DrDoctor

Thank you for that complement about my dad. Your grandfather sounds like he was quite a guy, too. My dad never did talk much about the war. I do remember him often saying that he was just glad it was over, that he made home alive, and all he wanted was to get on with his life. I agree with you, they were “The Greatest Generation”. It’s a title they earned, but most of them didn’t feel they did. They just did what they had to out of a strong sense of duty. My war was smaller, but I understand how they felt. Best Regards . . . .

My dad was the same way. He served in the Navy on a heavy cruiser. He was involved in Operation Torch (the invasion of northern Africa, his ship came under Nazi attack during the Battle of Tobruk, and was almost sunk), Operation Husky (the invasion of Sicily) Operation Avalanche (the invasion of Italy), and was to participate in Operation Overlord (D-Day, the invasion of Hitler’s Fortress Europe at Normandy, France), but while enroute to their assigned assembly area, they were diverted to the southern coast of France, in the Mediterranean, instead. He never talked much about this. I garnered a lot of information on his Navy experiences from the Dept of the Navy, and the DOD, shortly before he passed. I’m convinced that your grandfather, my father, and most of those who served in WWII, were “cut from the same bolt of cloth”. We’re all blessed that they were. Warmest personal regards.

Steve, I’ve had nothing but trouble with stainless steel fasteners. I used to ride a chopper—over 9’ long, and I used chrome-plated hardware on it exclusively. I never encountered any problems with them. I was told by an experienced biker to avoid stainless fasteners, since practically everything on a chopper is in the open. So, after that, I do like you do—chrome, or grade-8 fasteners. Further, fhubler is correct on all counts. The example I’m aware of the dissimilar metals issue is using a brass fitting between a copper pipe, and a galvanized one. I’ve also experienced a late-model Cadillac (mine, of course) having its head gaskets deteriorate due to the combination of cast iron block, aluminum heads and intake, and using the wrong anti-freeze, and even worse—not changing it. To put it mildly, it was an expensive lesson, and a very inconvenient one, too. So, been there—done that. I guess some things I have to learn the hard way.

49D-24BusCpe, You were standing in the car . . . obviously not wearing any type of restraint. Imagine, I bet those of us who are of our generation did that (I did), and we’re still around to talk about it. Try letting a child stand in a car now days. The repercussions would be just plain ugly!!! Fhubler, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your sharing those photos, and the memories. My dad had a ’49 Hudson Hornet after we came back from Germany (we lived there for almost 5 years), and he used to put some luggage on the floor to make it the same level as the rear seat, so I could sleep as we went on trips to see family (we drove at night, since the car didn’t have AC). My wife remembers riding in the back window tray of her dad’s ’40 Ford Deluxe Coupe. I confess to being abit emotional, too, at looking at the photos. I’ve got similar photos, but my dad was in the Navy, first in the Atlantic, then the Mediterranean, and then the Pacific. Our parents were in what’s called the “Greatest Generation”, and it’s called that for a reason!!! You two guys are great, and I really appreciate your allowing me to participate in this journey down memory lane. I agree with you both—driving a car of this vintage does provide a direct connection with the era of our parents, and/or grandparents. It’s a priceless connection. Warmest personal regards to both of you.

Andy, another example of humorous situations from you from “the Land Down Under”. I’d love to see you, and your passenger, trying to adjust the seat for your respective/individual settings. Who had to tell who that a bench seat wasn’t the same as bucket seats? I’m a fan of TV shows from the 50’s and 60’s, such as Perry Mason, and Andy Griffith. Even in those decades, those shows show people getting in and/or out of the car on the passenger side, even tho’ those cars had keyed locks in the driver’s door. Old habits do indeed die slowly. Plus, as Donald alluded to above—some locales had statutes mandating entry/egress on the non-traffic side. Times have changed. Case in point—I was in the District, and saw a woman open her SUV’s door just as a pickup came by, and the pickup hits the door, snapped it off, and it bounced down the street in front of morning rush-hour Washington, D.C. traffic, sending sparks flying!!! While it was obviously dangerous, and could have been tragic had she been just a few seconds quicker—and gotten out of the vehicle. But, as it was, it was something that you’d expect from a Keystone Cops movie of the 1910’s/1920’s. Regards to all . . . . . .

