I joined this sit with the hope of getting advice with my Fathers 1949 88 Rocket fastback. I am trying to fix it up for a car show this weekend. Thcar did run. As I replacing parts, the battery cable to the starter solenoid needed replacement. In doing so, I found the post on the soleniod loose so I tighten it. By doing so the soleniod being old, shorted so I replaced it. I get the starter to operate out of the car but will not work when installed. I've repaired all the bare wire i could find and still will not crank. the car did run prior to the repairs. Could the starter be bad at load input? works fine at noload?

 

Welcome to the site Dave.
You have your Dads Oldsmobile? That's cool. So do I.

One of the problems with old cars? Everything starts failing when you start tinkering. If you're not getting power to the starter and you've replaced the starter solenoid? Sounds like you may have a faulty solenoid. That happens. All your connections are tight and ground is good?

 

I am getting power to the starter/soleniod and the starter works when the starter is tested out of the car (No load test). Could there be a dead cell in the battery like I found in a 12 volt system giving me all indications that it works? Also, the safety neutral switch on the steering colume, I can't find much of anything on it. Can't find a electriction that knows 6 volt systems?

 

Welcome aboard

 

Welcome!
Bad ignition switch? What type of starter activation does the 49 use? Is it push button on the dash? My 47 C-word had a foot pedal on the floor that would get out of adjustment and not reach the starter button when pressed. I'm dumb on that model so just asking for my education.

 

You might also check all of the grounds, or for a quick check if the starter is still in the car jump it with cables( ground it to the starter) and see if you get any action then, if no start, pull and replace....Tedd

 

I managed to get the car started. I'm not sure what the problem was? A combination of issues to including the starter/soleniod, ignition switch, starter button and finally the cheapo battery I bought at a discount battery place in Fresno. You buy cheap you get cheap. This battery was less than 2 months old and lost it's cranking power could only charge up to 40% so I bought a real battery and it started. I drove it to a car show that I entered in and this was the first time it had been driven in 15 years. What a joy to drive this machine. I could only amagin 1949 racing in these cars. No power nothing but engine. I was up to 70 MPH before I relized it.

 

Welcome!!!!!

 

I would consider giving the brakes a good going over if you plan to drive that 60 year old car 70 MPH especially after setting for 15 years, or maybe you already have and hadn't mentioned it....Tedd

 

It's fun to see and hear them come back to life again! How 'bout some pics?