Lumpy

Yikes. They check your exhaust manifolds for hairline cracks? And I thought the State Partrol here was tough when they made me put turn signals on a 1937 HD before they would license it. !!! Ken

Those pesky condensers...I've come to the point where I almost just change the condenser before doing any trouble shooting. ken.

Lumpy has been happy with junk yard bucket seats for the last ten years. Way more comfortable than a bench. Lumpy hasn't much interior at all, and it does not bother me a bit. The buckets are nice, and comfortable, and give a better seating position, the rear seat has a nice blanket on it...everyone is happy when they ride in Lumpy. I'd like to have a brand new interior, but really I hardly notice that there's no door panels or headliner. These cars run great with the original engines. "Modern" power not needed. Don't even think about turning it into an engine swap project. ken.

I so agree. The old cars and motorcycles can be wired from "scratch", and when you do that you do know it by heart. You can also use better, heavier wires, and really, have a system that makes sense in the real world, not just to an engineer, or whoever dreams up wiring harness. And is very much simplified. k.

I'm not sure how rare they are either, but I do know they stopped making them a long time ago. I think yours was last made in 1938. I've got the 8-ball on my VW Bug, Lumpy has a knob off a military WWII Power Wagon. Cool thing about knobs is that you can change them any time to fit your mood. One could go from Rat Fink to Eight Ball to cue ball to chrome skull with lighted eyes to 7-ball to stock knob in less than a minute! Do I feel a "show us your shift knobs" thread coming on? ken.

Tim, maybe you could swap a 230 into that chevy truck. Just kidding, as perhaps DefEddie is. Yeah, that's it! "Beattie". ken.

That '47 looks like more time than money, unless the engine needs to be rebuilt. But I agree, attempt to get it running, that will sure raise the price, and you might consider sticking with it longer. If you can do body work, getting it running and getting the body straight will really bring a profit. More money for that Triumph, although I vote for a cafe racer over what Tusler said. Yep, all parts are expensive these days. I think the old VW bugs are about the only thing you can build on the cheap. ken.

This is true. I always try to start with something I can get running right off the bat, at least enough to move it around on it's own power. Then body work. It really helps if you can drive it around, and break it up into little projects. On body work, if you just do one area at a time, one fender, one door, you can stay really motivated. Kind of like eating the elephant. k.

I agree, the suicide doors do bring it up on the cool factor. I'm a two-door man, but would consider a suicide 4-door for sure. Doesn't look too bad, around here it would be an easy $1500 I think, but that varies from area to area. Motorcycles are a whole different animal to work on, little body work, you can pick up the engines and put them in and out of the frame, easy to get to everything, no crawling under anything. Easy to paint. Although I'd never give up Lumpy, sometimes I wish I had a garage full of motorcycles, rather than a garage and a yard full of cars. (I do have four bikes...so I guess it's filling up with them!) I just finished up a 1937 flathead HD, but I'd kind of like to do a 1960-1970 BMW. (motorcycle) Good luck, I think someone just might fall in love with that '47. ken.

I don't know...left when I was six or seven. Does "Beaty", or "Baety" Ave. ring a bell? The folks have passed on, but I'll ask my older brother, who seems to remember things like that. I did go to "Emmet Belknap" grade school. (or something like that) I have an old Lockport milk bottle that I got on ebay, because I actually remember the milk man leaving milk in the bottles when I was little. ken.

How many doors? That can make a difference to some, when I was shopping for Lumpy two doors was a must. Two door cars usually go for a little bit more, but to some it makes no difference. Big jump in price between running and not running of course. Give someone a good deal who will get it running...I'd give it away before I'd see it scrapped. In fact, I recently gave a 1970 Duster away so it wouldn't go to the junk yard. Shouldn't have to give a '47 away though. k.

I agree, in the end, it's up to the owner of the parts to do what they want...I'm not against that. Just felt duty-bound to make a case, and try to persuade otherwise. I know it's not the only 48 Chrysler, and I'm sure there's some nice ones in the museums for the true snobs. If I fail to make my case...I'm not worried...I tried! Def Eddie, no offense intended. Now on the Stude...I did once, way back a long time ago, put a Stude 289 in a '49 International. So yes...I too have sinned! k.

