Driving To Savannah

[Plymouthy Adams]

we also have a member in Savannah and one not far out of Savannah...did you request the travel assist from the forum before your trip?

[MattWalker]

Nope, I didn't know about it. Luckily the guy at 1790 house has a 23 Buick so he had a 6 volt charger. I'm guessing though since the battery seems like its charging the generator is bad. At least we made it, now I gotta get back though.

[Don Coatney]

Did your amp gauge show any indication of a problem? A couple years ago I was about 50 miles from home and my amp gauge started showing a slightly higher than normal charging rate. I suspected my battery was failing and I was correct. I pulled in the garage once home and shut the engine down. Made an attempt to restart it and it was a no go. Replaced the battery and I was good to go.

 

Your problem sounds more like a charging failure. If your charging system is working your engine should not have died unless your electrical load excedded the generator output.

[Alshere59]

Since the battery is on the charger why not check your connections battery terminals, voltage regulator etc. Once you get the battery back in and started pull the battery cable does the engine die? Keep an eye on the amp gauge as well does it show a charge? A simple test for  the regulator is once the engine is running ground the feild terminal on the voltage regulator, if it shows a charge then your regulator is bad or a connection is loose. Any pick in pulls near by?

[Plymouthy Adams]

pick and pull in this area of Georgia..be a stretch for certain..most all these cars got crushed long ago..few exist in a backyard here or there but in a yard.. porbably be a stretch

 

Martin's is in Montezuma and has a couple old Plymouths, a 51 for sure...there is a 53 also he has a 1-800 number you can find online...he specializes in the older cars.....that is about 20 miles from where I live..would require a cross from I-16 to I-75 via Ga 26 Cochran exit...

Edited April 6, 2013 by Plymouthy Adams

[MattWalker]

Battery back in this morning, car started, pulled one terminal, died.... The motor actually never died last night, I stopped it after I pulled over but then didn't have enough juice for it to turn over.

Another odd thing is my meter usually stays at 0, I turned on the headlights around 8 last night, still 0, suddenly around 10 it goes to -30... Maybe that's when something went bad?

[steveplym]

Long trips in old cars is just part of the fun of having an old car.  I've drive mine at least one 500 mile trip per year the last three years.  Went to Nashville, TN for a Goodguys event two years ago, then last year drove down to Jackson, TN for Bunny Run.  Heading back there in a couple of weeks.  No problems going to Nashville, but lost the brakes on the way to Jackson when a brake line got a pin hole in it.  Fixed that problem in a parking lot on the way down and had no troubles on the way back. 

 

The memories you will have with friends and family will make it all worth it.  Even if you have trouble.  Just adds to the excitement, even though I throughly enjoy a trouble free trip.  Have fun!

[1940plymouth]

I had the same problem last summer, she wasn't charging, I would disconnect the battery and the  car would stop running.  I took the generator off, found nothing wrong with it, but it back on the car, cleaned both terminals on the generator, tightened up the fan belt and all has been fine since.  I was most likely very lucky, but who knows, might be worth a try to clean the terminals and check the fan belt

[steveplym]

Battery back in this morning, car started, pulled one terminal, died.... The motor actually never died last night, I stopped it after I pulled over but then didn't have enough juice for it to turn over.

Another odd thing is my meter usually stays at 0, I turned on the headlights around 8 last night, still 0, suddenly around 10 it goes to -30... Maybe that's when something went bad?

 

I had the same thing happen to my car a few years ago before I switched over to a 12 volt alternator.  Car was doing fine, but ammeter was on 0, that is until I turned the headlamps on.  It was discharging a bit and took about 5 miles and the headlights started to dim, car wanted to die.  Pulled into the hotel and let it sit, it wouldn't hit a lick next morning.  Pushed it to get it started and drove it all the way home, about 100 miles.  It started missing a bit, but I guess the generator was putting out just enough to keep it going.  Got it home and put on my spare generator.  Then it started charging and fixed the problem.

[captden29]

Matt, I also have a 1940 philco that I play often. it was my grandparents. my 54 Windsor was driven from NY to NC but I took 2 days to do it. back in 1973 I drove a 1951 buick from calif. to NY when I got out of the navy.my 54 Windsor is the car I own now and I take it on 100 or 200 mile trips whenever the need arises.if your car is well maintained it should take you where you want to go. I generally do not carry a lot of spare parts, but I have used my auto club card. I tend to drive the interstates but at speeds of about 60 mph.people pass and many wave.hope you catch some fish. capt den

[wayfarerstranger]

call Ricky Bennett in Savannah 912 330 0002 he may be able to rebuild it for you .

[MattWalker]

Thanks for all the help guys, we ended up just getting a spare battery and got home on battery alone, had to swap half way.  I tried a couple suggestions but could not get the charging to work.  I will post some pics, overall it was a great trip.  I do have some questions though-

 

1.Are the tanks on p15s really 17 gallons like the manual says?  I only ask because we ran out of gas, luckily right next to a gas station, but when I  filled it, it only took about 9 gallons before it was up to the top of the filler neck...

 

2.We computed our gas mileage at around 18 or 19 miles per gallon on one part of the trip, is that possible?  We filled it all the way up, drove it 140 miles and then it only took a little over 7 gallons to fill it up again. 

