Help.. Restoring 1951 Kaiser Special

[rockrdr]

I’m restoring a kiaser special 4dr sedan, I just got it and Im looking forward to
making this a beautiful car!

Body number – 5111-4106
Serial Number - k-511-057730

It has 1153960 for and engine number, would you know the size? And what carb kit for a carter
2052S Carb is needed?

and where is the best place for parts for this car?

Thank You,
   

[Fid]

First of all, you made a great choice for a car. A 1951 Special is a car that holds a "special" (pun intended) place in my heart. The engine is a 226 CID which was also used in some post-1953 Willys vehicles.  For engine parts, you can try www.northstarwillys.com  or Rudy's KF Parts in Ramona, CA.  Phone number 1-706-789-3608.   Rudy likely has the carb kits too but you can often get them at NAPA for less.  A Kaiser special would've originally had a 2 bbl carb with automatic choke, made by Carter. I forget the number but I'm sure someone will come on and tell you. I had all the info for the 1951 but I have relinquished it to "Weas" so perhaps he can come on tell you. I'm sure someone else will too. Let us know how it's coming along.
Does it have a Hydramatic trans or is it a three speed? If it is a three speed does it have overdrive?

[rockrdr]

Thanks very much for the info, its in pretty good condition now, just some cleaning up it has been sitting for a while, I dont think i'm going to keep it, but it will be fun working on something different.
I trien calling them but I'm sure they are closed now, I will try tomorrow.
I dont know if it has over drive or not havent even started it, and I dont know the shift combo..lol (guess that makes me "special")

[joefrazer]

Hello...great to hear that you're going to get another Kaiser on the road!

The carb you mention...Carter 2052s is actually for a Willys built product. They were used on the 54 and 55 passenger cars equipped with the 226 engine...and maybe later trucks too. This carb will work for your car and will probably give better performance than the Carter 781s carb that the car was originally fitted with. Both are 2bbl units and many parts will interchange. The accelerator pump and jets are different, but most other parts are the same.

When you order a kit, make sure to tell them that it's for a Carter 2052S and not for a 1951 Kaiser Special or you will get the wrong one. If they need to look it up by the year and make, use a 1954 Willys Aero Eagle with the 226 engine. I rebuilt the same type carb for an Aero not too long ago.

Welcome aboard!

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Idle curiousity question....

Can you please re-check the body serial number?  Or, can you post the numbers with the other headers on that large body tag on the firewall, above the body serial number.  The serial number for the body seems to be missing a digit considering the spread between it and the car serial number...they will not be identical, but should be closer than what your numbers show.

Jack Mueller
Club Historian

PS:  As far as car identification goes, motor or title VIN numbers are usually worthless.   Factory records tying VIN or motor number to car detail went to the landfill nearly 40 years ago.

[rockrdr]

thanks very much to everyone, ill re check the numbers but now I have another issue, got the brakes flushes and the fuel system and the carb rebuilt..it started, than now it has no spark..I checked the fuses and pulled the coil wire no spark..does anyone know the resistance on the coil? or anything else I might check?

[Fid]

Worn points are a very common cause when there's no spark.
A new set is available at any NAPA.  I believe the NAPA number for Delco-Remy dist is Echlin CS777A and the gap should be .020
Give that a try and see.

[joefrazer]

The Echlin (NAPA) part number is CS777A

[rockrdr]

Thank You,
 I'll give that a try....

[Jim B PEI]

I have a general question. My 49 Special is of course, a straight shift, as were all 49/50 Specials--unless there was a very 'special' factory ordering of an overdrive. As I understand it, only the Deluxes were available with overdrive as an option...normally. By 51, COULD you order a Special with overdrive without standing on your head?

[joefrazer]

Yes, overdrive could be ordered on any KF product that had a standard transmission. I had a 48K Special that had factory equipped overdrive and my 50K Traveler (same as the Special, only it's the utility version) also has OD. And, at one time, I owned a 51K Special that had OD in it also.

[ben-tex]

My family owned a new 51 Kaiser Special and it came with overdrive. I doubt if my dad would have bought it without OD as we had it on our 48 Frazer Manhattan.

[Fid]

My dad bought a 1951 Special from the original owner's widow in 1991. They (the original owners) purchased the car in August of 1950. She had all the original invoices / receipts and included them with  the car when he bought it from her. The car is a 1951 Special and it was factory equipped with overdrive and a factory radio, both listed on the original invoice. Pretty cool to have a Special with both of those options.