VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 title or not to title that is the question

Hello Everyone

I'm new to chevy chatter II and this is my first post, i have been looking for a 49-54 chevy wagon for sometime, and then all of a sudden i'm contacted by two different gentlemen with two very similar wagons, so they both sent me their photos and i was just about to make a decision and then it hit me, i hadn't asked if the cars had clear titles, one answered no the other never replied back.

My question is, how do i purchase a vehicle located in another state that has been sitting for GOD knows how long, has no title, the plates on the car are still from another state (confused yet) and have it transported to California for restoration? and not have any problems later when i go to get the title and register the car in both of our names.

I know it's been done, i've seen it on television, read it in car magazines and even talked to people at car shows on how they bought their car from a farmers barn or field or even a junkyard and turned it into an award winner, but never provide any specific details.

My son and i were planning to restore the car together, and if i don't purchase a car soon i'm afraid i will loose him to the California streets, and this is my last ditch effort to do it right, so if there is someone out there that has knowledge of how to proceed with this type of purchase, i will be ever grateful, and just think you might just be helping out someone else with the same dilemma, not to mention you will have saved another precious classic car from the rath and decay of mother nature.

you may contact me at my email address: gemnewt@yahoo.com

I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

best regards

gnewt/grease monkey

Where there's a will, there's a way! I've bought several cars that were in the same title situation you describe and was always able to obtain a title. No question, it's always better to get the correct title and the lack of one should be reflected in the price. I've always gotten a notarized formal "Bill of Sale" as a starting point. Since you're in Calif, I would contact the Department of Motor Vehicles for guidance. There are some advertised entities that will convert your Bill of Sale to a title in their state and send you the necessary paperwork to obtain a title in your state. Check in "services offered" in Hemming Motor News for their contacts.

Good luck and welcome,

Hi,

Welcome to our site. We hope our actions will not disappoint you, and you will hang around. In the meantime, grab a chair there by the door, sit down and let's talk wagons (those that don't use horses.)

Not sure what story the two owners gave, but if it is a lost title they should be able to apply to their state and get a lost title. Do not accept anything from either owner less than a "Bill of Sale".

Thank you, I dont know if i address you as gpallen, or 52conv, or even shade tree mechanic,this system has me a little baffled

is there a way that i can save your name in this forum system?, so i dont forget your advice, and just incase i would like to speak with you again on the matter, but its certainly up to you.
my best regards
gene newton or gnewt,or grease monkey, #7124

Hello Ray

Thanks for responding, i would love to talk about Chevrolet wagons, i'm not sure you should be talking to me, being that you have 2 medals and 4k master antique mechanic approved Chevrolet raido technician next to your name, i don't know what all that means but it looks and sounds impressive.

I do have a question for you, why is it that you have a regular name and i have a name gnewt grease monkey #7124?, i don't mean any disrespect torwards your name but it would be alot easier to call me by my name gene.
Well Ray i'll throw this back to you for now.
my best regards
gnewt grease monkey #7142

Hang around gnewt, maybe some guru from Cal-e-forn-ia will break in and answer your question, have you considered moving?...of course not! I am in Texas and we can get a rebuilders title with an out of state Bill of Sale, after jumping thru a passel of hoops. I did that with a '51 I drug in from Kansas.

Well about Ray's real name, well Ray is his real name, kind-of! if I was to tell you his full name and where he is from, he would have to kill both of us!
other than that he is OK!

Welcome to VCCA ChatterII!
I would encourage getting a 53 or 54 Chevy Station wagon and getting your boy involved in restoreing it. Now, I would like to ask you a favor to both of us,(me and you) Consider joining the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America. go to VCCA.Org and you will find information about our club, AND A BLANK APPLICATION FORM! If you enjoy old Chevrolets I am sure that check for the dues and the monthly magazine The Generator & Distributor is well worth the cost. If you don't believe me ...just ask Ray!

Hello Mr. Mack

Are you an official from the VVCA welcome wagon trying to recruit new visitors to join the club?, or just a good ole boy who loves chevys and just wants the club to grow and prosper.
Thanks for the skinny on Ray, well if he's OK with you,then he's OK with me.
Mr.Mack i have a question for you, you know anything about Texas exports, ever delt with them?, i've emailed them about a 49 tin woody wagon and i get nothing no responses, it seems the people out there with cars don,t want to let them go.

Well Mr.Mack i'll let you go, it was sure nice talking with you
and i'll look into the membership site. Hey can you join the club before you own a chevy?
my best regards
gene gnewt grease monkey #7124

Sure...you can join the VCCA without owning a vintage Chevrolet.

:) :grin:

At least one of us has a Chevy that spends more time in the garage then it does on the road and it has nothing to do with being in mint condition either. Something about gremlins....

Mac is just a good ol boy trying to keep the club membership up. There's lotsa good folks here that are more than willing to help.

I have however, been unsuccesful in getting them to paint my car though. I'll keep trying just the same. :grin:

Thank you
rbl2
Oil Can Mechanic
I can see i'm in the right place, i have a good feeling about this site.
Is there a want ad site in any of the forums?

gene gnewt grease monkey #7124

YES, scroll on down to the "Parts for Sale" and "Wanted Section".

