Vintage Car Thread - Discussion and Parts Requests

[Rathdown]

Here is a picture of my '29 Chevrolet coupe. It is in very good original condition, but I'd rather have something I can drive farther than just around town. Mechanical brakes and wood spoke wheels are scary on the street, let alone putting the backroads between towns.

Gee, as someone who has driven thousands of miles all over Europe and the USA in cars with wooden wheels and mechanical brakes, I'd say that the scary factor you are referring to is probably down to poor maintenance of the car, rather than any inherent design deficiency. Believe it or not, a '29 Chevvy is a fairly modern car, and capable of cruising coast-to-coast in a week without any serious drama. BUT... any 83 year old car that's allowed to sit (and basically rot) for long periods of time (and that looks to be the case with the car in the photo) will require a reasonable amount of effort to bring it up to road-worthiness.

David has suggested replacing the wood spoke wheels with Coker's 20x4 inch steel wheels, something I'd advise against as it will involve significant (and expensive) machine work to change the hubs to accommodate the new wheels' 5-lug pattern. Why bother? For probably far less expense the existing wheels can be rebuilt; further, modifying the car will lower it's value, not enhance it.

Let me suggest that your car would probably be a lot less "scary" to drive if you (1) rebuilt the steering box; (2) properly adjusted the mechanical brake linkage; (3) rebuilt your wheels (if required, which is by no means certain) and (4) put new tires on the wheels. As far as the engine, clutch and gearbox are concerned, the Chevrolet "Stovebolt 6" is an amazingly simple and robust unit, and was in production from the 20's until the 70's. Any shade tree mechanic can keep one going pretty much forever, with most parts available from places as diverse as PEP BOYS, J.C. Whitney, or any of the specialists who advertise in Hemmings Motor News.

My advice would be to sort out the car mechanically, slap on new tires, drive it about 100 miles per week, and at the end of a year think about restoring the body and interior.

 

[Captain Neon]

IMHO, a lot of talk of older technology being "scarey" is largely due to an unfamiliarity with the older technology. There is also the factor of keeping up with traffic and modern traffic practices. I have a '46 Plymouth that I have had for 25 years and I debate with my self frequently if I should upgrade to disc brakes. I've driven all over with the car, but I do my best to avoid majour metropolitan areas and freeways. Except for a friend in Canada that has driven his fully stock '48 Dodge coast to coast and around and around, I probably drive my stock '46 Plymouth more than any one I've ever met. The drums work fine, but I'm not driving 75 mph down the turnpike and it was never designed to drive that fast. For me, when the time comes for an other brake job, I will probably switch to disc brakes for the ease of finding replacement parts. I am also considering an upgrade to an R-10 overdrive unit, and then I will be going 75 mph on the turnpike and a quick stop at 75 mph is probably beyond the system's design considerations. I agree, however, that one should drive and get used to a vintage car before they start making big plans. I've met a couple of people that have gone overboard in making modifications all at once and they never could sort out all of the problems. One step at a time will give one much more enjoyment than going for broke, and finding oneself over their head. I drove with worn out paint for 10 years and a worn out upholstery for 20 years. As most people with old cars will tell you, they are never "done." There is always some thing that needs doing, changing, or redoing.

 

[1930artdeco]

I drove my 1930 Model A on the freeway from Medford, Or. over the Siskyu pass into Ca. and had no problems. I have stock brakes with Cast Iron drums and an essentially stock engine. We got off in Corning and drove 99 to 505 and then freeway into the bay area. We just stayed in the right lane and did fine. Driving down 99 was heaven as it was like being back in the 30's going down the 'freeway'.

As 'Rathdown' has stated rebuild the steering, brakes and wheels and learn to drive her. You will be amazed at how well she drives when you spend some quality time with her. Now to be fair she won't drive like a modern car as she was not designed to do that. She will however, drive very well, handle rough roads well and get you there in class and style.

