Thread: New Guy With Some Easy Questions!!!

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Hey Fellas! I need some advice...

After riding Harleys and trucks for 20 years I am going to buy a car. <gulp>

I've recently gotten quite P.O.'d at two of the local Chevy dealers in my area because they 1) can't shim a rear end and 2) they don't stock parts for diesels.

So in my demented way of thinking, there is no diffference between buying a new Chevy or buying buying a car that the manufacturer has been out of business for 40 or so years. After all I can't get parts or service for either, right? Also, buying a 50 year old car is a lot cheaper and they look 100% cooler than anything sold today.

So in the very near future I am going to be buying some really old running clunker that I am going to use as my errand runner and general use car. I am not going to hot rod this thing. It will be stored outside. I know that there are a bunch of things that will have to be done to it`just to make it a (hopefully) dependable runner.

So my 1ST question of this adventure is...

What are some things that you'd look for (in general) before choosing the manufacturer, style, year, etc. that you are going to eventually choose? For example...

Are the short comings of a 6 volt system that relevent if you don't mind chasing down 6V bulbs and listening to a AM tube radio?

Should I select a year/model where turn signals were standard?

I can assume that the future beauty I select will probably run on leaded gas. How big of a pain is it to add additive everytime you fill up? Is it common to change to "no lead" valves in an old flathead that you aren't ever going to bring to a show?

How hard is it to get a new title for an old clunker if my future seller doesn't have one?

Are vaccuum operated windshield wipers still practicle?

I know going into this that whatever I choose to purchase will have a running motor and trans. and a straight frame. And there may be some obviouse somthing (such as glass) that needs immediate attention. But, anything I buy will absolutly require new tires, complete exhaust, and complete brakes. Am I missing anything major here?

So as the new guy here, I hope I've painted a pretty good picture of where I am looking to do and would greatly appreciate if some of you old timers would chime in with some thoughts and wisdom.

Thanks!

--Bob

Thanks for the imput Rich!

Good points about steering and suspension.

I'd gander that suspension varies by make and model and that you'd ideally like the steering "tight." We are, however, talking about a "lead sled" here. So I am sure there have been improvments over the years.

Would it be fair to say that the "premium" cars of yesterday are also the "premium" cars of today. Meaning that the old Cadillacs, Packards, and Oldsmobiles came with more bells, whistles and details and therefore are more desireable today? Guys do a lot with Chevy Coups or Studes or Nash Ramblers; but the Cadillacs, Packards, or Olds of the same vintage come with nicer things such as auto trans, better suspension of the period, or better preformance? And therefore that's where I might consider aiming my search?