Jump to content

Giving Up


Howard Tarnoff

Recommended Posts

the fuel tank from the Dakota truck I used as a donor is not in any fashion suitable for use with a sedan...early truck yes but the sedan is out of the question. However there are tanks available that are almost a drop in available if you look and the use of a frame mounted high pressure fuel pump will be more than adequate "given" you use the early rail mounted fuel pressure regualtor and not the 94 and later intank integral to the all in one pump, reg, filter, roll over valve, fuel sender assembly. The later does eliminate a return line but that is not a problem as the stock Dakota fuel lines and filter are a bolt on..only the rear section of the lines require a bit of reshaping to follow the frame rail and route to the tank supply/sender assembly

Link to comment
Share on other sites

on the above blurb by me on application of the Dakota tank..I will say that I have never placed one on a early truck rail so I need to express that IT MAY be suitable for use on early trucks..I apologize if this mislead anyone..but I assure you the tank for a sedan or wagon is wasted thought..unless one thinks a tank sitting in the trunk is acceptable..fuel cells are horrible enough to look at much less this big black plactic hulk.

Edited by Tim Adams
spelling
Link to comment
Share on other sites

on the above blurb by me on application of the Dakota tank..I will say that I have never placed one on a early truck rail so I need to express that IT MAY be suitable for use on early trucks..I apologize if this mislead anyone..but I assure you the tank for a sedan or wagon is wasted thought..unless one thinks a tank sitting in the trunk is acceptable..fuel cells are horrible enough to look at much less this big black plactic hulk.

Yea, a hulk is suppose to be green. At least all that I have seen were, and they can be horrible if made mad.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Howard,

Contrary to the posts you've received so far, I know where you're coming from because I'm feeling the same way about Pigiron; in the last 20 years I've put 10,000 miles on it and have at least that many dollars into it, and am now facing another year when it won't get painted. To say I'm ready to throw in the towel is an understatement regardless of how much fun or how many heads may turn when it's going down the road. I'm absolutely frustrated with not being able to even stand for more than fifteen minutes at a time before my legs give out and SS-Disability doesn't pay enough to cover basic expenses like food or utilities so hiring anybody to paint it for me is a very bad joke.

You're one of the members of this forum with whom I've always felt a kindred relationship and should you get rid of it "just before it's fixed" I can see your point of view quite easily.

Stay or go, it's been a pleasure, Sir.

-Randy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest bewillie

Randroid, We live in a different world today. When I first started (I am a street rodder) in old cars when we saw someone having troubles like you we would be at your house like flys helping you get your car on the road. I can even remember two cars we painted. We had more fun doing that then any rod run or cruseins. We laughed,joked,drank alot of beer and had a ball. I miss those times of 50yrs ago but no one has time for other people any more. I am in the shape as you and hope when I die someone will buy and finish my 35 dodge coupe as I just can't seem to do it any more. I'll try now and then but it don't take long for the legs to give out or all the enrgy to just drain from from my body. I know a lot of you out there know what I am talking about. You have to be tuff to get old and I ant tuff any more. I guess what I am trying to say to you is don't give up on something you love. You never know one day you might ride agin and don't worry about the heads you turn because you will be smiling with pride as you drive down the road.

Billy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had the same trouble with my 48 plymouth it would drive fine for a few miles and then quit. I would sit there a while and it would start back up and go another few miles. I got to tracing the wires on it and found that one of the wires on the silanode was loose. Tightened it up and no trouble since. I guess it just made conntact every once and a while and when I hit a bump it would disconnect. Any how I don't know if that is your problem or not but I would go through the car and make sure all wires are tight on the connections before I give up. It's to nice of a car to give up on it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Howard, your car is tight, as the young folks say:) Like all things that are very pretty and nice they cause problems. The restoration of a car is a process of elimination. If you look at it like that soon all the problems will be worked out. I was in your shoes alot when I first started on my car. When looking at your car it has great quality. I can see you put good time and money in it. I kind a understand the thing with your wife as well. My wife use to be in the car when it would quit and we would be walking down the road. I would feel real bad. One day I asked her about it, she bust out laughing and said that the time we spend together good or bad is time we spend together:) She is nuts, so much so that when the car is broke she tries to figure out what's wrong. I never met a rose that did not have a couple of thorns. If you give that car away some one is going to cash in on all that hard work you put in it:rolleyes: Walk away for a while and go back to it. Put the cover on it and turn your attention someplace else, when you come back to it you will be renewed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Howard, your car is tight, as the young folks say:) Like all things that are very pretty and nice they cause problems. The restoration of a car is a process of elimination. If you look at it like that soon all the problems will be worked out. I was in your shoes alot when I first started on my car. When looking at your car it has great quality. I can see you put good time and money in it. I kind a understand the thing with your wife as well. My wife use to be in the car when it would quit and we would be walking down the road. I would feel real bad. One day I asked her about it, she bust out laughing and said that the time we spend together good or bad is time we spend together:) She is nuts, so much so that when the car is broke she tries to figure out what's wrong. I never met a rose that did not have a couple of thorns. If you give that car away some one is going to cash in on all that hard work you put in it:rolleyes: Walk away for a while and go back to it. Put the cover on it and turn your attention someplace else, when you come back to it you will be renewed.
Amen, brother...
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Based on the eBay listing posted earlier in this thread, I think Howard has signed the back of the title, handed over the keys, and walked away. Really sad after all he has gone through.

