keithb7

Snow fell on our house in Canada this morning. Photo opp with the car time! My ‘38 Chrysler actually does not leave the protection of my driveway all winter. On the odd occasion I warm it up and back it out the garage. She’s just a professional model for the camera when the snow flies. Sort of like a Vintage Cars Illustrated, Driveway Swimsuit Edition. Let’s see your ol’ beauty in your winter setting. Whether it be California, Norway, Alaska, Australia, Africa or anywhere else. What’s you’r car enduring this December?

I subscribed to Hemm Classic cars. I saw changes that I was not interested in. Foreign imports. Or 80’s cars. Not for me. Oh well maybe other folks are into those cars. I did not renew. I seem to get more stimulation and education on specific forums that I frequent often. If I want to read up on a specific model or era of car I can find it pretty quickly here. Unfortunately printed media seems to have run its course.

We participated in the local Santa Parade this evening. I drove the 1928 Dodge. Great turn out. My wife ran the muppet “Pete”. He was a huge hit with the kids and adults alike. Always a good time participating in the Santa Parade. We enjoy the experience and do jt each year.

It bothers me a little to see these era car's prices dropping. It is a nice and rare car. I'd have thought mid-teens. $10K, you can barely do squat to a car for $10K these days. Parts prices and freight keep going up and up. Sell values keep going down in many examples. Most unfortunate for the hobby. But another way to stay positive, is too compare the vintage car hobby to other hobbies. They all cost money. How much do you get back from 10 years of golf membership fees and equipment upgrades?

Sometimes I wonder if kids today have too many things to take their attention. Social media. Video Games. You tube. Cell phones. The internet. So many other things prying for their time. Software that is addictive that draws you in. It's all designed to be that way. I think a kid will just be who he/she is. At an early age you can see their personalities develop. Some jump at every opportunity to go outside and play. Some can't wait to ride their bikes. They love the idea of going just about anywhere with you in a vehicle. Any vehicle. They love cars and trucks and pushing them around in the sandbox. Other kids want computers and video games all the time. They don't want toy cars and trucks. They don't care much to go outside. Watch your child develop. Pay close attention to what they enjoy. Encourage them and build upon what they like. Finds creative ways to make the things they like, even more fun. Honestly my two sons are not a lot different today in their 20's than when they were 3. My younger boy is into cars. However he's not into wrenching very much. He does what he has to, too keep his little car on the road. I taught them both how to replace brakes. Pull engines. Disassemble engines. Fix drive lines. Etc. They chose university. It is very demanding, for years. They had no time and little interest in repairing cars with the demands of high school, immediately followed by university. They like my old Mopars. They come for drives with me. I let them drive my old cars. I think the closest I am going to get is, my one son says when he "makes it" he's buying a brand new Porsche. Then him and I are driving across North American and back in it. "A Father & Son road trip of epic proportions", he says. My son and I have been on some long road trips together already. On my dime. He enjoyed them immensely. As did I. I really look forward to his planned trip some day. He's working darn hard to live his dream. I believe he'll do it. He's into cars. Just not at my level, and me being really into old Pre-war mopars.

Later 30's styling. Split hoods. Suicide doors. Split rear windows. Flathead engines. Ever better if it's a straight 8.

