VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 18 months Since Restoring the 41

So it's now been about 18 months since I restored my 1941 Chevy Town Sedan. I've driven it over 3,500 miles and have had a blast. I drive it almost weekly on local roads and on extended trips too. I regularly make the trip to my dad's house which is about 120 miles round trip. Living in the city of Knoxville, Tennessee requires me to drive on interstates and through heavy traffic. It still does not over-heat and it has no problem keep up with the traffic at 60-65mph. The rear main crank seal has started to leak a little but I still don't have to add any oil. I figure I can live with it.
I've only got 2 things on my to-do list. I still need to polish and paint the hood louvers, and I need to rebuild the steering box and get the play out of it. There's just too much play. I chase it all over the road. A gust of wind hit me a few days ago and just about took me off the road. I'm living a dream with this car and hope to enjoy it for many years to come.

Here's so pictures of my dad and I driving this fall through Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

Brandon,
It doesn't get better than that! Don't tell mama or she might get upset if you know what I mean.

Very nice looking car. Enjoy the ride.

Very nice. Glad you're enjoying it and showing it off.

Add the following to the "to do" list:

a. Wheel strips,
b. Tossing the head light things.
c. bumper tips and grill guards
d. Adding a Fulton
e. Add Shark Teeth rims

Skip "d."

The eel leak at the rear main is normal. It will take a long time to seep out a quart unless you are parked on a friends white concrete driveway.

Best,
Charlie

Beautiful car, beautiful senery.

I am sure the steering gear needs rebuilding or adjusting. Guess they all do. Also make sure the rubber bushings that hold the two halves of the pitman arm together are in good condition. If they are bad it will also cause a lot of play in the steering. They are fairly easy to replace and available from the Filling Station.

HI Brandon,

We all are jealous of you and your dad's great adventure. What beautiful scenery to compliment your awesome cars.

We have had a number of posts covering steering issues, so check them out through our index and keep us up to date on your progress. We all wish our cars handled better.

I like to make any steering box adjustments with the front tires off the ground, and a buddy at the steering wheel turning the steering wheel for me as I observe what is happening with the steering system under the car. I think the manual recommends that the pitman arm be disconnected while making the adjustments, but I assume that is for those who will not be having their front end's suspended on jack stands. It will be easy to see that a slight 1/2 inch turn of the steering wheel should result in immediate movement of the pitman arm, even with the tires on the car while they are off the ground. This will tell you the steering box is not your problem.

The manual covers all the adjustments to the steering box. Too much adjustment could cause even more steering box problems.

What did you already do to your suspension when you were restoring your car (new shocks, tires, king pins, pitman arm bushings, sway bar bushings, tie rod ends, link pins, etc.)?

Thanks, Mike

Super nice cars and story…Photo #2 should definitely qualify as a cover photo for the VCCA magazine!! What do you think Guys???? Billu38

Submit that picture!!!!

Charlie,
I do need to add the stripes to the wheels, I like my headlight things, I have bumper tips and grill guards...just not chromed yet, I'll never add a Fulton, I don't know about Shark Teeth Rims. Heck, I'm out of money!

Brandon

I have no problem with submitting it. It's also going to be the cover for our local driving map for the Big South Fork Region. I took the picture while my dad drove my 41 and my mom drove dad's 57. It was a fun day. I took 192 pictures that day.

I've checked the king pins and tie rod ends and they seem to be fine. I put new sway bar bushings in and stabilizer links. I was going to make adjustments to the steering box with it on the car but it's all too rusted. I'm looking for another box to rebuild so I can just switch them out. I love driving way too much to take it all apart to find something major that would delay me. I'm looking for a 41-48 steering box if someone close has one for sale.

Also

Brandon, That is your car for you to do what you like with it. Don't be pressured by others to change it. Enjoy it just the way you like it.

Awesome car, pics, and story. My goal is to be like you, driving my '38 around town often after I am done.

To Back Roads,
I don't pay much attention to Charlie anyway:) I haven't seen him driving around in anything yet:)

I used to drive my Dad's 41 Plymouth that would quit on me often. I told him that if my 41 Chevy ran like that and wasn't reliable, I'd push it over a hill. That gave me more motivation to get mine right.

