Hemi Joel

For heavy caked on old grease, I use my steamer. It puts out a high volume of steam at low pressure, probably less than 100 psi at up to 375 degrees. It has the ability to meter a chemical degreaser to the water before it goes into the pump and the boiler. I think it is the fastest, easiest, most thorough method I have tried. Using common sense, I avoid damage. I mask off areas that I don't want any splashing on.

I bought their kit about 40 years ago. I don't remember having any issues with it. I only used it for one project. I have a good impression of the company, but I don't remember anything specific.

I'm pretty sure he has, if I remember right. I'd have to verify.

I can't cite the source, but I do remember reading that James Watts horse, which is what the original measurements and current standards are based upon, was on the weak side. Other horses have tested much higher.

I was at the shop of a restorer who would definitely be capable of doing that car to a very high standard about 2 years ago. He mentioned being able to do a duesenberg for 500ish. He did mention that some of the other shops were double his price.

Well bought, in my opinion. The new owner has the opportunity to restore it to his own taste. After restoration, well under 3.5 all in for a freshly done, all numbers matching, DTMCC with an honest and interesting provenance is a very good deal.

What year is the Eldorado?

Interesting picture. Those skirted fenders really hurt the looks of the car in my opinion. I'm going to take a guess that it will hammer at 3.5 million.

They made this model AC chain drive Mack from 1916 all the way up to 1938 with no significant changes in appearance. So it may not be as old as it looks. I used to have a '34, and it looked the same as one from WW1. That crane matches the era of the truck, IMHO.

My 66 Dodge Town wagon had a slant 6 with an oil bath air cleaner.

No, the white car with the white undercarriage is J108, sold new to Mrs. Harry Robinson (J.W. Robinson's department store) of Los Angeles. It is a very early, one off car with front hinged doors, more rake to the windshield, a nearly vertical rear curtain, and a peaked deck lid. You can see the car in action in the movie "The Gay Divorcee". https://youtu.be/PTAG2e7d6pM?feature=shared&t=1344

You can use Rockauto.com to look up what you suspect it might be. They have pictures of a lot of the boosters.

Besides the inconsistent and poor quality of parts and removal of zinc from oil, lifter bores are more worn that they used to be from mileage. Lifter to bore clearance with a flat tappet cam is critical, and should be .0012" - .0018". If it is loose, or out of round, the lifters are less likely to properly rotate in the bore. This clearance needs to be checked, and rotation needs to be verified. If a flat tappet lifter doesn't rotate, it will fail promptly. If things aren't right, reamed/honed bores with oversize lifters (if available) or bushed lifter bores, or switching to roller lifters is the solution.

Well that got kind of expensive. At least the process works and you're getting a title, that's the important thing. Thanks for the update.

Oh Mathew, what are we going to do with you....

I can relate. You have a lot of stuff to get rid of. It's hard to throw stuff away that we know is useful to us or someone else, somewhere, at some time. But you are right on the value of time thing. Should we spend 10 hours working through a pile of stuff that is easily available and worth $50 bucks? At some point we have to conclude that it is dumpster time. My shop got so full at one point that I couldn't work in it. I filled my 28' box trailer to the ceiling and hauled it to the automotive swap meet, committed to bring nothing home regardless of price. I was actually pretty fun giving people good deals and making them happy with their score You have an awesome shop there, I think it's great that you are documenting it here. Good luck with your continued efforts!

I kinda like my big white full classic. It was painted 65 years ago, before I was born so I didn't choose the color. Yet, I'm not inclined to repaint it. But I have thought about what color I would do if I did repaint. So many great options, and it very likely not be white again. Originally it was black. But I'll never, ever give up the wide whitewalls. Colors, style, whitewalls, all a matter of individual preference.

That would not work for me. I get bored with one car, and need to move on to the next, then the next,...

A lot of small business failures in this day and time are more attributable to lack of reliable, skilled workers then lack of customers. Plating/ restoration takes a lot of highly skilled labor.

Al, the 1920 Duesenberg Model A was the first production car with 4 wheel hydraulic brakes, not the model 1929 model J. Isotta Fraschini had four-wheel brakes a year or two prior, but they were mechanical.

I learned something new today! Thanks for pointing out my error.

I think that Duesenberg's introduction of four-wheel hydraulic brakes was quite revolutionary. Virtually every car today has them. The Cord L29 was revolutionary with it's first use of front wheel drive in a production vehicle, and it introduced low slung styling that absolutely caught on. I supposed to VW beetle could be considered revolutionary, being the first subcompact econo box import to really catch on and sell in high volume.

Don't forget Cadillac, first with synchromesh in the manual transmission.

John I think you have enuff information to make a commitment. You have known all along that you want one, based on its beauty if nothing else. Now it is time to searching for the right car! (:

About 7 years ago, I went thru the Frank Hawley School of Drag racing. I was very fortunate that Mr. Hawley himself was teaching the class that day. It was a very worthwhile class, and even though I had been racing since I was a teen, I learned a ton. And left the class with my NHRA Super Gas license, which was the goal.