Topics

1

General Discussion / Willys Mystery

« on: July 03, 2018, 10:35:02 AM »

The July Bulletin had a interesting article by the Historian about 226 aluminum heads a supercharging the Darrin F head. This adds to the lore of KF that I have mentioned several times over the years that I have encountered. Around 1970-71, I friend and I were Kaiser hunting in a northern Mn salvage and found a near perfect 55 Willys Burmuda hardtop. The Body was very clean with only a taillight broken and the interior was perfect. The weird thing why was it in the salvage yard? We opened the hood and the engine and trans were missing. We bought and towed it back to Mpls (the tires even had air). We found out it was a 226 ci car and were looking for a 54 Supercharged automatic to put in it. A willys dealer west of Mpls on Hwy 7 had lots of NOS parts including a taillight for the car. In his bsmt he had NOS sheet metal parts galore. My friend wanted to run it at the dragstrip on old hwy 8 in F stock class after we rebuilt the front suspension. I think the 226 was just too heavy for it. The dragstrip saw the blower and refused to allow us to run without proof of factory option for the blower. The Willys dealer claimed to have received paperwork of some kind that this was indeed available from KF (maybe dealer installed?). We asked to look through his boxes of paperwork in the bsmt, but he said no we couldn't and he did not have time to do it himself. So maybe Kaiser was looking into this as well as for the Darrin. Another mystery to ponder that I believe was true especially after the June Bulletin.

2

General Discussion / Kaiser/Tesla

« on: April 15, 2017, 08:40:56 AM »

The April issue of Motor Trend had an interesting article by one of their comment editors comparing Kaiser Frazer with Tesla Motors
and how they are going down the same path. Henry Kaiser's $50 plus million investment ($360 million today) was insufficient to
take on Detroit. They said that setting up dealers and service and bringing  new style each year required tremendous capitol
investment. Henry had great cars they said but the cost to support his initial investment was too much. Bringing a new car to market
today would be about 1 billion and Tesla exits because of the government underwriting about $8000 per each car. Tesla hasn't a
dealer/service support group in place so he can grow market share. Kaiser Frazer did get some government help will the Willow Run
complex as Tesla is getting but Tesla will fail for the same reason as Henry Kaiser unless he can raise huge capitalization money.
Interesting take on history repeating itself.

3

Darrin Forum / The Man, the Myth, The Darrin Legend.

« on: April 06, 2017, 04:14:31 PM »

It has been many years since I owned my Darrin (1971). Over the years I have heard many stories about Howard Darrin and the
mystery of 50 surplus fiberglass bodies. I would like to hear from members to answer a few of many questions. Did he sell serial
#'s 386 to 435 or did he start at 436 to 485? How many of the 50 bodies were 6 cyl  and how many were Cadillac V8's ? Do we
have members with verified Howard Darrin sold cars? How many bodies were scrapped ? One rumor was that Darrin would build
a car when a customer ordered it If he didn't sell all 50 bodies were any unfinished chassis sold ? John Haller had a Darrin in the
early 60's and he would talk about this as a Cadillac powered Darrin was of real interest to him. Anyone have knowledge other
than rumor?

4

General Discussion / Kaiser grille

« on: November 30, 2016, 12:22:25 PM »

Does anyone see a similarity between the new Volvo S90 grille and the 54-55 Kaiser grille ?

5

General Discussion / Batteries

« on: October 28, 2015, 10:18:07 AM »

My brother-in-law restores antique tractors. He buys his 6 volt batteries from rural farm supply type stores. He paid $40 less for the
same capacity battery with a better warranty at a farm store versus a auto parts store. Wish I knew that years ago. There must be
a lot of old tractors still in use.

6

General Discussion / See the 53

« on: June 09, 2015, 04:11:31 PM »

Tonight on the history channel on cable at 9:30pm central time the program Counting Cars will air and is
featuring a "53 Henry J.

7

Cars For Sale & Wanted / ** 1951 Kaiser Deluxe 4 door **

« on: May 23, 2015, 03:56:23 PM »

Kaiser Deluxe 1951.... Solid...rust free...southern car....

