Uncle-Pekka

What if the solenoid is missing or broke - Can I get one somewhere and what does it cost? Links to sources?

Hi 'Ball, Yes I noticed your kustom at sale. The price is right but market in Finland is ve..ery slow today. As you recall, we had a party of three who imported D24's to Finland in winter of '06. You and Pena did build your cars very nice in no time at all, but I just heard also Pena has sold his car and apparently concentrating in horses (?)... I hope you will pick up another 40's-50's project one of these days - Would be a pleasure to follow up your project again. My project is not restoration, neither customizing. May sound dull, but I only aim to put it dependable and tidy driving condition. And DRIVE the flathead. I will drop it a tad to achieve stance to my likes. Also load with accessories as visor, skirts, beauty rings, spotlight, etc. I little bit towards to mexican build style, but not as bold. The colour is dark blue. Somewhere in between battleship gray and navy blue, if you excuse me playing with big words. Due to my garage problems, I had a couple of side kicks in past three years. The Struggle started with unlucky '61 Caddy import lead to '77 New Yorker and the 1951 Nash Statesman, which I overhauled mechanically and now sold this summer as I finally managed to paint the Dodge.

The Savoy has the OD, indeed. Here's a picture: The cylindrical part near brake drum low left - is that the governor? Where the solenoid should be? What do I need to take along but the transmission? - kickdown switch - relay (on firewall?) - on/off lever (in dash?) - anything in/on the distributor?

As the width of the tires is the problem, I continued the search and noticed, that 215/85 R16 give almost 10% push compared to 215/75 R15. 215/85 R16 are 30" in diameter, thus will be troublesome to change as well... For which application these 85 aspect ratio tires are made for anyway? - light trucks?

Thanks Tim, Ed. I recall having read here, that '53 rear axle is less in width than D24, thus complete axle does not swap either... For clarity: My D24 has 4.1:1 rear ratio as it is now. 4.1:1 still does bother me - would prefer 3.73:1 to it.

I received a hint of a '53 Savoy parts car, which may have over drive installed. What do I have to do to install the overdrive and possibly savoy 3rd member to my D24? Should I save the complete power train including propeller shaft?

Means to improve high way travel qualities have been discussed frequently: Installing over drive unit or changing rear ratio. Unfortunately suitable OD & gears are becoming rare and prices raise high. Some of you have adviced to use big tires instead. I am currently running on 215/75 R15 tires. I noticed 235/75 R16 would run almost 8% faster at the same shaft speed. 235/85 R16 would be almost 14% faster, almost the same effect as changing 4.1 rear to 3.54:1... My idea would be install 2" lowering blocks on rear axel and hide the big rear wheels by using fender skirts. Keep 15" front tires. Has anyone installed this big tires 235/85 16" ??? Any issues with interference to body or fenders?

Thanks Mark, Unfortunately my holidays are over and I had to return to Jyväskylä in past Friday. I brought some trim parts with me and hope to get time to visit Kokkola for a couple of weekends in end of Aug./beg. of Sept. to continue the re-assembly of the Dodge... It was so rainy last week, that I did not even took photos of the car before leaving Kokkola. I will prepare some pictures later on in the autumn. Br., Pekka

Hi Folks, The Dodge now has bright new paint job! Finally! Bad news is I probably will not have time enough to get her on the road before winter (= it will be may 2013 before we'll hit the road...) ...thus I will take a few minutes to post some pictures we took at the sunday evening car meet with Mark here in Kokkola area: This is the 1962 Ford Zephyr Mk.III Mark mentioned above: ...and the Kaiser... ... Model T with period correct Lady and "His Masters Voice"-device... ...1967 Imperial 4D HT... ...1957 Dodge Custom Royal... ... My 1977 New Yorker and 1955 Imperial (The Black Pearl)...

We had a very good Sunday afternoon with Mark and Tracey, indeed. Luckily our club had this little get-togeher happening at sea side camping park. Not much cars or people but excellent weather and very good intimate atmosphere... I'll also postpictures as soon as I'll have time (busy painting the Dodge this week) Speaking about weather, obviously Mark brought sunny weather from North to us: It rained out through all Friday & Saturday, even Sunday morning. At noon rain ceased and 3PM sun was shining! Too bad an afternoon goes by so fast, when you have a good time with friends.

