PatS....

Or, you could call it done!!! Looks great. Like I remember most of these ol' cars.

My condolences to you and your wife on the terrible loss. I sure hope the job comes through for you and maybe things will get back to a semblance of normal, whtever that is these days. My mother died last August during her monthly outing to the local casino with her 90 year old friend. They share a quarter machine and had just won a jackpot and it was over, just like that. The docs kept her around another few days, but we all knew. If she could have chosen when and where, it couldn't have been better than that. Her 90 year old friend said something that I don't think I will ever forget. She said, "Pat, she had a wonderful life and today is a beautiful day to die" Hit me like a ton of bricks coming from her like that, but it helped me through it like nothing else did.

Hope it goes well, John. We're all cheerin for ya!!!!

Lookin good, Jeff. Love those big butts (on cars!) Thanks for the pics of the rotisserie. One of the best I have seen...simple and strong. Keep us all posted on your progress. You might not get alot of replies but progress reports sure help keep folks motivated and they are valuable for those who aren't quite sure what can go in to bringing an old car back to life.

Bob, that looks like more fun than should be legal!!!!!

This is from a blog written by a couple who are full-timing in their unique bus. They are also Red Cross volunteers who were on site in the bus for hurricane Katrina. This blog entry deals mostly with he use of a neat little windsheild repair kit they got from Wal-Mart. The bus they have (a Neoplan) is a very limited edition unit and glass is scarce and expensive. Scroll down a bit for the glass repair part. http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com/2007/09/arkansas-2-odyssey-0.html

I find that when backing in, you already know whether there are cars kids dogs old ladies in the area and can back in fairly safely. Then, when you leave, you are lookin at where yer goin and THAT is alot safer and easier, too. I always back into the garage here at home. Much easier to drive straight out when blurry eyed in the AM.

Glad to hear the good news Randy. Best wishes for a speedy and as painless as possible recovery.

I don't think they are hard to find at all. Check out Hemmings. I got mine from Norm at MidCanada Suspension in Winnipeg http://www.members.shaw.ca/midcansusp/index.htm I think Fred Has another source in Winnipeg and there is Collectors Auto Supply in BC Canada http://www.nosmopar.com/

After just doing mine according to the book, next time I will do what you want to do because the bar was fine, just the bushings could have been replaced one at a time. The rubbers would not be possible to replace without removing the bar. The only real advantage was I was able to clean and paint the suspension parts and the frame. You should be OK working on one at a time.

AHHH ok, right church, wrong pew. Yes, I think you can remove that inner bushing (#32)without any trouble. I was thinking of the OUTER bushing...thanks Greg. Replace it with a new one or repair that one...up to you. If the old is worn to badly put in a new one but also replace the bushing on the other end of the bar.

1949 Chrysler On my Chrysler, the grease zerk is on the lower control arm pin #48. It and the bushing are separate. Yours may be different.

Nothing to be apologetic for there Fred. Looks great. I'm only a thousand miles away...maybe you could drop by and do mine?

I think what I would recommend is to buy a new bushing and just replace it. What one person here did was thread the new one in one side as the old was being backed out the other side, which you can do without taking everything apart. That puts the grease Zerk on the other side but that doesn't matter. Then, it's done and you don't have to screw around with it any more. When you go through the front end, that's one part that you won't need to replace. I just did my front end and that's what I would do. Your mileage may vary

