Uncle-Pekka

Dear Flatie: It was smoking when parked. There is only one rust hole in the floor (size of a barn). The only accident I know was when I bought it. - yourstruly

I've been cleaning and tuning up the New Yorker while she's been hibernating in the back yard for the long & cold winter. Soon it will be the time to take her back to road. Is there a club or web-forum for these somewhere here? I found one called "New Yorker's online". There are lots of useful info there; Instructions how-to-fix some picked items, such as AC, power windows, etc. But it really lacks a forum to discuss with co-owners. There is a Yahoo-group, but the concept sucks: You sign up to receive each & every e-mail to your mailbox - no matter the subject or author. You'll end up with a huge pile of meaningless "hello"s every day. Pain in the back to dig up the golden nuggets of info there. Someone knows a club or forum for these, please give me a hint. Thanks! /Pekka

"You are bidding for 1951 Cadillac convertible, very hard to find - This one is in VERY restorable condition. Thanks for looking - Good LUCK!"

Thanks for the review, James! D.B. tires do look very good, nice to know they also ride well. However, they are pricey. What about Sumitomo or Yokohama - are they really the same tire? (I thought D.B. are U.S. made, special design) Is there a price difference to D.Back?

The "pale Mopar" with bullet holes is a D24. You can tell by the tail light.

Exactly. The only thing appealing to me in a ford would be that flat head V8. Actually, if I would get to pick me a ford, it should be 1939 DeLuxe or 1940 Standard five window coupe with the flattie.

Sportabout? Roadster? Convertible? There were many more body styles for '49-'51 Dodges that to D24? What are the differences between the three open top bodies?

I agree. For instance in the Soviet Union it was always the old guys who ruled. Ronald Reagan was old and he ruled. In China they do rule still today.

I see. By the way, I did not intend to be pushy or tell you what to do, just carried away to spread my own gospel of old cars. Whatever, Your President is a mighty machine - All the best of luck with it!

Why not drive it as it is? I suppose 1936 President must be a rare car even there in the States? Lots of people sure enjoy to see it on the move. Not to mention you will grow together to it driving to places and collecting good moments... I drove my D24 three summer even every fender was different color and paint peeled off the roof. Last summer I put it in the garage, stripped chrome and started sanding & priming. This winter I have not had time for a single days work at the garage (which unfortunately is 180miles from my current home town...) I am sorry I started the paint job this seriously. I may just do the fenders, doors and trunk lid the summer coming and leave the roof for later on. I have to get on the road to keep myself motivated.

Wow, it looks great! Nice color too, becomes the big Stude way better than fire engine red on the picture I found at web. I know a gentleman here in Finland, who owns a 1927 President. If I recall it correct, the car was actually used by the President of the Republic in early 30's. A majestetic car, but I like the 1936 style better. The front end of '36 President is huge and relatively low windshield underlines the long bonnet. D24 convertible is a beautiful car, but I would not trade the big Studebaker to one of those... Your car looks good in the photo - Is it a daily driver?

Has anyone here tried POR15 engine enamel? I did my trunk floor by using the regular Por15 and have been satisfied with it so far (3 yrs). Also it was easy to apply with brush, yet produced nice surface. If engine enamel is re-developed for engine block, it should be interesting product. http://www.por15.com/ENGINE-ENAMEL/productinfo/EEPA/

Benny, It took me a while to see the trade proposal in your signature. Studebaker President is an aristocratic automobile. Is your car like the one in below picture? - running straight eight? I.R. admiring...

No Sir! There's no crank opening in D24, nor any slot to turn in the end of the crankshaft/front pulley center. Actually, it is bit of a problem to even slow turn the engine for e.g. adjusting distributor, because there's nothing but the pulleys to turn from... The movie scene is a blooper/fake. No matter the picture is great. It reminds me another movie from my high school time: "Grease". There was similar scene when the gang was preparing "the Greased Lightning" '48 Ford convertible hot rod for the showdown drag race at the Thunder road. WhATever D24 conv. looks much better to me compared to f.o.r.d. Thanks Robin for nice set of pictures!

