Logic-Justifying spending money on parts (OT)

[adam_knox]

Well, I broke down and ordered all new wheel cylinders for the Chrys. Came to about $235 for all six cylinders. For some reason the rear cylinders were more expensive than the fronts (50 bucks a pop).

My cylinders had a few spots of light rust indents. :(I called three shops with no luck at the moment on the boring kits. However, since I plan on keeping this car for the next 40 years, I figured I'll hopeful get to repair mine at a more leisurely pace, grease them, box 'em, and then have back-ups. After all, in 40 years from now the car will be 100 years old, and who knows how available parts are then!

Anyways, just writing this so I can feel better about dropping $200 bucks in a matter of minutes!

[Plymouthy Adams]

you are not alone in this..it comes with the hobby..ya got to pay to play...it is good food for thought and consider the mark up a shop would put on each cylinder and the labor etc etc..you coming out ahead in the long run with your ability to do the work yourself...

[Norm's Coupe]

Adam,

Every Tuesday Schlotzky's in the Falls has a cruise night. Haven't made it to any this year yet. Planning on getting out there on the 26th though, if it's not raining.

Tuesday, May 26 2009

Schlotzsky's Deli

Cruise Night

5:00 till 9:00 pm

Schlotzsky's Deli

N88 W15515 Main st

Menomonee Falls, Wi 53051

Sponsored by Schlotzski Deli and The Pit Stop

weather permitting

prizes given away every half hour

for info. call 262-251-7707 or 262-370-7754

Email: Dtrost2nd@sbcglobal.net

Also thinking about hitting this show. Not sure if I'll enter the coupe or drive it though. Just thinking about checking it out. Let me know if you want to meet up at one of them.

Saturday, May 16 2009

Armed Forces Day

CAR SHOW

11:00AM to 3:30PM

American Legion Post 449

3245 N 124th street

Brookfield, WI

Price: $ 5

Sponsored by Sons of the American Legion

8 Trophy Classes

Food Served

Refreshments

Honor our Vets

Email: mp3wpok@yahoo.com

[adam_knox]

Yeah, this hobby unfortunately gives people the impression I like working on cars. They got it all wrong, I like driving may car. Its like cooking. Some people cook to cook. I cook to eat!

[MacGyver]

Where did you end up getting the parts from? This is what I found at Napa's online store, I see they also have some rebuild kits available towards the bottom of the list...

http://www.napaonline.com/masterpages/NOLMaster.aspx?PageId=430&CatId=3&SubCatId=5

Mark

[adam_knox]

Norm I''m planning on giving ya' jingle once I get the Chrys. fired up. We can get some breakfast at the famed place you mentioned and maybe get you to come down to the Southside for the Solid Gold McD's classic car night.

I'd love to hit a car show, but work weekends... Was thinking about doing a Memorial Day Parade with the car, get some decent treats for the kids to have. Last parade I was at seemed like the little tykes were only getting stale bubble gum and politician's bumper stickers...

[adam_knox]

I got the whole new wheel cylinder with rubber and spring from autozone for 32 bucks a piece ('cept rears were $50). Napa had the same set up for 46 bucks or something like that. I actually have a set of rebuild kits to go around the car, but just gonna save 'em till after I try honing them out.

[billwillard]

I would think for that price you could have them sleved then they would be good for life.

[Norm's Coupe]

Norm I''m planning on giving ya' jingle once I get the Chrys. fired up. We can get some breakfast at the famed place you mentioned and maybe get you to come down to the Southside for the Solid Gold McD's classic car night.

I'd love to hit a car show, but work weekends... Was thinking about doing a Memorial Day Parade with the car, get some decent treats for the kids to have. Last parade I was at seemed like the little tykes were only getting stale bubble gum and politician's bumper stickers...

Adam,

If you like doing parades, you might give the Village of Brown Deer a jingle and volunteer your services. They have a 4th of July parade every year. Not a real big parade. Only takes about an hour or so to watch the whole parade. It runs about 20 or 30 blocks. Starts at the school at about 60th and Dean Rd, runs along Dean to 51st St., then north on 51st St up to the Village park, just north of Brown Deer Road. They always have some old cars in that parade. Even had a P15 coupe in it last year. Not all the old parade cars in top condition either. I've seen some "work in progress" cars in the parade. Of course, you may have to give a ride to some politician or some news person celebrity a ride. Especially since you have a convertible. Wife and I take up our regular positions at that parade every year at 51st and Dean to watch it, sitting in our lawn chairs.

ADDED: Think the parade starts at about 1PM on the 4th. After arriving at the Village Park they have their Village picnic set up there if you want to stick around. Parade cars are allowed to park in a special spot next to the Police Station and park parking lot. Then if you stick around until dark they have a real nice fireworks at the park.

Edited May 13, 2009 by Norm's Coupe

[Merle Coggins]

The Schlotzsky's thing in The Falls sounds interesting. I may also try to get up there that night. Can't make it to the other show this weekend though, I'll be teaching motorcycle school at State Fair Park.

Adam, I haven't been down to the Solid Gold Mickey-Dees in years. I wasn't even sure if they still did the cruise night. What nights is it, Wednesday's?

Merle

Edited May 13, 2009 by Merle Coggins

[oldmopar]

You cannot put a price on brakes once the car is running next important thing is stopping. I would are also replacing the hoses,brake lines and rebuild the MC. And since you have everything apart you should spend a few dollars more and replace the axle seals,grease seals and wheel bearings . I like to use Dot 5 silicone brake fluid in a new system. The whole should be less the $400. About what you would spend for dinner at a good restaurant but the brake job will last a lot longer.