Mike

 

[Carl Miller]

You would be correct about lack of maintenance. This car had been sitting since 1967 when I picked it up and I'm sure it would drive beautifully if it was restored with new and rebuilt parts, but it is going to require A LOT of work. I have seen far too many old cars taken apart when the owner loses interest and end up in Hemming's or parted out.

This also isn't my first old car. I have been driving 50+ year old cars for most of my driving life and many of those with the old stovebolt 6 cylinder, 4 wheel drums, non-syncro gearboxes, etc. My motivation and interest in this coupe comes and goes, so one can understand why I'm thinking of selling it to someone that will appreciate it.

I also have car a.d.d. At one point I had 22 classic cars, so I have been thinning the herd and keeping the cars that I know I can finish.[huh]

 

[AtomicEraTom]

Carl, sounds like you're a guy with a good taste and appetite for classic cars. I know how that goes, but funds and space wont' allow me to have 22 classic cars. If I had the room, I would probably have made it there by now, though lol

 

[O2BSwank]

I think that it is good advice to rebuild the steering and chassis components first, the drive it as much as possible.
I think if you operate it within it's design limits it will be fine. Little thing like extra rear view mirrors, turn signals and updated headlamps will make it safer to operate. I think that the most frustrating thing will be coping with modern rude high speed traffic. You just have to stay out of their way. I had an old pick up and used to just stay in the right lane. Most people would just fly by.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

A little updating wouldn't be bad, but I don't see the need to resto-mod a survivor like that. I know you can't always trust other drivers, but if you are aware of what kind of stopping distance you need, and the like you can do a lot with an old car. I drove my share of single master-cylinder, 4-wheel drum, manual brake, manual steering vehicles in modern traffic with only one wreck (t-boned, modern or old, car would have been toast). For the most part, people see an old car coming and assume it's some rickety old thing and keep out of the way, anyways.

 

[Carl Miller]

The only "upgrade" I would make to the car is to find a set of the factory steel wheels like this: http://www.cruisenclassics.com/images/29Chevy004.jpg.

After I kick the ragtop out of the garage, I'll unbury the coupe and give it a good looking over and see where I should start.

 

[Rathdown]

Carl, sounds like you're a guy with a good taste and appetite for classic cars. I know how that goes, but funds and space wont' allow me to have 22 classic cars. If I had the room, I would probably have made it there by now, though lol

As a multiple old car "offender" I'd suggest not having more cars than you can reliably hop in and drive coast to coast-- for me that's about three cars. More than that number and I find I spend more time working on them than driving them!

 

[Carl Miller]

I sold my 64 chevy today, so now I only have one car that is newer than 1959 (not including my daily driver). So that leaves me with...uhh....err...hmmm.... 8 cars.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

I learned that when I was 17 and had a vintage daily car and a couple other fifties autos sitting waiting for attention. My new rule is no more than one major project at a time.

As a multiple old car "offender" I'd suggest not having more cars than you can reliably hop in and drive coast to coast-- for me that's about three cars. More than that number and I find I spend more time working on them than driving them!

 

[Gregg Axley]

I came to that conclusion a few years ago.
It was hard, but I had to accept it.

 

[zootsuit007]

Wow! what a great thread and some really great cars to boot!

 

[Rathdown]

Current stable is limited to my 2004 Chrysler Crossfire and the '51 Bentley in my avatar -- both daily drivers. I also have a Morgan 4/4 which is in the final stage of restoration and replaces the Morgan +4 four-seater I sold last summer. Both the Morgan and the Bentley are for sale as I'm looking for a Nash-Healey coupe (an earlier deal for a '37 Packard fell through at the last minute). If I was limited to three cars for the rest of my life, I'd probably opt for an XK-150, a Cord 812 convertible coupe, and one of Bob Petersen's replica "Blue Train" Bentleys. Anyone interested in funding my Nash-Healy can shoot me a PM!

 

[Big Man]

I have my eye on a '61 Chevy Bel Air four door. The car is all original and was a regular driver up to about four years ago. No rust but it could use a paint job. Runs, but needs some minor motor work.

Any ideas from the experts here as to what would be a fair price to offer?

