47heaven

What would be a reasonable size for my P15 to pull? Remember that I have the 230cid '49 Dodge D-24 engine w/overdrive. I don't want the teardrop style, but more of the traditional "canned ham" style instead. What would be a reasonable size and weight that would be sufficient for my car to pull without doing any damage to the trans? I know our cars have good torque, but were they made to pull trailers, originally? I was thinking something like in the pics below (maybe 15-20ft). A vintage Dodge that obviously pulled this one.

Definately, to each his own, but one is also allowed to his or her own opinion of something. I've made it known many times on here how I feel about chopping a car, and, of course, I don't expect everyone to bend the same way I do in my opinions. I mean, people can take it or leave it, I say. I just can't see how someone can cut up a classic car to the point of no return Dezeldoc...no offense. If it make you feel better, you can take shots at my car for being stock.

Sad.

Well, you have a point there, Bob. Man, that is sure a sad site. I think a modern day car would have been level with the ground had the same tree fallen on it.

LMAO...When did Godzilla hit town? Looks like the Plymouth got in his way.

On the way out to Blythe a couple weeks ago, I managed to get the car up to 85 (this is with the overdrive). When I realized how fast I was going, quickly backed off to 75mph. What I didn't know at the time is that the two front tires were almost out of tread, which I noticed after pulling over to rest. When I saw that, it scared the poop out of me; realizing that the could have had a blow out on the freeway and that would have been the end of that. I had about 21 more miles to Blythe, so I got off on the old highway and cruised in there at 40 mph. I knew I wasn't going to make it to Prescott on those tires, so I got new radials in Blythe, and as I said before...what a difference! I also feel safer driving at higher speeds, now, as well.

Ok, guys. Here's my new senario. As I had mentioned on the Arizona Fun Run thread...I had to buy new radial tires for my P15. Due to this, I lost my bias ply whitewalls. Now, I love the radials and the difference in the ride they give me, but I really still like the whitewall look. I have three choices to chose from and need a little advice on which would be the best. 1. Snap-on metal whitewalls: Someone I know has offered to give me a set of these that he is no longer using. The only problem is that his are for 16" and my rims are 15". The question was brought up about possibly doing something to shorten them through means of fabrication, but can't quite figure out how to do it without possibly destroying them. Where would the shortening have to be done on the ring to make it fit? I personally have never seen them up close before. I would like to jump on these, but there's no sense in taking them if what I have planned to do will ruin them and they still don't fit. 2. Paint on whitewalls: A link from Ebay showing a new type of whitewall paint was sent to me from a friend. I'm not familiar with this procedure so I'm not quite sold on it. According to the photos, the results look nice, but how long will they last for? To me, nothing is more embarrassing then to have painted on whitewals and it looks like it. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230341095619&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:MOTORS:1123 3. Porta walls: I've heard of these before, but have never seen how they look up close by themselves or on a tire. I heard they look pretty close to an original whitewall, but after a while start to disengage from the tire, peel and curl...etc. Has anyone on here used these on their cars before? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nova-Chevy-Buick-Ford-NOS-15White-Wall-Portawall-Set_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1171Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem4145bc7cb7QQitemZ280342854839QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories So, there is my ordeal. Do I make a choice or just wait until some 15" snap on Lyon whitewalls come around? I don't want to go out and buy wide whitewall radials because (1) I just bought these and (2) I don't have $250+ to pay for each tire. So any advice would be helpful. Thanks, Darin PS: Here's another method I read online about using Rustoleum plastic paint. See what you think: http://www.renaultcaravelle.com/tips.html]

You have my condolances, Don. I know all too well how it feels to lose a pet. They really are part of the family. Maybe sometime soon you will get a new puppy and give it the nice home your former dog had. Darin

Tim, that's what I was thinking, but it sounded more like he was bending more towards the fact that they were worn. I thought that they were replaced when I had the brake system rebuilt, but I guess not...I'd have to look on the paperwork. I noticed that when I hit a bump in the road the front end seems loose and the stearing wheel moves to both sides by itself. Is that a sign of bad king pins? Ed, yes...please send me the part number. Which are better pins to get...brass, steel or bronze?

Thanks! Yes, I did get the alignment, but the place that I had the alignment done at said that the king pins were possibly worn. What important role do the king pins play in the alignment anyway?

Oh yeah...they were all over. You had to be careful not to hit them.

I guess no matter which way I went home the wind was going to get me. I couldn't believe just how many semi trailers were driving in that like it was nothing. I saw one on the 40 sort of start tippingmade sure that I kept my distance.

Todd, if you do decide to take that route let me know and I'll give you all the turnoffs so that you don't miss and inch of driveable 66 from Barstow to Seligman. I know it like the back of my hand.

