What I Did on My Lunch Hour

[Vic Piano]

Paul, I'd almost endure the cold, to come up and have some fun with your 8N.

[oldbugger]

Vic, Maybe we could trade places in the winter months. Almost huh

[Vic Piano]

Paul, I'm spoiled now, been living in Florida for 22 years. Happy to say that snow is a distant memory...

[Vic Piano]

As luck would have it, on my lunch hour, I found a starter motor (under some other parts) in a corner of the garage. This starter had been cannibalized at one time, (most likely by me ) but, it had a good Bendix spring on it. I removed it and cleaned it in the parts cleaner... Now I've got a lunch date tomorrow, joining the good Bendix with the '39 LZ's starter...Hopefully I'll get everything together and installed in the Zephyr.

[Vic Piano]

It's Saturday and the sun is out and the temp is climbing up to the mid 60's... So, after getting home from the Hot Rod Breakfast, I swapped out the broken Bendix spring on the Zephyr starter and reinstalled it. I went to start the car and, after a few spins, the battery was too low... Now the charger is hooked up to the Optima 12 volt in the Zephyr... So, I drained some water out of the '51 F-1's radiator to put some anti-freeze in it. After that, I backed the '39'CS into the garage so I could drain its radiator and get ready to remove the leaking water pumps and install the new ones... FUN...FUN...FUN

[Vic Piano]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Ok, it has actually been warm enough to play in the garage, the temp almost his 70 degrees today... I know, I'm spoiled by the usually warm sunny weather here but, I did get to play in the garage and, I replaced the water pumps in the '39 CS today.

Here you can see the resulting mess from the leaking pulley...
Here's one of the new water pumps ready to be installed.

One down and one to go.

I tested the installation with water and, once I determined there were no leaks, I drained some water and put in some antifreeze as a rust inhibitor. Now the '39 CS is back in action... I'll have to spruce up the engine compartment, etc., when I get around to it, as she is a driver, as Henry intended...

[Steves46]

Vic, I'm happy to hear the installation went well and the 39 is back on the street. We just got back from a very nice weekend camping trip to Paynes Prarrie State Park in Gainesville. Although it was a bit chilly, the campfire kept us comfy while we were outside.

[Vic Piano]

Steve, that sounds like fun, although my wife's idea of camping out is when the hotel doesn't have HBO... Glad you had fun, hope to see you before the Florida "Barner's Bash". Vic

[WarrenC]

Glad you got the water pumps in. Have you figured out the surging problem yet?

[Vic Piano]

Thanks Warren, the surging problem was a bad Power Valve. A new one from Charlie NY solved that. Maybe I'll drive the '39CS up to the Hot Rod Breakfast next Saturday.

[flatmotor40]

Vic I use Water Wetter in my cars for rust inhibitor

[Vic Piano]

I've never used Water Wetter, maybe I'll pick some up and give it a try. Thanks.

[Vic Piano]

This is a bit off-topic but in keeping with the history of our Flatheads.

This past Wednesday I was driving north on I-75, around the Ft. Myers area, when I noticed a fairly large airplane making a wide turn at a low altitude. I could not make out what kind of aircraft it was until I could see the full silhouette... It was a WWII B-17 Bomber, it was very cool to see, hear and feel it fly over. I guess there must be some kind of air show going on... Now I'm even more excited about going to the Fantasy of Flight Museum during the Florida "Barner's Bash".

[Vic Piano]

I sent the '39 LZ's carb up to Charlie NY because after I replaced the PV, even though it was better, it still was not performing as it should. Charlie let me know that the carb was well used and needed to be rebuilt. among other things, he said the throttle shaft and the shaft bore were worn beyond comfortable limits, etc. Needless to say, I'm sure glad I sent it up to him and I'm looking forward to getting it back and installing it so I can get the Zephyr back on the road.

[Vic Piano]

I had a nice Valentine Day surprise in the mail... The '39 LZ carb that Charlie NY rebuilt arrived today... If it works as good as it looks, I'll be a happy camper...



Thanks Charlie, I appreciate it. Vic

[Vic Piano]

Trials and Tribulations

AKA, the joy of Flatheads. I installed the rebuilt carburetor on the '39 LZ yesterday but, when I went to start the car, the starter locked up again... So, we pulled the Zephyr up on the lift with the help of my F-150 and some tow straps. I removed the starter and took it to have it rebuilt. The guy at the shop asked me how soon I needed it and I replied "can't you do it now?". He was not amused, however he did say that it should be done in a day or two...

[BILL WZOREK]

Vic: That is why I always own a home on a hill,Can always pop start LOL
Never missed a day of work because thr pickup would not start.

( Till I got one with auto trans ) dang hill not long enough to get it to fire !!!

[Vic Piano]

Bill, don't ya know that the only "hills" in Tampa are the Speed Bumps in the Grocery Store parking lot...

[BILL WZOREK]

Yea and when I am sitting in the passenger seat of the 39 LZ and you are leading the pack of Barner to the next event on the schedule, I would get White knuckles /Blurred vision from the wind in my face / & Bumps on my neck GOOSE BUMPS ................

[Vic Piano]

Are you implying that I've got a heavy foot...