idrjoe_sandiego

I missed this on eBay. Anyone have a picture of what was up for auction? I agree, the letter is a fabrication!

In order to use a 6V Horn on a 12V car you need a good heavy duty ceramic resistor (either 1.0 ohm or 1.5 ohm -you'll have to calculate which one based on the current draw of your horn). This fellow on eBay sells them. 1 Ohm Voltage Reducer H/D Ceramic Resistor 12-6 Volt a | eBay The cheaper way (not necessarily the best way) would be to try using an ignition ballast resistor from your junk pile (or perhaps two ballast resistors in series that add up to your target Ohm rating). Test it out first to see if it can handle it. As you reduce 12v to 6v, all the extra current will dissipate as heat, so make sure you mount these things safely. (think Heat sink mounting).

John, it looks like your wait for a West Coast meet just got a little longer. Joe Cozza said that the fellow that was to host the 2013 Meet in Riverside, CA, apparently has health problems and has decided not to go thru with it. I just got a call yesterday from a fellow DB Club member on his way home from the Moline DB Meet. I am not sure it's official yet, but he tells me the torch has been passed to him for hosting the 2013 DB meet near Dallas, Texas.

Ridge girl has left the building...

Hey thanks Phil! And Rod- I like all the pictures you posted. That looks like a cool event you attended. I think I am in love with that gray/maroon 1933 Dodge DP. That is one of the nicest 33's I have ever seen. The yellow convertible Studebaker is very cool also. Joe

Hi Paul and Doug- thanks, glad you like it. Actually, an article for the DB News is what I had in mind when these pictures were taken. Picture-taking during a greasy job easily doubles the time to get the job done!! Do a procedure. Stop. Wipe up the mess. Get the camera. Shoot the pics. Now start again! But if it can help a few of the other members, it is time well spent. This forum and the DB Club, its members and Newsletter has always been such great help to me on my projects-I like to return the favor whenever possible. I will post the rest of the info and pics I have here as time permits. Any additional info/comments the forum members have to offer will be added to the write-up for the newsletter (provided JB-ed finds the content worth printing!) Joe

Where are you in California and what are you asking for your Dad's car?

Ridge girl has left the building...

Dave - good news. You do win a prize. You have to go pick it up, though.

I just stumbled on an article written by John Bittence (April/May 2001 Dodge Brothers Club News) on this very subject -car photography and shadows. In John's experience, shooting your car at high noon, or what John calls a "nooner", is a "no-no". (A "nooner" in my book is an entirely different animal :cool:). The article depicts some examples of "bad" car photos taken at noon; his point is well-taken. He suggests photos be taken early in the day with the sun at your back. Far from an expert in photography, I may stand corrected here. I still like Phil's idea of the cloud cover "soft-box" effect . In any case, the car photographer should be aware of the negative effects shadows can cause and make the necessary adjustments. Indeed, Phil's point that pros use $$$$$ studios makes a lot of sense!

Sure Marv, it just won't be today! Probably can have a look at it sometime this weekend. Jason, with regard to the truck engine theory, it would be helpful to know what the motor #'s were on the trucks. I'd be surprised if they just used the same series of #'s for trucks and cars. So they just plucked out some motor #'s here or there and designated them truck motors? Doubt it. I'd like to see a sheet that tells the production figures and VIN's and mfr. dates on the DA trucks like we have on the DA cars. Where's Bill-W when you need him? And if this was a truck engine, why then are two camshafts available in the PASSENGER car parts book?

Is this Kent-Moore puller what you are looking for? I wish I had one; doesn't look hard to make, though. Here's another one the Model A guys use. That one looks more risky!

Rick, Where are meets? Right next to the CHICKENS in aisle 5.

Joe, so Riverside, CA is off the calender for 2013? I had not heard of this before now. Very sorry to hear that-I hope Bill is O.K.

