0 In the Shop: Wills Sainte Claire Part 2

by Willy Vinton
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

When the temperature dropped to 40 below this month, we decided it was a good time to get the 1922 Wills Saint Claire Model A-68 sedan back in the shop. It has had some issues in the past and was in need of  more attention.

As you can see from the second photo, the pinion gear had suffered a shock load at one time in its life and lost a couple of teeth. It would have been fine for a hockey player, but not for a vintage auto.


So, we shipped off the ring and pinion gear to have a new one machined. After a couple of times of having it shipped from one to another to have it done, we finally got the new one in. One of our volunteers, Bob Apalsch, riveted the ring gear back on the carrier and had it ready for us to start putting things back in place.






Rod Benson, another of our docents, took great care to clean and keep things in order for the assembly of the rear differential.

Rod also took the time to show and explain the problems and repairs being done to another one of our volunteers, Jeff Creamer. Jeff co-owns the 1910 Chalmers-Detroit we have on display in our Alaska gallery.




 

The driveline and miscellaneous parts also required some attention. For example, the retaining nut on the u-joint to the driveline was cracked and needed repair.

Here is the Wills sitting on jack stands awaiting completion of the repairs. Today it is an astounding 70 degrees (F) warmer outside than it was when we started this last round of repairs. If the temperature stays around 30° F, you may see us out running around Wedgewood Resort in this beautiful car soon.