Re: The Duchess Project: 1940 Super 8 Convertible Sedan

Posted by Joe Santana On 2011/3/29 1:19:21

JW and Howard, Once again, thanks for the info. The evolution of the 356 over 10 years is always interesting, like going through the business with getting oil to the lifters. What was funny is we went through all the rigmarole to add that pipe and I think a larger hole was drilled, only to discover, because it's a 47-48, all that had be done and the oil flow had been changed to go in the opposite direction through the filter. So I went though the evolutionary steps, sort of.

I want to continue experiencing all the stages of metamorphosis. Actually I have the longer filler tube and the flatter, larger diameter cap. But looking at the 1940 engines, they just didn't have those. For $10 I bought a 1940 crusted tube and cap rusted together. I removed the rust using electrolysis with washing soda and my battery charger because I wanted to try it. It worked. I got them apart. Sanded and primed and sanded and glazed and painted and sanded and painted. They look beautiful now. You want to tell me to put the "old" newer version back on the engine? Just because of a little sludge build up? You know how happy I'd be if I could get to the point where I could have some sludge build-up?

I'm going to do this authentically. When I hit the road, it will be like August 1939. I'm going to drive for a year and a half to the equivalent of Feb 1941. Then I'm going to change the tube and cap.That's as authentic as I can get.

You make this fun.