zeke01

My vacuum tank Epiphany: I was on a VMCCA Nickel tour driving my 1928 Chrysler. I happened to be the last tour car when I got stopped at a railroad crossing on some quiet back road. As I sat waiting for the train to pass, the vacuum tank refueled causing the engine to stumble a bit. Here I was alone with a 60 year old car that wasn't running the best and no one around to help if the old beast died. What was I to do? About that time the train passed the crossing and the vacuum tank refilled causing the engine to smooth out.The crossing guard and lifted I thought to myself "Well, we have gotten this far, let's see if we can make it to the end of the tour. We did. Afterwords I did investigate the vacuum tank to find out exactly how it works and how to fix it. If you are going to own one of these old beasts you had better know how it operates and how to fix it. The "technicians" at the dealership aren't going to be a lot of help. Zeke

I don't know if this has anything to do with the flapper issue, but those floats look to be well past their sell by date. Are they indeed "floating"? Zeke

Theoldmotor.com is my go to for old photos. Zeke

I was on several VMCCA Nickel era tours with the Swopes. I shall miss both of them. Zeke

I have seen two types of inner tanks for vacuum tanks. One type has a flange at the top that is wide enough to be held in place with the same screws which hold the tank top onto the outer tank. That kind takes two gaskets. The other type has a smaller lip at the top and doesn't require a second gasket. Zeke

I had Andy rebuild the snubbers for my ‘23 Hudson. I was pleased with his work and turn around time. I would have him do another set if needed. Zeke

Or as the ads say,”light rust in the usual spots”.

1933 tail light

It is a 1933. Nice car. Zeke

Sactownog: Here is where we diverge. You think a radical modification looks good. I think that it looks hideous. There is no accounting for taste. If you think that you can improve on the original design, go for it, give it your best shot. My standards of taste are objective as are yours. I'm outta here. Zeke

Give your method a try. If it doesn't work, try something else a try. People have told me that vinegar doesn't work but it does for me. I will vouch for cork gaskets however. Consider all of the "hammer and chisel" guys that have worked on your car before you were even born.You are not going to do more harm than they did. You can fix this. Zeke

Why oh why was I not born into wealth? This car looks like it is going 70 M.P.H. standing stock still. My heart has bought it at full sticker but my head (and banker) is stuck in Pottrerville. Zeke

Don't make the mistake of selling old purists short. On a personal note, I didn't just fall off the turnip truck (a 1933 Dodge one ton to keep it antique related) on the way into town. If you think you can improve on the looks of a 1933 Dodge by all means go ahead and try. I've seen dozens of people try and I have yet to see anyone accomplish the feat. Zeke

I would fill the tank with cleaning (7%) vinegar then let soak to clean the rust out. Are you going to coat it with gas tank sealant? Zeke

That may not be your problem but it is a very good candidate for the prize. What does the inner tank look like? Zeke

My first antique car was a Jeepster. In retrospect I would have to say that Jeepsters are a good first car. They are straight forward to work on and don’t cost an arm and a leg. They also draw a lot of interest from the general public. To top it off, they are a blast to drive. Zeke

I apologize but my story is not Buick. My high school years were in the late '60's early '70's. We NEVER had snow days. Our high school was located on a steep hill. Students would stand outside and bet on whether a car could navigate the steep hill on the street next to the school. My 1962 Chevrolet BelAir always made it to the top of the hill. I never mentioned the sand bags I kept over top the wheel wells in the trunk. As an an aside, no one bet against the Buicks that made the attempt. Zeke

I think that there is a larger issue involved. The seller doesn't want someone else's car, he wants to build one with his artistic expression. He probably sees the project as a blank canvass to show off his talents. I find such exercises usually wind up looking similar to other street rodder expressions. The builder wants to be different, just like everybody else. Zeke

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2017/12/29/tucker-club-merges-with-aaca-museum-clubs-are-not-what-they-used-to-be/ Any thoughts? Zeke

My two cents worth: check the unit for air leaks and check the flapper valve. Pot metal tops are notorious for leaking air. Zeke

Try soaking the inner and outer tanks in cleaning vinegar (7%). That will get rid of the rust. To check for leaks, place a light bulb inside the tanks in an otherwise dark room. As for coating, I have used gas tank sealant with good results. Be aware that the vacuum tank tops are often made of pot metal which can crack. Look closely around the inlet opening for cracks caused by over tightening the fuel line fittings. Reproduction tops, cast from aluminium, are available. Zeke

For the record, I get it. Funny! Zeke

My guess is 1932 Plymouth PB. Hard to find item if my guess is correct. Zeke

If ever there was a good time to have heated seats, this is it. Zeke

My trick is to use a good quality hand lotion before I start my project. The lotion provides a layer between the skin and grease. My skin doesn't absorb chemical smells as much either. To keep my fingernails clean, I rake them down a bar of soap before I get them greasy. Zeke