Northern Lights
The Ohio Region Classic Car Club of America SPRING 2020
Quality in Every Detail 1936 Cord 810 ‘Armchair’ Beverly
COOLING SYSTEM TECH • DREAM GARAGE • ROLLING CAR SHOW Board of Managers, Ohio Region Club News & Calendar Al Truelson David Heinrichs Hello Matt, Director, Awards Chairman Asst. Director, Head Judge I just finished the digital edition of the Winter 2020 carts out of the building’s basement where a one car garage 3616 Erhart Rd. Litchfield, OH 44253 Stan Hywet Inner Circle Northern Lights. First, let me congratulate you on another door allowed access to a space just big enough for the Jordan. 216-299-0576 25716 Osborne Rd. Columbia Station, OH 44028 great issue, your work continues to Dave approved and we got to plug in [email protected] 440-668-3763 impress. I read extensively in the car a trickle charger for the weak battery. [email protected] hobby, and in my opinion your work is The extended Stecker family got to see Kathleen “Kat” Fink equal to the best in the business. Jim’s pride and joy on the Manor House Membership Chairperson Diane Truelson I enjoyed your reminisces about lawn Sunday and it was a crowd pleaser 19130 Brookfield Dr. Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 Treasurer Dave Polson and learned a few things all day long. The car had already been 440-384-3086 3616 Erhart Rd. Litchfield, OH 44253 about him I did not know. I met Dave invited to Pebble Beach later that year, [email protected] 440-552-9360 shortly after joining ORCCCA in where I believe it was awarded 2nd in [email protected] 1998 although I can’t recall the how class, but with a little luck, it premiered John Jones and where. The first time I worked in Akron, Ohio. Secretary Margus Sweigard with him was for the 2008 Stan Hywet I also concur with your thoughts on 17816 Shaw Ave. Stan Hywet Assistant Coordinator Father’s Day show. The Saturday prior the state of the hobby, vis-à-vis rolling Lakewood, OH 44107 2800 Hemlock Dr. Willoughby, OH 44094 I was at the back gate early to insure works of art. I don’t mean to step on 216-375-9181 440-942-1647 all went well with the Inner Circle cars toes, but we don’t enjoy that aspect of [email protected] [email protected] arriving in advance. It was a dreary the hobby overmuch. In looking back day with occasional light rain, not through old CCCA publications it can unusual for us, right? Harry Wolk had Norm Cangey George Strom be found that years ago many of the obtained visqueen sufficient to cover cars, including those of Jack Nethercutt Membership Committee co-chair Stan Hywet Inner Circle all the Inner Circle cars. Word got to and other club luminaries, were driven 21355 Hillsdale Ave. Fairview Park, OH 44126 646 Washington Ave. Elyria, OH 44035 me that Dave was at the front gate with long distances, sometimes in snow and 440-333-8921 440-322-6608 Jim Stecker’s immaculate 1930 Jordan rain, to attend the Annual Meetings [email protected] Model Z Speedway Ace for what was in Buck Hill Falls PA. You and I agree Jim Keller to be its first showing. I headed over that all cars become used in the space Rich Fink Stan Hywet Committee to meet him. It was drizzling at the time and he immediately of their first mile; imagine Mr. Nethercutt’s Rolls Royce after Editor—High Beam, Club Photographer 5255 Sandy Circle N.W. asked about provisions for keeping the car dry. The use of the trip from the west coast. I’ll bet it was a fun trip. 19130 Brookfield Dr. Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 Canton, OH 44718 visqueen on this fresh Jim Capaldi restored roadster, the only 440-384-3086 330-268-2958 Model Z known to exist, didn’t appeal to me to begin with, Mike Dube [email protected] [email protected] and less so to Dave, who advised he was not leaving the car Ravenna, Ohio exposed to the elements. The general idea being if we couldn’t Bob Girardi Joan Kamper put it inside somehow, we would not have it Sunday, making Hi Matt, Club Historian Sunshine no one happy. I asked for a little time to check options, and I must commend you on the fine article that you wrote 324 Substation Rd. Brunswick Hills, OH 44212 9225 Lindbergh Blvd. Olmsted Falls, OH 44138 deciding to leave the ORCCCA main tent as a last resort, went about David [Polson]. You were very kind and spot on. 440-823-9151 440-234-5659 down to the administration building to see what the staff Dave was a brilliant self taught person. I remember he did a [email protected] [email protected] could offer. They put me in touch with a man, whose name I frame-off on my ’29 Packard and guaranteed me that it would do not remember, who in short order moved a couple of golf be at the AACA meet at Hershey, probably in the mid ’80s. He Andy Hussar Josie Adams showed up there, car in trailer, but not totally assembled yet. Club Projects, Stan Hywet Inner Circle Committee Stan Hywet Committee He did say it would be at Hershey! That was Polson. The next 2150 Kenyon Ave. S.W. Massillon, OH 44647 3766 Everett Rd. Richfield, OH 44286 Event Calendar year we took it to Pebble and it won the best open car. 330-575-3421 330-524-2653 He is truly missed by both Pam and me. He never failed to [email protected] [email protected] July 25 Harwood Motors Open House call each of us on our birthdays. (the Harwood Family) The end of an era. Lee Wolff Much appreciated Assistants to the Board Sept. 10-12 Salem Tour/Grand Classic Chagrin Falls, Ohio Melanie Harwood, Stan Hywet Coordinator & Registrar (David Johnson) Marjorie Strom, Stan Hywet Inner Circle Matt Harwood, Editor, “Northern Lights” magazine Bob Brown, Equipment manager/Stan Hywet Head Judge National Dues are $80, payable to Classic Car Club of America, P.O. Box 346160, Chicago, IL 60634. Regional dues are $25 single or $30 including spouse. One must be a national member to be a regional member and all payments are Northern Lights is the official publication of the Ohio Region Classic Car Club of America. It is published quarterly(ish). managed by the CCCA National Headquarters in Chicago. Visit www.ClassicCarClub.org for more information or Northern Lights is printed and mailed by Engler Printing, 808 W. State Street, Freemont, OH 43420. contact Kathleen Fink, Ohio Region Membership Chairperson.
