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That picture was taken with the car running on choke. Idle is set to about 600rpm when warm. I run a tach because my car's hopped up with vintage speed equipment... and I race it.

There's an advantage to letting the jungle encroach on private property: Mother Nature is constantly playing security guard, with skeeters, yellow jackets, and slithery reptiles...nosey trespassers may think they're adept at sneaking around when they think nobody's looking, but Mother Nature's enforcers exact their toll, no matter what 🐝🐍

Teflon should work when exposed to gasoline, though that rubber fuel line looks a little long in tooth. When I apply the Teflon tape, I try to go 3 circuits, starting at the tip of the threads and overlapping 1/3 the tape width...this adds additional taper to the mechanical connection and shuts off any possible leak path.

I just removed my transmission, clutch, flywheel, and engine oil pan. The tranny and flywheel can be done solo if you are in decent shape. (Muscles). Flywheel was easier than I expected. The hardest part was the starter mounting bolt. You could just pull the cylinder head and oil pan. Remove rod caps. Push pistons out the top. Hone. Wash vigorously. Perform valve grind by hand. I’ve done that. The hardest part might be leaning over your fenders doing the valve grind for all those hours. Definitely do-able.

Home Depot sells warped, split, and twisted lumber at 70% off, and the frugal carpenter sees that flawed lumber as having potential. Cutting these sticks into shorter pieces can yield shelving reinforcement, trailer jack pads, and custom jack stands. The basic 2×6 jack stand is cube shaped, very difficult to tip over but takes up valuable space if ya need to do work nearby. The tall pyramid jack stand comes in handy when ya need space to maneuver, but not as stable as the cube...it can be tipped over, but not easily. The short pyramid is a good general purpose lumber jack stand...difficult to tip over, gives more room to work than the cube. I recall figuring that each of these lumber jack stands cost less than 2 bucks in materials when I built them during lockdown.

Paint color? Nope!

I need to add, Rockauto has them in stock, do a part number search.

Think I need that tee shirt, too!

Ok, point made. But 12v coils are available that don't require a resistor, I have one on the TR6.

Front seal leak might be attributed to a groove worn in the crank sealing surface. A speedi-sleeve install can often fix it. An oil pan gasket that was trimmed too short could cause an oil leak at the front of the oil pan. Loose oil pan mounting bolts could allow for a leak. Rarely the case in these old engines, synthetic oil will leak out or almost everywhere. Don’t use it in these old engines. A warped front timing chain cover can cause an oil leak. Over the past 80 year some people have really pounded in a new front seal. A proper press is better. It does not cause deflection in the front cover.

Look up SA gear, part number 73111. American made - double tooth unit. Parts stores can order it with the correct part number from SA.

This is a factory option turn signal indicator bezel which I've had sitting around for many years. I recently got it fitted when my car was re-wired and I'm really pleased with it. Video here: IMG_0451.mov

come on folks, this is what builds character, some rise to the challenge and others fall to the wayside....you need a challenge once in a while just so not to become totally complacent. Sorry honey, you will have to take out the trash, after this excellent sandwich you made me, I have to get back to the starter bolt that is kicking my butt.

Last year I removed the starter on my 47 DeSoto, to replumb the oil filter lines. No way of getting a typical wrench on the upper bolt. I couldn't use a standard socket because the end of the starter is narrower than the body, interfering with a socket extension. An open-end crowsfoot would not stay on the bolt. So I ordered a crowsfoot from Grainger with a 12-point box end. A bit-ch, but it worked. I also supported the starter with a rope sling. We old folks need all the help we can devise.

Spring arrived this week. I saw enough vintage cars and motorcycles on the road to stir-up some nostalgia. I removed the car cover and rolled out my ‘38 Chrysler today. It flashed up and ran like a hot engine that was just tuned-up yesterday. I didn’t do a thing other than check the oil and hit the electric fuel priming pump. I love a well maintained flathead engine. While warming it up the pup wanted in on the action. We went around the neighbourhood a couple times. I will drain the oil now and put in a fresh jug of 10W40. How’s 2024 shaping up in your Mopar neighbourhood? -59,331 miles.