PatS....

Chrysler's sorry state revealed Bankruptcy court filings reveal how complicated the auto business is - and just how much trouble Chrysler is in. By Alex Taylor III, senior editor Last Updated: May 11, 2009: 6:10 PM ET NEW YORK (Fortune) -- Among the thousands of pages of documents filed in connection with Chrysler's Chapter 11 bankruptcy are affidavits from Chrysler executives that open up a window on the auto business previously closed to outsiders in this intensely competitive business. They reveal an almost unimaginable complexity in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of new cars. But what's more revealing is that the affidavits expose Chrysler's inability to successfully compete and the dangers facing the company in a prolonged bankruptcy. Consider: Chrysler pays its suppliers 45 days after delivery. So if it suspends production - as it has now - for more than 45 days, the suppliers would have to resume manufacturing without their regular source of revenue. According to Scott Garberding, Chrysler's chief procurement officer, this imbalance of expenditures and revenues would be "catastrophic" to these marginally profitable companies. As long as Chrysler remains in bankruptcy, it will suspend development of new models. But it can't simply restart development months from now and expect to pick up where it left off because, in the words of Frank Ewasyshyn, a top engineer, "we lose some of the learning and expertise" about the new model. In the affidavit, he figures that work done after a restart will take one-and-a-half times longer than work done before. The longer Chrysler suspends production, the more it will cost to start back up, according to Ewasyshyn. The fluids that flow through the lines and equipment are perishable and must continue to flow, even when cars aren't being built. Paint is a particular problem. "Paint should be removed and stored after 21 days at a cost of $2 million," he said. "After 69 days, paint would need to be replaced at a cost of $15 million." Chrysler can't start making 2010 models until it finishes building the 2009 models presently sitting on the assembly line. So the longer Chrysler is shut down, the later its 2010 models will be to reach showrooms. Chrysler vehicles are such slugs on the market that 20% to 25% of the wholesale cost goes to dealer incentives, according to Peter Grady, director of dealer operations. Yet not only were there 286,687 2009 models - more than three months supply - sitting on dealer lots at the time of the filing but there were 36,370 2008 models left. In other words, they had been sitting around unsold for more than a year. Dealers depend on cash flow to support their operations, but as Chrysler neared its financing deadline, the checks stopped coming. A West Palm Beach dealer named James Arrigo reported that Chrysler owed him $639,000 in consumer rebates, $426,000 in warranty and parts receivables, $13,000 in new vehicle receivables - in total $1.7 million. The dealer reduced his monthly expenses from $2.1 million to under $1.3 million in an effort to stay afloat. Chrysler's dire condition explains why vice-chairman Tom LaSorda has been so busy trying to sell the company - and why he has been so unsuccessful. LaSorda revealed in his affidavit that he had spent two-and-a-half years trying to find a partner for Chrysler. He approached most of the world's top auto companies: GM (GM, Fortune 500), Volkswagen, Toyota (TM), Honda (HMC), Nissan, and Hyundai - as well as India's Tata Motors, Russia's GAZ, parts maker Magna, and a number of Chinese companies. "No party except Fiat emerged as a viable and winning alliance partner for us," LaSorda reported. After reading the affidavits, you begin to understand why. You also begin to understand why the chances of Chrysler emerging from bankruptcy in any shape that resembles intact looks increasingly unlikely. (Additional reporting by Doris Burke) First Published: May 11, 2009: 2:10 PM ET Find this article at: http://money.cnn.com/2009/05/11/autos/chrysler_bankruptcy_filing.fortune/index.htm

The ad says: "1951 kaiser overdrive transmission this came out of a 1951 traveler it comes with the overdrive cable $250.00 OBO" http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-classic-cars-1951-kaiser-overdrive-transmission-W0QQAdIdZ126783797

My nephew has my old 46 Fargo 3 ton and has switched engines. He is having trouble with the clutch. The pedal will disengage the clutch but only at the very bottom of the pedal travel. There doesn't seem to be any more adjustment on the pedal, but he seems to thing there is some at the throwout bearing. Is there any there?? He thinks there is adjustment at the "fingers". I have not seen it apart to say. Any pointers to get that pedal up higher??? Thanks alot!! Pat

