TTR

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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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.

Funny, I still don’t see an answer (with practical evidence/proof) addressing OPs question and suspect none will come up either.

Impossible to answer. Too many variables at play. Sort of like asking “How long is a string ?”

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).

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.

@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 ... ?

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) ?

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).

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.

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).

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…

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.

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.

And Chrysler Corp. called them “Search Tune”.

Thanks.

... 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.

Was either of them actually a fully drivable/functional car or were they display only items ?

Sounds like the engine could be internally an "Industrial" spec, not necessarily same as "Automotive" use, per se, and might not even be easily adaptable for latter. Possibly different cam, crank, compression, rotation, timing drive, etc, etc, etc.

This ^^ is exactly why I suggested to stay clear of asking these types of questions here or any other similar forum.

Factory owners or service manual is likely to give you the most accurate recommendation, but those are/were usually based on engine being new or used, but in good operating condition. There are other, non-OEM repair/service manuals, like "Motor's Auto Repair Manual" which can be obtained with various vintage's/year's and they usually cover 5-10 year span of most major brand American manufacturers, let say 1954 "M.A.R.M" covers everything from 1940 to 1954 Or 1959 edition cover from 1952 to 1959, etc.

Before you do anything else, including posting or reading anything regarding regarding rebuild kits or oils, etc, I would highly recommend determining whether or not your engine really need a rebuild. The next would be finding a competent machine and/or rebuilding shop experienced with engines of that era and discuss the process they would recommend or prefer, including sourcing necessary parts and/or who’s going to do the disassembly & reassembly work + installation, start-up & break-in procedures, etc. Such shop will have specifications or know how to obtain them for your engine.

I would highly recommend staying clear of any and all "online" transportation brokers* like uShip, etc. I know more than several instances in which individuals (whom I personally know or know of) have contracted with such operations, mainly due to attractive pricing, only ending up with experiences aching to nightmares, not to mention significantly higher costs than originally quoted, in many cases at least double. *uShip and alike are merely transportation brokers, in some cases perhaps just individuals operating from their home (or basement) with a computer and fancy website. Some may have never even seen an actual equipment, trucks or trailers used in transportation and just bid any requested service among the lowest denomination outfits. In the last decade or so, it seems these "outfits" have increasingly become operated by characters or organizations originating from eastern Europe and/or former USSR satellite countries (Not saying anyone/everyone with such heritage is automatically less than any of us, but aforementioned example experiences don't provide strong confidence in the practices of these "outfits" or those who broker their services to unsuspecting public). As for the price/value estimate, being an owner of a hot rodded PB Roadster for nearly 35 years and having been involved with vintage car hobby for close to 45 year, professionally restoring and working on them over 30 years and having bought/sold/brokered over 1000 of them over the decades, I would say only realistic number can and will be established by the person with money in hand making an offer. Everything else is just pointless hyperbole. Just because some random strangers on this or any other forum offer their "opinions" or some "price/value guides" provide some numbers*, doesn't mean someone is going to actually pay that. In short, any item is only worth what someone else is WILLING to pay for it. I learned this already as a teenager, several decades ago, and have seen it being true time and time again since. * Mainly based on statistical averages compiled from published, but not necessarily accurate or even real results of various (recent ?) past auctions of same or similar vehicles and may include (gu)estimated up or down ticks in general economic climate associated with or surrounding antique/classic/collectible vehicle “market” (whatever that’s supposed be or mean ?).

IMO, unless the subject is something extremely unique, rare and valuable, unlike the ‘35 Dodge OP mentioned, easiest, simplest and not to mention smartest way to deal with a car/truck/etc intended for road use for sale without proper paperwork is to just walk away. There are millions upon millions of old cars/trucks with solid paperwork available all over the world. Why bother with something ordinary with obvious red flags and headaches ?