VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1937 Master DeLuxe

Rich, I have sealed beams in my 37. I do have a set of original lenses and reflectors just in case I or someone else wants to put it back to original. I drive it at night too and I like the brighter lights. My 33 has the original lights and although you can drive it at night I wouldn't want to go very fast as there is quite a difference between them and the sealed beams. I like to drive them better than show them and no one but the experts here even notice the difference.

Sealed beam kits are quite common in 37/38 cars. They generally come with a chrome trim ring though. The kits are getting a bit pricy now.

Ed/Randy,

I have found sealed beam kits for '39's, but not for my car. Where did you get your kits?

Thanks,

Rich

I found plastic foam floats at Snyders Antique Auto Parts (http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/). They fit my '30 perfectly. It's a Ford site, but if they have what you need,---. The float is part number A-9313-C.

ArtM

Rich, Sorry I can't help you with that, my 37 had them when I got it over 40 years ago. Mine are not chrome rings they are painted.

Rich
E-bay and swap meets are a good bet, also try Dick Moffit.

I have been watching ebay. I have never been to a swap meet.

If somewone still makes them, I don't mind paying a reasonable price.

Who is Dick Moffit and how do I contact him?

Rich

I don't know if they are sealed beam lights. I'll check tomorrow while I'm at the storage shed. I've lost the battery to my digital camera, so when I get a new one, I'll take some close up pictures and post them.

As far as the grill goes, I don't know if it is the original grill, but it definitely has been re-chromed, and upon closer inspection, doesn't fit together quite right. Once again, when I buy a new battery, I'll post close-ups.

Another thing I want to post is the interior. Whoever restored the interior did a fantastic job!

When I first noticed that the battery was connected as a positive ground, the first thing I asked about was the starter. Apparently it doesn't matter, the dang thing turns the right way regardless of polarity. The only thing you have to look out for is on the generator: you have to reverse the polarity of the armature. This is done by disconnecting the battery completely from the car, connecting a piece of wire to the positive terminal of the battery (to make it negative ground) and just brushing the armature with the other end of the wire, and job done! I don't know if that is right or not since my generator wasn't working at the time anyway. Surprisingly enough, the instrument panel worked just fine, except that the polarity on the ammeter was reversed (which makes sense since the power is flowing in the opposite direction).

I did have one item burn out when I changed the polarity: the clock. When I first attached the battery negative ground, about thirty seconds later I had thick black smoke coming out of the glove box! Whoever repaired the clock added some electrical component (I don't know what it is since it is melted) that obviously wasn't standard. I plan on sending it in for repair next week.

Beautiful car. Is it a driver as well as a showcar? Great job restoring that beauty.

Thanks, I wish I could take credit for the restoration! I bought it restored back in June. Although it wouldn't take much to make it a show car and win some awards, I prefer to have a driveable car, one that I wouldn't be scared to take out on the road.

Cars were made to be driven. Period.