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/5039465348.html

8

General Discussion / Clutch Question

« on: May 12, 2015, 02:30:36 PM »

I had the flywheel inspection pan off my '51 Kaiser manual shift today looking for an oil leak when I noticed a loose spring
on the clutch release fork. This is the release bearing spring. The passenger side spring was on but the driver side spring
was hanging loose. In the shop manual (fig 164) on page 106 the Clutch Release Mechanism shows only one spring but
that maybe just an illustration over-site. The release fork seems tight but is shifted slightly to the side where the spring is
on. Should I have the car in neutral or in gear and loosen the release fork set screw and put the wayward spring on or
what is the procedure ? I haven't noticed shifting problems so far.

9

General Discussion / Timing Gear Cover

« on: April 29, 2015, 08:55:23 AM »

On my 226 engine I plan to check the chain for play and then replace the engine plate gasket, the timing cover gasket and seal. The
shop manual says to prevent the camshaft moving in while tapping the gear back on. This is to prevent damaging the tappets.
The manual does not say how to secure the camshaft when doing this. Has anyone done this as the manual says ?

10

General Discussion / Phoenix Salvage

« on: April 26, 2015, 11:56:06 AM »

I just watched a show on the Velocity channel called Desert Salvage when they restore cars from the 40's 50' 60's etc. This
place is called the Phoenix Desert Auto Salvage and said they have 100 acres and 10,000 cars. A guy was walking around
looking for parts for his '56 Packard and it looked like a Kaiser in the background. Does the Club know of this place and has
anyone been there?

11

General Discussion / Vacuum Readings

« on: April 02, 2015, 01:51:23 PM »

The '51 Kaiser shop manual says to adjust the idle mixture jets for maximum vacuum readings using a vacuum gauge. It does not
say what a typical reading should be nor does it show a vacuum gauge and where it is connected. On the distributor advance
vacuum line, I read zero at idle, so where is the vacuum gauge connected and anyone have a ball park reading on a properly
adjusted carb ? My gas mileage is poor and this is a good place to start. I have already checked my timing.

12

Parts For Sale & Wanted / Free 51 Kaiser bumper

« on: September 10, 2014, 03:51:56 PM »

I have a '51 Kaiser deluxe bumper (no bumper guards) that is free to any club member. It came off the
front, but can be used on the rear if the license mounting holes are filled in during re-chroming. It is in
decent shape. I am 35 miles east if St. Louis. email is: peck_william@hotmail.com I can try to attach a
picture to send in reply if interested.

13

Parts For Sale & Wanted / Wanted oil filter cannister

« on: May 26, 2014, 12:47:20 PM »

After months of fighting the oil cap leaking on 51 kaiser Purolater oil filter (ridged cap) I have
given up. I tried a new seal, gluing the seal in the cap, gluing two seal in the cap. I can slow
the leak, but not stop it. I am looking for NOS or good used Purolater oil filter housing and cap.
With or W/O the mounting bracket. Thanks. peck_william@hotmail.com

14

Kaiser Forum / oil filter seal

« on: April 21, 2014, 11:12:28 AM »

On my '51 Kaiser I have a black oil filter canister and the cap has 6 ridges on top. I use a NAPA
Gold 1080 oil filter that comes with  a seal used between the cap and canister. The problem is
that I have a difficult time getting the seal to not leak when the oil gets warm. The seal does
not seat tightly in the cap, so I glue it to the cap. I wondering if this is the wrong filter and seal?
What about NAPA 1010 or 3209 listed in the Parts Interchange List?

15

Kaiser Forum / Front seal

« on: April 09, 2014, 03:38:21 PM »

On the 226 engine in the '51 Kaiser is there a front filler block and oil guard that has a rope seal
similar to the rear seals? I do not see the guard in the Shop Manual engine diagram. I have the
pan off and can't seem to get to the bolts to remove the filler block. The Shop Manual says the
pan seal can be installed on the front filler block, but does not mention the front seals for the
crankshaft.