Messages

1

Henry J & Allstate Forum / Re: Coolant seeping out around head studs

« on: January 07, 2011, 12:16:55 PM »

Yes, the one we are restoring is a 3 speed OD setup.  I haven't gotten under the parts car to see if its got the OD or not, and didn't notice if it had the cable for it on the dash - will have to look tonight.  I went through the tranny and OD, all was in fantastic shape.  Also cleaned and checked over the OD switches and solenoid - all good there too.

Other than the air cleaner we have all the parts for the one we are restoring - as i use parts from the "parts car" i've been putting the parts from ours back out there.  So it should be fairly complete when we are done.  Bottom of body is really bad - looks like it sat in the weeds a long time.  Seller said frame was solid (and he ran a shop with lifts) but i haven't been under it yet.  I'm hoping when we are done someone will give the second car a good home and get it back on road, or maybe i'll fix it up...

Thanks Fid
dlh

2

General Discussion / Modern formula for # 330 Satin Blue

« on: January 07, 2011, 08:50:38 AM »

Greetings group

Restoring a '51 Henry J, paint code 330 Satin Blue.  Looking for a modern mixable paint formula, any paint manufacturer as my jobber can cross any modern number - he mixes DuPont product which I've had excellent luck with.  Would like it to be very close but doesn't need to be perfect as i'll be painting everything.

Alternative will be to take the back of the back seat which appears least faded in to do a computer match.

thanks in advance
Dave and Tom

3

Henry J & Allstate Forum / Re: Coolant seeping out around head studs

« on: January 07, 2011, 07:49:47 AM »

OK, I pulled the studs one at a time and sealed them with number 2 permatex.  No seeping until it got hot, then a couple seeped.  But i also noticed antifreeze dripping out around the radiator cap!  Cooled it off and found the real problem (although sealing the studs probably would have been needed even at 4 pounds pressure) - when we had the radiator recored (which they did a nice job of) they didn't clean out the overflow tube.  And I hadn't noticed it was plugged up tight!  So the system was pulling much more than 4 pounds of pressure, enough to seep fluid out of the top cap seal.

It was really plugged with lime and dirt - had to tap on a coat hanger wire to get it through then made a makeshift "rat" out of a piece of brazing rod flattened and sharpened at the end.  Spun that slow with a drill and worked it down from the top and up from the bottom, got it cleaned out.  Flushed with water and air, put all back together and everything is fine!

Thanks for all the advice
Dave

4

General Discussion / Re: New KFOCI Handbook now in distribution

« on: January 06, 2011, 08:42:59 AM »

Thanks for the info - and for putting the living file store together!  I'll check around the area and see if i can hook up with someone to copy their's - but any chance there are CD's left i could buy? 

Or better yet, if there is a file provision to the forum or the KFOCI site why not post the files in the same organization as the CD to the net?  As long as it requires membership to get to the area there would be some quid-pro-quo for the club.  Several of the clubs I belong to (my interests include other vintage American cars, British bikes, and Honda bikes) do exactly that.

thanks again!
Dave

5

General Discussion / Re: New KFOCI Handbook now in distribution

« on: January 05, 2011, 09:06:11 PM »

Unfortunately I was a few months late joining, missed the CD last year.  But enjoying the Calendar for this year!  Is the KFOCI Handbook in the Mfg Fund order sheet ($20 as i recall) the CD being discussed here?
thanks all
Dave

6

Henry J & Allstate Forum / Coolant seeping out around head studs

« on: January 04, 2011, 10:17:00 PM »

Restoring a '51 Henry J per previous posts.  We've been working on the body in parallel with finishing up the rolling frame.  Over the weekend we got the exhaust on it back to the muffler and got the freshly recored radiator back on the channel (which we powder coated - that should last a lifetime!).  Tonight we mounted up the rebuilt carb and hooked everything up.  Rigged a hot lead for the coil and a line over to a gas can.

After the pump primed and filled the carb he started right up!  Smooth and steady, purrs like a kitten.

Was warming him up and tweaking the carb adjustments when we noticed antifreeze seeping out around many of the head studs.  We finished tuning things up and shut him down, retorqued the head.  Started him up, still leaking.  Switched the radiator cap to a zero pound open cap (came on our parts car) and tried again - still leaking.

When we rebuilt the engine we used copper spray on the head gasket.  We researched the rebuild in the KF shop manual, the US Army rebuild manual for Willys 134 L head, and a Clymers.  I don't recall any of them mentioning steps to avoid this.  I remember rebuilding an Olds V8 that specifically called for sealant on certain studs to avoid leaks...

Should we have used permatex or RTV on the studs?  If so, can they be pulled now from above the head and reinserted with sealant?

Maybe we have a bad head gasket?

