55 SURVIVOR

What cars,and when did 4 head lamp cars first appear? 57 Desoto? Thanks Mark

Is something rusted (suspension component) stuck? Is the transmission installed too?The car springs without the engine (flex) sitting A long time will not matter. Mark

Robert: have you thought of converting your car back to 6v ? 6v is good too,and works well. Mark M

Jason;is the choke set correct? Step on the pedal and or pump it before turning the key on,is it back flowing into the tank when off for A long period?It should squirt into the carb throat when depressing the pedal. Mark M

Eric; Love the pics!! That car looks great!!!!!!!!! Most of the time as was mine it was A bad ground,I had A long list of electrical items that did not work,it was A the ground,bad bulb,bad connection,just hound dog through it one at A time. Mark M

VERY COOOOOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robert when I need to camp out under my plymouth dash I take the seat out,I get more done easier that way.Just A thought Mark M

Robert;your rides look great!! The summers in Michigan(spring and fall is nice too) will more than make up for winter.You are living in the heart of auto history!!My buddies go to the Dream Cruise in Detroit,check it out,and the Henry Ford museum.Winter comes you just tuck in your rides and put them to bed for A while and it will give something to look forward to and catch up on some issues with you cars,You and your wife will love it,I have no doubt about it!!! Mark M

How is the coil? Can be checked with an ohm meter,just google it.Check for frays or cracks in the point lead wire to the coil,can not have any shorts,ballast resistor ok?Pull A plug and see what kind spark it has,nice big blue jump,or weak, yellow arcing, on the side?Sounds like it is missing due to weak spark,is the points gapped correctly with A feeler gauge? Just some thoughts Mark M

What you have is normal.

If the thermostat was stuck closed the motor would over heat but not the radiator,are you filling it with A margin? Not level to the top.It will expand when warm. Mark M

The 20's 30's 40's 50's were good times,lots of growth and opportunity,the generation of today will not have the same opportunity as yesterdays.The jobs are there but not the extra cash.This hobby does require extra money.Not all are lazy,I see lots working hard, but not getting ahead.I see many many young folks looking and loving my cars at shows and on the streets,always get A lot of thumbs up from the youth,but they look like A kid in A candy store with empty pockets,this bothers me tremendously!! Mark M

53 Buick Special; You are rare I am afraid,I'm not saying all young are not or will not collect,but there is A trend of jobs(extra cash flow) that is depleating.I took A ride friday to A town just south of you,maybe you have been there,Warren Ohio, and visited the Packard museum,A wonderful museum I might add!!!! The founders birth place the Packard family,also the home of Neil Armstrong,but what bothered me was Dana AVE. where Packards were originaly built,current home of Ohio lighting (G.E.) formerly Packard Electric,numerous industrial vacancys,weeds in the old parking lots,etc etc.etc.What was once A beautiful,wealthy,thriving,town has gone by the way side,pay checks were earned,roofs over families heads,food on the table,money for kids college,extra money for what ever,you get the picture!! It is becoming A trend.Like I said where is the meat and potatoes,you need A foundation,you can't raise A family on "service" jobs.Are country is being whittled away.I had A good time there,ate at the Buena Vista(excellent), but I had to drive Dana ave. to get to it,it just confirmed what I have been suspecting.By the way there is A ton of history in that town!! Nobody can take that away!!!!!!!!!!! Just my thoughts Mark M

Wow looks good!! Following your thread,it has come A long way in A short time.It will feel good to get her back on the road again,I'm likin it!!!!!!!!! Mark M

Good article: I am seeing more of this but not limmited to classic cars.I think you could include motorcycles,(over $20,000 for A new harley) boats,snowmobiles,hunting/fishing,etc.etc.etc. The jobs are not there to support them.when I say jobs I mean the wages,plus the fact that the baby boomers are going off to nursing homes as they age,the item or items are just sitting in the garage,it will be A buyers market,but the buyers are not in the same income as their past generations.The housing market will and is following the trend.Employers don't do pensions anymore,little or no health care,and a "competative wage".More people living at home,marrying later if at all,combining incomes.I work for A major manufacturing employer 37 yrs and have seen the job market go "GLOBAL"(THERE GOES THE MEAT AND POTATOES).My employer also made billions in profits last year(not good enough,never is),I will end up with A pension and insurance but not the guy behind me,it has changed.As far as classic cars,I see as the generations progress the cars are newer,less model A interest,not so much 40's still A little more at the 50's cars,but the most at the "muscle cars" My brother is doing his 1978 Camaro Z28,he bought it new and still has it but needs A complete restoration,what I found is the market for those is doing very well,again it is A 1 9 7 8 !!!! The times they are A changing my friends,and I don;t care where the market ends up because I will be dead.In the mean time my wife and myself are enjoying the hobby, and cruise and drive them often.When I am sitting in A nursing home drooling in A dixie cup I will have many many photos to look at,and many many memories!! By the way I am 56yrs.old and work for the man that invented the light bulb!!! I own A 55 Buick and A 59 Plymouth,probably be giving them away someday,but I'm having fun now. Just "MY" thoughts Mark M

Greene HD; Thanks for the information and link!!!!!!! Mark M

Paul;Mine had no primer just A very thin coat of what looked like semi black paint,it was very weathered after I cleaned it up. Mark M

51 Does it have spark? I'm A little confused when you say getting it to fire.A straight 8 6v will crank slower. How slow is slow?Hop on u-tube and watch one start up.

Greene HD; Loved the clip,I don't get velocity but do the discovery/history channel,they would be a fool not to pick you up.I like the education of the show,old engineering,technologies of those era's,the way they built them then.Every manufacturer had there own methods and ideas,my 59 Plymouth and my 55 Buick are like night and day.I also agree with others about the drama,deadlines,etc.etc.Move from manufacturer to manufacturer,year to year,all across the board,there is A big pool to choose from.Identify parts resources,after market,N.O.S.vendors, paint tech tips,upholstery,etc etc.Maybe an occasional regional car show here and there.Im getting tired of looking at crab shows,ginseng,gold,logs,ice roads,but I do like the "choot em" gator guy!! Just some thoughts Good Luck!! Mark M

51; I meant starter "armature" not stator. good luck!

51; Is the at top dead center,both valves closed,and the point rotor pointing to the #1 plug wire at the cap going to the corrosponding {#1} plug.I don't know the firing order for straight 8s,check the valve/piston/point rotor to see if all is correct by turning the crank by hand with the plugs out. I use A plastic wire ty-wrap to stick in the plug hole to feel for correct top dead center,then look at the valve position.Does it have A clutch or is it A dynaflow automatic?Did you check the starter brushes/stator?Is the starter lined up correctly with the flywheel(misaligned). Just some thoughts.

Pete: I loved the article on the 48 Super,lokks like it has A good home,I love the survivors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mark M

51; IS the timing correct,close?

George: yes the ranco heater control valve can fail,the rubber seal dries out,rebuild parts can be had at NAPA auto parts,I had the ranco valve off my 59 Plymouth rebuilt by Joe Hudaceck in wisconson,was $85.00 including ship back to me,glass beaded,my inlet was crushed,he swedged it,looks like and works like new,turn around time less than A week,can send info or google it. Mark M

49: Sounds like your previous problem when it bogged was the distributor not advancing(incorrect timing).The new problem could be A short at the point contact assembly,nothing can touch or ground out,check for A frayed or broken wire.Do A continuity test of the coil+/- to and from the coil.Is the point insulaters correct and in place?There can not be A short of any kind,recheck the assembly and connections,check point gap at "open". Good luck Mark M