VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 47 Fleetmaster sport coupe

I have a 47 i just bought that has sat since 1967. The engine is stuck and i put disel fuel in the cylinders with big hopes. My question (lots more to come) is where does the spare tire go in the trunk? Is their suppose to be a wood platt form in the trunk the tire go's under?How about some other members web sites with pics of their car under restoration.I want to keep it original.
thanks
pete

The early 1947 Club Coupes had a shelf in the trunk.The spare tire mounted under it.The late club coupes (and convertibles) had no permanant shelf.The tire layed on the floor (held in place with a retainer and bolt) and a removable shelf clipped to the center hole of the wheel.It was round,about the size of the tire, and covered with a material.This style was used on all 1948 club coupes and convetibles.

Hello Pete,

Great to hear of another 47 here in wisconsin!!!

keep us up to date from time to time on your progress!

This is "THE PLACE" to get your questions answered..

Well ,the engine won't turn or even budge a little bit. I do have a good 1950 216 i can put in for now.But how do i get the old bell housing off the stuck engine?The original engine has sat since 1967 without being turned.

pete

Not too late to start putting ATF (automatic transmission fluid) in each cylinder. Also, purchase the special tool needed to turn the engine by use of the flywheel. Time and patience.

Ray,

You mentioned time and patience.

I think you left out one of the elements of the "old car hobby" equation. Seems like MONEY is the third element!!!

Bill.

Greasy Monkey:

If the tire in your truck is the same as a 48 Stylemaster, it would stand up on the left side of the trunk. Do you need a photo of my trunk?

On the 2 and 4 door it was on the side of the trunk (in a well)-The tire was flat on the floor in the coupes.

POUR LIBERAL AMOUNTS OF MARVEL MYSTERY OIL INTO THE CYLINDERS, AND ALSO INTO THE CRANKCASE.
WORK IT BACK-N-FORTH USING THE FLY WHEEL. BE PATIENT. IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE THE OTHER ENGINE, THE BELL HOUSING CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE OLD BLOCK. JUST PULL THE ENGINE & TRANNY AS A UNIT. THEN REMOVE THE TRANS. THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO REACH UP INTO THE BELL HOUSING, AND REMOVE THE LOCKS, AND THE BOLTS HOLDING THE FLYWHEEL TO THE CRANK, AND TAP OFF THE FLYWHEEL. NOW THE BOLTS HOLDING THE BELL HOUSING CAN BE REMOVED. BE CAREFUL WHEN REMOVING THE FLYWHEEL!!! I ALMOST CRUSHED MY HAND WHEN MINE GAVE WAY. THERE PRETTY HEAVY! I WOULD REALLY TRY ALL I COULD TO SAVE THE ORIGINAL 47 BLOCK.

I do plan on saving the original engine. I ordered one of those flywheel tools for turning the engine over from napa and it will be here early next week. Darn thing cost 40.00 with shipping. Does anyone have a web page so i can look at what your doing on your car?

pete

Well today i pulled the 216 out. It just wont budge at all. I pulled the head off a few months ago and found some light surface rust in 4 cylinders so i sprayed P B blaster in and let i set a month but nothing. I bent the flywheel tool trying it.I even put a shaved down 2x4 in one cylinder at a time and gave it a hit with a 3lb hammer and nothing. So i pulled it tonight. I took the oil pan off and expecting to find rust in the cylinders and a bunch of sludge but it was very clean. Only a small amount of sludge(about 1/2 inch.No rust under any pistons.I have a felling its in the cam becouse the last 2 lifters have some surface rust on them and i cant get them to budge. Any ideas as to how to get the bellhousing off as i cant get up in there to get at the bolts on the presure plate as it wont turn. Even with the small plate held on with two screws i cant get to the bolts.

thanks for any help
pete

i do plan to save this engine for later in the coupe,until then i will us my 216 from a 1950.

Pete; Soak it down with a 50/50 mix of Diesel and trans fluid. Fill the cylinders up and get a spray bottle and squirt down the lifters. You may also want to use a hair dryer before you spray the lifters. The warmer the better. This should take care of your problem.

Yesterday i got the bellhousing off. I had the engine upside down sitting on the floor with the oil pan off. As i thought about it for a while and could see the bottoms of each cylinder there just was no surface rust at all. So i looked at the lifters from the bottum and could see some small amounts of surface rust. WELL the engine will be rebuilt some day so i got a long punch and started nocking them up away from the cam. Almost all where stuck. Prying on the flywheel i got it to turn and now i was able to get the bolts of the pressure plate and flywheel.
Now to start degreasing the other engine and change out that bellhousing and get the engine painted.

pete