Yesterdays Chevrolet

San Fernando Valley Region

EDITOR: Steve Rosenberg - December 2009 www.sfvregionvcca.com

The annual club holiday party is on December 6th at:

Victorio's Ristorante

10901 Victory Blvd.,

North Hollywood, CA 91606 5:30PM Dress is casual

The cost to members and their guests is $10 per person with the club picking up the rest. It is a full dinner with beverages of your choice including wine and beer. If you have NOT told Gloria you will be attending please do so today. Or you can simply reply yes and how many (one or two) to this email.

There will be NO December meeting.

Reprinted from the Bow Tie Bulletin of the Jersey Lakeland region with permission

Who’s Isaac Babbitt?

by Ron Marciano

In 1839, Isaac Babbitt received the first patent for a white metal alloy that showed remarkable bearing properties. In present day usage, the term is applied to a whole class of silver-white bearing metals, or “white metals”.

Babbitts easily adapt their shapes to conform to the bearing shaft and will hold a lubricant film. Foreign matter not carried away by the lubrication becomes embedded below the surface and rendered harmless. Even under severe operating conditions, where high loads, fatigue problems or high temperatures dictate the use of other stronger materials, Babbitts are often employed.

After our October business meeting, Gale Peterson presented the bottom end of a 1939 Chevy engine given to him previously by Dave Cavagnaro. Gale removed the oil pan and a connecting rod cap to illustrate how these early engines used babbitted bearings. Unlike today’s bearings which are replaceable steel

shells keyed to the bearing caps, the babbitted bearings were poured as molten liquid and formed as it cooled. The exact process was explained by Don Symonds, at the meeting. Even today’s steel bearings are plated with a bronze coating and then a Babbitt metal for the bearing surface.

As a postscript to this story, Nick Matlaga, our Area 8 Director, purchased the engine from Gale that evening. After a few alternatives were considered, the engine

was rolled to Nick’s truck on an engine mount and lifted onto the truck’s bed. (I would have helped but I was holding my camera.) Many thanks to Gale for the demonstration, and for donating the proceeds of the engine’s sale to the club’s “charity” budget!

Reprinted with permission from The Filling Station

Hard to Start Your Old Chevy?

Here are a few things you might check!
Old Chevys can sometimes develop a hard starting problem. When this occurs there are several things you should check to keep your engine running properly.
TUNE-UP: Spark plugs, ignition points, rotor, distributor cap, and spark plug wires are all items that should be checked, adjusted or replaced.
Spark Plugs - check for carbon build up and oil or fuel fouling. Clean or replace as necessary and make sure to get the proper plug gap setting before installing plugs.
Ignition Points - A common problem with ignition points is that the rub block wears down in normal operation and closes down the point gap. Check the specification for the point gap to make sure the gap has not closed up. Readjust as necessary. Also, check for burned or pitted point contacts. File with a point file or replace as necessary. Finally, put a light coat of distributor cam lube on the surface where the points rub.
Rotor – check for burned or broken contact or spring on the rotor. Replace if necessary.
Distributor Cap – Check for burned contacts, cracks or moisture in cap. Moisture in the cap will cause misfiring and rough idle. It can be a sign that the cap is cracked. Replace if necessary.
Spark Plug Wire – Early Chevrolet engines do not have an HEI (High Energy Ignition) ignition and SHOULD NOT have the newer type HEI suppression spark plug wire. Running this type of plug wire will cause a loss of voltage to the spark plugs. The result of this will be hard starting, reduced gas mileage and performance, running rich, fouled plugs and a lack of power. Early Chevy engines should only be using low resistance metallic solid core spark plug wires. Check yours to make sure they are the proper type. Replace if necessary.
VACUUM LEAKS:
The symptom of hard starting can be caused by a vacuum leak. Early Chevys – 1954 and earlier – have vacuum windshield wiper motors. Vacuum motors were used on some cars & trucks through 1959. If the shut off valve is leaking, loss of vacuum at this point can be a major problem. Check the vacuum lines from the manifold to the switch and back to the wiper motor to be sure there is no vacuum leak.

Another common vacuum leak area is the intake manifold. A simple test for intake manifold leaking is to run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature. At idle, spray a small amount of WD-40 on the connection point between the intake manifold and the cylinder head. If an increase in RPM is noticed, there is an intake leak. Attempt to tighten the manifold bolts and re-check. If it is still a problem, it is time to replace the manifold gaskets.
A vacuum leak can be anywhere that vacuum is used in the vehicle – like the distributor vacuum advance. When the diaphragm in the vacuum advance fails, it will allow a small amount of vacuum to be lost. This will cause a gradual degradation of performance and many times will go unnoticed for a long period of time. In more advanced stages of vacuum advance failure, there will be a noticeable miss in the engine when driving at a constant speed. In early cars with vacuum wiper motors you may also notice reduced performance of the windshield wipers. To test the vacuum advance for a bad diaphragm, remove the advance and push in on the vacuum advance lever. After pushing in the lever, cover the fitting (where the vacuum line attaches) with your finger. Release the lever and it should not return to its original position until you remove your finger from the fitting. If it does not hold a vacuum, the diaphragm is leaking. Have the vacuum advance rebuilt or replace it with a new unit.

Chuck Noble’s New Interior on his ‘54

Front seat

Back seat

His 89 year old mother said, “Now it doesn’t look like a car that should be in the junk yard” GOTTA LOVE EM J

Trunk

Meeting minutes from Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009

The meeting was called to order by Director Carmine Palazzo at 7:34pm with 12 members in attendance and no guests.

Minutes from the last meeting were approved as published in the monthly newsletter. Motion to approve by Sherwin Silver, seconded by Chuck Noble.

The Treasurer’s report was delivered by Gloria Palazzo. Gloria reviewed the recent expenses. Motion to approve by Sherwin Silver, seconded by Steve Rosenberg.

Correspondence discussed: Classic Clatter-Foothill Region, Nov. 2009.

Committee Reports: Gloria reminded the membership the holiday party is scheduled for Sun. Dec. 6th 2009 at 5:30pm at Victorio’s Restaurant in North Hollywood. The cost is $10/person, with the club picking up the rest of the tab.

Old Business: Carmine discussed the region’s candidates for reelection and asked for any other candidates. Reelected were; Carmine Palazzo, Director; Steve Rosenberg Asst. Director. Gloria Palazzo, Treasurer; Geoff Williamson, Secretary. Larry Pearson distributed extra dash plaques from the region’s Sept. car show. Steve Rosenberg announced Jerry Fisher has classic car magazines he is offering for free. Please contact Steve is you are interested. Gloria offered the membership present the remaining car show t-shirts at discounted prices. Chuck Noble distributed CD copies of photos he took during the region’s Sept. car show. Steve reminded the membership Chuck has posted a slideshow of the region’s Sept. car show on the website, http://www.sfvregionvcca.com/.

New Business: Steve mentioned the drawing for the Corvette is later this month. Steve bought tickets from the McDonald’s charity earlier in the year.

Tours and activities: Gloria discussed plans for a garage tour in February. Details to follow.

“What have you done in the last 30 days to or with your cars or are you having any problems?” Members present discussed their vehicles.

No badge money was collected.

Door Prizes: Carolyn Ragan-screwdriver; Chuck Noble-rope; Sherwin Silver-level.

Meeting adjourned at 8:47pm.

Respectfully submitted: G. Williamson

NO December Meeting

Next Meeting Thursday January 7th 2010 17015 Burbank Blvd, Encino

7:30 –9:30 PM