SW Ohio parts chasing

[Cincy singer 9a]

Hello all.
I finally got the new baby up and running. She is a bit shaky and needs a twist of the set screws but time will come. I found the root of my problems was the previous owner accidentally installed the battery backwards making the car a negative earth. I'm enclosing a few pictures if the up load works. I'm still looking for those nice square mirrors and side aero screens you see in everyone else's pictures. Phillip was kind enough to run my numbers and inform me I have a '50 9A rather than a registered '48.
I've been searching parts and dealers and making a list for future needs. If anyone has started one then I'd be happy to combine lists for the good of all Singer kind.
I do question if I should stay fairly purest or update certain parts as originals become harder to find. Perhaps I should convert to negative earth, or go with a electronic ignition, or alternator/generator. There is always the question of safety belts or turn signals. What do others feel about being purest verses safety and availability?
Bruce.

[ColinB]

Personal opinions Bruce:

I think issues of safety are very important and turn signals on today's roads are essential as hand signals are not recognised by most other drivers.

Seat belts are a question of trying to understand what kind of accident you are likely to have: if you might end up in a ditch with the car on top of you they are positively dangerous without a sturdy roll bar in place; and if you expect to shunted from behind by some hothead in a hot hatch then they do no good. If however you think the poor brakes make you most likely to have a gentle front-end shunt then they are a good idea. So make your risk assessment and take your pick!

I am also a fan of electronic SU fuel pumps as they are more reliable.

So far as electronic ignition is concerned it will not sort out a faulty distributor so you need a good one to start with. If you have a good distributor then points tend to work just as well, and if you don't then its worth the cost of having yours set up by the Distributor Doctor.

[jeans_old_man]

Bruce, when uploading pictures wait for the tick in the green button on RHS then click 'Place inline'. View in Preview to check before pressing Submit.
Random image just to test:

hood.jpg (16.66 KiB) Viewed 6003 times

[Cincy singer 9a]

Thanks guys. Love hearing the thoughts, ideas and suggestions. Here goes another try to upload a picture... I hope it works for I have an old family picture of my father's Singer I'd love to post as he had a set of bumper guards on front and back that I've never seen before.

I'm also still looking for square side mirrors and aero screens.

Bruce

[GRANT]

I AM NEW TO THE SINGER RESTORATION BUSINESS AS A HOBBY. WHAT ARE YOU CALLING THE SIDE AERO SCREENS? DO YOU MEAN THE REMOVABLE WINDOWS THAT SLIDE TO OPEN? I HAVE APAIR FROM A 1952 THAT MIGHT FIT YOUR CAR. THX GRANT IN KY.

[Cincy singer 9a]

Thank you , Grant.

I have the sliding door windows, thank you. What I'm looking for are the small glass or plexiglass wind directing screens that slip into the braces on the side of your windshield. They direct the wind from blowing back into your face from the side of the car. Perhaps you remember on the Volkswagen Beetle the small triangle (cozy wing) window in front of your main door window that you could adjust to move air. Theses work similar but for a convertible car.

I, too, am a bit new to the hobby as I waited a lifetime to get my own Singer. My wife fought me for years for she doesn't like convertible cars and she wanted a 57 Chevy. Now she wants me to teach her how to work a clutch and my two sons are fighting over who gets the car when I'm 6 feet under.

Mine is a 4A and has the 1074 cc overhead.
Hope we can trade thoughts and suggestions together.

Bruce.

[mikeyr]

the side are screens as you call them were not a Singer part. They were aftermarket. The car did come with side curtains for the doors though.

[Peter McKercher]

The wind wings were sold by Vaughan Singer Motors in California as well as by a company called MG Mitten. They were not a Singer Motors option.

[Cincy singer 9a]

Here's the latest on Rosie. I've had a great summer driving her and putting her through trials. Last weekend I had her up to 60MPH on the main 4 lane road. My next test will be to tackle a long steep hill nearby that even taxes my modern car. She seems to be evening out, though I think she gets poor fuel mileage. I still leak a little oil, but no more than expected from original equipment. She has been great fun and hate to see the driving season end.

This winter I'll tackle the brakes and front end. Before I do, does anyone know what size shoes she wears and the best place to buy them? Also is there a specific King pin used? I'd like to get the right parts the first time and not retro engineer something.

Oh, one other thing.....do I just have big feet or do others find the pedals seem a bit closer than a modern car? I find I wear a pair of water shoes or just stocking feet when I drive or my shoe hits two pedals together.

Have fun everyone.