HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: bakc@giraffe.ru.ac.za (MR KR COMAN)
Subject: Re: Steering/Alignment Difficulties
Organization: Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 09:23:59 GMT

>I am not sure how "positive" the steering should be in this car.  There
>was quite a bit of "play" in the steering; i.e., the car would "wander"

Have a look at the actual steering box itself.  I've not direct experience 
with US Fords of this age, but many UK cars from the pre rack and pinion
era made provision for adjustment of the steering box to accomodate wear.

1.
The most simple to adjust was one that had a locknut and bolt on the casing. 
Loosening the l-nut allows the bolt to be gently tightened to reduce the 
degree of backlash on the actuating mechanism.

2.
A less happy system was one that only permitted adjustment via the 
manipulation of packing shims preloading the mechanism.  Here the entire 
column had to be removed from the car.

3.
The real buggers were the real el cheapo units fitted on the really bottom
end cars.  The mechanism was a simple worm and peg system that was set up 
and preloaded on manufacture.  No adjustment was possible.  Once the 
actuating peg was worn, the entire box had to be stripped down and rebuilt 
using new parts.

I guess that your workshop manual would give you some direction as to the
type of steering box you have.   BTW, take a hold of the connection out of 
the steering box and have a helper gently turn the steering wheel from side 
to side until the movement meets the resistance of actually starting to move 
the connection -- this will give you an indication of just how much backlash 
you've got in the steering box.  If the wheel can swing (say) 6" or more 
either way before you detect movement on the connection you can be pretty 
sure that the steering box needs looking at.  What someone on the net needs 
to give you is the "acceptable" degree of steering box backlash for your 
car.   	
	Note that if the steering box is quite badly worn and if it is an 
adjustable unit (as per 1 above) merely tightening up the adjuster will NOT 
do the job.  Your steering will simply get very heavy, most if not all of 
the castoring --self-centering action -- will be lost, and serious (even 
dangerous) wear will occur within the box.  Remember one component in that 
box (the worm on the end of the steering column) is likely to be made out of 
quite soft bronze -- so thumping the adjuster up tight is *not a good idea*!
	I hope that if the s-box is the cause that you can get rebuild 
parts.  An idea is to find even a shot s-box, get the parts and rebuild 
that one before doing a swop -- that way your car is not off the road for 
too long.

Best of luck!!

Keith Coman
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 15:04:22 EDT
From: K-JAMZ <KPW104@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: alt.autos.antique
Subject: El Caminos

    Anyboby know if an 1980 El Camino would be considered a classic?  I was
under the understanding that if they are not made anymore and 10 yrs. old
then they were a classic, otherwise it was 15 years. I am just curious!  Plus
I would like to hear from any El Camino/Chevelle freaks out there! Either post
or send to me!!!! Thanks!


                                                    -K-Jamz
----
Ken Wilcox
kpw104@psuvm
kpw104@psuvm.psu.edu
From: mdl@phelixsalt (Michael Lynch)
Newsgroups: alt.autos.antique
Subject: Dirt Belchers
Date: 1 Oct 92 19:02:46 GMT
Reply-To: mdl@phelixsalt (Michael Lynch)
Organization: Bellcore



I'm off to Carlisle, but before I go I have a few thoughts
on the recent auto emissions thread.

Over the past 20 years or so cars have become more efficient
and a lot less polluting, and I expect they will continue
to do so.  And old cars ARE more polluting than new ones.

BUT......

There's a much bigger culprit than old cars, and in an 
environmental sense it's sort penny wise and pound foolish
to go after cars when our highways are crowded with belching
diesels.  Trucks, mostly.  Instead of chasing down old cars,
why aren't we trying to clean up diesels?  They stink, the
fumes burn the eyes, the soot covers everything -- not to
mention the invisible stuff being puffed into the air.

I'm going to make my '53 Ford as efficient and clean as
possible within the limitations of that old flathead, but I
have to say, as long as diesels are allowed to run
uncontrolled up and down the roads, my conscience won't bother
me much if the old Ford runs a tad dirtier than my Honda.

Mike Lynch
mdl@oscar.bellcore.com
From: massengale_m@cubldr.colorado.edu
Newsgroups: alt.autos.antique
Subject: WWW radials available?
Date: 30 Sep 92 16:23:04 GMT
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder

Does anyone know if WWW radials are being manufactured?  My car has
bias-ply Firestone 404s (L78-15) and I'd like to switch them for radials,
but I love the look of WWW on a fifties car.

Thanks.

