29 Chandler Posted March 7, 2022 Share Posted March 7, 2022 Unfortunately I found a bad leak in the rear water manifold that feeds cooled water to the rear three cylinders. The manifold is pressed steel with a cast iron tube welded in the front to receive water from the front manifold. Inside the whole unit is lined with copper sheet that was supposed to protect the outer housing from rusting. The outside of the manifold is nickel plated and is very prominent on the engine. Over time water has worked its way in between the the copper and steel creating a hidden area of rust. It is from this area where the coolant is now leaking through. After 100 plus years I think its time to either do a proper repair or replacement of this part. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29 Chandler Posted March 7, 2022 Author Share Posted March 7, 2022 For context this is how it looked before it started to leak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted March 7, 2022 Share Posted March 7, 2022 Steel, copper, and water. You have formed a battery. Electrolytic galvanic action and time is your enemy. I think I would opt to have one cast in Bronze and then nickeled eliminating the steel altogether. Dandy Dave. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickelroadster Posted March 7, 2022 Share Posted March 7, 2022 I order to stop or slow the galvanic corrosion use nothing but distilled water with your antifreeze. It took many years for it to corrode this much and if you protect another one it should last many more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Harper Posted March 7, 2022 Share Posted March 7, 2022 (edited) I agree with Dave, A bronze casting would be fairly simple and cheap. You can use your original for the pattern. Simply clean it up, remove the iron pipe and fill and fair in the pipe hole, bolt holes, pits and dimples with body filler. The casting would need to be thicker than the steel. I would build it up all over on the inside so your total thickness is minimum 1/8". (Any irregularities would not be visible) Add an extra 1/8" thickness to the flange to allow material removal for machining. Due to shrinkage (I usually use .18"/ft but it varies with the alloy so you will need to talk to your foundry person) the cover will be slightly smaller. However you could build out the flange a bit to compensate using thin wood strips etc. The Iron pipe could be replaced by brass or bronze and silver soldered. Other than a sightly thicker flange no one would be able to tell the difference and it would last a long, long, time. Edited March 7, 2022 by Terry Harper (see edit history) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29 Chandler Posted March 8, 2022 Author Share Posted March 8, 2022 (edited) Thank you guys for the feedback. I figured a replacement was in order after 100 plus years. I'll look into the bronze casting as the long term solution. Always appreciate the support this communities offers! Edited March 8, 2022 by 29 Chandler (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erichill Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 Mine need to be replaced to on my 1919 Chandler. Copper. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Gregush Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 There is a video on YouTube, Jay Leno, repairing much the same part on his Owens Magnetic. Got to about 4:40 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29 Chandler Posted March 19, 2022 Author Share Posted March 19, 2022 Update So last week I brought the part of to my friend who said clean it up and pull out the copper liner, I'll weld it up for you. Well after getting the part sandblasted I dropped it off at his house for the week. He's a master at welding and fabrication so I knew it was in good hands. Plan A was to weld it up and reinforce the flange and get it nickeled again. The back half of the manifold worked out, but the front half where there were some prior repairs not so much. Plan B, remake the whole part out of 12ga rolled steel stock that he just happened to have in the garage. It turned out wonderful! I have a tour next weekend so the plan is to rattle can it now and then mount it on the block for the tour. Then I can take more time and clean up and get it nickeled. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29 Chandler Posted March 19, 2022 Author Share Posted March 19, 2022 On 3/16/2022 at 2:31 PM, erichill said: Mine need to be replaced to on my 1919 Chandler. Copper. Eric I know a guy! Another option would be to take my set and have them cast in bronze. BTW does that engine also have three silent chains on the front like my 1914 does? If so did you have to replace them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 17 hours ago, 29 Chandler said: Update So last week I brought the part of to my friend who said clean it up and pull out the copper liner, I'll weld it up for you. Well after getting the part sandblasted I dropped it off at his house for the week. He's a master at welding and fabrication so I knew it was in good hands. Plan A was to weld it up and reinforce the flange and get it nickeled again. The back half of the manifold worked out, but the front half where there were some prior repairs not so much. Plan B, remake the whole part out of 12ga rolled steel stock that he just happened to have in the garage. It turned out wonderful! I have a tour next weekend so the plan is to rattle can it now and then mount it on the block for the tour. Then I can take more time and clean up and get it nickeled. Should outlast you. Nice job. Dandy Dave! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29 Chandler Posted March 21, 2022 Author Share Posted March 21, 2022 Leak no more! New water manifold installed and tested. 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erichill Posted March 27, 2022 Share Posted March 27, 2022 29 Chandler Yes mine has the three timing chains. I have not had to. When i inherited the car (in pieces of course) it came with a new set. I have not pulled out the new set to measure to see if they are indeed for the Chandler. Are you needing new chains? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29 Chandler Posted April 1, 2022 Author Share Posted April 1, 2022 On 3/27/2022 at 4:28 PM, erichill said: 29 Chandler Yes mine has the three timing chains. I have not had to. When i inherited the car (in pieces of course) it came with a new set. I have not pulled out the new set to measure to see if they are indeed for the Chandler. Are you needing new chains? The chains on my car are original and loose. No issues so far but it is on my todo list. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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