I LOVE the photos, especially the ones at night on the street!!! I love that you enjoy the car for what it’s original intended purpose is: driving it. When we drive our car, I’ve got a smile that nothing can wipe off. It takes me back to a simpler, kinder, era. Again—Great Photos, and obviously a great experience. Safe travels, and enjoy!!!

Walt, I love your wife’s grandmother’s saying. She was obviously a very wise woman. Fhubler, I think most of us are willing to share our knowledge with others who ask. We’re not trying to impress anyone with our eloquence. That being said, I’m a proponent of respect, as you both obviously are. I hate disrespect, and my way of dealing with it is to just block those who get hateful. Life’s too short for that. Also, guys, wisdom, and intelligence, aren’t the same as education. I’ve met many highly-educated individuals who were blithering idiots. And, I’ve met individuals who weren’t highly educated, but were people that I wanted to be around to soak up some of their wisdom, and intelligence. Well, fhubler, are we any closer to the resolution of your jack storage question? Let us know how you resolve this. To the both of you—warmest personal regards.

Guys, As a follow-up to the “don’t know jack” tho’t—I was told many years ago that when a doctor retires, he/she will forget half of the medical information that he/she knew within the first six months, and half of the remainder in the next six month. That equates to 75% of our hard-fought-learned medical information gone in the first year!!! I tho’t that sounded much too extreme. However, having retired five years ago, I’m here to tell you that, as much as I’d like to say otherwise, it’s true. Hence, why I’m including myself in the “don’t know jack” group. I consider it a group of distinction, whose membership may not be numerous, but it’s exclusive. Now, how do we resolve this jack storage mystery/issue???

Fhubler, You’re going to have to add me to the list of those “who don’t know jack about these old cars”. I know enough to be dangerous, but at least I know, and acknowledge that I know enough to be dangerous. It’s those who don’t know that they’re dangerous that we have to look out for. So, I guess you and I are safe, at least for the time being. Best regards. . . .

Not that anybody’s counting “votes” here, but I’m going to throw my 2¢worth in—simply put: I agree completely with knuckleharley (I almost always do, since we have a lot in common), pflaming (I almost always do with him, too [by the way—how did your surgery go???]), and Dale, Tom, Robert, Lloyd, and Bob, (these five gentlemen I’ve just encountered, but they share a common trait—common sense . . . and I do embrace that). Well, this ought to set off the others herein, but that doesn’t matter, either, because . . . . . . .

Andy, I, too, have to say here and now that I always enjoy hearing from you from “the Land Down Under”. I especially appreciate your taking the time to enlighten me about the Easybeats—while I’ve not heard them, it’s great to pick up some rock & roll trivia. By the way, AC/DC is one my favorite bands!!! Walt, Likewise, I always enjoy hearing from you, too. You’re always courteous and polite, and that’s very much appreciated, at least by me!!! And, Yes, I remember the Robert Palmer song “Bad Case Of Loving You”, but must confess that I didn’t remember the line “Doctor, Doctor” until you reminded me of it. Another great rocker who departed us way too soon. Oh, remember his “back-up band” in the later years—the drop-dead gorgeous girls with the incredibly short skirts??? And, gentlemen, I’m still confused about this jack situation. Question to you both: did Chrysler manufacture vehicles in South America??? Warmest personal regards to both of you . . .

