Don Jordan

I love all the chat about car covers but no one said where you get them... and I feel so stupid I have never heard of California Dusters and I've lived in California my whole life.

I used to take my dog everywhere. She was the love of my life. But once I got the car reupholstered - well do you know how much one dog can shed?

Don: quick question - do you have Ball & Ball carbs? And what kind of air cleaners are those? I have a similar set up but the the top of the carb is tapered and the cheap air cleaners won't stay on. I believe there is a set screw and it just slides right up the top of the carb. I do like your choice of color BTW - it shows you have excellent tastes

Very beautiful car. I do believe the beauty rings enhance the look. I took one off my 47 Chevy but for some reason they wouldn't stick in the Plymouth wheel. I think someone suggested JC Whitney - I'll keep looking. I have found this is an on going, never ending project.

Thanks - I'll give it a try today now that I'm back in the garage.

Does anybody know who carries them? That was my thought too. I had seen them on e-bay but not any more. Are they just any 15" beauty rim?

This is just plain scary.

I'm not getting it. The guy writes like most of the kids in my class. It's hard for some to believe but the kids I work with don't value education. I think I'll print it out and see if my English class can find any mistakes. it's sad...

forgive me for changing the subject but the picture of the coil I noticed a little bracket around your linkage. Is that for the throttle? And is that all it takes? I haven't been able to figure out how to hook it up. Thanks. The things you learn on this forum Not that I don't appreciate hearing about the states...

One of the nice things about this forum is there is no shortage of opinions - whether asked for or not they flow like lava. Well I'm asking - even though it's too late to do anything about it. I had my wheels powder coated - the guy couldn't match the color so I decided to go with something a little darker. Depending on the time of day it doesn't look too dark. Remember we're looking at the color of the wheels and body not picking other things like missing stainless... I took it out for a little ride today wondering if all the money I put in it was worth it - it was anyway here's a couple shots - I don't know how to make them big like the older boys.

This is sort of off topic but if you drop an 80s engine in a 40s car how do you register it with the DMV? Or is it a don't ask don't tell affair? If that's the case you can take all the smog stuff off and it would be a lot less complicated. Just curious. The last swap I did they didn't have smog. I remember taking a perfectly good flathead Ford engine and throwing it away. Put a SBC in a 53 Ford 2 door station wagon. Boy was I cool.

Randroid: Here's the deal - I called around and it seems everyone was charging the same price for the same thing. So I went with the guy that was open on Saturday. I will pick them up next Saturday. For $75 @ wheel they sand blast the whole wheel and powder coat the whole wheel - front and back. I'm not really sure about the powder coating - I'm sure others will chime in here but this is what I know. They put a negative charge on the wheel and some how a positive charge on the powder and it sticks. (I know this is kind of a simple explanation but for a simpleton like me it's all I understand) The good news (from what I'm told) is the stuff is rock hard and doesn't chip. The bad news is you are limited on color. I just had my car painted and the shop that did it was going to charge me $75 a wheel to paint them. I made a decision (the jury is still out) since I couldn't get an exact blue from the powder coater I went with a shade darker. I'm praying this will work. I should have it all together Saturday and will either send pictures of pride or chagrin.

I wrote a long post and somehow it timed out and was lost. So this one I'll type fast and see if I can make it. I am having my wheels powder coated so I have the tires off. I thought I might take a walk on the wild side and put the white wall out this time when I get the wheels back. I've managed to clean 3 of the white walls but the 4th one has that stuff on it and I don't know how to get it off. I'm afraid to use anything too strong that might harm the rubber. I've used a cleanser and a brush but I can't get what ever coating that's put on the white walls off. Any suggestions? Especially of what not to do. I typed this fast so I don't time out.

I never know how much is "good" to pay. I guess I'm happy because I got the material I wanted and the workmanship was excellent. There's an old saying: "The less you pay the more it costs." I paid $3,000 - that was head liner, door panels, seats, carpet, and he did the trunk. If I ever get the car running I'm going to enjoy it.

