Don Jordan

I'm trying - doing all the stuff everyone is telling me. I have yet to hit the magic combination - I finally got it the right size - I got it in the "manage attachments" but I don't know how to get it into this post.

My 48 4 door is stripped to the bone. I was going to send pictures but still haven't figured it out. The manager keeps telling me my pictures are too big and I don't know how to make them smaller. It's a silly thing. Anyway I just spent $1000 at Steele for rubber. The lady told me I timed it just right because the prices go up tomorrow. The problem is the "channel, flexible window run" they have is only for a '35. It is 5/8". The channel that came out of my car is 9/16". I wonder if the difference would be noticeable. I went to a Restoration place but all they had was stuff for rat rods. Any leads on channel runs? I took the seats in: $3000 for new, stock interior. I wish I had a kid so I could send him or her to college for a Masters degree. thanks,

Now the question - how do you make them appear on the post as either a thumbnail or a full picture like I see everyone else do. It's not easy being a computer illiterate.

I'm just testing this - I can't seem to get the hang of the picture thing. test: http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/2375830/ will that let you see my pictures?

It's just a rough guess but I think it might come close to: CAN YOU TRANSLATE THIS?

I'm a little rusty on the code - haven't used it since 1971 - took the test and promptly forgot - Of course I'm rustier than I thought because it doesn't make sense to me: C P Y R P S L W E T H I S

My father - a mechanic since the 20s showed me a trick which I use to this day. A regular yellow pencil (Ticonderoga #2 just like we used in school) It fits perfectly in a fuel line and stops all flow. It doesn't have to be crammed in the line just put it in. My father knew a lot of tricks - too bad he didn't share many. (we didn't talk much. He told me a "grease monkey" is a horrible way to make a living and he never wanted me to learn. I was heart broken when he hired my cousin for a summer job. "James F. Waters - the largest DeSoto Plymouth distributors in the World." San Francisco at Van Ness. (Too much information?) My father died when I was 15 - I got all his tools and 3 books of repair manuals that go back to the teens - but no knowledge. Right after he died I bought a 37 Chevy 2 door (until I got caught by the police for driving without a license). My first legal car: 1950 Buick ($25) - and I've had old cars ever since. When I was about to buy my Plymouth my wife said if you buy one more car I'm leaving you - I'm going to miss that woman. I'm sorry - it's Christmas and I feel chatty - I know you've got real posts to read - try the pencil. d-

My friend across the street has an old Ford tractor - he let me borrow his Optima 8v - I am about ready to buy one. I don't think it should hurt anything and it gives that little extra kick when needed. Will this wreck havoc with my electrical system? And like others have said I think they are a bit pricey.

This is a guy with a lot of talent - too much time on his hands - a lot of room - and enough money. Right now I don't have any of that. Talent, time, room, money.

I have an English motorcycle. I went on an all English ride the other day and noticed the bikes were all owned by "old guys." Every time I see someone driving an old car it's usually an "old guy." So I found it interesting that everyone seems to be in agreement (not totally unusual) about reading posts. For me I went to the supermarket and got a pair of their off the rack reading glasses. That helped. Actually I was at a swap meet and picked up 6 pair for $10 and I keep a pair next to my bed, computer, work, glove box. I gotta tell you this getting old crap isn't as much fun as I thought it would be when I was 20. It's kind of sad that a car that was built AFTER I was born is considered an antique. What are we coming to?

Do you need a 6v tachometer? Where do you get a vacuum gauge? I finally got a 6v timing light. This is all very interesting.

Since there never seems to be a lack of opinions on this board I thought I would solicit some. My car is ready for the sand blaster and the guy doing it asked me what I wanted to do with the dash. I've gotten quotes on the wood grain look - about $800 - I really like the look, I would really like to go for stock, but $800 on top of everything else... seems excessive. Is there a pro or con to this? Does anyone have a picture of a painted dash? I've read posts about how "easy" the wood grain is to do but I'm not that good with my hands. I've got till Wednesday to make a decision. BTW: would the dash be painted the same color as the car? Help me guys - thanks, d-

I can't remember his name right now (Oldstimers) but this guy (100 years ago) said the way the world will end up is poor people will have lots of kids and rich people will buy them and eat them. Poor people get money, rich people get food. This is a sad commentary and I apologize in advance - I teach school and look at all these kids growing up - in 50 years the world's population will be out of control, man will have screwed up the environment beyond repair and all animals (man included) will have to improvise just to stay alive. While this is a cold blooded thing to say: I'll be dead - not my problem. It's okay though - the cockroach will survive.

okay - another question: it seems my pix are 2.25 MB but the system will only take 122 KB - So how do I make my pix smaller? I guess what's so annoying is I finally learned how to work the camera now I can't do anything with the pix.

I'm just no good at this. I went into 'manage attachments' and it asked me to browse and find the file. I know I'm doing something wrong. When I clicked on it I got a "failed" message. Do I have to do one picture at a time? I see posts with 2 or three pictures on them - and thumbnails - I'll keep trying.

