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Dolly Dodge has plans to attend. Still working on getting a trailer for her. UHaul won't rent one to me for her. I have one lined out that friend said I can use. I will have to go over and back in a day, but at least she will make one of the BBQs.

Thanks, I hope so too. 40 Years is a long time and change isn't easy as we get older. Today was my last day. They had a dinner for me with the other maintenance guys, supervisors, etc. A lot of nice things were said about me. I told my wife, "I bet people don't speak that nice of me at my funeral". lol They told me the offer still stands, if the new job doesn't work out they would love to have me back. It's hard to leave, spent more time with a lot of the people there than my own family over the years. Made some really good friends. I know I'll see some at Wal-Mart or the grocery store but some probably not. It was a sad day all in all but I hope to make new friends and look forward to the time I will get to spend with my own family now. I know at the new job they are pretty strict so some of the horse play and pranks will stop. I got in a few before I left. One fellow maintenance tech was on vacation. I was concerned his tool box might roll away so I welded a piece of bar stock to his table and his box frame. I was also concerned about his locker, the lock looked a bit flimsy. I would hate for someone to break in with him gone...so I welded the door up. We've always looked out for eachother. All of this has been kinda stressful. I'll be leaving out in the morning for the Charlotte Auto Fair and swap meet. Going to have lots of cold beverages and just roll myself in old car junk. Maybe I will find a few parts for the Plymouth or the other projects, if not I know at least I will find a good time.

I see my name on the list! OMG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm leaving tomorrow for my annual AZ sun at the pool vacation and of course some excellent food and beverages... lotsa those golden cold beverages!!!. In five month's I'll be retired and free to do what I want... so next year for sure... OK!

Well after careful consideration and evaluation I have accepted a new job offer. I have been at my present job for 25years as a maintenance tech. I really hate to leave but the opportunity just seems too good. At my old job overtime was always the norm. It had become overwhelming in the last few years. Been wearing me down. I had almost become apathetic tword my 46 Plymouth project and a few others. The new job will be a weekend days shift. I will be working three 12 hour days and getting paid for 40hrs. I will have 4days a week off with the new job among other perks such as a very significant raise that will almost equal the overtime pay I was receiving. Other perks are a much shorter drive, profit sharing and a it's very solid company. I've been so excited about it all. My youngest daughter who still lives at home is also excited. We have lots of plans for the summer. Fishing, camping and bike riding just to name a few. It's kinda scary making a change after so long. I will loose my comfort zone but I think the potential benefits outweigh the risk. Wish me luck guys!

With my dad (co-pilot) and our major award.

Gary......my Oz assembled Detroit export D15D 1940 Dodge has a brass hood mascot, I've owned the car since 1971 and it was a good condition unrestored stocker when I bought it so I'm about 99.999% certain its not a reproduction, it rechromed beautifully as all brass does..........sorry this is the closest pic of the hood mascot I have..............in fact the front windscreen centre divider I made in the early 70's from 1"x1/2" brass bar hacksawed top to bottom then a 3/8x14 piece soldered onto the rear drilled and tapped to hold the inside division piece, then hand file finished(yep I was young, stupid and much fitter, lol) then chromed, after 40 odd years the chrome on both pieces is still very nice..........any chrome shop should be able to chrome the brass pieces without any problem, in fact they should probably prefer the brass to steel.................andyd.

The rain (believe it or not!) has made the clean up process difficult...so I hope y'all love (lawn) grass...lol. The BBQ is almost here.... as it always happens, a few forum names will come up....some asking questions like "wonder what he's like?" "wonder if he'll come out next year?" or "wouldn't it be great if that guy was here, I'd like to talk with him". It's what created the "Wish You Were Here Award". An award that reminds everyone on the forum, no matter where you're at, you're invited!! Past winners: 2008 Don Coatney 2009 Merle Coggins 2010 Hank aka HanksB3B 2011 Ed aka Young ED 2012 Bud aka Budstruck 2013 Tim Adams aka Plymouthy Adams 2014 Mark aka ggdad1951 and Davin aka Desotodav 2015 Joe Hanely aka 52b3 Joe 2016 Dave aka Dave72dt 2017 Rob aka Dodge4ya This year, its a guy who has every post logged, filed, tagged, or I'm sure, memorized! You can never be sure how many trucks he actually has, because I believe he's like the rest of us and has enough pieces stashed away to actually build another truck. He's always willing to offer a link to a well thought out post he made/read, or share new insight on a recent experience. Its always been the best part about the trucksite, I think, people's abilities to share ideas, and he has been great about it! You can't help but notice when someone puts in an effort like that and I hope he has many more posts to share in the long haul. So here's to you! • 2018 JBNeal • Congratulations Sir!!! Look for your trophy in the mail my friend. 48D

