Update on work on latest Henry J. Remember I did not buy a great car. I bought a good car. The great ones are there ,but after 2 years of looking I gave up. I got a good car with some very nice features, but also quite a bit of time consuming but not heavy or serious work. I got what I paid for and I’m satisfied that if I decided to sell, I could probably recover my costs.
It appears that this car had a thorough restoration in the past and then sat for a long time, unused. All the cables,vent, O.D. and choke were either frozen or very stiff. The seller told me that the O.D. did not work. He was right as far as it went .The pull on the cable was frozen. After 30 minutes working it with a liberal dosing of penetrating oil it works just fine. One window and both vent windows were stuck. They now work perfectly . I removed the door panels and with penetrating oil followed up with grease and slowly working them got them freed up.
Because of what I see as long storage and inattention. I am being very thorough in going over everything. Front shocks were nearly new. The rears were a disgrace.
I junked the 8-volt battery (anybody want it?) It now sports a 6-volt, positive ground, 60-amp alternator with an OPTMIA battery. I used this on my previous Henry J for 7 years of faultless service. The OPTMIA just does not run down when inactive. Some of the wires are quite brittle. I may ask Bob McBride to make me a harness incorporating the alternator, turn lights and a rear elec. fuel pump. My last Henry J was Bob’s own car in which he installed his first repro harness. Each lead was numbered on both ends. O K, not correct ,but I loved it.
Both my bumpers have a nice rechrome, but the rest is going to put me in the poor house
Electrical observation. No problem getting a proper 1 ga. Negative post to starter solenoid cable. The woven ground lead was a different story all I could find were 2 Ga. I looked at many but all seem to be universal application and 2 Ga, I bought a second 1 Ga. Insulated cable and used it to the engine with a jumper to the frame. I am such a nut on grounds , I may run a second jumper to the body.
Back to the hood prop up rod. Anyone have a spare retaining clip that holds it to the radiator shroud? (Please)
