VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Could the '31 finally Run??

I got my head back from the shop yesterday. I bought this car back in 2009 (I think, my computer has stopped working so I'm using my wife's laptop. I've had the computer for over 8 years and I'm within a week of getting it's replacement... it could have given me 3 or 4 more days). Since I've had my '31, I have never been able to drive it and enjoy it without worry. It has always had one type of overheating problem or another, and one that strangely would vary from temperamental to severe. It has spent the most of that time sitting (indoors of course), but I really hope that with this head and the new bearing-style water pump that my overheating days (or at least drive-preventing overheating) will be over.
If I can get it driving without overheating I can eventually begin to save up and fix the other problems that are secondary to the overheating, like the kingpins causing death wobble and the windshield that won't roll up as well as the side window that has a stripped out handle and the window felts that let the windows rattle around in the door frames, rebuild the used and abused pancake horn I found, get the fuel and temp gauges working, install a passenger tail light with LEDs and install some period correct aftermarket blinkers, fix the slightly saggy driver's door, make some slip covers for my front seats because they're original and I want to save them, rebuild the steering so it doesn't have 40 degrees of play, finish the exhaust from the muffler back, switch to a 6v alternator, install the custom overflow I recently made and finally install my heater. Also, I have a plan to find some LED headlight bulbs that will use less voltage and produce a much brighter light. I know that motorcycles use them, so if they don't make any I may have to do some research and figure out how to design my own.
I've done quite a bit of work on it so far and have learned a whole lot about how these cars work. It may take a while, but as long as I can drive while I'm working on all this then I can be happy.

Now I need to find two strong friends to help me lower the head back down on the block after I get it cleaned up and we'll see if she can break this 4 year fever she's been running.

Brandon

Hey Brandon... Have you done any work on the rad to help the cooling problems?

Hello Vetteman61,
Can you tell us what the shop did to the head and if they were able to pressure test the head? Did you flush out the water jackets in the block and flush out the radiator too? Have you checked the block surface with a straight edge? Is there a thermostat installed and if so, does it work? With everything clean and dry and new gaskets on hand, you should be good to go. Don't trust used gaskets from an engine with an overheating condition. Use caution when using the old head bolts and tightening. There has been discussion about torque values and weakness with used bolts. A search and review on this topic should be made so as to minimize the possibility of a broken head bolt. Have a fresh oil change and verify the engine timing is correct. Make sure the rockers and valve stems have oil before the engine is started. After the engine starts, check for leaks of any kind. Moisture out the exhaust is normal until the atmosphere within dries out, then there should be no moisture. Check the coolant level and add if necessary to proper level. If the engine warms up to normal operating temperature and stays there, your good. If the engine overheats and the radiator boils over, shut the engine off and suspect the radiator. Let us know how you make out.

Brandon --- just one point to emphasize from what Harry said: Be sure to check the timing carefully. A spark that is retarded too far can definitely reduce the engine power and cause severe overheating.

Hope it all works out well and that the car runs cool as a cucumber!

All the Best, Chip

Let me know if you find a set of headlight bulbs that don't suck the life out of your battery.I bought a set from Bill Hirch and they drained my battery.I spoke to Bill before I bought them and he said the drain would be minimal...NOT !So now I have a set of $56 bulbs sitting in my drawer.If I adjust the generator to compensate it overcharges and melts the solder on the newer style ignition cutout reostat.I'll live with the originals as I only rarely drive at night.

What you have found is typical and you are much better off staying with the original headlight bulbs.

I just added a pair of sealed beam driving lights to my 33 to help with any night driving I might do. They are brighter than the head lights and the generator keeps up OK. I am running a later 30 amp generator.

When I installed the head on my car, I used a set of guide pins to line up the head.
The guide pins were bolts that I cut the heads off and then used a saw to cut a slot in the end of the shaft for a screwdriver.
This worked out well and I didn't damage the head gasket.

I have flushed the radiator out, but that's all that I have done at this point.

The shop was able to pressure test the head. They spent considerable time trying to find a way to do so but couldn't find a suitable plate so after getting advice from this forum and telling them they were able to clamp it to a table and successfully test it that way.

I have already installed a thermostat and after checking it I'm going to drill a 3/8" hole in it to allow some breathing.

I'm going to fill it up with straight water first to try to find any leaks. As soon as I see there are no leaks I'll drain it out and use water/antifreeze.

I'll only be searching for LED headlights, which have a very small draw. If I'm not able to find a company that can accommodate the needs I'll be making my own. It may take a while, but eventually I will figure this out because my headlights now are woefully incapable.

I got her all buttoned up today. Just need to change the oil, tighten the spark plugs (didn't have a socket to fit down at the barn) and fill it with water to test for leaks before adding antifreeze.

Today it went from warm to cold and rainy. I used a garden hose to flush out the head, top of the block and radiator. The hose I used was leaky and the hose end was too. It was cooooold, but it's all over but the crying now....

so here's to waiting to see how hot it's going to run

Good work Vetteman61. The weather is crazy this spring...Keep us posted

The battery was finally fully charged on the '31 so I went down and filled her with water again. There were a few small leaks that I would address later, but nothing that would prevent me from seeing if the new head was going to solve the overheating problem. The fuel line to the carb was leaking with a pretty steady drip from where I had moved the manifold around getting the head on and off. Taking it on and repositioning it fixed that problem. I drove from my dad's barn over to my house and then readjusted the valves. After that I took a drive into town and from the initial drive around town, about 2 hours worth of driving on and off, it seems as though it's going to do OK. I bought 2 gallons of antifreeze and some distilled water, drained everything, replaced a couple hose clamps, tightened a few bolts and it seems like she's going to do OK. There are still lots of small things to work on, but the major problem that trumped them all was the overheating issue. Supposedly there are storms moving in for the rest of the week so I put her back to sleep in the barn. I really hope this solves the problem. I can't wait to get to drive the '31 every day in the summer as long as it isn't raining. I've had this car since 2009 and I've been patiently waiting, fixing things like the water pump, waiting for the new bearing water pumps, and then saving up to get to get a new head, which turned out to be getting my original head fixed. Fortunately the '31 is very small, so I think it will fit in the garage next to my wife's car and I can get it out of the barn.

Hopefully next week the weather will let up and I can take a few more test runs.


Brandon

Sounds like you are having a lot of fun with your 31, good job, and enjoy it!

I've finally been able to give the '31 enough testing to say with some confidence that I believe the overheating problem (at least the one I've had since I've had the car) is fixed. I've driven it into town twice now and took mother to Cracker Barrel for mother's day and the temps were perfect.

Thanks to everyone that helped with information and parts that allowed me to get this car back on the road. It's nice to have it back in my tiny garage again. Hopefully April and I will get to drive it to church again (about a 100 mile round trip on all backroads) which is our favorite activity with the '31 and we can take some pictures soon.



Brandon

Super.....Nice looking car and keep her going...

My son and I also have a '31. We're in Collierville, just east of Memphis. Where in Tennessee are you?

Bill Everett