2 Email us: [email protected] 3 EDITOR’S LETTER BACK SEAT DRIVER Matt Harwood, Editor-In-Chief Riley Harwood, Editor-At-Large
uring this COVID-19 lockdown, our family has participated in 4. If you need photos Dthree separate day tours, which were really rolling car shows. of the event, please Car Shows During Quarantine Meet up somewhere, drive in line to a few hospitals and retirement appoint someone else homes, honk and wave, go home. Unfortunately, all three were to do it. One tour leader t’s a very good time for driving. If you’re in a car you’re still in quarantine. Instead frustrating because the organizers overlooked the basics or simply stopped every time we of car shows where you park your car and sit around talking, you drive to a meeting didn’t manage the event correctly. These tips are a result of seeing were about to turn into I problems in action. Maybe you can learn from their mistakes. a rest home driveway, place and stay in your car. Eventually the host will give you directions and hopefully a 1. Drive a reasonable speed. High speeds aren’t often a problem waved the other cars map and you can drive there. Sometimes you travel together almost like a parade and on car tours. The actual problem is going too slow. That may seem AROUND him, taking sometimes it’s just an interesting drive and you can go by yourself. If you don’t get out like a non-issue, but on all three of these outings, the tour leader at photos of the line of of your car, you are technically still in quarantine and it is a good way to enjoy your car the head of the line went so slowly in an attempt to keep the group cars as they pulled in. safely. together that it caused all kinds of problems. At one point we were Meanwhile, radiators are getting steamy, we often had to pull into Sometimes at these driving car shows there is a lot traffic and the weather is hot. That on a two-lane country road with a posted 50 MPH speed limit and oncoming lanes to go around his car, local traffic is being blocked, can be very tough for your old car to handle because temperatures will go up. Usually cars from the 1950s and older are in my speedometer showed 15 MPH. Meanwhile, traffic is backing and, well, it’s just a mistake to stop like that. Have someone zoom greater danger because their engines aren’t as modern and might not stay cool as well as newer cars. You should be sure your up behind us with people trying to go about their daily lives. We ahead to each stop and take the photos instead. engine and radiator are in top condition. motored along that way for 15 minutes. This is an ideal way to make 5. When you have the chance to merge into traffic, TAKE IT. One You should also keep the people cool because most cars older than the 1960s do not have air conditioning. Sometimes the general public hate old cars. There’s also the problem of cooling, week we sat for about 15 minutes at a right turn because the tour brakes, and clutches at that speed. It’s OK to go the speed limit or leader was waiting for a large enough opening in traffic for ALL the it gets hot in an old car, especially when you’re sitting still. The front seat is the hottest because you are sitting right by thereabouts—all but the earliest Full Classics can handle 45 MPH. cars to make the turn. That’s simply not going to happen. JUST GO. the engine. You can use vents and windows to help stay cool but when you are sitting still it can get hot. This is why you If you’re really concerned about people getting lost, include We’ll catch up and hopefully traffic will see what’s going on and not might want to pack water for both addresses for each stop so if we do get separated we can punch it make too much congestion. If you did rule #2 properly, everyone yourself and your car. into our phones or navigation devices and rejoin later. will eventually get to the right place. With temperatures in the 80s It also goes without saying that the tour leader should never 6. If you’ve got horsepower, use it. I don’t mean do something stupid and 90s in the summer your car’s stop on the side of the road to let everyone catch up; nevertheless it like burning some rubber, but there was a guy in an Oldsmobile 442, engine can get too hot and the happens frequently. Trust the people in the other cars to be able to and he slept through the first few seconds of every green light and water can get so hot it turns to figure it out, unless you’ve completely failed at rule #2, which is... accelerated slower than an electric wheelchair. Meanwhile, everyone steam. This is called overheating. 2. Make good directions. If you are familiar with the area, pretend behind him has now missed the light and clutches are getting torn Once the steam is gone your car you’re not. If you’re downloading directions from the internet, drive up. If you can scoot along at normal traffic speeds and get out of the the route a few times to be sure it’s navigable by old cars. Lots of way, it’ll really help everyone keep up and make a smoother drive. will be low on water which can highway driving, congested areas, or construction zones are no-nos. Keep moving with the flow. Creeping along as slowly as the slowest be dangerous. If your car is low Again, this seems obvious but one of these tours required about 10 car isn’t helping anyone and creates dangerous situations. The slow on water that makes it easier for it miles of high-speed highway driving with traffic, and that was a guys can handle themselves, I promise. to overheat next time. This is why problem for, say, the 1912 Model T that was with us. Just because Anyone seeing a recurring theme here? you should always carry water with your “collector car” is a 1987 Camaro, don’t assume everyone has This last suggestion is for everyone on the drive, organizers and you in your old car so you can refill that much performance on tap. participants alike: PLEASE PAY ATTENTION. Don’t just fall asleep your radiator and make sure the Mileage indications are useful, but odometers can be inconsistent. and follow the car in front of you like a zombie. At one stop there right amount of water is in it all the Add landmarks both to warn people that a turn is coming as well was a circular driveway around the courtyard of a rest home. We time. as along the way when nothing is happening so that people can circled it and then were supposed to exit to the right. At one point, verify that they are still on the right path. One of our instructions, a car died in the circle and by the time he got it going again the line for instance, was, “Follow the curves and when the road goes straight, ahead of him had already pulled out of sight. He saw old cars pulling turn left.” Um, what? They were trying to say that there was a left in, and simply fell in behind them...to the left and back into the circle. turn branching off the main road, which was kind of making a right And then the guy behind him followed him. Pretty soon we were turn, but it was confusing as hell and a lot of cars shot right past. gridlocked in an ouroboros of idiots in automobiles where nobody Landmarks, street names, and other indicators can be extremely could move. Come on, guys! You’re grown men smart enough to useful. When Melanie and I make a tour, we often take photos of make enough money to buy an old car. Surely you can figure this large landmarks and include them in the directions. stuff out. I just couldn’t believe my eyes as I watched them stupidly 3. Be aware of your surroundings and react. One week I was continue to pile into the lane and jam us all in place. Two cars had to second in line following the tour leader, who was in a modern car. drive across the grass to break the gridlock and open the path again. There was a long downhill run and he simply rode his brakes all the It was soooo stupid. way down at about 20 MPH. I suppose modern brakes can handle This isn’t hard, but if you’re inexperienced maybe these tips will that. On the other hand, those of us in a 5200-pound limousine with be helpful. If you’re an experienced tour participant, maybe offer 80-year-old brakes were white-knuckling it all the way down the help where you can. Melanie sometimes gets out to direct traffic hill. PLEASE take into account the capabilities of the cars around when people get mentally mushy and I occasionally will block an you and drive appropriately. The modern car could have scooted intersection with my giant car to clear a clog. All it really takes is ahead to give the old cars behind him some room without losing a little bit of extra thought and common sense to make everything the group at the bottom of the hill. smooth and easy. 4 Visit www.ORCCCA.com today! Email us: [email protected] 5 PROFILE: Frank Moesle modern cars. He worked on the components of every Classic car I owned—the Packard Super 8, Chrysler Imperial Airflow, Locomobile 48 Sportif, Cord 810 EXPERT KNOWLEDGE Beverly, and all of my Lincolns—the 1922 sport phaeton, 1930 Judkins coupe, 1931 Town Sedan, 1931 Dietrich An Ohio CCCA member who convertible sedan and 1937 Willoughby sport sedan. grew up with the Classics As is often case with Classic cars, there were interesting twists with each one. By David Schultz Perhaps the most memorable involved the Chrysler Imperial Airflow. ne of the benefits of being involved in the Classic car I bought the Airflow with its original carburetor in car hobby for many years has been the opportunity O the trunk and a substitute Buick carburetor in its place— to meet some genuinely interesting people. While I was with no choke linkage. The car ran poorly. I visited The Coxey Minerva with Saoutchik bodywork. fortunate enough to meet famous car people such as Frank and told him the previous owner described the Gordon Buehrig, Ray Dietrich and Peter DePaolo it was Chrysler carburetor as “a piece of crap.” Frank surprised Over the years, we’d regularly gone out for breakfast. sometimes the not-so-famous individuals who proved me by asking