austinsailor

I've talked to him, he never decided to sell it, but hasn't done anything with it. Someone there saw one in a junkyard in Texas. Post was 2 years old when I found it. Tracked it down, the junk yard guy had sold it to a guy in Europe 2 months earlier and stuck it in a container. I've got to be quicker.

Gaskets are on the way. Should get to Mo. about the same time as me - this is Texas time right now. Overhaul set cost $331, I wonder if I had a 413 would it cost $413?? :<) Probably take a year to get it done. A few years back a local car guy showed up at the machine shop with a birthday cake with one candle. Machinist asked what that was for. Car guy said "My motor's been here a year, I thought we should give it a birthday party!" Even though it was a few years ago I just heard about it and thought it was pretty humorous.

I have another friend who has a small machine shop, but he's not interested in the old stuff. But he's been a circle track dirt racer for 30 years and knows of several companies who make pistons. He suggested lighter custom pistons to solve some of those issues. As we get into it I'll quiz him and some others about options. He says around $100 - $125 per piston is what to expect. I'm guessing that a 3 ring piston with narrower rings for less drag would be the choice here. It won't be doing heavy lifting regardless of what I use it in. Occasional quick acceleration (everything is relative!) and making cool noises will be it's main function.

Last year I picked up a truck big 6, the 331 CI version. 30" head. I'd hoped to find a 413 but haven't yet. So I think I'm just going to rebuild this one and try to figure out a use for it. Not sure what that will be yet, but it's too cool to just let it sit on the shelf till my kids send it to the scrapper after I die. We have a local old time machine shop who'll do a turn key job on old ones. He's the one who had the fire a couple months ago, but he's up and running again. I hope this is interesting enough to get done without too much time. He's told me he can send old bearings off, get new babbet and align bore them. Olsens has gaskets, pistons can be made. It's got 12 ports, so intake and exhaust are wide open. I bet I can figure out an individual port fuel injection system for it. Bump the compression up a few numbers, grind the cam a bit and it should have a lot of torque even if it's not a high reving thing. Any thoughts? Any parts around I might need for it?

the blaster is the cheap part. You'll need a serious compressor to do it. I did mine and I'd say you'll use up most of a day, probably more if to include fenders and hood. A lot depends on the blaster size (which has a big effect on the compressor size needed) and what methods you have to manupulate the cab around to get to all sides. If you're including the bed parts you can add a bunch more time. You really should prime it as you blast each part, so include that time as well. If I was doing mine again I'd allow for at least 2 long days. If you're having someone else do it you also have to worry about them getting too aggressive and distorting panels.

I worked for Motorola for a lot of years, starting as a design lab technician, later as a self taught (non-degreed, they called it) engineer. 6 times, actually. 2 times as a regular employee, 3 times through contract houses and once as my own company. It used to be quite a company, very innovative. A very good employer. Through the '90s and 2000s it became a company directed by the wrong people (who the heck ever heard of "co-directors?) and started loosing it. They let small fiefdoms squabble, drag down sections of the company over personal power struggles, and ignorred customer requests for products. For example, they invented the cellphone business and virtually owned it. Analog phones were becoming dated and customers were asking for digital phones. Moto managers told them, no, you really want this new improved analog phone we're working on. Customers went elsewhere and it's been downhill ever since. They've sold most of their former profitable divisions and there is not much left. A real shame

]I had a Packard years ago - a '54 hearse. 327 straight 8, 4bbl carb and 3 on the tree. Paid $40 for it, the transmission was stuck in 3ed. Took it out, fixed it with no parts, drove it for some time. We cleaned up on $1 a carload nights at the drive in! More stories could be told, but I'll save them for another day. The barracuda in the background was my '65, ordered new from the factory, 273 ci 235 hp 4 speed with limited slip. The 36 Ford belonged to my brother and I. Ran, but we never got it on the road. Draft came along and everything was gone when I got home. Wish I still had all 3.

I looked for a new hood emblem for a while. Mitchel Motors (Now FMMopar on eBay I think) has the pair ( metal and plastic) nos for about $700. No way! I found many in poor condition, one day my eBay saved search notified me of one, it looked great. $80. plastic like new, metal unpitted, but needs new chrome. Save a search for "53 plymouth hood" One may pop up again. Mine had been posted for 3 hours, I jumped on the buy it now. As to seat springs, on my b1b, they were rusty, but not falling apart. Pressure washing got them in acceptable shape. Painted them and they are fine. My upholster told me not to sandblast them, they'd lose the spring. I think he is wrong. As long as you go easy, from a little distance you should be fine. People talk about getting things too hot sandblasting (usually talking about sheet metal) but it's really the peening that does it. Those are my opinions, yours may vary. Genei

There was also an early/late tail light. They did not change at the same time, as I found out. Mine has early front, late rear. I didn't have any problem finding either. If you get it and need them email me and I'll put you in touch with people who have them.

That was one of my big concerns. I know it's a big deal. Many WW2 single engine planes crashed due to quick engine acceleration at low air speed. It would spin them and they'd be upside down in a heartbeat and crash. It happened to one in my home town some years ago. I was surprised to find it's negligible and a quick twist of the throttle even when stopped makes little twist of the bike. It has just a bit of wobble when downshifting from 2nd to 1st, but not when it shifts from first to second under power, either a little or some. I can't say about a lot, I've found no reason to give it a lot. I read many accounts from riders about how well they handle before trying a test ride. I've had it about a week and find it handles quite well and not like the monster you'd expect. The big question might be, why do you need 375 or so hp in a bike? I have no idea, but it's pretty cool. Want to pass? POOF! You are around the guy. I guess it's kind of like having a blown hemi in a little coupe. Cause you can!

