Pedal Start 1940 Chevrolet MCP Truck

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

My 1940 Chevrolet Modified Civilian Pattern truck has a 216 motor and has the original pedal operated starter.

I have never seen how these pedal starters work. I would imagine that the ignition switch is turned and while the vehicle is in neutral. with the hand brake on one presses down on the starter pedal.

How fast, and how hard is the starter pedal pressed down? How many presses would be normal before a motor starts. Is there a rule of thumb where more than 6 compressions means one has to start trouble shooting the motor to find a problem with it? Or do you keep compressing and cross your fingers until it starts?

How do you check to see that all the starter pedal parts are actually there and each one is functioning properly?

When starting the motor for the first time in God only knows how many decades, would the first attempts to start it be better done via the foot starter pedal or via a crank handle start? Once I find a crank handle for it that is!

Alternatively, can the 216 motor be fitted with an electric starter motor - or does this involve fitting a different flywheel that has a ring gear and a different bell housing to accommodate the starter?

Did CMP 1940 Chevrolet trucks have electric starter motor or were they too fitted with starter pedals to start their motors? Both the MCP and the CMP were 216 engines just like the civilian pattern ones.

Kind Regards
Lionel