Don Jordan

Would like to welcome you aboard. This forum has been a God send to me. I'm sort of mechanically challenged. Many will be patient with you until your question is answered. Good luck. You've got a good looking car.

I don't know why but when I have a problem it's usually an easy fix but a pain in the butt to find. My horn would beep when I turned the key on. Could not figure it out. I guess for all you real mechanics it would be a no brainer. For me, however, it took some looking into to. What I found was the 3 allen screws holding the horn button on were too long. They were tight but I couldn't snug down the horn button and the ring was loose. How silly is that? I don't know if having the steering wheel re done or if I lost some spacers but problem is solved and I hope I can save someone the aggravation of going through the same thing.

I don't believe it - I actually have a gas tank story. When I got my 47 it had been sitting in Arizona for years. I trailered it home. Thought I would be clever and have the tank boiled out and coated. Years pass. I tried to start the car and I wasn't getting any fuel. Took off the fuel pump and it was working fine but no gas was coming out of the tank. I drained the tank and took it off. The coating was peeling off on the inside. I took the tank back and they were going to boil it out. They had the tank for over a week and said the charges were mounting. I'm too old to play around. I drove to my favorite junk yard in Fresno and bought another tank for $150 - got it home and went to another shop and had it boiled out. No rust, clean. I guess the first shop just acquired an old gas tank. I put the new tank in today and will hook everything up tomorrow. It's not as much fun as it used to be working outside in 100° weather. (just as an OT side note: I don't remember doing this since I was in high school but I took my 48 for a ride and watched the odometer turn to 23000. Just kind of a kick.)

If I turn the key on and touch the wire to the horn relay then it beeps. I don't want to take the horn button and ring off again. Those three screws are a pain in the horn. I keep thinking I missed a washer some where. I've got to check the parts book to see the exploded view. It's something silly. It always is. If worst comes to worser I'll just put a button in somewhere. I just bought a gas tank - there's another thread - later.

Sorry - that was a tad misleading. But while I have your attention: I took my steering wheel off to have it re done (it's beautiful) but I don't know why I can take something that's working perfectly and screw it up. I put the wheel back on, hooked up the horn and it beeps when you turn the key on. There aren't that many moving parts - what could be wrong?

I got mine from Steele. I think I may have paid too much but it's a little late now. The first door I really made a mess because I tried to put it on while the door was still attached to the car and I got adhesive on everything. I have one more door and I'm going to take it off and put it on saw horses. It takes patience which I've never had a lot of. I also got the rubber for around the wind wings and window channel. This is a real learning experience for me. Someone posted a youtube video that was informative about the proper way to install the rubber. They make it look so easy. I'm not sure where I saw it but it was on the forum.

The car has been sitting for a while. I've been doing cosmetic things to it. I finally tried to start it. Trouble keeping it running. Thought it might be the fuel pump (electric). Took it off and stuck a hose in a can of gas and it was pumping. Checked everything else. Got to the gas tank. Pulled the hose off and gas dribbled out. Took an air hose and blew into the tank. It took a while, nothing came out, then back to a dribble. My next step is to have the tank boiled out. If (when) I take the tank off is there anything I can do? Flush it out with a hose? I've already had the tank boiled and coated several years ago. This is getting to be annoying. I got a brand new garage and I can't get the car in it.

I apologize for lingering in the 20th century - it truly prevents me from appreciating some of the new improvements. I just noticed a little red number on the upper right corner of the home page. I clicked on it and there was a list of some very nice comments (which I am unfamiliar with here). Problem is I don't really know the protocol. I don't know how to reply or if it is necessary. I use Netscape which I believe was started during the Civil War (when I was younger) and I have found it doesn't do all the functions available on this forum. Nothing comes up when I click on Resources or Members. So I guess it's possible I'm missing something in the Notifications area as well. So if I have offended anyone by not responding I truly apologize.

Remember when you could get by with just initials? When I was in the service we dealt with something that was FUBAR. An RCH was a very slight measurement. SNAFU. BFD. Another tool was a BFH. If you couldn't fix it with a BFH then it was probably an electrical problem. I can't remember what I had for lunch and I can remember this silliness from 40 years ago.

