Tom Boehm

Thanks for the update. I speculate that both the owner and the "woodworker" did not have an understanding of how the top covering is correctly installed. In other words, the top covering cannot be installed on top of the new woodwork. The metal on the roof of the car cannot be restored/painted over the new woodwork. He just created a problem for whoever was supposed to install the top fabric.

Did you get a sense of how this train wreck happened? "Woodworker" clueless? Owner clueless? "Woodworker" working to a price and clueless? "Woodworker" out to rip off owner? All of the above? I understand you may not want to express an opinion publicly because the owner is still a client.

I hope you are planning on posting an account of your meeting with the owner. I am reproducing / replacing the wood on a station wagon. Those pictures are painful to see.

There are two threads active now seeking to identify the same type of tool. The other was started by Larry Schramm on February 7 2024. I think a good direction to research would be to identify the logo since nobody seems to know what this is yet.

There are two threads active now seeking to identify the same kind of tool. The other was started by oldbuicks2 on May 7 2024. I think a good direction to research would be to identify the logo since nobody seems to know what it is.

This thread turned out to be very enlightening. Many points of view are presented here. A previous post complained of buyers haggling for sport just to get the feeling they "beat" the seller in the game. I don't dispute that. But that works both ways. I have experienced sellers asking unreasonably high prices for the same reason. They are smug and get a rush if they can get someone to pay their price for a part they perceive to be rare. I will pay a high price for a reproduction part when that is the only option. I understand there is significant development costs. But not if they are smug about it. New people to the hobby may not understand development costs. Many years ago a Cadillac reproduction parts vendor had a run of side view mirrors made with the Lasalle logo on it. I called to ask the price. He said the price is x but I only have one left so that one will cost 3x. I never ordered from him again. So my take in all this is that sellers who are offended can simply just say no. Buyers can also just say no.

Does anyone else have a Cadillac converter on their car?

We like to see pictures here but you should ask your grandpa's permission before you post pictures. He actually owns the cars.

Hello Aberdeen09, how about directing your enthusiasm toward learning about the cars while you and grandpa are working out all the practical issues? Here are some questions to start many conversations with your grandpa. Think of this as automotive history 101. Take as much time as you want. You have an interesting and wide variety of cars. You don't have to post the answers but you can impress the forum with your car knowledge if you do. 1. How does a hydraulic brake system work? How does a mechanical brake system work? Which of your cars have mechanical brakes? 2. Which of your cars has wood framework under the sheet metal of the body? Which cars have an all steel body? 3. What is the difference between an L head engine(flathead) and an overhead valve engine? Which of your cars have an L head engine? an overhead valve engine? 4. How is driving a Model A Ford different than driving a modern car? How do you accelerate in a Model A? What is double clutching? How do you start a Model A? 5. Do all your cars have an electric starter? Do any need to be cranked to start? 6. How is driving a car with a manual shift transmission different than driving a car with an automatic transmission? What is an unsynchronized manual transmission? Do any of your cars have an automatic transmission? Do any have a synchronized manual transmission? 7. What does a manual choke do? Which of your cars has an automatic choke? This is very basic stuff and just scratches the surface. I hope these questions pique your curiosity. 8. Later on I thought of another one: What does it mean to advance the spark? How is that done? Which of your cars have automatic spark advance?

Hello Aberdeen, my grandpa passed about 25 years ago but he used to talk fondly of the 28 Hupmobile he had in his younger years. Of all the cars you mentioned, the Hupp is the most interesting in my opinion. BUT.... by far that car will be the hardest to find parts and expertise on. Here are some more important questions: 1. How long have these cars been sitting unused? Model As, Thunderbird, Corvette, Hupp? 2. Are these cars stored indoors? 3. Do you or your grandpa have a garage to work on a car?

What does the part partially covering the head do? It looks like a valve cover but that is a flathead engine.

"Tools and a place to work" are two other very important issues not yet mentioned in this thread. I have posted more in this thread than I normally do. I perceive Aberdeen 09 to be about 15 years old (born 2009 ?). I think he has a lot of enthusiasm about his grandpa's cars but doesn't know the right questions to ask. I hope this thread will help him to succeed rather than being a wet blanket on his enthusiasm.

m-mman, I recently took a car out of 20 year indoor storage and sorted it. Your scenario is spot on.

In response to Alsancle: I thought he might get really lucky and Wal Mart Douglas would make the tire size he needs. 😁

In the old car hobby "getting lucky" means a $200 battery, $50 oil change, $500 + set of tires, and hundreds more for brake parts.

Whether or not Aberdeen's family can afford to put money toward getting one of these cars running was never brought up in this thread. Grandpa is reluctant to sell any of the cars to get money for this project. We do know neither Aberdeen or his Grandpa have much time or much knowledge. Grandpa doesn't seem to have the drive to change any of that.

Hello Victor, the Cadillac and Lasalle Club publishes an Authenticity Manual for 1927-1933 Lasalles. (class 3) They are available on the Cad/Las club website. www.cadillaclasalleclub.org. Many answers to your questions can be found there. I can't answer your questions. I have a 1940 Lasalle.

I'm picking up a lot of wishfull thinking from both Aberdeen and his grandfather. Aberdeen has some significant odds against him at the start of this project. Everyone wants you to succeed. Here is a recap of good advice from previous posts: 1. You must have a title in your grandpa's name for any car you start to work on. Without a title you cannot license a car after you get it running to drive on the streets. 2. Pick a car from the collection that has a title in your grandpa's name. 3. Pick ONE car to focus on. 4. Of the cars you mentioned, I would suggest starting with one of the Model A Fords, the Thunderbird, or the Corvette. Compared to the other cars you mentioned, these cars have better parts availability. Knowledge about how to work on these cars is more abundant and more easily accessible for inexperienced restorers than the other cars you mentioned. Others may want to chime in with their opinions on Number 4.

Participants on this forum are eager to help young people learn about old cars. Your question is way too broad and we need to know a lot more to guide you. This is a start: 1. what are the names and years of the cars 2. do any of them run? are they driveable? 3. what condition are they? dents, rust holes, rust in the floors, etc. 4. what do you want to accomplish? 5. what are your skills? Have you or your grandpa repaired cars before?

Your picture didn't post.

That's the point of this forum. We all understand your enthusiasm. I set aside 4 pieces of ash with similar grain for the inside door panels.

OK I'm over 50. Explain it to me.

Bill Hirsch (www.hirschauto.com) sells bedford cord upholstery fabric.

Why is my 1940 Lasalle a Classic but you say the Packard 120 will never be? The reasons you give apply to the Lasalle also. The later Lasalles shared body shells with Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac.

Possibly a seal retainer at the end of rear axle under the brake drum? Scroll down on the link to this thread to the picture without brake drum.