Wednesday’s Wisdom

I have been involved in the car business my entire life and have always enjoyed buying and selling cars as well as being a dealer for many years in various dealerships across the country. Providing people with transportation is a popular profession and very rewarding to those who pursue the career. As a new truck dealer, I never became attached to a vehicle as you could always purchase another one. The feeling was a little different when you had an old car/truck trade-in that you fell in love with or an occasional Hot Rod that came across the block at the local auction on Thursdays. I would take them home and convince the wife we should buy it and luckily for me she said no more often than yes. Once in a while, she would really like a car and choose to drive it for her car and when the time came to turn it, she would be in agreement most of the time. I am having a similar experience with her now as we just sold Sunshine, a car she truly loved, and it was hard to let it go. We had the car previously and sold it to our neighbor who finally returned it to us to sell. Falling in love with your car is easy to do and “breaking up is hard to do” as the Neil Sedaka song goes. Sunshine is going to a good home and will be very well taken care of. That is as important as your daughter marrying a good man who will take car of her. We will have one last drive up the coast to deliver her to her new home.

I sometimes wonder what happens to the cars I sell and I was very pleased to receive a photo of Jim’s 1940 Woody project that Ryan Reed is building. He has encountered lots of small problems but has solved them as he goes along and the mock up looks super. Finished cars are wonderful to view but projects are really great to see as you can follow the construction progress over time. Ryan promises to keep us up to date and I look forward to seeing his work.

As you know, I had to retire from working on cars so I now spend my time helping other people where no lifting is involved. They may be in need of some knowledge I have gained over the years. Advice is free and while not always at the tip of my tongue, I can usually find the answer is a short period of time. (Thanks Google.) The fire burns on and my wife and I live with the memories of the ones that passed through Pewsplace.

Stay Tooned!

Lynn

My wife was finally able to obtain a good scan of me and my girlfriend at an early age (4). This was in Pekin, IL. I always fell for the younger girls. I am looking for one of those “Playboy wagons” for my grandson.

Ryan has the Fat Jack stance on Jim’s woody wagon. The engine is a 529 Ford which must be squeezed into the small compartment. The wheels are Real Rodder versions of the Halibrands. Chris has the wood about ready when the chassis is complete. This will be a real show winner and fun project to watch go together.

Bob-O is putting his Deuce chassis together after sitting dormant for a few years. The Culver City QC is like brand new. The Kennedy Boys did the chassis work in the rear and center K-member.

These old school chassis require a lot of rework to install the pedal assembly. The cost of original pedals was staggering at first but after the money is gone you soon forget the ouch at the time. The chassis is powder coated gloss black.

Here you can see the modification to the brake pedal which is required to actuate the brake master cylinder. Those fancy shoes are mine.

You can purchase a complete reproduction set up but they too are pricey ($550). I think I could make some for a lot less.

The kit includes a mounting bracket which bolts to the stock K-member. I always thought they hung to low but an old build style should not be a ground hugger in my opinion.

After many days on the road to Victoria and back, Bruce’s Rod Shop is finally back in TX. Danny builds some super nice Deuces and a trick chassis.

You have to love the 49-51 Mercury. Bob-O is still driving his after many years. Have you priced one of these cars lately? You will be surprised what a nice one will bring.

Today’s Young Dreamer!

Drew is doing his dreaming but needs a girl companion. We need to keep the fire burning in the young ones. Thanks Tom for the photo.

Here is Grandpa at the SEMA building along with some other fine hot rods and classic cars. If you could afford three hot rods the 33, 40 and 32 would be a good start in my book.