Tom Skinner

Fluid Drive, Thanks! I only added a Pint once in 5,000 miles, I have only owned the car 2 years now. I will go to 10 wt ATF next top off. I wouldn't atempt to drain this unit and soil up the Bell Housing unless I was in there for other work. I put a clutch in Feb, '08. everything is dry and clean in there as should be. No Damper Seal Leak. Tom

Longtops, I have a C-38 1948 Chrysler Royal Fluid Drive. I use 10wt Oil to top off the fluid coupler. Move the Carpet back on the Passenger's side front. Open the Side Door on the Passengers front towards the front of the car (that is to say on the "Hump") Remove Fill Here Tab. Tap your starter until a fill bolt stops at your Fill Here hole. Stuff a good sized Shop Towel around the plug neatly to prevent dropping into the Bell Housing as you remove it. Use 2 Towels if need be. Fill with 10 wt oil to top do not spill any into the Bell Housing, re-install the plug tightly, and then re-install the Fill Here Tab, Carpet Etc. To drain this is to risk saturating your Clutch Disk, by tapping it around open and throwing 10 wt Oil everywhere. Also if you drop that plug into the Bell Housing the only way to retrieve it is to remove the Bell Housing Lower Pan to fish it out. (A real pain in the petutie). Now when you service/replace your Clutch Disk if you want drain it then and then refill it, when all that crap is assessable and clean out the Bell Housing thru out with some Brake Cleaner. Use in a well ventilated area. Tom

Hey Bill, I lost you phone number how about email me with it and I'll call you about driving up to see you with my son, we would like to visit you. We are in Huntersville NC Tom

Zac sure is lucky having a Dad like you! Great Work Zac! My son is 13 and helped me do a Clutch job on my 1948 Chrysler last February, I only hope he continues to work on the Chrysler with me as thats half the fun. Tom

Bert, Do you have a Manual? The Rear End/Pumpkin on my 1948 Chrysler takes 90wt EP Oil. My Fluid Drive Transmision takes 10wt Oil. I think you would feel better if you knew for sure with some research. eBay typically sells Manuals, if I knew for a fact I would tell you what your takes. Anyone out there that knows? Tom

The Original Hogs Hair Carpet is available through Bill Hirsh in Newark NJ The Phone Number is 973-642-2404. It is expensive about $75 a square yard. To do the bottom of the rear foot rest, bottom of doors, back and front would be about 7-8 Square Yards, one would also need lacing/edging to finish out the doors and carpet. Send them a sample color of your interior and ask for grey or brown Hogs Hair sample they mail it to you free. Its the real deal - original materials if your a purist like myself. Otherwise any nice Carpet will do.

All great advice! I run my motor at 450-475rpm's warmed up, at idle. When they are running good thats enough rpm's. Tom

I grew up in New Jersey and haunted all of Fred Zeder, Carl Breer and Owen Skeltons areas of test drives of Walter Percy Chrysler's first Six. Eagle Rock Avenue - West Orange. South Mountain Reservation - South Orange. I visited Mechanic Street in Newark. This is where all of Chrysler began, Summit, Newark. Walter Percy and his three Musketeers. Also a side note on Ricardo M. - he had one of the best Chrysler Advertisments that were ever made. Especially if New Jersey Leather was in those Cordobas. Say a prayer for a Classy Dude. He really earned it. Tom

Dear Aero, Nice "Garage" for Chrysler Products you have there. ha ha. Nice Jets I'm impressed. I am a Commercial Construction Estimator (not alot of work out there right now). Things are Slow - Real Slow! Tom

Powerhouse, That is the #50 Spring, and I shorten mine from the other end (It looks purteyer that way). Hardware Stores carry them as well as O'Reily's, Car Quest, Etc. Tom

I cannot remember the Manufacturer but I actualy bought one Friday by happenstance. I had some time off from the office and took a ride into town to browse in Little Hardware. Its a #50 Spring. From Acme Spring Company or some such name. If you go to an old Mom and Pop Hardware store they will have an old Metal Spring Board with about 100 Springs Wired to it through small holes in the Board. The Metal "Board/Panel" is Green and about 3'-0" Square. Its not Acme but some other simple short name. They have been around forever (American Company). I bought one in 1982 fir my first Chrysler Royal and had'nt been in that store since, I sold that car in 1984. I went back into (Little Hardware) on Mint Street Charlotte, NC Friday to buy a spring for my new 1948 Chrysler Royal I bought in 2007 and the same guy (Dan) still works there, his hair is grey and turning loose now. He sold me another #50 Spring for $3.69. I believe I paid about $2.50 for that spring 27 years ago - not a bad deal at all. It was very satisfying to see the Little Hardware Family still thriving in business 27 years later. Tom Skinner