me to leave the car in one of his garage I would tell Frank about what was happening in my to be the most interesting. stalls. As I noted, he was what I call a “bench mechanic” world of Classic cars and Frank would reminisce about When I moved to Massillon, Ohio nearly 40 years and did not work on individuals’ cars. Components cars and people and talk about my latest mechanical ago, I had to find not only a new physician and dentist were brought to him, he fixed them, but he didn’t install issues. Add the issues of the day to this mix and it was but—equally important—a competent mechanic to help them; thus my surprise at his offer. never boring. me keep my vintage cars on the road. A few days later he called and asked me to come to Today, Frank spends most of his time at home. At 99 Within a few months of arriving in my newly- his shop. “Go start your car,” he said, which I did. It he doesn’t get around as well as he used to. However, his adopted city, the generator on my 1933 Packard Super started immediately and idled smoothly. “Not bad for a memory is incredible. He remembers repairs he made 8 club sedan required repairs. I was referred to Priest piece of crap, eh?” said Frank. His rebuild had included to my cars that I’ve forgotten! We still enjoy visiting on Auto-Electric, which was operated by Frank Moesle. fabricating all of the choke linkage. a variety of subjects. Frank had worked there continuously since 1937, Perhaps the most memorable car Frank worked on Over the years, Frank has been a strong supporter with the exception of his World War Two service from was a 1928 Minerva with a Saoutchik body owned by of our local art and history museum, the Massillon 1942-45. Priest Auto-Electric rebuilt carburetors, Massillon’s Gen. Jacob Coxey, a former Massillon mayor Museum. starters, generators and magnetos. Originally, the and labor rights advocate who led protest marches on When newscaster Tom Brokaw described World War company had several men on the road, who collected Washington in 1894 and 1914. After going through Two veterans as “the greatest generation” I am certain starters, generators, carburetors and magnetos from several owners the car is now in Belgium. he had men like Frank Moesle in mind. area garages. Frank and Mr. Priest rebuilt them and Frank attended the annual AACA they were delivered back to the garages ready to install. Fall Meet in Hershey for years with his (If you’ve already done the math in your head you’ve Frank Moesle and his 1931 Lincoln LeBaron grandson, Brian. He stopped going probably figured out that Frank is older than most of convertible coupe. about 15 years ago when walking us. You’re correct; he’s 99. He will turn 100 in late May.) became too much. During those years Frank had worked on many of our Classics when Franklin coupe, then a 1923 Cadillac phaeton. Frank he used to dazzle us with his ability to they were new or nearly new. After getting to know never kept more than two or three cars at a time. He identify vintage car parts. Don’t know him I had no doubt that he could repair or rebuild also owned a 1914 Monroe, a Ford Model T and a Ford what it is? Ask Frank. anything on an automobile. He had the knowledge, Model A. At the age of 89 he bought a beautiful 1931 When I first met him in 1980 he resourcefulness and determination. Lincoln LeBaron convertible coupe in Dayton, Ohio. was already 60 years old. He closed his During World War II he served in the U. S. Army I’d connected Frank with the seller and learned business in 1995, but moved several as a Tech 3, the equivalent of a staff sergeant, keeping several weeks later that Frank had driven to Dayton key pieces of equipment and many U.S. Third Armor vehicles operating. His unit landed with his 90 year-old wife and grandson, intending to parts to his home basement, so he on the Normandy beaches immediately after the main drive the Lincoln home. The seller graciously offered to could continue to repair and rebuild invasion and proceeded through France and Belgium deliver it at no charge and Frank wisely accepted. components for friends and special and, eventually, into Germany. In Germany, they Eventually, Frank got behind the wheel of the customers. At age 95, he rebuilt the liberated the horrific Nordhausen concentration camp. Lincoln and took it on several Glenmoor Gathering starters on both of my 1931 Lincolns. Frank remembers the nearby German residents being tours, including one 90-mile trip. When he handed me the last one he ordered to bury the victims By the time I met Frank in 1980, Priest Auto-Electric said, “That’s it. No more.” He was 1931 Lincoln LeBaron convertible coupe In the 1950s Frank bought his first Classic car—a had become a one-man shop. Frank was there there similar to Mr. Moesle’s. officially retired. 1932 Auburn. Eventually, he sold it and bought a 1932 5½ days a week, rebuilding parts for both antique and 6 Visit www.ORCCCA.com today! Email us: [email protected] 7 TECH: BUILDING YOUR DREAM GARAGE In short, try to add a little more than you think you need. haul away trees, dig the foundation, and pour the concrete. It’s Design, Zoning, & Permits. This is where you start to lay probably worth noting that it took Randy more than a year to get down some solid plans for the construction. How will it look? from concept to pouring the first concrete footer. Expect delays How big? How tall? Shape and pitch of the roof? Orientation from both the local government and contractors. DREAM BIG! on the property? Lamar’s shop was inspired by old photographs With Lamar’s post-and-beam construction, traditional wall and conceptualized on a sketch on a piece of paper. Depending studs are not needed since the posts provide all the structural If you’ve dreamed of building a garage for your toys, make on where you live and your level of comfort with construction strength. Large headers atop the studs provide an anchor point that dream come true! techniques, you may need a professional architect or engineer to for the pre-fabricated roof trusses, which required a crane to render your design and present it to the local zoning board. Since install. Once the roof trusses were in place, the outer skin was By Matt Harwood OK to reach a bit here; this is where you’re nailing down things that are important to you. Make a list of features you need and a Lamar’s building was going to be a simple 40x40 square with an primarily decorative, not structural and Lamar could focus on Photos courtesy of the builders second list of features you want, then work from there. open floor plan, less detail and supervision were required. the look of the building. If you ask most people who have built their own garages, Randy’s garage used traditional “stick framing” techniques f you’re a car guy, you’ve surely spent a fairly substantial amount most will tell you the first mistake they made was not going big with stud walls, but Randy used 2x8 wall studs—not only do Iof time daydreaming about your ideal garage/workshop. enough. While size limits can be dictated by your property and they provide more strength, but also greater insulation, a critical For most of us it remains a dream, but should you have the building codes, the truth is that going 20% larger isn’t 20% more consideration opportunity to create your dream garage (meaning time, money, expensive. There’s certainly a practical limit, but it can’t hurt to when heating a and location), there are still many factors to consider before you add some square footage wherever possible. large building start building. Zoning, planning, design, materials, future needs, in upstate New and compatibility are just a few of the issues you’ll face. But like York. Like Lamar, the two gentlemen who contributed these photos of their dream Randy decided to garages for this article, you definitely can do it. use pre-fabricated Buick enthusiast Lamar (also known as “Mr. Earl”) built a medium-sized workshop/storage building/museum to showcase his collection and have a place to tinker with his cars. His design was inspired by Buick dealerships of the ‘20s and ‘30s and he used a lot of reclaimed materials to give it a vintage look outside Zoning rules may also while incorporating a lot of modern techniques inside. Located dicatate whether you in Georgia, Lamar’s heating and cooling requirements were Your local zoning office will tell you the type of foundation use post-and-beam modest, but the real challenge was making it fit in with the rest to use. Areas with frost will likely need a concrete footer. construction (above) or of the vintage-looking buildings on his park-like property. traditional “stick framing” Randy is a vintage automotive literature dealer with On the other hand, Randy’s shop required a building permit with stud walls (right). an eclectic collection of cars that includes a 1931 Auburn and approval from his local planning office. This is a critical convertible sedan and a Cadillac-powered Cord 810 phaeton, step and skipping governmental involvement is a mistake—not roof trusses, which were delivered by truck and installed using among others. Living in Lake George, New York, harsh winters only can they make you miserable along the way, but in a worst- a crane in a fraction of the time and with less effort than is case scenario they can force you to tear it down even after it’s are a reality and dictated a slightly different type of build, as well Step one is to clear the site. Pros with equipment typically required for hand-built roof rafters. as a larger shop that would accommodate Randy’s collection, are always a smart idea for this kind of job. finished if you didn’t play by the rules. Your local planning office With the structure in place, it needs to be enclosed. Plywood functional restoration shop, and a workshop for the large earth- will provide you with code requirements for the construction, or OSB (oriented-strand board) are typical choices and give the moving