Lycoming/Cord V-8

A cut-away drawing of the Lycoming/Cord and description from Josh Malks.

Lycoming Manufacturing, makers of engines for many makes of automobiles and aircraft, was a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Auburn Automobile Company. The Cord engine was the only V-8 Lycoming ever built.

It was a very modern powerplant, with almost 'square' bore and stroke and nearly-horizontal valves operated by roller-equipped rocker arms. Even the earliest engines were designed to accomodate the centrifugal supercharger that was offered as an option on 1937 models.

 

Cord Transmission (Inspection)

With work well under way on the Cord engine we are turning our attention toward the transmission that came along with the “Hatch” engine. A close inspection of the gearbox revealed enough wear on the gear train to force a rebuild of the shafting and gears. Installing new bearings and generally cleaning things up cannot be a bad idea.

1936 Cord Engine (Innards)

As we set about evaluating the “Hatch” engine for the 1936 Cord we decided to remove the manifolds from the top, oil pan from the bottom, flywheel and covers from both ends providing clear access to the crankshaft, camshaft, connecting rods & pistons and valve train. All of these elements look (and measure) to be in good shape.

We also removed one crankshaft main bearing cap to have a look at wear on the main bearings. This babbitted journal bearing shows only ordinary wear and looks good.

Finally… we attached an external pump to the oil pickup forcing good clean oil throughout the engine. Oil weeps out all the right places in the correct amounts convincing us that it all systems GO!

Our workbench filled with all the rebuilt parts and new materials…

1936 Cord Engine

At long last we are starting the process of getting my 1936 Cord 810 back on the road. For the last two years we have been busy organizing and selling off bits and pieces of my Dad’s vast collection of automobiles and parts. In the last couple of months we have finally organized things to the point where we are ready to dive into the engine and transmission we plan to fit to the “Brom” Cord. My Dad bought this engine from Al Hatch (in Detroit) almost 10 years ago. The engine came out of a Cabriolet Al purchased from an estate in the 1980’s and has only been driven 250 – 300 miles.

Eric Johnston removed the intake and exhaust manifolds from the top, and oil pan from the bottom to allow us to have a good look at the engine “innards”. Our friend Bob McNaughton stopped by to help us evaluate the condition of the engine. The crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, camshaft, rocker arms, and valves all look fine. We found a few problems to fix related to the timing chain on the front and flywheel off the back but all things considered the engine looks good.

As of today the re-assembled engine is attached to our run-stand where Eric is preparing to “fire it up”.

Detailing Cars… with Dan Noraker

I sent my new Chevrolet SS off to Dan Noraker to be detailed and Opti-Coated. Dan runs an auto detailing business out of his garage in Coon Rapids where he works on a steady stream of nice cars. Dan “corrected” and polished the paint before applying the Opti-Coat ceramic clear coating. The photos below show off his work nicely.

Lotus Exige… First Drive

I took the Lotus on a first drive around lake Minnetonka early Saturday (March 29) morning. The morning temperature was right around 20° and the roads nice and dry. I did hit a few ice patches but was able to weave back and forth around the potholes and salt piles. All-in-all a very nice introduction to driving the car.

Chevrolet SS Radar Detector

Although I suppose a person could drive a new Chevrolet SS without “protection”… I’m going to have my new Escort Passport Max along with me wherever I travel.

Chevrolet SS Snow Tires

As a first order of business I purchased a set of winter tires and wheels for the Chevrolet SS. My friend Chris at Samaritan Tire patiently helped me secure a set of TSW Nurburgring wheels and Nitto SN2 winter tires.

I used the word Patient because finding a wheel to fit the SS turned into a complicated process. The SS is a new model that does not appear in any of the wheel fitment tools tire shops use to find wheels. We tried two different wheels before discovering that the TSW line of “Rotary Forged” wheels will fit. Even with the TSW wheels we had to use a 3mm (.187”) wheel spacer to ensure clearance for the front Brembo brakes.

 

Visit this link to the SS Forum where I’ve posted the whole story…

http://www.ssforums.com/forum/wheels-tires-suspension/5105-other-winter-tire-wheel-options-6.html#post99137

2014 Chevrolet SS

After trading in my 2003 Audi Allroad during the fall of 2012 for the (kid’s) Subaru Crosstrex XV… I was without a four door sedan. I spent a fair amount of time looking for a replacement and finally decided to purchase a new 2014 Chevrolet SS. I ordered the car right around the fourth of July and took delivery on December 2nd.

The delivery was honestly hilarious. The SS comes with Bridgestone Potenza “summer only” tires. As I left the Village Chevrolet lot huge snow flakes were falling from the sky. Arriving at home there was absolutely no chance of navigating the driveway with those tires. I ended up having Deb steer the SS up the driveway while being towed behind my pickup truck!

The Lotus Exige

So I purchased a 2008 lotus Exige from Mark Brandt in Colorado Springs in January 2014. I’ve looked at the Exige/Elise many times over the last few years and decided to “pull the trigger” on this car because Lotus has stopped importing them to the US and the replacement Evora is a more expensive and bigger vehicle.

The car was delivered on January 18th right after a "6” snow storm that snarled traffic and made our driveway impassable to anything made by Lotus. I was able to get my friends at Plymouth Towing to bring a roll-off car moving truck and deliver the Lotus to the top of the driveway.

The Lotus looks right at home in the “L” Shaped Garage…

1937 Oldsmobile

I’ve also kept a 1937 Oldsmobile “8” from my Dad’s collection. He bought this car from a service station in Duluth Minnesota during a family trip to the North Shore in 1964. This car is in nearly perfect unrestored condition.

Cords in the Garage

After the dust settled from the antique car auction I had time to start taking stock of the cars I now own. First is a 1936 Cord 810 Sedan formerly owned by Mr. Brom. I purchased this car about 15 years ago from his estate.

Next is my Dad’s 1937 Supercharged Cord 812 Custom Beverly. He bought this car in 1949 and carefully stored it away for all these years. It is in nearly perfect unrestored condition.