chain for it, there is a box to the left of the engine compartment that I believe someone made, it does not look like belongs there. Also are there any pedals missing? The gas pedal is located on the floor at the edge of the seat, as if you would use your heel? Yes, cranking with the spark advanced can have some unforgiving consequences. Edited January 2, 2017 by Tyler Gimbert (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMc Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Tyler, I would suggest you make contact with the CDO club Forum : http://curveddasholdsmobileclub.com/. I am sure there will be a wealth of knowledge available among the members. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Gimbert Posted January 2, 2017 Author Share Posted January 2, 2017 Thanks David, I plan on joining the club and posting on their forum; it feels great to save these old cars. Tyler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caf Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 the heel pedal is compression release not gas pedal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Gimbert Posted January 3, 2017 Author Share Posted January 3, 2017 sorry caf, I must have missed your earlier post. I will check tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 (edited) Yes, you have circled the timer and the advance via cable. A throttle lever should be near the advance cable knob. I too suggest you lubricate every moving part and squirt some penetrating oil into the cylinder before cranking. A garden tractor battery and a model T coil will fit nicely in the box you mentioned. There should be a mark on the flywheel and some sort of indicator to locate TDC for timing. Try here: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=curved+dash+oldsmobile+operation&&view=detail&mid=7ECFE54F5D860F954C697ECFE54F5D860F954C69&FORM=VRDGAR https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=1903+Oldsmobile+Curved+Dash&&view=detail&mid=2DDE2E24863A2F5C831F2DDE2E24863A2F5C831F&FORM=VRDGAR Edited January 3, 2017 by Mark Shaw (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 (edited) ' What a nice car to be working on! Looks like it got a repaint and upholstery along with the Bosch switch at some time, hope you just get it safely running and leave it as is. I know the '04's had brakes on both rear wheels, how does an 02 stop? Best wishes for 2017! bob Edited January 3, 2017 by 1937hd45 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Thanks for posting the pics Tyler, I do plan to stop by the shop for a good look. For some background, this particular car has been in the Norfolk Va area for quite some time and in the same family for many years. We are glad to see the car out in the open and even happier to see Tyler trying to help get it going again. Perhaps we'll see more of the car once it is usable and the family can enjoy it. For those who don't know, Tyler is a gifted young mechanic who also acquired the Model T Ford that once belonged to one of our AACA Region's oldest members. Tyler is well experienced with things that go "buzz" when you turn the switch on. Of course you know I have a spark plug that will probably work well. Terry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Gimbert Posted January 3, 2017 Author Share Posted January 3, 2017 Thanks Mark, Bob, & Terry Once I get things rolling at the shop, Ill be sure to post more info and pictures. Thanks again for the help Terry, you are always a huge help when it comes to antique cars. Terry, feel free to stop by the shop anytime, just give me a call. Mark I will check out that link. Thanks Tyler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Moskowitz Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Tyler, Gary Hoonsbeen wrote a couple of books that would help you immensely. I believe all out of prints but copies of sections you need could be copied by our library. There are also reprints of factory literature that the club has that would be of help. I believe the club has timers for sale. There are also people who specialize in CDO parts and there is a forum for CDO club members. I have a 1903 and you are welcome to stop by and see it if you are in the Hershey area. The compression release pedal should have a number on it. What is the number? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Gimbert Posted January 3, 2017 Author Share Posted January 3, 2017 Thanks Steve, The number on the pedal is: 8625 Tyler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Moskowitz Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 That is a correct serial number for 1902 but does not seem to match the number on the cylinder head. Interesting. Glad to see a young man with an interest in the real old cars. You are also missing the lever to advance and retard the spark. The transmission letter looks wrong to me as well. I will have to spend more time looking at it but overall pretty complete. The correct ignition switches are available as well but they are not cheap. Keep at it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Gimbert Posted January 3, 2017 Author Share Posted January 3, 2017 Steve, From what I was told, it is a late 02 with an 03 engine? Again I am going by what I was told, I am still researching. Do you know what the correct style of coil that is supposed to be in this car? I am going to use a T coil to get it going of course. Tyler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cessna195 Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 The think the engine is a 1903 engine. You can tell because it has cooling fins on the cylinder. Our family had a 1903 Olds and the engine had cooling fins. Olds engines did not have cooling fins before 1903. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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