1923 Kissel Model 6-45 Gold Bug Speedster

[kisselman27]

On 9/18/2022 at 11:40 AM, George K said:

What year is this double bag setup?

 

[kisselman27]

Just now, kisselman27 said:

 

1923 Kissel Model 6-55. Cheers John

[ron hausmann]

4 hours ago, kisselman27 said:

1923 Kissel Model 6-55. Cheers John

John from Australia is one of the most knowledgeable Kissel experts on the planet, so his diagnosis is probably the most correct one. In mid 1923, Kissel discontinued the Model 6-45 engine and chassis (65 hp and 124” wb), and introduced the Model 6-55 engine and chassis (61hp and 121” wb). So there are Model 6-55 Kissels from late 1923. I actually have such a sedan . The tail light in the picture shows what looks like a 1923 tail and tail bracket. So this being a 1923 is likely correct.

thank you John.

Ron Hausmann

[ron hausmann]

All,

    Status as of October 2, 2022. Work on pieces continues as painting of body and fenders at paint shop is underway. 
1. Having Stewart speedometer rebuilt at local Speedo shop.

2. Had new aluminum dash plate made since old one was severely pitted. Am polishing it out myself.

3. Buffed and adjusted Neville steering wheel spyder and have created new rim from existing splined wallet rim. Hid the old spyder gaps pretty well.

4. Have started finish painting Houk wheels “antique white” to match the pictures.

5. Restoring front bumper mount hardware. Painting them yellow since rears are yellow.

  
    This coming week I’ll crate up various engine parts in preparation for taking engine to get rebuilt. I have everything except a water pump. May have to canabalize an existing engine to get one of these.

    Thanks, Ron Hausmann P. E.

[DBKissel]

Looks great- what a project!  Can't wait to see it finished.  /D

[ron hausmann]

All,

   Here’s an update on progress as of October 29, 2022.

1. Speedometer has been professionally rebuilt and I renickled the rims . It’s now brand new.

2. Pheeny Walker rim wind clock has been located, purchased and restored. It runs.

3. Radiator cowl welting and shroud welting has been applied using nickel rivets.

4. Radiator cowl polished aluminum trim casting has been restored, welded, and buffed. Lo9ks new.

5. finish painting of wheels to correct off white has been completed.still searching for gray tires.

6. Neville steering walnut Wheels has been sanded multiple ti es and coated to a mirror finish.

7. Cracked cast aluminum steps plates has been professionally polished. One was cracked so I rewelded it and ground and buffed it back to original finish.

8. Remy generator 912 and starter have been professionally rebuilt AND rewound so they are brand new. I pick them up on tuesda6 from Advanced Electrical Rebuild. 
9. Numerous small carburetor control rods and anchors have been taken apart, sanded, and repainted. These are all ready for install. 
    My shop is becoming loaded with boxes of fully restored Kissel parts as I await painter finishing my body painting. Once I get her back, it’s a simple matter of applying all these finished units to assemble the car.

    Ron Hausmann P.E.

[edinmass]

Looks good Ron. Your first test drive may require a raccoon coat!

[Panza]

Hi Ron:

would you please share who restored your speedometer? it does, indeed, look brand new

thank

 

[ron hausmann]

14 hours ago, Panza said:

Hi Ron:

would you please share who restored your speedometer? it does, indeed, look brand new

thank

 

Penza,

I had my bezels nickel-chromed first before going to repair shop.

Restoration was done by Scott Speedometer Service, located in Pontiac, Michigan.

Phone 248-338-4148

Suggest you talk price. definitely knows how to do it.

Ron 

[ron hausmann]

All - Work on small but important items continues. Soon we will have the body and chassis back from the painter and all these months parts will be mounted. Below are;

1. Have buffed and rebuffed dash plate to mirror finish. Looks really nice.

2. Restored the hood latches and clasps. Bought brand new nickel slotted screws and rubber bumpers to make them look fantastic.