With my lift safety check, and my successful mountain road test behind me, today I felt worthy to attach the forum indents. I put one in the window to remind me of the membership privilege and the one on the tailgate a bit askew beside the recycle icon to remind those who follow that I recycle and that perfection is not a prerequisite to this hobby, but active participation is!

Found gold in the glovebox. Receipts galore, including a receipt for a .060 over rebuilt engine from From Fuller Engines. Receipt's for the engine install suggest around 1975. The engine number matches the card but it was ground off and re stamped as many re builders do, so I don't know displacement. The car was put away from 1980- 2017 when it was sold at the old lady's estate sale.

This is my last post on this subject,but anybody that thinks politics doesn't have anything to do with old cars has his head stuck in a hole in the ground. Politics controls every aspect of our lives.

Your engine has internal bypass for the thermostat. The second pic that you posted is an external bypass system. Your housing is fine. There was also one with an elbow, like what Brent showed, but yours will work fine. Either get a flexible hose like baby_gonzo’s or take Tim’s suggestion and find a molded hose with a bend in it.

Yeah, well, you know.. that's just like.. your opinion, man...

..."Strikes and gutters, ups and downs... the dude abides"

Ahhh,but the charm was IIRC the Cobra Jets used aluminum intakes. If there was ever an engine that needed an aluminum intake,it was a FE Ford.

Irony would be deleting this post because of the actions of a few percent of the followers. Wouldn’t that be political????

The "as found" photos were unbelievable. The original owner obviously loved and took care of that car. I also loved the restored ambulance. Is it English?

You don't need luck. You already have good fortune. When counting up the pluses and considering income,don't forget to include the money you save from not having to drive to and from work 2 days a week,plus the maintenance and wear and tear on your car.

Money can always be made, but our time is very short and limited. Congratulations Flatie46! I am very happy for you. I too can be rehired with previous employers. You must be a very professional guy.

I have a thread regarding this in the "off topic" part of the site.

I really don't need nor should have another project but this seeming manufactured frame is unusual. It even has a production/serial number on it. The seller is looking for VW engine, transmission, and rear axle parts for me. I think I will have my 13 year old grandson, who lives with us, under my guidance rebuild it into a street legal, two passenger dune buggy. Then I have an economical run down town vehical. Have two pair of rear tires.

Sounds like you were in a good place. The new job will be fine, too.. It's all to do with you and your attitude.. Have a good time at Charlotte!! I'm sure we'd all like to be there, too.. I'm going to an auction with a couple of friends to look at some motorcycles and parts.. If we don't end up with anything we'll at least run the prices up!!

Ahhh,the perfect getting in the way of the practical! It's a old sad,sad story that most of us are familiar with. We all start out with stars in our eyes,but those of us who weren't born into cubic money end up having to face the reality in the end that states "No matter how pretty it is,it's junk if you can't drive it."

I used the original motor mounts of the Diplomat IFS. locating the whole cross member in a level fashion helps account for the 3 degrees of slant back to the rear axle. I've duplicated this build several times and built a jig that I use to locate the cuts to the frame. The cuts to the frame allow me to get the angles correct and maximize the intended use of the torsion bars. in other words the tension applied to the bars for ride height and suspension performance. I discovered early on that many (ie ford guys) had "used" the torsion bar tensioners to raise and lower the front end height, negating the intended performance of torsion bars. There really is only about 1.5 inches of preferred tension use...or "for best results". So making the cut to the frame really is important to get good ride response. And like other have said....knotching the firewall is required. For me, weight distribution was the motivation. If I had not reworked the firewall, the weight distribution would have been off. Gotta keep all four paws firmly to the ground. 48D

Hey, I see George Carlin, Dave Barry, and John Jerome....good reading material!

thanks Bob.....pulling the fat out of the fire once again with a valid picture.....

