Norm's Coupe

I think old trucks Should be like old folks Admired but retired Just like old folks Leave work for young folks Let the young be mired and tired While the old be resting with feet on the spokes Talking with other folks.

Thought it had something to do with the mess in the truck. If that had been me, I would have had it delivered and my truck would have stayed nice and clean.

If you were to sprecken the English, maybe we would understand what you are mad about.

Well........I don't know. I did follow the little instructions that did come with the duster. You could really see the wax streaks if you hit the glass of one of the windows with it. I've had mine about as long as I've owned the coupe (14 years this year). Since it said the dirtier it looks the better it gets, I've never washed it and it still does the same thing, just shake it as I use it. You only notice the streaks on the stainless or chrome though, not the body. But........the body just starts looking dull after a few wipes with the duster. Maybe I should wash it and see what happens. However, also have another one for my wife's car and it does the same thing. She has washed hers and it still streaks and dulls the finish, and that's on a new car. Both are original California Dusters, not the cheap knockoffs. That said, the dusters say they have carnuba wax in them to attract the dust. That's the same stuff used in most furniture polishes. After several uses on a piece of furniture, you start to get a build up of wax, and will also start to make the finish look duller. That's what that 37 Philco radio I have had on it when I got it. About 40 some years worth. After I cleaned it all off the radio looked like new again. That carnuba wax is also what causes the streaks in the chrome and stainless. Of course, you can wipe that off with a cleaner like you and Greg mentioned. But.....I don't use any detail type cleaners, just the duster. I still use it because it is easier than always washing the car, but not really that happy with it.

Do you have dual heater setup. If you do, I believe there are two gaskets for the cowl vent. One on top vent, and another one on the lower vent inside the car under the dash. Greg. I have a California Duster and use it quite often. However, if you have one, have you noticed it leaves a film on your car. Eventually that film builds up after a few uses on the paint and dulls the shine. So........even with the duster, you have to keep washing the car to get rid of that wax film the duster leaves. Seems to also streak the stainless on the grill and the stainless eye brows on my headlights.

Jim, That light should have came on regardless if you had a dead battery or not. Should have been green or red the minute you plugged it in. It is possible the tender had a short in it when you bought it. Even if you hooked it up backwards by accident it's supposed to have reverse polarity protection for safety. I just looked at the instructions for my Deltran Battery Tender Junior. (actually just the card that was in the blister pack). Says 5 year warranty right on it. So........I'd contact them.

Did anyone notice the car sitting in front of the Chrysler. Looks like about a 53/54 Chrysler/Dodge or Desoto hardtop. As for this car, it looks decent, but........I think if I were to go to the trouble of fitting a Ford six cylinder in it, I would have gone all the way with a V8 of some kind.

Sorry to hear about your mother in law. Have a safe trip to Music City. Does sound like you'll have a little fun while there though, despite the reason for the trip.

If your battery was two years old and you seldom drove the car, there is a good chance it was bad when you put the tender on it. I've had batteries go in just two years or so myself before I started driving the coupe and moving it around the driveway, etc. They go fast when not used much.

Jim, How old was your battery to begin with, before using the battery tender? If your battery was a year or more old, maybe it had already started to corrode the cells before you hooked up the tender. I just started using one when I bought a new battery the first of January. Naturally being winter I haven't driven the car since, but I did start it up a few times. When I first put the tender on right after installing the battery the light was red. Next day when I looked, it was green indicating a full charge. I have started the car and let it run a few times without a problem. So........the real test will come soon when I remove the tender and use the car on a more regular basis. I know people who use a regular charger with auto shutoff that keeps them hooked up all winter without a problem too. That's why I questioned how old is your battery. My tender is a Deltran too. So........if I do have a problem I'll take my new battery back along with the tender, since the battery is only about 4 months old. I bought them both from the Remy shop at the same time. I wouldn't think they wouldn't sell those tenders if they had to replace too many batteries due to them messing up a new battery. It does say in the instructions to make sure your battery acid level is up while using the tender. It's just like running the car all the time. Have to check the level of acid in the battery because it's always being warmed up.

James, Actually when mine flew up like that I thought it had completely ripped off the car too. I looked in the mirror to see if was going to hit the car behind me. At the time I had no headliner in the car either, so when it hit the roof it really sounded terrible. Thought the wife was going to jump out of the car, she jumped so much. When I didn't see it flying off the back or side I reached out with my hand to see if it was still there. Once I realized it was still attached I never slowed down at all during that time. Figured if it damaged the roof, the damage was already there and I could do nothing about it anyway, so kept going. Only had about 5 miles to go anyway by that time. Took it off right after parking at the show and taking the picture. Luckily, I had no damage or even a new scratch on the car from it hitting the roof. However, the Fulton was bent a little, but repairable. However, I did not repair it, just sold it as is on ebay.

