Messages

1

General Discussion / Electronic problem solvers 6V/12V and more

« on: October 26, 2015, 01:22:40 PM »

Some of you may have heard of the business below. I looked at their website and they have many neat products and publications for voltage conversions and similar challenges. Their website is: http://www.fifthaveinternetgarage.com/. I highly recommend that  you at least check out the items.

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General Discussion / 1961 Checker Supurba

« on: October 13, 2015, 03:33:36 PM »

Hi to all: I noticed this Checker cab on Craigslist and it has a 226 ohv engine. Located close to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.      2p4xm-5241907407@sale.craigslist.org

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General Discussion / Re: Mileage, performance, and misc. questions

« on: October 07, 2015, 01:37:01 PM »

I live 20 miles SW of Marshall, MN, outside of Balaton, MN

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General Discussion / Re: Mileage, performance, and misc. questions

« on: October 06, 2015, 03:14:47 PM »

I'm trying to be able to generally run the engine a bit over the maximum torque RPM. I know, the old debate between torque and horsepower will come up, but most engine builders say you need to consider both, but mainly what speed the engine will normally run at. Anyone out there have any Kaiser gear sets for sale - 4.09 or 3.73?

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General Discussion / Re: Mileage, performance, and misc. questions

« on: October 05, 2015, 10:22:56 PM »

I just got off the phone with Delbert Fankhauser, who is the rep for the North Central KFOCI club. What a friendly guy! He had called to welcome me into the K-F club. In my earlier post, I talked about gear ratios for the differential, so tonight, when I got home, I pulled out my April, 1948 K-F parts manual  to refresh my memory about what numerical ratios were offered. If the parts book is correct, the 4:29 ratio was only for the Frazer, while the 4:09 and 3:73 ratios were for Kaiser only? That seems kind of odd. Can anyone clarify what I found? I also noticed in the OEM parts catalog, that 16" wheels were made for export vehicles. Is that information correct? Who knows what K-F dealerships were in southwest Minnesota where I live? Last - I have been told, that the older, longer stroke engines, IF they are tuned properly and not worn out, that they could burn quite clean, emissions wise, since the mixture was in the cylinder a bit longer, before being shoved out the exhaust valve? Has anyone ever had their vehicle checked for emissions, and, what was the result?

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General Discussion / Re: 4 VINTAGE NOS 1930's-1940's WHITE WALL 15" WHEELS HUB CAP TRIM RINGS

« on: October 05, 2015, 10:10:20 PM »

While looking in the April, 1948 K-F parts catalog, I noticed what they called "plastic white wall rings" in the Accessories section (#40). They were listed in group 40.122 and the part number was 200007.

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General Discussion / Mileage, performance, and misc. questions

« on: October 05, 2015, 12:36:17 PM »

I've enjoyed receiving my initial membership envelope and shortly thereafter the monthly K-F bulletin. Was it correct that I received the 3rd quarter report from 2014? Now to the main reason for my posting. I live in a rural area, so 90% or my driving is on the highway. I would like to make some modifications, to the engine and differential, which would be done in such a way, that it could be turned back to original later. 1. How high can one up the compression ratio without causing rapid
wear on the starter and engine parts?  2. If I remember correctly, the standard gear ratio for my 1948 Manhattan with O.D. is 4:27. I saw in the OEM parts book, that there were 3 (?) other ratio choices, so I considered going to a 4:09 (?), which is close to what many cars had in the 1950s and 1960s, when equipped with O.D.. Has anyone done this? For sure, this would help keep the engine RPMs down and hopefully increase the fuel mileage.  3. In the country, there's more dust and dirt in the air, so I would like to eliminate the oil bath air cleaner BUT has anyone done  a modification on the original housing so you could use a paper media air filter, but still have the original appearance on the outside? 4. Has anyone done a "split" 12V/6V setup, where you use 12V for the starter, generator, etc, but all of gauges would still be running on 6V?  5. In the monthly bulletin, there was an ad for KAISER parts interchange information from a member in California. I'm at work, on lunch, so I don't have the member's name beside me, but does anyone know if the data he offers, includes Frazer parts? I know that many parts will interchange between the two makes.
Thanks for all  the responses in advance; you can be sure that more questions, from me, will follow.

