Rehab of Patrol L60-2-00655

[r1lark]

This thread will be used to pose questions & ask advice from fellow Patrollers, as well as document progress, as I rehabilitate our Patrol serial number L60-2-00655. This Patrol has sat unused for at least 20 years. The plan is to slowly go thru systems to get it running, then driving, and make repairs as needed. The original paint will be retained, with some touch up of the worst areas. The focus will be on running/driving safely, preservation, and then some improvement in appearance. This will not be a restoration, I have too many other vehicles (Studebakers, Triumphs) bogged down in 'restorations'.

Although registered as a '64, it is probably a '62 based on where the serial number falls in the USA Patrol Registry list.

For more info on this Patrol, here are a couple of threads--
My Introduction thread: https://60patrol.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=3751
The Patrol in '79 in the snow: https://60patrol.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=5025
Current condition: https://60patrol.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=5815
Original tires on this Patrol: https://60patrol.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6132

Current status is: cylinders have been oiled with marvel mystery oil several times, distributor and wires are out to allow oil priming, oil and filter changed, pulled rocker cover to make sure no valves were stuck. Next visit (Patrol is about 90 minutes away) will be to prime oil system and turn engine over with handcrank. If I get the distributor checked out/cleaned/lubed before then, I'll put it back in.

[RiverPatrol]

Looking forward to watching your progress!

[Esteban]

I concur with RiverPatrol. Looking forward for it.

I have read again the links posted. They're so great. You have a real tressure and a time machine in your hands.

[r1lark]

Thanks River and Esteban. Progress will be slow since the Patrol is stored 90 minutes away, but that does give me a chance to make the process more methodical.

[r1lark]

In preparation for going to work on the Patrol Thursday, I've been going thru the distributor. It was kind of nasty inside:

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Totally disassembled except for pulling the shaft out, cleaned all the parts, and inspected them. The pins for the centrifugal advance weights were fine, the weights themselves were fine (no perceptible wear in the pin holes), and the points plate moved smoothly.

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Some lube where needed, and the weights were reassembled. A NOS set of points, a new condenser (thanks to Mild Bill for that!), and a new o-ring (again, thanks Mild Bill!) were used with the original rotor:

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The vacuum advance diaphragm is bad, and I have some inquiries sent out with pictures to a couple of companies that rebuild vacuum advances to see if they can do the Patrol advance. But for now, it's back in the distributor:

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Also had to make a new gasket, the old one was not reusable:

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Here is the distributor number for posterity:

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Didn't get anything done today.......yesterday my wife and I went to get the first of two Shingles shots, and that shot knocked us for a loop -- tired, nausea, chills, etc. But will get back on this tomorrow. Need to do some work on the spark plug wires, since there are some issues where they were in the cap -- not pushed down all the way. Plus need to make the oil pump priming tool.

Feels good to be making some progress, even though it's slow progress.

[RiverPatrol]

Nice work! Was the o'ring a new compatible part or something Bill robbed off another distributor. It looks unused.

[r1lark]

Nice work! Was the o'ring a new compatible part or something Bill robbed off another distributor. It looks unused.

It was in a Nissan bag with a part number so I assume it's a NOS part.

[L60Boerne]

Paul,
Eddy the Eagle just rebuilt the distributor in my Red 65 (Santa's Sleigh) though known to my wife as "Hershel's Patrol". Anyway, the base of the distributor was all rusted up and it has been in either a container or desert for three years. It has seen rain since we bought it so how did the moisture get into the distributor? Eddy thinks if comes those those vacuum advance tubes that run to the air filter housing. Anyway, he is plugging them against my wishes. It has been my experience that those vacuum tubes somehow contribute to a much smoother running motor. I'm sure we will unplug them in about 6 months.

Eddy BTW and Plateaucal are in agreement on the vacuum tube necessity anf Plateaucal is never wrong.

Patrolling and rolling,
L60Boerne

[RiverPatrol]

Nice work! Was the o'ring a new compatible part or something Bill robbed off another distributor. It looks unused.

It was in a Nissan bag with a part number so I assume it's a NOS part.

Did you happen to save the bag, or the part number?

[r1lark]

Paul,
Eddy the Eagle just rebuilt the distributor in my Red 65 (Santa's Sleigh) though known to my wife as "Hershel's Patrol". Anyway, the base of the distributor was all rusted up and it has been in either a container or desert for three years. It has seen rain since we bought it so how did the moisture get into the distributor? Eddy thinks if comes those those vacuum advance tubes that run to the air filter housing. Anyway, he is plugging them against my wishes. It has been my experience that those vacuum tubes somehow contribute to a much smoother running motor. I'm sure we will unplug them in about 6 months.

Eddy BTW and Plateaucal are in agreement on the vacuum tube necessity anf Plateaucal is never wrong.

Patrolling and rolling,
L60Boerne

Interesting thought David, I'll have to do some searching on the forum about that. At least at this point, I'm not ready to plug the lines though. But thank you for that thought, definitely something to consider for the long term.