Vintage Car Thread - Discussion and Parts Requests

[1930artdeco]

Lizzie condradulations!!!! That is a beautiful car and there is nothing like driving the back roads in an antique car with no electronic distractions. There are forums for every make of car out there and they are a wealth of knowledge. Enjoy driving her and post lots of pics!

Mike

 

[LizzieMaine]

The Plodge has arrived.

I've just gotten back from getting the plates and insurance squared away -- excise tax $5 -- and drove it around town a bit just to get a feel for the handling. It reminds me a lot of my old VW, except 50 percent bigger, but there are no problems with steering. Brakes and clutch aren't as tight as they should be, but they're both functional. I had it up to 30mph in third gear without any explosions, so that bodes well.

I've got an appointment to take it in Tuesday to get up on the rack and looked over, but everything looks and feels solid, so I'd imagine any problems will be a matter of fine tuning.

The brake light bulb turned out to be broken, and the local auto parts places don't even know what a 6 volt bulb is, so I guess I'll be doing some internet shopping.

The wiper situation is weird. Someone at some point in the past installed an electric motor for the driver's side wiper, and that one doesn't work. The vacuum motor is still hooked up to teh passenger side, and that works fine. Go figure. So at some point I guess I'll have to sort that out.

ALong with the car came a sheaf of paperwork. I'm the fifth owner of this vehicle, since it was purchased new in August of 1941 by a gentleman from Halifax. Coincidentally, that's where both sides of my family come from, so there's an omen right there.

 

[dhermann1]

Time for History Detectives! (Maybe they'll get your name right this time.) Let's find out if this car originally belonged to your great grand cousin.

 

[St.Ignatz]

:thumb:

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.
Tom D.

 

[Talbot]

Nothing like looking through a split screen when motoring I reckon.

Not to mention the passenger space in the rear.

More pics?

You may have already got something like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Best-Dodge-...anuals_Literature&hash=item256f318071&vxp=mtr

There are plentry about, this is just an example. Repro's are handy for the garage. Originals for reading in the house

Not just for your own repairs, but to know what's involved when others advise/quote you for work.

 

[McMurdo]

Congratulations on the car, I look forward to more pictures as you embark on your own adventures.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I'm going to borrow a digital camera from one of the kids this weekend and see if I can get some more pics. I got the Motor magazine shop manual with the car, and found a copy of the Canadian Dodge shop manual on eBay, which is on its way here even as we speak.

It's supposed to seat six comfortably, but you could easily fit seven.

My next door neighbor saw it in the driveway and was jumping up and down and squealing like a schoolgirl. Jeez, have some dignity.

 

[dhermann1]

Talk about vintage things that have disappeared in your life time. How about front bench seats in cars! 3 across in the front seat!

 

[LizzieMaine]

When I was a baby, my car seat was a cardboard box placed in the middle of the front seat of our Nash, in between my parents. When I grew up a bit, they turned the box upside down and I sat on top of it so I could see out the windshield.

The leg room in the Plodge is truly luxurious. There's room to set up a card table in the back compartment.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Time for History Detectives! (Maybe they'll get your name right this time.) Let's find out if this car originally belonged to your great grand cousin.

According to the Owner's Service Policy, which was still in the glove compartment, the Plodge was originally sold to a Mr. Gordon W. Young, of 40 Henry Street in Halifax by Halifax Motors Ltd. on August 26th, 1941. Not a known relative of mine, but my ex-mother-in-law was a Young. Hmmmm.

Gordon W. Young drove this car regularly until at least 1960, according to a thick stack of annual insurance cards also in the glove box. Clearly Mr. Young was either very meticulous or a pack rat.

 

[St.Ignatz]

I always liked the smell of wool. One of my fondest memories was sitting between my grandfather and his brother Harry in Pop Pop's Nash. Scratchy seats and beards.

 

[Stanley Doble]

I'm going to borrow a digital camera from one of the kids this weekend and see if I can get some more pics. I got the Motor magazine shop manual with the car, and found a copy of the Canadian Dodge shop manual on eBay, which is on its way here even as we speak.

It's supposed to seat six comfortably, but you could easily fit seven.

My next door neighbor saw it in the driveway and was jumping up and down and squealing like a schoolgirl. Jeez, have some dignity.

Ha ha ha room for the whole family, and that was their small car! I had a 1952 Chrysler New Yorker, 132" wheelbase, and you could take 6 basketball players for a ride, wearing top hats.

