55 Fargo

Dave the paint looks awesome, and with a sponge roller too boot. I have experiment with Tremclad, and rollers, the results are very good with either system, once you get the knack for the rolling. Can hardly wait to see the finished product...Fred

I know these needles can bounce a bit, but going to discharge while driving, then to show charge, is a little strange. All of the connections are good,you mention the genny is of unknown origin, so maybe it requires testing. Actually, I will reserve comment, as I am not knowledgeable when it comes to the old genny/reg systems. I always think if mine fails, i will replace it with a GM single wire alt. Glad the cruise was a success, at 57 mph how does it sound, are you running a 4.11 diff in there, any idea what gas mileage you are getting.........sorry I wasn't much help Fred

Here's a pic of the 41 Stude, it was painted using Truevlaue XO Rust Paint...................Fred

Ed, you would reduce it with autobody enamel reducer,say medium speed, if under 75 degrees, or slow if over 75. add Evercoat universal hardner and gloss agent, spray with HVLP. Color sand and/or compound. This should look killer, add some flames for good measure. You would lay on 2-3 coats wet on wet, I think. Maybe Normscoupe can post the pic of the 41 Stude that was painted this way with Rustoleum Red paint, I think that car was painted outside, in Las Vegas somehwere, it looked awesome in the pics. Heck what is there to lose, if you don't like the paint job,sand it out, prime with automotive primer/surfacer, such as PPG K36, and paint with either BC/CC or Single stage enamel. But I think you might like the results of the Rustoleum paintjob. I know I may end up doing just this, once all of my mechanical items are all done, and the bodywork is completed......Fred

Hey 50, you don't expect us to wait for pics now do ya, go take some and post tonight, looking forward to the results.....Rock

How about making some skids, with a platform or something to lay the engine on, do you have a small tractor or quad, that you could drag this thing to where you ned to go with it,or pull with a winch of some sort. Or how about a small utility trailer, load it on and get a helper and drag it out to where you need to take it. as far as the weight minus the head and oil pan, around the 550 to 600 pound range, I believe a complete engine is in the 700 pound range.

Here is a pic of my finished out sdie panel patch replacement, well the fine work is yet to be done before paint. The one pic is of the under panel, it still needs a little more weld, then will pull screws. There is a pic of the window, where when raining hard would allow some seepage to get by, it would flow riht down to the bottom, and sit if there were no drain holes for it to exit, just the same as any car door, I suppose.....Fred

Hi Don, these windows will naturally drain water into these cavities, even with good window channnel and sweep. For years mine had no windows, of course water would go down there and sit. sand, dirt, water, clogged into sheetmental cavities, will cause rot and rust. I am not afraid to drive it in the rain. My plan is to drill 2 or 3 -3/8 drain holes, so ain't no water gonna sit there.. As far as welding goes, I have a mig welder, it's some of the spots are almost impossible to get the handle/tip into. Most of it is welded, some of it is riveted, not afarid of rivets, they put Planes and Buses together with rivets. An the best part is, you can't see the repair, unless you get down on all 4s and have a look under, there will be no voids, just wanted to get a better opportunity to weld more of it........Fred

Hi Bob,thanx for the rply, I have sqaure tube steel running the length of the original rockers. So I plan on drilling a couple of drain holes, in them. The car has been garaged for a while now, would probably be driven in the nicer weather, if caught out in the rain while going for a cruise so be it, it won't be driven in the snow If I can help it.If the car for whatever reason had to stay outdoors, I would put up a porta garage or cover it with a good quality tarp. So the chance for a lot of water or salt and sand getting in there is probably slim to none. So hopefully my patch job will be okay, it is a real pain in the you know where, to weld in this area, and welding upside down is no picnic either. the patches are part welded, and part riveted, I am no pro, but want it to be secure and sealed from dust and exhaust......Thanx again Fred

Recent pic, still needs to be painted in there yet

Heres how it looked when I first started to work on the floors inside the car. Will post a recent pic later. But as you can see it is an awful rusted mess in there.

