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Wow! I Got My 41 Special Deluxe Home

 

(@jerry-berry)
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I went to Millington TN Weds May 1st, 2024 and loaded my old 1941 on the trailer and brought her home. Strange...I couldn't get the hood open because I didn't have a second person to pull up on it while I pulled the hood release. I finally worked it and got it open. I had seen it under the hood before I bought it and picked it up.  

I polished on it yesterday to see if I could get a little luster in the old paint and did to some degree. So today I installed the new battery with the intent of seeing if it would even turn over, which it did. Encouraged by that, I poured a little gas in the carb and to my surprise, it tried to start on the first crank. After several tries, I got it to run, kinda. I was busy checking gauges and it pumped up to 30 psi on the oil pressure. It's got a 1954 235 in it. Surprise again, all the gauges work. 

On like the third try it acted like the carb wasn't adjusted right and sure 'nuff, it was turned out at least three turns. So, I closed it to the stop and turned it back 3/4 of a turn and tried starting it again. Didn't need to prime it and it cranked up sputtered a bit and began to run better and better but wouldn't idle. Doesn't seem like it's running on all 6 cylinders and the spark plug wires looked pretty bad, so I came in and ordered a new set.

I wondered if the carb could be the problem so that's the question for today. What carb should I put on it?  Any ideas? I'm going to search the forum for the answer to that question, but in the meantime maybe someone will offer an answer.

The car had a hole in the driver side windshield pillar for a spotlight and one came with the car along with a ton of other parts. I tried the light on a six-volt power source and surprise, surprise...it worked. I cleaned it up and installed it. 

The car came with what appears to be a brand-new rim for the spare. All the other tires are new Coker Bridgestone 6.00-16 and I found one on Amazon and ordered it along with a tube. 

Anyways, I am very pleased that it ran, didn't smoke, no engine noise/rattles and it appears that a total running fix is to get it tuned in properly.  

So, that's what I did to my 41 today.


   
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Tiny
 Tiny
(@tiny)
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Joined: 19 years ago
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@jerry-berry Good start Jerry. Please put specific technical questions in the appropriate technical forum(s). That's where the people who can answer your questions hang out. Thanks.

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Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet
1938 Master Business Coupe
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35mike
(@35mike)
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Joined: 14 years ago
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Way to Go, Jerry. Your engine was originally carbureted with some form of Rochester B. VCCA member Dean Echols, In Chino Valley, AZ, rebuilds these and could probably advise you.

CarbKing might show up with some input. Good Luck.

Mike

Many Miles of Happy Motoring
3469 Posts on Old VCCA Chat


   
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(@jerry-berry)
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@tiny Thanks for the advice. The purpose of the post was to give folks an idea of "what I did to my car today". The technical question was kina like an after thought. However, not knowing what kind of carb I needed made a search of the technical talk difficult. Thanks.


   
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(@jerry-berry)
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@35mike Thanks, Mike. I will see about a kit for the current carb. I pulled the plugs and they're black with soot...looking like an over rich carb.


   
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Steve Dalphonse
(@steve-d)
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I am curious when the last time it ran and what steps you might have taken before attempting to start it.

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(@jerry-berry)
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@steve-d The previous owner said he had it running a year ago. They put a new fuel tank on it and blew out the lines from tank to fuel pump and fuel pump to the carburetor at that time. The older gentleman (I'm old too) said he had driven it 500 miles or so. He's a very reliable guy, multi-millionaire and very knowledgeable. He said it had a rebuild kit installed on the carb, but said it had begun to run very rough and it wasn't run since then. Have no confidence that it was done correctly or even truly done at all. 

The oil looked fresh so I didn't do anything else. As I mentioned, I pulled the plugs and all 6 were black with soot, so clearly the carb is the problem. I'm going to look for a rebuild kit for it and do it myself. I understand this carb is readily available but they're not vey good, so rebuild what I got is my answer. 


   
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Steve Dalphonse
(@steve-d)
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@jerry-berry Thanks for the update as it helps to identify and eliminate possible issues. Along with a good carb rebuild I would also suggest checking the air cleaner .

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35mike
(@35mike)
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Jerry,

There are some savvy carb guys who check in here. Maybe one of them can tell you what to look for to make your rebuild a success.

I have an old stock, rebuilt, Rochester B that would be suitable, according to the hand written note on the box. It was rebuilt by Kimco, of Memphis Tenn. That abbreviation of Tennessee should give an indication of how long it has been setting on a shelf. 

Give me a call if you want more details about the carb. Good luck with yours.

Mike

573 864 6539

Many Miles of Happy Motoring
3469 Posts on Old VCCA Chat


   
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Mr87Monty
(@timothy-kruger)
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If the car was running rough, plugs were black and the carb was out of adjustment you might want to first attempt changing the plugs after adjusting the carb.  If the carb was running rich it may have fouled the plugs.  If it runs great after changing the plugs check their condition after a bit.  Also if the fuke in the tank is older it can cause running issues.  

Hilton, New York
1941 Chevrolet Master Deluxe
1987 Monte Carlo LS
2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible


   
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(@jerry-berry)
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@35mike Thanks for your offer, Mike...I found one local that is working like a champ. I also found a mother-load of parts from a friend I've known for some time...just didn't know he was an inline Chevy 6 guru!


   
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