Q&A with Kit Foster: October 30, 2014

Q. John Tumolo’s emblem (Sept. 4) is for sure Hudson Terraplane, probably 1935-’37 vintage.

— Trenton Browne, Sunset, Texas

A. As a Hudson owner for nearly 40 years, I should have pursued that angle a bit further, but I’ve never had Hudson products of that era so the emblem didn’t ring a bell. Not finding any similar emblems on Hudsons found online, I put it up on a member forum at the Hudson Essex Terraplane Club. HET member Jon Battle quickly replied that it’s from the optional fender skirts of a 1936 Terraplane, Hudson’s “companion” make. With that in mind I can see a stylized “H” and “T” in the photo.

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Q. I have a 1950 Chevy Styleline coupe, with the 216 engine, manual, all stock. The Rochester one-barrel carburetor needs a rebuild, and I want to know what carb might work better on this engine — a Carter W1, maybe? Thanks for any advice.

— Mark Axen, Stony Creek, N.Y.

A. Having had only two vehicles with Chevy six-cylinder engines, neither one a 216, and having simply used the original carbs, I can’t offer any advice about what might be better. Stovebolters, I expect some of you will have opinions.

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Q. Francisco J. Castillo (Sept. 24) was looking for axle bumpers for a ’66 Chevy. Metro Moulded Parts lists a number of them. Perhaps one may be suitable.

— Dan Clark, via e-mail

A. Indeed they do, and their XB-12 axle bumper, although not a direct replacement, looks like it might work for Mr. Castillo’s application. You can find Metro Moulded online at www.metrommp.com.

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Q. I purchased these fake tire sidewalls at an antique shop near Tea, S.D. They have been on wheels, but are in excellent condition. I used fake white sidewalls like these on my 1958 Impala in the mid sixties. The set of four have printing on the back: “Enjay, made of genuine butyl rubber. Manufactured by Bearfoot Sole Co. Inc., Wadsworth O.” When I googled ‘Enjay’ and ‘Barefoot Sole Co. Inc.,’ nothing came up so the company must no longer be in business. It would be neat to know when they were manufactured and if anyone remembers seeing fakeside walls with this checkerboard pattern. These unique checkered “Grand Prix” sidewalls will be going on my 1958 Nomad.

— Don Reichert, Hartford, S.D.

A. The “E” in Enjay looks like that in the old Esso logo. Esso, of course, was a phonetic spelling of the initials SO, for Standard Oil. I suspected Enjay means NJ as in New Jersey, probably Standard Oil of New Jersey. Indeed, I found a 1960s ad online for butyl rubber, from “Enjay Chemical Company, a Division of Humble Oil and Refining Company.” Standard Oil of New Jersey acquired a 50 percent share of Texas-based Humble in 1972, and the merged companies took the name “Exxon.” I believe Bearfoot Sole. Co. used Enjay butyl rubber to create your “checkerwalls.” Unlike Enjay, Bearfoot seems to have vanished almost without trace. I found a listing for it in a 1960 book Industrial Research Laboratories of the United States. Bearfoot Sole was at 1st and Water Streets in Wadsworth, and employed four chemists, one chemical engineer, two technicians and one employee described simply as “auxiliary.” Clearly it was a pretty small outfit.

To submit questions to this column: E-mail angelo.vanbogart@fwmedia.com or mail to: Q&A, c/o Angelo Van Bogart, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001.

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