Topics

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Kaiser Forum / NOS dud plugs

« on: October 20, 2017, 09:35:44 PM »

Completing my long restoration of '53 Manhattan, I put in NOS Champion J8 plugs that I found online. Were all sealed and looked fine. After only a couple of hundred miles I have had to replace 2, and now things seem to be running rough again. One actually had a little spark going under the boot, and the other had developed quite a lot of resistance. I'm surprised that a plug could deteriorate when sealed in the original container. Has anyone else experienced this effect?

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Kaiser Forum / '53 Kaiser radio antenna nut

« on: June 27, 2015, 11:24:09 PM »

Finally got the antenna in my '53- end of an 8 year resto. I cannot seem to locate the nut that goes atop the black plastic spacer and screws down on to the shaft. Can't recall what it looked like- a  chrome dome, perhaps? Can't tell from pix of other people's what it should be- hard to search for something you don't know what is.. Currently using a brass hex nut which I imagine is not correct. Can someone enlighten?

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Kaiser Forum / Inpenatrable steel

« on: March 07, 2015, 10:49:00 PM »

The rear bumper support for my '53 Manhattan was misshapen, and it proved impossible to mount the bumper correctly. Solved the problem by cutting a couple of inches off one end, and fabricating a new end piece. Noticed that it took a lot of time with the cut off wheel to get through it, but now I'm trying to drill holes in the support to put the end end on and have been unable to do so. This stuff is HARD. Have tried cobalt, concrete, and all other kinds of bits and after much effort am barely half way through. Anyone else ever struggle with this and have a solution?

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Kaiser Forum / '53K back up lights

« on: February 24, 2015, 11:28:00 PM »

When I got my Manhattan back in the dim ages of the past it had a back up light mounted on the right rear area. Approaching the end of the long resto I am about to remount it, but have noted that the books seem to list these as being sold in pairs. I have never seen any evidence that my car had a second light, and am curious as to whether there were any other single installations.

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General Discussion / day/night mirror interchange

« on: August 04, 2014, 11:12:13 PM »

My '53 Manhattan inside mirror is getting ratty, and I was casting about for a replacement. Did see on a couple of interchange lists over the decades that 50's Chevrolet mirrors are the same, at least for the non day/night. Looked for mirrors for sale on ebay for 50's chev, and discovered that the 53-55 models use a mirror that appeared from the pix to be identical to the one in my car. They were at some point remanufactured and some new ones were for sale by several vendors. Checked the thread on the shaft with the seller, and as it was correct I ordered one. Came today and it is totally identical to the one on my car, down to the "guide" on the tab. They sell for around $50, so anyone looking to upgrade the front seat area might go this route. Not sure how many are around any more- the guy I bought from has 3 left.

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Kaiser Forum / Extra engine hole

« on: June 16, 2014, 12:10:05 AM »

While installing the oil pressure gauge in my 53K, I noted another tapped hole about halfway between the gauge and the pressure relief valve. Goes well into the block. Couldn't recall any such, and didn't see anything in the manuals indicating anything there. I have some vague recollect of a second block drain plug, but see no reference to any. What could it be? Suppose I could just plug it before starting, but I like to know what things are.

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General Discussion / 53K exhaust system numbers?

« on: May 13, 2014, 11:45:55 PM »

I am trying to get the tail and exhaust pipes for my '53 duplicated at a local shop. They would be happier if they could use their automated system, but they can't locate any card numbers for Kaisers. All I have are the original Armor numbers, and there is apparently nothing corresponding to them anymore. Does anyone have any numbers for existing systems that could be used? The default is the shop duplicating my old pipes, which are not in the greatest of shape. Thanx.

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Kaiser Forum / 53K driveshaft

« on: November 10, 2013, 11:05:42 PM »

Some time ago I disassembled the driveshaft for my '53. Putting it back together now, I seem to have lost track of which end went on which end (Xmission or differential.) It appears that the tube is completely symmetric and that it shouldn't matter which end goes where, or at least I can't see anything to distinguish. Is this a correct assumption? Thanx.