Our car is a Special DeLuxe Club Coupe, albeit a 1946 and not a 1948. Do you think that could account for the differences everyone’s encountering? The larger hold in the circular plate in the middle photo from fhubler of Sun 12Nov2017 isn’t as large on our car as the one on his car appears. The bolt we have is a ⅜” course-threaded hole, and the corresponding bolt that goes into it doesn’t have a hex-head, but rather a good-sized set of “Mickey Mouse ears”, ie: a wing-bolt with ample “ears” to exert enough torque to tighten the tire down sufficiently so it won’t rattle, or work itself lose from vibration (that only conjecture on my part, tho’ . . .). I pulled the carpet back from the floor behind the spare tire, and I can so no evidence of there ever being a bracket, or a loop, of any kind to connect a spring as depicted in the photo provided by Branded on Thur the 09th of Nov. But, his is a 1949 (I assume a second series), and that’s a completely different body style than the 1946-49 (first series). Don’t you just love a mystery??? Thanks, 49D-24BusCpr for the complement on the userid. As for the userid “DrDoctor”—the first one I used was my actual last name, and that caused such a flap that I actually had the site’s webmaster remove every entry I’d made, and everything else pertaining to me, from the site. I didn’t return to it for several months. But, that’s another story for another time, and another place . . . My wife tho’t of this one, a play on the fact that I’m a doctor, albeit a retired one. So, “Dr”, and “doctor”, became “DrDoctor”. And now that you mention it, it does have a kinda rocker vibe to it . . .

On our ’46 Plymouth Club Coupe, the bolt that tightens the spare wheel to the bracket isn’t anywhere near the size of the lug bolts. It’s a very over-sized wing bolt that threads into that round plate on the spare tire bracket. When tightened, it holds the tire very securely, and it’s never worked itself loose. Comparing ours to the photo provided by Branded, ours doesn’t have anything to hook a spring to, nor anything for the base-plate for the jack to rest against, except the rear tail-light housing (and that’s not a good idea!!!). Comparing our setup to the photo provided by fhubler—top=to-bottom (and bottom photo from left to right)—we don’t have that small rectangular piece; the round piece on the bracket looks the same, but the hole isn’t as large, and it’s threaded; and we’ve got that round crowned piece that I put on the spare wheel for the over-larger wing-bolt to force against. So, what have we got? Based upon this conversation, and looking at the photos herein—I haven’t got a clue!!! But, everything fits like it’s supposed to be where it is. So, like the old saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, and I consider our “ain’t broke”, so I ain't gonna fix it.

Knuckleharley, Congrats on that “sweet-heart” deal you scored. Ford Victorias of the mid-fifties are rare, as you already know. But to find one that hasn’t been ravaged by time—it must have been carefully stored inside. You’re one lucky son-of-a-gun on this one. Warmest regards . . .

Walt, I agree with you, as I’ve recently looked behind the spare tire in our ’46 Plymouth coupe, and there’s NO brackets of any kind to hold a jack, a spring, or anything else. Ours nestles nicely in that recess just behind the rear seat. It stays in place, and it doesn’t rattle. The best part, at least I think so, is that it’s out of the way, and out of sight, since our trunk carpet extends to the rear support, and covers it. Best regards . . .

fhubler, I’m sorry, but I can’t address the jack’s storage location in a sedan, but in our ’48 Plymouth Club Coupe, it’s at the front of the trunk, right behind the back seat, in a recessed area on the trunk floor. Is it possible that your Dodge sedan has a recess in a similar place? Again, warmest personal regards to you and yours!!!

fhubler, Wow!!! We DO envy you—if there was a group around here that drove their cars like you described, we’d be all in!!! Now that’s the way to do it!!! We do something simile, bet we’re a group of ONE. Obviously, you’re going to have a blast with the car, and I’m looking forward to hearing tales of your escapades. Warmest personal regards to you and yours!!!

Andy, I agree with you wholeheartedly—my wife and I get great pleasure out of just driving around in our ’46 Plymouth Club Coupe—much more than polishing it (so we just don’t polish it) . . . That’s why we don’t frequent car shows any more, either as participants or as spectators. Too much “my car’s better than your car” BS going on at car shows around here. Regards . . .

Knuckleharley, Thanks for the information, I really do appreciate your reply. Best regards.

.