rocketraider

Like! My dad and uncle had a hay baler with a Waukesha 2-cylinder gasoline engine that was, to be kind, a b***h to get started. My uncle rarely swore or raised his voice but that baler would make him cuss like a sailor. They finally rigged up a flat pulley on it where the crank handle would have gone and used a flat belt running off a Farmall 100's PTO to start the thing. Even then it would putt-putt-woosh for several minutes before finally firing off and running.

If you can get hold of a Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 I think it will have the serial number info. Most vehicles back then were registered by the engine number. The Marvel carb would be worth keeping if you can't find the correct Zenith. If you find a correct carb, the Marvel was commonly used and would be an easy sale to someone else who needs one. Check with the National Antique Olds Club www.antiqueolds.org and talk with their 1924 advisor. The NAOC guys are the most knowledgeable I've found on the prewar Oldsmobiles. I admit to being very weak in my knowledge of them.

Sometimes GM got the trim wrong on what could otherwise have been a handsome car. Other times they got the proportions wrong- the downsized A-bodies for 78 come to mind. 78-80 Monte Carlos always looked like a pregnant cat on undersized roller skates to me. It had the "forward-thrusting" side styling the 73-77 wore so well, but on those teeny 14" wheels- too much space between tire and wheel-arch. Had that been a larger car and on 15" wheels, the effect would have been different, and that goes for all those downsized mid-size cars back then. I never liked the 80s C-body cars, again for the proportion thing. And I still don't know what they were thinking when they did the 74-76 Impala Custom/Caprice and C-body coupes. That greenhouse is heinous, with that funky B-pillar and the quarter window lower edge higher than the door glass beltline. The B-O-P 'B' coupes weren't a lot better. And other times, as in the case of Aztek, they just got it ALL wrong. The modern "performance" stuff leaves much to be desired in styling too- the overall look is too heavy and clunky.

Well- I saw a 1984 TransAM wearing VA antique plates at a cruise night last summer, and I thought, a 1984 T/A was the last new car I bought- that car can't be that old! And now I realise that it and I are both 31 years older...

All comes under "careless and reckless driving" statutes, should an LEO choose to enforce it. I'm one who believes that any cell phone use by driver of a car while it's in motion should be illegal. Ditto for any activity other than driving the car. No matter what you're fiddling with, if your attention is not on the road you are a distracted driver and a hazard to the rest of us. It's like I told a local Realtor after the 3rd time she had made a left turn in front of me while yacking on her cell phone- "Your million-dollar deal may end up in my pocket".

I'm pretty sure if ElCamino hadn't had Chevrolet behind it, it would have disappeared long before it did. Ranchero lasted 22 years continuously, ElCamino 25 with that 61-63 break which is sad because those would have been very handsome pieces. Brats and Rampages lasted only a few years each. I think VW had some type of car-truck too but I haven't seen one in years. There are numerous GM styling one-offs based on Pontiac and Olds but the market just wasn't there for all the GM Divisions to have their own car-truck. However, the market for a luxurious, upscale long-wheelbase midsized wagon WAS, so we got GM Skywagons which would have been an obvious base for an Olds or Buick car-truck.

Looks like a nice car for the money. Surprised it hasn't sold. Maybe with summer coming on...

Actually saw a Minnie Winnie that appeared to be VG condition last night, going into a truck stop east of town. I also thought when had I seen one? This one appeared Dodge-based.

A local car lot has a 1987 that I've stopped to look over a couple times. One repaint, whitewalls (!) on factory mags and overall pretty nice truck for about $5500. Trouble is, like vast majority of EC it had some "personalization" after the repaint- stainless panels on lower body and some of those plastic "Sport" emblems on the doors and tailgate. Nothing insurmountable, just not my style. Yes, I like "car-trucks". ElCaminos, Rancheros, even Subaru Brats and Dodge Rampages. But I want 'em stock and unmolested!

You give up too easy. Sometimes it takes me a couple weeks or longer to get back to someone who has called me about Oldsmobile stuff, depending on work. I'm also guilty of forgetting about PM's here. If the Canton group's website shows their meeting dates and locations, I don't think anyone would object if you showed up. You can't be a wallflower either- introduce yourself and let them know what you're looking for. Someone just may have it or know where one is!