equipment he uses around his property. How you will use your building? Is it merely storage? Will you including the type of foundation, the thickness of the concrete building strength. Randy chose plywood, which is stronger than be working in there? What kind of work? A hobbyist’s shop for slab, and other important details that should be a part of the OSB, but in many locations it may not be necessary—again, simple maintenance is much different from a shop where you’ll design from the start. Find out what the requirements are check with your planning office. Lamar used reclaimed cypress be conducting frame-off restorations. Consider your current and BEFORE you build, not after. Make them your partners from from a local sawmill that was being recommissioned, which not future needs. Think about the equipment you will be using such the beginning and the entire process will be much smoother. only saved him a lot of money (in exchange for his time and labor as an air compressor, work benches, sand blast cabinet, parts Construction. This is where things start to happen so you in collecting the materials himself) but also gave him vintage cleaner. Consider the space around those tools (you don’t want better have a solid plan in place. Lamar built his shop largely by lumber and corrugated metal panels that would look suitably to be cleaning parts all day with a noisy air compressor running himself using rented equipment, calling in friends and the pros ancient for his design. Additionally, enclosing the building will a foot away). Think about the different jobs, some of which are when he needed more hands or bigger equipment. He salvaged allow you to work inside when the weather turns against you. dirty and some of which are not, and if space permits, give them materials from old buildings that were being de-constructed to There are myriad roofing and siding materials you can use, their own zones which, if not in different rooms, are at least give his shop that old-fashioned look he wanted, while using from traditional shingles to the corrugated steel panels Lamar far enough apart not to affect each other. Think about ceiling modern construction techniques under the skin. Since Georgia used, to expensive alternatives like standing seam metal roofs. height—will you have a lift in your shop or park tall vehicles in does not experience harsh winters where the ground freezes, a Siding can be anything you want—Lamar used the recycled Lamar’s shop plan was just this simple sketch. there? Think about lighting and the convenience of electrical traditional pole barn structure was a reasonable choice. Drilling cypress planks to make his garage look 100 years old while Randy outlets in multiple locations so you don’t have extension cords holes, setting the posts, and filling the holes with concrete gives used fresh cedar siding stained to match his other buildings. You Conceptualization. You’ve surely been daydreaming about all over the place. Think about whether you want compressed a strong skeleton that’s adaptable to different styles and layouts. will likely have many choices here, so think about how to make a dream shop since you were old enough to drive, so now is air drops and running water. It’s expensive to add drains, but if Randy’s shop is considerably larger and will be used for more your new shop live harmoniously with the buildings and world the time to put those dreams into practice. What features are you’re building from scratch, now is the time to do it. Most of us than just light hobbyist work, plus it’s located where the winters around it. important to you? Which ones are realistic (lots of light and take running water for granted until we don’t have it, and hey, are harsh, so his shop required concrete footers. For much of space) and which are not (laser-guided alignment rack)? It’s wouldn’t a rest room out in your shop be a great idea? that work, he called in the pros, including guys to clear the site, continued on page 10
8 Visit www.ORCCCA.com today! Email us: [email protected] 9 Dream (continued) out, and of course, an electric or gas water heater. Plumbing tasks may also include air compressor lines, and like electrical outlets, it’s far more useful to have outlets throughout the shop rather Your plan should include windows and doors: how many, than one or two that require long hoses. Appropriate materials their sizes, and where they are located. As a garage, you’ll want for air lines include black iron pipe, specialized tubing, and at least one door large enough to accommodate the largest even simple copper lines, any of which you or your plumbing vehicle you plan to move into the shop. If you are using power contractor can install. overhead doors, remember to install outlets in the ceiling where Insulation is a critical factor no matter where you live. It the doors will be located. Be sure to include a man door, too, can keep your building warmer in the winter and cooler in the Reclaimed materials can because opening a large overhead door every time you want to summer. Construction is the most affordable time to insulate so require a lot of extra work get inside is not only tiresome, it wastes A LOT of energy and don’t cut corners. Randy, for example, used 2x8 wall studs instead but can give your garage a heat. Personally, I’ve always installed the man doors on my of the usual 2x4s to increase the thickness of the insulation, going wonderful vintage look. garages so they swing outwards; that way they can’t be kicked in from R11 to R28 (the R-value is how insulation’s efficiency is by miscreants and it frees up floor space inside. measured—the higher the number, the more effective It’s important to balance access with efficiency—large garage the insulation). There are several choices for insulation doors are not very good at keeping heat in and cold out. Again, and in general, money spent up front for insulation will this may not be a factor in mild climates, but if it gets cold where pay for itself over time. For new construction, spray foam you live, you may want to limit the number of openings in the provides excellent insulating properties, an air-tight seal building’s outer skin. This includes man doors, windows, and Radiant heating is the most efficient way to heat a garage around joints and outlets, and is waterproof and pest- other access points. Windows provide ventilation and light, but and is installed prior to pouring the concrete floor. proof, so you won’t have animals and insects crawling they can also be expensive, they are not very good at insulating, around in your walls or ceiling. Of course, there’s always and they represent a security risk if you are in an area where that relatively easy to maintain that temperature. And since heat rises, the familiar fiberglass insulation, so weigh the pros and might be a concern. I have seen several shops that use transom- having a warm floor ensures that it will always be the warmest cons of your insulation options before making a choice. style windows up high so that they still admit light and can point in your shop. If you are using radiant floor heating, let your Just remember that now is the easiest and therefore most be opened for fresh air, but are high enough off the ground to contractors know so they can add plumbing, electrical controls, economical time to do it, so do it right. prevent prying eyes from seeing inside the shop. and, of course, the plastic tubing used to circulate hot water Finishing. Externally, you can finish your garage through the system. You can even circulate cool liquid through it any way you like, as long as your zoning board signs off to help keep the shop comfortable in the summer. on your plan. There are plenty of simple, no-nonsense If you are not using radiant floor heating, then just pour the slab garages with plain siding, there are metal buildings, and as usual. Your decisions earlier about door placement, plumbing, even concrete block structures. If it is legal, that’s really and drains will all be critical here, but any competent concrete all that matters. But if you’re going to build it near your contractor will know exactly what to do and how to do it. There home, it should be attractive as well as functional. We’ve are several different finish grades, depending on the desired final discussed Lamar’s shop, which was inspired by Buick Lamar’s garage looks straight out of the 1930s. surface (from rough to polished), and you should familiarize dealerships of the 1930s, and it fits in beautifully with his yourself with the process so you can prepare the site properly. In other buildings and Victorian-style home. vision. Taking the time to make the little details sing turned most cases, there’s a sand base, then gravel (or aggregate), both The accessorizing and vintage design Lamar’s garage into a place he looks forward to visiting. of which are compacted prior to pouring the concrete. Most make this particular garage almost like Randy’s garage, given its size, was finished to blend in with regions will benefit from a vapor barrier that prevents moisture a museum and very true to the original the other buildings on his property. The upscale vertical and in the ground from working its way up through the concrete cedar shake siding, traditional roof overhangs, and and into your shop, and insulation under the floor can improve subtle colors help mask its size and make it seem as efficiency. Before any concrete is poured, make sure you talk with if it has always been there. Choosing a garage door your contractor regarding thickness, because fixtures like car lifts that’s more than just a plain white slab of metal can require thicker pads than simple parking garages. completely change the character of the building, Decide early where to place doors and windows. Electrical and plumbing are not complicated but as a and colors should harmonize with the environment workspace, you should do more than the bare