Finally got around to dropping the fuel tank in my dad's old Dodge. Per Murphey's law, it was chock full of gas and took forever to drain, but the job is done and the tank out.

Along the way I discovered what was causing the car to stall and not restart. Although we suspected that crud in the tank ws causing the problem, the actual cause was a bit of a surprise. Yes, there was a fair amount of sediment in the gas - but the real problem became obvious as I poured the last of the fuel from the tank. An approximately 2"inch square chunk of an old leaf flowed out of the filler neck as I tipped it up! That'll stop the fuel delivery in a hurry.

So next will be having the tank cleaned and sealed and (hopefully) replacing the sending unit so that the fuel guage will work properly. The tank itself is in very good condition overall - pretty amazing after more than seven decades of service.

These repairs, an oil change, and a new battery then it will be time to write up an ad and get this old car sold.

Dropped-off the tank and ordered a new sending unit today, the old girl should be up and running next week sometime.

What body style is it?

Any pics??

Hopefully the old girl finds a good home...

What body style is it?

Any pics??

It's a D8 sedan. There will be lots of pics soon, but here's one to tide you over:

This is the day it arrived, and my parents posing with it.

Sweet looking car....

Thanks Stang, its a cool old beast.

The sending unit arrived today, just waiting on the tank now.

Tank is ready, picking it up tomorrow.

I'll be sorry to see the old girl go!

I'll be sorry to see the old girl go!

So will I, along with the rest of my family.

Maybe we'll get to one more show before it sells.

The old girl is up and running!

Picked-up the tank mid-morning. The shop boiled out the crud, re-did some old repairs properly, and sealed the inside. I brought it home and gave it a quick scotch brite treatment, prime and paint. Then I installed the new sending unit/gasket, the tank itself, and a new fuel filter. Charged-up the battery and ran the car a while. Lousy weather, so no test drive, but no leaks either and the gas gauge seems to be reading fairly accurately now.

Not to shabby for one rainy day.

Today could be test drive day - if the weather holds.

Good luck dude..enjoy!

Wish I was there to ride along and grab lunch at the hot spot Cafe...

Didn't work out so well, I still have a fuel-delivery problem with the car. Either carb or fuel pump - not sure which yet.

Car came home via tow-strap.

Made me grumpy.

Hate to say it, but experiences like this are why I now play with modern sports cars. My two cents....

Meh, modern cars are just as prone to nagging problems as the old ones.

On the other hand, Chrysler flathead sixes are just a bit too old for me to relate to easily. My comfort zone ends in the mid-fifties.

I keep lusting after British cars, but am spoiled by "modern" reliability.

I'd love to own a triumph TR3...or and MGB...

Well, British cars are another story altogether...

When ever I get interested in buying a British car, I will usually have a British car guy say something like...."If your not already addicted, stay far, far away."

I was around British sports cars as a kid, and miss them. But I don't miss the way they break down...or the massive self ignited roman candle that my friend Chip's MGB became in his driveway...

Taken at SCCA runoffs by someone on another forum...

Old Triumph Stag...

But we'd better get back to the 38 Dodge before we hijack your thread...

The true "handling" and "balance" began in British cars. Germans just copied the theme.

What body style is it?

Any pics??

It's a D8 sedan. There will be lots of pics soon, but here's one to tide you over:

This is the day it arrived, and my parents posing with it.

Wow, what a cool car, and it looks like it is in great shape too!!!!!!!

What body style is it?

Any pics??

It's a D8 sedan. There will be lots of pics soon, but here's one to tide you over:

This is the day it arrived, and my parents posing with it.

Wow, what a cool car, and it looks like it is in great shape too!!!!!!!

Thanks, CMG. It is in pretty remarkable condition for being over 70 years old - and it is very original. Now I just have to work out this fuel glitch and it will hit the market.

Keep us posted, dude!

Count on it.

Installed the new battery today, and the car fired right up and idled smoothly. There was none of the hesitation when giving it gas that it had before. Thinking that this may have solved the problem, I let it sit and run for a long while.

It wasn't to be.

The car stalled and would not restart. After a long cool-down, it fired right up again and ran well. I put it back in the garage and shut her down - no restart.

Whatever is wrong is heat related. The leading suspect is the coil which seems to be a tough find.

Vapor lock?

Nope.

It always has fuel.

A bunch of research and phone calls later, there is a fairly strong consensus that the coil is the issue here. But, this is a real oddball piece and no one is making reproductions. So, I have to order a universal 6 volt coil and a plate to mount it, and run a new wire from the ignition switch to the new coil.

The old coil is a really strange affair the mounts to and through the firewall into the underdash area where it then has a steel disk held to the bottom of the coil with metal tabs on the coil itself. In the center of this disk, a metal conduit is mounted which runs back to the ignition switch. Inside the conduit, is a wire that attaches to the bottom of the coil (behind the steel disk)with a screw.

So goofy.

The new coil and mounting plate/ring have to come from Washington state. I sure wish that I could find someone with a 6volt coil they could lend me so that I could be sure before I go through all of this.

The plot thickens...wonder why they went with such a goofy design?

No idea.

I'll try to take some pics for you guys.

I have a 6-volt coil (Ford flathead) but it's not going to work on your Dodge.

It's the thought that counts, Balthy.

I'll just have to order the parts and hope for the best.

Did you talk to these guys? LINK

Yeah, they no longer sell the coil.

Seems that the supply was all NOS stuff, and that has all gone bad with age.

Just got the call, the new universal coil and mounting ring have arrived.

Going to check them out tonight.

I believe I have the problem solved!

I took some pics of the whole coil thing that I'll post tomorrow.

Meanwhile, on to the Tahoe and the wagon.

Time indeed for the wagon to get some luvin.

Time indeed for the wagon to get some luvin.

Sorry about the pics, guys.

Got wrapped up in something else, but I'll get them posted soon.

Edited October 22, 201113 yr by Camino LS6

OK, here are the pics of the old coil, the new coil, and underhood/underdash shots of the Dodge.

Old coil in all its weirdness:

The hole in the firewall where the coil mounts:

Here you can see the metal conduit that runs to the coil from the ignition switch. You can also see the odd metal disc at the end which was held to the bottom of the coil by metal tabs on the body of the coil itself:

Seems that the "new" bracket was an NORS piece, check out the graphics and branding on the box:

The new coil with the bracket and old rubber gasket:

New coil installed with new wire run from the end of the conduit and snaked past the coil:

That oughta do it to it.

Shurhit as a trademark was originally filed for in 1946, first used in 1947 and registered in 1954.

Company was sold to Borg-Warner in 1964... so that bookends your box & part pretty well.

Excellent info, Balthy!

I knew that box was an old one.

And yes, the new coil seems to have solved the problem. I have done several hot re-starts without trouble. Still need to do a test drive to be sure, but all seems well now.

Great news...I hope she finds a good new home.

I hope so too - but I haven't had any time to even do the test drive, let alone get started on selling it. Too busy with the Tahoe.

Spring might be a better time to sell her...a little late in the season now...

I plan to take the "For Sale" pics this weekend and get the old girl listed.

Too grey and miserable for taking pics today, but got in a couple of good test drives - seems that the coil did the trick.

I think today is picture day.