One word comes to mind- "pandering". They figure their audience wants modified cars and they pander to that demographic. When ignoramuses have prattled to me about modifications I should do to my cars, my pat reply is "why the hell would I want to do that?" Yet I'm the one who gets the strange looks. BillP, several years back I located a 1971 EC still on its original owner, in good condition and bone stock down to its beige paint, 250 six/3-speed and wheelcovers with whitewalls. Asking money $2500. I said haleyea but by the time (3 hours later) I could call the guy in Roanoke it was sold. I can about guarantee that within 6 months it was a big-block/4-speed and red with the ubiquitous SS stripes. A nice unmodified (dare I say unmolested?) ElCamino is harder to find than a big Chevy. People just will not leave such a vehicle alone, and chop-cut-rebuild reality shows don't help.

What?! You mean Long John Silver's, Arthur Treacher's, and Captain D's aren't the best fish and chips in the world?! The power of advertising... Of those three I'd say LJS has the best. Never had Treacher's, and every time I got it at Captain D's fish always tasted slightly undercooked. I would like to try REAL British fish and chips but seeing as I may never get to the Isles... I think I'd have to draw the line at eels though. Helfen, that is a 1968 Custom Coupe. Nice car but not what I'm looking for.

Back to the ubiquitous mods that seem to be "required" for all old cars, and their effect on availability of good originals: Mama had a 69 Impala Sport Coupe that got used completely up- she loved that car more than any she ever owned, and drove it till the floors were too rusty to pass VA inspection. Nowadays replacing floors is no big deal but in the late 70s it was just a ten year old used car. I'd like to have another Sport Coupe but those are hard to find, and when you do they've always been "personalized". Think donked, loaded with electronic gadgets, non-original drivetrain- which doesn't meet my standards at all. Custom Coupes and convertibles are common enough, but I've never liked the outsized 69-73 Custom Coupe sailpanels and converts can get pricey. I'd consider a Sport Sedan but we all know nobody saved the four-doors. In six years of looking thru auto traders, I've found exactly one that met the criteria- surpassed it actually. Car was unrestored original, 327/PG, buckets/console, original wheelcovers, skirts, no VT, and Glacier Blue same as Mama's. And natcherly it was all the way across the country...

Didn't Aunt Bee buy a bumblebee 55 or 56 Ford convert sometime during the run? She (Frances Bavier) owned a 1960s Studebaker in real life; it was sold as part of her estate several years back.

Brian, I don't have the pull in the OCA office I did years ago but I'll see if I can get this in next JWO. I'm mighty afraid the June issue may already be in pre-production. I'll bring it up on CO too. There's some 59 guys there though seems a many of them are in OZ and New Zealand.

Wayne, this kid is a competent mechanic. At age 24 he rebuilt a cast-iron PowerGlide for one of the 57 guys here. I told him he'd gotten lazy. I have all my "old-school" tune-up stuff including the Dixco dwell-tach I bought at 16 and that still works even though I use my Sears "Engine Analyzer" and dial-back timing light more. The stuff is still out there- I bought a box lot of tune-up stuff for $10 at an auction a few weeks ago. Cleaned it up and it works fine. There was: Marquette dwell-tach and charging system tester, Bakelite case 6-12-24v coil tester and a Kal-Equipment generator/alternator/regulator tester. The kind of stuff any service station would have had years ago. Now, you tell me to tune an engine with a laptop, I'll look at you like you just got off the bus from Mars. I'm the one who has to look for someone who understands my modern computerized junk.