minimum or other buildings. It’s very functional, yes, but it With the building enclosed, it’s time to install a floor. As a required by code. Additional outlets will always be handy, as can looks like it belongs there, too. workshop that will accommodate potentially heavy vehicles 220V provisions for equipment like a heavy-duty air compressor I should also point out that both builders and equipment, poured concrete is the most logical choice, or welder. Consider outlets in the ceiling not only for garage thanked their wives, without whose hard work although if you’re on a budget there are less costly alternatives doors but for drop-down extension cords in your work areas. and support neither project would have happened. like compacted gravel or even simple dirt. The thickness of your Clustering outlets around workbenches for multiple tools can be Both spouses were ready, willing, and able to swing slab will be dictated by local ordinance. This is also a good time useful. And lighting—there is just no such thing as too much light. a hammer and grab a paintbrush to make it happen. to think about how you will heat your new shop, because radiant Modern fluorescent and LED lights are efficient and reasonably That might just be the most important part! heating in the slab is by far the most efficient way to keep a space priced, and the non-directional bright white light is excellent Spend the time in the beginning thinking about like this warm. for a workshop. Again, the idea to add 20% more lighting than the details and your results will be superior. Doing Radiant heat is simply hot water that circulates through the expected is not a bad one. your homework right from the start will result in a concrete slab, raising the temperature of the slab and through If you plan to have water in your shop, think about adding a building you will look forward to working inside conduction, everything else touching it. It is efficient because the scrub sink, the aforementioned bathroom (hey, wouldn’t a shower Natural materials and colors help Randy’s massive for many years to come. slab acts as a thermal mass, and once it is up to temperature, it is be a great idea?), multiple hose bibs for washing cars indoors or building harmonize with its northern environment. 10 Visit www.ORCCCA.com today! Email us: [email protected] 11 FEATURE: 1936 Cord 810 “Armchair” Beverly PULLING AHEAD Still one of the most striking cars ever built, the front wheel drive Cord 810 was full of technology to match
By David Schultz
thought of Thomas Wolfe’s 1940 novel I You Can’t Go Home Again when last summer I re-acquired a Classic car I’d owned in the 1980s—a 1936 Cord 810 Beverly. Over the years I’d occasionally heard of Classic car enthusiasts buying back a car they regretted selling. Now, I had joined that fraternity. The Cord was part of a large collection of antique and Classic cars and memorabilia owned by the late Fred Guyton of St. Louis. A successful St. Louis-based architect, Fred was a well- known CCCA member and a strong supporter of the CCCA Museum, where he often lent his skills. About 60 cars and hundreds of items of memorabilia were sold during a two- day auction held in May 2019. Fred’s “Armchair” Beverly gets its name from its unique interior interests were varied and were reflected in his collection. The memorabilia offered reflected his quirks and found something more conventional (I interest in anything transportation related as well as immediately regretted it). The new owner enjoyed it baseball collectibles and armies of lead soldiers. I’ve for a few years, including a trip to Auburn, then sold never seen such a large, diverse collection. it to Fred, who added it to his growing collection. I’d sold the Cord in the late 1980s to a young man Interestingly, Fred never drove the car; it remained from St. Louis when I tired of the car’s mechanical parked for 24 years until the auction in 2019. I had acquired the Cord in the early 1980s from a Philadelphia vintage car enthusiast who had commissioned a complete restoration in the late 1970s by a well-known Cord expert. Eventually, problems developed with the paint and the discouraged owner decided to sell the car. Ironically, I’d been looking for a 1936 Cord 810 Beverly with its distinctive “armchair” interior and when I spotted the car in Hemmings Motor News classifieds I sprang into action. During my Cord search I’d been in contact with one of the most respected experts on the Cord 810/812, Sid Ayers of Circleville, Ohio. He guided me
Lycoming V8 engine with FWD transmission continued on page 14
12 Visit www.ORCCCA.com today! Email us: [email protected] 13 Pulling (continued) unsurprisingly, Sid was my “go to” person. Thankfully, it did when I last I found those thanks to members of the Auburn- I had a 20-foot telephone extension cord that reached saw it—amazing. Cord-Duesenberg Club. The mechanical fuel pump through my discussions with the owner and I made a from my kitchen to the garage (pre-cell phone days It still had the and Startix had been removed; replacements were commitment to buy the car contingent on it being as younger readers!). I learned more about mechanics protective floor located. A replacement for a broken piece of linkage described. working on that car than any other I owned. mats I installed in the column-mounted shift mechanism had been Sid offered to drive with me to Philadelphia to buy Once the car running well it was repainted in its years earlier. I reproduced by an ACD member. A difficult-to-find and car and bring it back to Ohio. That was the mark original color. It was invited to the Meadowbrook began thinking original radiator cap was located. of a dyed-in-the-wool Cord aficionado—and a true Concours d’Elegance, where it received a blue ribbon. about buying it While I was chasing parts, Dave was busy car friend. Since both of us had day jobs we couldn’t That fall, I made the first of several drives to Auburn, from Fred but with the car’s mechanics, particularly the shifting Indiana for the annual Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg was advised that mechanism and the U-joints. Dave’s knowledge and Festival. Several car friends asked why I would drive he only bought resourcefulness serve him well, particularly when an award-winning car to Auburn. My reply was that I cars; he didn’t sell working on a car as complex as the Cord. wanted to know what it was like to drive a Cord, not them. By late October 2019, the Cord was on the road and just receive compliments. Fast forward to the auction in May 2019. taken for several test drives. Generally, it performed Those trips were not without incident, as my wife After spending several hours selling automotive well but has spent the winter in Dave’s shop getting well remembers. One year we arrived in Auburn with memorabilia, the cars went up for sale. Fred’s ready for the 2020 touring season. a cracked brake drum. I was despondent until a fellow collection was somewhat eclectic but was dominated There were the usual number of minor but ACD Club member walked over and said, “This is by Full Classics. I was successful in buying the Cord important issues to be addressed. your lucky day. I have a spare brake drum.” He did, we and a few days later it was home again in my garage. I’ll always enjoy my Classic Lincolns; I’ve put replaced the damaged drum and made the return trip Since it hadn’t been driven in at least 24 years, thousands of enjoyable miles on them. But the Cord without a hitch. we knew it would require significant mechanical is a very different animal. Although the term didn’t Then, as I noted earlier, another car appeared on work to get it back on the road. First on the list was exist in 1936, it’s a true “sport luxury car.” It looks and the horizon simultaneous with one of my periodic the braking system; everything had to be rebuilt or drives like nothing else available in the mid 1930s. The bouts with the car’s unique mechanics. I sold the Cord, replaced. Gary Hussar of Canton, Ohio handled that car’s instrument panel is, arguably, the greatest of the bringing a smile to the face of my wife, who said that job. Once that was completed the car moved on to Classic Era. Back seat accommodations represent first while she admired the car’s uniqueness she had been a thorough mechanical evaluation; anything that We’ll look forward to seeing you on the road class travel for two stranded at the side of the road one time too many. required attention received it. That was handled by with the Cord this spring. Although Jane enjoyed fellow Ohio Region CCCA member Dave Heinrichs, our drives in the Cord last Fall she has reminded me leave until Friday evening. Sid drove to Massillon who has some experience with the 810/812 Cord. to make certain our collector car insurance includes and we departed for Philadelphia, arriving early the There were a few missing or broken parts and towing—just in case. following morning. Following breakfast, we met up with the owner and inspected the Cord, which turned out to be as Did you know? described. The car had been beautifully and accurately restored but the paint, a handsome original color, » The Cord 810 was introduced in November 1935 and was built for two years—1,764 were built in 1936 (810); 1,066 in 1937 (812). Thrush Brown Dark, was peeling off the car. » Factory price of the Cord 810 Beverly was $2,095. The transaction was completed and Sid and I » It was powered by a 288.6 cubic inch Lycoming V-8 that developed 125 horsepower (170 with optional supercharger in 1937). began the trip back to Ohio, taking the Pennsylvania » The Cords featured unitized construction with an all-steel body built by Central Manufacturing Co., with the powertrain carried on Turnpike. Sid had encouraged me to drive the Cord, a stub-type subframe attached to the central tub. following in my modern car. The Cord hadn’t been » The transmission is a Detroit Gear T2971 four-speed