Langs next Normandy project - 40's Chev

Here is what I pick up tomorrow.

My dad had a 40 Chev sedan. Looks like a lot has already been done to that ute. Pretty rare now.

Have I got a deal for your Dad.

This vehicle has had a professional remake just needs assembling. Last 10% takes 90% of time and money.

Now for your Dad. It has a triple SU carby set up with extractors. I love SU's but it needs to look pretty original for a military restoration. How would you like to do the 5 minute job to remove his manifold and carby and swap with the fabulous SU set-up? I will keep the extractors as I doubt they give you 1 horsepower more?

Thanks for the offer Lang, but I lost my dad in February 1982. Pity you can’t leave the SUs on. IMO nothing looks better than triple SUs on six. I had them on all my Holdens in my misspent youth.

Has it got Michelin tyres on it?

Agree the triple SU's sets it apart from all the inferior versions.

I think the Miuchelins were on the Reggie Rover.
I like the SU carbies, they tend to hold their tune better than most carbies especially when ganged up like that. I ran triples on an olf Holden red motor and would always fire up and when cold need chole for a short time then after that burn the rubber.

Zuffen wrote:

Has it got Michelin tyres on it?

Agree the triple SU's sets it apart from all the inferior versions.

Think they're old Firestone Cavallino (sp?) If they're rag radials, probably still OK.

Jarrod.

Id say its likely a post war pressure crank motor ...........I dont think a splash 215 with iron pistons would take much in the way of performance mods.

John

I think it might still be a splash feed 216. Nothing wrong with splash feed and they built millions of them over a 20 year period. Certainly less trouble than a flat-head Ford V8. I am not sure the prssure feed 216 and 235 had much longer life but they made you feel better with 30psi on the gauge rather than 5-10 psi for the splash feed.

Lots and lots of speed equipment still available going back to the 30's but having their hay-day in the ealier rod and track period of the 50's

Zuffen

I am not sure about the tyres but they look too small in height to me. The original GMH size was 6.00-16 and the military vehices had 7.00-16. I fitted 7,00R16 to my 1940 Chev staff car I took to Darwin last year (same vehicle but sedan instead of ute) and they looked right. Harder to get tall tyres without ridiculous width making the vehicle look hot-rodded. Luckily Toyota stud pattern and Chevrolet are the same making a change to wider wheels very easy.