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Thanks Liz. This is a big help.

Jack

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Thanks Randy.  The front bumper tube that I bought on ebay is 2″ diameter, and the end caps match what you describe.   The rear bumperettes I got from Karl are the same 2″ and the pairs of end caps are joined by a bridge that may originally have connected to the bolted end bracket.  About the center of the parallel rear tubes there is also a clamp that was originally nickel plated, and it is held in place by a bolt through a small plate that says “Pierce Arrow.”  I don’t see a maker’s name on any of the tubes, but there is a lot of rust and paint to remove, so there may be something there I’m not yet seeing.

As you say in re your bumperettes, there is probably no way of knowing if these came from a Series 81 like mine, or another model year.  It is interesting that the Series 81 parts catalog shows no illustration or mention of any sort of rear bumper, either a single tube or a pair.  I saw on this forum awhile back that George Teebay thinks there might originally have been no rear bumpers on the Series 81 and thus all such are aftermarket items, hence their not appearing in the catalog?

Jack

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Oops, there is one issue still.  On the rear bumperettes there are two parallel tubes, and originally the end caps were joined.  Small matter, I guess.  Perhaps a connecting bar could be braised between them?

 

Jack

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Great tip.  Thanks Paul.

 

Jack

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Paul and Karl

 

Thanks for the tips.  I think I see how to do it.  Wondering, though, about what kind of metal caps to use.  If they are to be nickel plated, does it matter?

 

Jack

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Thanks Mark.  They look exactly the same.  I went ahead and bought the bumper since who knows when I’ll see another one.  Now to find the split rear bumpers!

 

Jack

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Thanks Peter and James.  Helpful.  I still need to know the dimensions for a 1928 Series 81, which I gather is the same as for a Series 80.  Greg Long says it is 6 inches in diameter with deep-set end caps that left a 3/4″ lip extending outward that was used to bolt to the muffler hangers.  But how long is the muffler and what are the inlet and outlet diameters?  With the right dimensions I could have one made if Waldroun or Summit can’t provide.

 

Jack

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I believe you are all correct about the electric fuel pump.  I’ll look for signs of mounting or wire.  I do recall that when I got the car there were one or two wires running aft from the fuse box that weren’t connected to anything.

Jack

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Thanks to all for your thoughts.  Just to clarify, while the perspective in the photo makes it look like the fuel line is right on top of the exhaust pipe, in fact several inches separate the two, and there was a metal baffle or panel mounted between them that I have removed for cleaning.  I am thinking of simply taking out the copper bypass, and using the gap in the main line for installing an in-line fuel filter.  Several odd or unexplained things were done to this car over the years before it went into the museum around 1991, and this is one of them.

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To Peter Williams

Somehow my reply to your last that included the photo of your floorboards and linoleum got lost, so from memory here it is again–

First thanks for the response and the very helpful photo. Even if the photo is from a 1925 roadster, the setup is very similar to my Series 81 convertible coupe.

My floorboards are composed of parallel lengths of oak, tongue-in-groove, fixed together by perpendicular battens on the underside. I see no sign of any lino ever having been glued on them, nor of any molding. Makes me suspect they are aftermarket.

Could you tell me what your floorboards are made of? Similar to mine, or maybe plywood, which was available then? And if not too much trouble, could you send a close-up or two of the aluminum molding? I assume it wraps around the edges of each board? I’ll need to have something similar made I guess.

Can anyone with a Series 81 confirm that this molding was standard issue on them?

Thanks again Peter

Jack

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Is there a similar color chart for the 1928 Series 81?

Jack Davis

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Peter

Thanks. Very interesting. When I get home end of the week I’ll get to work on it. Still wondering if this was a factory accessory or an after market extra? I gather PA offered a lot of options. Seems to me wipers are covered in the 81 owner manual but I don’t have it with me at the moment. Geez, I love working on this thing, and you guys are all great.

Jack Davis

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Peter

Here is another shot of the wipers on my 81. Certainly looks like what you are talking about.

Jack

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Peter

Thanks for the info on the wiper system. I’m away from home but it sounds like what I have. I’ll check when I get home next week. It the Trico something that could be gotten with the car from PA or would it have been aftermarket add-on?

Big silver thing is a top latch/ My 81 is a convertible coupe. Haven’t had the top down as yet.

Jack

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Peter

IN re wipers, there are two, and really see no motor. See photo.

Jack

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Peter

I stand corrected re electrics. So much to learn!

Here is a photo of the back side of the dash where the two push/pull switches attach.

Jack

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Peter

Here is a photo of the vacuum wiper switch on the underside of the dash on my 81. The auxiliary lights between the headlamps are controlled by an auxiliary setting on the main light switch. Those mysterious little switches seem to tie into the electronics somehow but I’ll have to crawl under the dash with the seat removed to track them.

Jack

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Peter

There are vacuum wipers on the car, but they appear to be controlled by a toggle under the dash on the far left side. It also has small auxiliary lights between the headlamps, but I believe they are controlled by the central light switch in the middle of the dash. I’ll check this all out.

Jack

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Greg, Peter, et al, thanks for your responses. Maybe a choke knob will turn up. As for the two little switches, I would swear that I have seen them on a dash photo of another 81 or two. Haven’t had a chance to trace their wiring to see where it goes. There are no add-ons that I am aware of, no heater, etc. They look anachronistic on that dash. I would have thought if factory issue they would have compatible knobs. One of many little mysteries.

Jack Davis

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sorry, the photo is upside down. Damned if I know how that happens.

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