Melanie
From: achenbac@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Jeff Achenbach)
Newsgroups: alt.autos.antique
Subject: Re: Old car info needed
Date: 29 Sep 92 17:25:06 GMT
Organization: TI Semiconductor Process and Design Center

In article <1992Sep29.130841.8014@ns.network.com> jmiller@network.com writes:
>In article 920928173722@lab17.eng.auburn.edu, droland@eng.auburn.edu (David A. Roland) writes:
>>While looking around on some land my Dad just bought I
>>discovered some old cars, a 1941 Chevy Special Deluxe,
>>a ~39 Chevy Convertible, ~42 Station Wagon, and ~35 
>>School Bus, and 40-50 International Combine.  
>>
>>These cars are pretty rough, it looks like they have
>>been here for probably 30 or 40 years and the engines are
>>gone out of most of them, and the floorboards and frames
>>are rusted out, but the bodies are solid enough to walk
>>around on with no major body damage, all the chrome parts
>>are on them and the hoods, doors, bumpers and fenders are
>>fine.  Is any of this stuff worth anything?  I can go
>>pull the good parts off or get the whole vehicles if they
>>are but if I  decide they are not the timber people are
>>going to plow over them.  So I need some help deciding.
>

The convertible is almost certainly worth saving. The station wagon maybe.
The '41 for parts. 


Jeff Achenbach
achenbac@epcot.spdc.ti.com
Newsgroups: alt.autos.antique
From: schludermann@sscvx1.ssc.gov
Subject: TEXAS REGION SWAP MEETS REV1
Followup-To:        3rd annual muscle car swap meet, car corral & cruise in. CHI
Summary: TEXAS REGION SWAP MEETS OCT/NOV/DEC
Keywords: CKASHA,OK
Reply-To: Oct 2,3,4
Organization: Superconducting Super Collider Laboratory
Distribution:        3609 s. 16th st. chickasha,ok 73018 (405)-222-4910
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 00:50:02 GMT

  Alright the octoberbatch of TEXAS REGION SWAP meets



Oct 2,3,4
       3rd annual muscle car swap meet, car corral & cruise in. CHICKASHA,OK
       30 miles s.w. of okla. city 0n i-44 turnpike, right off hwy 81
       3609 s. 16th st. Chickasha,ok 73018 (405)-222-4910

OCT 3
       3rd annual Houston Mopar Muscle Nationals, Baytown Texas at Raceway
       Park info 409-866-1369.

OCT 3,4
       Brownwood swap meet at Riverside park on Hwy 377, Brownwood Tx
       info 914-643-1651
 
OCT 3
       2nd annual car show/swap meet at Carroll high school football stadium,
       Carroll Tx. info 817-488-0707 eves.

OCT 11
      VW swap meet at george's drive-in, 3316 fredericksburg rd, San Antoinio
      Tx.
 

OCT 17,18
       10th ANNUAL CONROE SWAP MEET.  at Montgonery county park/fair 40 miles
       north of Houston. Exit 88 off of I-45 go east on loop 336 to fm 1484
       (Airport Rd) some areas covered. registration 713-376-3491 info
       713-353-0231, 955-1102, 465-1885.

OCT 16,17,18
       Whitewright swap meet. Whitewright tactor pull arena Whitewright Tx
       Intersection of hwys 11 & 69. info 214-736-3978.

OCT 23,24,25
       WINGS & WHEELS swap meet. Hardy murphy coliseum Ardmore, OK
       Inside and outside spaces info 405-223-1604, 653-2622

OCT 24
       Mopar Nationals Shreveport, La. info 318-221-6718

NOV 1st
      Houston Bug Blowout in Baytown Tx.

NOV 14-15
      Fall Dallas Swap meet, ranger statium, Alrington Tx info 817-776-1500

NOV 25,26,27,28,29
      Houston Autorama at the astrohall admission ~$8.00, parking $4

DEC 11,12,13
       9th ANNNUAL Bell County swap meet. At the Bell county expo center
       in Belton, Tx Exit 292 off of I-35. Info 817-939-8548.


well that's all I have for now send me the updates.

Kris

      
 

Newsgroups: alt.autos.antique
From: vaheg@woods.ulowell.edu
Subject: 1966 Chrysler 300 Convertable
Organization: University of Lowell
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 00:18:36 GMT

Chrysler 300 convertible---2300 made.  1966 with 86,000 miles
White, all original (Repainted, and re-carpeted.)  Email direct
if interested.  $4,800.

