Hudsy Wudsy

I just came across an ad for a '37 four door sedan on Craigslist for Little Rock, Arkansas and as I looked at the pictures of it, I realized that I couldn't say for a certainty whether it had overdrive or not because I don't recall which side of the steering column the knob is on. It clearly doesn't have overdrive if the knob is normally on the left side of the column because that's the side that is visible in the pics. However, if the knob is normally on the right side, then I can't say for sure. You might think that simply writing the seller would be a quick way to find out, but he says it's his dad's, it doesn't run and he doesn't have a clue about an overdrive. The car has a radio, a great looking banjo steering wheel and a fresh coat of primer which likely hides a multitude of sins: http://littlerock.craigslist.org/cto/4970647323.html

The cam and lifters aren't going to fail just because they have some pits and the crank had every one of those scratches 50 years ago when it ran last. If they bearing surfaces haven't deteriorated badly, i.e., rotted away from acid corrosion, then I say check for stuck valves and loosen them as necessary. After that lube the cylinder walls, crank it over with out spark plugs for a while and eventually fire it up. As long as you don't introduce more debris onto the bearing surfaces, they may perform just as they did all of those years ago. I know from experience that in a some sort of running state a car will appeal to buyer much more. If he can drive ten feet, it will sell itself.

Just out of curiosity, I wrote the seller to ask what frame it's sitting on, but all I got back was the simple two word answer, "original frame".

Larry W, I agree completely. I remember how very popular Omegas, Chevy Citations and the other (Buick and Pontiac) X body cars were in their day. I hope I'm correct in recalling their being called X bodies, but my memory fails me some these days.

Wow, helfen, if all that doesn't drive the difference home, surely nothing will.

Manifold heaters never posed much of a risk, health-wise. They simply drew air over the exhaust manifold and passed that heated air into the cabin of the car. The only way CO would enter the car would be if the exhaust manifold had a crack within the pathway of that air travel. In that case, I expect that the noise entering the car along with the heat would make driving unbearable. They certainly could draw in obnoxious under hood odors such as blow-by, though. Having lived my whole life here in Minnesota, I can attest to the fact that manifold heaters, while hotter than blazes in Alabama, were fairly minimal around here. The quite common Model A type heater just used the engine fan and road speed to carry the heat off of the exhaust manifold and into the car. Gas heaters were popular, though. They were commonly seen in V8 Fords up until around '49 (or so). I have to guess that maybe the flathead V8 wasn't a good candidate for hot water heaters - probably because of the twin water pumps and the way in which water circulated, but I don't know. VW (both beetles and busses) often had gas heaters, as well. Gas heaters started to work almost instantly and were capable of heating a car really well. Their downside, however, was that they knocked gas mileage down quite a bit. The interesting heater that I started this thread with is one that I've never seen before even though as a Minnesotan I've seen lots of different styles. It, too, is a manifold heater, except that unlike the many vintage Model A heaters I've seen, this one has a blower fan. I suppose that some people were somewhat spooked by the thought of gasoline and a flame being right there in the car by there feet, so one like this could be an alternative. BTW, those of you cruise through ebay, Craigslist and other sites have probably seen lots of Southwind gas heaters for sale, but you'll notice that they almost never come with the necessary carburetor plate to actually make use of them. It seems that a lot of people kept the heaters, but never bothered to unbolt the carb to retrieve that important item.

Of course there is. Anyone who doesn't see the difference between the two adjectives, homely and ugly, has a vocabulary that is sorely lacking any nuance whatsoever.

It's my opinion that a twelve volt battery might not be much, if any, improvement over a six volt in a scenario where either battery would remain in the car uncharged for two years at a time. Also, given the fact that batteries don't last for an eternity, I guess that I suggest that you resign yourself to removing the battery when you don't foresee using the car for long periods and putting it in a location where it could be placed on a trickle charge occasionally. Up here in Minnesota, it wasn't too unusual for some people to take their batteries out and bring them in the house when a night of well-below zero temperatures were predicted and starting in the morning was imperative. It really isn't that much of a hassle removing the seat cushion, removing the battery and then placing the seat back in place. A battery lifting strap is inexpensive.

The gentleman is turning to us for options. Why be rude and judgmental?

When I started this thread, I chose to use the word "homely" and not "ugly". It's funny to me, though, that so many guys simply can't differentiate between the two words. Personally, I think the Aztec is ugly, but it's just my opinion. I also think that the '42 Olds, especially in any two door version, is particularly handsome, despite it's laughable front end. Many of those '40s GM bodies have always struck me as quite beautiful. After all, the front end is really just one aspect of it, so I wouldn't let that amusing design mistake keep me from owning one. From Google: http://www.rmauctions.com/images/cars/AZ08/AZ08_r153_1.jpg http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4043/4452893097_be146889e8_z.jpg

Aint it the truth!

You don't come across a lot of these, so I thought I'd post it here for someone. Not that everyone wants to own one of these, but they are conversation starters, to be sure. The seller says he thinks it's for a Chev, but I suppose that a few measurements would prove or disprove what coupe it might fit. Reaonable price, given it's rarity: http://topeka.craigslist.org/pts/4961335991.html http://images.craigslist.org/00000_jj3H0bD0O0l_600x450.jpg

That makes perfect sense to me.

I was just browsing Craigslist and came across a '36 Plymouth coupe for sale in MI. It's sitting on a Mopar (I assume) frame with an I-beam axle with control arms which I simply don't recognize. http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/cto/4976041134.html http://images.craigslist.org/00F0F_43TfN0Mqums_600x450.jpg

My recollection is that it's "leatherette", a product that has been around for quite a while. I think that it may have been developed initially as a book binding material, but I can't seem to find (Google) anything on it's date of origin.

Here's a link to a '28 Dodge sedan for sale on Craigslist in Kansas City, KS: http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/5025644720.html

Topeka, KS: http://topeka.craigslist.org/pts/5000864188.html

Oui!

This is on Craigslist in Kentucky (I think): http://louisville.craigslist.org/pts/4974890067.html

This on Craigslist -- St Louis MO: http://stlouis.craigslist.org/pts/5003205877.html

Here's a link to an ad on Craigslist for some parts in MO: http://tulsa.craigslist.org/pts/4976308530.html

Someone is selling a '40 Ford engine and trans on Craigslist in Appleton WI. On it is a type of heater (I presume) that I've never seen before. You'll see it attached to the exhaust manifold. Do any of you recognize it? http://appleton.craigslist.org/pts/4973682480.html

I don't know what happened to the picture of the fake Dodge hub cap, but in it's place I offer this set of Pooooo (Pontiac, no doubt) caps available on Craigslist: http://racine.craigslist.org/pts/5019018598.html

Here's someone offering a '33 trans, plus some other misc parts: http://mankato.craigslist.org/pts/5008385398.html