Are you calling it the .38 Special? ken

Didn't mean to be the bad guy here, and I've stated my opinion and won't argue further. I do want to say, that when I say "value", I'm not talking $$$, but rather the intrinsic value of the car. The thing you can't explain...the coolness of a Chrsyler, with Chrysler power...?? See I can't explain it. With a GM engine it's no longer a Chrysler, it's not a chevy, it's like the Bat that is neither mouse nor bird. It might be cool to the kid reading a magazine. But really, why not save the car as a Chrysler, for the people who would like to somewhat preserve it, sell it to a Mopar guy, make an extra buck, and build a nice old GM car with a GM engine? That's my only point. !!!

Well...since I was born in Lockport, I won't argue. ken.

Does it stop raining in Tacoma? k.

The trouble with red interior...it fades to...PINK. !! That carb should get some kind of prize for being able to run in that condition. I hope that's not coming from the gas tank. Hope you have plenty of fuel filters in the lines! You may have to name that car, "The Swinger"! Whatever her name, looks like you came along just in time to save her. Looks like you are going to do right by her. ken.

Thank you for keeping it Mopar. ken.

I don't know what a Mopar 270 is. Early hemi? 273? ken.

An idea...I tried to stop reading, but I had to look. I'm not a purist snob, but I do think the days of cross-breeding is about over, and should be over. Sell that car to a Mopar guy, and find an old Chevy to put your LS engine in. ??? You'll only succeed in de-valuing the car, and it will take a lot of time, work, and money to do it. !!! Mopar guys won't like it, Chevy guys won't like it, (although no one will give you an honest opinion) and not too many people will want to buy it if the time comes to sell it. I bet you would not have any trouble selling the Chrysler to a Chrysler guy, probably make a nice profit. Aren't there any old Chevies out there, or didn't many survive? Okay. Sorry. But I think that would be a better solution. If GM is what you work on, and like, why put it in a Chrysler? Why not build a nice GM, with GM engine? Ken.

Oh cool. I put myself and Lumpy on the map...although I live outside of Cheney Washington, not actually in it. k.

It's odd but true...so we just need to have more smarts. And close the barn doors before they get in. k.

Generally speaking, I've found that flatheads are a liitle hard to flood, as the fuel can't flow up into the combustion chambers, like it does (but flows down) on a OHV. Usually it's too little fuel....although Lumpy did seem to flood the other day, had to hold the throttle all the way open, and chokes off, then when it started it took a few seconds for her to clear her throat. Unusual for Lumpy, she usually starts right up, and once warm she'll start with a push of the button, no throttle action at all. On the other hand, my starter can be very slow turning sometimes, so it is good that she fires up easy, most of the time. A low idle speed will make an engine harder to start, generally speaking. k.

I had an antique motorcycle stolen from me many years ago. I've had two failed attempts on other ones that I've had over the years. This last year I just built another one (one more before I croak!)(a 1937) and to say I'm a bit paranoid would be correct. I put a baby-monitor in my garage, which I turn on at night. Also hooking up some motion detectors which will turn on a radio in the bedroom, in case I sleep through any noise coming from the monitor. Radio goes on...battle stations! Not sure of what to do when I'm not home. Plan to get some cameras that I can access through any computer, such as when I'm at work. They are not too expensive, but I know so little about electronics and computer stuff that I'm having trouble figuring out which unit/set-up to get. Cameras are not a bad idea, but it's after the fact, and probably won't get your stuff back. One idea I like, and would like to have, is a system that floods the garage (or house) with CS gas when a door or window is breached. However, I believe those systems are expensive. As attractive that it seems to eliminate these people from the gene pool, you don't want to wind up in prison for protecting your stuff. However, you can put someone on the ground, and sure make them THINK you are going to shoot them. Act crazy, very crazy. If you do have to shoot, make very sure it's a frontal shot, otherwise things may not go well in court. Forensics are very good these days, and the person really needs to be coming at you if you fire. Just some thoughts. ken

Can't believe I read the whole thing. Would be interesting to hear him address flatheads specifically. k.