1920 McLaughlin-Buick

[rjp 37]

I have bought a 1918 Mcloughlin -Buick and looking for more info, and or a club to join.

[Morgan Wright 998]

We need photos.

[Tinindian 1,727]

First piece of information is the proper name of your automobile. 🙂     McLaughlin-Buick

Stick around here, lots of good people and information.  As has been mentioned everyone here needs to see pictures.

Good luck

[rjp 37]

I will send a picture or two. I have not got it home yet. The own said he did not have any books with it, thats why Iam starting early, Thanks for any help.

[Morgan Wright 998]

Come on, give us a model number or something at least. Jeez.

[Ben P. 632]

We could sound ornery but it’s almost always good humor. You’ve come to the right place. 4 cylinder or 6? When was it last run?

(There’s more information here than you may be prepared to get.)

[Morgan Wright 998]

3,800/172 27,125/1,190 700	4 cyl	E-34 Roadster E-35 Touring E-37 Coupe	106	1900 2100 2420	31x4	Hub	In Head	3.375 x 4.75	170	4.5	35	18mm	.025-.030	.020	1243	O Mark	-6
10,391/275 58,971/3,035 2,965 463	6 cyl	E-44 Roadster E-45 Touring E-46 Coupe E-47 Sedan	118	2750 2750 2965 2965	34x4	Hub	In Head	3.375 x 4.5	242	4.5	60	18mm	.025-.030	.020	153624	O Mark	-6
16,148 987	6 cyl	E-49 Touring E-50 Sedan	124	3075 3520	34x4.5	Hub	In Head	3.375 x 4.5	242	4.5	60	18mm	.025-.030	.020	153624	O Mark	-6

[rjp 37]

I think its a E-45 6cyl. touring,Blue and great shape over all. Looks like clear headlight lens. Is that correct or do I need to start looking?

[rjp 37]

we live in eastern washington  state about a mile from idaho. 60 mile south of spokane. 

[dibarlaw 1,955]

Mark Shaw in Vancouver Wa. sent me a few photos 3 or more years ago of a blue McLaughlin model 45 Touring car that was for sale in that area. May be the same one. I did not save the photos.

[Ben P. 632]

*It always seems that the guy who knows the least has the most to say - so here we go...*

The clear lens is correct for 1918. That’s what they came out of the factory with. Aftermarket patterned or prismed lenses of the 1920’s usually later made it to these cars, but I wouldn’t necessarily call those incorrect either.

My ‘18 4 cyl has the 1920’s aftermarket Smithlite (or whatever the heck they’re called) lenses on it and I hate them. They look like hell on the car - that’s just my opinion. I think they were just a gimmick with no real improvement to the beam. Though I don’t really care because I’m never going to drive the thing at night anyway.

Carmakers for the past 20 years have spent big money to get their headlamps to look like the jewelry that these are and were meant to be with the flat glass and double bulbs....

 

The owner didn’t have any books with it because they didn’t really make books for them yet. The owner’s manual they called the ‘Reference Book’ (the one for my 4-cyl pictured below) and you will need the 6-cyl version for your car. They are reproduced and can be found readily on eBay, originals turn up often as well.

You will also need the factory ‘Parts Book’ for it. My memory just slipped a bit but I think they called it the ‘Dealer list of Parts’ or something close to that. Those turn up regularly on eBay as well. I think reproductions are available but the illustration quality of the ‘reproduction’ for mine is so blurry I really only use the original.

The parts book illustrates each and every part, and between that and the Reference Book that is all there really is. It wasn’t until 1922 that Buick bothered to come out with a ‘Shop Manual’ (a reproduced copy I picked up pictured below) which claimed to be ‘useful for 1918 to 1923’ — and I have some opinions on that... But don’t expect it to be a step-by-step shop 

manual like anything you’ve seen before because it is not.

The Delco starter/generator had its own Piece Parts Catalog. I don’t believe they have been reproduced and I haven’t seen an original for sale in the last 2 years but enough of us have one that should you run into trouble with it we should be able to get you copies of the pages you need.

 

You made a good choice. What was true of these cars 102 years ago is still true today - you’d have to spend a  L O T  more money to get a better car of the same era. In most cases that would be only marginally better car. They have a real following because of it.

 

That said, it may have a key and an ignition but it is no ‘turn key car’. When these cars were built there weren’t roads as we know them. They were designed to go 20 some mph down 2 track buggy trails and were built for it. The designers certainly never imagined they’d ever see as many as 20,000 miles let alone still be in existence in 100 years. So that’s to say there are weak points on these cars. They require regular systematic mechanical service and close inspection — and I’m waiting for Hugh and others to chime in here with some of the guidelines they’ve written up....

I can tell you that the weakest point on these Buicks is the wrist pins (piston pins the parts book calls them). They are secured in there by cotter pins. It’s very common that the wrist pins were retrofitted with a better design when the engine was rebuilt. You’ll want to see with your own eyes if it has cotter pins in there still or has been retrofitted. You do not want your car to tell you on it’s own which it has, because cotter pins don’t have a long lifespan and if one goes it’s $20,000. Ask me how I know....

 

Good luck!

 

 

 

 

 

[dibarlaw 1,955]

The first thing is to be involved with Dean Tryon's 1915-1918 Buick McLaughlin Buick Newsletter Group.

