Ooops!!!! Where Did That Hole Come From???

[Charlie Olson]

Well, PLYWOOD is now restored after the wreck in September. Front end all nice and newly painted, front and rear rechromed bumpers, matching working fog lamps, nice looking rear fender SS gravel guards, nicer looking driver tail light bezels with NOS "Blue Dot" lenses, smooth cowl driver's side with no antenna and a rebuilt steering box. I went up to Art's garage, this past Tuesday, to see PLYWOOD, all done, for the first time. As we were checking out everything, we noticed a small round hole in the LF fender, just above the parking light, about 2 inches. I asked why that hadn't been filled in and the guys said they didn't realize it wasn't the same as the RF fender, so we put a very small black rubber stop in it for now. We went over to the donor car and it's remaining RF fender had the very same hole. We are guessing that the donor car was either a police or fire vehicle because of the type of spot light mounted in the driver's A pillar and that the two holes were for wires for either red lights or sirens. Who knows. Anyway, instead of pulling that fender off to fill in that itty bitty hole and repaint the entire fender, I have decided to celebrate the mystery hole by locating and installing a very cool looking vintage Plymouth dealer metal advertising tag; like you usually see on the trunks of older cars. Anyone have an interesting Plymouth dealer tag you don't want or need? I just started looking on the Bay tonight and found mostly Chevy, Ford and Buick dealer's tags. For some reason, PLYWOOD now smokes a lot when cold, so we are wondering what that is all about, who knows. I drive PLYWOOD, next Tuesday, for the first time, and shall be enjoying it through the Holidays, as there are many car events, this time of year; including a New Years Eve Party at the new collector/exotic Auto Museum in Scottsdale. Let me know if anyone has a nice dealer tag for PLYWOOD, please.

[JIPJOBXX]

Sound good Charlie and that smoke? Maybe just because it cold outside and it take your engine a while to warm up. Does it smoke after it get up to the right engine temperatures? I know my old Wanderlodge smoke like house on fire when it cold but as soon as it warms up she calms down to clean running machine (Not bad for something that has 148 thousand miles on it).

[BobT-47P15]

Charlie, glad to hear Plywood is back.

I wonder if those holes had to do with add on turn signals.

You sometimes see where people added lights on both front

and rear as signals.

[Charlie Olson]

Hey Bob, after market turn signals is a good guess, too. We'll take another look at the donor car, to see there is any wiring for that. Have a great everybody.

[Young Ed]

Charlie this obviously your call but if that was mine I'd be making them fix it while it was still their responsibility. Once you take the car back that hole is your issue and if you ever decide to fix it later it'll be your expense.

[Charlie Olson]

I appreciate your input Ed, however, the work was done by my benefactor/car angel, Art Butler, who did about $400 worth of extra work improving PLYWOOD during the restoration, at no charge. Additionally, Art has worked on PLYWOOD for the past six years and only charges me $15 an hour for labor; plus he has stored, both RED RYDER and PLYWOOD inside, locked for $100 per month and told me that he'll never raise the rent on me. I enthusiastically volunteer any time Art asks me to help with some of his Packard Club activities. On the 14th when I get PLYWOOD out of storage, for a month of pleasure cruising, I am giving Art, his grandson and another worker, a $35 box of nice chocolates, each. It is not in me to ever fix that 1/4 inch hole, as long as Art will see the car. I was even thinking about putting a little chrome cross, at the hole site, as a sign of gratitude for God sparing me serious injury. I do need to fix these holes in my head, but PLYWOOD will just have to deal with it's hole.

Edited December 11, 2010 by Charlie Olson

[Frank Elder]

Put a St. Christophers???? medallion, patron saint of travelers?

[Eneto-55]

I appreciate your input Ed, however, the work was done by my benefactor/car angel, Art Butler, who did about $400 worth of extra work improving PLYWOOD during the restoration, at no charge. Additionally, Art has worked on PLYWOOD for the past six years and only charges me $15 an hour for labor; plus he has stored, both RED RYDER and PLYWOOD inside, locked for $100 per month and told me that he'll never raise the rent on me. I enthusiastically volunteer any time Art asks me to help with some of his Packard Club activities. On the 14th when I get PLYWOOD out of storage, for a month of pleasure cruising, I am giving Art, his grandson and another worker, a $35 box of nice chocolates, each. It is not in me to ever fix that 1/4 inch hole, as long as Art will see the car. I was even thinking about putting a little chrome cross, at the hole site, as a sign of gratitude for God sparing me serious injury. I do need to fix these holes in my head, but PLYWOOD will just have to deal with it's hole.

It's just really great to hear about people with your attitudes - both you and Art.

[Charlie Olson]

Hey!!!! I may have found the perfect "front fender hole" cover on Ebay. Let me know what alla ya all think, okay??? Thanks!

Ebay item number: 270678858696

[kbuhagiar]

Hey!!!! I may have found the perfect "front fender hole" cover on Ebay. Let me know what alla ya all think, okay??? Thanks!

Ebay item number: 270678858696

Looks good - here is a link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270678858696&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.com%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp3984.m570.l1313%26_nkw%3D270678858696%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1

[Greenbomb]

Perfect!!!

[TodFitch]

That looks like the radiator shell emblem on my car, except in nicer condition. Not positive about the exact location of the square boss on the back but it sure is close.