It's Lowest Common Denominator entertainment- as Pushbutton said, to appeal to the masses. I had a conversation with a younger friend (34) over lunch Saturday and he mentioned he was considering an LS swap for the 1965 Impala he's owned since he was 16, and that has been in his family since new. What the hell for? I said. He wants fuel injection, fuel economy and more power, and says he can't get that with a carbureted 327 having to run ethanol fuel. Now keep in mind he has a VW Golf TDi daily driver and the Impala is rarely driven more than 1500 miles a year, so considering the expense and fabrication involved those are all moot points. I said new car dealer lots are full of what you want, if you want a modern car go buy one and leave the Impala alone. Then the kicker- he says "Nobody wants that old sh*t anymore. They want something they can drive and not have to look for someone who understands it and can work on it". So apparently a lot of people completely miss the point of having old machinery. BiscayneJohn, I bought a Thomas Day washstand a few weeks back, not necessarily because I needed or wanted it, but I wanted to keep it in the area it was made. The original 1810 Williamson homeplace (still in Williamson hands) has a lot of Thomas Day cabinetwork in it so it's on display there in a room with a Day mantel and woodwork. It has a few fleabites and some fool has already suggested "why don't you have that professionally refinished". For the simple reason it has survived intact and unmolested since pre-Civil War and a couple of veneer chips are not enough to consider altering that originality. Point is the chop-cut-rebuild mentality is there in all "old" based hobbies. We just tend to see it more in ours, and nice original Chevrolets unfortunately fall victim to that mentality more than about any other make.

April 20 New Yorker cover: (yeah, I still get the print version)

My parts books are packed up but should be same part # for 1974-76 88-98. Toronado fenders are different by then and will have a different bezel and cap nut for the Toro fender crown contour, though the antenna itself should be the same. if you can salvage those parts from your old one. I don't know for sure if any aftermarket unit will be compatible with the LOC-DIST function your original antenna has. These antennas can be rebuilt if no other option shows up. Several people have advertised this service in Hemmings and daresay there might be someone here on the AACA site who can repair it.

Go for a 60s mid-size non-Chevy GM. They're still affordable, are comfortable, have reasonably modern drivetrains, and good club and internet forum support. Parts availability is not completely unobtainium either, and is why I recommend those over the comparable FoMoCo offerings. Fairlane and Comet converts are stylish and fun, but I know people who are trying to source parts and they tell me the stuff is just not out there for the bigger Fords as compared to Mustang. Somoene suggested 65-6 big Ford. Gorgeous cars and not as expensive as comparable Chevy. For that matter 65-68 Plymouth Furys are sharp in convertible guise too, and have as bulletproof a drivetrain as was ever made. They also tend to handle a little crisper with their torsion bar suspensions.

Start taking cosmetic care of the Riv, learn how to change oil and tune it up, help yer dad get it running and roadworthy, then I think it's probably gonna be yours. Sounds to me like he's just feeling you out now to see if you're truly interested in this uncommon Riviera. While you're at it, join the Riviera Owners' Association. There'll be plenty of help and tech advice there. Even if you've never done anything with cars before, always remember- NO one is born knowing anything. Learning is a great part of the fun of anything, and knowledge can never be taken from you. I'll say it again- there's a lot of guys on these Forums who have completely forgotten what it's like to be 16 years old, interested in cars, and wanting your own. Sometimes you just have to say the hell with practicality and give in to passion. Matt Harwood said it best to another novice old car guy earlier this week- "you'll look like a rock star driving it". Do you really want to be boring in a Honda, Toyota or other "practical car for a 16 yr old"? Dependable and thrifty, yes, but they have all the panache and personality of a washing machine.

OPGI and Fusick both have your outer window sweeps, about $200 for both sides. Made by same company so go for best price and customer service. The hinge spring should be common to many GM cars. You'll need a hinge spring compressor tool to get one from a parts car and install it in your hinge, and Harbor Freight has the tool. You'd might as well do the hinge pin bushings while you're in there. There's that MAW thing again...

Someone down in Buickworld ought to have a source. Jim Osborn Reproductions comes to mind.

Hully jayzus, a chrome-bumper B and a 70 Eldorado sans vinyl roof for under $15g. Matt, I am GLAD I'm not local to you or I would be in beeg-a trouble...

I've had a couple of Celicas and the front-wheel-drive versions are boring. Jellybean style and very cramped for anyone over about 5'9" 170 lbs. If you like the Celica it wouldn't be a bad entry-level old car, just shapeless and nondescript. 1972-85 (RWD) are much better styled and appointed in my eyes, and those 22R engines are fun engines especially coupled with a 5-speed. The 1982-85 versions have an almost menacing look. Hey, if ya gonna drive an old car, ya might as well make a statement, right?