Beautiful cars and scenery! I also need to rebuild the steering sector on my 37, I have the parts but hate to tear it apart so I can't drive it. I'm retiring this year so maybe now I will have time to do it. Glad you are enjoying your car so much and like said above, make it how you want it not how someone else thinks it should be!

Brandon,

Back Roads has gotten my suggestion all wrong. There was never any intent to pressure you about anything about your car.

As for driving mine around, it gets lots of exercise. I just hate to go through all the labor and frustration associated with posting a picture. I will try again soon.

As to doing what you want with your car, as BR suggests, I see no negatives associated with anyone suggesting to another improvements that only will make the car more attractive and original. Like removing a Fulton, for instance. Maybe BR has one and that is what cause him to falsely accuse me of "pressuring." Mercy!

Charlie

BTW: Shark Teeth rims will beautify the car beyond belief. Will too! And, no need to stripe the wheels, to boot.

BTW2: The pictures were indeed well done. The background was beautiful as well as the cars and photography. Thanks for posting them. And, thank your mom and dad for not driving off and leaving you out there with the bears and things that go bump in the night. They missed an opportunity right there.

BTW3: Don't adjust the steering box. There is almost nothing you can do but mess it up further. Replace the tie rod ends and the pitman rubber bushings. Those things will generally take enough slack (loose motion) out of the steering that you can live with it.

BTW4: You need to pay attention to me and not others. I'm the only one out here who has your best interest at heart. Who else would suggest taking off those horrid "Western Auto/J.C. Whitney" headlight shades? Nobody!

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie....

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Some like one thing and others do not.

BR,

That is correct. The rub, however, is that some have never had classes in art appreciation and, thus, wouldn't know a Rembrandt from a flee market "color by numbers." Accordingly, they may hang the "color by numbers" right over the mantel and pridefully invite visitors to admire their "class."

It's like placing the new seedeater in the living room. It's like putting a Fulton on a car and somehow being proud of the great looks is give to the overall beauty of the car. In their eyes, of course.

The trouble is, is that the uninformed and uneducated about such things go on receiving snickers behind their backs whilst receiving accolades to their face by the informed and educated art aficionados and such. I'm only trying to prevent the latter.

Doing it your way is not always the best way. Example: Doing it your way by having a bucket of corn cobs in the outhouse may be just fine to some but you may carry around more stink afterwards than had use store-bought striking paper. See? And, you may not have to move the OH as often owing to the excessive bulk off the corn cobs. Ask Uncle Ed. He has plenty of corn cobs. Does too!

Charlie

Definitely check those rubber pitman arm bushings...Made all the differance on my car...Have a buddy move the steering wheel back and forth while you lay under and look at the arm...You'll see any play...It's a cheap and easy fix...Have Fun...!

Today a longtime friend, BigRichie, one of two (DIZ being the other) that I think know more about 1941s than I can ever learn reminded me that "shark teeth" rims are a 1940 accessory and not 1941. Of course, I knew that but his reminder prompted me to note it here so that I didn't mislead anyone in thinking that they were for 41 also. Thanks BigRichie.

The truth of the matter is that they look so nice on a 41 that quite a few of us run them in favor of the"plain jane" 41 accessory rims. This is one accessory that I believe Chevrolet made a mistake in not carrying over from 1940 to 1941. I wish they had.

They are wrong on a 41 but unless the car is being scored by a knowledgable judge, who cares.

Charlie

Great looking car. I know I'm a newbie but can someone explain or show me what a "Fulton" is?

Camile, welcome to Chevy Chatter!!! Charlie has a "thing" about Fultons. As you gain time and experience here on Chat, you will see that Charlie doesn't like Fultons, and a lot of other things that most of us do appreciate. We like to keep Charlie happy because sometimes he's a funny character.

Anyway, a Fulton is an exterior sun visor that was actually very popular for the 1940s era cars. Here's a photo of my 48 Fleetline with the exterior Fulton visor so you can see what they are.



Sorry Charlie. Just trying to help out a new user.