Yeah - It depends on when the bug decides to land ... will "he" land on the paint or in the paint... If the paint had time a couple of minutes to dry, he will only stick there at his feet, then your method is the best. If he does hit wet paint and fall over; he has some seconds to live, which he of course spends swimming and wrestling in my paint. Buries himself under the surface... As Randy suggested, I need to invent a name for this style: - Bugster (bugger!) - mosquito patina - "Pretty Fly for a self painted" -rod ???

Sorry to learn your bad luck... painting seems to be just like that - to us amateurs. The biggest difference btw amateur painter and professional is just plain routine. The firm gun hand needs a LOT of practise... I am in the last leg of my D24 painting process myself. Have fiddled now three summers with rust repair and prepping. I have primed the body several layers and laid bondo, sanded it away, etc... Today I sprayed final coat on hood, fender skirts, gravel shieds and some smaller parts. The paint come out fairly good, but some half dozen small insects landed in the wet paint... This was the second time I sprayed these parts. Last time I could not get nice glossy surface, poor adjustment of gun and also probably bad mixture (not enough thinner in paint)... I seriously consider to let someone with experience to paint the body. The bigger area, the less chance to get it right.

The other nite at the bar... I happened to spot this official straight eight drink: May also be dedicated (?) to our fellow member Mr. Fireball of Finland.

Hello Mark, I will be on a sea-side summer cottage next week from Tue till Sunday afternoon. The following week (Mon 30th July till Sun 5th Aug) I'll be for sure in Kokkola area, either on some cottage or at garage. Do you have my phone number? (i'll send you pm) Have a safe journey! B.r., Pekka

I bought that cowl welt from Andy Bernbaum's 2 yrs back. Got the original spec fabric woven stock, has two rubber strings inside. Works well and looks right. A-365......Cowl lacing, original size and style.........................$12.00 /ea.

What? - Did someone call me? .... I would presume the original upholstery backing plates were made by an industrial plate cutter machine, thus there may not be any hand tool for this shape & purpose. Do not recite my name in vain... /Uncle-Pekka

I know it is not my business, but I can't help commenting. If you lose the flathead and fluid drive, it isn't the car anymore. Old body on modern frame and engine - it looks like something but it isn't anything... further, as far as I can think, repairing frame is easier than repairing body... Especially for these cars. Thus my advice to find a donor and keep it a D24. It is really great to drive for a car of it's age.

Mark, Thanks for your nice words, but my dear wife calls "the collection" very realistically "a pile of junk scattered all over the place". Thus you may be disappointed ... do not wait for too much... Pekka

I had to take a painful decision due to lack of storage: One of "the big three" had to go. ("The Big three" refering here to my american cars, the D24, 1977 New Yorker and 1951 Nash tub - then there are "the little three": 3 pcs Renaults from 60's) Well, the fat a** Dodge was obviously not considered to let go - she's my favourite. I tried to sell the New Yorker several times, but did not got offers at price level I would consider. Thus the Nash was sold today. Sad to part from her, a true west coast car with absolutely rust free body. Also the only 1951 Nash registered in Finland (there are 1949 and -50 Nashes, but only one -51) However, having done the deal, your Uncle-Pekka is again 100% Mopar man, no other yankee make in the house. This pic was shot yesterday as we prepared for the last run together: "Unkka's 1951 Nash Statesman Super; 2010 - 2012" Recall, how the Nash story was started at the forum a couple of years back: http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=24072

Folks, Any idea, what is the car in above picture? Heavy artillery type rims and decent shield below oil pan...

Copied this from HAMB forums: Reminds me we have one historic preserved gas station in my old home town. I aim to shoot some pictures of my D24 there once I get her painted...

Yes, for sure Vauxhall main works were in Luton, England, near to London. Vauxhall is an old brittish make, started car manufacturing in the beginning of 1900's, bought by GM in late twenties, I belive. What I most probably recalled wrong was, that they should have a daughter factory in Canada - probably never did. I am truly sorry for the Viva, but every man has to bear his cross. In Finland we have a saying describing Vauxhall Viva, but due to the forum rules I cannot rephrase it here... Yankees are so easily disturbed by hard words...

Yes, It is a Vauxhall Velox six. The tail light design is easy to recognize. This body was made from 1951 until 57. My Dad had one before my time. He recalls it was a good car and strong engine compared to other european cars at that very time. I recall having heard, they made this car in Canada also? Or I might be wrong?

Keep running side roads... ...another straight 8 classic: 1949 Buick fireball: FABULOUS SOUNDS!

I am running a bit on a side track here, just starter surfing off from benny's utube link... ...found this Packard video... I love each sound on that clip: The straight eight running, door closing, gear lever ... exhaust is leaking, but never mind...