Messages

1

Modified Kaiser-Frazer & Willys Cars / Re: Modified Kaisers and Frazers

« on: May 03, 2019, 07:43:28 PM »

What constitutes a modified K-F? The last word I heard was either a major change to the drive train such as a major motor swap but not a 161 six into a 4 cylinder HJ for example, or radical body alterations such as a chopped top or conversion to a pick up for example. Easily bolted on body components do not qualify. Funny paint alone is not an acceptable feature for modified status.
We had a long time member who insisted that her otherwise stock 53 Manhattan with non-original velour upholstery be judged as a modified. This was part of the pressure that led to a stricter ruling on what qualifies as modified.

2

Henry J & Allstate Forum / Re: 4 cylinder replacement

« on: May 03, 2019, 07:03:39 PM »

Actually, a replacement 4 cylinder should easier to find than a 161 six cylinder since the L-head 134 was used until 1965 and the F-head 134 until 1968. (The 161 was gone from domestic vehicles after 1955) I say should but when you consider when someone gets a J to Hot Rod it, the engine and trans get tossed. I have seen several offers of L-head 161s that were the discards of such projects.
My opinion is:
1) Forget the 226. It is heavy and to use it would require as much work as swapping in an more modern motor such as a Buick V6.
2) Be patient and I believe a 134 will show up. You can even use a 134 F-head but you will need an offset air cleaner because the engine is taller.
3) If you must, then use a L-head 161. I will point out that the motor mount towers on the front edge of the front crossmember are different from what is used with the 134s.

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Modified Kaiser-Frazer & Willys Cars / Re: DISC BRAKES FOR DARRIN OR HENRY J

« on: December 16, 2018, 08:33:11 PM »

Residual Pressure:
That is an important point.
Many people are unaware that drum brakes have a residual hydraulic pressure and there is a check valve in the master cylinder for that purpose. Disk brakes don't have such a requirement. It is easy if you have a dual master cylinder because 1 side can have a check valve for the rear drum brakes.
As I understand it, Crosley Hot Shot and Chrysler Imperial had disk brakes in the early 1950s, but Studebaker had the 1st large scale US offering of disk brakes on their 1962 cars. The supplier was Bendix who was making a licensed Dunlop (Jaguar) system. Studebaker used a single reservoir master cylinder and solved the residual pressure problem by using a 1/2" wheel cylinder in the rear! These all had vacuum boosters and the unit is a quite recognizable "bee hive" shape that was not used on the power assisted drum brake cars. I suspect the assist was higher on the  bee hive unit.
I have worked on one of these equipped cars and I wasn't impressed.

4

Henry J & Allstate Forum / Re: "10 Worst Cars"

« on: December 16, 2018, 08:08:02 PM »

Wait 2 weeks and you will find a different "worst car" list on the Internet. Actually my opinion of any list increases if it doesn't include any 70s AMC car, the Yugo, or the Vega. If they are included, it shows me they are just accepting entries from other lists without knowing anything real about the cars.
A lot of judgement depends how much the car sold for, and where it was used. For example, by 1926 the Model T wasn't a very good car. Even hard headed Henry Ford begrudgingly accepted that. But it still sold cheap and in rural areas, Ford dealers and Ford parts were more common than any other auto.

5

General Discussion / Re: Member profile question

« on: December 16, 2018, 07:42:33 PM »

Back when The Club had been in operation for a number of years, there was a problem. The Club was governed by the Charter Members, but several of the Charter Members had lost interest and dropped out. In order to continue functioning, the Club President took the solution of designating NEW Charter Members. These were not people that had been at the Palmer House Meeting or otherwise been involved in organizing The Club like George Domer #1.
When I became involved in making a yearly membership roster, I had the idea of making a list of all the members by membership number whether they were still active or only 1 year members that had dropped out. The regular membership numbers began at 100; less than 100 were Charter Members. I immediately ran into problems when membership numbers more than 14 and less than 100 turned up. Those numbers were members that were the later designated Charter members. They essentially had 2 membership numbers.
I now know why it was done, but my opinion is there was a problem that should - and could have - have been corrected in a better manner.
That leads to my opinion that membership numbers apply to 1 individual and can not be changed or passed on. 

I had to drop my project because of these record keeping conflicts.

6

General Discussion / Re: Membership

« on: December 12, 2018, 08:05:38 PM »

You go to the National Meet and if you are a real Member, you help where you are needed. Aside from Judging for a number of years, I have done parking lot duties. I have helped at the table when members check in for the General Business meeting and I helped collect and tally ballots for the officer elections.
Show up, ask what you can do, and you may open your horizons!

