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Classic/Antique Car Repair/1967 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow

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Expert: Paul Wilczynski - 8/14/2009


Question
Just bought car owners didn't know very much about car,I have a problem getting to the battery, the trunk latch feels like one of the rods fell off when you turn key, any way to jump start or charge the battery. Car has been setting for one year in shop

Answer
Yep.

Disconnect the large "hot" cable from the starter motor, and hook up the charger + cable to it; ground the - cable to the chassis, and put on SLOW charge (2-5 amperes).

This car is a pig in a poke--hope you got a bargain, as it will take LOTS of care to recommission. Join the RROC, Randy--they're the best and very helpful.

The trunk thing should be tackled by an automotive locksmith with RR experience. There is no way without specialized tools to get at the lock release itself, and the lid is aluminum and very susceptible to ham-fisted attempts at forcing it.

Good luck! This is a lovely car when set right. And it can go 300K miles with regular maintenance.

Tip: When you do get it started, check the engine "weep" holes--if they drip when the engine is at operating temperature, you're looking at a rebuild/replacement!

--Paul

Classic/Antique Car Repair

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Paul Wilczynski

Expertise

Most questions involving vintage car restoration, mechanical and body, paint and upholstery. Parts sourcing. Extensive experience in wood-bodied station wagons, British and French cars of the '40s through '70s. Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, Sunbeam Alpine and Tiger, Citroen Maserati, VW Beetle, 1955-65 Chevrolet (especially Nomad station wagons), Corvair.

Experience

Wide-ranging and long-term. I owned a restoration shop in the 1970s, continue to dabble in vintage exotics. At one time, had a seven-car collection of contemporary exotics which I had restored and maintained myself. When I was 18 years old, I designed a woodie kit for the VW Beetle, which I developed into a product which was featured on television and in over 100 magazines and 25 books at last count. I still own and drive one of my creations. I owned a design and fabrication consultancy from 1982-2002, specializing in show car fabrication for manufacturers including Ford, Mazda, GM, Subaru, Mitsubishi, etc. Since 2003, I have been a department manager in Industrial Design, and a full-time instructor in automotive design and fabrication at the university level. My students go on to design automobiles as staff designers for major auto manufacturers worldwide.

Organizations
Western Automotive Journalists, Industrial Design Society of America.

Publications
Long list of magazines and books, including Playboy, VW Trends, VW Greats, Hot VWs, and European automotive magazines.

Education/Credentials
I teach design and fabrication at university level. My education is in Industrial Design, University of Illinois (1966-1970).

Awards and Honors
Many awards for restorations in local concours and shows.

Past/Present Clients
Mazda, Ford, GM, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Honda, Toyota, Chrysler, Mercedes, Porsche.

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