 

[AtomicEraTom]

Is it a four door post or no post? Also, what drivetrain is in it?

I have my eye on a '61 Chevy Bel Air four door. The car is all original and was a regular driver up to about four years ago. No rust but it could use a paint job. Runs, but needs some minor motor work.

Any ideas from the experts here as to what would be a fair price to offer?

 

[Big Man]

Is it a four door post or no post? Also, what drivetrain is in it?

Four door post. Not sure about motor, but it is whatever was "standard" at the time (200 something). Automatic transmission.

 

[jamespowers]

I have my eye on a '61 Chevy Bel Air four door. The car is all original and was a regular driver up to about four years ago. No rust but it could use a paint job. Runs, but needs some minor motor work.

Any ideas from the experts here as to what would be a fair price to offer?

A 1961 bel Air four door is going to be pretty cheap out where you are. The Bel Air was not the top of the line by 1961---the Impala was. I think you could have still gotten a 283 in it but the base was likely a 6 cylinder. The big engines then were the 348 and 409. The bubble tops with either of these engines in them would be expensive.
Your prospective car in what I think you are describing is low number three or four. If it doesn't run then it falls to the four in condition. The number three is a driver that runs and needs cosmetics. The four doesn't drive and needs cosmetics.
This is a number three with a six cylinder:

The guy wants $6,000 for it but would likely take $4,000. I think you should expect to pay about $3,500---depending on your ability to haggle with the owner in today's economy. For what you describe unless the interior is perfect and it doesn't need much other than paint. Engine work can get into money. Out here it would cost me about $2,000 to rebuild an 8 cylinder engine so factor that into the price you pay.
A picture would help if you happen to have one. I could nail down a value better that way.

Oh and yes, I am a repeat car offender with eight of them.

 

[jamespowers]

Four door post. Not sure about motor, but it is whatever was "standard" at the time (200 something). Automatic transmission.

A six cylinder motor of the time:

 

[Big Man]

... A picture would help if you happen to have one. I could nail down a value better that way. ...

Thanks for all the good information.

The car belongs to my sister (would rather try trading with a total stranger than her, but that's another story ...). My sister says the car will run if you pore gas into the carburetor (carb and/or fuel pump problems???). I haven't talked to her about selling the car to me, as I wanted to get an idea of what it may be worth before even talking about a price. Here's a little background on the car:

My aunt Hazel bought the car new in 1961. My aunt was a school teacher who never married and always lived at home with my grandmother. From a very early age, I used to spend a lot of time with my grandmother and aunt. After I started to school, my aunt would come to my parent's house on Friday afternoon and take me back to her and my grandmother's house (the house I now have, by the way). I would ride in that '61 Chevy every weekend.

My aunt Sara had a '65 Ford, and when she passed away in 1983 that car was left to me (still have the car and still drive it regularly). When my aunt Hazel decided to stop driving around 1993, she gave her '61 Chevy to my sister. My sister drove the car for several years, but eventually parked it for good in 2007.

My sister and her husband are always "looking for the big buck" kind of people, and several years ago they got the idea that the car would be worth "$8,000 or more." Needless to say, they haven't sold it yet.

I hadn't seen the car for several years, but have always wanted to get it back "home" where it belonged. I'm at a place now where I could devote a couple thousand dollars for something like this. I'd like to get the car back to driving shape and give it a paint job. I can't afford to "restore" the car, but just "stabilize" it so it will not deteriorate further.

I stopped by this afternoon to look at the car (she has it parked in a field behind an abandoned service station). I almost wish I hadn't seen it, as it's in worse shape than I knew. There is no "major" rust, but it really needs paint bad. The interior is not too bad, except that it has been closed up and is moldy (and is probably home to a couple families of field mice). My poor old aunt would rollover in her grave if she saw the condition of her old car.

Here are a couple pictures taken this afternoon.

And one more of the car, my aunt, and me back when the car was new.

If nothing else, I'd like to get the car and take it back home to let it die a natural death where my aunt always had it parked. The old car deserves more than to be abandoned to rot away in a field.