7

Modified Kaiser-Frazer & Willys Cars / Re: A new topic for us

« on: December 12, 2018, 07:53:45 PM »

Uh, bustidwing do you even KNOW what a 305/351 GMC V6 looks like? These were medium duty gas truck engines. The 305 was available in 1/2 ton trucks. They were 60 degree V engines, but they had some weird features: the spark plugs stuck out of the intake manifold and they were heavy... like Buick straight 8 heavy or 750 lbs. Their features were long mileage (many miles before an overhaul, not mpg) and truck torque.
I can think of several real stupid swaps like a Ford 460 that would be a better swap in an HJ

8

Kaiser Forum / Re: People's Choice!!

« on: September 16, 2018, 09:13:12 PM »

Car Show Rules: You have to be able to display your cars to the passing public. People passing by will be attracted and stop in. This results in 1) a feel good moment when people praise your car, 2) a lead on parts or cars not known to the Club, or 3) enough interest to sign up a new member.
There have been recent KF Nationals when the location was away from the passing public. That isn't good but I understand the considerations of facilities and lodging costs.
I would think the need to catch the attention of the passing public is more important with local and regional displays.

9

Kaiser Forum / Re: 1951 Kaiser Ignition Coil

« on: September 16, 2018, 08:50:42 PM »

David: If you have a Delco Number or a NAPA number or several other numbers, you can go to a parts stores such as O'Relys and ask for a crossover.
These car parts stores may not have a specific listing for a KF car but the crossover may turn up what you need.
As an example: I needed an ignition resistor and I had a NAPA part number. O'Rely's online catalog didn't list what I wanted, but by supplying a NAPA, they were able to produce what I needed.

10

General Discussion / Re: 12v conversion, what to do with overdrive?

« on: September 16, 2018, 08:31:18 PM »

Actually, I am not aware of any 6V/12V problems. That is to say, any problems you have after switching to 12V would have shown up if the system were still 6V.
Use circuit breakers or a SlowBlow fuse on the relay.
The OD was supplied by Borg-Warner so if you need replacement parts, look first to Studebaker and AMC. Chevy and especially Ford also used BW Overdrive.

11

Willys Forum / Re: Willys at the KFOCI convention

« on: September 15, 2018, 08:41:29 PM »

You have to see a FC150 in person to judge. It is essentially as as tall as it is long because it is built on the CJ3A chassis. I recall seeing factory literature about adding weights to the rear (as Jim Lape mentioned) and widening the rear spring mounts.
I believe a lot more FC150s were sold than FC170s because the Navy, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and others made fleet purchases.
The military bought several variants of the FC170 which included a double cab version with a Perkins diesel engine.

12

General Discussion / Re: 2019/2020 Nationals??

« on: September 15, 2018, 08:18:43 PM »

Once Upon a Time... The Studebaker Drivers Club had their National (International) Meet in South Dakota in the later part of September, thus breaking the rule that car conventions had to be after school let out for Summer and before school started in August. I and my brother wanted to go but the determination was not great enough for us to go.
I was under the impression that things got cheaper after Labor Day since the kids all had to be in school. I found out a few years ago that lodging in the Dakotas and Wyoming didn't get cheaper until October.
It is good to talk about possible National Meet locations well in advance, because issues can be discussed. Kalispell MT sounds interesting but it is going to be a long drive for everyone. The hosts should be considering that a lot of members would fly in.

13

Henry J & Allstate Forum / Re: Power steering on a Henry J

« on: August 27, 2018, 08:07:43 PM »

Mark, Gordie, there were indeed recap passenger radial tires. In the 80s I could order recap 15 inch radials from Sears for $15 each. I ordered about 6 of them and they turned out to be very professionally recapped. At least 2 were Michelin carcasses which was probably because other brand radials were still uncommon.
The way brand new radials form knotheads and separate treads, you would think they were mediocre retrreads.

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Henry J & Allstate Forum / Re: Power steering on a Henry J

« on: August 27, 2018, 07:59:05 PM »

Hey Gordie: Referring to Michelin tires, Ben Walker bought a Volvo 145 (wagon) new and it came with Michelins on it. He took it on his Summer trip to fly fish in Yellowstone. One tire shredded before he got out of Texas and a a second North of Pueblo CO. He was stuck there a day while a tire store looked for replacements. These were 185x15R so they were an odd size.
It turns out these Michelins were made in Luxenburg, not France and had a history of bad service.
So, it may be a good name, but not all of that brand's products deserve the same respect.

15

Willys Forum / Re: Willys at the KFOCI convention

« on: August 24, 2018, 09:46:22 PM »

Ha! Glad to hear the Alabama Wilsons have a FC170. I have a 1963 FC170 with a Warn Overdrive and there are other Club members with FCs. Production numbers seem to be vague on these vehicles but there may have been 2 or 3 times more of the smaller and deadlier FC150s than the FC170s.
FC170s had a standard 9 foot long bed but they tended to rust away.