3. Finished bumper bracket mount painting.

4. Restored Ahooga-horn. Used more of the nickel screws to dress it up.

Running out of work now until the body comes back. Only thing left is to coral all of the engine, clutch, and transmission parts and assure they are all there and work together. Kissel Model 6-45 engines can fit any of the three Warner transmissions T60, T64B, and T64J. The first one is technically correct but I have four excellent T74’s which are smoother in operation. There are probably one or two other Kissel folks in the world who know this difference so I’ll probably opt to use the best Kissel T64B. 

Ron Hausmann P.E.

[prewarnut]

Regarding the aluminum dash, do you plan on leaving it as-is, or waxing it or lacquering? Just curious.

[ron hausmann]

1 hour ago, prewarnut said:

Regarding the aluminum dash, do you plan on leaving it as-is, or waxing it or lacquering? Just curious.

My nickel plate guy suggested to get the aluminum dash “annealed”. Clear finish.
but my originals were never originally coated and shine up just fine.

as a purist, I’ll probably leave it shiney but uncoated.

thanks, Ron Hausmann P.E.

[Walt G]

Ron

thanks for the ongoing report on your progress of your restoration. Like Joe Puleo  the detailed photo image reports are not only interesting but so important as a guide on how and what to do to all of us. Many here on the forums "restore" cars but not from the ground up. To see this gives everyone a good education on what to expect/how to do it . It is reality - about all the time it takes even to just clean, prep and then paint a piece that doesn't need work to even get it to that level. Post WWII car owners perhaps can get a bit of an insight into what it takes to restore a car that is 50 years older then what they are working on.  I have restored 2 cars of the pre WWII era ground up , and a half of one that I had to give up on due to health reasons at the time ( after making new fenders for it from scratch , restoring all the brass lamps, new dashboard, etc it was a 1907 ) Please know that there are those of us out here that really appreciate and admire your efforts to bring back such a great car.

Walt Gosden

PS when I read about Kissel cars I think of a friend long gone who lived about 14 miles north of me , Gene Husting , who never had a Kissel on the road but was so very deep into their history.

Edited November 12, 2022 by Walt G (see edit history)

[ron hausmann]

16 minutes ago, Walt G said:

Ron

thanks for the ongoing report on your progress of your restoration. Like Joe Puleo  the detailed photo image reports are not only interesting but so important as a guide on how and what to do to all of us. Many here on the forums "restore" cars but not from the ground up. To see this gives everyone a good education on what to expect/how to do it . It is reality - about all the time it takes even to just clean, prep and then paint a piece that doesn't need work to even get it to that level. Post WWII car owners perhaps can get a bit of an insight into what it takes to restore a car that is 50 years older then what they are working on.  I have restored 2 cars of the pre WWII era ground up , and a half of one that I had to give up on due to health reasons at the time ( after making new fenders for it from scratch , restoring all the brass lamps, new dashboard, etc it was a 1907 ) Please know that there are those of us out here that really appreciate and admire your efforts to bring back such a great car.

Walt Gosden

PS when I read about Kissel cars I think of a friend long gone who lived about 14 miles north of me , Gene Husting , who never had a Kissel on the road but was so very deep into their history.

Thanks Walt,

   In my decades long quest to buy and hoard anything Kissel, I acquired many letters that Gene Husting wrote to many Kissel owners and folks. He appeared to be a wealth of knowledge about Kissel details, in an era when we didn’t have the internet to help us. He helped dozens of folks with Kissel ID and parts. Wish I could have met him.

Thx. Ron

[ron hausmann]

All,

     Here is a status repot on our 1923 Kissel Gold Bug restoration as of December 2, 2022, and also a few editorial comments about automotive engineers of a hundred years ago.

     As a licensed and degreed engineer myself, I continue to be amazed at how ingenious and crafty those automotive engineers were a hundred years ago. This past week I attempted to take a Warner T64 model J-1 transmission completely apart. I did it. But only after assuming that they would use assemblies that would be easily assembled in the first place. The transmission shift tower is very simple and yet very complex in its functioning. How can this have been visualized and conceived back then? Springs that work as assembly screws themselves. Left and right fingers that are made to work in either hand. Ball slides tha5 ease the gears together. I hope our engineers today never loose this type of creativity.!!!

     Status as of 12-2-2022:

1. Headlights have been renickled and fully assembled ready to go. 
2. brake lever and wrachet have been renickled and assembled.