Sometimes though, there is no other way. You reach the end of the line, the point where the fun has long left the building and you have had it up to here and beyond.

I completely understand the feeling. It's either get it out of my sight or I will have it towed to the crusher and press the button myself. At least Howard is not doing that.

Maybe a new, fresh, look will get it sorted out...maybe not.

It is a beauty and hopefully it's not a reincarnated Christine:eek:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Howard, your car is tight, as the young folks say:) Like all things that are very pretty and nice they cause problems. The restoration of a car is a process of elimination. If you look at it like that soon all the problems will be worked out. I was in your shoes alot when I first started on my car. When looking at your car it has great quality. I can see you put good time and money in it. I kind a understand the thing with your wife as well. My wife use to be in the car when it would quit and we would be walking down the road. I would feel real bad. One day I asked her about it, she bust out laughing and said that the time we spend together good or bad is time we spend together:) She is nuts, so much so that when the car is broke she tries to figure out what's wrong. I never met a rose that did not have a couple of thorns. If you give that car away some one is going to cash in on all that hard work you put in it:rolleyes: Walk away for a while and go back to it. Put the cover on it and turn your attention someplace else, when you come back to it you will be renewed.

Rodney, your wife has a wonderful attitude.:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
Howard,

... I'm absolutely frustrated with not being able to even stand for more than fifteen minutes at a time before my legs give out and SS-Disability doesn't pay enough to cover basic expenses like food or utilities so hiring anybody to paint it for me is a very bad joke...

-Randy

Randy,why not paint it yourself using a sprayer used to paint houses? I bought one from CPO for 69 bucks that was a factory rebuild with full warranty,and I fully intend to use it to paint my 38 Ford baby blue. I would use it on my 42 Dodge business coupe,but the color I want to paint that one is only available in spray cans,so I'm going to paint it with spray cans after priming it using the house sprayer.

IF the or a color you like is available from Rust-o-leum,you can paint your car for less than 200 bucks,including the paint and the sandpaper.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Randy,I just noticed you live close to Denver.

Here is another option. Call the state prison or a community college and get on the list to have your car painted there by students. It may take a few months to get on the schedule,but all you will pay is the cost of the materials,and you will get a really good paint job because students work hard at learning and getting it right.

I took a 72 Chevy pu to the prison outside Denver back in the 70's to have the chassis straightened (it had ran through a brick wall). It was bent in 4 places and twisted,and Bear Front End and Alignment in Denver wanted $450 1977 dollars to fix it. It took me 3 months to get on the prison schedule,but I got it fixed for 12 dollars and drove that truck for 2 years with no problems.

Same thing with local trade schools or community colleges that teach body work and paint. They need cars for the students to work on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Randy,

I understand the theory behind the roller-sand-roller approach, but the time and energy investment is huge. You can still go low-bucks with a spray gun. Harbor Freight has cheapies for $15.00, and I'll bet a 'wanted' ad in your local Craigslist or Freecycle would net you a usable compressor for little or nothing (the key to that approach is an ad worded like a story to evoke empathy....I'm sure you can make it interesting). Use newspapers for the masking, tape 'er up, and shoot some paint.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow that car won't run 50 miles without a breakdown? I'd be frustrated too.

I bet if you left it with Don Coatney for a few weeks he could sort it out.

This is a bet you would lose. I would not touch a car that is on sale for eighty grand and all the professionals that have collected money to work on it have failed. I dont have a clue what these professionals have done or not done. Give me an unmolested virgin barn find and I will gladly work on it.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is a bet you would lose. I would not touch a car that is on sale for eighty grand and all the professionals that have collected money to work on it have failed. I dont have a clue what these professionals have done or not done. Give me an unmolested virgin barn find and I will gladly work on it.

Me too........I couldn't resist.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Terms of Use