I would have to go out in the barn and crawl under my car to look at that particular style perch........am back.......I did not get a clear view but by looking it seems the stud will unscrew from the bullnose of the perch. I would recommend a couple heat cycles with a torch to ensure that any rust bond is broken by the heat....

At the risk of getting too deep into the subject, I believe that it needs to be said that having the correct timing when the engine is at operating speed under load is more important than initial timing. Let's face it, if the car starts and idles, it's probably OK. Cars spend most of their time under power going down the road, and this is where having the correct timing is most important. One of the best things you can do is to use an timing light with an adjustable advance to at least check to see if the advance mechanisms (mechanical and vacuum) are working correctly. Beyond this, the use of a distributor machine (such as a sun unit) allows the advance curve to be checked and tailored to the engine. Done right, the distributor will have the proper initial advance for easy starting and idling and the proper increase in advance at higher RPM's and under load for optimum performance and fuel economy.

Lucky man! The first car I ever bought with my own money that I got to drive was a 1938 Chrysler Royal,but mine was a 4 dr sedan. Not the sexiest vehicle for a 14 year old boy,but it was only 20 bucks and it was hard to earn money as a summer laborer around construction sites in the early 60's. With the help of an older cousin I got the valves unstuck so it would run,and it ran perfectly. Even the radio played. One owner car bought new by a woman that died and left it to her nephew,who had no interest in it and left it parked outside. The upholstery was even perfect. It ran so good my father sold it while I was away from home visiting friends one weekend,and kept the money.

gotta have some deep pockets to get the Alsa Killer chrome....I understand that there is a very nice bright silver on the market that is in the powder coat system, seen pics only, nothing in person so cannot make a true judgment call. Chrome has been off the wall in cost for years with no relief in sight.

Both my bumpers were pretty bad. I looked at rechroming but about the best deal I could get was $400 apiece. I looked at chrome paint. The Alsa chrome was about the best. But instead I went with Eastwood chrome paint. Used POR15 as a base coat. Actually looked pretty good till I laid on the clear coat. It helps protect it but sure did take away from the chrome look. You can see the difference from the first pic without clear coat. Second pic with clear.

War actually started for Commonwealth nations Sept. 1939 so garyp can claim his car was a prototype to test public response. black out models in Canada did not make their appearance until 42 as in the US but there were some awfully plain janers from that era including some with right hand drive. I remember a 40 Chev which may never have been shipped. The owner had a lot of fun with it while his wife was learning to drive. this would have been around 1952.

To remove the old stud you can support the back of the drum with a piece of 2" pipe that surrounds the head of the stud and then you can knock it out with your BFH without hurting the drum, penetrating oil and possibly heat will make it easier. If you are removing a stud you want to save then you are better off finding someone to press them out. To install the new stud, it will have a knurled shaft by the head of the stud, slide the stud through the hole in the drum as far as it will go and then add a greased stack of flat wafers about an inch thick over the stud. Install your lug nut upside down on the stud (flat side down) and as you tighten the nut against the greased stack of washers it will draw the stud into the hub until the head seats against the back of the drum. I did that repair on my 55 Chevy when I was 17 years old in the public library parking lot after an over zealous tire jockey over-tightened my lugnuts and four of the five studs snapped off while I was driving, all I needed was hand tools and a few well-chosen non-literary words to complete the job.

