Hello, I have a 1940 Chevy Business Coupe Master 85. I have several questions that I need help with.

1) My brakes appear to be grabbing when I depress the brake pedal. The car feels like its stopping then free rolling then stopping, etc. What could I check out to eliminate this problem?
2) What type of oil should I run in the 216.5 engine?
3) My passengers window has come off the track (I believe from closing the door with the window all the way down). Is there an easy way to get it back in the track?

Sorry for so many questions. I recently obtained the car and I am looking for any kind of information. Thanks for your time and consideration, its greatly appreciated.
Frank

Hi Frank

I know many will say otherwise, but my chief recommendation for oil for a 216 "pressure stream" (dipper) lubricated engine would be...
Don't go too heavy! Keep it light so lots of oil streams out of the nozzles toward the connection rod dippers.
Chevrolet was quite adamant about the benefits of lighter oils in these engines.

I would never go heavier than a 10W-30, and 0W-20 is better.

And the higher quality the better.
NEVER use non-detergent oils of any kind.

Regarding the brakes,

How long have you had the car and when were the brakes last redone?

PS
Reread and see you haven't had the car long.
If I'm reading what you've written correctly...
and if the brakes were redone recently...
a drum may have been resurfaced slightly out of round.
Do you feel the pedal pulse slightly as the brakes seem to be alternately grabbing then rolling free?

When you ask an oil question you'll get many different answers. As a rule any modern oil will be better than any oil circa 1940. Chevy recommended 30 weight oil for summer driving. I personally feel 10 weight oil is too light. I use 15w40 from Walmart. It's not a large difference in viscosity but it makes me feel better. It's also thin enough to use in the winter. The house brand is relatively inexpensive and meets the same specifications as the expensive stuff. I would recommend you buy a shop manual. All of the vendors sell reprints and while you're waiting for your new manual to arrive there's also an on-line resource at http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/. Lastly, I'll move this to a technical forum to get you a wider audience of folks in the know to try to get your issues sorted. Oh, and welcome to VCCA Chat. You've come to the right place for answers.

https://store.fillingstation.com/detail/DG-35/Chevrolet_1940_CARTRUCK_SHOP_MANUAL.html

https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/detail/7197/Chevrolet_Shop_Manual_Car_and_Truck_Full_Size_Superb.html

Hi Tiny

With due respect...
Which Chevrolet manual do you have that recommended SAE 30?
Every manual I have for dipper lubed Chevs from 1940 up says nothing heavier than SAE 20 and always choose your oil based on the coldest temperature expected, not the hottest.
And when in doubt use the lighter grade.
By 1940 Chev had recognized that heavier oil wasn't needed for proper lubrication, but lighter oil at start up was.
And they stated exactly that in their manuals.

Have a look at this:

Still think 15W-40 is "thin enough" for winter?

I am not sure if/when the brakes were redone. This was my uncle's car and he is recently deceased so I don't know if the brakes were redone. I do not feel any pulsation in the brake pedal when I apply the brakes. What particular brand of oil do you all recommend for this engine? I will definitely purchase the manual that has been recommended. Thanks so much for the information.

For overall performance use 10W-30 oil for summer and winter. Anything heaiver is too "thick" for the 1940 oiling system. Any brand of oil that is rated for service SN and carries the Oil Institute circle is OK. Best to stay with a name brand and purchase any one that is on sale. Engine holds 5 quarts.
Owners manuals and shop manuals are available at a low cost from the "Filling Station".

My 38. Thank you for directing me to check my 53 which indeed does say to use 20 weight, something I'd missed.

Before there was 10W-30 (1954) Chevrolet said 10W below 10 Deg and 20 above 10 Deg. and 30 in constant above 90 Deg.
10 and 20 are no longer available and chevrolet recommended 10W-30 to cover all those applications.

There is a bit of a contradiction in the Owner's Manual it seems. The graphic says 30 weight 50F and above while the text says what Gene is saying. To be honest I looked at the graphic and that's what I've gone by. Interesting.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyowner/1938om/38om51.html

Yes, that is interesting!

I would guess that 1938 was the transition year when Chev changed the recommendation but failed to change the graphic.
It was changed for sure by 1940.

I believe that is about the time when they were testing lighter oils.

Fun stuff!

The 1938 shop manual states if #20 oil is not avilABLE #30 MAY BE USED IF TEMP. IS CONSISTANLY ABOVE 90 dEG.