O.T. Straight-eight buick engine

[Kevin (FL)]

My wife & I stayed at a bed & breakfast over the weekend and it has an old Buick--maybe a '47 or so. The hotel owner said the thing runs but he can't get the starter to work--he thinks its the solenoid but he can't get parts for it. Does anyone know anything about these engines and the electrical system? It looks like a 6 volt system and it does have a solenoid sitting on the starter. I took a few pictures of it.

 

[Sunny 4 Acres]

My neighbor has a 1951 straight eight ohv engine. It has been sotting outside a long time and maybe set up. I would assume they are six volt.

 

[CJ3b_jeep]

Have him try Hemmings motor news, parts should be fairly easy to come by for something like that. Also, an automotive electrical shop would be a good place to start.

 

[John (MO)]

My first was a `41 Buick OHV straight 8 with two 2 barrel carbs. She drank deep and hauled as.

 

[Bus Driver]

The electrics are Delco. Many parts for a Chevrolet will fit. Chevys through 1954 were 6 volt.

 

[Anonymous-0]

as i remember, the starter switch was engaged by the accelerator pedal, and dissengaged when the engine started,probably by manifold vacuum.

 

[Walt Davies]

My second car was a 1946 Pontiac 2 door fast back with a flathead straight eight. Lots of power but 8 MPG was not good for a senior in High School.

Walt

 

[John in Nebraska]

The starter and solenoid from a chevy six are smaller, but the solenoid can be made to work, by making a mounting plate. Probably the cause of the non starting is the switch in the carburetor. You'll find a pair of wires running to the top of the carb, these are for the internal switch that lets the engine crank when the gas pedal is depressed to the floor. When the engine starts, vacuum lifts a little ball off this switch and prevents the engine from cranking while its running. A little light tap on the side of the carburetor is usually enough to shake the ball loose. The top of the carb may have to be removed to get the crud out so it starts reliably. Had a couple of old Buicks, if the battery is good, the starter cranks when jumped, then this is the cause of a no-start. John

 

[Kevin (FL)]

Thanks John and all the others who provided info. I'll contact the owner to see if he really wants to get it running. The photo shows the hotel & the car. I'll add the starter picture and another engine picture next.

 

[Kevin (FL)]

I'll try to add multiple photos:

<IMG SRC=https://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/community/c1256.jpg>

This is a close-up of the engine showing distributor and starter side.

<IMG SRC=https://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/community/c1257.jpg>

Buick straight-eight starter

 

[Kevin (FL)]

Here's a view of the car from our room. Maybe this one is older than a '47?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Looks more like an "39 or '40 to me. An '47 was more streamlined.I had a '39 chev 4 door and the bodies were shared pretty much. Both were Fisher Body Products of that Era.

 

[Gene Davis (Ga.)]

That Buick is older than 1947. looks more like the late 30's to early 40's. If you raise the hood and look at the right firewall, there is usually a tag on them and the first 2 numbers are the model year. GM useed this system till the 60's on cars. This one will also have a small tag on it that will say,"Body by Fisher".G.M. bought the Fisher Body works that was a major builder of car bodies on high end vehicles till the take over. This car probably has the accellerator activated starter switch which engaged when the pedal was pressed and it engaged the solenoid and then a vaccum switch disengaged it after the engine was running. If the engine was producing a vacuum this switch also prevented accidental engagement while running to prevent starter/ring gear damage. These were smooth running rngines that were powerful enough to pull a sawmill if you could afford the gasoline.

 

[LenND]

All GM straight8 motors were 6-volt. I think they changed to 12 volt in 1955, the same year they came out with some of the v8's. I had a 52 Pontiac years ago-straight-8. Good road car, go all day long at 70 mph at about 15 or 16 mpg.

 

[rustyfarmall]

Most of the Delco solenoids on those older vehicles could actually be taken apart, repaired or rebuilt, and put back together again. Quite often you won't even need new parts.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Should be fairly easy to trouble shoot. I believe if you push the solenoid in by hand it will make contact with the starter contacts and, engage the starter gear at the same time. if this doesn't do anything take the starter off and check it out. Like someone else said they are easy to work on. I had a 1948 Chrylser New Yorker with a straight eight flat head engine. Wish I had it now. Stan

 

[LenND]

On the older Chevy sixes all you had to do was take off the selinoid and turn the brass button half a turn. Then it was new again unless it had been turned already.