(from the 445th Airlift Wing webpage): The 445th Airlift Wing is home to a C-141 that played a major role in Operation Homecoming, the repatriation of Americans held as prisoners-of-war in North Vietnam. On February 12, 1973, the world’s attention was riveted on Gia Lam Airport, Hanoi, North Vietnam. The war was over and the long-awaited start of “Operation Homecoming,” was about to begin. A U.S. Air Force C-141 Starlifter, tail number 660177, landed. It was painted white with a Red Cross tail flash. The first 40 POWs waited patiently as the lumbering giant taxied toward them. The men had vowed to show no emotion to their North Vietnamese captors. They boarded the aircraft, took their seats, and prepared for takeoff. They sat quietly, but as soon as the Starlifter’s wheels left the runway, a resounding cheer went up from all on board. Their first stop would be Clark Air Base, The Philippines; then home to the United States. Now a “C” model, C-141 tail number 660177 has the distinction of being the first aircraft to ferry our POWs from captivity. Because of that singular honor, it has been dubbed the “Hanoi Taxi” and continues to serve, assigned to the 445th Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. “Ol’ 177” has become a sort of flying museum. Above its forward entrance door is the inscription, “First C-141 to Hanoi.” Aircrew headrest covers on the flight deck bear the familiar black-and-white POW/MIA emblem. Framed photographs mounted on the side bulkheads of the cargo compartment show POWs in Hanoi and aboard the aircraft bound for home. A label on the flight engineer’s panel simply reads, “Hanoi Taxi.” On October 7, 2002, Maj. Gen. Edward J. Mechenbier, a former POW, flew the C-141 back home to the 445th Airlift Wing after depot maintenance refurbished it back to its original paint scheme. May 2004 marked another historic moment for both Maj. Gen. Mechenbier and the “Hanoi Taxi.” Gen. Mechenbier, on his final flight shortly before he retired, flew the Hanoi Taxi back to Vietnam to lead the repatriation mission of two American servicemembers killed in action. (from Wikipeadia): With the scheduled 2006 retirement of the last 8 C-141s, the Hanoi Taxi (which was the last C-141 to be retired) embarked on a series of flights, giving veterans, some of whom flew out of captivity in this aircraft, the opportunity to experience one more flight before its retirement. At 9:30 AM on Saturday, 6 May 2006, the Hanoi Taxi touched down for the last time and was received in a formal retirement ceremony at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, located at Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) Area B in Riverside, Ohio near Dayton. Area B is the Wright Field portion of the base which its runways are no longer in operational service except for inbound flights to the museum. Hanoi Taxi is now part of the permanent static display collection of the Museum. Over Dayton Ohio Her final landing at the museum. Great story Tim, I had never heard of this aircraft. Great to know it will be preserved. Hope to get to see it someday. Thanks

The boombox is smaller or the hair is smaller?

Tim, with all that state of the art gear, they retired the plane? Does that mean cut up for scrap??

Brendan, a friend who's into Beetles sent me the link: http://thedude.vox.com/library/photo/6a00bf76c6db6b954a00d414233b71685e.html We were discussing what to do with my 50 DeSoto parts car. I can't keep up with the project I have ongoing right now, but we'll see... Not sure how to similarly use the DeSoto aft section or if it would simply entail using the fenders, bumper and gravel pan on a trailer frame.

Shawn, when dealing with an old car like this, you need to find a parts store that has been around for a very long time. Usually a smaller mom and pop type store, not the big box stores. The employees at big box stores usually are not "career" partsmen and they have had little to do with our era cars. The small mom and pop stores many times have partsmen who have been at it for 30+ years, likely at the same store. These guys really know their stuff and you don't get the deer in the headlights look when you ask for a part for a '46 Chrysler. Just ask around to find out the parts store in your area that has been in business the longest and then when you get there line up behind the "greybeard" behind the counter.

Tony, I would bet you a Molson that the "US made nuts and bolts" were actually made in China.

Talk about an imagination and a way to save those parts cars

OLD FART????? I don't think I like your attitude!!!! Actually, I think you will find that the lumber is now cut to metric specs as close as possible to the OLD English measurements.

Brad, when my dad owned the black '49, it was the daily transportation for our family. When it got down to 30 and 40 below, he would put a large old roaster pan full of BBQ briquets and put that under the oil pan befor he went to bed, along with plugging it in and with an old furniture moving blanket over the engine under the hood. Even then it was touch and go. Thinking back, I'm surprised that it didn't go up in flames The electric dipstick isn't good enough for even the mild winters that "global warming" is giving us now. They are available on the shelf at most stores like WalMart, as are battery warming wraps and snap-on winter fronts for in front of the rad. (I just use an old hunk of cardboard...just have to remmember to take it out when it warms up!) Oh, how I am looking forward to winter At least I now have a heated garage to park in.

Gee, you learn something every day. I had never heard of Speedy-Sleeve until now. I thought I knew everything