So, it seems the cars are a tangible connection with our past...that's why I have mine, too. But does that make them historic or does it make them more like souvenirs? I mean, when we are gone, what will the significance of our old cars be to the current generation? Will it be that it was Dads, or Grampa's car? Will it be the style or size? Will it be as a symbol of baby-boomers excesses? (real or perceived) Will it only mean something because it may be valuable? I gave my 46 Fargo to my nephew (29) and it means something to him but for different reasons that I found it appealing. Most of his generation have little interest in owning or rebuilding something that old. I think cars are a part of our past and a reminder of simpler times. I really have a hard time seeing them as pieces of history unless the car itself was there, as in the Kennedy Lincoln and the 56 Caddy behind it...those a pieces of history. My 49 Chrysler was languishing behind a barn because nobody had bothered to scrap it...and it was for sale for quite a while at a low price before I bought it. If it were historic, it would be, even in the condition it's in, very valuable. It's not. As such, I have no problem modifying it as I please to suit my goals for the car. Governments all over have no problem forcing these vehicles to be crushed, unlike those same governments declaring a building or a district "Historic" and demanding that they not be changed. Vintage cars and trucks don't get the same respect when in neglected condition. But even historic buildings can and do get mechanically updated without damaging their historic significance. Old plumbing, wiring and heating isn't nostalgic, it's dangerous. Sorry to ramble, but, in the big scheme of things, it's really just a car. There are much more important things to be concerned about protecting. The FREEDOM to modify one's own property being a big one.

Sorry for the loss, Don. I know that trip, and the trip home without them. It's tough, they are so trusting. BeeJay 1984-1995

The car behind is a 1949 Chrysler. The easiest way to tell is the wraparound rear bumper which goes from wheelwell to wheelwell, and the taillights are unique to the 49 Chrysler. They only made the second series fron Jan to June, so very few convertibles of that body style are around. There's a good picture of the rear in the gallery of this ad on Hemmings http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/chrysler/windsor/668959.html

Lookin' good, Fred.

Not sure what you mean. There is a good exploded diagram of the engine in the parts manual.

Don, that person ripped me a new one for painting my engine AND transmission Chrysler Blue, even suggesting that I was unpatriotic for destroying an irreplaceable piece of history!!!!

Looks like you have quite a project there, Gary. Nice work so far, keep us up to date on your progress. We love pics and never get bored of project pics. See Joe Flanagan's post for a similar project for some encouragement. Joe had no floors in his Mopar either. He has floors now!!

The front end on this 51 is very very close to your 39. This gives a bit of an idea on how the front end works and one method of lowering. http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/techarticles/135_0501_1951_plymouth_suburban_wagon/index.html New front end rebuild parts are available and several disc brake kits are available, one from forum member "olddaddy" http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_...ad.php?t=15112 How about some pics of your new project???

People should retire from paid work to pay the rent but should still be active, and trucks should just work. That's what they were built to do. I can see the big grin on this Power Wagon as it's doing what it was meant to do. Just not as hard or as long as it once did.

Up here in Canada, when you order pizza, all you get is pizza...no sides. As for wings, they have bones in 'em up here. Then there are chicken fingers...do chickens have fingers??? Anyway, they don't have bones...but some have nails!!!

That's funny. One of his replies mentions he's "drunk off his a$$". Musta been when this thing was "built" as well. Hilarious!!! Looks like maybe it was a 56 Chrysler once upon a time.

Good news, Charlie.

As RT mentioned, centering is important, and if it's 7 inches you are OK. I made a little tool as well, and made sure they were centered and torqued to specs. The instructions that came with my bushings says to measure the spread before you take them apart and reproduce that spread upon reassembly. I think these units are quite forgiving on everything except the centering part. It would be difficult or impossible to do a correct alignment if they aren't centered. Don Coatney reversed the print on these a while back, but I cannot find those images. These will have to do. This is the rough tool I made to spread the arms to specs.

Beautiful 1949 Chrysler.

I also have a parts car and I'm keeping it as long as there are parts on it. I'm also keeping it whole. If I have to move it, I move one car and not a thousand separate parts:eek: I only paid $500 for a complete, down to the radio, parts car, so If I need a few things it will save me way more than that and I don't have to hunt for parts, they are right here. To keep the neighbors happy, I put some good tires and hubcaps on it and a good carcover. With only the good tires and hubcaps showing, it looks like a real snazzy antique under a cover and nobody says a thing. Joel, keep the parts car until it's given all it can, or at least a year after yours is on the road.

Lookin' good, Ed!!!

Please don't!!!!

I have some of that conveyor belting from the asphalt plant I used to work at...great stuff. The only way I found to cut reasonably clean holes was a hole saw. It took a while and smelled awful, but it worked. I used a metal cutting disc in the side grinder to cut straight lines...quick and smelly. It's really tough material.

How about a place like Moores to see if they have a good one in a car they will cut out for you. Original and easy to replace. Might be pricey knowing Moores, though. If it were me, I would get some aluminum (or even steel) checker plate and replace it myself.

That looks OK, by the way...that colour is called black here in Canada. Must be metric colours here!!!

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