3. transmission has been disassembled and parts readied for being nickel plated. Tower, gear shift, and gearshift lock need to be nickled.

4. miscellaneous parts (license holder, steering column tube, steering column bracket, etc) have been renickled.

5. Floor plate cover for shifter and brake handle has been found in another car. Mine was rusted thru. This will be renickled.

    I now am ready to assemble everything - - once I get the body back.

    Ron Hausmann P.E.

[Mike "Hubbie" Stearns]

Do you have an eta on the body? Was just wondering. Mike 

[ron hausmann]

1 hour ago, Mike "Hubbie" Stearns said:

Do you have an eta on the body? Was just wondering. Mike 

Nope. Wish I did. But engine hasn’t been started yet either, although it’s complete, together as original, and should be a easy overhaul.

thanks, 

ron hausmann

[John Bloom]

Ron, I want to be you when I grow up!  What a great car and thanks for sharing. When I read your updates I cycle back and forth between feeling “motivated” and “hopelessly inadequate”

 

I can’t wait to see you start assembly. 
 

 

[Luv2Wrench]

2 hours ago, John Bloom said:

Ron, I want to be you when I grow up!  What a great car and thanks for sharing. When I read your updates I cycle back and forth between feeling “motivated” and “hopelessly inadequate”

 

I can’t wait to see you start assembly. 
 

 

I also cycle between those feelings.

[ron hausmann]

All - as of today, December 21, 2022, I has finished fully locating and fitting all of the dash instruments and dash for the Kissel. See pictures.

    For those who have not done car dashboards, there is a wild variation in sizes of oil gauges, amp gauges, speedos, clocks, and choke handles. And Kissel used unique dash lights and choke face plates. 
    As to rim wind clocks, the three main manufacturers in the 20’s were Phinney-Walker, Keyless, and Waltham. Kissel manual says that Waltham was used but 8ve never seen 9ne on any Kissel. So I believe they actually used more phinney- Walker and keyless. All of these come in multiple sizes, multiple mounting methods, and colors so getting the right one was hard for me. Because I had several old spare parted ones, I was able to cobble together a great, black, working Keyless Clock, with a correct rim- wind rim, and made a wood mounting bracket for her. It now looks wonderful. 
    Also re polished the aluminum dash to a mirror finish. 
   Thanks, Ron Hausmann P.E.

[DBKissel]

Everything looks great!

[John Bloom]

Beautiful. That dash is stunning. 

[63RedBrier]

Your talent and persistence are OUTSTANDING, Ron!

[ron hausmann]

All - Have scavenged parts from two decrepit Kissel Water pumps from derelict  Kissel 6-38 cars. Between the two, I have gotten enough good parts to create one good water pump. Here it is. A Kissel 6-38 water pump (1916-1918) and a Kissel 6-45 water pump (1919-1923) are almost identical with most parts interchangeable. Body itself is a bit different but internals and shaft the same. Not having a 6-45, I’m using this 6-38. Possibly ten people in the world will be able to see any difference.

Ron Hausmann P.E.

[JV Puleo]

Is it wise to use that shaft? It looks as if it's been badly worn and built up by brazing...an old time repair I've seen before but never as good as a ground shaft.

[ron hausmann]

12 minutes ago, JV Puleo said:

Is it wise to use that shaft? It looks as if it's been badly worn and built up by brazing...an old time repair I've seen before but never as good as a ground shaft.

JB - true. But the operable parts are really in great shape and vibe had it spun at high speed do she’s ok. I agree with you, but it’s passed the reasonable tests.

Ron

[edinmass]

On 12/2/2022 at 10:56 PM, ron hausmann said:

Nope. Wish I did. But engine hasn’t been started yet either, although it’s complete, together as original, and should be a easy overhaul.

thanks, 

ron hausmann

 

After 50 years, I have learned never use the word easy in a sentence when talking about restoration. 😎

[ron hausmann]

4 hours ago, edinmass said:

 

After 50 years, I have learned never use the word easy in a sentence when talking about restoration. 😎

Ok. How about “relatively easier”.

[edinmass]

1 minute ago, ron hausmann said:

Ok. How about “relatively easier”.

