The year was 1959, the car a Nash 4dr. sedan. Six cylinder engine and tires that were as bald as a baby's butt. It ran fairly decent and would even burn "drip" gas. For you young whippersnappers, drip was actually wellhead natural gas. It was in liquid form and exceedingly high octane--higher than [ethel] premium. Well anyhow, it was kinda dependable-it'd start when the weather was warm and got ole jeep back and forth without costin too much for oil. Actually he didn't buy oil, he'd go to a neighbor who was a mechanic. Huck saved used oil from oil changes etc from customers cars. He'd burn it in his barrell stove in the shop. He'd also give bunches to ole jeep to dump in his old vehicles. Five gallon cans were usually what we moved it with. That tells ya just how much oil these old cars used! One day Sis's hubby-Bob, was visitin and ole jeep took'm for a ride in the Nash. After drivin around a little, the Nash would just auromatically head for the ditch and it would be "swamped" out with those bald headed tires. About 3/4 mile from home the old junker died. Jeep, Bob and I had to "hoof it" the rrest of the way in. I think that was the absolute last time Bob would ride with ole jeep back then. He said something about either gettin stuck and havin to walk or the cars conkin out and havin to walk. Actually, I think he just got tired of walkin in! This vehicle was such a pain, we decided one day it would look better bein a convertable. With an old double bitted ax we proceeded to restructure the design of this monstrosity. With all four doors open it was workin out just fine. Aluminum door rails at the top were a snap to --well- snap, with that ax. Shortly the old sedan was a 4 door convertable. Thought we'd take'r fer a spin and have a look see and let neighbors have a look see--at us. In our R and D we had failed to notice that with "Uni-body" you just don't make drastic changes as we had just completed. The blasted car was supported by the roof as well as the bottom. The thing had kinda "sagged" in the middle -so much so that the doors wouldn't shut completlely! We NEVER got those doors completely shut. Kinda odd lookin drivin down those old country roads with the doors partly open. We never thought about jackin up the car on the sides! Wasn't too long until old jeep acquired a 48 Hudson Hornet, 2 door. I don't think it was a Uni-body, but we weren't too interested in findin out as it was gettin cold weather by then. Bob ridin in the Hudson? Nope! He didn't ride with jeep anymore for bunches of years. We did use the old Nash for one little venture before cuttin it down. Pullin an old discarded, junk 2 row cornplanter throughout the countryside behind the Nash. Those old dudes would really pull nice whilst bein dragged at about 60 mph behind a car. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), October 14, 2000

Answers

Changin engines in Jeep's old 50 chevy was a occasion that we detested! Seems the old engines he bought were always worn out but still ran. We got so sick and tired of "doin it the right way" when it came to motor changin. After some thought and cifer'n it was decided that the "proper" way of changin motors would just have to go. Instead of jackin up the car and removin the old 6 cyl engine the way it was supposed to be -we elected to throw an old mattress down next to the car-run a rope over the top and tie it to the frame. With pap's tractor we would gently turn the old chev on it's side--on the mattress! Of course, we removed the hood first along with all the other stuff that needed disconnected before commencin. With the Chev on it's side one could really remove the "bottom parts" of the motor and do it standin up! Boy, this was better'n sliced bread! When the engne was unbolted-it just fell out on the ground. Push the car back upright and it was ready to set the "new" motor back in. I've lost track of the number of motors we changed in his old chev. Seemed like a hundred but seriously imagine it was less than 5. He also had a 51 Packard 4 dr. sedan. It was a real nice car but when he jacked it up to change the left front tire-the entire wheel assembly fell off! Ball joints and all! After the way he drove it I'm suprised it didn't fall off while "crusin" down the road-wide open at about 80mph! Do you suppose Detroit learned sumthang frum we'ns hillbillys? Matt.24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), November 25, 2000.