Rich- I did pass Hackberry, and there was a small, modern day Corvette club parked there, so I didn't bother stopping. I did see a lot of what was in your photos, though. It's one of those towns that if you blink you pass it.

Thanks, Norm. What do you think about the new blackwalls?

An old gas station along the route Met a fellow Moparer and his clean, original 1947 Desoto in Kingman. He had travelled from Orange County. Beautiful Arizona scenery heading up to Oatman. The switchbacks at Sitgreaves Pass, just before Oatman. Hard to believe that cars, busses, trucks and trailers and even military vehicles had to pass through here prior to 1953. Even the poor farmers of the mid-West passed right through here during the Dust Bowl era, as well. And the descend from Oatman towards the Colorado River. Still curvy and winding.

Took the Plymouth out to the Arizona Route 66 Fun Run this past weekend. It was pretty good because this time I took my time with the drive and tried to see a lot more than last year. The only thing is that I didn't realize just how bad my front end alignment was and by the time I got to Blythe, California, I needed two new front tires. So I just replaced all fours with black radials and now it has the "blackwall" look, which was common then, as well. I originally wanted to hold out for wide whitewall radials, but in the middle of the desert you really don't have any choice. I have to admit that the Plymouth drives better on the road and no more being thrown around on the freeway every time I drive over a rut. I do miss the whitewalls, but I'm gonna start looking for the white inserts. Anyway, below are some pics I wanted to share from the trip, but made to look like they were taken back in the past in glorious black and white. Out of Kingman going towards Oatman, I stopped at a completely restored 1930's gas station on the old highway called Cool Springs. It was restored from ruins. It was once a popular place to stop, rest, get gas and eat something before heading west through the approaching switchbacks. The owner took my pic. How it would have looked had I stopped there in '47. Info on the gas station itself: http://www.coolspringsroute66.com/ The weather in Arizona was nice and it wasn't too warm going back through the Mojave desert, but it was sure windy, and it was against me all the way. Also, when I got to Newberry Springs, I had to seek shelter behind a building because a small sand storm was approaching and I didn't want to get the paint or windshield pitted. All and all it was a great trip. Between Ash Fork and Seligman. Heading into Kingman on a pre-1953 alignment. Posing for the "broke down" look. In Oatman with just of a few of the original-style classics I saw there. We were a rare breed amongst the 55-57 Chevys and hot rod Chevelles...etc.

BY the way...what are the sizes of the bushings that I am looking for the sway bar and leaf springs?

Thanks, guys. I'll call these places today. Tim, that place you mentioned for the rear bushings...you didn't mention if they sold the sway bar bushings there as well or not. I don't know if I can get these things in time for the Arizona Route 66 Run this coming weekend. It will be about a 1000 mile round trip for me. You think the bushings can hold up, still? What's the danger of not changing the bushings...especially with the ones that go where the leaf springs are? Those are breaking up little by little. I think one is completely gone.

Noticing a lot of swaying in the front and clunking in the back when making turns. Can't be shocks for they are only three years old. Was told that it may be time to replace the rubber bushings. Does anyone know how many rubber pieces are needed in the front and how many needed in the back and what these pieces are called exactly. I'm sure Robert's probably carries them, but I need to know the exact name to order them. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Darin PS: I already tried searching for any previous links to this, but couldn't come up with anything.

Man, that really is a beautiful piece of classic machinery. Looks like it's been held in a time vault. I really hope the new owner can respect it by leaving it as it is and not customize or lower it...etc.

Sad to see just only a "few classics" along with the usual "old man" hot rods and custom cars. Looks like a nice show, though. Might try to make it next year. I certainly wouldn't make that trek through the Mojave Desert from late-June to September...LOL!

You guys must know Japanese because I can't understand a single thing on it.

I used to go to shows and events like VLV but these guys would look at me as if I were a snob or something because my car didn't sport the "not done yet" look. One time I went and later found as I was leaving that someone had spit on the car, so I haven't gone back to them since. One time I went to VLV, before I had my P15, and saw guys getting drunk, flicking bottle caps and hitting some cars at the show, which would lead to a confrontation and at times a fight. I knew right then that it wasn't the place to bring my car to. Besides, seeing all those cars butchered and chopped is more than I can bare to see. VLV...either you love it or you hate it.

The other day I was laying in bed thinking about trying something that I saw on a 1941 Chevrolet that I thought would look good on a P15 and that was a strip of red in the miidle of the stainless trim along the sides of the car. So I bought some pin strip and went to work. When I was done, I was impressed on how much it really looked like it was meant to be on the car and how it complimented the "special deluxe" script on the side of the hood and the hub caps. I know it's not "original," I think it's period correct. Anyway, here are some pics of it so I can get your opinions and thoughts. It's too bad the stainless wasn't embossed so that the strip could be painted in on it. First the '41 Chevy Now the P15 version: PS: Yeah, I know the hood needs to be aligned and straightened.