I don't know how you guys post those big pictures. It's all I can do to get the thumbnail shots. Anyway - after over 18 months I finally got the car home - of course I can't get it to run but no point in rushing into things. This week I'm going to check out the fuel lines and gas tank. Once it's up and running then I will take some real pictures. Now the real hard part is finding all the little things - little stainless pieces, wheels, interior light. Another thing - the guy that did the interior didn't cut a hole for the master cylinder. I guess that's why they call it a project.

I use an old Windex bottle with gas. Only time that was impractical was when my friend was squirting gas and the old girl sort of backfired and caught the bottle on fire. My friend tossed the bottle and burned down a small bush. But this doesn't happen often.

I was out for a drive this week end and came across a Plymouth for sale. Just thought I pass it along if anyone is interested. Don't know anything about it. I didn't look at the engine but judging from the rear wheels it's not stock. It doesn't hurt to look.

I truly appreciate the input from such learned gentlemen. I figure I will just play it safe - changing can't hurt anything. I will try to post some pictures. Two things I'm not happy with: I had the garnish molding painted the same color as the car. Didn't think I had the talent or money to wood grain them. The color blue clashes with the interior - sort of a gray. And the guy that did the upholstery didn't leave a hole for the master cylinder. But he's cool and I'm sure (if I ever get it running) that he will remedy that. Again, thanks for all the input - you guys are the best.

Thank you - what a great idea. When the car was up on blocks and the tank was in the shop I used that procedure. If it works then that eliminates fuel pump and I can concentrate on replacing fuel lines and gas tank. I guess it's all a process of elimination. this forum is the best for mechanically challenged people such as me

What I do is rather than try to see a spark from the wire get another plug, put it in the ignition wire and hold it to the block (hold the rubber). Then make sure the ignition is on and crank it over. It's so much easier to see the spark at the plug. I guess every one does it different.

So just to get this straight if the pump works at all then it must be wired correctly? If it doesn't pump enough then I'm going to assume there is blockage - it's been sitting for over a year. The tank was boiled out a few months ago. Another thought is carbs... maybe they have caramelized gas in them. I thought about the collapsing hose line but that's gone now. I'm going to blow out the fuel line later - both ways. It is truly a conundrum. If I spray gas into the carb it fires right up - keep my foot on the gas and it will idle (fast) - put any load and it just dies and won't fire without the primer squirt. ah the joys of elderly cars

I'm doing that today. I need to get it running long enough to get it up my driveway and into the garage. What ever it is I know it's something stupid and minor. The trick is finding it. Again I wonder about the positive ground aspect.

I just had an experience - not good. The car quit on me 20 miles from home. It seemed like it was starving for gas. I stopped in a big parking lot - my wife was following me so we drove home, got some tools, drove back. Took off the gas line at the carb, turned over the engine and nothing. Drove home, got an electric fuel pump, and that worked for a while. Question: How important is the ground wire? My friend who was helping me said that because I have positive ground the wires should be switched. It didn't sound right to me but we hooked it up that way. Question: would that have any effect on how much gas is being pumped. Will the pump run backwards (I know some of you guys are laughing at me but I don't know) I took a jug, turned on the fuel pump, (rated at 4 pounds) and it just trickled out. Does the fact that I have 2 carbs effect anything? I just got it back from the upholsterers and I was so eager to take pictures and show off and I had to bring it home with a tow bar. I began at 9:30 and I just got home at 7:00. When it runs it's a fire breathing machine - But it only goes under a mile and then starves for gas and quits. I'm beat.

My car has been in the body shop, paint shop, upholstery shop for over a year. The oil was new when I took it in and there are very few hours on the rebuilt engine. Question: I am getting it back tomorrow - and I hope you all will forgive me for posting a bunch of photos. But I was wondering: should I change the oil? There hasn't been a lot of use but a lot of just plain sitting. I'm not sure how that breaks down. thanks

Every time I hate going to work because I hate my job I pause to be so thankful that at least I have a job to hate. These are trying times. My sympathies are with those who just want to work.