Ivan_B

I admit: I do not understand modern art ?

Sorry to hear that ? I did fix mine, recently, so I am now happy as a clown...

I agree, this sounds like some custom wiring... Did you already have a chance to check your headlight switch wiring against a factory diagram?

Dog racing is probably still popular among a certain population, similar to horse racing

Yeah, I already looked it up and edited my original post to remove this bus reference, just before you've replied ? In my opinion, it looks kind of strange on a car... Maybe because dogs are usually not associated with something fast and graceful? I don't know.

I wonder if the builder was having difficulties finding good body panels, and then said - the hell with it, I'll just call it a hot rod ?

That model probably needs two pillows to sit high-enough to actually see where she is going. Also, I would like to see her operating the pedals with those high-hills... Could probably use feet extension, though ? Sorry for the off-topic.

I believe that this is usually done by removing the supply line off the carburetor (or taking the top off) and seeing if you get any fuel, while cranking ?

Maybe I am completely off, here, but are you still using the same ignition switch/key? ?

I was actually seriously thinking about that, when I did the carpet (I used regular brown rug from Home Depot "to order" variety). I was playing around with left-over carpet pieces and really liked the way it looked holding it next to the door... Ended-up using it for the floor, trunk, and glove box ? Well, you know, there are two types of men: 1) the ones who can do everything themselves, and 2) the ones who can afford to pay others to do things for them. So you can either work for someone else and earn money to spend on yourself, or just work for yourself

In BC? Isn't that expected to get a bit cold, icy, and salty by now?

Well, it is up to you. I just prefer to take vintage things of value out of daily use to preserve them in enjoyable authentic condition for as long as possible and, maybe, even pass along to someone else. That's all. Not exactly a museum-type person (although I'd certainly had one if I was rich) but a useful preservationist for sure

That is true, although, I would suggest not using your classic in adverse weather I've also heard of individuals using plastic panels, but would probably not do that myself since plastic in a classic is kind of wrong for my taste ? A waterproof plywood is probably a better alternative.

The cards look like thick construction cardboard. I figured they were not DIY by the look of those clean cuts Why didn't you just do a normal (cheap/simple) upholstery? I don't think it would be more expensive... Most of it is your time and labor. All you really need is a card (could've DIY that) a piece of soft underlayer and some fabric from a store. Assuming your card is thick enough, you fold the fabric over the edge and clip it to the card with upholstery stapler. Done. Even simpler solution - buy a good weight rug by yard, cut it, sew some trim over the edges (or have it overlocked by the carpet store) and use it as your door card. For reference - the fabric for my whole car cost like $137; but I did have the old cards and everything else in place.

The engine (pistons/valves) is not shuck anymore, since you've fixed it, correct? You do not drain the oil from the block when adding a little into the cylinders for conservation purposes.

Small update: I did some more tests with the ignition noise in the radio. Adding a filter condenser to the ignition coil power did not help. Neither did shielding the coil inside the car with some metal. Engine/body/exhaust grounds appear to be good. It seems I am getting the interference from the ignition wires, since my little digital AM radio goes dead if I bring it too close to the wires. I have to power-cycle it completely to get it to work again.

Okay, it must be that coronal discharge, mentioned earlier. I pulled the boots off the plugs, checked the connectors, the glow is coming from where the porcelain goes into the plug's body down the engine. It is not coming from the plug/wire junction. Looks like a false alarm ? Tried to film it, but the camera would not pick it up. Probably similar to what's going on at the Kamioka Observatory ?

I don;t believe it's sticking anymore, they fixed it. As for winter conservation, I suspect that fogging oil in a spray can works better because it gets everywhere, especially if you crank the engine (carb and coil disconnected) while spraying it into the plug hole, as instructed.

Sounds like a plan. Or, you can just take a look at your current radio to see whether or not it works... Basically, you need a working stock radio to go with the DIY AM transmitter route. And this is exactly what's going on. Wires are copper core, plugs - non-resistor. I was sniffing around the car with another AM radio, I am getting the ticking/tapping noise from around the generator, voltage regulator, and the coil (sitting right next to my radio inside the cabin). I am still thinking about whether I should install shielded ignition wires, or try to put some filter caps on the coil, etc. Using a modern stereo setup is a good solution, especially if you do not have the radio in there. My car came equipped with the OEM radio (with a paper warranty tag), so the whole point was to get it working and then use it with my own music to enjoy the good-old warm tube sound

For sure... If you need some sound insulation, you'll have to rely on laying down some loose sheet material. Disadvantage? Maybe, but it can always be easily removed for inspection/service later on

I was doing an "engine running in the dark" test, and noticed that all of the plugs are sort of glowing blue in the dark. The glow appears to be "ticking" together with the engine RPM... There is no arching, or anything like that. It looks like the glow is coming from inside the wire boots. The sparks are new, the wires are not new but seems to be performing according to specs. ? Is this normal? Can someone please take a look at your engine in the dark?

That's a good tip, I'll try that once I get to it. I also need to check my drums with a dial, and probably grind down the shoes for proper contact ? Have you attempted to look for a used steering box to see how it works? I cannot image it being worn so much that rebuilding does not work... Also, is yours adjustable? I once had a more modern car with an extremely bad steering wheel play (worm gear type). The adjustment took about 2 minutes, and worked great (no play)

Well, you can probably run it for a minute, but I would not recommend doing that. Chances are, you'll toss this engine anyway, sooner or later. Did you ever drive an air-cooled motorcycle? You would usually feel the cylinder head by hand; once it is too hot to touch, it is ready to roll. During hot weather, it takes less than a minute to warmup. Well, the air-cooled engines are fine because they have larger gaps, but if you heat-up a normal engine like that, you can get it heat-seized. In general, I would not be testing the engine with the radiator disconnected, etc., period. If you are planning to fix it, you need to fix everything, anyway I know you did not ask, but I still think you guys should get a different car, which you can readily-enjoy. This one sounds like it will be off the rod for a long time. Think about it - you could've been driving around, right now, and asking how to do the regular maintenance, instead of messing with all this ?

I know, I am just joking. Florida winter - is the classic car driving season... Things are obviously quite different up north. How are your brakes doing? Did you have those properly installed and adjusted? Fluid flushed, hoses, lines, cylinder seals brand new?

Do it, do it now, you'll like it! ? The volume on the OEM Philco? Of course! You can blow the speaker out with that thing. I am only listening at around 25-30% of the volume, right now. No alterations were done to the radio itself, what so ever, I am just feeding the radio signal by wire into the stock antenna. Drove the car around town, today, the "radio" is working pretty cool. Although, I am picking some static from the running engine. Checked - appears to be unrelated to my setup because it is there even with the transmitter turned off, and it fluctuates with the engine RPM. This is probably the ignition system or the generator. I'll look into ways to get rid of it, over the week.