Hudsy Wudsy

This probably won't be of any help to you, but I'm giving you a link to an Ebay seller who had one of these for sale recently. He's in Pine River, MN. I suppose that you could contact him through any of his many listings, but I doubt if he would be one to have a lot of info for you. I've heard of people finding tons of information from the Detroit Public Library's National Automotive History Collection. I understand that they have immense vehicle resources, but I've never needed to research any thing obsure before. I've included a link to that, as well. Good Luck! 1949 Dodge half ton panel...Golden Guernsey Milk Delivery Van!!! | eBay National Automotive History Collection | Detroit Public Library

I have to agree with you on that point. Earlier, mention was made of a worn fuel pump actuating cam lobe and I wondered to myself if an inappropriate or overly strong diaphraghm spring (from a rebuilt fuel pump) could do that. Maybe not, I don't know.

Thrilling, huh? 1967 Chevrolet Impala

I would have preferred an original color, but the red is kind of cute. I also think that the original "sunburst' design around the hub caps adds a lot, but most people don't seem to agree or don't bother with it. I've also noticed that a lot of guys don't bother with the perimeter pin stripe around the wheels of many old cars. I think that, in lieu of beauty rings, the wheel pin stripe is a nice and appropriate detail.

Yeah...really, that is one homely contraption!

Honestly, Barry, I'm skeptical myself, but that's my recollection. I hope somone who knows better will weigh in on the matter. If the Depression hadn't hit so many, so hard, the model A might have met the same fate as so many other cars did in the war scrap drives. I think, rather, that a large percentage of them were still somebodies daily transportation. I hope to hear from others more knowledgeable than me about Model A survival rates.

I read once that 44% of all Model A cars ever built were still around. I wish I could remember the source, because it strikes me as such a phenomenal number. Any of you ever hear or read anything similar? As for VW bugs, I certainly respect their simple ruggedness. I'm a little ashamed to admit it, but I've always hated the miserable whistle-like sound of them, though.

All business, but still very classy!

It's just my opinion, but I think that is a pretty great photo from the standpoint of balance and composition. It would be one that I think would look great blown up (to whatever extent the feeble pixels would allow) and framed.

It's been so long that I don't recall clearly at this moment, but I think that Chevrolet converted over to insert bearings in 1950. It was somewhere around that time, I think. I'm sure that someone who knows Chevs will weigh in on the matter. You'll have to find out for sure, but if that's the case your engine might not have babbit lined rods. Rusty is right about the cast iron pistons, which also made these engines slow winding. I recall someone explaining to me years ago that the rod journals were narrower than they could have been and thus at higher RPMs they couldn't dissapate heat fast enough. Hudson babbit rods (either six or eight) would go all day long at top speed. They had broad journals, aluminum alloy pistons and light weight rods, however.

I respect your thoughts on the switch. Off hand, the only push in switch of that nature that I can recall is used on electric pop-up gas caps. I'm sure that there are others, though.

Thank you! Thank you! I sometimes worry that I when I think I'm getting too oblique, I'm really at my most obtuse!

Sorry, guys. My attempt at humor was a little too oblique for you.

I'm a little confused. If it pushes in, then it must also pull out, right? What I'm getting at is that it would be a simple off-on switch if that were the case. Is there a light bulb inside? I don't think that it's bakelite, but I'm no expert on that. It seems to me that bakelite is always a solid color. I'm thinking that it's likely it's Catalin plastic.

Here's a rare Nash Neopolitan for you... 1960 Neopolitan Nash

I've never had any desire to own one of these VW based conversions, but I have to admit one that has always made me look a second time is the Frazer-Nash. There's something a little more authentic looking about it, I guess. 1934 Frazer Nash kit car - reduce price

Does it pull out, or rotate?

I should have said crossmembers. Otherwise I stand by my statement. I don't recall it being an issue with Monzas, or, come to think of it, later Vegas. Chevrolet undoubtedly made improvements as they went along. That aluminum engine with the large cast iron cylider head wasn't very well loved. It's been some time but, my recollection is that they were always being compared (unfavorably) to the Pontiac iron duke. I don't recall their weakness right now, but I think that when they failed, they required resleeving at substantial expense. I beleive that they were pretty much considered disposable, like too many other later engines.

I recall that Vegas had such weak frames that the weight of the engine made them sag. A simple alignment could get mighty expensive when it involved straighting the frame. After the frame straightening, they would vibrate like the dickens for a while until every thing up front finally settled down. I think that there were some cars that may have stuck around too long. I turned ten in 1960, and I can recall hating Chrysler product styling of the forties. No matter what front end was on the car, and, no matter what sort of tail light arrangement was used, they all looked the same to me. The roads were still full of them and it seemed to me that every model had the same trunk lid and rear fenders. Ironically, I would latter learn to admire Chrysler products greatly. Minnesota cars don't remain attractive very long with our winters. Rust patches and holes are ugly by anyone's judgement. Much later those '70s Corollas were an example of cars built well enough to still be on the road long after they looked like they shouldn't be. Also those crappy, but relatively indestrucatable Omnis and Horizons. Geez, I can remember people driving them with broken off door handles (both inside and outside), windows that no longer rolled down, or else, where taped up to keep them from falling down. I was glad to finally see them go.

I'm guessing that you live where they don't use much salt. It was sadly comical it was to see these poor cabs rust out the body mounts to the point where the body fell down on the steering column. There haven't been many of them on the roads of Minnesota for a long while.

I'm going to say '35 because of the chrome headlight buckets.

I'm sorry, Dave, I missed your point the first time around.

Helfen, that's a very interesting read. I understand better some of the choices that GM made. I think now that this sedan body likely began as the gorgeous '34 LaSalle. By '35 they changed the front to accomodate two piece windsheilds for senior Ponts, Olds and LaSalle. Meanwhile Buick and Cadillac retained the leaner, somewhat boxy earlier body with the flat, one piece windsheild. Apparently GM wasn't ready to pin all of their hopes on the rounder, more streamlined body for '35. '35 Cad: '35 Buick:

I'm sorry Dave, but '36s wouldn't have the suicide doors in front.

I know that I would want that '33. It is extra cute. I hope you don't mind my tossing in a '30s Olds that I've always been fond of. Here's a pic of a '35 senior sedan (L series, correct?). I know that not everyone likes sedans, but I've always thought that this all suicide-door sedan has particularly beautiful lines. Not because of the suicide doors, I can take them or leave them, in most cases, but for various reasons including the very pretty arch-like treatment at the tops of the doors. It has always surprised me that neither Buick or Cadillac used this body. I might be wrong on that point perhaps they did, but with different doors. Maybe someone who actually knows what they are talking about will say.