Dan Hiebert

With our '48 D24, the map-light (below the radio grill and Dodge emblem, at the bottom of the dash above the ignition key) flashes when the ignition is turned on with the parking brake engaged.

Jaiden contracted both bacterial and viral meningitis the first time, viral first, then bacterial when she was in the hospital. The viral screwed up her immune system so that a "regular" infection turned into the bacterial meningitis. Statistically, she wasn't supposed to survive that, but you'd never have known she had been at death's door except for her immune system. That's what happened Monday, her immune system is still not working, so a strep infection turned into the bacterial meningitis. She's still in a coma, with a 5% chance that she'll come out of it. That's based on what the neurologists know about adults in these situations. Children continue to amaze the medical community with their resiliency, so we plan for the worst and hope for the best.

The first hurdle is behind Jaiden, but there is still a long track ahead. The surgery was to relieve pressure on her brain and repair the old lesions from her first bout with meningitis, which had ruptured. That went well. The treatment for the current meningitis infection is working well, too. Jaiden is now in a medically induced coma, but there is damage to her brain stem. According to the neurologists, short term recovery is extremely doubtful, but there is hope for long term recovery. Your thoughts, well wishes, and prayers are greatly appreciated.

I am not a religious person, but asking those who are can't hurt, and my son would appreciate it. Our oldest granddaughter, Jaiden (6) - the one on the left, underwent emergency brain surgery in Lubbock, TX on Monday due to meningitis, which she'd survived once before when she was 3 months old. Unfortunately, the news is not so good this time, as she is now in a coma and has a poor prognosis for recovery. She always enjoyed going for rides in Poppa's and Ju-Ju's "old car". Any thoughts or prayers you'uns can spare would be appreciated.

Congrats! Those are a couple of nice animals. A moose license here in Maine is by lottery, with any hunter over 65 automatically getting a license. According to Maine, Maine is the "moosiest" state in the lower 48, although Lyme Disease has noticeably reduced the numbers. I've been here since May, and I still haven't seen any except by helicopter (which doesn't count to me). I've had some good sized moose tracks in our yard a few mornings, but no sightings, yet. ("Moose peeping" is one of the past-times around here.) Hoping to reinvigorate my hunting skills now that I'm back in a hunter/gun friendly state.

The old Rainier Beer commercials are a hoot!

That's an ongoing issue with AB. I've dealt with them for about 20 years now, and its the luck of the draw for who answers the phone - but it seems it's only the one "dry toast" guy. There are others that are quite friendly and helpful. The company changed hands a couple years ago, and if I recall correctly they kept some of the "old" help on. I've never been offended by their customer service, but I lived in New Jersey for couple of years, and New York the past 6, so I may be slightly immune to bad customer service.

I didn't like it that much... I'm a bit surprised he's selling it. Talked at length with the owner and he seemed rather fond of it. I've discovered by way of several funny looks that it is a good idea to let a local pronounce a place name first. Sure way to peg someone for being "from away", as if my midwest drawl isn't enough... NOT the way they pronounce it here.

You should use it. The panels anti-squeak goes between are held together with nuts, bolts, and other fasteners, rather than welds more modern cars use. That means the panels move. Metal on metal squeaks and rattles, hence the anti-squeak. It also helps seal between panels and eliminates the metal on metal wear. I bought a roll from Andy Bernbaum over 20 years ago. More than enough to replace all the anti-squeak on our D24, with much left over for other projects. Don't know where you're located, but I haven't been in a State yet that has a high percentage of what I'd consider good roads.

Yes, and yes. And here they are... Graham LaSalle

I find it "humorous" explaining Fluid Drive to non-believers myself. Even when you break it down like it is in the owner's manual; a fan facing another fan, no mechanical connection; they can't conceive that my big, boxy old Dodge has something that sexy.

Hint - they're both '31s (not much of a hint, but I'll drag this out a bit...)

And finally, this thing is a hoot! I got a kick out of this thing, and think you all may enjoy it. The owner's son drove this in from Bridgeport, ME, their shop is about 9 miles from the venue. Sounded like a steam locomotive running off the rails as it came onto the grounds. 1919 Mack truck with 1,600 miles on it. I didn't catch the story on what it was originally purchased for, but the boom on the back is for hauling logs out of the woods, which the owner said was never actually used (notice that it isn't hooked up to any power source). Sat unused for 55 years. 600ci 4-cylinder engine. Dual ignition, cast aluminum crankcase.

A contest - what cars are these gorgeous hood ornaments on?

On to some newer vehicles. 58 Coronet from Canada 59 Savoy, also from Canada (I really like these, so you get two shots of this one...) A nice original 64 Plymouth. This guy won the teeter-totter by balancing in 4 seconds flat. I swear this car took up most of the show grounds. Photo doesn't do justice for just how big this car is. I hadn't seen one of these in a long time.

