TTR
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Posts posted by TTR
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20 hours ago, Matt Harwood said:
Reality TV rots your brain.
Whether it's about "Cardashians", "Real T***s of Beverly or Hershey Hills", "Pimp/Restore and/or Auction Off Your Ride In a Week or Less", etc, ...
20 hours ago, Matt Harwood said:None of them are worth watching if you want to learn something about fixing cars. They're all ridiculous.
I agree.
2 hours ago, JV Puleo said:I did try watching a couple of these car shows in a hotel room once. In less than 5 minutes I switched off they were so stupid.
I too have only seen few brief moments of some car related "TV shows" over the years, but found all an embarrassment to my hobby, passion & profession (Thanks again "Boomers").
I also cringe and feel embarrassment whenever I mention my hobby, passion & profession to someone who immediately replies with something like "Oh, like those shows on TV ?" (I just want to scream "Hell, no !!!)
And mind you I was offered my own "TV show" (about my shop & work) over 20 years ago, long before they became "popular", but out of self-respect (and that to my profession) I promptly declined and don't regret the decision at all, especially hearing & seeing what utter nonsense they've all become now.
OTOH, I guess it's as the saying goes "To each his/her own" or something like that.
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20 minutes ago, 69merc said:
In spades! 😁
So how long is it ? 😉
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Standard cargo containers, whether 20 ft. or 40 ft. long, are about 7.5 ft wide (inside) and little less than 8 ft. high (inside). Outside width is about 8 ft. and outside height about 8.5 ft.
A stock 1949 Chevrolet 1/2-ton pick is probably about 6.5 ft. wide and 6.5-7 ft. high and should easily fit inside a standard 20 ft. (or 40 ft.) cargo container.
Probably millions of cars and trucks are stored (and shipped every day) inside cargo containers all over the world.
I personally know numerous people who keep their vehicles in them.
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On 3/24/2024 at 1:53 PM, 69merc said:
Subject came up on another club, and thought you guys would know.
Well, did this thread answered the question in the title ?
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Sorry to say but much of the above advise/comments are pointless word salads and not applicable.
Some, but not all, late-'56 through '58 Dodge cars/trucks & Plymouths with 6 and/or 8 cylinder engine bell/converter housings will interchange with minor or no alterations.
I have some, but would need the casting number from yours to help determine if any might work for you ?
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21 minutes ago, MotiveLensPhoto said:
Planning a caravan along the length of Route 66 Chicago to LA, in 2026, if you're interested.
Thanks for the suggestion, but we haven't decided yet which year or time of the year it'll take place. Most likely off-season, either spring or fall.
Care to share more about your plans, perhaps in the thread "Long distance driving/traveling with vintage cars" I started after joining this forum ?
P.S. My best friend & his wife did that trip few years ago (in a modern rental car) and having relied on a "Guide Book" created about (only) 20 years earlier, realized more than half the features/sites/etc noted in that book either didn't exist anymore or were no longer recognizable (but the wife being an avid photographer, still managed to take +/-10K images within that weeklong trip).
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Wife and I have preliminary plans to do a couple of thousand mile road trip to and back from Santa Fe, NM within next couple of years, but like all our other leisure road trip travel, it will be done in a vintage car, most likely in our "Indian Turquoise" '57 Chrysler New Yorker convertible and as much as possible, using secondary highways and back roads, instead of those boring/dreaded conveyor belts known as Interstates.
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6 hours ago, Akstraw said:
Generally speaking, I would expect a cloth top to last longer, as it would be less prone to embrittlement and cracking with age. As mentioned, though, many variables including temperature cycling, sunlight exposure, and flex cycling. Chemical exposure would be another; in particular I am referring to cleaners and surface treatments.
Of course quality is another variable. There are better engineered fabrics, and cheaper, less sophisticated products. Some of the offerings from Haartz, a high end supplier, are PVC over cotton, thus can be described as both vinyl and cloth.
Exactly and as I mentioned there's no easy or simple answer to OPs question. All depends on numerous variables, some of which you mention above.
