Sad young man.

[StudeRich]

Good for you Neil, I am glad it was nothing serious, well except your Ego!

[deco_droid]

Last summer, a couple from my local chapter drove their 1950 Commander to Alaska and back with no problems. Come autumn, they drove it to a local club gathering and upon leaving, the car died along the road. Turned out the fiber cam gear lost many of its teeth due to age as it was original to the car. New gear, no more problems! Hopefully your grandson's car has a simple problem too.

Wow, I'm sort of surprised that type of material was used instead of some sort of metal. Is there a replacement available in a stronger material or should a new fiber gear last another 50 years?

[rockinhawk]

Wow, I'm sort of surprised that type of material was used instead of some sort of metal. Is there a replacement available in a stronger material or should a new fiber gear last another 50 years?

the fiber gears are amazingly durable. There is an aluminum gear available for heavy duty and High preformance engines. but due to Josh's budget, we installed a new fiber gear.
We are hopeing for another 50 years. I probably won't be around to help him with that one.

[arthurc1946]

Just wanted to say I enjoyed reading this thread. Glad to hear the outcome was succesful.Always good to have/know someone with experience/knowledge for any job you may face. There is nothing like hands on experience.Mechanics was not my trade,but I learned a lot from good advice/help and hands on exp.I'm sure the young man will never forget what he learned and from who.It is not like the past where people actually would repair something if at all possible,rather than just exchange for new. HAPPY MOTORING

[studeclunker]

I agree with Arthur! Neal, your whole family is very lucky. I envy all of you and commend you for doing a great job with them.

[rockinhawk]

Today was an emotional roller coaster for Josh.
Today was our Chapter meeting and Josh wanted his car to be there. It has not been out of the fence since the original episode so Friday we changed the oil,put the back seat in,along with headlights and grill, then went to the courthouse and bought a tag.
This morning We got up early and went to town. Gave the Lark a pre-flight check,added some non-E gas and started to the club meeting.
Josh was happy!
The trip to the meeting place was about 10 miles.The car ran GREAT for about 8 miles. Then it began to feel slugish. We eased it on to to our destination. When we stopped, it was steaming and smoking! We have not installed gauges in the car yet(It has Idiot lights) but had an oil gauge on the engine. I stared the engine while Josh watched the gauge. He said it didn't move so I shut it down.
Josh was sad.
During the meeting's bull session,Josh's car was the main topic.After the meeting and a cooldown period for the car,several members went to diagnose the problem. Josh started it up and there was no problem! Oilpressure was 50 lbs every thing seemed fine!
Josh was happy.
Josh lives about 2 miles from the park where we met,so he started home with his uncle James following.Less than a mile,Josh pulled over and popped the hood. James said gas was pouring out of the WCFB.
Josh was sad
I had gone back to the shop so he called me and said to bring his new Edelbrock when I came home. I picked up the trailer,loaded the car and brought it home where James and Josh started changing out the carb and intake. Pretty soon Josh fired it up and backed it off the trailer.Right now everything appears to be right with the world and...
Josh IS happy!
I still don't know what caused it to get hot and start smoking?

[Flashback]

Boy, roller coaster is right. You don't suppose you got some exhaust blockage, causing the overheating thing??? I know you checked on the last down loop (when carb flooded) for fuel in oil. Don't want another surprise. Good Luck.

[DEEPNHOCK]

We stopped off for a pit stop in LakeCity Fla. on the way home. We exited I-75 onto Us 90, which is the main drag through Lake City. After we took care of business I decided not to get back on the Interstate. We planned to cut through the edge of the Okefenokee to get home and it was just a little ways through town to the road that would take us home.
As we started out of town heading north I spotted a truck pulling a car trailer. It had pulled over on a side street and the driver was working on his tie down straps. The trailer was hauling a white 60 Lark 2dr ht.
We went to see if we could offer any assistance(and to check out his car) and met a very unusual character. He never gave us his name. His cap read "Grouchy&Ugly" he said "That's what most folks call me"
He said he had just bought the Lark. It had a 259 3spd OD. Was a nice looking car outside but a little rough inside. He said it ran good and was drivable as it was and he only "Paid $1500.Bucks fer it."
I asked if he was a member of the club and he answered "All I got is this car and a Dirtyword, Cotton pickin, Dirtyword Avanti! Why should I be in a club? I tried to explain the virtues of the club, but by this time he had learned that Josh had a car just like his,so he was no longer interested in anything I had to say.
He and Josh had became instant Buddies. He said he was really a Mopar man, but right now he didn't have "A cotton pickin,dirtyword one of'em" Josh told him that he also had a73 Charger project at home. he asked "Gotta Hemi?" Josh said "No just a 440."

I think he wanted to adopt Josh, but only if the cars came with him! As I said ...a very interesting character! Sure wish I knew his name.

Sounds like the ghost of Calvin 'OldCarFart' Lowell (RIP)

[rockinhawk]

Sounds like the ghost of Calvin 'OldCarFart' Lowell (RIP)

This guy(found out later his name is Butch),is more like Calvin on SPEED!

[rockinhawk]

Boy, roller coaster is right. You don't suppose you got some exhaust blockage, causing the overheating thing??? I know you checked on the last down loop (when carb flooded) for fuel in oil. Don't want another surprise. Good Luck.

We have kept a constant check on the oil.All appears to be OK.
After installing the EDLEBROCK,I hooked up the heat gauge,turns out it does have a needle instead of a light.
Josh has been driving it around the farm,listening to the Cherry Bombs,and noticed it's running a little hotter than it should.
I put in a 190 thermostat to help seat the rings,and we are running 5W20 QS Defy engine oil.
We may have to go back to a cooler Stat and heavier oil.
But right Josh is a Happy young Man! You couldn't knock the smile off his face!
He just left here, pipes sounding off, and he was grinning from ear to ear.

[r1lark]

Neil, have Josh take a video with sound and post it on YouTube so we can hear those Cherry Bombs too!

[crazylark]