VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Looking at a rough 46 Fleetline

I have an "opportunity" to pick up a '46 Fleetline Aerosedan, rough. Trying to just learn what I can from what data I've got so far.

Engine # DAA 511959

Body # S 12440

(can't yet get access to the right side of the car! So can't see Engine Casting Date behind the starter, nor the VIN on the floorboard sill area, if it's still there)

The little bit I know tells me the DAA is 1946 (second design???)

And I think the Body Number is telling me St Louis plant.

Does anyone have a Chart of sequential numbers to be able to say about WHEN the car was built?

(really don't know if I want to bite off a project this major...)

Thanks!

Don.......Seriously??? Does Liz know about this????

If I were home, I could tell you what month the car was built, but I don't have that info with me. Should have scanned it at some point so I'd have it on my computer no matter where I was.

Don, it all looks legit so far, and engine is original to the car. Your engine breakdown is right on,

D-1946
A-passenger car
A-Flint plant, regular engine (W/O hydrovac)

Second design as you mentioned.

S12440

S is St. Louis and the only other item I can add is that all plants started at #1001 for each sequence, but I can't offer any other details about the date without more info. Hopefully someone else can chime in and give specifics. The date of manufacture would be in the serial number as the 3rd digit (on the door pillar). I feel your frustration, I looked at a '48 last summer and could get all the numbers BUT that one since it was up against a shed and the door wouldn't open wide enough to see it.

Does the car have original glass in it still? That would have date stamps that would be fairly close. Our '47 was a November car and all the glass has an 11-47 stamp on it. That would get you somewhere in the ballpark.

Here's hoping you take it home with you, and best wishes for it. Sometimes we need a fresh challenge once in a while Right?

Cheers

Thanks for the info!

Cousin Dale - she is going with me to look at it again tomorrow, but she always just says "buy it if you want it" - she long ago decided that was so much easier!

This is a project and then some - needs absolutely everything - but it is essentially "free." I can turn the engine, and it all appears to be real close to 100% complete. Somebody decided to remove all the paint a few decades ago and stuff all the trim in the back seat area, but it has been in inside dry storage since - but is totally covered with surface rust, some of which is getting fairly serious. And they pulled out the radiator and water pump, who knows. It was last licensed in 1978, showing 112,000 miles. Has all the original parts that I can see, so far. But I would probably have to pull the wheels and get tires on it that hold air before it could be pulled out into the daylight (for the first time in over 30 years).

It's tempting! Did I mention Free? How can you not want a car that is free? And Aerosedans are kinda cool -

Of course, there's a reason it's free - it would make a great project to spend 3 or 4 years of labor and $25,000, to end up with a car worth about $18,000. In other words, a perfect old car hobby purchase!

Rats! What I used to do to post photos must have changed! Working to turn those links into photos...

Edit - OK, got photos now, sorry they're so huge. Will work on that next....

Yes sir, that's a large project. You don't see the '46 cars that much anymore it seems though. Free is always the right price, though...even if you just scuff it, prime it and throw it on the market.

It would be a good save if and look amazing after its done, but wouldn't they all?

Engine # DAA=
D=1946
A= passenger car engine
A=Regular engine made at Flint
1946 Flint engine numbers ranged from DA-1001 through DA-546865.
1946 production didn't really get going until March of 1946 due to a strike. 1946 production ended in mid Jan. 1947. The Fleetline Aero didn't come along till at least April 1946. The engine number would put it about the fall of 1946.The 1946 serial number was not on the floor. It is on the right front door hinge post.
There is no first or seconed design 1946 passenger cars - trucks only.
Body numbers strated with 1 , serial numbers began with 1001.

In my opinion for which you didn't ask you will be up-side-down in the car by the time your finished restoring it not even counting your labor.
I am surpried it has a 1946 engine as it has a later valve cover with the oil filler on top. Perhap it has line a 1950 or so cylinder head.

Thanks Gene - good to hear from you!

On the "second design" thing - I thought that was talking about the engine? Saw a couple of references to that, but not clear. Associated wtih the "DAA" code portion.

I know of course about the 1947 truck and the early "juke box" style, followed by the Advance Design truck later in the year. Is that what you're referring to? Thanks.

See the last comments I added on.

Don... that is some "light surface rust"! Would it be better to pay a couple grand now for better sheet metal?? On the other side of the coin, this old girl needs saving... and you're certainly the guy for the job!

