From db88cf6a17bf89759bf555647b14233b99be673c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Adam T. Carpenter" Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2020 08:38:02 -0500 Subject: Basic redesign aimed at simplicity. --- ...06-07-how-to-start-and-drive-a-hudson-hornet.md | 202 +++++++++++++++++++++ wheels/2019-07-04-yabs-yet-another-bad-shop.md | 158 ++++++++++++++++ wheels/2019-08-30-keep-right-except-to-pass.md | 51 ++++++ wheels/my-first-car-is-a-1953-hudson-hornet.md | 9 + .../oh-sh-t-or-the-case-for-safer-classic-cars.md | 10 + wheels/old-cars-are-perfectly-viable-machines.md | 15 ++ ...chy-looking-gas-stations-aren-t-that-sketchy.md | 10 + 7 files changed, 455 insertions(+) create mode 100644 wheels/2019-06-07-how-to-start-and-drive-a-hudson-hornet.md create mode 100644 wheels/2019-07-04-yabs-yet-another-bad-shop.md create mode 100644 wheels/2019-08-30-keep-right-except-to-pass.md create mode 100644 wheels/my-first-car-is-a-1953-hudson-hornet.md create mode 100644 wheels/oh-sh-t-or-the-case-for-safer-classic-cars.md create mode 100644 wheels/old-cars-are-perfectly-viable-machines.md create mode 100644 wheels/sketchy-looking-gas-stations-aren-t-that-sketchy.md (limited to 'wheels') diff --git a/wheels/2019-06-07-how-to-start-and-drive-a-hudson-hornet.md b/wheels/2019-06-07-how-to-start-and-drive-a-hudson-hornet.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..312ad8c --- /dev/null +++ b/wheels/2019-06-07-how-to-start-and-drive-a-hudson-hornet.md @@ -0,0 +1,202 @@ +--- +permalink: "/posts/{{categories}}/{{slug}}" +title: How to Start and Drive a Hudson Hornet +categories: + - automotive +tags: + - hudson + - hornet + - start + - drive +published_date: "2019-06-07 00:30:37 +0000" +layout: post.liquid +is_draft: false +excerpt_separator: "\n\n\n" +--- + +My understanding is there are a lot of people out there for whom driving a car +from the mid-20th century is an oddity, a curiosity, or a life experience they +can't relate to. It's hard to capture what the actual experience is like in +words (hopefully my YouTube channel does a better job) but I think instead I +can do my best here to walk through the procedure of actually *operating* a +Hudson Hornet. + +There are some significant differences between driving the Hornet and most +other cars you come across today. Some of them are just because there are +sixty-six years between the Hudson and the 2019 model year. Others are +Hudson-specific. Many people who I've talked to have said that they would feel +intimidated driving my car (whether that's because of its perceived complexity +or obvious value to me). So, for those who just want to know how it's done: +here is how you start and drive a Hudson Hornet. + +# The Gauge Cluster, Switches, and Controls + +Open the door, slide onto the bench seat, and sit behind the [massive] steering +wheel. For those who haven't experienced it before, it feels like you have a +whole lot of room at your disposal, almost like there *should* be more matter +occupying the space around you. In front of you is probably the shiniest +dashboard you've ever seen. It's simple, and probably slightly familiar. + +From left to right above the steering wheel you have: + +- A speedometer that tops out at 120 mph (with 99K odometer inside) +- Fuel and coolant temperature gauges (and two warning lights; more on those + later) +- A mechanical, electrically-wound clock +- An AM radio +- A glove compartment + +From left to right under the steering wheel you have: + +- A 2-speed wiper control knob +- A weather control (heater) temperature slider +- A 2-speed weather control fan knob +- The ignition barrel +- A headlight switch +- A cigar-lighter (yes, cigar. Check out the owner's manual) + +Also, underneath the dashboard on the left there is a parking brake handle and +hood latch release and on the right there is an arm which raises and lowers the +fresh air cowl vent. Think of it as "recirculate" in more modern vehicles. If +you're looking for the turn signal lever it's the tiny stick to the left of the +steering wheel. The indicator is the little yellow light on the far left of the +dash. There's only one so it flashes when you're signalling left or right. We +also added our own air conditioning system, something Hudsons never came with +from the factory. + +# Dual-Range Hydramatic + +The first thing that might confuse some folks when they first see the car +running is the shift lever. Many Hornets came with three-speed manual +transmissions that were shifted from the column (overdrive was an option). +However, lots of owners paid extra for the optional "Dual-range Hydramatic", a +fully automatic transmission from General Motors. Truly, this car has a 4-speed +automatic that requires no manual shifting during normal use, making it that +much easier to take a boatload of people to get milkshakes. + +Behind the steering wheel is a shift indicator that deviates from the "PRNDL" +pattern most folks are familiar with. From left to right (shift arm fully at +the top to arm fully towards the bottom), the 'gears' are: + +- N (Neutral) +- 4-Dr (Drive, all four speeds) +- 3-Dr (Drive, three speeds only) +- Lo (Low gear) +- R (Reverse) + +Neutral isn't just a mid-way point between reverse and drive in this car. It's +a necessity. With automatic Hornets (and Hydramatics in general), neutral is +used to start the car. There is an electric lockout preventing the car from +being started in any gear but neutral, so you do have to put the car in neutral +before you turn the key (if you're on a hill put your foot on the brake or +engage the parking brake). + +Drive is split into 4-Dr and 3-Dr, which basically decides whether the +transmission utilizes high gear. In the owner's manual, Hudson recommends using +3-Dr for driving around town (as the low RPMs delivered by high gear means +unnecessary shifting in and out of 4th gear) and 4-Dr for highway driving. It +really depends on what speed you're going to be driving at but there isn't +anything wrong with driving around in 4 all the time. I typically leave it in +4th at sustained speeds above 45MPH. You can switch between these gears any +time while moving. + +Low gear basically locks the transmission in 2nd gear so you don't spin the +wheels. The owner's manual says this is for pulling out of sand or dirt if you +get stuck. + +Reverse works just about how you might expect but with an added catch: if the +engine is off it acts as park. That's right. When you turn the car off you can +put it in reverse and the transmission will engage a lock pin to prevent the +car from rolling. You can't start the car in this gear because of the lockout +however so you have to shift into neutral to start the car. So for starting, +put it in neutral, for stopping, put it in reverse. + +# Choke and Gas + +For cold starts, our Hornet (and I believe this was common for other Hudsons of +the time) is equipped with an automatic 2-stage choke. Push the pedal all the +way to the floor once to set the choke. After the car has started and has +warmed up, kick the gas quickly to the floor and release to cancel the choke. + +For warm starts the engine doesn't need the choke but likes to be given just a +little bit of gas while cranking. + +# The Keys, Ignition, and Warning Lights + +Hudsons like mine come with two keys. The octagonal one is for starting the +car, it's used in the ignition. The round one is used for the door and trunk +locks (and I believe in my case the glove box). My understanding is this is +actually reversed from the majority of Hudsons and is due to a locksmith error +at one point or another. + +The ignition switch sits so that the teeth of the key enter vertically. Turning +the key left powers accessories like the radio. Turning the key right once +switches the car to "ON" which will allow the engine to be started and remain +running. + +Here's where some things may vary depending on the year of the car. For '51 +Hornets, there's a separate starter button located all the way on the left +control pod. For these cars, you put the key in and turn it to "ON", and then +press and hold the button until the car has started up. For '52 Hornets +onwards, the ignition switch also activates the starter if you turn the key +past "ON" (like in most modern vehicles). + +If you turn the key to "ON" you'll see two red warning lights appear on the +dash next to the indicators marked "AMP" and "OIL". These are [alternator] +charging status and oil pressure status lights. Our car is equipped with a 12-V +alternator system so the AMP light really comes on if there is low voltage +while the oil pressure light comes on when there's low oil pressure. These +lights will only appear with engine off, key "ON" or if something has gone very +wrong. + +# Starting and Driving + +So now that I've gone over the basics of all the components, here is the normal +starting procedure. It actually varies depending on whether the engine has been +warmed up. That's life with carburetors. + +## From cold: + +- Put your foot on the brake, and shift the lever into neutral. Just push it + vertically, pulling towards you slightly if you need to. +- Push the gas pedal all the way to the floor once and let your foot back up + again to set the choke. +- Put the key in the ignition and start the car (the "AMP" and "OIL" lights + should switch off. +- Wait for the engine to smooth out so you know that it's warm enough to cancel + the choke, and kick the gas pedal once to cancel it. (If the RPMs are still +higher than idle then it's not quite at operating temperature yet) +- Pull the shifter down into 4-Dr or 3-Dr (or R), and release the parking brake + by twisting the handle towards the steering wheel +- Let off the brake and you're off! + +## From warm: + +- Put your foot on the brake and shift into neutral. +- While giving just a little bit of gas, start the car. Both warning lights + should disappear. When the engine fires up you can let off the gas and let it +idle. +- Pull the shifter into 4-Dr or 3-Dr (or R), and release the parking brake by + twisting the handle towards the steering wheel. +- Done. + +# Stopping and parking + +- Hold your foot on the brake and twist the parking brake handle towards the + door of the car, and pull it towards you +- When you're ready to shut off the engine, you can shift it into either + neutral or reverse and turn the key off. Shift it into reverse if you haven't +already to lock the transmission. + +Note: I usually engage the parking brake AND put the car in reverse, just to be +safe. If you had to pick one however I would use the transmission in case +you're on a steep hill and your brakes fail for whatever reason. + +And there you have it! Not much is different from most cars around today but +there are one or two quirks (more about old cars than about Hudsons in +particular). The only major thing to keep track of while driving is that you +have no power steering, so get ready to anticipate turns sooner and use more of +the wheel with every turn. + + + diff --git a/wheels/2019-07-04-yabs-yet-another-bad-shop.md b/wheels/2019-07-04-yabs-yet-another-bad-shop.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d123d92 --- /dev/null +++ b/wheels/2019-07-04-yabs-yet-another-bad-shop.md @@ -0,0 +1,158 @@ +--- +permalink: "/posts/{{categories}}/{{slug}}" +title: YABS - Yet Another Bad Shop +categories: + - automotive +tags: + - yabs + - sucky + - auto + - repair + - shops +published_date: "2019-07-04 22:12:46 +0000" +layout: post.liquid +is_draft: false +excerpt_separator: "\n\n\n" +--- + +Today I received a text message from a local mechanic/auto shop asking me to +leave them a Google review. It was an automated message from a shop that I know +well and have used many times in the past. Unfortunately, I have had several +poor experiences (at the time they seemed horrific) with them in the past year +and I can honestly say they'll never receive my business again. Now I could +have used this as an opportunity to leave them an anonymous nasty-gram but +instead I'm going to do the opposite. I'm going to write about everything I +don't like about them without telling you who they are or hiding who I am. Why +would I do that? Well for one, they were an excellent shop for many years. I +believe a recent change in management is to blame and I'm not going to ruin +their chances of making a comeback (because frankly I would like for them to +rebound). And secondly, I don't believe in hiding. This page and its author are +public knowledge. Now, in no particular order: a sample of awful work from yet +another bad shop. + +# Mom's Truck -- Balls Out + +Mom's truck is a 2007 Chrysler Aspen that she loves very much. Dad does a whole +lot of work on it himself (the both of us do pretty much everything we can +in-house so long as we have the right equipment). We've been taking her truck +into this shop for years because we've found them to be reliable, efficient, +and economical. As I said before, at some point in their recent history they +changed hands -- either ownership or management, I can't remember which. It was +around this time that Dad decided to overhaul Mom's front suspension. He +replaced the ball joints, tie rod ends, and a few other worn out parts. He then +did his own best-guess front-end alignment, but left everything loose so that +YABS could finish up the alignment and tighten everything. Now read that again +because it's important. Dad did his own alignment in our driveway (as a +cost-saving measure), got it decently close, but then instructed this shop to +finish the job and tighten everything up. + +Now here's where things fall apart. This shop full of professional mechanics +took one look at the alignment Dad did and decided it was good enough. Hooray +for Dad and supernatural mechanical skills, but the shop didn't even touch the +car. They called Dad back to come pick up the car, telling him it was already +good to go. They never tightened a thing, even after Dad explicitly told them +everything was loose and needed to be tightened but they didn't to touch a +thing. So what happened? Dad picked up the car assuming everything was A-OK and +Mom drove the car for about a week before the two front tires wore down so +badly they had to be replaced immediately. Everything fell out of alignment as +things loosened further and further and the tires wore unevenly until they +ripped themselves to shreds. The worst part? These weren't tires with 6+ years +on them. These were brand new tires. So YABS got to install two more front +tires and then tighten everything. They did not cover the costs, presumably +because it was Dad who had done the alignment. Strike one. + +# Friend's Minivan -- Crude Necessities + +A good friend of ours drives a 2005-2006 Chrysler Town and Country. It was +actually Mom's car before upgrading to the Aspen (the minivan was perfect in +every way but it couldn't tow). Our friend has been using YABS for just a long +as we have. Once again, things started getting kinda strange after several +years of good service. She started getting charged extra for simple repairs she +had them doing very consistently. They also started tacking on extra items for +routine jobs. She would go in for an inspection and they would claim she needed +a new Part X. Now this in and of itself isn't an uncommon or even strange +request to make. As cars age they need things and sometimes you don't know what +they need until you visit a professional mechanic. They remember the things you +forget about. + +One day they did all the forgetting, and they forgot a pretty important, nay, +crucial engine component: motor oil. Our friend took her minivan into YABS for +a routine oil change. Good diligence on her part. And she's not the type to do +that change on her own. She's too old to get under a car anyway (no offense!). +So she took the van to YABS and they did a job they've done thousands of times: +drain oil, replaced the filter, and gave her back the car. Easy peasy right? +Now I know I'm not a professional but I'm thinking someone might have wanted to +double-check that several quarts of synthetic had left the shop shelf and gone +into the car they just backed out of the bay door. Now this part of the story +I'm a little fuzzy on so take it with a large, heaping grain of salt, but I can +say for a fact that they failed to *completely* refill the engine oil before +returning her car. Supposedly there was enough in there such that the minivan +survived long enough for them to realize it before she drove off. + +# Monty, My 2013 Ford Focus -- Nut Allergy + +I decided to give YABS another try after a long leave of absence. I needed new +tires all around for my daily driver. I also needed an inspection and an +alignment. A simple set of tasks for any shop (you see where this is going). I +initially tried to go to another local shop but they were all out of the tires +I was looking to get so I caved and went to YABS. About halfway through the job +they gave me a call and told me they had some bad news. They said that there +were some issues getting the lug nuts off my wheels and that they had all been +stripped, warped, or otherwise destroyed in the process. They told me the only +fix was to get new ones from a supplier in town for about $160. Keep in mind +the entire job (inspection, tires, etc.) was going to cost $650. Furthermore, +dad and I had no problem getting those lug nuts off and back on again just a few +weeks prior when we changed the transmission fluid. + +They didn't have an explanation that I could reconcile with. Joe Schmo over +the phone told me this is typical of Fords and Chryslers these days and that +they'd like to keep my lug nuts for a class action lawsuit they're participating +in. Now why on Earth would any sane mechanic, with full knowledge they are +dealing with a defective set of lug nuts, take a high power impact wrench to +those wheels without speaking with the owner about it first? Smelled fishy to +me honestly. But what was I gonna do? Dad went out and grabbed twenty new +lug nuts for cheaper than they wanted to sell them for. + +Oh the tires were Cooper GTs by the way and they're amazing. They're smooth +and quiet and came with a very nice warranty. They're also made in the USA, +which is very important to me. 10/10 would recommend. + +# Ole Blue -- Tunnel Vision + +This was the real kicker. And this one doesn't really have any trailing +narrative. I got four new tires on Ole Blue, my 1953 Hudson Hornet. They were +delivered to our house: four brand new Diamond Back wide white wall radials. +Super nice tires, with a super nice road hazard warranty (as a side note I +totally recommend you [check out Diamond Back's website]() if you're looking +for white wall radials). So we brought the car to YABS with the new tires and +asked them to mount them on the car. + +When we went to pick up the car everything looked great and I drove off. I made +it all the way to the Monitor Merrimack Memorial Bridge Tunnel before I heard a +loud rattling and a bang. I looked in the rear-view mirror and swore I could +see my precious hubcap rolling off to eternity. When they replaced the hubcaps +they didn't fully press one of them on. And it's not that difficult. These hub +caps are very secure when pressed on the rim, we've never had problems with +them. Oh and we're talking about Hudson hubcaps that came with the car, and +aren't super easy to find. And I couldn't stop to get out and grab it because I +was right at the mouth of the tunnel. We went back later to try and see it but +we couldn't. And it was probably destroyed getting thrown from the car anyways. + +The worst part is, the hubcap took a chunk out of my white wall on its way out +from under the wheel skirt. So the day I got the tires I had to take a picture +and redeem my road hazard warranty. Luckily, Diamond Back were true to their +word and sent me a new one no questions asked. The beat up tire is now my +spare. + +# Not All Bad + +Like I said before, YABS used to be a very nice shop with friendly people that +did good work. And they didn't charge exorbitant prices for their work. Times +have changed, and I believe management has as well. I've stopped visiting their +shop completely. I found a new one that I trust and will be taking all of my +cars to. They've already done a safety inspection on Ole Blue and didn't put up +a fuss. They're clean and friendly and don't seem to be out to screw me. But as +with everything else, your mileage may vary. + + + diff --git a/wheels/2019-08-30-keep-right-except-to-pass.md b/wheels/2019-08-30-keep-right-except-to-pass.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0e6daba --- /dev/null +++ b/wheels/2019-08-30-keep-right-except-to-pass.md @@ -0,0 +1,51 @@ +--- +permalink: "/posts/{{categories}}/{{slug}}" +title: Keep Right Except to Pass +categories: + - automotive +tags: + - left lane hogs + - virginia drivers + - passing lane + - thru lanes +excerpt_separator: "\n\n\n" +published_date: "2019-08-30 19:57:34 +0000" +layout: post.liquid +is_draft: false +--- +Greetings fellow drivers of Hampton Roads. You may have noticed a new sign on +I264 today that befuddled or confused you. It went something along the lines of + +> LEFT LANE IS +> FOR PASSING +> NOT CRUISING + +Believe it or not this has been the law throughout Virginia for years ([read +about it +here](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-804/) +and +[here](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-842.1/)). +The law states you keep right except while passing. In most other states things +work this way but in Virginia, especially around here, the left lane is treated +as a moving, cruising lane. If you're in the left lane and you've completed a +pass please be mindful of the cars behind you and move back over into the +right-hand lane(s) so that other drivers can do the same. + +It's really nice when this is practiced (like I said, I've experienced it in +other states) because you can easily move over when there are slow vehicles +ahead and then continue on your merry way. It reduces congestion and prevents +people from having to pass in the right lane, which is both annoying and +dangerous. Especially since this is typically the lane cars from entrance and +exit ramps are merging with. + +Don't forget too that it isn't rude or road-rage-y for someone behind you to +honk their horn or flash their lights if you're moving too slowly in the +passing lane. This is a perfectly polite request to pass you. You don't set or +enforce the speed limit. The correct (and legal) thing to do, believe it or +not, is to move over and slow down to let them pass you. It's all about safe +and sane driving etiquette. If you aren't actively passing other cars, move on +over to the right. It goes a long way. + + + + diff --git a/wheels/my-first-car-is-a-1953-hudson-hornet.md b/wheels/my-first-car-is-a-1953-hudson-hornet.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d03da5a --- /dev/null +++ b/wheels/my-first-car-is-a-1953-hudson-hornet.md @@ -0,0 +1,9 @@ +--- +title: My First Car Is a 1953 Hudson Hornet +categories: [] +tags: [] +layout: post.liquid +is_draft: true +excerpt_separator: "\n\n\n" +--- +Start writing already... diff --git a/wheels/oh-sh-t-or-the-case-for-safer-classic-cars.md b/wheels/oh-sh-t-or-the-case-for-safer-classic-cars.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d48093c --- /dev/null +++ b/wheels/oh-sh-t-or-the-case-for-safer-classic-cars.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +permalink: "/posts/{{categories}}/{{slug}}" +excerpt_separator: "\n\n\n" +title: "Oh, Sh*t, or, the Case for Safer Classic Cars" +categories: ["automotive"] +tags: [] +layout: post.liquid +is_draft: true +--- +Start writing already... diff --git a/wheels/old-cars-are-perfectly-viable-machines.md b/wheels/old-cars-are-perfectly-viable-machines.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2f4e104 --- /dev/null +++ b/wheels/old-cars-are-perfectly-viable-machines.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +excerpt_separator: "\n\n\n" +permalink: "/posts/{{categories}}/{{slug}}" +title: Old Cars are Perfectly Viable Machines +categories: [] +tags: [] +layout: post.liquid +is_draft: true +--- + +- tow boats +- road trips +- groceries +- commuting + diff --git a/wheels/sketchy-looking-gas-stations-aren-t-that-sketchy.md b/wheels/sketchy-looking-gas-stations-aren-t-that-sketchy.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d81b295 --- /dev/null +++ b/wheels/sketchy-looking-gas-stations-aren-t-that-sketchy.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +excerpt_separator: "\n\n\n" +permalink: "/posts/{{categories}}/{{slug}}" +title: "Sketchy-Looking Gas Stations Aren't That Sketchy" +categories: [] +tags: [] +layout: post.liquid +is_draft: true +--- +Start writing already... -- cgit v1.2.3