Dan Hiebert

"One" makes this difficult. But in that category it would be an early post war Dodge or Plymouth 1/2 ton pick-up or panel truck.

Ditto. Carburetor rebuilds are straightforward and relatively easy (especially these old ones). If you have basic mechanic skills you will do well. A rebuild always results in better performance, especially if your carb has been neglected for some time. Keep in mind that many rebuild kits cover a range of models, a carter B&B kit will probably cover all the models desoto1939 listed, meaning it may have "extra" parts. Pay close attention to how you take it apart, and what you take apart/out to ensure you put the same stuff back.

My first experience with traffic circles, after learning to drive in the wide-open desert, was in West Germany in 1980. Of course, they were already well established in Europe. It was always a hoot to watch newly arrived GIs try their hand with their first roundabouts. At least all the roundabouts I've encountered here in Maine are two lane and quite big. The last few they put in when I was in western New York (south end of Grand Island Blvd. on Grand Island comes to mind), were one lane and barely big enough for a pick-up truck. Heaven forbid you drive a semi through, they had to redo the inside of the circle within a year with pavement because the semis couldn't make the curve. When we were in Michigan, they were continuing to install roundabouts at the exit ramps of major highways through the 'burbs. Traffic was always horrible there, but not because of those roundabouts, they are well planned and executed.

The Fulton Sun-Shade on our Dodge is hail dented from a storm that caught us unawares many moons ago in SE New Mexico, no damage to the car, though. Luckily we were on the edge of it, same storm mauled a couple of new car dealerships closer to its center. The shade is aluminum, so it took the hits. Got up to the 90's in northern Maine yesterday, that's a little on the brutal side for us. Luckily it's not quite as humid here as people would think.

...the "stink-bug stance"...

Actually, you can still use the original color codes, in a fashion. In addition to the spectrograph, any good auto paint shop or store can use the original paint code to formulate a batch of paint for you. BUT, as with the spectrograph method, modern paints are simply engineered differently than those of 50 or so years ago and will appear different. There will be some exact matches, but that is rare. I've always used NAPA stores that have automotive paint departments, and I've always liked the results.

1936 Hudson. Car is for sale. It's been sitting "unmolested" at a hotrod shop downstate, don't remember exactly where, it's on US-1 fairly close to where Paul's son lives. I've driven past it quite a few times the two years I've been here, on my way back from Portland. This'll be the first time I've seen it out in the yard, vs. under cover of the building behind it. It's one of those "rat rod" shops, probably couldn't get anyone to commit to it. Our Terraplane is virtually the same, but it doesn't need any parts, so I haven't looked at this car very closely. I can of someone is interested, but it'll take a week or two.

Heating stuck rusted nuts and bolts is common practice in our garages up north, quite often it is the only method that works. We go into said operations having already written off the offending nuts and/or bolts.

Kind of catchy, in a unique, ugly, airplane/boat wannabe kind of way...I'd let it sit in my driveway, but it would have to be free.

The problem with unique traffic solutions is that they are just that, unique. Once the locals get used to them, every visitor thereafter ties up traffic trying to figure it out. I'm an odd duck that likes roundabouts / traffic circles, but every city/state does them differently.

I used the blue 3M edge lock tape to cover the area, then ensured the edges were snug with a wooden burnishing stick. Used an Exacto knife to cut the letters out. A steady hand and patience are required. Only use enough pressure to cut the tape, not scratch the metal, although that stainless steel is pretty tough and resists scratching anyway. Then applied three light coats of rattle can paint. In this case I used Rustoleum Sunrise Red, same color as the rims. I was looking to avoid brush marks and such, not that you can see them from more than a few feet away, also wanted to use what I had on hand. Used the same procedure for the hubcaps on our Terraplane, it has more intricate lettering and turned out well, too.

Wild turkey were on the decline in Maine many years ago, to the point that no hunting of them was allowed. Due to robust conservation efforts, turkey are back on Maine's wild game menu for the past few years. There's fewer of them the further north you go, still working their way up here, but we still see them on a regular basis. A pair of them that aren't afraid of people hangs out at the northbound Medway rest area on I-95 during the winter.

Our 1937 Terraplane. There are several neat design features, but the grill is my favorite.

