On all three 1936 cars I have owned, the struts were chrome.
I had Optima red tops in both Pierce-Arrows (the 1931 has been sold). One battery with good starters and cables spun both cars over on the hottest days, with a hot engine. As near as I can tell the 12V Optima in my 58 Cadillac has been installed for 15 years. At this point, I have to be playing Russian roulette.
I have added the diesel fuel to the gas tank. It stunk up the garage, and did no good. I honestly believe Ciselak has the right idea with the larger gas lines, and a good vane type new style electric pump.
I cannot addrss the 1932-33 issue. However, I purchased engineering notes from Pierce-Arrow in Orleans County, N.Y. (probably in the late 60’s or early 70’s) that showed the interchangable parts between the 1929 small Pierce, and the Studebaker President. Some people were not happy about that at the time, but that is the way it was. I think I gave all that stuff to Bernie, although I don’t remember for sure.
Leo knows, he was there.
David: Are you sure it doesn’t say Fedders?
I went on ebay to confirm that Halon 1211 extinguishers were still available. They are not. There were a few in the $300 to $400 range. This opportunity is over, it looks like.
I have a Halon 1211 extinguisher in each car. Go on ebay, look for them. I have paid between $40 and $90 for each one. I have had one leak empty in the last 6 or 7 years that I have been using them. I have gone to confession and asked for forgiveness for any damage I may be doing to the ozone layer.
George: All this is well and good, except the ’36 and later cars have a pipe with a grease fitting at the end that is accessed under the left front wheel well. Using sae 600 or the modern thick steering grease available from Australia, the only way to get that in would be a high pressure pump type apparatus, unless you have another way to accomplish this.
I guess I did not respond to this topic. I have a set of Phil Hill’s gears in my ’31 model 42 convertible. Arlo Bo installed them, many years ago, and no problems.
Richard: I too am excited for you. I wish I could have been there.
A discussion about these late thermostats came up at lunch yesterday. I called Dave Murray to see if anyone but Bill Hirsch was selling these. Apparently not, and they are $275! The later thermostats are totally different from the ’31 and back. The early ones can be rebuilt, the later ones cannot. (supposedly) The housings on the early ones are perfectly round, the later ones have a flat spot on the top part of the housing.
When I painted my first ’36 Pierce Arrow many years ago, I did research, located an original color chip and had paint mixed to match that color. It was almost impossible to match the color after that. A Pierce Arrow could be painted any color, the factory would do that. To make your project easier, go to a large body shop, or maybe an automotive paint store and ask to use the “fleet book”. These books are an excellent source of “factory pack” colors which in many cases are non metallic. The different shades progress gradually, from light to dark, and one may be chosen that fairly approximates a factory color, if that is what you are trying to do,and will always be available in a “factory pack mix”. I chose an ’82 Chrysler color for my ’36, a non metallic color, which to my eye was much more pleasing than the factory muddy brown maroon of 1936.
I too had a very good time, and I could not stay for all events. More thanks to Marc and Deedee for all the work, and the wonderful evening at their home. To negotiate a $114 hotel price for the facility we had is amazing. Moreover, I have never been treated as warmly by a hotel staff as I was there. Thank you to everyone else who worked on the meet. Tony
David: Thank you. We will try this number. I had another, that I believe was his residence, no one replied.
Paul, I believe it is a 1932. Another member of the meet committee is trying to get me a phone number.
Interesting thought on snow tires Curtiss. When I bought my ’31 Pierce, it had all the original tools (as new, in the original pouch). In addition, in the tool area was a new set of tire chains, in their original cloth bag. I thought this was wonderful. But after moving them two or three times under there over the years, I set them out for the trash. Who would want them?
BULLETIN……I went to my garage yesterday and started my 1936 Pierce Arrow convertible sedan with the standard engine. It started! I drove it, it was fun! Guess what! It started and drove the last ten times I tried. Recently, I drove it fifty miles on the interstate. All with the stock engine.
God help us. The limo is worse than the one I gave to Bob Sands when I had to move.
The burden of proof for a custom body I would think would be on the seller. Bob Sands remembers the car when it was in Buffalo, it did not seem to be a LeBaron then. There have been other 32 and 33 convertible sedans in the club. The LeBarons that I remember were 12 cylinder cars, had longer wheelbases, and distinctive LeBaron hardware, inside and perhaps out. Who is to say that eight cylinder LeBarons were not built. A nationally accredited appraiser, who has successfully triumphed and testified in court testimony to value, validity, etc. should be consulted. Club memeber Jim Sandoro travels the world as a credible recognized expert in a matter such as this. To spend this kind of money, and not have a recognized authority pass judgment on validity would seem to me not to be a wise decision.