Ca. ten yrs back I attended at a product training by Neste Fortum oil company related to my job. In one of the sessions a research engineer told us about a field test they did in end of 90's. They tested their new heavy duty synthetic motor oil for diesel engines in the buses of Tampere city. They ran the same oil for 300 000 kms (ca. 180 000 miles) in a couple of city buses, they only changed the filters after every 30 000 kms and took a sample for analysis. They found more and more of molecular breaks during the time, but he claimed, that the oil was good to maintain sufficient film between surfaces even after the 300 000 kms test. The filters were good enough to pick out all harmful burning residues and dirt particles. After that I've been running a good quality synthetic 5W50 oil in my daily drivers for 20 000 kms between changes - never had an engine problem ever.

I painted the stripes on my wheels in summer of '08 by using same method & tools as Jim Yergin in above link. In D24 wheels the center ring is not as thick as in P15. I think the lines are 1/16", 1/8", 1/16" on D24. Spacing 1/16" Here are the stripes: I made a simple sheet metal cover on the center of the rim, hole in the middle of the cover and supported the radius guide of the striping can from the center hole.

Well, I thought the Olds looks kinda sexy...

'49-'50 Olds is also clean & nice...

'53 DeSoto is a classic, the most handsome of the 50's grilles. I suppose it is the most used custom trick to plant the ´DeSoto grille in a ford, '49 Merc, chevy, whatever - but still it looks best where it was originally designed. By the way, in late 60's when I was a kid, people in finland mostly called US cars "the Dollar Grins". I did not quite understood it, I thought it was because of the price. Then in late 70's I saw a 1950 Buick for the first time and suddenly it was obvious The silver dollars were there, smiling in the big mouth, side by side, rollin forward! P.S. I also like the "scoop" or "louver" on the '53 hood. Was that the one which started the later scoop-thing on performance cars?

There are so many fabulous grilles in 30's & 40's cars, I really cannot pick my abs.favorite. I like very much the 46-48 DeSoto as suggested by Brian above. Also 41-42 Chrysler is one of my big favorites. For your consideration I throw in an American Aristocrat, which I suspect is a bit underestimated yet today: The 46-47 Packard Clipper:

After several posts in the side track, it's time to return to the main issue: Y'all should know the anthem by Monty Python's: "Finland, Finland, Finland, The country where I want to be, Pony trekking or camping, Or just watching TV. Finland, Finland, Finland. It's the country for me!"

Rather crushed? Robert, that's pretty much said! As far as I'm concerned this hobby is private business, everyone for himself. I agree with you when you say it's no longer P15, but not for the grille, paint job, not even the top chop - He replaced the heart&soul by chevy 350+350TH; to me that's when the car ceased to be a '47 Plymouth. Even then - it's his decision and he will live with that. I'd never will buy the remands no more. But would gladly buy the original powertrain if I should have aP15 in my garage. Maybe somebody did got a good flattie and he's got a car he likes - happy end? As long he does good job that he can honestly call his own and be happy with - it is a happy end.

If Tim is normal, i wonder what that makes the rest of us then... I asked my doctor if I were normal too - He replied; "Sure, if it makes you happy, but don't quit the therapy nor the medication..."

It's kinda hard to say anything definite by a couple of small photos, but there are lots of good in that as well... Well, of course it is nowhere near to NASCAR, never mind past or present. The roof is awful - I would not mind the chopping (actually I've lately grown to LIKE a top chop well done...), but the WAY he'd done it. Closing the quarter windows is a CRIME. That was for the BAD & The UGLY The GOOD: The concept of the custom grille is OK - cannot comment quality by the photo, but there's potention in it. Front bumper looks good on it. The wheels I like - simple but tasty. The fat butt is great (That's my fetish, I also have soft spot for JLo ;-) And FINALLY, Yes, I like the paint job. I do feel it becomes the curves of the body - Also I somehow associate it to New Orleans creole woodoo etc. Someone tell him to make a camouflage paint on the top to hide the crime from public eye. He should be able to pull it through with his stripe sable...

The Caddy Harry is riding on looks more like '48 or '49 - J C Penney convertible is '47 - Both are stunning cars just like the '40 Chrysler Royal he bought privately.