EMC readers come through on identifying mystery car
Posted Jan 5, 2012 By Brian TurnerEMC Lifestyle - Regular readers may remember this letter from a few weeks ago.
"Hi Brian,
Enclosed is a picture of a car that I hope you can identify for me (this was sent by regular mail). I would like to know the make, model and possibly the year that the vehicle was made. The picture was taken in 1947 or earlier. Whatever information that you have on a vehicle like this one would be appreciated.
Thank you for your assistance."
Well it didn't take long for a very helpful reader to identify the mystery vehicle even though very few details were evident in the photo.
"Brian, (The car pictured in the latest EMC in your column is a 1934 Ford Deluxe as indicated by the Chrome Windshield Frame and Cowl Lights. It is interesting to see that the picture apparently was taken on the shoulder of a King's Highway as indicated by the back of the Road Sign."
(Terry Irish(P.S.(I own and drive a 34 Ford Deluxe regularly.
My own photo and image search led me to believe this was a 34 Ford, but all of the images and pictures I could get my hands on showed only one wiper on the 34 where our reader's photo depicted two. Terry was quick to point out that the dual wiper system was an option in 1934. And thanks to everyone who sent in their answers. The majority of you were right on!
"Hi Brian,
Any advice about noisy tappets on a 2003 Buick Century with a 3.1 L V6?
Andy Desilets
The good news is your 2003 Century's 3.1 L V6 engine didn't have any inherent valve train problems. So if it's just a case of a collapsed or leaking valve lifter(s) they cost around $32 each (there are 12 of them and they seldom all require replacement at the same time). An intake manifold gasket set is also required to do the job and it runs around $100. The labour involved in the replacement of one or more is rated at around 7-8 hours ($700-$800 at $100/hour). So say if half the lifters needed changing you might look at a bill of a little over $1,000 plus tax.( (Before getting any of this done, I'd highly recommend have a qualified tech who is very familiar with your type of car complete an assessment. Simply walking into a shop and asking them to change valve lifters without knowing for sure if they're needed is like flushing money down the drain. If the noise is very noticeable, a good tech should be able to provide some idea of what's wrong without pulling things apart. If it's very faint or only happens from time to time, then that's another matter.
The automotive industry has enjoyed a year of recovery in 2011. GM and Chrysler have returned from the brink of bankruptcy and improved economic outlooks are mirrored in increased vehicle sales. Serious inroads are being made in terms of fuel economy and makers such as Nissan and GM have successfully brought plug-in electric vehicles to the marketplace. It's safe to say that one of the biggest lessons most automakers learned from the last recession is to avoid creating inventories of new vehicles that are too large for the economy. This year for example, GM stopped the assembly line of their very popular Cruze compact on two occasions for a week each in response to an oversupply. This kept them from having to offer excessive discounts to move vehicles off the dealers' lots: a move that's never popular with shoppers who paid full price only a few days or weeks earlier than the big sale.
If I could only offer one piece of advice to anyone shopping for a new or used vehicle or looking for a service provider it would be to shop locally. Pick a retailer or garage in your neighbourhood or hometown with a good history and give him or her a chance to earn your business. Remember these are the people that employ your friends and neighbours, sponsor your children's sports' teams and area charities, and support local municipalities with their taxes. I'm always amazed at people who will drive two or three hours away just to 'save' a few hundred dollars on a $40,000 car. They fail to realize that a local retailer will be much more convenient to deal with and will be there to provide a lot more in terms of coverage above and beyond the warranty, a loaner vehicle or a ride to work in many cases when you're stuck, and happy and ready to answer any questions or concerns should they arise. In short there's a big difference between cost and price when it comes to automotive purchases and those that have learned this lesson almost always save thousands in the long run.
If you have any questions, opinions, or stories on anything automotive please drop me a line, (By email to emc@perfprint.ca or directly to bjoeturner@hotmail.com listing 'Question for the Car Counselor' on the subject line or by post to Record News Communications, 5 Lorne St., P.O. Box 158, Smiths Falls, Ont. K7A 4T1).
Yours in service,
Brian Turner
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