Newsgroups: alt.autos.antique
From: mark@wdcwdc.sps.mot.com (Mark Shaw)
Subject: Re: Dirt Belchers
Organization: Motorola Western MCU Design Center, Chandler Arizona
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1992 00:38:51 GMT

In article <1992Oct1.190246.26144@walter.bellcore.com>, mdl@phelixsalt (Michael Lynch) writes:
|> There's a much bigger culprit than old cars, and in an 
|> environmental sense it's sort penny wise and pound foolish
|> to go after cars when our highways are crowded with belching
|> diesels.  Trucks, mostly.  Instead of chasing down old cars,
|> why aren't we trying to clean up diesels?  They stink, the
|> fumes burn the eyes, the soot covers everything -- not to
|> mention the invisible stuff being puffed into the air.
|> 
|> I'm going to make my '53 Ford as efficient and clean as
|> possible within the limitations of that old flathead, but I
|> have to say, as long as diesels are allowed to run
|> uncontrolled up and down the roads, my conscience won't bother
|> me much if the old Ford runs a tad dirtier than my Honda.

I agree that diesels are irritating to the senses, but let's look at
the emissions that are currently within the control regulations.

According to the 1991 EPA data reported in the MVMA facts book:

Total CO emissions:  Passenger Cars   - 33% of total
                     Light Trucks     - 15% of total
                     HD Gas Trucks    -  4% of total
                     HD Diesel Trucks -  1% of total

Total NOx Emissions: Passenger Cars   - 12% of total
                     HD Diesel Trucks - 12% of total
                     Light Trucks     -  5% of total
                     HD Gas Trucks    -  1% of total

When you consider that slightly over 25% of the passenger cars on
the road in 1990 were more than 10 years old (i.e. pre 1982 closed
loop emission control) and the industry estimate that at least
50% of the passenger car emissions comes from old cars -- then
clearly it would actually be penny wise and pound foolish to go
after heavy duty diesel trucks.  

Of course, this points out one folly in the current EPA and
environmentalist pushes -- they strive for improvements only in
the things that are measured.  Nobody has a standard for the 
aldehydes and some of the other irratants.  

BTW,  Highway vehicles account for 54% of total CO while
stationery sources and manufacturing account for only 13% and
8% respectively.  The rest is from waste disposal, forest fires,
and other transportation sources (aircraft, trains).  
So, if getting rid of 25% of the cars would remove 1/6 of the
highway CO generated (1/2 of the 33% generated by cars)
we could get a 9% decrease in total CO.  Even if the stationery
and industrial sources increased 25% due to building 25% more cars
there would still be a net decrease of 3-4% until the cars were
replaced and then a 9% reduction thereafter.

Cars are a major emission source.  Old cars are a major contributor
to this major emission source.   Such data as above would tend to
make even a child of 3 (i.e. legislator) go off and hunt down old cars.
Sad, but true.

Mark

Newsgroups: alt.autos.antique
From: mark@wdcwdc.sps.mot.com (Mark Shaw)
Subject: Re: Old Car Emissions (Update)
Organization: Motorola Western MCU Design Center, Chandler Arizona
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1992 00:03:53 GMT

In article (Bruce R. Miller) writes:
|> [seems like as good a place as any to comment]
|> As someone else has said, type-b dogs provide parts for type-a babies!
|> But, we shouldn't overlook the fact that many type-B dogs really are
|> dogs, but they are Paid for and the people who own and drive them, and in
|> many cases have no alterternative transportation,  will be suffering in
|> a very real way from bans on old cars, or whatever.  They cant afford a
|> new car, until it `creates a job' for them.

Let me paraphrase your comments:

It's great to have all those poor disadvantaged people out there trying to
keep those old wrecks running, so we can buy the parts we need when we need
them!

This goes along with the philosophy that getting old cars off the road would
put a lot of parts suppliers and service establishments out of business.
You know, the ones that keep selling the same parts and services to those
same poor disadvantaged people who are keeping those old wrecks running so
we can buy the parts we need when we want them.

Think about it.  Does keeping old, unreliable, unsafe type-B cars available
at cheap prices really provide a "service" to the poor?  Or are we just
taking advantage of their predictament?

|> > A good statistical source is the MVMA "Motor Vehicles Facts & Figures" 
|> > published by the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Assoc., 7430 Second Avenue,
|> > Suite 300, Detroit, MI, 48202, (313) 872-4311.  
|> 
|> Thanks for the information, and I will try to get ahold of this book.
|> But... It's just what I was afraid of.
|> I really dont know how to take information thats produced by people who
|> have a distinct financial interest in the outcome.