It appears this seal is for the front timing cover, crankshaft front main seal. It appears to be the early rawhide type seal. Same part # seen here: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/184494994955?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item2af4c2360b:g:uQgAAOSwU~9fjZ93&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACkPYe5NmHp%2B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSgTsFxGoUG6WpX45UxcUP35rqxrqiH7VAZVp9MVmy75uqu7W%2BrHK8rfFIfD8gyBRYlOHfkOWGuAZrD%2Bd11DoES1MHx2sSJ4aw5ISZxARbJpohNbVgeu5iLIk9vOZknNhNMX9GD13wn1w3JxDDI7vQwoG%2BFuvdOiKQUV6%2B6KPRJuzMpDoOpZs72R1hSNI8AABOn8oxnm9OpEpcS3iuaLHc6IFQ44nIS%2FoJtcXyeEa6cvj2KiGNME5sTjNkTxAJ4Y5XmB3hpxOe82MtiNQ55COAs%2FkxIKeBS72m8lOAPMrX%2F89XaVE3lVDG535xQ17tpvu9LL900059PZ8hx76GrgTSrLjUp7V7QJ598QIl2zKT7w44zqWxhgvy2Of55KSFg6Io%2Ff1T5ICm%2BoylekgQ4CJtULStysAYV5cjBoT2PLJp1j0ySG6saHnVQqlMefAAvdeHT8bMnwGLVPBD1BaekxqjBMsX8Jdnozd23eDktLnwKPlDXmOvMFougL568KBIrBOHSVHHOg5QMdzQdPSaJVVu2VJKZCH96R6CfLkFWWB9p41Ae9rzcdtYf8gZeVXLmkT5YwHkW6lWByLNm7eGs7YTktDBCZRVw9I3LuirrRNUYQ5hYtRcwAkiHB9T4h90M6Z5SZhZlbLt05DojafrV8CxNA2DwF9CI66gF0Tn8leKIj0%2FPO24VXZLuZXCiKSr4DlVnUvArjXHLHN45H%2BCWLZ3ZoMShRiydVKS3tM7kc%2Fest0bCWBipowemzirtDpwph4CLZfSn5rt5waE4aVHm0UP%2FvK6OnwdC3lQB%2B9bgoIW%2BphxjIfYCJQ%2FHx5v0AvL4I77|clp%3A2045573|tkp%3ABFBMyPPc5Kdf&vxp=mtr

Fantastic. Maybe someday when I head down to the Portland Swapmeet I may see it there. Great car!

Great car. Is it headed to the Pacific Northwest?

A large part of the reason I participate in car shows is to meet people who are interested in my cars. I like talk about them, all the features and benefits. Rarely does anyone get to sit in one of my cars at a show. I open the hood when we get to that topic. I close it for those who want to take photos. Rarely do I enter my car to be judged. Trophies or awards mean nothing to me. This is not a popularity contest for me. It's about being a spokesperson for the hobby. Showing off what Chrysler engineers did back in 1938. Not what I do to take care of my car. My cars might be my ugly babies. They are beautiful to me. They may not be overly popular with the masses of car show attendees. They are my pride and joy to share with the people who are interested. Just going to the gas station weekly I get to talk to people, not unlike a car show. I especially love it when teenagers show great interest. They love to hear about the 6V positive ground system. Vacuum window wipers. Generators. Tube radios, and more.

A coolant type heater needs to tap into the cooling system. Coolant is sent to what looks like a mini radiator inside the cab. A fan pushes air across this mini radiator, the air gets hot as it exits. The rear of the cylinder head has a port, an easy, ideal convenient place to tap into the cooling system. If for some reason you cannot use this port, you'll need to get creative. You need to create a loop for the coolant to from from the engine, to the cab heater, then back to the engine. Possibly tapping into an existing coolant line on the engine somewhere. I am not aware of an easy spot to do this. Personally, I'd figure out how to repair and utilize the port at the rear of the cylinder head if at possible.

You can trace the short down with a multi-meter set to continuity with reference to ground. Then check each wire with reference to ground. One may beep on the meter indicating a short to ground. A clamp style DC ammeter is a fantastic tool to own as well. I have used it very effectively to track down and isolate circuits that are drawing more amps than they should. This model here has been great and represents good value. I recommend as I own it https://www.amazon.com/UT210D-Digital-Current-Resistance-Capacitance/dp/B0753FY711 I have been making my own replacement wiring harnesses for my 1938 Plymouth. It's been a fun rewarding project. Very economical as well. I have replaced a lot of wiring. First pic seen here is typical of wiring condition in an 89 year old car. That was my brake light wiring harneess. Second pic is some of the wiring I had replaced up that that point. I keep progressing. My car keeps getting better.

More progress this week. I had made a video, however I mis-interpreted the orientation of the snap ring installation at the piston pin. Going back in! Better now than after a failure. Took the video down to edit it. Correct it for anyone who references it in the future. Edited video is back up! I think I got things right this time!

