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Classic/Antique Car Repair/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| locked braks 1935 Oldsmobile | 11/29/2008 | Brad Sears |
| Q: I backed my 1935 olds into the garage. It sat for a year. Both rear wheels are locked. The front ... A: If you have room to back the car up some times this will free up the cables. Short of that the only ... | ||
| Power Window ploblems | 11/28/2008 | Vern Bullock |
| Q: p/windows will work fine for a while & than one or more of the windows will not roll down. I have ... A: You didn't tell me anything about the type of car you have, so I must make a few assumptions here ... | ||
| pre 1914 brass/bronze hub caps | 11/27/2008 | jack bahm |
| Q: Many years ago I was given 20 motor carriage/truck brass hub caps.they are from England, and some ... A: I think those are valuable, but you will have to find the buyer. I will check with some friends and ... | ||
| GEN dashboard warning light is on | 11/27/2008 | Vern Bullock |
| Q: i have a 1969 cadillac coupe deville convert and my GEN warning light is on (idiot light is on) the ... A: Replace the battery. Make sure it is of the correct amps. I believe your car call for around 80 amps ... | ||
| "Shade Tree Mechanic" | 11/26/2008 | jack bahm |
| Q: I am playing Santa for my husband and trying to find what he called a "shade tree mechanic" to ... A: That's a tough question. I assure you that there is a guy who will do just as you want, but finding ... | ||
| 64 Belair seatbelts | 11/26/2008 | Brad Sears |
| Q: Did GM provide rear seat-belt mounting points on the 64 belair? A: Not that I know of. The last seat belts that I installed in the rear of an old car, I used after ... | ||
| mold removal | 11/26/2008 | Vern Bullock |
| Q: I have a 1972 LeMans that has gotten wet and molded the interior. What can I use to remove the mold ... A: The first thing to do is dry the car our. Summer-time heat is the best way to do this. Otherwise use ... | ||
| 1967 GTO vibration | 11/25/2008 | Brad Sears |
| Q: Vibration starts above 55 mph and stays about the same up past 70. Seems to come up through body as ... A: Try something for me. Drive the car at low speeds on a smooth straight surface, say 10 to 20 miles ... | ||
| Generator Polarizing | 11/22/2008 | Brad Sears |
| Q: I sent my generator out for repair and will be picking it up tomorrow. 12 volt Delco for a willys ... A: With a jumper wire flash the "B" battery and "A" armiture terminals on the voltage regulator. This ... | ||
| 1971 super beetle | 11/21/2008 | Rick O. |
| Q: my 1971 super beetle has excessive gas fumes in the cab, what could be causing this and how can i ... A: Terri, This is usually caused by a leaky or disconnected hose of the emissions system. ... | ||
| 1950 Ford timing chain | 11/21/2008 | Dick Benjamin |
| Q: A friend is putting a timing chain set in a 1950 ford car with what we think is a 232 inline 6 cyl ... A: The engine should be a flathead 226 Cu In for 1950. If you have the head off, you can measure the ... | ||
| 54 Chevy Belair | 11/21/2008 | Dick Benjamin |
| Q: Its a long story however; my brakes were left open in the rain. I'm replacing it all except the ... A: Yes, that is a good repair, so long as the bores of the wheel cylinders are not badly eroded or ... | ||
| tranny swap | 11/21/2008 | Dick Benjamin |
| Q: I have a 1989 chevy subberben. it had 359 small block which blew. im know runnining a 454 big block. ... A: This is a much newer vehicle than I am used to working on, so take this advice with that in mind. ... | ||
| 1986 Chevy C-10 262 V-6 emission controls | 11/20/2008 | Brad Sears |
| Q: In the process of replacing the thermostatic vacuum switch inside the air cleaner, I lost track of ... A: Motors Auto Repair manuals published some good emissions books in the day. I have had luck finding ... | ||
| 1968 cougar | 11/20/2008 | Brad Sears |
| Q: My 1968 mercury cougar (302 4bl) is running rough and stalling out. On the highway it will back ... A: To get the specs for your engine go to web site ... | ||
| 51 buick | 11/20/2008 | Dick Benjamin |
| Q: Hey Dick...How ya doin???Ok I got the ignition rewired the right way....I got a schematic for it and ... A: Mike, I really want to stay with you on this until we get it figured out, but I have a problem too - ... | ||
| 1956 Cadillac Engine Siezed | 11/20/2008 | Dick Benjamin |
| Q: I have a 1956 Cadillac Sedan Deville Series 62. We noticed some leaking from the radiator and ... A: I can't really offer any brilliant thoughts about this. The only way I can think of the dipstick ... | ||
| 1986 Chevy C-10 262 V-6 emission controls | 11/20/2008 | Brad Sears |
| Q: In the process of replacing the thermostatic vacuum switch inside the air cleaner, I lost track of ... A: Have you looked under the hood for the factory installed emissions decals? They are mandated by ... | ||
| 49 chevy pu brakes | 11/20/2008 | Dick Benjamin |
| Q: truck has been sitting for 8yrs,brake pedal goes all the way down,checked brake fluid and its full. ... A: I'm amazed to hear that after 8 years of sitting, the master cylinder is still full - I wonder full ... | ||
| vin number | 11/19/2008 | jack bahm |
| Q: Regarding a 1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster vin number. I have looked everywhere for the number. The ... A: They did not use vin numbers back then, but they did put motor numbers on and body numbers. Look on ... | ||
| 67 Mustang headlight puzzle | 11/19/2008 | Dick Benjamin |
| Q: I am currently restoring my first classic mustang and am getting very close to the end. I have ... A: This is typical of the sort of problems we get into when we change things from the original design. ... | ||
| 31 Ford model a | 11/19/2008 | Dick Benjamin |