Well, we ventured out to our first car show in Maine with the ol' D24. The 16th Annual North Country Cruisers show and shine at the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in Littleton, ME. A healthy number of cars given the population here, 150 cars, trucks, and tractors from Maine and New Brunswick. The museum is worth a visit, too. They let us claim the long distance title since our car still has New York plates and NY bugs in the grill, but that's just bragging rights, no prize associated. Beautiful weather, new friends, new parts sources, and the D24 ran flawlessly, although bias ply tires on these log-truck rutted roads is a bit of an adventure. Oldest vehicle there was a 1919 Mack truck, newest was a 2014 Dodge Challenger. I'll post MoPar pictures and a few others of interest in a thread here. (There were a few new Challengers, but you can see those in just about any showroom.) We saw a 69 Challenger drive onto the grounds, but it left before we could get close enough for a good photo. Our car This 47 has a 318 in it This 51 has a Hemi. Supposed to be a "rare" Canadian car A bit rough, but this 25 DB was driven to the show. And because a lot of you'uns are probably caboose guys...

My agency uses these and other manufacturers' to search vehicles for contraband. Very useful and effective. Only negative, if it can be called that, is that you can get disoriented (up vs. down) when you start getting into deeper recesses. That comes into play in our world for where to look for the access, or where to drill to get a sample for testing. Earlier models (20 years ago) you had to specifically get ones that could withstand gasoline for inspecting gas tanks. Not such an issue with "modern" materials. They're handy for curiosity checks of various other nooks and crannies, too. But I wouldn't recommend them for a colonoscopy (I think the instructions even say not to do that - you know that they have to include that disclaimer for a reason.....)

What part of SE Michigan? Main Street Garage in Port Huron on Pine Grove Ave (M25) at Glenwood can work on older cars. What little work I ever shopped out when we lived in Michigan I had done there.

I've got a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 that I bought new in 2000. It has the 360. I'm always suspicious when mechanics "warn" people about things. There are indeed quirks and design flaws, but those exist with virtually every brand, and those warnings should be accompanied by the solution. If they don't have a solution, then I suspect their skills. (Of course, there are some flat-out lemons out there). I've towed the D24, Terraplane, and a Falcon across the country (separately) 9 times over the years, with no issues at all. The only repairs its needed have been a little wear and tear, and from sitting unused for long periods (I had a Govt. take-home car for many years), the past few years I've only used it to haul stuff. Dodge's 360 and 318 engines have been around for many years - the old tried and true adage. The majority of problems seem to stem from the stuff attached to the basic engine to make it run more efficiently, not the engine itself. I've heard Dodge transmissions are weak, too, but haven't had a problem with that, either. Also consider the number of any model you may be considering that you see are still on the road.

Welcome, and don't worry about "stupid" questions on this forum. You'll find out soon enough the tactful methods some folks use to let you know when one reaches that plateau, but you'll always get an answer. I'd recommend searches first, there is a lot of info already lurking about this site, virtually any problem has surfaced already. New methods of addressing old problems are always welcome, too. Very nice car. Our D24 was originally a New Mexico car, too. Sold new in Carlsbad, we bought it near El Paso, so except for since we've had it after leaving NM, its a "southwest" car. Photos are always encouraged. "Hot stink" - I like it - a new one for my book...

Don and Plymouthy both touched on it, your tire wear could also be improper toe adjustment (excessive toe in). Also as noted in the thread, doing an alignment in the driveway without specific tools amounts to using the "TLAR" (that looks about right) method, and is really only good for staying between the ditches on the way to a near by alignment shop. There are tools to do an alignment on a shop floor, remember that back in the day, those alignment contraptions they use nowadays weren't around.

Sort of looks like they cobbled a Chrysler doghouse onto a truck..."ancient American ingenuity" for a long ago repair? Interesting, tho.

I guess I've been fortunate over the years. We've been in places where the small family shops were where you went to get it done right, even in Detroit and Buffalo. May have something to do with the prevailing industries, but I also research them as much as possible first. Now I've gotten myself into a place where small family shops are all there is. They roll up the sidewalks around here at 5, close early if nothing's going on, work 1/2 day on Saturday, and definitely closed on Sunday and any semblance of a holiday, but knowing all that ahead of time is "managing expectations". And I kinda like it that way anyhow....."Maine, the way life is supposed to be." and "Aroostook County, the way Maine used to be."

I prefer the small "family owned" shops, too. I had a Ford 6v generator converted to 12v at one in Brownsville, TX (can't remember the name, but it had been in business since the '50's and looked like it), and had the generator in the D24 rebuilt at A1 Auto Electric in El Paso, TX, which had also been in business since the '50's. Customer service, understood that you're not in a rush to get it back unless you actually need it quickly, tell you what is needed without having to look it up, and gobs of neat stuff lying around the shop that they're more than happy to tell stories about. Besides the generators, I've had other parts made, refurbished, repaired, etc. at those kind of shops, I always get a kick out of it when the proprietor knows what the part is from at first glance.

Although I find the rabbit holes interesting - rudder steer back to the topic - We had a Dodge Caravan with a small coolant leak at 105K, but I don't recall the engine size as that was back in the '90's. 170K miles is a drop in the bucket nowadays. If the car is serving you well and doesn't otherwise have any issues, I'd find out just what is leaking. Your description is a bit vague, as it could just be the gasket (as with our Caravan), which although a bit of a PIA to replace, is inexpensive. But if its leaking from the shaft - then the whole water pump would need to be replaced. If it hasn't had the traditional 2.7 failure, then its either a later model with the oil return modifications, well maintained, reasonably driven, or all of the above.