Re: The Duchess Project: 1940 Super 8 Convertible Sedan

Posted by Joe Santana On 2013/6/14 15:53:21

Yes,great sugg, BH, there's a large Ace Hardware here on 185th & TV Hwy where I went every Saturday morning for 2 years while I worked on the Duchess. I owe them a framed picture of the car by the cash register. It wasn't just that they had stuff from yesteryear, but the team that works there is so knowledgeable. I got better and better at helping myself, but I often was stumped and they would make suggestions. Also suggest how I could modify an item and what tool to use.

The spring for my seat adjuster and for my visors I got there.

The spring I need now is the largest one in the upper left corner of the picture. I doubt they'd have it, but I'll take a look.

The hairpin is similar to what Bob Earls used in the groove at the end of the fast idle rod to help retain the spring and keep the rod in its slot in the fast idle cam. He also used a very small "grabber", the devices you push with your thumb at one end and springy fingers push out the other. I have a 30" one, but this was only about 4" long. I'd spent an evening trying to do it with a small screwdriver and my fingers without success.

Summit Racing shipped the part last night. I won't know if it works until I take it to Bob. At this point I'm sitting on an umpteen thousand dollar toy for lack of a spring. I don't think that spring I need is stainless. I think the rest are. But still, if it works, saved me spending $390 at Daytona to get one.