Has any of you guys had the luck or misfortune, to have to replace rotten metal down below rear quarter window, at the floor. Mine was rusted out in there, I have repaired it, but what a SO Beach, to repair this area, very hard to get tools and hands in there to begin with, I did the patching from under the car, that wasn't so easy, to do either. Well at best it's a bush league job, it's sealed up, but I am not too satisifed with the results as usual, maybe I should take up crochet, no wait a minute that would drive me crazier:D . So if any of you had to repair a rusted out area such as this, how did you do it and how did it turn out. At one point I was going to leave it open down there, and seal the cover panel from inside the car. I was thinking it would be good drainage, nothing to hold water and debris in there to start the rot process all over again. But I figured the dust or exhaust may get in there. What may be the best way to fix up this area ............Thanx Fred

Out where I live, not that I am exempt, but the door stays unlocked all night in the garage, it is locked when we are not home, but I am in the country. Now if I lived in Winnipeg that would be a different story, would leave a pit bull in there for security, without windows or barred windows and barred doors........Fred

Hi all, forgot to mention, on Tuesday night, installed new rotors and pads on my 05 Dodge Caravan. It was a very simple job, the reason I replaced rotors was because, I had scored one, as the tabs did not give off any advance warning, and lax me didn't inspect them lately. Funnything, the van was in for warrranty work 3 weeks ago, as it was just passed warranty, and being brakes, I of course opted to service it myself.......Fred

Tim, at my place, and I am more rural than you, I think. We don't get too many stray dogs either. My old pooch chases them away, but we do get Coyotes, the odd Timber Wolf. They can sometimes try and lure the old dog out, but she is smart and stays put in the yard. The Deer are so plentiful, they can be a nusaince, in my area, the deer hunt can only be done with bow, or muzzle loader or shotgun.Last night the fireflies were putting on a good light show, we get a lot of critturs around here at times, the odd Black Bear, but nothing fancy as an Armidillo.........Fred

Wow Eric, what an adventure, this is the case of it being "darkest just before dawn". Glad you were able to hook up with this gentleman, let us know how everything turns out with the car, post some pics of it when you have time.......Fred

Its a Independance Day, Happy 4th of July to all, take it easy on the food and drink today, and of course the UV rays...............Fred ps it's going to be warm here today about 80 and of course more Thunderstorms possible

A local auto electric shop makes either 6v pos or neg Alternators. He uses a GM single wire alternator, he sells them for $100.00

50s Chevy truck, electric brake light switch may do the trick..........Fred

Yes life is short at times, you don't have a chance when a semi-truck pushes you into the ditch at 60 MPH. I can still remeber a tour bus driver telling myself and my family way back in 1973 in Anaheim California, about his son being tragically killed on his motorcycle, the bus driver had a bit of a tear in his eye when he told the story, he call them "murdercycles". No doubt it hurt him to the end..........Fred

Thanx Pat, it's a 2005 Dodge Caravan w/o ABS, it has rear drum brakes. It's flat here so brakes might not take the beating like it does in hilly terrain in you area, but not sure. These brakes should not have worn this IMHO at 40k, in miles, especially since it is 80% highway driving

Hi all, yesterday while at work, it was an uneventful day in the Prison, as we were still on holiday routine. We were all sitting around joking and having a good time. We then get a phone call, one of our brother officers was killed on the highway leading to the Prison. It is a busy commuter highway that goes to single lane about 25 miles out of Winnipeg. Brian was travelling northbound on Hwy #7 on the single section, a semi truck was passing him and another car, as there was a car coming in the opposite direction, the semi driver pulled quickly back into his lane. He hit Brian, who was driving his HD motorcycle, he was knocked into the ditch where he died at the scene.Brian was 44 yo, a single parent to 2 kids and a 20 year vetran Officer, what a $hitty way to go. One reason why I never got interested in riding motorcycles,if he had been in a car he may have been seen better by the semi driver, or if hit would have had a better chance for survival.....Fred

Hi all, have to change my disc brake pads and 1 rotor. There is only 40k on the van, we have had it for 3 years and live in the country. My wife had it out this weekend, came back the right fron grinding away, no tab warning. The rotor is badly scored, the other is fine, I am going to change these items tonight, can anyone advise me on the procedure. Yeah I know it's simple, but believe or not I have never done a disc brake pad change, done plenty of drum, but not disc. Any advice on buying pads, go with economy, mid grade or ceramic high end, the rotor will be a stock type, would like high end type but can't afford it right now.........Thanx Fred

Hey Bob, I know someone with a 47 Chrysler.LOL Fred

John, how about a pic of this, would like to see, as I would like to try and make some up for my 47 Chrashler.........Fred