Thread: First car show this year

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Not a good day.

I spent yesterday evening trying to clean the car, put everything in the trunk just in case. I made sure I had a spare tire, tools, fluids, even an extra battery with jumper cables. I topped the tank off since the 6 volt gages don't work with 12 volts, it took $1.82 when it shut off, I ran it up to $2.02 since I was using the credit card. We were lucky I was going 55 when the windshield was fooded with antifreeze, we were able to get off the highway.

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Richard

Better luck next show, I'm waiting on wheel bearing for my Vette.
I like your car...
I need some flames too.......

Jack60,

That was a first for me, the tank blowing apart.

It may not be a total lost, I'll walk through tomorrow to get my tee shirt.

Thanks, I hope I can get a new radiator quick so we can make it to the next show. I found out the steam, and antifreeze can come through the louvers real fast with a direct hit to the windshield.

I'm happy it wasn't real flames.

Good luck on your wheel bearings.

Love the early Vette's.

Richard

Bummer Richard. Times like these truely test us. I know you must be disappointed, but lucky you guys didn't get hurt and the car is o.k. Hope you can get it back on the road soon.

Stovens, Yeah it could have been real bad, I couldn't see anything; my wife said I went to the left then the right. I just tried to bring it under control. Going 55 my wife said I was going a little over that but whatever it was when you can't see it's just plain luck or a little help from above. Look how many cars pile up in a fog. I will get my tee shirt since we pre registered. It's a good idea to have your favorite tow driver in your cell phone.

Richard

at least noone got hurt... on the way back from a show, the radiator cap blew off my dads '72 C10 and leaked all the coolant, we didn't notice till the gauge pegged. managed to get some water out of a small stream near the road ( no it wasn't the ditch ).. limped to the next town and got antifreeze and some water... what actully happened is the radiator cracked and broke where the cap clicks on so it wouldn't hold.. had to fill it up a few times but we got it home....

My '51 Chevy's shake down cruise will likely be to the carshow.. just hope it don't break down, altho I know it's possible.. it's only 10 miles away to the place where it is held, and our AAA service covers up to 50 miles.

Matt,

This was the most prepared I've ever been going to a show or road trip. I had everything in the trunk that I thought I might need. I never would have thought the radiator would go. I'll do the whole cooling thing now because the guy I got it from had it for about 5 years, and never put a plate on it.

Richard

yea. my dad ended up just replacing the radiator. shop wanted too much to repair the neck.. now we keep water in the old vehicles at all times.. last year when I went to the same show the Chevy may go to ( $6 registration, so it's no big if I miss it ) I took the Rambler.. had 6 gallons of water in the trunk just in case and some tools.. of course the radiator did need recored, as I had several leaks patched with quicksteel, and was running a 4# cap.

Went back for my tee shirt today. My wife, and I walked in with my pre registration card, and took some pictures.

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Richard

Just a couple more pictures, this one is a little different, the steering is on the right side. His friend did the steering, and he said a lot of people didn't notice it.

My wife liked the blue Plymouth.


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Richard

Hey Richard ! are those some old horns on the carbs of
the rat rod ?? cool !!! but different..( love your Merc..)
I just sewed up an old canvas on a tubing frame for
a guy Thursday for his rat rod ,I was trying to talk him in
to putting wide white walls on it,he has the narrows ones
but facing in side, some cars look good with them some don't..
my son got me started on them,, I've got them on my 47 fleetline
& my 67 buick wagon, gives them the MA & PA look which I tell
my wife we are, ( the old Ma and Pa farts )

Originally Posted by renu36

Hey Richard ! are those some old horns on the carbs of
the rat rod ?? cool !!! but different..( love your Merc..)
I just sewed up an old canvas on a tubing frame for
a guy Thursday for his rat rod ,I was trying to talk him in
to putting wide white walls on it,he has the narrows ones
but facing in side, some cars look good with them some don't..
my son got me started on them,, I've got them on my 47 fleetline
& my 67 buick wagon, gives them the MA & PA look which I tell
my wife we are, ( the old Ma and Pa farts )

renu36,

Here is a close up of the stacks on the carbs. I'm not sure what they are from; I took a few pictures as we were on our way out. My wife thinks they are old lamps. I thought it was different enough to be cool with the steering on the right side, and the V8 on top plus a few other things.

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Thanks, the Merc is an older build, and it has its flaws but I like it. I will pull the radiator today, and try to find parts to replace all of the cooling system just in case, pump, hoses, and thermostat. I hope I can get a new radiator for less then $400!! I was looking at some Walker radiators on ebay they were over $600.

I tell my wife all of the time "just take me to the retirement home" she says they would kick me out, they wouldn't put up with me, so I better stay where she wants me. She also tells me I love it here, after I cool down.

Richard

A good thing about the old cars is, 4 bolts, and two clamps was all it took to get the radiator out. I had my buddy "Mozart" with me for support.

I'm finding out the cost is not as good as the newer cars though. I'm taking it to a shop in the morning to see if they can build me a new one.

It looks like it was repaired before.

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Richard

Richard ,Looks to me like the wife called it right.I collect aladdin lamps,can't say they are aladdin lamps,but look to be modified lamps of some sort.Great idea,I just might have found a new use for some of my collectibles! sure like your custom! Had a very similar looking radiator in my 56 PU couldn't kill it,when radiators were radiators,and radiators were well radiators!

Dq383500, I didn't known what they were but they looked pretty good. My wife said her Mother had lamps that looked a little like the stacks.

Thanks, the car needs some work but l like it. The car is really low I had to get some boards to put under the wheels or it would have got the body going up the ramp on the roll back. If I ever get a chance to get it on the lift I'll take some pictures of the rack that was mounted at the rear. Someone may be able to benefit from the way it was installed; I drove it around 75 to 80 miles home when I bought it. The car steers pretty well for an adapted power rack.

I like the original tank on top but since it's been repaired I think I better go with a new one.
I've had radiators leak but never one that blew; it was scary.

Richard