Home now from the 50's, still alive.
The good? My date who saved my life and his.
The bad? After mega bucks & a multitude of car repairs, Richard & I left home in my T-Bucket. Drove 50 miles & spent 4 hrs working on the car outside a garage as we watched flocks of rodders cruize on by. Garage had no parts, tools or mechanic. Torrential downpours, soaked clothes, torn roof, a parts vendor at the show who doesnt supply when they promise, sweltering hot sun & a sun burn while we work on the car. (between rains)
The Ugly? Overheating non stop, cant even get into the grounds, never mind meet the SRS group or anyone else. The local guy who laughed at our misfortune. Then the final touch. Santa's flying deer. While a car was passing us heading home, it smacked a deer. This full grown critter flew over us & landed on our right side on the shoulder. If Richard hadn't jammed on the brakes at that precise moment, we would both be gonners. Can you imagine a T-Bucket at 65 MPH & Bambi on your lap?

--
Lipstick Survival Run 2002
Syracuse, Lipstick Run, L'Ville Nats, Sturgis Bike Week,Bonneville Salty Dog Tour & Calgary Fun Run - Help!!
http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

Sounds like an 'all-around' nice trip, eh? Glad you missed the deer.

phil
--
One man's treasure is another man's trash.

I had a spell of bad luck coming back from the SR Nationals about 3 years ago--had to call my wife and tell her to come and get me so we could tow the rod home--harmonic balancer broke, chewed up the end of a steel crankshaft. Had to pull the crank, have it repaired, and rebuild the engine in the process. Two grand later I was running again. Being a former roadster owner, I can empathize with you, believe me. Been there, done that--but never encountered any live animals, thank goodness. Next year, you will look back on this and smile.
--
Lynn
'32 3W

Good Grief Liz,
One trip with a guy in the car and all hell breaks loose!

Glad to hear you've come through in one (soggy) piece!

Bonneville will be hot and dry!

mike

Wow! Liz, this trip didn't go exactly as you planned it, is that what you are trying to tell us Liz? I have had some trips from (or to) Hell, But your trip sounds like one to tell the grandkids about (assuming you and your new boyfriend get married and get to, well you know... Anyway, sure glad you didn't get a face to face with Bambi. That would really have been bad. Several years ago, I had a '34 Ford roadster and was cruising down the road when the guy coming at me hit a raccoon. Hit him pretty good so I don't think the little guy knew what happened. But, I sure did! Parts of him flew everywhere and mostly onto me and the '34. Yeeeech, what a mess!!! It wasn't too long thereafter that the roadster went down the road to a new owner. But, if my daughter ever has children, I can tell them this story. Hope that you get all the bugs straightened out so you can get on down the road in peace and comfort, well as much comfort as a T-bucket can afford.

I'm trying to change my attitude, its just hard. This is only Richard's 4th ride in the car at all, & after 1000 miles, he's still yelling Ye-Haw! all the time. When I was loosing my kool at the show,he kept saying "loose the attitude girl!". Well, any guy that has the cahunas to ride with me long distance,cruize in pouring rain,burn from the sun while working on the car & almost get smacked by a flying deer must be pretty special.1 vendor I was buying parts from even gave him a free T-shirt just for his endurance with me & the car. The ND & MN boys were terrific too & ND NSRA Rep Lanny Moore covered the "NO" on my "NO DATE" plate. Thankx for all the comments & encouragement, I'm sure I'll pic up my attitude & raise hell at Syracuse & our upcoming tours. Guess Denise & I both have horror stories to tell. (& I had so many jokes to pull at the show, but no time!)
--
Lipstick Survival Run 2002
Syracuse, Lipstick Run, L'Ville Nats, Sturgis Bike Week,Bonneville Salty Dog Tour & Calgary Fun Run - Help!!
http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

Liz, If ya let Richard get away it will be a shame. He was really cool and laid back and easy to get to know, and better yet he can wrench on your rod!! I can't believe how when he was working on the T and he burnt the back side of his knee above the calf and it blistered big time from the hedder and when I asked if he was ok, it was like it was no big deal, just got a little warm. Boy if that would have been me you would have heard me yellin clear in Texas!! I could tell you were gettin along pretty good with him and that was good to see!! We sure enjoyed meeting the both of you and thanks for the pins, people here ask where did ya get the neat pins? and I tell em from a special roddin friend up north!! Catch ya later, Bill and Gail
--
Bill Hicks DSRA Member

Someday you'll tell the story of this trip, and laugh about it.
But I'm sure it won't be anytime soon!
Hope the rest of your trips this summer go better than that!
--
Charlie

Liz
Sorry to hear about the mishaps. If your man agrees to travel with you again, YOU'LL KNOW YOU HAVE HIM HITCHED!

Liz Sorry to hear about all the bad luck. But hang in there. It's bound to get better. Since your man went through all this and is still around, you better hold on to him. Or you better check out his luck. ( if you know what i mean) just kidding.



