Out of storage

[TC Chris]

I got the '61 Chevy out of storage on Sunday. After siting since Oct., it started on the 4th short crank. I don't like to crank too long so the starter stays cool. But 4th try seems pretty good for a carbureted vehicle that has sat for 8 months. And then it ran perfectly The Powerglide had dripped generously into the drip pan. Some day I'll need to find a Powerglide specialist to give it a full rebuild but for now I'll just keep adding Dexron.

On the way down to the other side of the state, my poor old red truck got its second deer Friday night. Do not ask my opinion about that species, please. It was the on same corner of the truck as last time. Less sheet metal damage; a bit of prying got the passenger door to opening again, and some pop rivets patched the grille mostly together. Bent the bumper. A new headlight assembly is on order. And yeah, on deer, I favor extermination.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

Deer are hard on bodywork, but they sure taste good when they are properly dressed and cooked. Sorry about your truck. I wouldn't worry too much about having a leaky Powerglide. If you have it rebuilt, it may not be long before it is leaking again, given its limited usage. When the Dynaflow in my Buick quits leaking, it's time to check the fluid.......

They are starting up a small cruise-in at a parking lot in a small town near me. They start at 7 am and are done by 10am. If the weather stays like it has here lately, I may join them once a month or so. I get along pretty well if it's under 110. Over that, an old car has no business on the roads.

[William]

Sorry about the deer hit, Chris. They are a pesky bunch and love to jump out in front of you. They also seem to have gotten smarter, when it comes to deer season they hide, but once the season is done they like to be roadside just to play chicken.

Greg, Happy Cruising, and I would say I am jealous but this is cruising season here in Michigan and the temps, hopefully, will never see 110 plus.

Bill

[TC Chris]

I celebrated the birthday by getting the local sailboat ready for launch, probably next week, and then by replacing the headlight assembly of the Ranger. Ford has a clever clip system for this model--the whole assembly is held in place by two sliding steel clips that grasp studs on the assembly. The last deer slightly modified the body parts' alignment so there was a bit of bad language and evil thoughts as I tried to make it go back together. Eventually a rubber mallet persuaded the clips into place. It will be interesting to see how far out of alignment the beam is. At least oncoming traffic will know where the other corner of my vehicle is. My sister drove to the airport near Bay City today and reported seeing 6 deer carcasses in a 4 mile stretch of freeway. NYC has rats; we have vermin of a larger and more damaging variety.

Chris Campbell

[William]

We have deer carcasses every where around here. Last Sunday I took a ride north, went up to Ludington and headed east across 10 thru Scottville, then Custer, driving toward 37. Between Custer and 37 I had 4 deer run out in front of me and several along side the road being smart looking both ways before crossing. When it comes time for hunting season they can't be found so the deer population is not being thinned out, except by vehicles.

Bill

[TC Chris]

This has been an odd year. The Chevy has sat since I drove it out of storage. Yesterday I drove it around, top down, even though temps were above 90. Not a problem, as long as you keep moving. The big footwell vents that GM used were a big help. It was really quite comfortable--while moving.

I have got a lead on a transmission shop not too far away that has expertise in Powerglides. It's near a drag strip. I may try to arrange an end-of season visit to get the transmission sorted out a leak-free.

The Mustang has been sitting too. In part it's because of the deer problem. We are just overrun with them, and the truck headlights--higher--are a bit better about revealing them. I really don't want to wreck the Mustang and most of the driving is on the highway, where deer carcasses litter the sides.

Chris Campbell

[TC Chris]

My sister sent a photo of the Chevy at her house on Sunday. While searching for the download, I noticed from older pix that this is the 8th year the Chevy has been back on the road. Here's how we look:

Chris Campbell

[William]

I don't know why, I thought it was red. I love the old cars from the 60's. They just had style.

Bill

[TC Chris]

You can see some red primer on that rear quarter....

Early in the Chevy's semi-retirement, Dad parked it behind the garage and threw a sheet of Visqueen over it. Of course, moisture accumulated under it, and the sun shown down on it, and the combo was not friendly to a body-shop paint job on a couple of the fenders. It had no effect on the original factory acrylic lacquer on the trunk lid and hood. Before things got too bad they moved into a house with a 3rd parking spot in the garage and the Chevy lived there another 35 years.

My dentist has a red '60 Impala convertible. I'm usually the red-car guy but the Jewel Blue Chevy suits me just fine.

Chris Campbell

[William]

The blue is a good color and I don't believe I have ever seen that color blue before.

Bill

[electra225]

It's nice to see someone enjoying their old car. You don't see many original old cars anymore. It's been eons since I saw a set of '61 Chevy hubcaps. And, to me even more honest, it's been a long time since I saw a '61 Chevy that has not been turned into a hop car. Hold onto your old Chevy with both hands, Chris.

[Motorola minion]

It sure is interesting to see a surge of project cars pop up on local FB marketplace when the Mecum Auction is in town.
My taste runs toward the 65 thru 72 models of anything Chrysler or AMC, looking back on my formative driving years.

My HS had a '79 AMC Concord drivers ed car and two truly awful '78 Dodge Aspens or Diplomats with the leaning tower of power.
I was always in that AMC with 258 cid L6, a far better car IMHO.

This year I was not able to short-cut thru the northwest parking lot on the way to my office, which is across the huge RR track yard.
The picture shows tops of Mecum's tents in the west lot (behind the exhibition hall) like a medieval festival, not easy to see from the streets.

[Motorola minion]

The blue is a good color and I don't believe I have ever seen that color blue before.

Bill

That looks fantastic with the accent trim. Like the summer sky, not too deep a blue like October.

[electra225]

I had an uncle who owned a Grand Wagoneer with the 401. He surprised a lot of guys with traditionally more potent machinery than the AMC. The 258 was used in some International pickups in later years. Very robust seven-main engine. Their Achilles' Heel was plastic valve covers in the later models.

[TC Chris]

The blue is a good color and I don't believe I have ever seen that color blue before.

Bill

Chevy also offered a lighter blue, almost light turquoise, and a darker blue. This was the middle one. There were many colors in those days.

Chris Campbell

[William]

And I much larger choice of interiors.

Bill

[Motorola minion]

I had an uncle who owned a Grand Wagoneer with the 401. He surprised a lot of guys with traditionally more potent machinery than the AMC. The 258 was used in some International pickups in later years. Very robust seven-main engine. Their Achilles' Heel was plastic valve covers in the later models.

In these parts, seeing any pre-Chrysler Jeep is a rare treat, most wagoneers, jeepsters and pick-ups were rusted beyond saving.

[electra225]

I think the one my uncle had was in the 1970's someplace. He had one with a Buick 350 as well, but he didn't like it as well as he did the one with the 401. I'm going to go out on a limb and say maybe it was a 1971 model. They make patch panels for Jeeps.