[adam_knox]

Yeah McyD's is still running. Goes through phases of popularity. Some nights I'm shunned to park by 1/2 Price Books, other nights I luck out and get in the back lot. The front lot has "regulars." Made the mistake of taking my Plymouth there a few years ago. There were a lot of jokes made at my cars expense...

Here's the list of "features" they do each week, although doesn't seem like it really is followed (Mopars always get the short end by being put in frigid April!).

http://solidgoldmcdonalds.com/calendar.htm I'll hopefully be going on Wednesday starting next week, assuming I can muster up the motivation to go to the garage! Message me if you end up going, I'll try to be there when you are.

I did did most of everything that "needed" to be be done, but I'm gonna have to wait on the bearings and such as they're good at the moment and I need enough dough to do the top this summer. Unfortunately my printer ran out of ink and I can no longer print money!

[Merle Coggins]

Since I missed the April 29th Mopar Night I guess I'll have to wait until Sept 23rd for Truck Night.

I've heard that things get nasty down there sometimes. The "regulars" seem to think they own the place and shun "outsiders". I also thought I heard that they got shut down for some of the antics going on there. But then again you can't believe everything you hear. I'll put them on my to-do list for this summer and I'll try to let you know when I'll attempt it.

Merle

[jimainnj]

I just installed the 4 front cylinders on the 47 P15 parts from Roberts 24.50 ea. Rebuilt the MC for 18 NAPA, Napa wanted 46. each cyl. on there web site. brakes ok now

[Norm's Coupe]

Adam & Merle,

I probably will never go to the McD's Solid Gold events in Greenfield. Heard too many stories about it being "Clickie". Also, if your vehicle isn't a top show quality, they have you park way back in the back, or not at all. Also ran into a guy at Pistol Pete's cruise in a couple of times who owned two real nice MG's that were trophy cars at other shows. However, when he went to the Solid Gold cruise in he was placed way back in the back simply because his car was an MG. Hey, a cruise in is not a car show, it's just a simple cruise in, in my book, and maybe you'll win some type of trinket you can't use in a general drawing for showing up.

[Captain Neon]

For those interested in doing parades, please realise no one pays for antique cars to be in parades any more. In fact, a lot of parades now charge participants for the "privilege" of being part of the parade. That's how they pay the Shriners to be in the parade, entry fees of other participants. Just letting you know so you aren't surprised or any thing when they ask you for a $100 entry fee. At this point, many parades aren't taking any more registrations, but again, you may find a parade that is glad to have you and not charge too much to participate.

I used to do almost 20 parades a year, when I lived in Minnesota, for a PAC. When I decided to disentangle myself from the group, and thus no longer promote them on my own nickel and time, they offered to hire me for my services. They offered $20. I told them that didn't even cover the cost of gas much less wear and tear and my time. I suggested $200 and they accused me of "burning bridges." I told informed them that I was giving them a deal as guys doing similar work for hire charged about $500/parade.

[Norm's Coupe]

Ben,

I've never tried to enter my coupe in a parade of any kind. I don't care to drive my coupe in a parade. However, I have been in parades with other groups. I did a few parades when in high school in the Marching Band. That was in the late 50's early 60's, but we never got paid, nor did we pay to be in the parades. Since living in Wisconsin I've been in at least two parades here with the 4H group and the Cub Scout troupe when I was a leader in those groups. Again, money did not exchange hands either way. Those parades were in the 70's and early 80's.

That said, if I were to offer to drive my coupe in a parade, I certainly wouldn't pay to do so. In addition to that, I also would not expect them to pay me either. I would only do it as a community service, without the exchange of money either way. As for gas money, I'd just consider that my contribution to the cost of the parade. I also would not lend or rent out my coupe for someone else to drive in a parade, or any other function, including movies.

[Captain Neon]

Just so you understand what the $200 and $500 fees that parade units charge, it has to do with advertising an organisation or business. Except for the Shriners and other similar groups, parade organisers do not pay any one to be in the parade.

I was asked to continue doing parades to promote the PAC I was once a member of. I was not a member or even in agreement with the group any more so they wanted to hire me as a contractor to advertise for them as I had for free for three years prior. There were some other guys that I spent time chatting at parades with that made a pretty nice chunk of change serving as advertising for businesses. I'd be at one parade with my P15 advertising my PAC, and they'd be advertising for a local restaurant then at another parade they'd be advertising for one of the auto parts stores.

The guys that did similar to me: drive through with a magnetic sign, usu. got a minimum of $500 as their advertising fee. That didn't include the sign. The $200 that I suggested was just to cover my direct expenses and time. One spends a lot of time driving to a parade, waiting around, and then finally actually driving in a parade. Parades are actually pretty tough on old cars. There is such a thing as driving too slow. I ended up wearing out a tranny and overheating was a concern a few times. Had I kept doing parades, I intended to install an electric pusher fan to get more air through the radiator.

For me to consider doing parades again, I'd either really have to believe in the group that I was advertising or I'd have to receive at minimum the equivalent of a day and half salary, plus covering my expenses. That's if I was doing it for a buddy. It'd be at least twice that much if some yahoo wanted to hire me to advertise his repair shop in the local parade.