Rick
--
awsum34

Why do people park in a driveway, and drive in a parkway?

Liz,

Sounds like you had a great trip. Remember no road trip is worth a damn unless you get lost, have car problems, conceive a child or something of that nature. The first time I took my 41 down to Louisville I clipped the drain plug on the oil pan and spent 5 hours getting to a welding shop and having it fixed. The fun part was watching the welder scramble out from under the car when the oil flashed from the heat. Never knew someone could move that fast. The guy only charged me $20 for his work too. Thank God for the NSRA Fellow Pages. I never go on a road trip without that little book.

Trust me, you’ll laugh about this before long.

Sure glad you missed the dear though. You did pick up some free venison though, didn't you?

--
Bill
http://www.HotRodsAndHemis.com

Hi sweetie, boy am I glad your home safe and sound. Both of us have some wrenching to do on our hot rods within the next three weeks!! This is getting out of hand. :(( Did the T overheat after leaving the fairgrounds on Sunday? Did it run ok on the way home? Any more leaks? 23 Days till the start of the Lipstick Survival Run 2002!!!

BTW: I think Richard is a great guy and looking forward to spending more time with him when he doesn't have to wrench on the T. In fact, all your Canadian friends were pretty awesome, a very crazy bunch. I had a blast. Thanks for including me in the fray. xoxoxox
--
Your "top-less" cruzn buddy, Denise

http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

Gez, sounds like it could happen to me! Since I built my car on a shoestring. (and carry one along to tie the parts back on) I had a little knocking noise in mine a few weeks ago. It was the balancer rocking back and forth on the crank shaft. The first key was GONE and left behind an ughly hole instead of a groove. My son got another pulley that night from a friend that had a junk marine engine. The welder filled in the hole and I'm back on the road. See ya in NY in July. Need me to bring any parts for ya? Dave
--
Life's too short to drive an ughly car!
Massachusetts Safety Inspecter for KKOA
www.geocities.com/stupidbaker57/custom_green

How much room do you have in that Stude????? Here a partial list:
*Caddy turn signal indicator, no cruz control
*BB alternator bracket
*alternator; actually just needs to be rebuilt, can you do that with junk yard parts?
*power steering pully
*new wiring kit????

And I have 23 days left to do it all before the start of the Lipstick Suvival Run 2002!! :))


--
Your "top-less" cruzn buddy, Denise

http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

Denise....not to be crude, rude but you must have a big set of ***** to do what you do. A lot of the guys would have thrown in the towel by now.

Caddy indicator....no help
Bracket.........no help
alternator.....any decent starter/alternator shop can rebuilt yours for a fraction of a new one.
pulley...... just find a salvage yard that has some older stuff and get a another pump w/ pulley and install
Wiring Kit..... I had a rodding buddy who experienced a burnt panel like you did and Ron Francis gave him another one. I believe, judging from the posted photos solely, that would be all that is needed

Too bad you're way up in Michigan or JW and I could help.

DEUCE
--
Same Wife, Same DEUCE Roadster, Same Job for over 20 years. Must be in a rut. AIN'T LIFE GRAND.....

Thanks, you are sweetie for offering. I was kind of joking with Dave about piling all the stuff I need in his Stude for me from a junk yard since he IS the junkyard KING!! I do think George runs a close second though! LOL

Got a shop here in town that does an awesome job rebuilding starters/alt/etc. I'll be delievering mine there in the morning for rebuild. What I'm most concerned with is the wiring and what should be done not only with the fuse box but the burnt wires and what about the alt wire that was rubbed raw? Does that need to be replaced? It's wrapped in black electrical tape right now.
--
Your "top-less" cruzn buddy, Denise

http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

What brand of wiring kit is in the Olds?


Salty Dog Tour
Bonneville or Bust

Ron Frances....

Who's the owner of the business? Do you or anyone else know? Want to talk to the top guy tomorrow. Alternator was a Ron Frances also. :( 7,200 miles when that went last Wed. It should last longer then that, right??
--
Your "top-less" cruzn buddy, Denise

http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

wow....what a story.......in the last 6 months ive hit an 18 wheeler recap that i could not avoid.......my studie is not the same....... then my wife and returning from a car club meeting at 11:00 pm hit a standing up cinder block at 70 on a great texas country road.......wow.......fell off a truck i guess........my slammed 53 studebaker suffered about 3 days work to the front and undercarriage. its at time better to hit the object than the alternatives...... i usually try to be in a hot tub by dark when iam on a trip cause of these problems. i FEAR a deer IN my 53 studie [slickest body almost ever built , except the 98 up corvett '''''''the 53 stude has a drag coefficient of 2.8] windshield.....lol.......like the taste but not unskinned.....lol.
hey,,,,,,,s*** happens.......
--
pink rod ... tom

