Fading Brakes, 1950 Standard Eight

[Twitch]

For my part the guys on the Packard forum are the best. When I was considering buying a Packard they answered my questions and since I have the '50 have continued to have pertinent commentary on the cars.

I chose a Packard for its distinctiveness. In the old days the bath tub Pacs were never considered luxurious compared to 30s models. I got the 50 for a couple reasons- my Dad sold them at that time, the 50 still has the pre-war "oldie" style I like, and the straight 8 is an oddity and unique. My car has new uhpolstry on the front seating area, paint, and radial tires, Other than that it is all stock and all original.

All this "my club is better than your club" reminds me of a Little Rascals episode when they formed the He Man Woman Hater Club- it's just childish. I am a true lone wolf and never have been a joiner. I won't join a club where members attack anyone that ventures to the forum and asks about modifications of any kind. I've been seeing this repeatedly on the main forum and it turns everyone off.

The idea that has been espoused is that these forums are some sort of sancturary for self-described purists who carry on some holy grail to preserve originality in old cars and anyone lese is not welcome. What a steaming load of self righteous crap! This feeling that there is only ONE way to approach the "old car" hobby is just sick and deluded.

I like evry kind of car- wooden wheelers, never touched originals, hot rods, Bonneville cars, classic imports, exotics, dragsters, modern gran turismo cars- and all the rest. I don't try to force my varied interests on others as some of the "100% original or die!" club do.

I like the Packard guys here cause they're not afraid to make mods to their cars if it means they'll actually be drive-able. Forget the trailered turkeys. Turbopackman has done a lot in this sense and many here have taken rusting hulks of crap that NEVER would have EVER been on the road again and got them rolling. This bullcrap about hot rodders buying decayed junkers for the bodies ruining the hobby since the "all cars no matter what condition should be restored to original" is just stupid.

There are too many big mouths that actually have the colossal nerve to tell other people how they should treat their property and spend their money! This is tantamount to governments meddling in citizens' affairs in which they have no jusistiction. No one likes that, right? Just leave people alone to do what they want with their money and their cars.

In the 1960s all these vehicles were just a bunch of dead old cars that only a few nerds, and kids had interest in. Nobody gave a damn about 30s Packards or any other marque. Most of these cars had quit running or were garaged and replaced by modern transportation. In either case there was no parts and repair network or communication to get them. Now suddenly we're supposed to bow down to the classic nerds of the 60s that sought to rebuid some of these cars and damn all rodders who chose to take derelict pieces of crap and build modified cars.

People on the forums newbies with querries not knowing the actual condition of the car if they mention modification like a pirahna frenzy. I've talked to owners at cruise-ins in Southern California with all sorts of cars. Recently a guy with a 41 Pontiac told me his story when I asked him if the engine under the closed hood was restored stock. He has over $30,000 in the car. Remember, anything is only worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it. He did a body off resto and scoured the country for parts. This took 10 years! Of course the car is trash to the 100% or die bunch cause he has a 12 volt system, and runs an alternator. I'm gonna faint! But at least the car is running more dependably he says. Guess it's better to haul it around on a trailer.

Bottom line is he says he'd never do it again. He'd put a modern V-8 and tranny in and save oodles of $$ and time plus actually be driving the car without waiting a decade to do it.

The business of saving real classics. Dusenbergs, Pierce-Arrows, Rolls Royces etc, is valid. Most of the truely limited production cars of the 30s era should be. But when fanatics start dictating that the 7 MILLION average production cars built in the 1930s be sanctified and never modified under pennalty of death I have a problem with that. Again it's big mouths telling others how to spend their money and what philosopies to entertain.

If any group of folks wants to have a club for just pre-any year cars that's great. It's your friggin club. But don't cry around about decreased membership and financial woes due to lack of living members. If opening up to post- whatever cars will solve the financial hardships you have 2 choices- change or go under. I personally don't care what any club does since the vast majority of 25 year and over cars are owned by people with no car club affiliations.

The elitist clique-ishness of those that tout ONE philosophy about old cars is archaic and serves as an illustration of what younger folks abhorr about a bunch of old fart clubs of any type- car or otherwise. The continual harangue by the old guard on the virtues of whatever their holy grail is, is just the tired dirge of car bigots. Forget the "my way is the only way" crap and get a life.

At any rate no one on these boards should be degrading, attacking or flaming others. I've seen verbiage used here that would get your ass kicked out of even juvenille forums run by teens.

This old car thing is for my amusement at my whim so I'll stick to local informal gatherings with a variety of cars and not stick-up-the-a$$ national clubs stuff.

Nobody was attacking anyone in the Packard forum. The wankers on the main forum do that- not here. Let's get back to light-hearted stuff and car-related discussion......... <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

[6219_Rules]

While I personally prefer to keep my cars as original as possible, I can easily enjoy another's hard work. At least they are enjoying the fun of the hobby and driving. Now the fact that his "39 PFORD" is fiberglas with everything BUT a Pford drive train, engine, etc.. simply points out that he PROBABLY didn't ransack a well kept original. So what? It sounds like a great car.

