hello all: just bought a 41 super deluxe convertable, and I have some questions, first no oil filter? second, how to change points & set timing. third, overheating. took off hoses found no thermostat, flushed out system,refilled & is better but still going to 3/4 on temp gaugeor little higher. onthe points need to know how to remove and recondition distributor. I have done work on old cars before, had a packard & old chevys, but am not familiar w/the ford set-up. any help is appreciated greatly,thank you. dennis.
41 super deluxe questions
- Thread starter dejast
- Start date
Ed Pitts
Well-known member
Dennis, here is a link to Bubba's Ignition post a few weeks back on the distributor. It is an excellant pictorial and writeup on how to overhaul one. This will get you started.
Ed
http://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1523
Ed
http://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1523
oldford2
Well-known member
Dennis, Welcome
If you have not rebuilt a Ford dizzy before, it is best to send it to an experienced rebuilder. Bubba, Skip Haney, Uncle Max, CharlieNY, etc. You really need special equipment to get it right. If you talk to Skip Haney, he will walk you thru your cooling problems. One step at a time. Also pick up a copy of a repair manual to study. All the early Ford vendors sell reprints. One last thing, join the EFV8 club.
John
If you have not rebuilt a Ford dizzy before, it is best to send it to an experienced rebuilder. Bubba, Skip Haney, Uncle Max, CharlieNY, etc. You really need special equipment to get it right. If you talk to Skip Haney, he will walk you thru your cooling problems. One step at a time. Also pick up a copy of a repair manual to study. All the early Ford vendors sell reprints. One last thing, join the EFV8 club.
John
19Fordy
Well-known member
I think the oil filter may have been an optional accessory item.
john: thanks for the input. the car had a frame off done to it, thats why I bought it. however some resto shops are not good mechanics, thus the few problems, as for the manuals,I will look into that thanks. which club to join was going to be one of my next posts, so thanks for that also, very helpful, hope I can get this all sorted out soon, w/help like this I am very confident now. thanks again, dennis
could not believe no filter, car has every other option possable on it. when I got it home, changed the oil ( more like mud ) in it, there was alot of sludge around the pick-up screen, so i cleaned it out as good as i can. drove it some, then changed it again. will have to pull the pan to get it real clean, then install the remote oil filter.
oldford2
Well-known member
Dennis, Here is the website for the Early ford site.
http://www.earlyfordv8.org/
Then click on regional club directory. Maybe one nearby and these folks are helpful. Use Castrol 20-50 detergent and keep changing till it clears up.
Questions:
"a lot of sludge around the pickup screen"? Did you drop the pan for this observation? not easy to "drop the pan"
John
http://www.earlyfordv8.org/
Then click on regional club directory. Maybe one nearby and these folks are helpful. Use Castrol 20-50 detergent and keep changing till it clears up.
Questions:
"a lot of sludge around the pickup screen"? Did you drop the pan for this observation? not easy to "drop the pan"
John
19Fordy
Well-known member
The AACA is a good club to join. Nice magazine and plenty of Ford folks.
There might be a branch in your area.
19Fordy
Well-known member
How did you ascertain that there was sludge around the pick up screen? Did you drop the oil pan? What kind of drain plug is on your oil pan?
Congrats on getting such a nice car. Henry only made 31589 Model 11A-76, 1941 Super DeLuxe Convertibles. Post photos when you get a chance - inside and out.
Henry/Kokomo
Well-known member
As far as your heating issues are concerned, flatheads are pretty sensitive to ignition timing. You might try advancing the dist. some when you put it back after points change, etc. Also, if you ever have the heads off, you can dig around in the bottom of the water passages in the block. Amazing things will come out and the net result will probably be a cooler running engine. Welcome aboard and good luck with your project!
paul2748
Well-known member
On the heating issue, the first thing to do is check to see what the actual temp is. Ford gauges are noted for their inaccuracy. Get a meat thermometer at your local grocery store or a radiator thermometer at a parts store. Run the engine until it is at normal operating temperature. Shut it off, take off the cap (be careful, its hot) stick the thermometer in the hole and see what it goes to. Remember, once the engine is shut off, the temperature of the coolant will climb fairly fast 10 to 15 degrees from running temp, so the first reading will be the normal temp.
You can do this with the engine running, but be careful removing the cap.
You can do this with the engine running, but be careful removing the cap.
as for the sludge in the pan, this one has a LARGE drain plug, bigger than any socket i own. used a big pipe wrench to get it off. the hole is appx.2in in diameter. big enough to send the coat hanger wire tool in the pan to drag out the sludge. the block was full of rust crud, took out the drain plugs both sides of the bottom front of the block (not easy) radiator tubes inside look very clean, got the distributor off and cleaned it up set the timing, thanks to info from john. took her for another run MUCH IMPROVED, will get some pics going soon, until then thank you all!!!! dennis