Tom, Next year you've GOT to get to the Back to the 50's show if your into Studes. There were TONS there!! Haven't been able to figure out why so many at this one particular show.
--
Your "top-less" cruzn buddy, Denise

http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

hey..dont know why there are so many there.......if there hot rod studes they probably drove....if they were those d*** so called RESTORED studies they were trailered....lol
when i go to an all studebaker show only the hotrod people speak to me....... the purist hate us for the mods...........he** we dont care,,,,we uncap and do burnouts.........lol
--
pink rod ... tom

Don't remember seeing any "pure" ones. They were all HOT RODDED!!!
--
Your "top-less" cruzn buddy, Denise

http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

koooooooooooooool..............................
--
pink rod ... tom

Tom, The only stocker that I saw there was a station wagon and ya could tell the owner drove it a lot and kept it in really good shape. Saw a couple like yours and they were far from stock and really sharp. Must have been 15-20 bullet nose, one even was turbo-charged and was still running the flat six!! He also had pics and documentation of the build up, was really interesting. As Denise said "there was a ton of em" and all were drivers!! Bill
--
Bill Hicks DSRA Member

Denise, If you can get the part number from the power steering pulley, I more than likely have one.

Whats the problem with the alternator bracket, my welding not good enough for you?
--
Anyone can restore an old car, it takes a man to cut one up.

I'm planning on talking the pully off tomorrow, I'll let you know what I come up with. Took the alternator in today. They think it's just some bearings and will be ready tomorrow at 3pm and only $15 bucks. I'm thinking thats a good price. Didn't bother calling Mr Frances to tell him his alternator only lasted 7,200 miles! Not worth spending the time on the phone and the hassle of sending it there and waiting for it to come back.

I don't believe it was your welding skills sweetie but lack of strenth left in the metal. Was welded one more time after you did it. Then a buddy cut off the top part and bolted on this mopar bracket. It's still going strong afer 1,600 miles but doesn't look all that great. Sleddoggie is cutting me out one on his plasma cutter out of a solid piece of BILLET twice as thick as what is on there now. Hopefully that will last. If not I think the bracket might have to be supported somehow back to the block.

Speaking of welding, you coming into town anytime soon so I can show you that bow piece I was taking about to see if maybe you could weld that?
--
Your "top-less" cruzn buddy, Denise

Lipstick Survival Run 2002
Syracuse, Lipstick Run, L'Ville Nats, Sturgis Rally,Bonneville Salty Dog Tour...........? :P

http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

If you ask nice, I can probably arrange a trip up there this weekend. Probably sunday. Get that pulley part number to me, and if I have one I'll bring it along. I'll have SWMBO with me so you have to behave, or include her. LOL
--
Anyone can restore an old car, it takes a man to cut one up.

I went to a Studie show last year in primer and I almost got stoned to death for "ruining" a good car. You're right too about the hot rod Studers talking to ya but not the Stockies. Dave
--
Life's too short to drive an ughly car!
Massachusetts Safety Inspecter for KKOA
www.geocities.com/stupidbaker57/custom_green

Denise,

The top dog is Ron Francis himself. TEch 1-610-485-1937 Or the 1-800-292-1940 order line. http://www.wire-works.com/

bob

Thanks, thats what I thought but I just wanted to double check. Have heard from some that he replaces gratis often and from others that he doesn't give a @#$% other times. I guess tomorrow I will turn on the charm and see what he offers to do for a damsel in distress who needs to get back on the road soon. :))
--
Your "top-less" cruzn buddy, Denise

http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

Geez you two, at the rate you've been going its a good thing your calling it a "survival" tour. We need to get this stuff in hand, I dont want to be the "bad news" correspondant I want to be the "FUN NEWS" correspondant!!!!
Glad your both home safe and sound, I was worried :(
and I wasn't sure if your mothers knew where you were either, LOL
Sounds like you both had a wild weekend. And Liz whats up with all the rodders passing a fellow in distress?? thats a shame!!
--
Watch those speedbumps!! Debb

Most of us can relate with a like bad story. Chin up gal. We're proud of you.
--
Wear your seatbelt

Hey Liz!!! Glad to hear ya made it home in one piece!! We were hoping ya didn't have any more car troubles on the way home. we lost our ac about an hour and a half from home but wasn't too bad. We sure enjoyed the time we spent with you and Richard,and I think he's a keeper!!! Ya know us ole truck drivers are good to have around!!! LOL Maybe we can get together later in August, Ya know you two are always welcome here!~! We'll keep in touch, I'll send ya an email in a day or two. Catch ya later!! Bill and Gail
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Bill Hicks DSRA Member

Liz,Glad the two of you survived the"quite eventfull" trip home.It was a pleasure to meet you both and I really enjoyed dinner on Friday(Thanks Denise!)Looking forward to a less hectic visit in Louiseville!Sounds like you're going to be busy the next few days!! See Ya!!
--
Daryle