As a few examples based on personal experiences, I've seen & worked on a 50+ year old (at the time) "preservation survivor" 1950s American convertible with factory installed top of vinyl material which had noticeable shrinkage, but was still fairly soft and pliable.I/we didn't replace it, but instead carefully just cleaned, hand stitched and strengthened couple of areas to preserve the cars originality.
And if it hasn't been replaced since, it's approaching 70 years of age. Not bad for vinyl material.
I've also seen nice condition canvas/cloth material tops on countless cars restored 30+ years ago, but most have not been exposed to much use, let alone variety of elements on regular basis, i.e. garage/trailer queens.
I made and installed the canvas top for my PB Roadster over 30 years/100,000+ miles ago and while it doesn't look anywhere like it initially did, it still protects against extreme elements of blazing desert sun, "cats & dogs" rain or blizzards.-
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Funny, I still don’t see an answer (with practical evidence/proof) addressing OPs question and suspect none will come up either.
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Impossible to answer.
Too many variables at play.
Sort of like asking “How long is a string ?”
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2 hours ago, 1912Staver said:
I see things from a slightly different point of view regarding offshoring . There has always been a parallel market for cheaper " second rate " goods.
Early post war era there was lots of low quality " made in { occupied } Japan " or " made in West Germany " goods on the market. Often almost as good as " made in U.S.A. " but generally quite a bit cheaper. As cost of living rose and income for many didn't quite keep up the market share of these second rate goods increased. Eventually the wholesalers and chain retailers started to source things in china. Profit margins rose, and owners / shareholders were ecstatic. I really don't think consumers demanded low quality goods. Just that their shrinking disposable income gave many no real choice. Share holder return over any other consideration just made things that much worse.
While the early post-war started the inclusion of more "offshore" production of "second rate"(?) goods, it is/was the "Boomers" who kept taking it further and further, eventually destroying all chances for "first rate" quality.
I believe if consumers would've "demanded" by voting with their wallets for better and lasting quality, instead of focusing on short term "savings" and/or extravagance of just having more "stuff", the supply industry would've had to comply.
I don't have higher education in economics, but always thought that's how free market works, i.e. you get what you pay for, and if you keep expecting things to be and get cheaper, well ...
Of course both our views can be equally right, kind of like whether one wants to believe or think which came first, the chicken or the egg.
But in the case what we have today, the choice between cheap and quality is just about gone and no amount of handwringing or typing in some obscure hobby forums isn't going to chance that or bring it back.
That ship sailed (and sunk ?) already few decades ago, but I don't think attempting to place a blame for it on capitalism (i.e. manufacturers, suppliers and their profits, etc) is the right answer either.
P.S. I know I've mentioned before that as part of my restoration business, I do and have produced variety of (high quality) replacements components and parts for various vintage car makes and models.
While my focus for all that has always been about making them as good or better than OEM (i.e. something I can be proud of and won't hesitate to install/use in my own cars), I've also always known that most of the items I reproduce serve a relatively small markets, but in the past 10 or so years have shrunk even more due to influx of "Made in C***a" items which generally cost only 20-40% of mine and tend to have noticeably inferior fit and quality, yet apparently there are those who are willing to compromise with such on their supposed pride and joy.
Oh, and due to this, not only have my "market shares" declined, but so has my "profits" on each item I sell and soon there won't be enough to continue with their production (I'll rather stop completely than embarrass myself by trying to compete downhill with low price crap).
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On 3/23/2024 at 4:45 AM, 69merc said:
Thanks for the explanation! 😀 I get what you're saying, and most of it's true. But I don't believe laying all of it at the feet of the boomers is fair, or even characteristic of them. The boomers just fall into that big category called "human."
Well, weren’t we talking about specific generations, not entire species, and their relative impact to the hobby involving old cars ?
Also, I said I could make list miles long, but didn’t say “all”.
OTOH, if one chooses/wishes to look at the bigger picture, i.e. everyone & everything outside the relatively small fringe* hobby involving old cars, most of my suggestions (listed or not) will apply to just about all aspects of our every day life*, but again it takes ability/willingness to open one’s eyes and horizon’s to see.