Roger that - the valve cover has been changed, I noticed that. This one had been chrome plated at some point, and then later painted over the plating. Doesn't really show in the photo. I hope tomorrow to be able to get more numbers from the car, maybe pull off that rocker cover (I think it's pretty safe that it'll be dry under there!) and see the Head Casting date at that time. But the Block is for sure a DAA - see below -

And I completely agree that I would end up upside down financially. That's why I said that final line in the posting above with the photos (which I finally got re-sized and working). But hey, who's in it for the money, anyway? I'm sure I could spend approximately twice what the car's worth restoring it - I'm good at that...

Hiya, Brewster - now I never said "light" surface rust - I said "some of which is getting fairly serious" - but it's not through the sheet metal anywhere. Well, OK, maybe a couple of places low on the rear quarters. But that's what sandpaper is for. So, this is an excellent opportunity (love that word!)to go to bare metal and respray.... I was thinking Seafoam Green lower body, Volunteer Green roof - always liked that combo on '40s cars.

That is a nice color combo indeed. Scout Brown and Sport Beige also can look sharp.





The shot of the firewall looks like there's some remaining Oxford Maroon there, which also looks dynamite. Is there some stainless and trim with the car?

Don't sweat the rust, that's why they make this lovely stuff and sell it by the gallon. Ha ha!

In all honesty, I think you could get into that one pretty deep, but if it comes out as nice as your previous restos then it would be another Chevy saved and admired by many. Keep us posted!

Yeah, but the labor is free! It appears that (hopefully) ALL the stainless is there - the back seat is filled with parts to the top of the seat backs - and there are zillions of pieces of stainless. Of course without getting them and laying them out and taking inventory, we can't be sure. And the car has been stripped down for a long time, but not moved. It's when they get moved around (or stored in high traffic areas) that pieces start wandering off, in my experience. So hopefully most all of it will be present.

Yes, original paint was (mono-color) "Martial Maroon Metallic" it's called in 1946, paint code 337.

Yep, original Head. "L-13-6" Can never remember if "L" is November or December - did they use "I" for September or skip it because it would be confusing? So, it's either Nov. or Dec. 13, 1946. And of course they built the 1946 models really late into the winter, so it's not a '47.

It was surprisingly nice and clean in there.

L is December so it is a very late 1946.
1946 production ran from 10-3-45 to 1-11-47

So they did use "I" for September in the codes. Thanks!

I looked too much like a 1 so it wasn't used.
Note though on an engine number. The I was used in the series of numbers instead of a 1.....they must have has a cheap set of number stamps.

If the "I" wasn't used then how can "L" be December?

I will admit to being confused now, too. Gene's last two posts seem to disagree with each other.

I am looking for info.

Valve springs and valves don't look too shabby. I've seen worse on running engines. A friend of mine calls these "zombie 216's" because no matter how long they've been sitting or how bad they are, usually with a little tweaking they'll fire up, smoke a bit, and then keep purring like they didn't just sit it out for 3 decades. I'll bet she'll run

Bet she will, too!

My experience with zombie 216's (I like that) that have been idle for THIS long is as follows:

(1) remove valve cover, soak with oil and tap each valve with a hammer to see that none are stuck (as you know, bent push rods suck)

(2) Drain and refill crankcase.

(3) Rebuild or switch out the carburetor (sure you can skip this step, pour gas in it and make it belch, but you know it's going to be full of crud and things are stuck and it has plugged up passages).

(4) Replace points & condensor, clean or replace plugs (and plug wires if they're falling apart). Dump some oil down the cylinders while the plugs are out

(5) rig a Mickey Mouse fuel supply

(6) put some water in it

(7) spin the engine for a while with the starter with the plugs out and juice things up good

(8) start the engine (like it ran last week!) And grab a gas mask for the oil smoke, and pray the rings open back up. And start counting things that leak!


Of course, having a spare Rochester Model B or Carter W-1 carb on hand is helpful, and spare spark plugs and point sets laying around. Makes all the above go much quicker.

The 216 is an awesome piece of equipment!

Yep, got her home and hosed her off, think she's going to clean up OK........might not have to paint it green after all... purring like a kitten.....
(sure....) (when pigs fly)





( Gotta say this so I don't confuse Brewster.... I'm just kidding here, obviously - did not get it yet. And it would probably take me a little longer than one evening...might take all week)

The letter "I" was used in the serial number for August so L would be December. Not sure about casting numbers though. Would be intresting to see the serial number.