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General Discussion / 226 Continental OHV engine

« on: September 08, 2015, 08:17:20 AM »

Many of you K-F owners already know that Checker Motors (Cab) used the same engine as K-F, for many years, but they also used an optional OHV 226 Continental engine from 1960-1964. Does anyone know if that engine will drop into a K-F vehicle? I'm not going to hold my breath in attempting to find such an engine, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.

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General Discussion / INTERCHANGE GUIDES

« on: August 24, 2015, 12:45:47 PM »

I should have clarified that I am checking out the much thinner interchange guides NOT the Hollander version. The guides I'm wondering about have many small parts listed such as ignition and wiper switches, etc., that Hollander does not usually deal with. Hydro-electric is the vendor that I've been looking at on ebay.

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Frazer Forum / Re: 48 Manhattan hood chrome/trim

« on: August 22, 2015, 10:36:07 PM »

Yes, mine looks just the Western Auto one in your picture. Thanks for the information.

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General Discussion / Re: Front Wheel Cylinder on 1953 Kaiser Manhatten

« on: August 22, 2015, 08:21:32 AM »

It's about time I help out, rather than sucking information from other K-F people.  I have many old aftermarket parts catalogs, going back into the 1940s. By no means do I have a complete library, but it's quite extensive.
Anyway here is the information about the wheel cylinder part numbers, both OEM and Wagner brand. The Wagner info comes from a 1957 edition. It seems that the wheel cylinders with a Hydra-matic transmission are different, so I have only listed the cylinders with a manual transmission. This info covers 1947-1955. The Wagner (and other brands?) casting numbers cannot always be relied upon, because as I looked up the Wagner part number, matching it to a casting number, I found anywhere from 1 to 3 other part numbers, which fall under the same casting number. 1. LF - OEM=200198; Wagner=FD 8523; cast. #FD4508     2. RF - OEM=200197; Wagner=FD8524; cast. # FD4509   3. REAR - (both sides are the same) OEM=200199; Wagner=FD8504; cast. #FD8377.                    By the way, are the interchange guides, with a blue cover, sold on ebay, of any value in finding out which other cars use K-F parts?

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General Discussion / Synthetic lubricants - yes, no or maybe?

« on: August 22, 2015, 07:04:56 AM »

Does anyone out there in K-F land, have experience substituting synthetic lubricants for the wheel bearings, transmission, differential and engine? I understand that the newer API engine oil classifications don't have all of the former additives in them, due to concerns about contaminating the catalytic converter and oxygen sensor. I'm thinking about running 75W-90 synthetic oil in the differential and transmission. Any help or wisdom would be appreciated.

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Frazer Forum / 48 Manhattan hood chrome/trim

« on: August 22, 2015, 06:59:32 AM »

My 1948 Frazer Manhattan, serial number F486-016689, has a chrome strip down the middle of the hood, from back to front, with a hood ornament at the front. So far, I haven't seen any 1948 Manhattans with this setup. I have the "later" hood,  due to the serial number of my car, according to the OEM parts book, but I can't seem to find any mention of chrome options for the hood.

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Frazer Forum / DOT 5 (siicone-based) brake fluid

« on: August 18, 2015, 10:36:16 PM »

Just over 30 years ago, a fellow mechanic who was in the National Guard, told me that Uncle Sam used DOT 5 brake fluid in vehicles that had hydraulic brakes. The only negative thing he knew about was that the rubber cups in the master and wheel cylinders swell up over time (how much time?) and have to be replaced. Otherwise there is no pitting of the cylinder bores due to moisture, like there is with DOT 3 brake fluid. Anyone out there using DOT 5 brake fluid? What track record do you have with braking performance or rubber cups swelling? As a reminder, you are not supposed to mix the two fluids. It's good preventative maintenance to flush your brake system every two to three years, if you're using the much more common DOT 3 brake fluid.

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Frazer Forum / Re: 226 Engine weaknesses?

« on: August 10, 2015, 03:18:58 PM »

Speaking of overheating, it is sad how common it is for people to notice their engine temp gauge going down a little and thinking everything is okay with the cooling system. How many blocks and heads have been cracked and/or ruined through the years by overlooking a simple but obvious sign that you do have troubles with the cooling system, a leak or?, when your temp gauge all of a sudden shows a bit cooler on the gauge. Remember, the gauges are accurate when the senders are surrounded by coolant, but NOT when they're surrounded by air, as when you have lost coolant to a level below where the sender is located.