We've had about the same kind of weather here. Last Saturday it was about 75 degrees F. Sunday it was in the high 30's to low 40's and rain. The other day it was a rain mixed with snow in the morning hours. Today it's supposed to be in the 60's, tomorrow they say we should hit 80, then about 75 for Saturday. Then back to rain but still warm. Hopefully it will stay that way now. But.........in the past, we've also had several inches of snow on Mothers Day, at least one year that I can remember, and a few years in the high 80's or 90's. So.........one never knows around here. One year back in the 70's we were having a 4th of July party that was supposed to be in the yard. But..........that particular 4th we had to end up moving the tables, etc. into the garage. Not because of rain, but because it was so cold. We even got out the jackets that day.

Don, Glad to hear the sting didn't cause any real problems. That said, you might want to consider not putting your arm out the window like that when driving. Not so much about being stung by the bee though, but for safety reasons. I remember a friend of my fathers years ago in the early 50's. Remember him for two reasons. One he had lost an eye in WWII and had a glass one. To a 5 to 7 year old kid, that looked kind of weird. Second because he was also minus his left arm. Just a stub that was just a few inches down from the shoulder. He lost that arm in an auto accident. He had his arm resting on the door as you did and was sideswiped by another car. When that happened it took his arm with it. That's why I've never rested my arm on the door like that. I know a lot of people (especially our age group) hangs that arm out like that. But, every time I see that, it reminds me of my fathers friend with the glass eye and one arm.

Well........it does have non original seat cover on the back seat. Also has a custom windshield knob. And, it has one of those rare custom horn rings. BUT.................THE BIGGER QUESTION IS: What makes it a coupe?

Don, Not good. Hope you're not allergic to the sting. That could be bad. We had one in my wife's car last summer on the way home. But.......luckily it was on the rear hatch window of her car. Pulled off to the side of the freeway, opened the hatch and brushed it out of the car with the snow brush that was in the trunk. I usually keep the windows up on my car when parked just to keep the bee's out of it. They are terrible up here in the summer the last few years.

I use to have a Fulton on my coupe. Then back in 04 on the way to the Goodguys show on a two lane highway it blew up like you see in the picture, when a truck passed going the other way. We were both doing about 55 MPH at the time. Took it off after that and decided to leave it off. But........like you say. In a real light rain or drizzle you don't need windshield wipers.

Ed, Originally, we were going with regular basement windows too. But........after getting the quote from the contractor the end of February we couldn't pass it up. Gave the guy the contract on the spot. We had them in within a week after getting the quote. Sure cut down on the draft we were getting in the basement too, from those old single pane windows. Made the floor upstairs a lot warmer too. Even the vent windows are privacy glass. We did want a window that no one could see into. Just like I've retired from working on cars. I've also retired from doing things like this. Use to do everything myself. Life's too short though. Let someone else do the work while I sit back and relax.

Looks good. I also see you have a fiberglass/plastic sunvisor on your car. I haven't seen one of those on a car since I was a small kid. My father had a 50 DeSoto carryall with a green one that is similar to the one you have. The car was a forest green.

Is that the best response you could come up with?

Ed, You might think about glass block windows for the basement. Then have a vent window in a few for ventilation. Not only do they look nice, no one can see in if you get the diamond type glass block, not even a shadow, but let lots of light in the basement at the same time. Plus, they are about 3" thick. Now for the best part. I had them installed in my house by a contractor for only $112 per window. You'll pay close to that just for the window if you do it yourself with vinyl windows. Also, the windows are made to custom fit your window opening. Contractor had all 8 of my old basement windows out (including the wood frames) and the glass block windows installed in just 2 1/2 to 3 hours. No mess or old windows to throw away either, they took those and disposed of them. The one with the vent is in our laundry room, the other one without the vent is in a storage room. They can custom make any size glass block window. Also don't need any curtains in the windows.

It's warming up now, and the coupe tank is getting low. So........I'll be taking it to the station this weekend sometime for a fill up. That should last a couple of months or so. Just filled up the van last week. That's at least a months supply or more for it. I look at it this way. My engine will stay new while you and Don wear yours out. Plus, by not driving either car as much I'm also helping conserve gas to help keep prices lower for you guys. And, at the same time I'm also doing my part to cut down on the global warming and green house effect on our planet. Someone has to compensate for you and Don's contribution to all this.

That's about right Don (except for the miles), 3 fuel pumps is about all. But.........just like any other car, the day will come when we both need more than what we've bought so far. That said, I've retired as of about a month ago from working on cars (new or old). From now on, I'll just drive them and let someone else crawl under them, etc. I'll just put gas and oil in them now.

I wouldn't bet the bank on that one Ed.

But his shame would be overridden by the smile on his face as he passes everyone up. And when he gets repair parts much cheaper.

Edwin, I would stay away from the stop leak stuff like Bars, etc. A shop put some of that in my wife's 90 Sundance just before I sold it. I didn't even get it home before it was leaking again. So.......I ended up buying a new radiator anyway the next day. Plus, in my opinion that stuff could get into the rest of the cooling system and stop something else up, besides the leak. As for that shop saying they couldn't repair your radiator, it's probably because they don't have anyone that knows how to repair the old ones. Or.........they don't want to use silver because of the hazards associated with it. Before buying a new radiator, you might want to check around your area for an old time radiator repair shop. They could probably fix it up for you.