| Q: I changed spark plugs now she wont start, just keeps turning over. Thanks Andrea A: The most likely cause is that a wire got disconnected so that there is no spark coming out of the ... | ||
| 51 buick | 11/19/2008 | Dick Benjamin |
| Q: Hey Dick...How ya doin???Ok I got the ignition rewired the right way....I got a schematic for it and ... A: A couple of questions for you, one by one: 1. You checked by connecting the two terminals on the ... | ||
| 235 oil capacity | 11/18/2008 | Vern Bullock |
| Q: I saw your response to a 235 cubic inch oil capacity question. I just had a 1962 235 rebuilt for a ... A: Not sure of the exact length of the dipstick, but what you can do is, take your current dipstck with ... | ||
| 1967 289 spark problem | 11/18/2008 | jack bahm |
| Q: We have had the Pertronix ignition for a year. Seems to be missing on a cylinder (or more) once ... A: I have no idea what you are talking about. You put this system on a Model A???? Sound like it's a ... | ||
| Chev fuel pump | 11/18/2008 | Brad Sears |
| Q: Should fuel pump pressure drop when engine starts? When key is turned, pressure is about 58 lbs. It ... A: The pressure will drop with the engine idling and go up when the engine is not running or you stomp ... | ||
| 51 buick | 11/18/2008 | Dick Benjamin |
| Q: Hey Dick...How ya doin???Ok I got the ignition rewired the right way....I got a schematic for it and ... A: You have correctly described the operation of the starterator. The only thing left to do is to make ... | ||
| rebuild engine for 38 chevy pickup | 11/18/2008 | Dick Benjamin |
| Q: Dick, I am restoring a 38 chevy pickup with the 216 motor from what I can find. Was there different ... A: There was only the one engine used for all vehicles from Chevrolet that year - in fact for many ... | ||
| 1984 Chevy 305 Small Block | 11/17/2008 | Brad Sears |
| Q: Need a 2nd opinion...My recent acquired 84 Chevy occasionally dumps a small amount of anti-freeze ... A: If the car does not have an overflow tank, then over filling the radiator when the engine is cold ... | ||
| Generator problems! | 11/17/2008 | Dick Benjamin |
| Q: I have a 1968 Fiat 500- recently the generator light stays on until speeds greater than 18KM- if I ... A: From the symptoms you describe, I am fairly certain that your generator is only just barely working. ... | ||
| 41 Ford two-door sedan rear brake drum removal | 11/17/2008 | Brad Sears |
| Q: The right rear brake drum is stuck. I have tried using at the same time a propane torch to heat ... A: A good heavy duty drum puller is tighten by whacking it with a heavy hammer. Once you get a good ... | ||
| 1984 Chevy 305 Small Block | 11/17/2008 | Brad Sears |
| Q: Need a 2nd opinion...My recent acquired 84 Chevy occasionally dumps a small amount of anti-freeze ... A: Before attacking it as a head gasket problem I would try a replacement radiator cap. It could very ... | ||
| idle 2000 gt mustang 4.6 | 11/17/2008 | Brad Sears |
| Q: my 2000 gt mustang 4.6,runs an idles normally,when you turn on the heater or the air condition,then ... A: You are going to have to get into the computer operation and the sensors on this one. When you throw ... | ||
| starting problem | 11/17/2008 | Dick Benjamin |
| Q: I have a 51 buick roadmaster. when I turn the key on and press the gas peddle nothing happens...Have ... A: I'm probably going to irritate you by being picky here, but chalk it up to my engineering training - ... | ||
| 1950 f1 idle keeps dying | 11/17/2008 | Rick O. |
| Q: I have a 1950 ford f1 and it starts up but when idling it dies. A: Keith, Assuming you have the original Holley 94 carb that came with the flathead V-8 this year, it ... | ||
| 1930 Ford Model A ignition switch | 11/17/2008 | jack bahm |
| Q: Where can I by an orginal or a replica of a 1930's Model A ignition switch. A: Joe, you have to discover Brattons (800 255 1929), Snyders (888 262 5712), and all the other places ... | ||
| 1931 Ford Electrical Problem | 11/16/2008 | jack bahm |
| Q: I was driving my 1931 Tudor today - one last drive before putting it away for the winter. I turned ... A: That's a tough one. Did the fuse blow? If you have a fuse. That would just cut it out. These ... | ||
| 1938 Cadillac 60 Special | 11/16/2008 | Dick Benjamin |
| Q: Can you help in advising where we can find the vin# on this vehicle. Many thanks Carol A: In 1938, Cadillac used the engine number as the VIN. If the car still has the original engine, the ... | ||
| starting problem | 11/16/2008 | Dick Benjamin |
| Q: I have a 51 buick roadmaster. when I turn the key on and press the gas peddle nothing happens...Have ... A: OK, I understand better now. This is going to be like peeling an onion - one layer at a time. Two ... | ||
| starting problem | 11/16/2008 | Dick Benjamin |
| Q: I have a 51 buick roadmaster. when I turn the key on and press the gas peddle nothing happens...Have ... A: We might be having a terminology problem here. Before I go off on a tangent, let's clear up some ... | ||
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Classic/Antique Car Repair
Answers by Expert:
Brad Sears
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.
Experience
Automotive tech instructor.
Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's.
Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's
TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated.
Auto instructor for the following companies:
Fram
Autolyte
Holly
Carter
AMF
Ford Motor
University Of Conn
Blue Hills Technical School
Sugar River Technical Center
Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.
Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.
Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember.
Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.
Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.
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