 

[1930artdeco]

Once you figure out the wiper system PM me as I may have a contact for you to get the electric one rebuilt.

Mike

 

[Angus Forbes]

I love old sedans -- you get in, take off your hat and coat, and then sit down.

 

[John in Covina]

The brake light bulb turned out to be broken, and the local auto parts places don't even know what a 6 volt bulb is, so I guess I'll be doing some internet shopping.

Dear Lizzie,

Another suggestion - never throw away or hand in parts for cores until you know the replacement fits and is a direct working replacemnt.

The bulb may have markings on it either glass or base that can ID the type of bulb it is.

The same thing is many parts may have stamped in info, or casting marks with symbols, words, letters and numbers that can be crucial in getting the right replacement. In old vehicles both hard parts and even gaskets can have this type of ID info. many people take digital pix of all the parts and look to get these markings on record.

John

 

[LizzieMaine]

I've put all the bad bulbs in the glove compartment, marked as to where they go, and ordered a "bulb kit" from one of the online parts houses. The brake light switch is still dodgy, so I'll have to have them look at that when I take it in.

Just took the Plodge on a few errands around town, and things seem to be loosening up a bit -- the shifting and transmission are a lot less stiff than it was. I'd run out most of the old gas, so I put in five gallons of 89 octane and a bottle of dry-gas which will hopefully make it run a little less rough when I drive it over for service on Tuesday.

It handles really well for such a big bulky thing. The steering is extremely responsive, and it's very easy to maneuver for parking and such. I'd forgotten what it was like to drive a full-size car after decades of compacts, so I'm having to relearn a lot of driving skills I haven't used since I was a teenager. I don't think I'm quite ready to parallel park the thing, but we're getting there.

Anyone got a lead on a Mopar 800 radio, speaker, and grille? This model didn't include such fripperies, but I hope to find one at some point. It doesn't have to be restored -- I can do that myself. It just has to be complete.

 

[Rathdown]

Locally there are about half a dozen gas stations than sell ethanol free gasoline. If there are any in your neighborhood, I would highly recommend that you use them. The immediate short term benefit is an increase in mileage by about 10%; the long term benefit is that it will prevent all sorts of damage to the fuel delivery system caused by ethanol, thus saving you even more money.

And I am, of course, delighted to hear you are driving it daily, as the Good Lord intended.

 

[John in Covina]

Lizzie,

Also note that today's motor oil is a different formula than what was used in your Plodge. Check into oils from Lucas or others that have the zinc and other chemicals you need for your motor or you may get a zinc additive.
http://www.classiccarmotoroil.com/articles.html

 

[vitanola]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOPAR-36-37...Parts_Accessories&hash=item231d92ee6e&vxp=mtr

It is pretty rough, but if you care t pick it up I have a Philco model A-801 chairside radio, a 1942 model which consists of this MOPAR set modified for yuse on 110VAC placed into a chairside cabinet. The cabinet of my A-801 is pretty rough, but the cosmetics of the chassis, dial and knobs are fine. One could put a good set together by combining the two, I think.

 

[Stanley Doble]

Lizzie the brake light switch on the old cars screws right into the master cylinder and works off the brake pressure. They do tend to fail or wear out more often than the modern kind. They get gummed up or dirty, especially on a car that is not driven.

Your local parts store should be able to get one. If they can't get one for a 1941 Dodge, ask for one for a 1975 VW Super Beetle. They are the same. Cost should be under $10 bucks (the last one I bought was $7.95). Or you can get them online.

Have your mechanic replace it when he flushes and inspects the brake system.

I'm glad the car is working so well. Don't forget it needs to be greased regularly, the book says every 1000 miles. 1 or 2 lubrication jobs, and some driving, should make everything work better.

If you want a radio, a cheap portable ($29.95 at Walmart) will work off your 6 volt batteries. They even make vintage looking models.

The key is that they are made to run on 6, 1.5V batteries or 9 volts, but will work perfectly fine on 6 volts. You just have to wire the battery wires to your car, via the cigar lighter or into the wiring harness. Don't forget your car is + ground. While we are at it, your car also has left hand threads on the left side wheel nuts. Forgive me if you already know these things, but they have caused a lot of heartburn to those new to old cars.

If you can restore an original radio good for you. All parts are available , and they work like gangbusters, but only on AM. Although it would be possible to wire a small FM receiver through the original amp section and speaker.