unit with a dry clutch. The pre-select shift mechanism is an electrically- regularly driven so we drove the minimum speed for operated unit made by Bendix. The transmission was built in Auburn, Indiana and the spiral bevel differential carried semi-floating awhile before opening it up. When I did, I found that drive axles with a 4.7:1 final drive ratio. » The braking system was also made by Bendix and featured four-wheel, 11-inch hydraulic drum brakes. it cruised beautifully. At 65 MPH it was registering just 2,000 RPM. » It was the first front wheel drive car with an independent front suspension. Complete array of gauges in a beautiful » While it was not the first American front wheel drive automobile, the Cord was the first to have concealed headlamps, concealed Sid and I arrived in Massillon late Saturday engine-turned instrument panel afternoon and Sid headed for home. We’d driven fuel filler door, flush taillights, separate license plate light, variable speed windshield wipers, rear-hinged hood, and a radio as standard equipment. hundreds of miles and hadn’t slept for nearly 36 hours. I didn’t see the Cord again until the 2005 CCCA That’s what the love of old cars does to you, I guess. Annual Meeting, which was held in St. Louis. Unfortunately, the Cord’s engineering quality was not the equal of Gordon Buehrig’s iconic design. The 810/812 Cords were built on a Despite the trouble-free trip to Ohio, there During the meeting we toured Fred Guyton’s shoestring budget and rushed into production. Had the car been introduced in 1937, the results might have been different. remained work to do on the Cord and, not collection, where I spotted the Cord. It looked just as
14 Visit www.ORCCCA.com today! Email us: [email protected] 15 1936 Cord 810 Beverly Owner: David Schultz, Massillon, Ohio
Visit www.ORCCCA.com today! Email us: [email protected] Pulling (continued)
Gordon Buehrig The Stylist’s Stylist
hink about what you were doing when you were T25 years old, and then realize that by the time he was 25, Gordon Miller Buehrig was the chief Iconic wheel design is pure form-following-function: holes were added simply to aid brake cooling designer for Duesenberg, where he designed the Model J. If that was all he ever did, it would be a worthy achievement. But his career spanned decades and his pen was responsible for some of the most attractive, striking, and ground-breaking cars... ever. Lycoming-built 288 cubic inch V8 engine made 125 horsepower in naturally aspirated form From humble beginnings in Mason City, IL where he was born on June 18, 1904 to the heights of the automobile industry, few other Americans have ever had a greater influence on automotive design. Buehrig considered himself a sculptor rather than an engineer, using his designer’s eye to enhance beauty first and foremost. He chose positions in the industry that allowed him to push boundaries and come up with new designs rather than becoming just another cog in a mass-production machine; nevertheless he was awarded 15 patents during his career. One of those patents was for the movable styling bridge, a U-shaped measuring tool that would transverse a clay model and allow any point to be duplicated accurately on both sides of the body. Although computer modeling and CNC machines have largely replaced hand sculpting of clay models, you will still find a Likewise, the front cover echoes the shape styling bridge in every major studio in the world. of the transmission underneath Buehrig worked on the design staffs of many significant organizations including Raymond Loewy, Inc., the Budd Mfg. Co., Dietrich, Inc., General Motors Art and Colour, as well as for manufacturers like Auburn, Buick, Cord, Duesenberg, Ford, Franklin, Jewett, Lincoln, Packard, Peerless, Pierce-Arrow, Studebaker, White Truck, and SPECIFICATIONS Wills Ste. Claire. He designed and patented the T-top, which would show up on the Corvette in 1968. His list of ground-breaking designs reads like every enthusiast’s wish list of great automobiles: roughly half the coachwork Year : 1936 for the Duesenberg J, LeMans Stutz Blackhawks, the Auburn 851 speedster, the Cord 810/812, the 1951 Ford Legendary racer Ab Jenkins (center) poses with Make: Cord Victoria, the 1956 Continental Mark II, and the 1957 Ford Retractable. As fellow designer Dick Teague wrote in a rather well-worn (and well-known) Beverly Model: Beverly Sedan the prologue to Buehrig’s 1975 autobiography: “The mark of the really exceptional car designer is the degree to which Original Price: $2095 his creations are coveted and revered long after they were built.” Buehrig retired from Ford in 1965 and taught at Engine: 288.6 cubic inch V8 the Art Center College of Design in California for Horsepower: 125 several years. In 1979, he designed a stillborn self- Torque: 200 lb-ft. (estimated) named carriage roof coupe before retiring from design Transmission: 4-speed manual pre-select entirely a few years later. He was honored as one of the Final Drive: 4.70:1 25 best car designers of the 20th century in 1999.
Gordon Buehrig passed away on January 22, 1990 Wheelbase: 125 inches at the age of 85. Most fittingly, his remains were buried Curb Weight: 4170 pounds at Roselawn Cemetery in Auburn, Indiana. Brakes: Hydraulic 4-wheel drum
Wheels: 16-inch steel wheels -Matt Harwood Amelia Erhart was a proud Cord owner as well Tires: 6.50-16 Goodyear whitewall
18 Visit www.ORCCCA.com today! Email us: [email protected] 19 TECH: Sorting Part 2: Cooling Systems Use a variety of poking and scraping tools to really knock the rust loose; I have some engine cleaning brushes with KEEP YOUR COOL long handles that work quite well, but my most effective tool is simply a stiff Worried about warm weather and touring? wire that I can bend into a variety of You shouldn’t be. Here’s help! shapes. Use these tools to dislodge all A magnet can help remove larger chunks, the rust you can. Use a magnet on a stick By Matt Harwood some of which could really cause problems to grab the loose rust particles that are (below). too big to wash through the passages. n the last issue of “Northern Lights” we discussed sorting: which is why it Once you’ve done all the scraping Ithe process of making your car’s critical systems operate costs so much to you possibly can, run your hose through the upper water correctly. That installment covered the starting system get things right. neck so it’s travelling backwards through the cooling system and making your car turn over reliably, which is always an Is it worth it? and flowing out through the openings where the water important first step. This installment tackles the cooling Only you can decide pump lives (you removed it, remember?). It will also run system and how to help your car keep its cool even on hot whether you want to spend the money, out through all the other openings you’ve used to get access days. After all, no Full Classic was delivered new that would but I, for one, like the idea of having a bulletproof old car to the water jackets. The water will be brown and chunky overheat in traffic or at high speeds. that I can drive anywhere, anytime, in any weather. “Hot” and you’re going to be surprised by how much trash comes You’ve undoubtedly read articles and seen discussions on one of my cars is 180 degrees and that’s not by accident. out with it. Scrape and rinse again. Do that until water runs with enthusiasts trying to figure out just why their cars run Unless you’ve recently hot tanked the engine block, it’s through the engine and comes out clear. This will take a hot. The cause is pretty consistent:rust and other debris hard to know what’s going on inside your cooling system. few hours and it’s going to make a big mess. Brace yourself. in the cooling system. The fixes are not quick, they’re not Chances are really good that there’s a lot of rust. Even if Even after you’ve rinsed it thoroughly, it’s still going to be easy, and they’re you’ve been maintaining it properly, it’s unlikely that pretty rusty inside with surface scale clinging to the interior not cheap. In previous owners have been equally conscientious and time the water jackets to clean them thoroughly. Expansion surfaces of the block. The only way I know to deal with that fact, fixing your is always the enemy no matter how careful you are. You plugs are a relatively easy way to access the water jackets remaining rust is chemically. Plug all the openings in the cooling system is can often get an idea of what’s going on in there by simply as long as the plugs themselves are accessible. Some inline engine and fill it up with your favorite rust eater. After a probably the single looking down your radiator filler or pulling the hoses and engines have removable side covers that will expose the few days of chemical treatment, you should have nice, clean most expensive poking around in the water necks as shown in the photos water jacket, which can be quite handy. If you have neither, water jackets. If not, agitate it a bit, replace the solution, and “sorting” project to the left. you need to get creative—in these photos, I’ve removed the let it soak until the rust is gone. It will take some time but it you’ll face. But get cylinder heads from my Lincoln K V12 engine to get access should get the job done eventually. it right, and you’ll BLOCK to the cooling passages inside the block. Whatever you do, Any rust eater will work better if you can keep it never have to do remember that there’s simply no substitute for getting in circulating—my personal favorite is Evapo-Rust, but there it again and you If your car is assembled and drivable, you’re obviously there and mechanically removing the rust; there’s going to are others that you may prefer. Using an inexpensive sump won’t worry on hot not going to pull the engine to clean the water jackets be a lot more than you expect. So step one is removing the pump and basic hose fittings from a hardware store, I days. What’s