Well hell - I don't see anything wrong with it. I would gladly sell my Plymouth for $85,000. When I sold my motorcycle at Mid American auctions I was blown away by all the old, rich, white guys who were buying anything for obscene prices. The guy who bought my motorcycle had 30 Triumphs and he just wanted another. I saw an Indian go for $125,000. A fool and his money are soon parted.

Excellent!!!! Thank you. That was very helpful. I found it interesting that Steele Rubber played a part in the video. Steele is where I got my weather stripping. I also got the rubber for around the wind wing. This is a real learning experience for me. I've got so much taken apart I just hope I can remember how it all goes back. I've been taking lots of pictures. Whoever had the car before me painted all the garnish molding with a rattle can. I've been striping them down to bare metal. Then new rubber, new paint. This is getting to be a lot like work. I wish to offer, again, my thanks for all your help and input. I didn't realize how much I depend on this forum until the time I couldn't get on. Wow! Eye opening experience.

Just as a side note. I've been taking to door apart and saw what looks like a wasp nest. It's an old car from the desert.

I know everyone is out with the family doing hot dogs and beer. Silly me. I'm in a 100° garage trying to figure out how to put on the weather strip around the door. The stuff I got from Steele looks different but it looks like it should work. I just thought I'd check before I screw it up. Is there a right way and a wrong way? I've got a 50 - 50 chance. I may have bitten off more than I can chew but even I can learn. The black pix is the one I'm putting on the blue is the one I'm using for an example. hope all had a good fourth and it wasn't too hot or too wet. (I'm not sure where that would be)

I'm having a great deal of trouble logging on to P15-D24. Have I done something wrong? Do I need a new computer? I never realized how much I depend on the forum for information until I was unable to log on. I've gone in in a back door sort of way. Using my bookmark just isn't getting it.

My wife would look at those pictures and cringe. I look at those pictures and see great potential. Looks to me like a great find that should keep you busy for awhile. Good Luck.

Mr Bill: thank you.

I'm afraid I can't find this in the repair manual. The rubber is so hard it just falls apart. I should get the pieces Tuesday.

next question: how to I put the rubber around the wind wing? I've got a picture I'll try to download.

I just ordered rubber from Steele. I have 2 concerns: what type of glue for the rubber that goes around the door. And what is the procedure for getting the rubber around the wind wings? I've taken the garnish molding off and I'm planning on stripping it down and repainting it. I was looking at wood graining but I fear that is out of my league. Right now the rubber around the wind wing is so hard it just breaks off when touched. This whole adventure is getting scary. I had the body shop do the work in my other car. I feel it's time for me to step up and learn. Also I ordered window channel - is that supposed to be glued in? or does it just pressure fit?

When did we lose our flair for design? This was a time of greatness that's been abandoned. We've lost uniqueness. http://news.yahoo.com/lightbox/sensuous-steel-art-deco-automobiles-1371246062-slideshow/art-deco-autos-photo-1151323321.html

I live in the middle of no where. So it's a gallon of gas to get into town and a gallon to get back. Our little auto parts store (a CAR QUEST)is a little more expensive but it is convenient. So if the oil in town goes for $29 @ gal plus $8.00 in gas it works out about the same. Still it seems high.

They look so much better going in.

Here is a hot flash on this topic: I too just replaced my oil seal to stop a leak. Most of my problems can be traced on the forum. I drained the differential. Today I bought a gallon of 90w oil. It cost more than a oil change at Jiffy Lube. $35.00 for a gallon of oil. I guess I need to get out more. I'll fill the diff. tomorrow and see if there is a chance the leak is fixed. I'm telling you an old car is God's way of telling you you have too much money. I saw Jay Leno on tv yesterday and he was saying: "Yeah, you pick up a car for $450, put $25,000 into it and sell if for $11,000." Boy does that sound familiar.

On my 47 it has an insert oil filter. Easily picked up at your local parts store. My 48 has this massive unit (I don't have the number - it's in the garage) I bought the last 2 from the parts store. They were $50 @. I don't really change them every time I change the oil. My question is how often should you change the oil? Sometimes I won't drive 3,000 miles in a year. I am torn between changing it anyway or letting it go.

Many thanks. d-