Quick question: I just took my car in to be painted and took some before pictures but I don't really know how to post them. Is there a quick way to do this for the technologically impaired? Seeing the before pix will certainly help you appreciate what I'm hoping it's going to look like. Don

I notice you have a lift in your garage (which I truly covet) How tall is it? What clearance does it require? My wife noticed the color of the car and how tidy the shelves are. I guess it's all on your priorities.

Gentlemen - thank you ever so much. I am ever so appreciative for all the advice. I am making a list of web sites, ordering catalogs, and registering all your comments. I learned (perhaps late in life) that it is so much easier to benefit from other's mistakes that make them all myself. You've been very helpful - thank you. I went out and bought a camera today. I'm so old I remember the SLR - these cameras today - I had to take my wife with me to explain what they were all about. Now I've got to learn how to post the pix and I'll show you some very, very BEFORE pictures. thanks again to all. d-

I always go out and buy something and as soon as I do there is a flood of mail saying I should have gone somewhere else. I need to get all the rubber for windows, fenderwelts, window channeling, all that stuff. I found on line that Andy Bernbaum has it all. I don't remember if I've heard anything negative about them. Any comments before I buy rather than after? I've looked at the Steele catalog but they don't have much MoPar stuff. I would appreciate any information/leads/comments. Thanks

It's good to see what can be done. You have a georgeous car. The difference is you were able to do alot yourself and I'm going to pay someone. I was looking the other day at my neighbor's boat. He spent $30,000 for it and uses it only on week ends when the weather is nice. How can that be any different than putting the money in a car?

I, too, agree the amount is excessive - so what do I do with an old car that looks like it's been sitting for 25 years - which it has. The interior is shot (full of mice droppings). The paint is gone. Some dings. But all in all it will clean up. I don't have lots of money - but I don't have any kids and my house is almost paid for. The longer I wait the closer to death I get. I can't take the car or the money with me. I figure if I don't do it I will always regret it. I don't want a cheap paint job that will wear off in a few years. This guy is going to do all the stuff I can't do. He's going to take out the windows and replace the window channel, replace the fenderwelt (which I could do) but he's also taking all the dents out not just filling them with lead. And a super paint job. A lot of you guys are very talented - one guy wrote how he "taught himself" how to do everything. I admire that - but not every one has those capabilities. You know, to put things in perspective, I teach school in a juvenile lock down detention camp for gang banging morons. I bet some of the guys that can put in a head liner wouldn't last 20 minutes with a 16 year old car jacker. All my cars are paid for (mine and my wife's) - In reality I'm just buying a new car that I've always wanted. A couple years of car payments. Most of you guys know the feeling - motoring down the freeway at a brisk 55 mph. People speed by doing 80 but still slow down enough to gawk and wave. To Rockabilly - It is an investment. And I will own it till I die. And my wife will sell it and it will give her enough to make it through another month. I have a lot of things that are investments. I have an M1 Garand - every year they cost more to buy, and cost more than I paid for it, but since I will never sell it who cares. I've had old cars since I was 15 (and got caught). I'm just no good with my hands. I always kidded myself that I would do all the work myself. Never happened. I understand where some of you are coming from - I read your posts. You have a talent I envy. I've said too much already. d-

Turners it is! And sure enough if you go into the web site it says 70 acres 10,000 cars. It just might merit a road trip to see what they've got. I called him the other day and he said he had some Plymouths. If I go I'll try to remember to take a camera and share the experience.

I was taking my '48 4 door to the body shop. I had taken all the chrome off including the tail light and license plate frame. A friend followed me. He said I should put the license plate on the car. I'm usually pretty stupid about things like that. I said it's only about 30 miles - what could happen? About 25 miles into the trip I looked in the rear view mirror and sure enough there was the flashing red (and now they've added blue). California Highway Patrol. I jumped out of the car holding the license plate and said "I bet you're stopping me because I don't have my license plate on." He said, "Well, yeah, and your break lights don't work." Then he said "What year is that?" And we spent 45 minutes on the side of the road talking about my 48 and his 49 Ford woody. Finally my friend figuring I was in real trouble got out of the car. The CHP told me of a wrecking yard in Fresno that he said had over 10,000 cars. Finally he wished me luck and left. He never did check my drivers license. The only down side is when he called his father to get the name of the wrecking yard and I heard him say "I just stopped some old guy in a Plymouth." OLD GUY!!! Anyway - say what you want about the CHP the guy was very decent to me. And I got a lead on parts. that's it - hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. d-

How do you adjust the valves? Do you have to take the manifolds off? It looks sort of busy in that area. I always chuckle when you see a picture of an engine out side the car and then when it's in the car you can't reach anything. Is that yellow a stock color?

I'm hoping some of you will understand this - the reason I don't just go buy one already restored is because I bought this one as a mess and have done a lot of work on it - it was a project, hobby that I enjoyed. But then I got to the point where I did not have the knowledge or skill to complete the task. I have a 1969 Triumph I bought when I got back from Viet Nam. I have had it for over 35 years. I just spent $10,000 for a frame off, powder coated restoration. Now it looks so nice I'm afraid to ride it. I have a picture but again I don't know how to post it. It's not easy going through life making stupid decisions. You guys that know how to do it yourself are lucky - have some sympathy for us klutzes. d-