avantey

There was a similar incident here in upstate New York just two weeks ago involving an antique firetruck with deadly results. A Canadian collector was returning home from a muster in Syracuse, NY late Sunday night. He had a flat near the 1000 Islands Bridge on the St. Lawrence River. While pulled over with a state trooper helping he decided to move the ladder on the truck to shift weight and help jacking it up. In the dark with heavy rain he swung the ladder into the roadside power lines and both the owner and the trooper were electrocuted. Always be careful, you never know!

On my '13 I took apart the speedo cable the other day, it was not working when I got the car last year. The core of the cable is a linked chain with 1" links and about 1/8" dia rod stock. The end is a machined part that I need to duplicate for the wheel end. Is this type of speedo cable used on any other year Stude or other cars? Is it being repro'ed, or at least the links? I need about three or four more links. I figure I will have to make the end. thanks- Bill

On my '13 I took apart the speedo cable the other day, it was not working when I got the car last year. The core of the cable is a linked chain with 1" links and about 1/8" dia rod stock. The end is a machined part that I need to duplicate for the wheel end. Is this type of speedo cable used on any other year Stude or other cars? Is it being repro'ed, or at least the links? I need about three or four more links. I figure I will have to make the end. thanks- Bill

Just an update on my success! I removed the switch cover, cleaned the all the contacts, put it back together and last nite it ran on mag! Feel much better now but am still curious to understand the switch and contacts- Bill

John- thank you for the link. I will print and study it tonite with the car in front of me! Right away I see a difference in that my switch has seven contacts and the diagram shows six but it will still help to study it further. I do not know if the 13 Stude used the same Splitdorf as your 12 EMF. Thank you- Bill

I am having trouble getting my 13 Stude to run on mag and I think it is in the switch. On tour last month it ran on mag after rapidly switching back and forth to battery about ten times like I was cleaning the contacts. Later in the week it would not run on mag at all. I took it off tonite and and the striker area on the plate is nice and shiny as are some of the contacts. Others are not being wiped at all. I would like to know what the seven contacts inside do please. thanks- Bill

Since I had a 'little' accident loading the Avanti on a trailer a week or so ago I am now looking for a source for an original style radiator for my 63 R1 car. Any ideas would be appreciated- Bill

Mark- thank you for the reference. I did look it up recently on Manheim and another site. What I am curious about is the market demand right now. Is there much interest in the late pre-war cars out there? I know I still love the looks from '30-'34 but I have lost touch with the late thirties world. thanks- Bill

Hi all- I have a '38 Roadmaster sedan with dual sidemounts that we have not used in a number of years (our interest has turned to older cars). Just curious about how the market is out there right now for these cars. Not sure I want to sell but thinking about it as it would help fund the resto on my '16 Hupp roadster. I still like the big ol' Buick bear but we are doing it a big dis-service letting it set for so long. Thanks for any input- Bill

I have been driving a 2001 VW Golf TDI for almost two years and love it! It is a fun 5 speed with lots of torque and enough power for the small car it is. I got it at 106K, now have 151K on it and no mainteneance expenses (although they are coming up)to speak of. Buying used I got a good deal and I get around 50MPG on my 74 mile highway commute. Overall it has made me a big diesel fan, shoulda done it years ago for commuting! Take care of them and they are supposed to last a long time reducing your cost per mile, of ownership, etc. by the long amortization time.

In the past I have gone to a locksmith shop that has been in business MANY years in Rochester, NY to get keys made for old gas pumps, cars, etc. They have key blank codes and cutting codes back to almost 1900 it seems. I haven't stumped them yet and I suppose they could rekey the tumblers in the lock cylinder if necessary too. Try thte oldest locksmith near you and see if they can help you out- Bill

A two part question- 1. What purolator filter number would I use for my 63 Avanti? Iave a per 24 and per 25 on the, know it is one of the two and can't remember!! Also what is a good replacement for the per 1/2? A flow thru with large fittings. thanks- Bill

Thanks for the opinions on the Optima! Unfortunately I checked the price and it was real steep- about $175 per with sales tax. Instead I bought two DEKA 880CCA, group 65 units for that price tonite. Money is a little too tight right now for the Optima sticker shock! thanks- bill

I think I have to replace the batteries in my new to me '01 F250 diesel. Does anyone know about the new Optima? batteries with a gel center or something?

Thank you all for the ideas! I will try the baking soda first. I know it is a mild abrasive and cleaner too. If that doesn't work I will try the mineral spirits next. Does that have to 'soak in' or try not to let it lay on the rubber? I think the sanding idea is interesting but a little aggressive so I will try it last. I do not have WW on the 13- they are all white so they look dirty just by looking at them sideways, kinda like a black vehicle. My understanding is that all tires were white at first as the 'milk ' from the rubber trees was white. Around 1915 they started putting carbon black in the compound to increase treadwear and tire longevity. Either way this car came to me with new "whites" so I will do my best to keep them clean! Thank you for all the ideas.