Don, Thanks! Mine leaks a tad more but not much more it is very tolerable. I changed my Oil Pan Gasket when I did my Clutch job last year and needed to change out my Rear Seal when I had the Bell Housing Pan down, and Oil Pan off it made it easy to reach. I think I'll wait until Ineed in there again to change the Gasket again. Tom

Don, My Gasket (The Side Pieces) and ends all ran "wild". That is to say my end pieces ran 3/8" up past pan edges and the sides over the end Gasket edges as well. I see in your picture your sides stop at where your ends run past the end pieces by 3/8". My pan drips oil after every ride, just a drip or so. I just bolted mine up with all ends running past "wild" thier respective points. Maybe thats why mine leaks. I have always done this wrong, I guess. I bought a new gasket, should I try again just like your picture, or does yours leak a little oil after every drive also? Tom Skinner PS. Thanks for the great picture of the right way to do it, I have owned 1948 Chryslers (2) for 36 years and have never installed an oil pan gasket correctly yet. They have always dripped a little oil because of my crappy install habits.

Shawn, Did you ever get the brake parts, or break job started? Good to see you back on the Forum. E-mail me if you need help. Tom Skinner Huntersville, NC.

Tod, Thanks for explaining that to me. I was ignorant as to its application. I think I'll leave mine stock, (Breather Tube) and respect those that don't. Tom

OK help me fellows, are we putting PVC Sysytems in our Flatheads to help them last longer, get better gas mileage, or cut down on pollution? Please explain? Tom

Dear Rumble, If its a 230 cu. in. its about 23" Long a 250.6 cu. in. is 25" Long. Tom

"Here we go again" (Ronald Reagan) How about let us get back to: how to fix our old cars - Please? Politics and Finances for another Forum. Tom Skinner

David, Excellent Job, and Excellent information. I thought about doing that but the only sewing I do is by hand. Anyway Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and all P15-D24 Forum group this Season. Tom Skinner

Great Job! You must be proud, it sounds good. No smoke from the tailpipe either. You are my Hero! Tom

Ditto Norms Coupe, I know guys that never finished High School that own their own businesses that make $200,000 to $300,000 per year. Truckers and Brick Masons. Its called having a good money and business sense and hard work. I finished my college degree at 40, I am now 52 work in an office and do quite well. The only thing college taught me was how to be a good subordinate. Let all the high brow college educated people unplug themselves from their embilical cords and go start their own businesses if they are so wonderful. Tradesmen like me still consider ouselves (former Carpenter) earning a deserved good salary also. Lets stop being devisive and pull together like a team. Like real Americans did, and should still do, or we will all go down the toilet together. As of the Forum last week I understood Toyota employees got @ $48/Hour so if Chrysler is @50/Hour thats pretty close. The problem with Americans is we do not stick together anymore, like buying American Cars, Products, Etc. and because of say 20-30 years of that practice along with College Educated Administrative CEO's sending all our jobs overseas, we will surely have our behinds kicked soundly, economically, for however long it takes to learn this simple lesson. Long Live Chrysler! Walter is probably spinning in his grave right now watching what a bunch of panty waisted little hand wringing wash women we have all become instead of pulling together like a team. Lord Byron said it well: Wealth makes Cowards, of us All. May God help us. Tom Skinner Huntersville NC

Young Ed has a good point, another thing, if the float height isn't right in the carb, or the carb linkage has been bent somehow. One more check - is your automatic choke set right? Vacumn at 20"-21" steady hand? Tom

Skrambler, Do you also have the Screws and Caps that go with those Straps?

Well, I am pleased to have so many answers! I do not have the Cord Type, or even the Strap Type. My first 1948 Chrysler Royal had them and I'm trying to re-create that look in my "New" one. I am seeking the Strap Type with the Tan/Taupe Wool Cloth. I can try a Ford Resto place here in Concord NC, but desire a Mopar Pair for as close to original as can be obtained. Thanks! I welcome any other sources, and Thanks Again for trying. Tom

Gentlemen, From time to time I see parts for sale from Plymouth and Dodge Cars. I was wondering, after several years of trying to locate Grab/Hand Straps for the rear seats of a four door 1948 Chrysler Sedan if I could find a pair on this Forum. I have been met with the promises of Part Car People on Ebay and other search vehicles that they would look and get back to me, - it never happens. I even sent a Gentlemen money for a pair that never showed up, because they were never sent, it took me months to get my money back. The Straps I am refering to are the (2) one on each side of the Cab that are mounted on the Walls between the Rear Door and the Vent Windows one on each side. There is a Center Cap that once popped off reveals the screw to remove them. They swivell on the said screw mechanism. I need a decent example preferably in the tan/taupe/grey wool cloth so common in our Interior Colors. If available name your price and send me a line at tskinner2@aol.com Tom Skinner Huntersville NC (704) 912-3060