All American Auto Club
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1952 Buick Super - straight 8
I have been trying to get my 1952 Buick Super - straight 8 - rolling since last summer (2024)
At present she starts from cold, ticks over on all cyliners and revs (but with occasional popping sound - cold?) but then DIES UNDER LOAD. (Transmission is fine). She seems to be over fuelling so would I be right to assume that the spark is not being advanced enough??
We are not sure we have totally ruled out if the vacuum to the distributor is OK but there’s no sign of a leak. But even with that (ignition timing) would it make THAT much of a difference to the power?
She rolls on the flat OK but had trouble even getting up onto the ramp to have the exhaust rebuilt.
I still think the damage was done last summer (2024) when she failed to start after a short drive — she had been running rough, its fair to say - when we stupidly sprayed easy start into the carb when the engine was warm - This was the old vapour lock problem recently cured with the addition of an electric fuel pump, BTW
Anyway there was a loud backfire on starting and the carb caught fire. We’re not sure if we damaged the (newly rebuilt) carb or is it posdible to have cracked the block? A cursory compression test looked OK but I desperately need to rule out engine damage. Is there any likelihood of that?
My mechanic suggests a replacemnent carb is the cheapest way to find out.
BUT my question is “If the carb is delivering that much fuel on demand (which is then not being burnt - we even fitted new plugs) then that MIGHT rule out the carb and come back to the ignition advance and the elusive vacuum (carb to distributor) leak?”
I am not a mechanic but i am slowly getting there - asking Dr Google! I could do with some clever minds on this.
Mike
Monday, September 29, 2025
I have been trying to get my 1952 Buick Super - straight 8 - rolling since last summer (2024)
At present she starts from cold, ticks over on all cyliners and revs (but with occasional popping sound - cold?) but then DIES UNDER LOAD. (Transmission is fine). She seems to be over fuelling so would I be right to assume that the spark is not being advanced enough??
We are not sure we have totally ruled out if the vacuum to the distributor is OK but there’s no sign of a leak. But even with that (ignition timing) would it make THAT much of a difference to the power?
She rolls on the flat OK but had trouble even getting up onto the ramp to have the exhaust rebuilt.
I still think the damage was done last summer (2024) when she failed to start after a short drive — she had been running rough, its fair to say - when we stupidly sprayed easy start into the carb when the engine was warm - This was the old vapour lock problem recently cured with the addition of an electric fuel pump, BTW
Anyway there was a loud backfire on starting and the carb caught fire. We’re not sure if we damaged the (newly rebuilt) carb or is it posdible to have cracked the block? A cursory compression test looked OK but I desperately need to rule out engine damage. Is there any likelihood of that?
My mechanic suggests a replacemnent carb is the cheapest way to find out.
BUT my question is “If the carb is delivering that much fuel on demand (which is then not being burnt - we even fitted new plugs) then that MIGHT rule out the carb and come back to the ignition advance and the elusive vacuum (carb to distributor) leak?”
I am not a mechanic but i am slowly getting there - asking Dr Google! I could do with some clever minds on this.
Mike
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Baxter Ball - Car show 27th November
I’m getting in touch from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, we’ve got our annual regimental ball coming up on Thursday 27th November, called the Baxter Ball, and this year’s theme is the 1950s.
We’re trying to get a few 1950s-style classic cars along to help set the scene and make the evening feel a bit more authentic. The event kicks off at 6pm, and cars can leave whenever suits.
If your club fancied bringing a few vehicles down, you’d be more than welcome and if you wanted to use it as a club meet, even better! We’ll have free food and drink for anyone coming, and I can also sort out a tour of our stables for your members if you’re interested.
Let me know if it’s something you might be up for it’d be great to have some proper classics there to complete the 1950s vibe.
Cheers,
Tom.
Friday, October 17, 2025
I’m getting in touch from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, we’ve got our annual regimental ball coming up on Thursday 27th November, called the Baxter Ball, and this year’s theme is the 1950s.
We’re trying to get a few 1950s-style classic cars along to help set the scene and make the evening feel a bit more authentic. The event kicks off at 6pm, and cars can leave whenever suits.
If your club fancied bringing a few vehicles down, you’d be more than welcome and if you wanted to use it as a club meet, even better! We’ll have free food and drink for anyone coming, and I can also sort out a tour of our stables for your members if you’re interested.
Let me know if it’s something you might be up for it’d be great to have some proper classics there to complete the 1950s vibe.
Cheers,
Tom.