All models have the same hood release, and there is one for each side. The pull handle is in the same place on each side as well.

I was wondering where you've been. Welcome back, glad to hear you're on the mend. Being home is, in my opinion, one of the best recovery therapies.

I have a good old fashioned high-tech plastic milk crate in the trunk. In it is a basic tool kit in an old "tankers tool bag" ( 3/8 - 3/4 combination wrenches, spanner wrench, standard/needle nose/channel lock pliers, combination screwdriver), jumper cables, tire-plug kit, roll of electrical tape, tow strap, 4-way lug wrench, two chocks, a handful of nitrile work gloves, a can of WD40, a wad of those red shop rags, and an old bath towel. That way when I want to take the Terraplane out, I just transfer the milk crate. I keep a gallon jug of 50/50 anti-freeze in each one, too. The only spare parts I keep in any our old cars are the spare tires, and in the VW Beetle an extra generator belt. The Beetle has its own tool kit, (not the factory optional one, tho) since it's all metric. I haven't had to rescue myself (in the old cars, anyway) yet, but I have helped others at shows or along the road.

If you'uns' (?) cars don't have one already, it should be easy to retrofit. Our D24 has a factory warning light - the map light flashes when the parking brake is on, (ignition on). Simple pressure switch on the handle arm through a flasher to the map light. I'd have to check the wiring diagram for the particulars, but its obviously doable.

Welcome to the Forum, RC. I visit several old car forums and can say this one is one of the best. Lots of information and knowledgeable folks with an affinity for sharing what they know, often with good natured ribbing and "humor". Searches will be your friend, but I've also found that after failing to find something with a search, (the subtle nuances of just what to search for often elude me), just throw the question out. You'll either get pointed to a good thread or location on the site, or given an answer. I'll warn you that photos are quasi-mandatory, and can be quite helpful.

Ditto. We bought our D24 near El Paso, lived there for 5 years, then south east New Mexico for another 5 before moving north. Meaning we drove our D24 regularly in that southwest heat. I've always used plain old SAE 30, and had the exact same oil pressure readings as your truck does. This forum didn't exist back then, but lots of face-to-face research with old timey mechanics, who worked on these cars and trucks in the region when they were new satisfied me that what you describe is normal. The D24 still did that in MI, NY, and now up here in Maine...just takes it a little longer to warm up.

Welcome to an excellent Forum, and to the old car hobby. You'll get all the info you need here, and then some. The most valuable resource you need for working on these old cars is...patience. Everything else comes along as long as you have that. You've got good car to start with. I would echo previous responses about the wiring, if your car's wiring is universally bad, I think it would be more prudent to get an entire wiring harness, several companies make then. Check the resources section of this site. As long as you can follow directions and have no compunction against asking questions, it will not be that difficult. Personally, the added cost of a complete harness is worth it if you are completely rewiring the car.

Figures. I came across one of those in a junk yard in Oro Grande, NM many years ago. Thought about getting it for a conversation piece, but decided it was too ugly and passed it up. Yard has since been cleared out.

Good luck - always a challenge to hunt something higher than you on the food chain...

That switch/light operation is correct. "Parking" lights are on at first switch detent, that's front and rear. Headlights come on, parking lights go out (front only) with switch all the way out.

It's certainly a distinct contrast between here and the southwest. Aside from growing up in Texas, I worked in west Texas and New Mexico the first half of my career. Same basic job description, go knock around in the willy-wags most of the time. If you were at the station, you weren't working. I'd find things out in the desert a hundred years old that looked like they were dropped yesterday. Lots of abandoned cars, trucks, and equipment. Got the cowl trim for our D24 off of one that had been dumped in an arroyo for erosion control that had been there at least 40 years, got our Fulton outside sun visor off of a P15 that had been sitting in a ranch pasture for longer than anyone there could remember. They just had to be cleaned and polished/painted. If the cars they were on hadn't been so beat-up or miles from a road, they'd probably have wound up in my yard.

Yep, it's all there except for the rockers, quarters, and most of the floor. Maine used to be heavy on the road salt, then they added the stuff that really eats cars up (calcium chloride, I think), whatever it is, it's hard on vehicles. Most things you find in the woods here is well on its way to returning to nature. Kind of cool, in a sad sort of way.