peace inside the block. A bare engine on a stand makes the job loose debris. devised a system to move the de-rusting solution through of mind worth? a lot easier, but it’s certainly not necessary. You should, the engine so the rust that Like the other however, be prepared to do some significant disassembly comes loose doesn’t settle systems in the car, and get pretty dirty. Remove the radiator (you’re going to back in the block. I set it up to there’s no quick clean it or re-core it anyway) and the water pump (this is an run backwards to help remove cure for your ideal time to replace it or rebuild it), and find a way inside debris as it moved: in through cooling system the heads, down through woes and no partial the blocks, and out the water fix will make it pump inlet(s). By running work properly— the pump for a few days, the upgrading one solution circulates and eats aspect rarely cures Easy places to check the health of the rust inside the water jacket the problem and your cooling system. and carries bigger chunks back often means that to the bucket where it settles to any new component will eventually fail. Replace the radiator the bottom. without cleaning the block, it’s just going to fill up with Once the rust is gone, flush trash again. Clean out the block without doing the same to it out with clear water and dry the radiator and you won’t get much extra cooling. Replace with compressed air to knock the water pump and it’s only going to be better at moving Run clean water through the block until it’s reasonably clear. Note the custom fitting the trash around. Cooling systems are often all or nothing, You will surely find this inside your block: a slurry of rust, I made for the side of the Lincoln’s block, to which I can connect a garden hose. coolant, and iron chunks that can clog radiators. continued on page 22
20 Visit www.ORCCCA.com today! Email us: [email protected] 21 Cooling (continued) count, tube size, surface area, and more all contribute to the apparently circulating coolant, the water pump may not be efficiency of the system and installing the wrong core can healthy. Vintage water pumps are fairly simple and made out any remaining debris. Then you can start reassembling throw everything else off. Smaller, tighter, more numerous from robust materials, so they’ll continue to work long everything; install fresh expansion plugs, button up the tubes might reject more heat, but your car’s water pump after they shouldn’t. But unless you’ve recently rebuilt or water jacket cover with a new gasket, reinstall the heads might not be able to move coolant thought it efficiently and replaced the pump, its health can be a question mark. If with fresh head gaskets, etc. This is also a great time to clean cooling performance will suffer despite the improved core. you’re truly interested in making your cooling system right, and paint all those little related parts. If you can reach it or If your shop doesn’t know this kind of stuff, find one that it shouldn’t be objectionable to remove the water pump and remove it, then restore it. You’ll thank yourself later when does. It really matters. Yes, it’ll cost more to do it right, but have a look inside. your engine not only runs nice and cool but also looks like I promise you’ll get better results in the end and isn’t that I bought a 1941 Cadillac a few years ago and it drove a million bucks. the point of this process? quite well. It had reportedly just finished a 700-mile Glidden Tour with the previous owner and RADIATOR I drove it around town and on a day tour to Sandusky Bay without incident. Nevertheless, The radiator is probably as full of gunk and corrosion as it would get nervously warm above about 45 the block is—what, you think all that trash was just sitting MPH and had a hard time keeping fan belts still in the engine? No, the water pump was surely washing in place at that speed. No noise, no steam, it through the entire cooling system and unless you have and not quite overheating, just a few clues that serviced your radiator in the recent past, it’s probably just Inside of Lincoln block shows notable improvement. Most were hardly the loud, flashing, obvious variety. of what remains is just dirt and hard warter calcification, The radiator was new with clean coolant which obviously aren’t affected by rust eaters. inside. When we removed the recently rebuilt water pump, however, we discovered that the eat any rust particles that have migrated into the radiator. shaft wasn’t properly installed and was slowly But as noted above, solutions like Evapo-Rust won’t touch walking out of its bore, grinding the impeller corrosion on copper, aluminum, or brass, all metals that against the housing and destroying them both. are used in radiators. If you have serious corrosion issues, I was shocked that it was so quiet during its bent fins, or leaking seams, merely flushing it may not be destruction, but the only real clue was a pulley sufficient. At that point your best bet is to take it to the pros. that was a little out of alignment. I bet the In fact, just remove the radiator, take it to the pros, and previous owner had no inkling that any of this let them do their thing while you work on the rest of the What a difference! Even though my 1941 Buick Limited always was going on and had taken the car on a long system. There’s no point in doing things twice or wasting runs at 165°, the radiator was on borrowed time. New core using original tanks gives it an OEM look. Cost was about $800. tour thinking that it just ran a little hot, just like effort. Your local radiator shop can clean it, test it, fix leaks, all old cars. No big deal, right? and even install a new core to make it as good as new. If If your water pump is quiet and coolant is WATER PUMP circulating, odds are good that you will find it in decent Like the rest of the cooling system, the water pump condition inside. The impeller should be intact and the is probably OK unless it’s not. You just can’t know until bearings hopefully aren’t shot, but it’ll probably be rusty you get in there and have a look. Even on an engine that’s like everything else. Perhaps it has been leaking a bit, which may be normal—on older cars the packing is designed to leak a bit to help keep the shaft cool. On the other hand, the shaft itself might be pitted and a good seal I devised a circulation system that used a small electric might be impossible, also causing it to leak. How can pump (arrow) to circulate Evapo-Rust through the block. you tell the difference? This could easily be adapted to an engine still in the car. Pull the pump off the engine and have a look. Evaluate the condition of all the important parts. as messy as the block. Typically, the best way to get the junk Hard water, old coolant, and contaminants kill radiators. Remember that during the sorting process, you’re out of there is by back-flushing the radiator. The natural This radiator was still working, but the car “ran hot.” Don’t aiming to make your cooling system invulnerable to flow of coolant through the system has been pushing it assume it’s fine merely because it’s not overheating. heat, traffic, parades, and high-speed cruising. Don’t down into the bottom of the radiator and packing it tight. cut corners now. If the pump needs to be rebuilt, More of the same probably won’t knock it loose. But going they’re replacing the core, make sure they’re specifically rebuild it. backwards? Yeah, that can dislodge a lot of trash. You can knowledgeable about old car radiators, because not all There’s really not much you can do yourself to try to flush it in the car, but that can be challenging and cores are created equal. Fortunately, there are dozens of repair a water pump, so again, let the pros handle it. messy. It’s always better to use gravity to help, so pull the different core configurations still available so they should They’ll install (or make) a new stainless steel shaft. radiator and flush it from the bottom to the top, upside- be able to source something that is very close to what your They may have replacement impellers if yours is a down. You’ll be shocked by how much debris comes out. car used originally. In many cases, flushing may not be enough. You can try Do not make the mistake of thinking that a modern core more rust eater and let it soak. That’s often helpful as it’ll will be better—that’s not necessarily true. Flow rates, fin It’s quite possible this water pump was still moving coolant. continued on page 24