I have a tough problem with my all white tires. The rear seal leaked and I have diffential fluid spun out and all over the inside face of one tire. I have tried (in order)- Fantastik, Simple Green, Castrol Super clean, Westley's. None worked although the stains are lighter. I too am hesitant on Westley's and even on the Super Clean(Purple Stuff) as they are very strong. Any ideas on getting the stain off my practically new all white tires would be great! Thanks- Bill

Guess I am in a minority around here. The longer I play the older my car interests get. I got in the hobby with my inheritance of the Avanti in '79 and all my cars since are prewar and getting older. I am now into brass with the '13 Stude and can't wait for Brass in Bucks to tour it!! I will support this new magazine and section of the hobby as long as I can! They are the coolest cars around- from brass to the thirties there were MANY stunning cars built as the industry took form and history was made. I wish AACA could maintain a better balance in the hobby but I understand you have to go where the market takes you. Long live the prewar interest!- Bill

For what it is worth I will throw in my two cents here. My wife and I have planned a number of national tours for a couple of other clubs. I know VMCCA has a guide for tour planning that they give to anyone who volunteers to plan a tour. I have not seen one for any other club but if you know someone in VMCCA maybe they can get a copy as a place for AACA to start. A little cooperation amongst clubs is always good for the hobby too! Tour planning is a lot of fun, is time consuming and not too hard at all. Just a lot of common sense and experience as a tourist will guide you for the most part. We all remember what we like from past tours and know our area to plan similar days. Just get out there and start! Pay attention to detail just like restoring a car and you will do fine!

I am looking for ideas and products to help recondition and preserve an original top on my 1913 Studebaker roadster. This is an wonderful, driveable, original car with less than 6K miles on it so preservation is <span style="text-decoration: underline">highly</span> preferred over replacement. It looks like a canvas material, slightly coarser weave than Hartz cloth or the top on my Model A. It is not in bad shape but is kind of stiff, maybe shrunk a little and faded from original black to brown in the folds. There are no tears or missing pieces and the original wrap-around side curtains are wrapped up around the first bow. I have not tried to take them down at all. It does have an inner liner in very good condition. Does anyone have any ideas of how to proceed? One bow is separated from the top and I want to help the top material before I try to get this fixed so it is easier to work with and hopefully not lead to more damage. I will try to post pictures tonight. Thank you for all ideas- Bill

I know a guy up in Rochester , NY area who has done this job also. He took a firetruck, pumper I think, gutted the rear center area, made a ramp and now hauls his Model T in it when needed. It is a very cool idea and a "looker" when done!

25 years ago we met at a car show and it has not stopped since! Linda grew up around old cars, enjoys the hobby as much as I do and does a lot of work with me in the hobby. She does not do restoration work but we tour as much as we can and love it. We have planned many events for local clubs over the years (weekenders, day trips, shows, etc.) as well as planned and hosted a few national week long tours. In many cases we are the entire tour comittee and I could not do it without her help. And I do not mean just moral support- she does banquet plans, registrar, finances, etc. I am very lucky we enjoy the hobby together, it is a big part of our life now and going it alone wouldn't be half as much fun. (Although I do enjoy Hershey alone for a few days!!) :-))

Thank you all for the info! It appears that diesel in cars in the US did not really get traction until maybe even the early '80 Olds. My sister had an '81 diesel Toronado and about '84 the engine was shot and it was not worth rebuilding as I recall. The '37 Mercedes is early enough on this shore and probably one of the first imported? I still am not sure what/when the first US made diesel car was though. Were the early Cummins diesels used like a hit n miss? They all look stationary in the pics. I love to learn, thnaks to all!!- Bill

I thought I would start a new topic to end the old year. I am now driving a 2001 Golf and love it, a great, big-fun little car with the 5 speed turbo! But it made me wonder about the history of diesel power, especially in this counry (U.S.). I know of Rudolph Diesel in the mid-1800's in Europe but what was the first and/or other early diesel cars in this country? Or was it used in trucks only for power when it came the U.S.? Happy New Year!- Bill

Try www.labthreads.com they are a company specialized in brass era cars gears. Jerry Chase owns it and is an avid brass era tourist so he can probably help you out. -Bill

My brother in law's business is www.rjlautofasteners.com and he makes clips for many cars of that era. He has tooled up accurate repros for mouldings, windshield trim, etc. Give hin a try, if he doesn't have it he may know where to get it.