About to cross Michigan in my '33 Continental Flyer

[Barry Wolk]

I'm not sure whether I want to test the car's mettle, or my own. I've gone through every system and have driven the car as a daily for nearly a month shaking it out. It'll take twice as long to get there as I'll have to keep to by-ways as the car will only do 45, maybe 50 in a pinch.

Please be kind if I'm in your way. I'll pull over and let you pass whenever I can.:wave:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg18/barry2952/1933%20Continental/IMG_4114.jpg

[Shelly Harris]

I know the experience. Good luck on the trip. Don't hold your breath too long... make sure you breath! There's always a tow a phone call away... carry your cellphone.

[Sean Rollins]

After the first 50 miles, the breathing should get a lot easier. I hope you really enjoy the trip.:D

[Don Henschel]

They will probably be preoccupied looking at it to worry about how slow you are going. If something goes wrong you could probably fix it with a pair of pliers, a screw driver or duct tape;) If a new vehicle breaks down, open the hood, look at the mess of hoses, wiring etc. :puke and reach for your cell:(.
I drove my 50 Merc. (almost as prehistoric) to the west coast through the mountains with vacuum wipers (steep hills and lots of rain) and bias ply tires back a number of years ago and the only problem I had was a passing Semi sent a rock through one of my headlights. Try finding 6 volt headlights nowadays:D I keep a spare fuel pump,and a 6V headlight in my trunk;)

[Barry Wolk]

The trip went very well. It only acted up once. I had installed a new fuel pump with a regulator. About 3/4 of the length of the trip it started vapor locking. I raised the pressure from 3 to 4 pounds and it ran fine the rest of the trip. It got about 15 mpg and I was able to get it to 60 mph once or twice. It was very stable and well mannered and actually got quieter the faster I went. The single shackle on the front axle made all the difference in the typical buggy-ride of period cars.

The show went great. The park setting overlooking Lake Michigan was beautiful, even though the show was cut a half-hour short by a big storm that rolled in over the lake. The cars were great, as was the foot traffic. My wife sang the National Anthem and nailed it, once again.

Surprisingly, we took "Best Unrestored Car", which blew me away as we had invited many similar conditioned cars. Now that the show is over we start recruiting cars for next year. Half the fun for me is being on the car selection committee and then actually seeing the cars in person.



I'll post show pictures when we get home.

[Barry Wolk]

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg18/barry2952/Krasl%20Hood%20ornaments/IMG_4414.jpg

[Dave Harris]

Congrads on the trophy.

[Barry Wolk]

Thanks, Dave.

[Doc]

Congratulations on the successful trip and show. I've also done a number of trips in 1930s vintage cars; certainly changes one's perspective on time and distances...sort of like taking a trip by bicycle.

Just curious, did the car have a fuel pump originally? Mechanical?

[Barry Wolk]

It came with an older unit that fell to the new fuels. Vapor-locking was well documented with the stock fuel pump, which I rebuilt. A rebuild helped, but the 6-volt unit really did the trick. The fuel line location was not well planned.

There are two other nods to modernity on the car. The last owner installed a minuscule LED in the dash to tell when the high-beams were on and a 30-amp 6-volt relay that shunts headlight power around the dash switch. The car came with 29/29 bulbs originally and was fitted by the previous owner with 50/35 bulbs, not that they help that much.

Other than that it's bone stock.