VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions 1942 fleetline driving me crazy

Hi guys I’m new here, I got my grandpas 42 fleetline out of the barn it has a 216 and want to start driving it new distributer plugs wires and valve check and she runs! Started down the road and fuel pump locked up with rust so new gas tank all new fuel lines filter and new fuel pump, tried again and was running pretty good adjusted timing a little bit had a small miss around mid rpm range but not to bad, after about 40 miles of driving it started banging around like a valve stuck or maybe junk in the carburetor came out of it in a few seconds And I was able to make it home, now it will only start when it’s cold not after it has been running has a horrible miss threw the whole rpm range, I re set the distributor re set the valves it will idle smooth as could be rev up great in neutral but when I take off under load runs like crap missing jumping around idk what to do next I’m stumped I took the carburetor back off going to clean it again and see, it acts like it has a horrible miss or starving for fuel under load... any tips and what to try next

Pull and clean the plugs. You might also do a compression check while the plugs are out.

Try a different spark coil. I have had them act like that when they get hot.

JF, (Everyone else please ignore this post.)

Not to worry. I see you have a 42. Well, there is no forum that includes 1942 but again all is not lost. Read on.

Owing to the fact that you have a fleet-line you will be welcomed into the click that prides itself in having what they think is the best thing since sliced bread. Nobody outside that little clique can figure it out.

Anyway, go to the 46-48 forum and tell them you want to come play with them. They may let you in. If so then you can expect the best of everything. Such as:

a. Sound advice for fixing those ol' fleet-lines.

b. More buddies than a lawyer visiting the "big house" with an arm load of pardons.

c. Invitations for bringing your daughter to an exclusive debutantes' ball.

d. Picnics with scones, cupcakes, caviar and tea under umbrellas and an philharmonic orchestra a-playing fantastic tunes.

e. Beautiful missuses that formally won several beauty contests and are still considered "jail bait."

Apply for inclusion in this exclusive club soon. You may have to send in a photograph of your family for the club's scrutiny. That is expected. The price will be worth it. So bite the bullet and have a professional photograph made with the family in its finest Sunday dress.

A essential behavioral habit should you be accepted will be the ability to properly sneer down you nose at any old Chevrolets that is not a fleet-line. Not being able to do so could get you suspended and/or exiled to the dumps where they think us lessors reside.

Check 'um out. You may have to apply more than once. Few make it on the first try.

Best and good luck with the fleet-line club and the written application. If typed, there can be no typographical mistakes. Better to apply using your cursive skills with enough vagueness to throw them off anything bordering unfitness. View a few episodes of "Downton Abby." Update your speech and habit accordingly/

Charlie

Thanks for the invite 41specialdeluxe but sounds like a little too much for me, I just want to get this ol girl back on the road.

So I ordered new plugs from Napa suppose to be here in the morning going to try that. About the ignition coil I’ll put the volt meter on it once I get it running again and see if maybe it’s weak when it’s hot.

Can anyone give me some More detail on the octane selector on the distributer this is my first points car and not sure how it works and can’t find much information in my shop manual, or would that not have anything to do with my issue? Thanks

The octane selector allowed the owner to tweek the timing without using a timing light .
When the timing was adjusted as per the shop manual the octane selector was first set in the center position.Then the timing was set with the timing light using the opening in the flywheel housing. Then the car was warmed up and taken on the road and using the octane selector timing advanced until the engine pinged slightly at low speed and full throtle. This was the point where the engine produced the most power and got the best gas mileage.

In 1942 regulator grade of gas was about 70 octane and would vary from brand to brand and even tanker to tanker truck load. Octane was not posted on the pump as it is today.
With todays higher octane gasyou will find the timing can be set at about 8 degrees to the A side of the octane selector after it is set with the timing light with the pointer and steel ball imbeded into the flywheel. Also with 87 octane it would be almost ipossible to make a 1942 ping.

In the last 40 years engines have knock sensors the automatically retard the timing if it hears pinging or pre-ignition.

Charlie; I knew sooner or later you would go back to picking on us Fleetliners. See what you did this time: You scared off the new gentleman. Note to JF. We aren't as bad as Charlie represented us to be. He is just jealous and stuck with his 41s. Of course he could get a 41 Fleetline as that was the 1st year for the 4 dr Sportmaster Fleetline but he would never do that after all the ribbing he has given us over the years.

Another note for JF. Wish you all good things with your Fleeline; Is the 4 dr Sportmaster or the 2 dr Aerosedan?

Dick

Thanks for the info on the octane selector, and it is a 2 door