Vintage Car Thread - Discussion and Parts Requests

[1930artdeco]

Went to the Art Deco Society of California's Gatsby picnic this last sunday. Had great time and saw plenty of cars extremely well dressed people and a lot of the 'younger' generation. I even taxied in a couple from Houston who flew in just for this event.

 

[Big Man]

Here's a follow-up on the leak I found on the fuel pump of my '48 Plymouth.

I took it to the garage the other day and they put it up on the lift. The leak was coming from around the pump, not from the pump itself.

The diaphragm in the pump looks to be fine, and when everything was tightened up, the leak stopped. Hopefully, that will take care of the problem. We'll see ...

 

[kaiser]

Tightening the pump down is really only a short term fix of the problem. I suspect that the gasket is shot and really should be replaced. That has been my experience on a couple of older BMW motorcycles I had over the years.

 

[Big Man]

Tightening the pump down is really only a short term fix of the problem. I suspect that the gasket is shot and really should be replaced. That has been my experience on a couple of older BMW motorcycles I had over the years.

I'll keep a close watch on it to make sure no leaks return. We'll see what happens.

 

[Studebaker Driver]

1925 Lincoln,

body by LeBaron

 

[BobHufford]

Not mine, but I wish it was. Saw it driving home yesterday.

 

[Stanley Doble]

Bought this Packard today. It's a 1954 Patrician sedan, the one they were selling against Cadillac. 359 cu in Straight Eight, 212HP. Power steering, power brakes, and Ultramatic drive. Hope to get it home next week. Photos taken in seller's driveway.

List price new, $3890. For comparison you could buy a Buick Roadmaster for $2971, a Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe for $3155, a Lincoln for $3226, or a Cadillac for $3932. A new Ford cost $1542, a Chevrolet $1680 and a Studebaker $1635

 

[scottyrocks]

I don't know how vintage it is, but I picked up a 1963 VW Type 1 (Beetle) about a month ago. Straight and almost rust free, engine runs great, but cosmetically challenged, and I will take care of those aspects over time.

 

[Fading Fast]

I don't know how vintage it is, but I picked up a 1963 VW Type 1 (Beetle) about a month ago. Straight and almost rust free, engine runs great, but cosmetically challenged, and I will take care of those aspects over time.

Congrats and the best of luck. If memory serves, you've been looking for one of these.

 

[LizzieMaine]

If you plan on any winter driving, be sure the wiper arms are on tight!

 

[hatsRme]

Bought this Packard today. It's a 1954 Patrician sedan, the one they were selling against Cadillac. 359 cu in Straight Eight, 212HP. Power steering, power brakes, and Ultramatic drive. Hope to get it home next week. Photos taken in seller's driveway.

List price new, $3890. For comparison you could buy a Buick Roadmaster for $2971, a Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe for $3155, a Lincoln for $3226, or a Cadillac for $3932. A new Ford cost $1542, a Chevrolet $1680 and a Studebaker $1635

View attachment 59052 View attachment 59053

Way to go, Stanley! They were amazing cars. I remember my oldest brother learning to drive on a two-tone green one of about the same age, but that was in early to mid sixties. We'd all load in, and he could only do laps on the access road around my Dad's salvage yards. Fast! In retrospect, it was crazy, but fun.

 

[2jakes]

I don't know how vintage it is, but I picked up a 1963 VW Type 1 (Beetle) about a month ago. Straight and almost rust free, engine runs great, but cosmetically challenged, and I will take care of those aspects over time.

When starting the engine, don't take off right away.

She'll love you for it as she purrs
down the road.

#1 rust area :
floorboard.

 

[Stanley Doble]

Vw is a real fun car, I had a lot of them and still have piles of parts. Amazing, but practically all parts are still available. There are specialists who will sell you anything from a hubcap to a 250HP engine. Simple and straight forward to work on. One caution, they were made at a time that things required a lot of upkeep like oil change every 2000 miles and adjust valves every 4000. But it takes less than 2 quarts and no filter, and you can adjust valves in 15 minutes in fact if you check them regularly only 1 or 2 will need attention. Cost, a set of gaskets every second time, gaskets used to be $2.10.

If you are not familiar get a repair manual and learn to do the work yourself, if maintained properly they are very reliable with an engine life of 50,000 - 80,000 miles.

 

[2jakes]

Word of caution on replacing VW bumpers with new ones which mostly are foreign-made.
They look good but are inferior in material & rusts sets in within a short time.
I made the mistake of replacing the original rear bumper & threw it away.
Looking for a needle in the haystack would’ve been easier than finding another original.

Hubcaps awaiting polishing.

 

[Stanley Doble]

That's right parts are available but much inferior to original German quality. I would use original parts, and fix them whenever possible, rather than buy new Mexican or Brazilian.

 

[GHT]

Word of caution on replacing VW bumpers with new ones which mostly are foreign-made.
They look good but are inferior in material & rusts sets in within a short time.
I made the mistake of replacing the original rear bumper & threw it away.

Agreed, and if you own a car that has wire wheeled spokes, don't replace them with new, for the same reason 2jakes has pointed out. At first the chrome bright work looks the part, but that quickly fades, then tarnish and rust soon follow.

 

[1mach1]

Not mine, but I wish it was. Saw it driving home yesterday.

Sweet!!

 

[1mach1]

Bought this Packard today. It's a 1954 Patrician sedan, the one they were selling against Cadillac. 359 cu in Straight Eight, 212HP. Power steering, power brakes, and Ultramatic drive. Hope to get it home next week. Photos taken in seller's driveway.

List price new, $3890. For comparison you could buy a Buick Roadmaster for $2971, a Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe for $3155, a Lincoln for $3226, or a Cadillac for $3932. A new Ford cost $1542, a Chevrolet $1680 and a Studebaker $1635

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Stanley, that is beautiful. Congratulations!!

 

[2jakes]

Agreed, and if you own a car that has wire wheeled spokes, don't replace them with new, for the same reason 2jakes has pointed out. At first the chrome bright work looks the part, but that quickly fades, then tarnish and rust soon follow.

GHT
I was checking the other day with regards to chrome work.
I didn’t know that there are different levels of “chroming” available .
And the price depends on what level you choose.

Similar to auto paint job.
A friend had his car repainted for $300
in one day.
I tried to warn him.
I mentioned that a good paint job that lasts has to do with
the “prepping” prior to the painting which takes time.
Less than a year, the paint has started to peel and faded
in spots.

 

[Stearmen]

At first the chrome bright work looks the part, but that quickly fades, then tarnish and rust soon follow.

It depends on what climate you live in. Her, we don't have as much of a problem with rust, just dirt and mud, which is always fun to clean off of wire wheels.