A solution in search of a problem?

[36 Ply]

Jim B.-

LOL, actually, it's a S&W model 39 that I was issued in 1968 at the ISP academy. We were allowed to buy them back in 1980, when they were replaced by S&W 439s.

I must confess that I've never heard of the Freeman head bolt heater. I used to have an electric dipstick that you plugged in an outlet and put in the dipstick tube overnight, but I can't find it. I remember the snail mail you used to write, about it being minus 20 in Cavalier, and the temperature was still dropping.

Minus 20 is an occasional occurence, but not a yearly one, in north central IL. I'll have to google that head bolt heater and see what comes up.

Regards,

Pat O.

[Jim Benjaminson]

Gees, Patrick - haven't you ever heard of the Freeman Head Bolt Heater?  Those of us up here in the north country have used them since Orville Freeman invented them back in the thirties.  Plug it in, let it warm up and away you go!  Still very much in use today.  The head bolt heater extends down into the water jacket - newer ones replace a soft plug.  Warms everything up so the oil flows easily and there is less friction, so the old girl starts like summertime.  Around here, the rule is "don't leave home without it" (and you thought that only referred to a .38!)  JB

[darren]

Yes I agree this is no way to start a engine .... Start with the basics check battery  wires to ground and starter check for starter draw , then check compression put on a scope or check all primary and secondary wiring , then check for fuel filter and choke operation , Try some of the old school items like jc whitney had in the 60's  the fire injector plugs they work!!! and the distributor rotor they had  and the coil condenser , don't stop till you get it right good luck Happy Ply mouthing DANiel

[36 Ply]

As indicated in the subject line, possibly no one other than me needs this solution...

Anyway, it gets pretty cold in north central Illinois in winter, and my '36 Plymouth resides in an unheated garage.

I have found out that with the aid of two garage sale hair dryers (the ones with a skinny snout work best), I can almost always get the Plymouth to start, no matter how cold it is outside.

I plug them in, pull the oil filler cap, and stick the snout of one dryer in the oil filler tube.

The other hair dryer gets aimed at the distributor cap.

I turn both of them on the "high" setting and let them run for 5 minutes.

After I shut them off, the '36 will usuallly start.

Regards,

Pat O'Connor