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Thank you for posting this information and thank both of you for trying out the service.

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Looking closely at the pictures from the site, the Pierce 4 sure looks like a shaft drive to me.

It has pedals and a chain like most motorcycle of that era did to help with starting and to get it moving without the motor running on one side and a shaft drive setup on the other.

I could be wrong, but that is what it looks like to me.

If the shaft coming out of the rear of the motor drives the pedals then that is one really lightweight chain to move the bike at speed and that would also mean that the pedals would be moving the entire time the bike was in motion.

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The 4 cylinder Pierce is gorgeous.

I love the clean look of the rear with the shaft drive.

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Jim, I’m glad the pictures and descriptions helped.

I should also note that the other side of the bulb socket has a tang that sticks out to help create a snug fit into the reflector.

I’ll snap a picture of that side as well and post that so you can find the exact socket you need. Everything is still apart so it’s no problem at all.

Dave, dropping a headlamp lens is always in the back of my mind, too, when I take one off.

I put a moving blanket down that I fold over a few times in hopes that if I dropped the lens assembly it would miraculously land on the moving blanket and not shatter.

The other thing that worries me is cracking one of the pot metal retaining rings but at least those can be recreated without too much trouble.

That is also why I figured it would be a good time to leave them apart so I could figure out a ground wire for the assembly.

Who knows, I may even take the reflectors completely apart and have them re-silvered.

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I hope this helps you to find reflectors, sockets and lenses that will fit your car.

I have not put everything back together as I am hoping to figure out a way to add a ground wire that will be completely hidden from view, so if you need any other pictures or measurements please don’t hesitate to ask.

By the way, both the reflectors on my car have jam nuts behind each screw that secures the reflector to the pot metal retainer ring.

Some are spun down the shaft of the screws just a hair and appear to me to be the actual adjusters for aiming the reflectors.

The car is so unmolested that I believe these to be factory.

Note the head of the adjustment rod at the top of the picture.

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Bulb assembly is 5.0″ deep and has three square holes that mate with the teeth on the focusing assembly.

The socket is a two wire assembly with set screws to retain the wires.

Mine are a little chewed up but they’re original and operate well.

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Focusing assembly taken apart to show teeth that move the socket assembly in and out.

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Close up of the bulb focus mechanism.

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Picture to show depth and the bulb focus assembly.

My reflectors can focus the bulb using a screw that moves the bulb socket in or out of the reflector.

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The reflectors measure 9.50″ from lip to lip and are about 5″” to the tip of where the bulb socket goes into.

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I went out and took apart a headlight on my very late ’29 Model 143.

The headlight lenses are Twolite and are 9.25″ across.

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Congratulations on the purchase of a beautiful Pierce and welcome to the wonderful world of Pierce Arrow ownership.

As you have found, the PAS is full of great members with a wealth of knowledge.

I doubt you’ll find a finer group of people than the members of this organization.

Enjoy your new Pierce.

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Looks like a nice car.

Good luck to your friend with his quest to acquire the car.

Are those sealed beam headlight?

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Here is the Amazon link for the book.

It ships free with Prime.

Those that have the book or have read it should post a review to help promote the book on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/American-Automobiles-Brass-Era-Specifications/dp/0786471360/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420952817&sr=8-1&keywords=american+automobiles+of+the+brass+era

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Welcome to the wonder world of Pierce Arrow ownership.

This group of folks is the best bunch you’ll ever find and there is an endless amount of knowledge given freely here.

I really like the way Pierce designed the rear of your car.

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Whit the main body of the radio up under the dash you probably won’t hear much but it is definitely a neat accessory from the era.

When it is done I bet it will be gorgeous.

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Rick, I’ve seen cars with trippe lights and chrome radiator stone guards that just look a little over done for my taste.

Not that they didn’t look great but they just looked a little bit too much in my opinion.

I do like trippe lights as lone as the radiator has painted shutters behind the.

I am anxious to see your car when it is complete and I hope you’re completely pleased with the results.

Ed, the trippe light on your car looks a little small and kind of lost given the overall size of a ’32 front end.

As for the spare tire mounted mirrors, the ones on my car have proven useful when I am backing into parking spaces or doing other parking lot maneuvers.

I do admit that they are pretty useless otherwise but I like their look and I’m sure my car left the factory with them so they will stay.

I really like the blue on your ’36 wouldn’t have been my choice but it works great on the car.

I would have never had the guts to choose such a color but the color works wonderfully on the car.

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Tim, it sounds like you’re definitely on the right track with the resistance problems once the system is hot.

As was discussed in an earlier thread, make sure all of your battery cables are up to snuff and that your ground connections are fresh and tight.

I tracked down a warm start problem on my ’26 Rickenbacker to an internally corroded cable from the starter contact to the starter.

The cable looked fine on the outside but had developed corrosion under the insulation.

Running extra ground cables also seemed to help as well.

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I actually prefer that if the original colors are known then I would restore the car using the factory color scheme.

I know changing the colors can make the car more appealing but I always rather liked the factory color combinations.

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Coming along nicely.

Were the ends of the air cleaner chrome or were some painted?

I think all the ones I’ve seen were always chrome.

I know our resident experts here will know.

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