* We all know that vast majority of the world population couldn’t care less about what you and I hold dear about old cars. While some “outsiders” may find them amusing, most will never understand why we even bother with them, but same can be said of just about any hobby/interest we don’t necessarily share the passion for with those in to them, be it bird watching, gardening, golf, mountain climbing, live opera/theater (= another one of my interests/passion), literature (= another), skiing, etc…
** Just look around in your garage, home or office, count the percentage of appliances, equipment, furniture, tools, etc which are “Made in C***a” and ask yourself which generation started & pushed for all that, therefore making them, i.e. us, responsible for this downfall of domestic production and lasting quality in lieu of "I want everything cheaper !".
P.S. Even if you read this thread alone, you can see rifts in our hobby and passion, proving that the internet and forums like this (both something our generation ushered on to the world) aren’t necessarily all beneficial for it either, but then again, I've always believed anyone with ability for critical thinking can see that.
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@nick8086 You forgot to mention the most important thing, i.e. what kind of antique/classic/vintage car you’re going to drive this road trip with ? 😉
K-D or ... ?
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I know my comment requires some critical, dispassionate & outside-the-box thinking, which I’ve learned many either aren’t able or willing to even try, so let me try to offer a small window into how I view the world & the disservices done over the past few decades to my lifelong hobby and passion surrounding mainly 50+ year old vintage cars of all stripes:
Which generation introduced and has been continuously rallying for lower cost, i.e. cheap & crappy quality parts for (vintage) cars, not only having forced almost all American manufacturers to move their productions to off-shore, but killing countless domestic jobs and entire industries in the progress of this insistence for cheaper, cheaper, cheaper ?
And please, do not blame manufacturers, as they’re only providing what their buyers, i.e. market buys/demands.
Similarly, which generation introduced and has become the most prominent proponent insisting on “profitability” for buying/owning/restoring/etc of antique/classic/vintage cars, instead of treating/viewing them purely as a hobby & with passion for true enthusiasm ? (I mean what hobby is supposed to provide "profit" when you're done or involved with it ???)
Why else would there be a need or desire for countless auctions, including online & TV Circuses, along with stupefyingly silly Build/Restoration/etc TV shows often making mockery or articles/magazines offering “expert” analyses on “Market Values” of “collectible” (see OP) cars be so popular, not to mention countless online discussion forums mostly filled with idle and/or irrelevant/pointless keystrokes ?
Which generation introduced and is most enamored by all that ?
Etc, etc, etc …So yes, my views may seem like broad strokes, but are they without merit (Rhetorical question) ?
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10 hours ago, 69merc said:
I'm curious (as a Boomer) what you mean by this, but I suppose it might mean the wholesale conversion of classic cars to resto-mods, hot-rods, rat-rods, crazy-customs and all manner of insanity. The media certainly favors this sort of "desecration," if that's what it is, for its shock/monetary value. Another thing I see is people using old classic cars as vehicles for showing off their own skills as opposed to the intrinsic value of the car. I think I heard someone say how incredibly rare a well preserved, stock 49-51 Mercury is, because they have been customized to death! I have a car from a hugely popular year, but of a less favored style (landyacht). I am pouring all sorts of cash into it, trying to keep it safe, and road-worthy, not to mention fully functional, right down to the idiot lights and bone stock look. I don't look at it as an investment, but as something unique and intrinsically worthwhile as it came from Detroit.
My list of reasons would be miles long and could fill a book or at least couple of lengthy chapters, but doesn't really include your suggested "desecration", since I have nothing against what someone desires to do with their car.
I may not agree with their decision, but I'm not going to loose sleep over it either.
I've already made some of my views about "Boomers" clear here before and clarifying or adding more would likely at least severely annoy, if not anger many on this and other forums dedicated to old car hobby.
Besides, all one has to do is to pay attention what seemingly most "Boomers" involved with this hobby are thinking or how they're approaching it, it should become clear enough, although it took me nearly 30 out of my 45+ years of full-time involvement/pre-occupation with it to realize extent of it and have been experiencing/seeing evidence of it almost daily ever since (including today).
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19 hours ago, Buffalowed Bill said:
IMHO the car hobby, as we know it today, is of, by and for the Baby Boomers. There has never been a group of car crazies' like them before nor will there be another group like it that follows. These were the cars with which they grew up. They saved them restored them and continue to own them today.
