Akstraw

I agree with the original post. I was totally smitten with this car that I saw at the recent Charlotte AutoFair.

Regarding the OP (and disregarding all the FUD about electric cars), I’ll note that one strategy with a startup is to develop a concept to the point that one of the “big boys” will buy you out; not necessarily to build a long-term viable business. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Perhaps such a ‘White Knight’ will appear on the scene for Rivian.

A beautiful day for a meet. If you are a Model T (or A) guy, this is the place for you! A smattering of other stuff here and there, but a fun and pleasant venue no matter what make has your interest. No made-in-China tools, no zip ties, no political flags and such, just rusty old parts. Well done, sponsors: Shenandoah Valley Racket-T-ers.

I think that if the car runs on it, it is okay. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any damage you could do to the Chandler by trying the clean, old fuel in it. Even after four years, it is probably much better fuel than what was available in 1922.

I was very pleased with the harness I bought from Harnesses Unlimited last year for my ‘48 Chrysler. I thought the accompanying documentation was excellent as well. https://harnessesunlimited.com

Found the hex plug, on the driver's side toward the front of the block. When I removed it, I found the spring was there, but no ball. Re-installed the ball and spring; case closed. Thanks again for the help!

If you love the car, then you love it. Pull the trigger. Hey, our hobby is all about the passion. It's not like we need these cars to drive to work. Having said that, I think a practical approach would be to ensure you have located a shop that will work on it before you buy it, unless you plan to do all the work yourself. These days, I think it would be a challenge to find a shop in my area that will work on anything from 1972, let alone a rare bird like this. Last thing you want is to spring for a car you have a passion for, and then wile away the years looking at it in your garage because you can't get it fixed.

I think somebody made a good buy on a whole lot of fun!

I would suggest JoVal Machine Company in Connecticut.

I believe that The Model A Ford Instruction Book calls for 35 lb of tire pressure.

Is your fluid drive and transmission still available? I am interested and will be the Harrisburg area next week.

Thanks Frank and Zach. I will look for such a pressure relief when I get back on this project next week. Andrew

In cleaning up this used engine for a friend, I found a 1/2” steel ball in the oil pan. I am wondering where it might have come from or belong. Could it be part of a check valve of some type in the lubrication system? Anyone with knowledge of this engine have any ideas? Thanks!

I am cleaning up a used engine (see title) for a friend. Today dropped the oil pan and it was relatively clean; the normal light sludge, but I did find something unusual in there. Lying in the sump was a 1/2 inch diameter steel ball. I have no idea where it came from. I wonder if it is part of a check valve in the lubrication assembly or something like that. I can’t imagine what else it could be. Is anyone familiar with this engine who might shed some light on this part?

It seemed to me like something changed in they way their search engine worked sometime around March 2022. It used to work pretty well, but searching by year and make now is almost futile. With all the advertising dollars that eBay is spending on eBay Motors these days, you’d think they might be interested in such feedback. I have no idea how to get it to them, or whether they’d listen. I guess we have to go back to walking up and down all the aisles at Hershey to find what we need.

Easier said than done sometimes, but can you rig a temporary fuel supply from a clean tank? If problem disappears, then you know it is in the tank/lines. I have a plastic tank from an old lawn mower that I keep handy for just such evaluations.

I agree fully. We caution about the dangers of distracted driving, but yet distractions are built into new cars. I wish the touchscreens would be outlawed. I think that touchscreens have been pushed upon us by manufacturers for cost reasons, not because consumers really want them. I suspect that one printed screen is way cheaper to make than all the moving parts of several knob assemblies.

At first take, I don’t think it really matters. In crank starting, you only need one cylinder to fire one time to get the ball rolling. On a (brass era) car, you only pull the crank through one compression stroke at a time, so one vs. two is immaterial. Not sure about a motorcycle kick starter.

Six things come to mind when I think back to when I bought my ‘56 Cadillac. First, it has left-hand threaded lug nuts on the driver’s side. I learned that after breaking a stud trying to remove a nut in the wrong direction. Second, the wheel cylinders were packed with rust. The car was a driver, but I am not sure how the brakes even worked with all that crap in them. Once I got the master and wheel cylinders sorted out, the original drum brakes worked very well, and I abandoned all plans to convert to discs. Third, though I had changed the fuel filter, blown out the line, and flushed the tank, the car would still stall for lack of fuel. I found there is a fine screen where the fuel line enters the carburetor, and mine was absolutely packed with rust particles. Fourth, I had a problem with the car crapping out under acceleration. It turned out to be a bad diaphragm in the distributor vacuum advance unit. Easy to test, just see whether or not you can blow through it. Fifth, it needs premium fuel, otherwise will ‘diesel’ upon shutdown. Also I had a problem with percolation that I resolved by putting a phenolic insulator between the carburetor and intake manifold, and by using only ethanol-free gas. Last, when I put radial tires on it, I found the large sombrero hubcaps wanting to come off while driving. I hope that helps. Good luck with your new find. It is a wonderful, comfortable cruising car, and fun to drive.

Well, not every modified or hot rod is for me. But what I love about the car hobby is that there is room for everybody. When I go to a cruise-in as you describe, I alway make sure to visit all the cars and talk to the owners (even the ‘fart-cans’). As a restorer and maintainer, I usually come away with an idea or product suggestion to try in my own shop. Cleverness knows no bounds. I also pick up a hot rodding magazine from time to time just to see what kind of new products and techniques are out there. You don’t have to love them all, but many of them have a good idea that can cross over into the restoration hobby.

I remember my Dad taking me to this museum around 1972. I remember the Stutz Bearcat and 5he V16 Cadillac in particular. Thanks for the memories!

We're curious. Let us know when you get them out.

Nice collection. I plan to go to Luray. I enjoyed it last year, and found a few goodies. Nothing to sell; just a buyer/browser.

I took the ‘48 Chrysler for a long drive with no issues, then stopped and added (ethanol free) fuel at a gas station. A mile later it died on the side of the road, and I could not get it to re-start. Turns out that adding fuel churned up enough crud in the tank to block the inline fuel filter. I ended up replacing the tank with a repro, which fit fairly well, though I had to shorten the straps just a little. This is an issue that has probably been in the making since long before I owned the car. Glad to have fixed it.