Messages

1

Henry J & Allstate Forum / Re: New Member

« on: May 23, 2013, 07:51:06 PM »

Are you looking for a 1951 or 1952 Corsair style hood ornament?  They are different.
1951 looks like this -


The '52 Corsair ornament looks like this -


I have a pretty decent '51 ornament I'd be willing to sell. Send me a private message for details.
There was a vacuum wiper motor on ebay recently - I don't see it now.

2

Henry J & Allstate Forum / Re: Ignition Switch

« on: May 23, 2013, 03:12:14 PM »

That type of switch was not ever used in the Henry J. The parts book only lists the two position. I'm sure an inovative restorer could find a way to adapt one if they wanted. I saw a '53 J that had been converted to a turn-key starter (as opposed to turning the key and pushing the button.)

3

General Discussion / Re: 1948 Kaiser-Frazer 4 door sedan. sold

« on: May 21, 2013, 08:12:03 PM »

Wow that seems like a great deal on that car regardless. Don't know how you could go wrong at that price. I think it could easily be enjoyed just as it is. Just don't go spreading manure about it!

4

General Discussion / Re: Kaisers in the movies

« on: May 21, 2013, 08:25:39 AM »

Just found another one last night. The TV Movie "Kill Me If You Can - The Caryl Chessman Story" starring Alan Alda (1977) has a '47/'48 Frazer in it. It's the car shown when the first witness takes the stand against Chessman to describe what happened. This is a rarely shown movie as most old made-for-TV movies are. I recorded it years ago but hadn't watched it till last night. The car looks like tutone silver/gray - it's in a night shot.

5

General Discussion / Re: 1948 Kaiser-Frazer 4 door sedan. sold

« on: May 20, 2013, 10:43:56 PM »

That car had been for sale for quite awhile too and it's as phoney as a four dollar bill. The seller had refered to about 2000 made with Frazer interior and appointments. That refers to the 1947/48 Custom (and there were more that 2000 Customs made between '47/'48) which are rare cars but that's not what this one is. I think the factory would have gotten a glovebox door to match color-wise and why, if it is a Kaiser (factory issue no-less), does it have Frazer scripts and medalions?  Notice - no pictures of the tags. If I recall correctly, when the car was on ebay a few years ago, all requests for tag information were ignored. Also, how did KF get a '49 - '51 Frazer dash in 1948 when the car was made?
If someone bought it believing that ad was true, they are in for a disappointment. The price may not have been too bad for what it is.

6

Cars For Sale & Wanted / Re: Last Kaiser made in US?

« on: May 20, 2013, 01:35:16 PM »

Dave was clearly making a joke. It was that his '51 Deluxe was the last one made on a particular day before the lunch bell rang. I too had to think about that for a minute but I get what you're getting at Dave.
I have the last '53 Henry J to come out of an abandoned farm yard in Summerfield, KS in November '71.

7

General Discussion / Re: alternator vs generator

« on: May 19, 2013, 09:27:29 PM »

I too am not sure what the advantage of going with an alternator is. I view my KF cars as antiques and hobby cars - they are not driven every day so I don't see the need to update them at all. That's why I leave the generators alone and leave the bias ply tires on them. They're fun cars, not my main form of transportation. Even with that, I drove my all stock '52 HJ to the orphan car show in Sublett, IL last fall (about 400 miles one way) and it did just fine.  If I did convert the car to 12 volts then yes I'd go with an alternator but if I want modern transportation... well that's why I have my new Focus. The old generators can be rebuilt at any Automotive Electric shop and it's not that expensive, and best of all, you just hook it back up when it's done - no rewiring or anything.

8

General Discussion / Re: kaiser frazer engines

« on: May 19, 2013, 09:16:50 PM »

Yes Kaiser was eventually the name but the 226 CID flathead 6 cyl was based on a Continental Engine (not to be confused with Lincoln cars). The Henry J used either a Willys 134 CID flathead four cylinder or a Willys 161 flathead 6 cylinder. The Kaiser Darrin sports car used a Willys 161 CID F-head engine. Hope this helps.

9

Frazer Forum / Re: New Frazer Owner 1951 Vagabond

« on: May 19, 2013, 05:44:35 PM »

I've never had the dash out of one but I'm sure someone on here can chime in. If you join the club there is a member who makes the wire harnesses and they look like new, made with the cloth insulation. Good stuff.

10

Cars For Sale & Wanted / Re: 1948 Kaiser Fraiser Sedan - $3800 (Grand Island)

« on: May 19, 2013, 02:47:01 PM »

And it has Henry J wheelcovers on it to boot.

11

Cars For Sale & Wanted / Re: 1953 Kaiser Frazer Henry J - $3300 (NW Iowa)

« on: May 18, 2013, 10:11:17 PM »

That J is pretty original except for the holes where the earlier style tail lights were mounted. Those had these cheap "K" medallions in there to cover them on the later cars and those rusted out big time so it doesn't surprise me they're missing. Other than that, the car looks pretty original. A four cylinder without overdrive is not good for much, and they weren't even when they were new.

12

Cars For Sale & Wanted / Re: Last Kaiser made in US?

« on: May 18, 2013, 10:07:39 PM »

The Huckers have had that car for sale for quite a while. I don't think there's a lot of value added based on historical significance of KF cars.
I ask myself "If I had $20,000 to invest in another classic car right now would that be the one?" My answer is "no" and it's pretty typical. People such as myself that are hitting mid-life and want to invest or just spend money on a classic car are not thinking about KF. I think at that price that car will probably end up in someone's will or at an estate sale.

13

Cars For Sale & Wanted / Re: 1949 Kaiser Virginian - $3295 (Tucson Mall)

« on: May 18, 2013, 02:08:23 PM »

I did not buy the car. I don't remember who did. It was posted on here at the time and I did a search on Winslow but couldn't find the posts so perhaps it was out of date. There were about 20 or so KF products at that auction, all stored inside. My parents were there and so were some of the folks who frequent(ed) this forum. There were pictures too but I can't find them now.

14

Cars For Sale & Wanted / Re: 1949 Kaiser Virginian - $3295 (Tucson Mall)

« on: May 18, 2013, 11:32:44 AM »

A Virginian in better shape than that sold sold for $850 at the Winslow, AZ auction in November 2009.

15

Frazer Forum / Re: New Frazer Owner 1951 Vagabond

« on: May 17, 2013, 11:18:09 PM »

Ah yes, the "Fuse Box Question" again. This question comes up every now and then. The fact is, most cars from that era, including the Frazer and Kaiser, do not have a fuse box. The '51 Frazer has the main circuit breaker (30 amp) built into the headlight switch (at the rear of the switch). Radios and heaters were options on these old cars and they have their own inline fuses and get their power from the ignition switch. There will also be a fuse on the overdrive relay - mounted vertically.