LOVE it! Not everything needs to be restored or modified,and seeing basically stock unrestored cars being drive around will probably inspire some people to look for their own old cars to fix as "drivers". People that just have a casual interest in old cars are intimidated by the complexity,expense,and time of a restoration,but showing them it's ok to just put one back on the road without spending tens of thousands on a restoration is ok,too. Plus,even some people that might prefer a restoration just don't have the tools,the time,the experience,or even a place to work with the room needed to do a restoration may even come to understand a presentable,if not perfect,car you can drive beats the hell out of something you MIGHT be able to drive several years from now if everything goes perfectly. AND....,IMNSHO,it's driver cars that people see running around locally on trips to the store,etc,etc,etc that pulls new blood into the hobby,not show cars at car shows. People that go to car shows are already interested in old cars.

never seen brass but my oldest cars go back to 1941 only. As for chrome plating, the process and word reasonable rarely show up in the same sentence. Alternatives, contrasting paint, powder coating with the silver chrome they now have or Alsa Killer Chrome kit. Black it out like the 42 war models, just tell everyone the owner saw the war coming.

In this vein, how many of you are aware of eBay's "Saved Searches"? I am looking for a couple of things and have "Saved Searches" for them. If someone lists something I am looking for, I get an email the next morning. Last week, I was able to score a Hurst 3-speed "Master Shifter" (the "good one") for $25. You have to do some creative thinking to come up with the proper arguments to snare what you're looking for, but it's served me very well.

Stay on top of Wheeksmith. They're real good,....on the phone. I went to Rally America as mentioned above after the other guys dropped the ball. Stock Mopar Cop Car rims bolt right up, 'Tho they're 15" x 7".

Out for a pre BBQ test drive today. Will put it on a lift on Tuesday for a full safety check, new rear shocks, and oil change then drive it up to the Sequoia Giant Redwood trees, a 6,000 ' climb in 35 miles, a great test. So stopped by this beautiful field of flowers for a picture.

And here's the other part of it?

Make sure you replace the brake lines,the brake hoses,and the wheel cylinders. This isn't the place to cut corners. Seriously nice score,though.

WOW, I don't know how do you guys do it! dare I say, awesome forecast........

A local club has a single cylinder diesel that was used to run an air compressor for the building of the Holland Tunnel, then it was used with a snow making machine at a ski resort, and then donated to the club. It took them several years to get it running again (in part because of the massive footings and mounting base for it) and it purrs like a kitten now. I believe the cylinder bore is around 15 inches or so and it shakes the ground when it runs. And the tunnel doesn't go to Holland, it links NYC and Jersey City, N.J.

Strangely enough I did not know there were diesel hit and miss engines. I've seen some quite large gas hit and miss engines but never a diesel. I don't think this one would pass modern pollution regulations. I sure would love to see and feel it run as it apparently shakes the ground according to what I googled about it. Certainly be a great obnoxious neighbour deterrent! Just fire it up when they are downwind of you.

installation completed.....I am happy....

700 pounds of flagstone.... piece of cake.

Best of Luck with your new job and remember the old saying... "No one lays on their death bed wishing they had spent more time at the office"

The lawn WILL be mowed, I'll see to it! ...and the RR ties stacked.

To quote the Poet Robert Frost "Good fences make good neighbors."

"figure out the codes enforcement, either get in spec or know the loopholes well." I agree, learn the codes and use them as best you can. Find out if you can raise hogs and pen them on his side of your property. Chickens too with an early morning rooster. Another option is to have weekend B-B Q's with the local Harley enthusiasts. During the week too, what the heck. You could also start a heavy metal band and practice in the garage or better, a shed near his property line. Do you plat the trombone? Might be time to start. Oh, get some security cameras and aim them at yours and his property line.

Well, first of all, are you within the code restrictions for your property? If you are in compliance then there should only be one visit from those folks. Same with the sheriff's office. If you are in compliance then you should have nothing to worry about. If he escalates the problem, then consider a solution.

Axle Wheel & Alignment Company, 126 North Washington Street, Wichita, Kansas 67202, 316.263.0213. When I lived there, I damaged a Cragar wheel, and they repaired it almost as good as new (the chrome was compromised, and they don’t do chroming – for that I took it the wheel to Wichita Bumper, and that turned out great, too, but that’s another story for another time...). I haven’t lived there for many years, so I don’t know if they still service wheels, but it’s worth a phone call, and if they don’t, maybe they can refer you to someone who can. Just an idea . . . Thx.