 One can not get more specific than this for help.

Early Buick & McLaughlin-Buick Owners Group   dgtryon2516@.gmail.com
c/o Dean G. Tryon Editor
2516 Laurelford Lane
Wake Forest, N.C. 27587

[rjp 37]

Good thank you I will try to get in touch with him.

[Hubert_25-25 1,652]

RJP, 

    Welcome to the Buick Pre War Forum.  Attached is a link to the New Buick Owners list that I like to share to help you safely start your engine.  A lot to think about but worth the effort.  I added a note about the cotter pins to it.   Looking forward to your pictures.   Hugh   

 

[rjp 37]

Great, and thanks. The car should be in my shop about tues. Ill take some pictures and have some ? I will try to get ahold of Dean Tryon today.

[Morgan Wright 998]

I have parts for E 6 cylinder if it needs work.

[rjp 37]

I sent a notice to Tryon, Do I still apply for membership?

[rjp 37]

Your scaring me with parts for the engine already. It does run and as of now I have not seen the car. maybe tues. Thanks

[dibarlaw 1,955]

rjp:

 Don't be scared of the offer. It is just that all of us Buick people know that there will be a need for something mechanical sooner or later and it is good to know that there may be a source for an elusive part. I bought my 1925 as a supposedly good running vehicle. After 4 years of fighting with the tired engine I finally had it rebuilt. I picked up a spare engine and did need some things from it.

[Larry Schramm 3,300]

1 hour ago, dibarlaw said:

I picked up a spare engine and did need some things from it.

 

Welcome to the club.  All of us that have these old parts and the means to buy extra parts we do.  At some time in the future if you drive you car, you will need parts that either you or someone in the group can help you with.  Be prepared to trade parts, information, and help.  We all here are helpful.

[rjp 37]

I talked with Dean and getting books on a car that I havent seen yet!! I got to start some where. Thanks guys I think it will all work

[rjp 37]

The car is getting closer, I can pick it up tomorrow am and its about 45 mins from me. We will see then

[rjp 37]

Would anyone have Mark Shaws ph. number?

[rjp 37]

Got it home!!!! pictures maybe tonight I will wipe off big chunks first. The Bodynumbers: K5   4140,  engine 1660. The engine is enclosed no valves or push rods to see. All pictures I see are open valves and push rods. Maybe late 18 or is it all wrong?

[rjp 37]

that should be CP 1660

[Rod Wise 44]

If there are covers on the valves and push rods,  it must be a 1919.

[rjp 37]

That should be K45   4140   engine 1660 Tag, radiator and motor meter all say McLaughlin

[rjp 37]

How many North way engines were used? Do not believe its a 19. The numbers don't match up

[Morgan Wright 998]

K 45 is a 1920 Buick

 

E = 1918

H = 1919

K = 1920

 

Model 45 was the most popular Buick for most of those years

 

Look for the K 45 in the 1920 year here: Buick Pre 1930 General Specs (carnut.com)

 

 

Edited December 23, 2020 by Morgan Wright (see edit history)

[rjp 37]

Here some pictur es and numbers 

[rjp 37]

I donot think tags lie. I do not see a E any where other than the sellers notes. Maybe my car just gotyounger. Is there diff. in the dash between the 18 and 20 . Or anything else that stands out.  Any frame stamps that  I can find some where?  Thanks Was there a KE-45

[Brian_Heil 1,533]

Correct Buick engine. NOT a Northway but some did get Northways. I’ve seen 2. 
 

No idea what CP means but a guess is Canadian Plant since the engine and chassis were shipped to Oshawa from Flint 

 

Congrats!
 

Get to know Mark Shaw out your way. 

[dibarlaw 1,955]

I do believe that this was the car Mark Shaw referenced to me to several years ago in a Craigslist ad. As mentioned the photos in the ad were very poor. Now thinking back it was a 1920 K-45.

[rjp 37]

Thanks guys, Iam not disapointed in the car its still good. Thanks again. Roger Pfaff

[Morgan Wright 998]

I can't see your dashboard to see if its different from my 1918 but I think McLaughlin personalized their dashboards a little. I see you have a temperature gauge, I don't

 

 

[dibarlaw 1,955]

rjp:

 I sent a PM with your requested info.

 In your other thread you show photos of the car you now have. A 1920 K45.  So how about a nice Christmas ad for a 1920 McLaughlin.

[dibarlaw 1,955]

Here is the 1920 K45 I negotiated on in the 1990s. Now in Germany. The Flint model 45 Buicks were finished in Special Green.

[rjp 37]

The older owner put the temperature gauge where the Clock goes, but its just a after market one. If Icould find one I would like to put the clock back in, working or not roger

Edited December 23, 2020 by rjp
wrong (see edit history)

[Oldtech 129]

You have a very nice 1920 Canadian built McLaughlin. I like it.  B-in law has one but in much worse condition. The Chassis is all Buick but the bodies were made by McLaughlin in Canada. Does it have the wooden mahogany dash? The bodies are similar to U.S. but not identical. 

[rjp 37]

Yes the dash is all mahogany, And thank you. Looks like it will fun. I do need to have the wood spokes worked on. I would like to get the clock for it also, working or not