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Kaiser Forum / 53K front mat colors

« on: March 29, 2013, 09:48:44 PM »

I am in late restoration stages of a '53 Manhattan-sabre jet blue over Australian beige, dark brown and tan vinyl interior. I bought one of the manufac fund front black carpets, and am trying to figure out what color to make it. Unfortunately the old one got pitched long ago. My recollect is that it was sort of muddy tan, but the back carpet was/is dark brown. Looking in the parts books, the only '53 front carpet listed that is at all a brown hue is "hickory brown."  Looking at what old pix I can find, I see a darkish brown carpet in '53's, as well as in older models. In fact even the older ones list hickory as a color.  In those pix where I can see the back carpet as well, it seems to be the same tint as the front, and much darker than I remember mine having been when I acquired it in '58.

Can anyone offer any enlightenment here? Haven't been able to find anything in any of the books. I guess the default would be to match the rear carpet, and assume the old one was some sort of a later addition as opposed to original.

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Kaiser Forum / Steel brake lines

« on: January 22, 2013, 11:09:04 PM »

Need to replace the steel lines in my '53K, and no one in our rural area seems to be able to fabricate the double flare thingees, and I don't want to buy a flare kit for one set of lines. Looking back, I ran into the same thing many years ago and made a copper one myself, with a single flare, which I am equipped to do. Drove it for years with no problems. I suppose it could be argued that where it goes from the tank to the frame it might be more vulnerable than steel to damage. Casting about on the net, I see recommendations to just use compression fittings on steel line, which should be OK for as low a pressure as is involved here. Also notice that 5/16 brake lines appear to be identical, and then the only problem is getting the exact lengths. Anyone done anything of this type, or have a good source for the correct lines in central WI?

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Parts For Sale & Wanted / '53K engine block wanted

« on: August 13, 2012, 09:55:58 PM »

My '53 Manhattan's engine block was just discovered to be cracked, after 220Kmiles. Does anyone have a non cracked block they could ship me? Am in north central Wisconsin.

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Parts For Sale & Wanted / Handbrake cable ID

« on: April 18, 2012, 11:44:19 PM »

I have the rear handbrake cable from something that I got in a lot of Kaiser dealer's stuff decades ago, but haven't been able to figure out what it's from. It looks similar to some early series, but the length doesn't seem right. It is 157" long and the sleeves are 25". I enclose pix. Is NOS and I'd like to pass it on to someone who can use it, but I guess ID comes first.

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Parts For Sale & Wanted / Copper dust/ straw inner door panels

« on: March 14, 2012, 08:51:38 PM »

Sorting through parts as part of 53 restoration I found a set of 53 Manhattan /54 early special inner door panels in copper dust and straw bamboo. I was going to put them on the bay but thought I would first check to see if anyone here could use them. 2 are in good condition and could be put on as is. One needs a new cardboard core, and the 4th needs the core and some repair on the bottom section. Would provide some material at the least. If you have any interest contact me at dpledger@tds.net and I'll send pix or whatever. Would trade for something I can use or sell or whatever.

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General Discussion / ebay garbage lisitings

« on: February 17, 2012, 09:48:56 PM »

Like most of you, I check ebay regularly for K parts, and it's generally paid off well. Lately it seems there is so much garbage  that comes up on a Kaiser search (seat covers, car covers, plastic wheel covers, etc etc) that it is getting painful to check through every night. Has anyone devised a search protocol that will eliminate most of the gorp? I can't seem to come up with anything that doesn't knock out desirable stuff too.

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Kaiser Forum / Underhood insulation

« on: October 02, 2011, 11:34:07 PM »

As the completion of the 6 year 53 Manhattan project nears(hopefully) I am looking at the underside of the hood about to be painted and recalling that originally there was an insulating pad of some sort cemented to it. Cannot recall if it was just fiberglass, as I later replaced it with, or some sort of faced material. Anyone know the material and thickness of the original pad?