andyd

I still think the linings are too thick...........andyd

New Yorker...ring me........Sunny(?) South Grafton, NSW........02 6642 5963......anytime.......Andy Douglas

1946Newyorker.....where in Oz are you......I'm in Australia, South Grafton NSW.....I had a 1948 Chrysler Windsor 45 yrs ago & have had my 1940 Dodge since 1971..........I have played with these Oz steering boxes a couple of times, depending on how much you want to modify or change the HK-HG Holden steering box maybe a good alternative..........best thing is to give me a call........anytime.......02 6642 5963......Andy Douglas

Marc........the brakes shoes lining is TOO THICK....all the specs I have seen says that they should be 3/16th NOT 1/4........as you have said these shoes were sitting on the shelf and have not been on the car........I assume you have compared these shoes to the ones that were on the car?.........they are the same size, ie, diameter/curvature?.........so the only answer is that there is TOO MUCH lining..........contact a brake specialist or a place like Kanter, Bernbaums etc & ask them if they were to reline your old brake shoes what thickness of lining would they attach?.........to your old brake shoes that do fit...........to me sanding with some sandpaper, bench grinder or whatever is just asking for trouble unless each shoe is set in a fixture that can accurately measure how much lining is removed........OH......and what are these linings made of?.........I hope they are not asbestos..........great stuff until you turn it into a fine dust.....like sanding...........my Oz 2 cents worth.....andyd

Have you checked the headlight switch as far as power in and out thru the connections on the switch?...........also does the power for the radio come from the headlight switch?.......my Oz 1940 Dodge is Plymouth based and I would think its headlight switch is the same as yours so I'd be checking the switch....they can be disassembled if you are careful and check the contacts inside..............andyd

That looks to be a similar setup to that used here in Oz up to at least 1941, my 1940 Dodge uses the same type of lock......what I did was get another spare handle and insert it from the inside thru both square holes which is easier done from the inside and just have this inside handles shaft holding the holes square to each other ..........this "lines up" the two holes and then ever so gently insert the new handle from the outside gently pushing the inside shaft out and letting the new handle shaft take its place......at least thats what I did or vaguely remember what I did the last time I played door handles............andyd

Thats an amazing bike..........interesting tho' as mention is made of increasing the carburation yet the bike as pictured only has what appears to be a stock single barrel carby and stock exhaust manifold...........just did a search & it appears that the single carby & exhaust setup was as per a stock Plymouth...........either way its a neat piece of vintage speed equipment.........andyd