Lighten up Bruce, the data is used by the industry itself.  What purpose
would it serve to lie to others in the same business?   Besides much of the
data comes from other sources (i.e. EPA, State and Federal government
agencies, and independent market surveys, etc.)  It is a nice compliation
of data relating to the things automotive.  One might disagree with some
of the conclusions they may draw, but the data looks valid.

|> > Here are the pending issues (someone please add, if I missed yours):
|> > 
|> > 1)  Alternate fuels: diesel, propane, natural gas, methanol....
|> > 2)  Conversion of old cars to new engines (factory or otherwise)...
|> 
|> We're not allowed to talk about these; check the charter :>

Would someone please send me the charter.  

If everyone would prefer not to discuss these issues, speak up, I can
spend my time elsewhere.  But somehow I think everyone is missing the
point -- controls on or disposal of older vehicles WILL COME.  All the
issues relating to the poor, the industry, the other sources of pollution,
etc. will be addressed and compromises reached.  Only problem is, no-one
seems willing or concerned enough to make sure that the hobbist's interests
are heard.  

Mark
From: brooks@mcnc.org (Ted Brooks)
Newsgroups: alt.autos.antique
Subject: Re: Flat-Head V-8.  Opinions?
Date: 6 Oct 92 13:42:49 GMT
Organization: MCNC Center for Microelectronics, RTP, NC

In article <1992Oct5.155105.1@acad2.alaska.edu> asdch@acad2.alaska.edu writes:
>	That '57 ford truck I earlier inquired about has the original flat-head
>V-8.  I would appreciate any opinions on this engine in terms of worth or 

Huh? Are you sure that this is a '57, and that it's a flathead? If so, it's
not the original engine. Ford replaced the flathead with the Y block engine
in '53 as I recall (help me out here, Ford experts).
 
Ted Brooks
 ______________________________________________________________________
| Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are my own, and do not reflect    |
| those of my employer. Advice is free, but you get what you pay for.  |
|                               ________                               |
|                         _____|  1955  |_______                       |
|                        /      Chevrolet      /                       |
|                       /______  BelAir  _____/                        |
|                              |________|                              |
|______________________________________________________________________|
Newsgroups: alt.autos.antique
From: brooks@mcnc.org (Ted Brooks)
Subject: Re: Steering/Alignment Difficulties
Organization: MCNC Center for Microelectronics, RTP, NC
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 13:44:37 GMT

In article <1992Sep28.155502.1@cubldr.colorado.edu> massengale_m@cubldr.colorado.edu writes:
>Would like some advice on steering problems with my '54 Ford:
>
>I am not sure how "positive" the steering should be in this car.  There
>was quite a bit of "play" in the steering; i.e., the car would "wander"

This very well could be the steering gear adjustment.

>in the lane and require quite frequent correction.  Recently, I had the
>car aligned and while this improved the steering somewhat,  there is
>still a tendency to "wander."
>
>There was no evidence of damage to the balljoints or tie rods when I
>had the alignment done.  Am wondering if the car needs a going-over
>by someone who specializes in frames and/or chassis work.
>
>Also, the car still has bias-ply tires, which were rotated with the
>alignment.  Should I consider radials on this old car?  The treads are
>still in good condition.
>
>I am simply not sure how well this car should handle.  Perfection might
>be asking too much.
>
"Perfection", if defined as handling similarly to a late model front wheel
drive car with radials, is probably not achievable. These older cars do 
not handle as precisely, especially with bias ply tires and old suspension
parts. They're bigger, more topheavy, etc.

If your suspension is tight, and the springs and shocks are up to par, check
your steering gear adjustment. I had the same complaint about my '55 Chevy
until I installed new shocks and tightened the steering gear. It still won't
match a modern car (especially with the skinny bias ply tires) but the 
improvement was dramatic. Other than that, I know its limitations and drive
to match those conditions, i.e., not as agressively as I would in a modern
car.
 