Although I am a died in the wool MOPAR guy, I bought a small block chevy. Corvette, actually. Oh, only 2 wheels, too. If they made it with a 383 I'd have gone that way, Sadly, only a 350 or 502. At 375 HP, more than most of my old MOPARs combined.

The heck with the washing machine - I want to know who's going to rescue that Dodge! If it was near me I'd be on the way.

You laugh, but that 2 door sedan looks pretty straight. If it was near me I'd have to consider hauling it home. Heck, the wringer would bring money many places.

Ended with no bids. My wife says make him a lower offer, but I have several I'll never finish.

In talking to the guy who'll probably redo the interior of my 53 Plymouth, he says many cars now have companies making replacement upholstery for the seats, doors, etc. He's not familiar with who all makes what, but says if I can locate it rather than him spend hours searching, it'll save me. What he'd do then is just fit it all. Even if we can't locate someone making them, we'd still need to locate the correct material for him to start from scratch. So, my first attempt would be to find pre make panels, seat covering etc. Anyone know of a place making these things for our cars?

Here's one of the paper's reports: http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2012/nov/01/fire-damages-business-loop-auto-parts-shop/ And another: http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2012/nov/02/cause-of-auto-parts-shop-fire-unknown/ An interesting comment in the story was: "A damage estimate also is not yet available because of the unique inventory of the store, Fraizer said. " Indeed, how do you value old time operating machinery, tools and parts going back40 or more years?

Good news! Damage is nowhere as bad as the news people made it sound. The problem now is the equipment is rusting from all the water. it's a mess with all the ceilings pulled out, etc. Old books and parts are ok. I asked if he was just going to quit. "Heck no. I have too much fun working on this stuff!" What good news. He says there's been about 50 of us who have volunteered to help clean up and repair. Fire started either in a light ballast or the brake drum machine bellow it, most likely the light.

Yes, Elson. Still will point you to the machine, tell you where the lining is. Then stop and show you how. Great guy. Often he has gotten a pile of parts together for me - like a flathead 6 head gasket, some valves, a couple pistons and more, along with some machining, i ask how much? "Oh, $40." I give him $100, telling him it's worth far more than $40 to me. I stopped by yesterday morning at about 8 to see if he needed any help, but nobody was there yet. I had to get home to move dirt, couldn't waste this good weather just waiting. But looking through the windows as much as I could, it didn't look too bad. I'll be there this morning and see the real results. Silly news people are still calling it "Champion" Auto Parts. It has a Champion spark plug sign on the front near the "Loop 70 Auto Parts" sign. I've never noticed the TV reporters letting the facts get in the way of a good story. Their main focus is getting their face in front of that camera, not the story.

Actually, Studebaker's first "cars" had one wheel - he started by making wheelbarrows in the California gold rush.

Well, our local machine shop that does all our work on old stuff caught fire last night. http://www.abc17news.com/news.php?id=8048 I hope all is not lost. They are the only place nearby who knows how to take an old flathead and make it new, turnkey job. Dodge, Ford, Hudson or whatever. Parts on the shelf back to the 30's. Most of the pistons I have listed for sale elsewhere are on his shelf. Fortunately, I have nothing in there now. I was in there about 2 weeks ago and commented about the hot tank with open flames under it, something left from the 30's most likely, and how dangerous it was. With 40 years of accumulated grease and all, it could be a problem. He told me the fire marshall told him that if it ever caught fire, they would shoot the hoses from the doors, but no way were they going in. The fire started about at that tank. I'll have to watch the video and see if anyone went inside. Nobody was hurt and the firemen rescued the cats that live there. I'll have to go in later today and see what shape it's in. He may just retire after this. The last of the old time guys left round here. If he quits, I'll have to see what is for sale.

I have to wonder why it's in Mo. with Penn. tags.

The problem is, it's going to be a long list and changing. I guess I can always edit it and cut and paste a new list in. It'll come to the top each time that way. I'm going to try to get a list together this weekend. Don't hold your breath, though, there are no hidden treasures that I know of, just random parts. Headlight bucket for a 40 Desoto, shift rods, pistons, a lifter (from what, I don't know yet) and much more. Boxes of random stuff, but there is probably a piece or two that someone would just love to have. I'm a sucker - someone offers me boxes of old MOPAR parts and I can't pass them up. I'll pay good money for stuff I'll never use just to see it not go bye bye. I did find a new 3.56 ring and pinion in one batch a while back. Don't get excited, though - it's staying right here! but the sector gear for a 35 Plymouth is available! Along with a generator for a 37 Plymouth. See what I mean?

I've looked through the FAQs etc, no answer. I have some NOS parts I've collected, actually, I occasionally have people contact me to buy parts they don't know what to do with. Always MOPAR, usually pretty old, as they know that is all I have any interest in. I'm going to post them on a web page, hopefully to sell them. My question is, can I mention it along with a link in my sig. line without violating a rule or general etiquette for the board? I don't want to get banned or piss off everyone.

Here's one to look at: http://eugene.craigslist.org/pts/3343842850.html And another, rusted car included: http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/3359884857.html

When did need have anything to do with it?! If you don't get it, tell me more about the hemi. Gene