22 Visit www.ORCCCA.com today! Email us: [email protected] 23 Cooling (continued) lubricate and protect against doesn’t boil, you can get rid of your pressurized radiator corrosion; some brand cap and take some strain off the other components in your relatively common car or they can fabricate a new impeller names are No-Rosion, Mac’s cooling system. The downside is that it is not as efficient if it’s something more exotic. The original packing can (NAPA) Radiator Anti-Rust, as water at transferring heat, it cannot be mixed with any be replaced by a ceramic bearing and a modern seal that and various other additives other coolant (including water, so if you’re out in the middle won’t leak and doesn’t need periodic tightening. In short, available off-the-shelf. of nowhere and didn’t bring any extra coolant with you, they’ll make it better than new. Spend what it takes to do it Everyone has their favorite you’re going to have a problem), it’s slightly more viscous right—a rebuild on a Full Classic water pump may run as so I won’t pick one here, but than water, and it’s expensive at nearly $49.95/gallon—they much as $600. you should use something to recently raised the price by more than $13/gallon. Yikes! minimize corrosion if filling My 1929 Cadillac uses Evans Coolant and seems to your cooling system with work just fine. Yes, it runs about 10 degrees warmer than it straight water. did on a water/anti-freeze mix, but going from 155 degrees It’s also worth noting A variety of products are available to help to 165 degrees operating temperature is not worrisome. I that ordinary tap water is protect the inside of your cooling system. also suspect that the engine itself is cooler—the warmer a poor choice and most of Reverse osmosis (RO) coolant temperatures on the gauge suggest that the coolant the additive companies will water is frequently marked I’m not going to go into details on the OAT or IAT is pulling more heat from the engine, not less. I do like suggest water that has been “premium drinking water” that I never have to change it, I never have to worry about and is quite inexpensive. coolant debate, there’s just too much to cover. I will, filtered through a reverse however, say you can’t judge modern coolants by their corrosion or freezing, it doesn’t foam, and it is harmless to osmosis (RO) system. color (the “green stuff” isn’t always what you want), and if bearings should it ever leak into the crankcase, something Distilled water is acceptable, although there are some you have any concerns about the right type of anti-freeze, that’s not always true of regular anti-freeze. [The price hike experts who argue that the distillation process creates water do your homework before filling your radiator, not after. likely means I will not be using it in the future, although the that’s so pure that it’s very eager to pull electrons from your product works as advertised -Ed.] Pitted shafts can be replaced with new stainless pieces. cooling system components as it tries to re-balance itself 3. Waterless coolant. Waterless coolant is a relatively recent If you want your car to stay cool, it will obviously take a which can lead to other issues. RO water is readily available invention primarily intended for fleets of big trucks where significant investment in effort, time, and money to do it. at most grocery stores (check the label). incremental improvements in efficiency can really pay off. But as with sorting the starting system, you will only have COOLANT Note that water of any kind, regardless of the additives Evans Coolant is the most common brand and its use tends to do it once. The confidence that comes from a healthy used, will not protect against freezing, so please take that to polarize enthusiasts. “Waterless” coolants are just what cooling system is hard to over-state and it eliminates that The final step is replacing belts and hoses (and maybe into consideration when filling your system. Even if your the name implies—straight glycol-based anti-freeze that nervous feeling you get while watching the gauge as you installing correct hose clamps) and refilling your cooling garage is heated in the winter, a simple power outage can does not need to be (and indeed, must not be) mixed with drive. Parades, traffic, and high-speed driving will no longer system with coolant. There are many different preferences do a lot of damage. water. The advantages are that it has a 375°F boiling point be a cause for concern and you’ll have a significant reserve here just as there are with motor oils, and none is right so you will never have to worry about boil-overs, and a of cooling capacity that you perhaps never had before. As or wrong. My suggestion is to use whatever makes you 2. Water/anti-freeze mix. Typically the most common freezing point of -40°F so cold weather is a non-issue. It I frequently ask myself: what is peace of mind really worth? comfortable. If your cooling system is right, you should choice. The benefits are that most anti-freezes have built- provides great protection against corrosion (since no water In the next installment, we’ll discuss the ignition system have a very wide margin to work with and temperatures in conditioners and lubricants that inhibit corrosion. They is used), lubricates the water pump, and lasts forever. It is and how to get maximum performance from only 6 volts. should remain stable under most conditions no matter also offer freeze protection, and you can add water or even chemically inert so it does not promote galvanic action and As with the previous installments, it will help eliminate what’s circulating inside. some other kind of anti-freeze any time without hurting therefore corrosion in dissimilar metals is eliminated, and troubles that you may not even know you have and build That said, it’s probably worth exploring some options. anything. The downside is that ethylene glycol (the key it won’t harm “yellow metals” like babbit bearings. Since it confidence on the road. None of this information is 100% true in all cases, and surely ingredient in anti-freeze) is less effective at transferring others have had different experiences, but these are the heat and the greater the proportion of glycol, the lower most common coolant choices ranked from most effective the thermal transfer rate. The difference is not huge, Useful Stuff: to least effective (and also cheapest to most expensive, but it can be significant in a car with a marginal cooling Radiator service: Water pump service: Evapo-Rust: available from various which is a nice change of pace in the old car world). system. However, if your cooling system is in top health suppliers locally and online Ellet Radiator Service Arthur Gould Rebuilders (which it should be at this point), anti-freeze will not www.evapo-rust.com 1. Straight water (plus additive). Water is unquestionably have any substantial effect on operating temperatures. In 2802 Albrecht Ave. 789 Wachusett St. the best medium for transferring heat. It absorbs it better cooler climates, it’s a reasonable trade-off given the freeze Akron, OH 44312-2657 Holden, MA 01520 No-Rosion and rejects it faster. However, water is also corrosive, protection. You can also vary the proportion of water to 330-784-8226 508-210-0891 www.norosion.com particularly to iron, promotes galvanic corrosion between anti-freeze to improve thermal transfer and manage the www.elletradiator.com www.arthurgouldrebuilders.com dissimilar metals, and most tap water has minerals in it freezing point. For example, a 50/50 mix will usually that will collect in the nooks and crannies of your cooling provide protection down to -30°F. That’s really cold. If Mac’s NAPA Radiator Anti-Rust Radiatorwerks Terrill Machine Available at any NAPA store system over time. Adding some kind of conditioner or anti- you don’t expect to see temperatures that low, perhaps Newbury, OH 1000 CR 454 corrosion additive to the water can minimize these negatives going to a 70/30 water/anti-freeze mix would be better; it www.NAPA.com 330-425-7474 DeLeon, TX 76444 while keeping water’s superior thermal transfer properties, offers improved thermal efficiency, reasonable corrosion 254-893-2610 and you’re a fool if you don’t use something to protect protection, and protection down to +7°F. Evans Coolant your cooling system from water’s negative characteristics. Again, tap water is not recommended, but distilled [email protected] www.evanscoolant.com There are a number of products out there designed to water and RO water are acceptable when using anti-freeze. 24 Visit www.ORCCCA.com today! Email us: [email protected] 25 EVENT: Akron Hospitals First Responders Cruise A GREAT RELIEF Showing support for our front-line healthcare workers with a rolling car show
By Melanie Harwood Photos by Max Sprague & Matt Harwood
n Sunday May 3, the City of Akron’s first Oresponders sponsored a rolling cruise-in to help raise the spirits of those working and healing in area parking lot hospitals. Envisioned as a rolling car show, more than as northeast Ohio was eager 250 cars showed up to join police and fire vehicles on to have a car event, although I have to admit we were a slow tour of Akron’s hospitals. ORCCCA members a bit disappointed by the lack of variety. Matt counted were invited to meet at Harwood Motors for a leisurely 36 late-model Dodge Challengers, about 20% of which drive into Akron to join the activities. A wide variety of were Sub-Lime green—so much for individuality. On cars showed up, including Mike Schott’s 1932 Packard, the other hand, cars like the giant 1912 Cadillac, elegant Christine Snyder and Josie Adams in Christine’s 1947 Packard and Buick, and pastel pink wagon made a real Cadillac Series 62 convertible, Mike Dube in a 1962 impact on the crowd. We were supposed to wait in our Ford pickup purchased new by his grandfather, a cars, but most folks were walking around anyway. Some gorgeous 1913 Cadillac touring, Rich and Kat Fink had masks, most did not, but almost everyone was in a Mazda Miata with ultra-cool Ronal Bear wheels respectful enough to keep their distance. I hope nobody (seriously, check them out next time you see the car), got sick that day. Jim and Nancy Scharfeld in their 1970 Mercedes-Benz A fleet of first-responder vehicles led us through 280SL, and the Harwood family in our 1941 Buick the city, visiting a half-dozen hospitals where front- Limited and 1956 Chrysler Town & Country wagon. A line healthcare workers and patients greeted us good showing, all things considered, and the 72-degree with enthusiastic waves and cheers, so hopefully we weather was simply gorgeous. brightened everyone’s day a bit. The drive to the starting point was leisurely and easy It felt good to get the cars out on the road. Hopefully and traffic was light, even in downtown Akron (it was a return to regular get-togethers isn’t too far in our Sunday during a pandemic, after all). Cars poured into the future!
26 Visit www.ORCCCA.com today! Email us: [email protected] 27 Blast From the Past! — From the O.R.C.C.C.A. Archives
Originally from the March, 1968 issue and reprinted in the July, 1998 issue of The Northern Lights
Note: Ernie passed away in 2015 and Marge in 2004. The whereabouts of the Packard is unknown. If any of the members know where the car now makes it’s home, please let the editor know.
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