A humbling reminder, we’re here for a short time. Our old cars bring us much joy. Having friends in common with our cars is a treasure. It sounds like Mark was well known and respected in the old car community. We can only hope they say similar nice sentiments about ourselves some day, when our time is up.

Is this a real question? My First car was a manual back in 1987. No hydraulic clutch. Spring & linkage. I still own 2 manual transmission cars today. 3 speed dog-leg. My ‘38 Mopars. I regularly drive a ‘28 Dodge with no synchros. Had fun driving a brass era Russell car with a sleeve valve engine a while ago. Man that was fun. Gear shifter outside the car on the outside rocker panel. Thanks to Peter! Unforgettable. Manuals are fun. A bit of a pain when you want to cruise with a coffee in pre-war car. No cup holders. Lol.

All rods and pistons are in. That was fun. I had no trouble. I offset the top 2 compression ring gaps 180 degrees apart. Oil scraper band upper & lower rings too. Plenty of engine assembly lube used. No tight spots felt as the crank turns nice and smooth. A major step completed. Crank, & bearings, cam, rods, pistons, timing chain, are all in. All valves lapped and cold set. It was pretty much exactly a year ago that I began exploring my options for this engine. Measuring things to decide how far I’d go into it. I probably went too far, spending the farm on it. All new parts and machining. However the education and experience so far has been awesome.

Preparing for next exciting steps. A clean work table. I’ll try my hand at crushing rod bearings in-place. Then mic-ing clearances versus rod pin size. I’ll scrub down the pistons before rings go on.

I have 2 old cars. It’s about the right number for me. I tried to be efficient and landed 2 cars that share a lot of parts and systems. A 1938 Chrysler and a 1938 Plymouth. The idea is car is always up and running. Drivable. While the other is down for major repairs. Having both of my cars down for major repairs would bother me a bit. I don’t get overwhelmed by these 2 cars. Only feel somewhat snowed under when all the other vehicles, and powered lawn and garden stuff need repairs. October is a very busy month. I’m Winterizing seasonal engines. Preparing other engines for use. For example in October Alone, my actual get done list: winterize lawn mower winterize pressure washer winterize weed whacker winterize leaf blower winterized RV trailer Service diesel truck. Oil & filter and fuel filter Service wife’s car. Oil and filter. 2016 civic. Replace thermostat & new coolant 2006 Mazda Replace front suspension sway bar ends 2006 mazda Prepare 11 hp snowblower for winter. Change oil. Replace transmission drive parts. Prepare ATV with snow blade. Service oil & filter. Prepare 5HP single stage snow blower. Change oil. Replace rubber wear pads. install snow tires on wife’s car install snow tires 2006 mazda Add a week at the office for my job. In my spare time try and get some cruising time with my ‘38 Chrysler. Also I am making good progress rebuilding the engine in my ‘38 Plymouth this month. Then I also create produce, edit & upload you tube videos to maintain my you tube channel. Looking at that list I realize why we don’t get out of the house very much. I was blaming covid. I’m keeping my 2 old cars. The least of my worries.

Some more progress on the engine rebuild. Enjoying the relaxed pace.

Ok I think you are right. Counting all pistons that I care for here on my property, I nurse along. 36 that I can think of. Too many. Lol.

This week it’s been all about snow removal equipment. Getting ready for the coming snow season. The one blower got a new belt, friction wheel, oil change, lube drive chains etc. My other smaller blower needs to come out of hibernation still. Then it’ll be the ATV. It’s due a service too. It has a snow blade. I’m fortunate to have good tools to keep the driveway clear. Ya Just gotta keep them well serviced. My Wife tells me her car is showing 10% life remaining on its engine oil. My diesel truck is due for its annual oil & filter change. My small commuter car needs a new thermostat and a coolant flush & fill. 2 vehicles here need snow tires installed. Lots to keep me busy this coming weekend! This work is all due before I can get back to working on my ‘38 Plymouth engine rebuild. I chose this life for myself! Lol. I’m a slave to powered vehicles and lawn & garden power products.

You may want to watch these videos I made.

Next steps involve a multi-meter. Do you have one? Know how to use it?