Sorry, Jason, I agree , that wasn't very clear! What i was referring to are the "extra" stamping marks visible near the motor number illustrated in the next few pictures. I am also including another DA motor's stampings. On closer inspection, the two sets of markings have some common elements. I included the pictures in regular color and inverted color. I find it easier to see some of the details on these stampings and part numbers when you look at the "inverted" or "negative" image enhancements. Regarding this being a truck motor, Harry Reding, the DA technical adviser also suggested this. While this is possible, I have seen a truck motor and it is not the same in many ways. I know this motor came out of a car and the engine is in every way (save for the hole on the side of the block) the same as every other DA car motor I have ever seen. To add to this, check out the scan of the Master parts book for PASSENGER CARS re: DA CAMSHAFTS with/without the fuel pump. This is really very curious. Apparently Chrysler may have installed a series of DA motors using fuel pumps, perhaps as a test run, knowing that vacuum tanks were about to be history and fuel pumps would be the next generation of improvements. From the motor number , we do know that this motor was manufactured in the middle of the DA assembly run. It ia also possible that this was only for exports, but this is a total guess. Exports seemed to get a different treatment on many fronts.

And does anyone have any info on the other markings near the engine # on the pictured block? One of my other DA's has one of these marks but not all this one has.

Ffoeg -What is the engine # out of curiosity?

I know there are lots of 1929 Dodge DA owners on this forum, but I wonder how many have seen a DA engine like this one. The engine # stamped on the block is H65-772. Check it out. It has a mechanical fuel pump! I have seen only one other DA engine with this feature. It was in a 1929 DA built for export. "No two Dodge DA's built the same" -nearchoclatetown 2010

Well thanks John!! I don't recognize that stretch of road that we were on when you took that. Don't recognize those buildings?? Cool pic though! And I agree that having "out of period" stuff in the picture is less than desirable. However, of the few friends I know who have a plane in their toy box, none have a 1929 Stearman. (See attached US Navy plane pic) We considered this, but the logistics worked out easier to call Donn to break out the Mooney. Phil, that is an awesome picture of your car in an absolutely beautiful "timeless" setting. The changing autumn leaves really enhances the scene as a backdrop for your car. That certainly is worthy of a calender shot. Good advice about the bit of cloud cover acting as a soft box. The long shadows were problematic to say the least. Just as aside, did you happen to notice the N-tail # on the Mooney?? N671DB !! Not Dodge Brothers though--it's a vanity tail number with the owner's first initials-Donn and Barb.

Thanks Bull, hopefully others can add some tips to this. Please share what you've got.

Try Andy here at Andy Bernbaum Auto Parts for Chrysler's cars from 30s to 70s. He usually has most things Mopar around your car's vintage. Andy is a good guy with fair prices and ships quickly, but he has a reputation of being a little moody/gruff. Hopefully you catch him on a good day. If not, just wait a day or so! I have purchased tons of stuff from him over the years for my two 1950 Chryslers and 1949 Desoto. Very seldom any trouble with any transactions. Are you related to Leigh Ann or is it a coincidence you both have just purchased one of these cars? See http://forums.aaca.org/f143/1948-dodge-business-coupe-help-304555.html

This last group shows the beneficial effects to wetting the ground down before the photo session. It was pretty warm this particular day, so our water wasn't lasting too long. Only one of these photos have been cropped. None have been photo-shopped. Obviously for your final product you would /should remove the surrounding dry pavement! Have fun with it and take lots and lots and hopefully you'll get a few prizewinners. Joe

In the next few shots, the wide angle lens makes for some interesting effects. I believe this was a 14mm WA Canon digital EOS lens. That looks like one long wing on the Mooney! The Dodge looks like it is straight out of the cartoon movie Cars.

The first few shots we took with the ground dry. Later, you'll see the same angle with the ground wet- what a difference. Here's Scott on the ladder!

My buddy Scott loves photography and mostly does nature shots. Apparently so does everyone else and therefore not much money in it. He has decided to try inanimate objects, perhaps making custom calendars and ad work. He asked if he could take a few of my car. I suggested we go down to the local airport where I fly with another friend so we could shoot the Dodge and the Mooney. The following pictures came from that session. It was fun experimenting with wide angle lenses and the (bizarre) effects they produce. I suggested we bring a bunch of water with us since many professional photos of cars seem to have the ground wet. You can see the effects here with and without water. Let me tell you, the next time we will bring a water truck or not shoot so far away from a hose!! It helps to bring a ladder to get some different views not always captured. As with most outdoor projects, usually it's a good idea to get out there early. Not so with Car photography. As you can see from the long shadows on the ladder, 9:00 AM is not the best time to capture your car at its best. Even though it was a very bright sunshine drenched day, the angle of the sun severely limited what we were able to do. The long shadows are not particularly flattering for car photography. Lesson learned: set up about 1 hour before the sun will be at its zenith, and start shooting when the shadows are minimal. Wide angle lenses and water definitely produce the best results.