 

We use the term…..”straight forward” so when it goes five times over budget and three times longer then thought we look more intelligent…………but it doesn’t happen often!

[95Cardinal]

Ron, your workmanship and attention to detail is inspiring!

I can't wait to see this car in person!

Joe

[ron hausmann]

All -

   As of February 11, 2023, here is the status:

1. Essentially every body attachment is done, restored, and awaiting body and fenders from painter. 
2. Engine has been readied to take to engine- rebuilder. Generator, pump, starter, radiator, and hoses are done.

3. in this down time, have started to restore top side irons. These are nickel plated on a Gold Bug but mine are painted over and caked with 100 years of gunk. Today I spent four hours wire brush wheeling one of the two irons. See picture. These are in good shape. Will need to be re-nickled though.

4. in this down time, have also started restoring the oak top bows. Mine are in good shape but had hundreds of small tack holes. See pictures. I used the “West System” wood epoxy to fill and coat these. I’ll sand these down, stain, and varnish after the epoxy is cured.

     Take care. 
     Ron Hausmann P.E.

 

Edited February 12, 2023 by ron hausmann (see edit history)

[ron hausmann]

Here are more top bow pictures.

these were patched up and leveled.

today I stained them and am impressed with how good these are turning out.

Ron Hausmann P. E.

Edited February 18, 2023 by ron hausmann (see edit history)

[ron hausmann]

All - as of March 4, 2023 -

a. Still awaiting body back from painter.

b. Have clear coated and sanded the top bows. Very nice finish.

c. Delivered top bow irons to nickel player after I wire wheeled them. These will be plated in the fully up configuration, since disassembly would be prohibitive=e and stupid. I think Kissel originally plated them also in extended mode.

d. Started assembly of nickel gear shifter and shift lock mechanism. Very tough and detailed work! But boy she is pretty. That 4” big spring inside the shift tower is especially hard to assemble!

ron

 

[ron hausmann]

As of March 18, 2023, am working on the following;

1. Have assembled the renickeled gear shifter and gear fork mechanism. Lucky to have an identical gear fork mechanism because assembling these and the roller bearings within them is very very hard. It works correctly and is very tight. Unfortunately while test shifting it, I caught the tip of my finger in it and sliced my fingertip. Blood all over the new nickel.

2. Have started recovering the replacement luggage trunk for the car. Kissel Gold Bugs used shorter trunks than the normal 36” plus kind and also they must be good leather covered wood, 13-15” tall. I had a derelict one that I am covering right now. Hundreds of little tacks in a row. 
3. Ordered new latches, locks, piano hinges, and nickel screws for the luggage carrier. Awaiting delivery.

4. took luggage carrier handle-brackets and huge corner irons to be nickel plated. When done, she will be a work of art.

Still waiting for body from painter!

thanks,

     Ron Hausmann P.E.

[ron hausmann]

All -

just working on wonderful luggage carrier this last week or so. Covered it with leather and started lining it with cork contact materials. Also bought new hardware which is being installed. Am awaiting eight intricate original corner guards, eight piano hinge end caps, and four handle clasps which are at my nickel plater getting refinished. I’m very proud of this very tedious but rewarding work. Very hard to hide small nails within joints!

Ron Hausmann. P. E. 

[ron hausmann]

As of April 26, 2023, still awaiting painted body from painter so I can apply all of the accessories and trim that I have restored over this pst year. Also spent three days finishing and lining the leather trunk. I got the special guards and trim pieces back this week from the nickel player and now this trunk is100% done..

thanks, 

Ron Hausmann P.E.

[John Bloom]

I can’t wait to see you drop that painted body back on! I love following along with you Ron. Keep up the great work.

[JV Puleo]

A very good job Ron...

[hursst]

That trunk is so nice, it looks like CGI or a deep fake.    Could that possibly be real??? 

 

Maybe it should go to a Craftsmanship museum instead of on the back of a car.  Beautiful artwork!

[ron hausmann]

Few more pictures of finished luggage trunk interior abd freshly re-nickeled top bow irons. It took a day to carefully break loose all the top bow hinges from being nickel plated solid. Used rubber mallets, rubber wedges , and patience.

Ron Hausmann P.E.