Ted Brooks
 ______________________________________________________________________
| Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are my own, and do not reflect    |
| those of my employer. Advice is free, but you get what you pay for.  |
|                               ________                               |
|                         _____|  1955  |_______                       |
|                        /      Chevrolet      /                       |
|                       /______  BelAir  _____/                        |
|                              |________|                              |
|______________________________________________________________________|
From: schludermann@sscvx1.ssc.gov
Newsgroups: alt.autos.antique
Subject: INFO? what is POR-15 made of?
Date: 30 Sep 92 18:28:42 GMT
Organization: Superconducting Super Collider Laboratory


   What is the product POR-15 made of?
Newsgroups: alt.autos.antique
From: mrein3@CFSMO.Honeywell.COM (Matt Rein #3)
Subject: Swap Meet This Weekend
To: alt.autos.antique
Posted-Date: Fri, 2 Oct 92 07: 24:34 cdt
Organization: Honeywell Systems & Research Center
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 12:24:34 GMT
Received-Date: Fri, 2 Oct 92 07: 24:40 CDT


     If anybody is interested, there is a car show/swap meet at the state
fair grounds in St. Paul (MN) this weekend (Oct. 3 and 4).  I don't know who
is sponsoring the event but I will go over and take a look Sunday (the swap
meet is Sunday only).  I have seen the usual "who cares what the theme is"
line of parts there in previous years.  Everything from Model T parts to
parts for current cars.


                                       _                
  Matt Rein                           / )/              / /
  CFS/MO                             /  /_  _       _  / / _
  Coon Rapids, MN                   (__/ /_(/_|\_|_(/_/_/_(/__ BY CHEVROLET

Newsgroups: alt.autos.antique
From: mdl@phelixsalt (Michael Lynch)
Subject: Re: Dirt Belchers
Reply-To: mdl@phelixsalt (Michael Lynch)
Organization: Bellcore
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 92 14:40:12 GMT

In article <1992Oct5.134722.23419@hasler.ascom.ch>, kevinh@hslrswi.hasler.ascom.ch (kevinh) writes:
|> 
|> In article <1992Oct1.190246.26144@walter.bellcore.com>, mdl@phelixsalt (Michael Lynch) writes:
|> |> 
|> |> BUT......
|> |> 
|> |> There's a much bigger culprit than old cars, and in an 
|> |> environmental sense it's sort penny wise and pound foolish
|> |> to go after cars when our highways are crowded with belching
|> |> diesels.  Trucks, mostly.  Instead of chasing down old cars,
|> |> why aren't we trying to clean up diesels?  They stink, the
|> |> fumes burn the eyes, the soot covers everything -- not to
|> |> mention the invisible stuff being puffed into the air.
|> 
|> 
|> Diesels actually pollute less than petrol motors, especially those
|> diesels equipped with 2-way cats, which also claim to give out no
|> additional visible pollution (i.e. soot) than a petrol engined car.  
|> 
|> |> I'm going to make my '53 Ford as efficient and clean as
|> |> possible within the limitations of that old flathead, but I
|> |> have to say, as long as diesels are allowed to run
|> |> uncontrolled up and down the roads, my conscience won't bother
|> |> me much if the old Ford runs a tad dirtier than my Honda.
|> 
|> "a Tad"!!!, probably 10-20 times more than your Honda.
|> 
|> 
|> |> Mike Lynch
|> 
|> kevinh@hasler.ascom.ch


I'm getting email saying the same thing as kevinh -- that diesels are
less polluting that gasoline engines.  I'm surprised, but have no
reason to doubt what I'm hearing.  (I forgot to say that I made the
original "dirt belchers" post.)  Thanks for the info.  Mine was a "gut"
reaction based on little (no) information.  My wife says I do that
about everything.  Oh, well.  

Maybe I should put a diesel in that '53 Ford :-)



Mike Lynch
mdl@oscar.bellcore.com
Newsgroups: alt.autos.antique
From: whs70@dancer.uucp (22501-sohl)
Subject: Re: Of Allards and Rileys
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 92 13:15:36 GMT

In article <1992Sep25.115123.1@woods.ulowell.edu> milliganc@woods.ulowell.edu writes:
>Greetings, 
>   If there are any fellow Allard or Riley owners out there I'd enjoy swopping
>news, info, and annecdotes of, on, and about said cars.
>		Happy Motoring,
>		 KILROY

Why not sign into the british-cars email group?

send your request to be added to:

      hoosier.utah.edu!british-cars-request

Standard Disclaimer- Any opinions, etc. are mine and NOT my employer's.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
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bounces, manually address the resend using one of the addresses below.
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Newsgroups: alt.autos.antique
From: hackney@moxie.hou.tx.us (Greg Hackney)
Subject: '66 Chevy heads vs. unleaded gas
Organization: Home
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 23:22:09 GMT


I have a '66 Chevy 327 engine that I'd like to keep as
original as practical.

What are the options for converting it to use unleaded gasoline?

--
Greg Hackney
hackney@moxie.hou.tx.us

Newsgroups: alt.autos.antique