I think that it is important to remember that there was little car preservation or restoration taking place before the Boomers made it a priority. There are no other generational advocates for old cars and the history that made them seem important. Our slow demise (Boomers) has already made a huge negative impact on the hobby.
Later generations have the ability to reap the benefits of the work that the Boomers provided. I just hope that there is enough interest from the youngsters to sustain part of legacy of the last four decades.
I sort of disagree as I think "Boomers", i.e. my generation, has generally done (and continue to do) more disservice than good for the hobby involving vintage cars than ones before and likely after us.
I just hope those after us are able to learn from the history we provided them with and not make all the same mistakes again.
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While I'm not familiar with cone type "controlled" differentials, it appears they probably work similarly to conventional friction disc type "limited slip" units, which usually (in vintage cars) become less or non-effective when these readily available (modern) "additives" are introduced to them, basically allowing them to slip too much.
As far as I have experienced, properly set/working conventional "limited slip" differentials should be expected to exhibit certain amount tire chirping/churning/grabbing sounds when making turns while driving.
Easy way to check/test if the controlled/limited traction unit is working properly is to find a large, empty paved parking lot, drive the car around in tight circle or (preferably) "8"-configuration and listen to the tires consistently chirp/grab.
If none of this occur and only differential friction chatter is heard, it's likely an indication the controlled/limited traction unit may not be properly set, not working as it should or at all (i.e. possibly worn-out).
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21 minutes ago, kgreen said:
Well, they gotta say something.
Fix it for you.
While I admittedly don’t bother reading pointless articles (& assume this is one), there are few things that come to mind from OP.Define “best” and for whom or why ?
If just comparing selling/transaction volumes, there’s obviously far more ‘50s through ‘70s cars around and changing hands than pre-war stuff, so no surprises there…
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I forgot to mention some of my reproduction commissions have been based on the fact that there was no existing sample to use as a template, which meant I had to create/fabricate one along with subsequent tooling from scratch.
For example, when commissioned to produce custom or one-off curved automotive windshields or rear glass often meant either the car needing the glass had to be brought/shipped to my shop or I had to go where the car is and in either case the job usually required 20+ hours of pattern/template fabrication & test fitting, etc, not to mention another dozen or so required for tooling fabrication, etc.
Most of this is expected to be paid upfront by the customer in a form of a (non-refundable*) deposit or full payment + along with any transportation or travel expenses, etc., but then again, all this was always discussed in detail with the customer before either of us agreed on the job.
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While I can sympathize with OP, I also wonder what exact agreement (verbal or written) was made by him/her and the manufacturer before proceeding to spend time and effort on supplying the specifications for reproduction.
In past few decades, I’ve been reproducing variety of components & parts for vintage vehicles, including one-offs and/or very limited demand, individual retail values of each ranging from a few hundred to over five thousand dollars and have always tried to make it very clear what is or isn’t included, who’s responsible for what, etc.before agreeing to take on the job.
I’ve also contracted others to produce something I needed for client jobs and often given a hefty deposit or even full upfront payment (just like I insist on certain specialty commissions).
While most have gone according to agreed upon plan, in couple of instances I’ve discovered there are businesses and/or individuals who don’t seem to be very trustworthy or value their own honor & self-respect same as I do mine.-
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And Chrysler Corp. called them “Search Tune”.
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1 hour ago, 8E45E said:
They were driveable cars.
Craig
Thanks.
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56 minutes ago, Bhigdog said:
Some times "conveniently"........
... as they, i.e. The Manufacturers, often have vested interest to advertise/market only what they think is beneficial (biased ?) to generate (more) sales of their products.
Just go to SEMA show or read/see countless four-color ads in glossy (automotive) magazines claiming/promising all kinds of good things and improvements if you buy, use & stay loyal to their products.
While most make me LOL, I know it (i.e. marketing propaganda) works on general public very well. Always has and always will.
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Engine straps
in Technical
Posted
Only safety related worry I read/see is straps having been acquired from “Horrid Fright” for $10 a piece, which itself should be more than alarming about their “quality”(?), if that’s even a right word to use with anything they sell.