 

3.We lost a lot of oil, I'd say 2.5 quarts over the 500 miles, but it didn't seem to be burning, no smoke, so there must be a leak?  It doesn't drip when parked so Im confused.

[Dave72dt]

1.Are the tanks on p15s really 17 gallons like the manual says?  I only ask because we ran out of gas, luckily right next to a gas station, but when I  filled it, it only took about 9 gallons before it was up to the top of the filler neck...

looking at the pics of the tanks on the latest postings, it appears the gas line attaches at a mid level on the tank.  I'd guess there's a pinhole on the inside pickup tube at that level and you're sucking air when the fuel level gets that far down.

[Alshere59]

Gas milage of 20 mpg can be accomplished. Keep the speed down etc. As far as only taking 9 gallons to fill I have to agree with Dave. Pick up tube rusted is very likely. That and you may have some garbage in the tank taking up space but not 8 gallons worth.

The oil may be going out the road draft tube so only when running. Have you had the valve covers off yet? If memory serves there is an oil return around that area if it is sludged up that may do it. Not sure my memory is right on that but others with good information can chime in. 

Other than that a good compression test and cylinder leak down test will help tell the story.

Glad to here you got her home.

[MattWalker]

I finally got the generator off the car today.  It won't turn at all so the belt must have been slipping over it this whole time.  I've probably only driven it 20 miles since the Savannah trip but I did notice a plastic burning smell but didn't realize that was it.  Do I need to get a new generator or can a seized generator be rebuilt?

 

On a good note, I fired the car up after sitting for 3 months and it cranked right up.  I love that car except for when I hate it.

[greg g]

Usually what happens is the bushings wear oval.  this allows the armature to come into contact with the field windings causing drag or complete stoppage.  You can probably have the gen rebuilt if you have any auto electris places in your area.  The bushings and bearings are easy to replace but your armaturen and windings might need a look at also.

[MattWalker]

Took the generator to "Automotive Electric Remanufacturing" in Marietta, Ga. Not only did he fix the generator, but it looks brand new!!! He must have completely stripped and painted it, replaced the bearings, bushings, etc and cleaned the regulator too. He did all that for $130 which seemed cheap to me. Now the only problem is it sticks out. I need to clean everything else. Put it back in and it is charging great.

He told me to not put it on too tight on the belt as this wears the rear bushing. I painted the mounting bar at the top so I could see where the bolt was before I took it off. I moved it in 1/4" from there but what is the right way to adjust the tension? There is a little free play on the belt like on my beetle, is that all you need?

Anyway I am excited, car is back on the road and running great!

[TodFitch]

There is a little free play on the belt like on my beetle, is that all you need?

Don't know about the generator but I went through a bunch of water pumps until I figured out that I was adjusting the belt too tight.

 

What works for me is to loosen up the bolts on the generator, let it settle by gravity, and then tighten all the bolts. At most pressing down on the generator with a couple of fingers. Belt seems very loose based on modern car standards but it does not seem to be slipping (cooling system works great, generator charges properly, no glazing on belt or pulleys, etc.).

 

My car has the older wide belt. I don't know if you'd need to tighten the newer thin belt more or not.

[greg g]

It is good that there are still places like that around.  With so much probe, pull, toss and replace, repair practices around, getting something 70 years old repaired  so it can last another 70 years has a certain charm to it.  If folks can't find and automotive electric repair place, stretch your search to include trucks, commercial and construction equipment.  We have a brake place locally that specializes in trucks, but claim they can do any brakes from elevators to carousels.

[MattWalker]

So since input the generator back on, I've put about 200 miles on the car, driving it to work and around Atlanta.  I've noticed a few things.

1. For some reason the car seems to have more power, it used to stall alot going up my steep driveway, now it goes right up.... how is that possible?

2. I get white smoke for a few minutes out the tail pipe in the morning, then it stops... i don't remember that.

3. Going up steep inclines i get white smoke innthe cabin, which i believe is coming from the ventilator cap.

4. Smells very gassy in the cabin as in fuel, not bean burritos, well, that too.

5. I put my hand over the oil fill tube to feel for pulses but instead I feel slight suction...I don't see any pcv installed...

 

However, everything else works and its driving very well, although I have to keep the windows down to survive the smoke and fumes....

 

Is this sounding like a rebuild?  I need to get the equipment to check the cylinder pressure for sure.

[BobT-47P15]

This may sound strange, but I began getting smoke out my oil fill pipe......which had never happened before in many

years I've owned the car.  Came to find out the carb (which was an old one that looked good ) was not quite right and

was dumping gas into the crankcase.  Therefore causing the smoke out the filler tube......when I would stop the engine

after even a short trip, the smoke would just keep coming out the tube.    May not be your problem but another

possibility given these old cars with equally old parts.    

 

Prior to the fill pipe thing, my engine would use a little oil (seemingly out the blow-by road draft tube) and

would also drip on the garage floor.  Which means I at least need some new seals and probably pan gasket.   

Just some other food for thought.

[wdoland]

I had my generator rebuilt (looks brand new) by :

Bill's Starter & Alternator

 

Contact

Strasburg, VA 22657

(540) 465-2575

 

He charged me $80.00....Works out of his house.