Jim Corcorans Project

PROJECT 46 (Or how to spend one's retirement money quickly)

It all started when I saw an add in the “OLD CARS” weekly for a 1946 Nash Ambassador 4 dr. Sedan sometime in the Summer of 2006. I had a 48 Nash 600 I bought to drive while I was building an Olds powered 49 Ford Convert back in 1957 and I remember liking the ride and the heater. I've always liked “Fat Fenders” and this was a driver, it was all there, the price was right and it appeared pretty much rust free. In addition the owner had the tank and fuel line cleaned, and a rebuilt carb and fuel pump, sooooo…..I took the plunge. The car had spent most of its life in Pueblo, CO., quite arid so the interior was really dried out. So much so the headliner was disintegrating while I was driving. To keep from choking I removed it and drove it around the rest of the summer. I fixed a few things and got more familiar with it and observed what a quality piece it was. It was overbuilt, (in the old fashioned way), but it had a lot of nice touches. What amazed me was how accurate the clock was. (And is!!) The motor ran smooth enough but I thought it should have more power, so the Winter of 2007 I put rings, piston expanders, (thanks Tom from Lemont) .002 under rod bearings (thanks Bernie Turco) and a general clean up on motor and accessories. As a hedge against overheating I shortened the fan drive, made an adapter for a fan clutch driving a 6 bladed 15” dia. fan and a fan shroud to make full use of the radiator. The distributor has been modified to yield about 10 degrees additional vacuum advance and I retrofitted a PCV System. These mods together with a 180 degree thermostat should give it some more zip and cruise. And of course along the way I researched replacement front and rear shocks, brake shoes, master and wheel cylinder kits, various seals. (I'm afraid to total it up!!) That brings it up to date, I'm in this deep so I guess paint is next, then the interior. (I may have money left over for gas.) More later,

Jim Corcoran NCCA #9211

Teardown, It needs rings bad!! Allways put in a timing chain while it's this far down!

OK, hope the timing chain is in right Engine sure is easy to work on like this!

Head and pan off, rings and bearings next! Block and suspension cleaned , painted, etc.

Head ready to go on Carb and rocker assy's going back in!

Clutch helper spring in place. Crossmember seen here on Hi-Tech work area.

Note trans on motorcycle lift using special jsc adaptor. Diff out ready to inspect!

Another view of Hi-Tech diff. rig. Diferencial on stand complete

Front brakes, found new shoes, wheel cyl, kits Differencial installed, not much rust of any kind on this car,

Bigest battery that would fit. Thank god for farm and fleet!

Gas pedal bellows from a chevy pickup starter! Dash, radio mounted.

Dash complete again. Hmmm, What about a PCV system.

Hope it runs as good as it looks! Ford oil fill cap with PCV valve, perfect fit.

Original road draft tube plugged at bottom, Road draft into air cleaner!

Not yet , I got an idea for a fan clutch. I finally brainstorm a fan clutch,!

Cut all glass cloth before mixing! Let the glass work begin!

I got it free without breaking anything, the release agent realy works! Trimmed

Header tank and hoses next. Almost ready to start!

Prime it, but don't start a fire! View of recovery tank.


	Jim Corcorans Project PROJECT 46 (Or how to spend one's retirement money quickly) It all started when I saw an add in the “OLD CARS” weekly for a 1946 Nash Ambassador 4 dr. Sedan sometime in the Summer of 2006. I had a 48 Nash 600 I bought to drive while I was building an Olds powered 49 Ford Convert back in 1957 and I remember liking the ride and the heater. I've always liked “Fat Fenders” and this was a driver, it was all there, the price was right and it appeared pretty much rust free. In addition the owner had the tank and fuel line cleaned, and a rebuilt carb and fuel pump, sooooo…..I took the plunge. The car had spent most of its life in Pueblo, CO., quite arid so the interior was really dried out. So much so the headliner was disintegrating while I was driving. To keep from choking I removed it and drove it around the rest of the summer. I fixed a few things and got more familiar with it and observed what a quality piece it was. It was overbuilt, (in the old fashioned way), but it had a lot of nice touches. What amazed me was how accurate the clock was. (And is!!) The motor ran smooth enough but I thought it should have more power, so the Winter of 2007 I put rings, piston expanders, (thanks Tom from Lemont) .002 under rod bearings (thanks Bernie Turco) and a general clean up on motor and accessories. As a hedge against overheating I shortened the fan drive, made an adapter for a fan clutch driving a 6 bladed 15” dia. fan and a fan shroud to make full use of the radiator. The distributor has been modified to yield about 10 degrees additional vacuum advance and I retrofitted a PCV System. These mods together with a 180 degree thermostat should give it some more zip and cruise. And of course along the way I researched replacement front and rear shocks, brake shoes, master and wheel cylinder kits, various seals. (I'm afraid to total it up!!) That brings it up to date, I'm in this deep so I guess paint is next, then the interior. (I may have money left over for gas.) More later, Jim Corcoran NCCA #9211 Teardown, It needs rings bad!! Allways put in a timing chain while it's this far down! OK, hope the timing chain is in right Engine sure is easy to work on like this! Head and pan off, rings and bearings next! Block and suspension cleaned , painted, etc. Head ready to go on Carb and rocker assy's going back in! Clutch helper spring in place. Crossmember seen here on Hi-Tech work area. Note trans on motorcycle lift using special jsc adaptor. Diff out ready to inspect! Another view of Hi-Tech diff. rig. Diferencial on stand complete Front brakes, found new shoes, wheel cyl, kits Differencial installed, not much rust of any kind on this car, Bigest battery that would fit. Thank god for farm and fleet! Gas pedal bellows from a chevy pickup starter! Dash, radio mounted. Dash complete again. Hmmm, What about a PCV system. Hope it runs as good as it looks! Ford oil fill cap with PCV valve, perfect fit. Original road draft tube plugged at bottom, Road draft into air cleaner! Not yet , I got an idea for a fan clutch. I finally brainstorm a fan clutch,! Cut all glass cloth before mixing! Let the glass work begin! I got it free without breaking anything, the release agent realy works! Trimmed Header tank and hoses next. Almost ready to start! Prime it, but don't start a fire! View of recovery tank.