VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1939 Engine details

I’m planning to take the best parts of two 1939 Chev’s to make one good car. Right now I’m assessing the engines and have a few questions. By the way both are right hand drive … one was made in Canada the other was made in the USA.

1)The Canadian engine has a starter and distributor made by McKinnon Industries in St Catharines, Ontario (it has an incorrect newer generator). The US engine has starter, distributor and generator made in Anderson Indiana. All are Delco Remy. Are there any differences between US and Canadian sources? Can I mix parts if rebuilding?

2)Both engines have Carter YF carburetors (with number 1-630 in the cast iron base that mounts to the manifold). I know these are newer than 1939, but I think I’ll use one for now. Are these suitable replacements or is there a good reason to look for an original carb?

3)The distributor hold down bolt has a standard half inch hex head, but with a slot in it that looks like it is for use with a heavy screw driver. I thought the slot was odd, but the cars were from different owners and both distributors use the same style bolt, so maybe this is an original feature. Does the original distributor bolt have a slot and if so, why? The distributor housing is in the way of a straight approach with a screw driver, and there is lots of room to use a wrench on the bolt, so the slot is a bit of a mystery to me.

I looked at my 39 and found the bolt not to have a slot.

The Canadian built cars did not use Delco eletrical components as you have found. They should not be mixed to be correct.The Carter YF is a commonly found eplacement carburetor, they are simple and from what I hear perform well. The correct carb. would be the Carter W-1 and the late 1938 and 1939 are the same.
The dist. hold down bolt on my '39 does not have a slot although I have seen them with slots. As you said, it would be dificult to get a screw drive down in there, easier with the wrench.

I have several sets of both Canadian and USA built starters, disributors and generators.

Both the USA and Canadian items appear virtually identical with the only obvious difference is that the Delco tag on the Canadian tag also indicates it's made by Mckinnon Industries in Ontario, below the Delco branding.

Based on the items I have they should be 100% interchangeable BUT I have seen some weird mutant Canadian parts as well so you never know...

I think I've finally figured how to post an image - so here is a picture of the slotted distributor hold down bolts on the two 1939 Chev engines I have in case anyone has any more insight on why they are made this way. (fingers crossed that the photo loads)

Originally I said the 1939 did not have a slot. I was going by the later parts book where it specified just a standard bolt. While that may be true for the later years and sold for a 1939 trough the parts department for replacement - my 1939 has the slotted bolt also. Purpose of slot would have been for use of screw driver. Hammer, a screw driver and a roll of wire was all that was needed to repair an old Chevy

King_Isomer, is that the correct color engine for this era?

Jon, what is that mounted on the starter?

The paint was pretty close to that originally on the engine. About the right darkness but slightly more purple. It looks a lot darker in person, almost black in dim areas. I got it from Chevs of the 40's.

That is a polarity reversing switch on the starter. A rather useless item but nonetheless necessary for originalities sake.

I love looking at your picture album Jon, really nicely put together. I see you’ve updated it a bit, nice format. The attention to detail that you’ve gone to is number one in my book. That’s one fantastic job your doing and I would really like to see it in person some time when you finish.
What sort of treatment are you giving to the bare cast iron parts such as the steering box, transmission and master cylinder?
And I’ve been wondering, are you the young feller demonstrating hand cranking the inliner or was that your son??? Since I see you on the Cub I assume that it was you and by the way, you look much to young to be doing high caliber work like that. I’m looking forward to the body work phase of the project, please keep us updated here and over at the bolt.
I see in your profile you say you're a student, do you mean a student of the restoration art??
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Jon, I also loved your photos and the work you are doing. Makes me think about starting over on my project. I have alot of photos I would like to share but don't have a clue how to set up something like you did, any suggestions where I should start?