Sep 19 (edited)

Preserving Stearns Knight Parts

I've been working on a stash of parts I got recently.  Many of the parts were in a fire.  Dirty, nasty and now rusty.  Nothing left of a radiator but the fittings!  Babbitt and some aluminum has melted away.  Still, these are Stearns-Knight parts, and I am compelled to clean & save them.

I ran a comparison between 'evapo-rust' and electrolysis for rust removal.  Generally speaking, electrolysis works better (and it's fun!).

After de-rusting and a quick brush & rinse, I break loose the fasteners and soak the parts in gently used Valvoline VR-1 overnight.  I have a lot of gently used VR-1.  Then I wipe everything dry, vacuum-seal 'em, and box 'em up.

So, if you scatter the engine in your Model M or N, I may be able to help!

R/ Roger.

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Sep 19, 2026

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Replies (19)

· Sep 19

Excellent work Roger. Are these the parts from Duane's car that burned?

· Sep 20

Some are. Most of this group of parts were/are spares that came with the Model M Cabriolet I got from Duane.

· Sep 20

For context on the burned car, Duane Perrin had the only Model H Victoria known to exist and just as he was finishing his restoration his garage burned. Absolute tragedy.

· Sep 21

Yes

· Sep 23

For that car to last so long and be so close to restoration completion, a dream almost come true for Duane, and then lost to fire. Yes, an absolute tragedy. We are all susceptible to the same possibilities. My shop and storage garage don't have sprinkler systems either. It always seems like a nice idea when building but the added expense gets crossed off the list. I have read about extinguisher units you can hang up in vulnerable areas. When triggered by heat they will release their propellent. Its worth considering.

· Sep 23

Griots used to sell those extinguisher units. I don't believe they actually worked. Ed Minnie knows this stuff but I can't @ him because he hasn't registered for the club yet. Which I've been bugging him about.

· Sep 21

Agreed; a real loss. 😞. There was a parts sedan (body at least) lost too.

· Sep 21

Fortunately, his incredibly original J limousine was not in the garage. This car was for sale about the same time as one of mine came on the market. Or I probably would’ve bought it. In retrospect, I sort of wish I did. But you can’t own everything.

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· Sep 23

I'll bet it could be had...

· Sep 23

Good friends talk other friends in to buying cars they really shouldn't have. The cleaned up picture (which I can't seem to find) is very enticing thought isn't it? Did he get it running?

(edited)

· Sep 23

Maybe this is the one I was thinking of. Not that cleaned up but still super cool!

· Sep 23

Bob's intention is to keep it as is but make it a driver. The interior is tatty but he ordered material from Hirsch before they sold their wares to SMS.

· Sep 23

It looked the same when I saw it this spring. To my knowledge he hasn't worked on it. He is working on the H sedan from Mark. The body is painted, setting on the frame. He was installing the steering column a couple weeks ago.
Another J that needs a new home is the one that was in Duane's enclosed trailer when he had an accident. It needs major wood and body repair now. As far as I know he still owns it. Its a good project for a body and wood guy. Pull the interior and make the structure right.

(edited)

· Sep 25

Roger, This picture seems to show Bobs J as having front louvers. Good reference at least.
A.J., speaking of added adornments on a car note the front license plate bracket location. Its nice to have a set of those for sure. I'm thinking mine might stay rolled up in tissue someplace. A front license plate, to me, often seems like an obstruction. Like a billboard covering the scenery.

· Sep 25

I'm going to do a topic on the radiator shutters. I took a bunch of pictures for Roger. I believe the limo we are discussing is the newest known serial number so it has every update including the shutters.

· Sep 25

Newest car by serial number, yes. Good point, it should have the most updates.

· Sep 21

Semi-interesting related story. The guy that was doing the paint and body work on the Stearns that burned down in Virginia was a friend growing up. Mike Gassman. Have not seen him in 45 years. We were both in to go karts and mini bikes.
https://www.gassmanautomotive.com/restorations/completed-restorations/1929-stearns-knight/

· Sep 23

I should introduce you to Kendall Radke sometime. He's a fellow Model M owner with a coupe (or two) :)

· Sep 23

Please see if you can get him to create an account. Would be happy to talk Model M. Especially coupes.