I told you once I took my 1947 Caddy up to what was 108 mph on the speedo, which ran 5 mph high over 50 (over sized tires) so it still got up to 100 mph ... not bad for an original engine, chassis, suspension (obviously well kept) and drive train. Oh yeah...it was a scary ride. Never did it again but it does show how well designed and built these cars were for their day. Having sat in a covered barn for 30 some years didn't hurt it all that much either. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

But we all have our interests, biases and desires...what a person does with an old car, antique or Classic, is up to them. There is more than enough space on these old roads for all of us.

Now if anyone with billions want to give a poor, disabled soul the dream of a life time, a 1936 Bugatti Atalanta would be greatly appreciated!! And yes, I would drive it to and from the doctor, pharmacy and store. Drive them! Enjoy them and show the world that at one time, cars were something special!!! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[6219_Rules]

Brian - I must apologise. In respect to PFH, I was under the impression I could only ban from my forum (CCCA). I have since learned I should have banned him ASAP when I knew it was him.

My failure...you were right. In my efforts to be civil were misguided. Ah well. Now on with the thread. Sorry for the interruption.

[Packard8]

Agreed Brian, when the ?phartmann virus? is purged from the board the discussions quickly revert back to what they should be??..Packard topics?technical, historical, hands-on practical, parts interchange, etc, etc.

Sad that one individual has made a hobby of disrupting a valuable resource for the rest of us.

[WCraigH]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Agreed Brian, when the ?phartmann virus? is purged from the board the discussions quickly revert back to what they should be??..Packard topics?technical, historical, hands-on practical, parts interchange, etc, etc.

Sad that one individual has made a hobby of disrupting a valuable resource for the rest of us. </div></div>

Packard8: great phrase coinage: "PHartmann virus". I had been using the ignore feature, but when the PHartmann virus started to multiply, that simple remedy didn't work anymore. Apparently, the regular posters on this "backwater DF" (to borrow a phrase from BH) are sufficiently viable antibodies to this virus. And I thank you all.

[55PackardGuy]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">the board the discussions quickly revert back to what they should be...</div></div>

Oh, I dunno about that. From my observation, there are still entire threads devoted to baiting and name-calling on this forum--and they weren't started by the individual in question. Although they are perpetuated by him and numerous others. And they have nothing to do with any "advancement" of the hobby--other than the hobby of name-calling--that I can see.

Randall, I don't think you owe any apologies. You basically saw that there were numerous parties involved in the recent bashing sessions, and decided not to single out one individual as the culprit. I think you were right.

I would sincerely like to see the name-calling stopped, and some of the parties screaming for banishment to realize that they are doing so in a way that seems an awful lot like the behaviors that they so self-righteously decry in the people they threaten to have banned. It gets to looking like a personal "war" between parties who just don't like each other--with no real "good guys" in sight. I think that's the way it looks to people who come looking on these boards for the first time, and that's the real damage. It just makes us look foolish. I post regularly on three other automotive web sites, and I see nothing like this behavior from the mostly younger people who post on them. They just know a troll when they see one, and don't reply.

If you think someone is a "troll" and only making posts to bait others into an argument, you are falling for their trap by arguing with, "correcting," chastising or otherwise making ANY reply to their posts. So use that Ignore feature--for as many aliases as you expect the "troll" is using--and most important, don't even LOOK at the thread any more. It'll die a quick death unless someone caves in and keeps it going. Sure, it's tempting to take "one more look" but just don't do it. That's the only efficient way to successfully self-moderate a board.

If anyone seriously seeks to ban someone, I would encourage the offended party to take it up privately with the people who can do something about it, rather than trumpeting eloquent threats.

All I've got to say--ain't checking back here again. No way no how.

Thank you for your time.

[Guest CaptainBristol]

Just wanted to let everyone know that I went ahead and had the "new" brake linings replaced after my mechanic located NOS brake linings made with asbestos. The previous brake linings I had were brand new but were made with modern materials. I got these from Kanter. Despite the newness, I experienced fading brakes on a long downhill stretch and this did not sit well with me.

The cost to install the NOS linings was about $350 but it was absolutely worth it, as the brakes now work admirably. After I picked up the car from the shop, I took on three adult passengers and headed for the same, steepish hill that gave me brake trouble earlier. Although I proceeded down the mile-long grade in 2nd gear, I still needed to apply the brakes frequently. I experienced almost no brake fade. At the bottom of the hill there was plenty of pedal left and I could easily have skidded to a stop had I chosen to do so.

[Guest imported_Speedster]

That's Good to Know. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

"They just Don't Make 'em, Like they Use'ta" <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Twitch]

This is a thing in the category that ultimately stings all us car buyers. The seller tells us something like "it's got new brakes." "New" brakes doesn't mean they were done right. A "rebuilt" transmission could be full of STP and that quiet engine could be full of 50wt oil/STP. This goes for any car. Glad you put a "stop" to things. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />