feel sorry for newbee's
While looking over C&C's catalog for 53 to 55 I see so many mistakes saying original for this or that , that are wrong like the rear parking brake cable . I realize why many owners get upset losing money and time and don't know why suppliers sell those. The best advice I can give them is to attend a chapter meet with a parts list to look and learn before ordering any part.
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Re: feel sorry for newbee's
I am not sure attending a chapter meet would be all that helpful. How many mostly original 53-55s are showing up at chapter meets these days? I was really surprised by the lack of 53 to 55s at the National Convention in San Jose, so I can imagine how hit or miss the chapter events can be with respect to 53 to 55 cars.
Will the next 53 - 55 Judging Manual provide more information and pictures than the last version?
I agree that 53-55 newbies will have a tough time in the future. At some point, the people who have first hand knowledge of these cars will be gone. When that happens, I suspect that most people will not how to tell an original part from a reproduction part.
Russ -
Re: feel sorry for newbee's
The Arizona Chapter was fortunate to have two 53's at its last Chapter meet in October. Both potential Duntov candidates.Comment
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Re: feel sorry for newbee's
Another thing that really didn't "hit me in the face" until searching for parts for my '54 was the lack of reproduction parts unique to early C1's. I got used to being able to readily find parts (restorable, quality reproduction, and NOS) for my '59 and my '66 but the '54 is another story. Unless a part happens to be the same through '62, it's probably not available.
Some examples so far: gas tank, fuel pump, shielding, air cleaners, cylinder head, etc. Some pieces are out there, but buyer beware and bend over.
I chalk this up to the smaller pool of cars & buyers. It adds a new challenge to restoring and maintaining these early C1's.
TimComment
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Re: feel sorry for newbee's
I think that it would be great if all of the judging manuals would have detailed pictures included. A picture is worth a thousand words.Comment
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Re: feel sorry for newbee's
In our age group, baby boomers, we grew up with many of these cares and were closer to what they were when they were original. Even though we "modified" them we had more chance of looking at original stuff.
Young guys today are not privy to the experience we had. They rely on what they see today. Unfortunately some of the stuff they are looking at is reproduction and not exactly the way GM made the Corvette.
Much of the judging today is sharing of experience with "newbee's".
True, life experience is more implanted and sound in ones mind. Where as just learning from another's experience and shared knowledge is not. But what options do younger "newbee's" have if they want to be knowledgeable in this hobby?
In our WNY chapter we try to share experience and have tech and judging training in an open form. Interaction seems to help all share knowledge. We use a lot of actual parts to show differences. We have been lucky in that many members have pack ratted original parts.
One point I forgot to mention is the solid axle cars in our chapter out number mid years and c3's combined by two to one.Comment
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Re: feel sorry for newbee's
I could not agree more. While I may always be considered to be a "newbie" for the 53-55 era cars (as much as I would love to own one, chances are actually pretty slim), my interest is certainly there and I try to pay attention whenever I get the opportunity to learn, or examine these cars. You "old timers" (no offense intended) are the key to guys like myself being able to ever claim to have any learned knowledge of these cars (I am no spring chicken myself). For this reason I say, please keep the information highway open and do not be reluctant to share even the most minor bits of information, no matter how trivial.
LynnComment
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Re: feel sorry for newbee's
As I stated I will be helping on the 53-55 JM? but mostly the 55, I realize there are vary few 55 owners or 55's left , I posted many parts here ( under Trivia) trying to show what the original part looks like and hope they will be included in the new 53-55 JM as pic's. Some people have saved them but many times I delete them here as other have showing their parts. To bad there isn't a way here to keep them in a separate file. If I'm asked I will always re-post a part I feel is a correct original design and you make up your mind.
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Re: feel sorry for newbee's
roy, when you get a chance post a picture of the rear parking brake cable. i noticed that mine is frayed. just bought 2 more sets of ink cartridges so i'm all set to go. (that was a great picture of the 55 wiper switch! it took me a couple minutes and a good light just to get a peek at it!)Comment
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Re: feel sorry for newbee's
A part-picture archive would be a big undertaking but maybe a project worthy of an NCRS effort. If There was a structure for it on the site where people could contribute, it might go far. There would have to be a commitee to review the submitted pictures and verify them, and some pictures would be posted for multiple years and applications. But think of the value of such a resource. That would be a really fun challenge and would certainly be a team-building exercise. I think I would have some ideas for this.
The discussion about the generation of people with knowledge of the early C1's fading into the sunset is interesting when you consider that the availability of original, or even good repro's for these cars seems to be going with them. Maybe it's because Interest in a specific era is generational.Comment
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Re: feel sorry for newbee's
Because people all around the country with their knowledge of original parts to have a section where a part can be shown while discussing it's design would be a way to confirm the original part. I think it would get more input from a number of older members.I don't have all the answers but put my thoughts out there showing pic's of what I feel is the real original and design of a part hoping to get many responses and confirm or learn from others. Because "I" deal with 1955 mostly there ant many people owning one to get much of a response. It would be a great way for the uppers to conceder thinking about it. Well! I don't have the answers , I'm just thinking and talking out loud .Comment
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Re: feel sorry for newbee's
Three years ago I spent a half day and put together a quick database that would allow people to post pictures of parts online and then comment on the parts. I did this to prove the validity of the concept. We discussed the potential database here- Online Database Alpha Version. I no longer have the webserver that ran that database, so you will not be able to see the database in the thread.
The problems with creating a picture database are many, which is why I did not try to develop my database further. Problem 1: You only want to make the effort once, so you need a standardized platform that will stand the test of time. Allowing a single individual to drive the effort (like me) using whatever database software is handy at the moment is a very bad idea. This needs to me driven by a group that has staying power, like the NCRS.
Problem 2: The guys who know the most about early cars are generally not heavy computer users, with a few exceptions (like Roy). I think it would be very hard to get enough participation to make this work. If you put up a C2 database, on the other hand.....
Problem 3: This is going to take a fair amount of time to setup. This would be a major effort for the NCRS, and the few people who are software and database savvy in the organization. I think a lot of people who need to ask for it before the NCRS undertakes the effort. And I just don't see that happening.
RussComment
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