Any experiences or ideas would be appreciated!
Dave and Tom

7

Henry J & Allstate Forum / Looking for late '52 - 54 tail lights

« on: December 19, 2010, 11:05:53 AM »

First the good news - Tom and I are the lucky souls that scored the '52 from southern MN for under $600.  He may find his way back to the road someday but right now he is contributing parts to our '51 restoration, starting with a PERFECT 4 cylinder air cleaner assembly - still had oil in the bottom!

One thing Tom always wanted was the fin mounted tail lights from the later Henrys.  As Fid noted in his post on the ebay sale, the rear fins had been filled in like a '51 but it was poorly done - looks like it can be reversed and the flanges/fittings for the tail lights are still intact.

So now we are looking for a decent set of late model tail light housings for the old boy.  With lenses would be great but the housings seem to be the hard part. 

Anyone have a pair they would like to sell?  Please email me at dhattey@aol.com.
Thanks!
Dave and Tom

8

Henry J & Allstate Forum / Re: Fuel gauge sending unit ohms

« on: December 05, 2010, 09:40:49 AM »

OK, so i carried my good meter down to the workshop and did the same - i know this is the original sending unit as the car was purchased new by Tom's uncle and then from him by Tom back in the late 50's.  We were the first to tear it apart.  '51 4 cylinder overdrive with trunk lid but no glove box.

Unit measures 14 ohms to 72 ohms.  Full resistor strip inside (gently lifted the pick up brush) measures 75 ohms.

Not sure why the difference, have not tried hooking it to the gas gauge to see where it hits full and empty.

FYI
Dave

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Henry J & Allstate Forum / Re: Fuel gauge sending unit ohms

« on: December 04, 2010, 01:04:27 PM »

Just checked mine (old but working) and it is also 70 ohms.  More wouldn't hurt, would just get to empty on scale a little early...

10

Henry J & Allstate Forum / '51 Henry J Starter Color

« on: December 04, 2010, 01:02:00 PM »

Working on the body of our Henry J and restoring the rest of the engine accessories in parallel.  Rebuilding the starter (pretty rusty) and we can see remnants of black and of engine green paint on it.  Most of the green seems to be on the snout.  Not sure if the snout was green and the starter itself black, both black, or both green.  What is the collected wisdom of the group?
thanks in advance
Dave and Tom

11

Henry J & Allstate Forum / Re: Brake adjusters on backing plate

« on: March 06, 2010, 11:33:03 AM »

thanks, AZ_HJ and Fid. 

Nice pics, you really were thorough with your powder coating!  Did you pull apart the king pins and powder the pieces seperately?  My pins and bushings are very tight, car was very low mileage when parked.  I'm amazed and impressed that you even coated the brake shoes and cylinders...

Good point on the cylinders, Fid.  I had a heck of a time getting the pistons out of a couple of the cylinders, had honed them up and cleaned up the pistons but hadn't thought about sleeving the cylinders...

12

Henry J & Allstate Forum / Brake adjusters on backing plate

« on: March 06, 2010, 07:14:27 AM »

Work continues on our '51 Henry J.  Cleaning up suspension/brake parts and have a question for the group - has anyone disassembled the brake adjusters from the backing plate?  Ours are stuck but good, i've gotten one backer so they move by sandblasting off the rust, soaking in penetrating oil on both sides, and wacking a 3/8" end wrench on the square portion.  But even they move very very hard.  I'd like to get them off the backing plate (if possible) so we can clean out the inside surfaces - and we'd powdercoat the backing plate while they were off.

And if they can't be removed, has anyone found the magic formula to get them functional and paint/powdercoat the backer while keeping them functional?

Thanks in advance
Dave

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Henry J & Allstate Forum / Re: Purolator canister filter decal

« on: March 05, 2010, 08:31:27 PM »

Email sent.  Thanks in advance!
Dave and Tom

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Henry J & Allstate Forum / Re: Purolator canister filter decal

« on: March 05, 2010, 09:46:10 AM »

Thanks, Mark. 
Joined KFOCI last year and contributed to the mfg fund but have not seen a bulliten.  Sent an email into them earlier this week, sounds like i just need to get my hand on the list (and see what other goodies they have that we will need!).

Great pictures by the way - Canister looks great and your rolling frame/engine look fantastic!
Dave and Tom

15

Henry J & Allstate Forum / Purolator canister filter decal

« on: March 05, 2010, 08:21:58 AM »

Good morning all

Continuing with our '51 Henry J, engine is nearing completion - now we've got to get busy on the frame and running gear so we have something to bolt the engine back into!

I've been powdercoating the black parts, including the canister oil filter and bracket - they look great and will stand up to service nicely going forward.  But I'd like to replace the Purolator sticker on the newly powder coated canister oil filter housing.  Do any of you have a source for that sticker?  I see Rudy has one for the Fram filter on a 51-55 Kaiser in his catalog but doesn't show one for the Purolator canister on the Henry J's.

Any help would be appreciated
Dave and Tom