Gene, where do you live in California? I live near San Jose. :) :)

Hello Oscar

I live in a small desert town about 35 miles NE of Palms Springs
named Yucca Valley, I went to a friends wedding in 1974 in Milpitas,CA i'm a approx. 7 hour 450 mile drive from you.
gene

gene gnewt,
No I am not an official "Welcome Wagon" guy. I am a regular member of VCCA. I really think that anyone that has an itch of "fixin' up" an old Chevrolet can't do any better than joining VCCA.

I don't want Chevy fans to join VCCA just to increase the membership count, but because they will find what they need for that itch, and to meet and talk to others that have had the itch for many moons. I do want the club to grow, by the way.
It has been a good thing and a enjoyable place for me.

No, you don't need to have a Vintage Chevrolet to join...just have that itch!

Welcome Aboard the ChatterII site,
all you have to do to get help here is ..to ask! the shout box is a good place to start and to ask questions....

We do have a thing about using foul langusge and other impolite stuff, we try to keep this site so that you won't worry about your spouce or your kids and grandkids being embarrased (You don't even have to pass a spelling test)

Take a self guided tour around the site, (Forum List) and to see what is going on at the moment check out the Active List and click on Past 24 hours.... we won't bite!

Well said MrMack and I will say it again that without the help of all these wonderful Chevy people I would be still looking at my truck trying to figure out what to do with it. I could not have done it without the help of the VCCA. Thanks...Oscar

Gee, everyone here is so nice. When are y'all gonna get together and paint my Chevy for me? :grin:


Hey, I can try, can't I?

Hey rbl2, haven't you been trying for quite a while. Just brang it down here and I will paint your truck. Also brang a couple of those nice fine woodworking projects you have made. But before you leave I need for you to send me some pictures by email, so I'll know how much paint to buy, I don't want any pictures of the Chevrolet, I know what one of them look like, I want pictures of the woodworking items you will brang!...OK?

Oh! Brush or Powder Puff for the paint job, which do you prefer?.... that way I won't need to use any masking tape. Spray guns tend to really be nasty, don't you think?

This is for anyone who wants to respond, does the VVCA ever have
conventions, parties or get togethers, I would bring my own beer of course. I'm a miller high life man myself.
gnewt

As soon as you receive your first copy of the G&D (generator and distributor)you will be amazed at the activities we have available at all levels from the individual up to the Anniversary Meets.

There is also a section here on Chat II that posts the current activities.

If you have not sent in a membership application, I suggest you have one ready for the mail man Monday morning.

This is a wooden geared clock I made some years back. It kept time with a digital for several years until I went to Kosovo. Unfortunately, leaving "interesting" items with otherwise well meaning people is not always a smart thing to do. It still runs but I've never gotton around to repairing it. It's made of hickory.



This is a cup I made with black walnut.



This is a pine bowl. I made several and gave them to a friend with a family just to prove that pine can be durable. They do well as long as you don't put them in a dishwasher or allow them to soak in water



This was a cherry tree when I first saw it.



I made this civil war revolver for my son when he was 5 years old. He's 27 now. We still have the revolver.



This is a banjo and case I made for my older sister. Except for the padding and strings everything else is wood, including the hinges and lock.



This was an accident, design and all. I was teaching a lady how to use a lathe and as she finished with pieces I would stack them on the running board of my 26. After several pieces were stacked I saw a fair design and went for it. The wood came from S. America but I forget what kind it was.



My son collects knives and swords so I decided to make him some. The shadow box is made of chocolate pecan.



Here's the swords and sheaths out of the shadow box. The swords are about 2' long and sharp enough to cut paper. The sword blades are birds eye maple, the handles black walnut and the sheaths are also chocolate pecan, if I remember correctly.



I made this wishing well as a gift for my last girl friend. She has since past away. I'm told this was one of her prized possessions.



I built it as if it was the real thing. It has rafters, individual bricks, a drinking cup about 1/4" tall, the bucket wheel works, it has a spider web and a birds nest, etc.

[img]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/rbl2/woodworks/Shanaswellwithweb2c.jpg[/img]

Even the shingles were individually made and put in place.

[img]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/rbl2/woodworks/Shanaswellc.jpg[/img]

So Mack, when are you gonna paint my Chevy? And no you can't use brushes or powder puffs.

Sorry rbl2, The samples that you have show a real talent for working with wood , but.....I was thinking more like a Cherry or Black walnut bedroom suite with a 4 poster canopy King size, bed and a nice double dresser and a 6 drawer chest of drawers and an entertainment center for a 46" Screen Tv.
bring it on down and we will think of something, by the way have you seen the $100 paint jobs for a car using a paint roller and TSC Implement enamel? Several of them look good enough to eat!

I can build a Cherry or Black walnut bedroom suite with a 4 poster canopy King size, bed and a nice double dresser and a 6 drawer chest of drawers and an entertainment center for a 46" Screen Tv. But if you're gonna paint with a brush pr a powder puff I'll build all that stuff with exterior grade 3/8" plyboard held together with twine and stained with black walnut spray paint. The closest you'll see to a wood joint will be some saw dust in a rolling paper. :o :grin:

I have a good spray gun and will most likely buy a good compressor. What I don't have is the skill or knowledge when it comes to body putty. There are no serious dents, just a few dings and signs of pitting under the paint.

My son can do a fair job of painting. The trick is to tie him down long enough to do it.

I thought that mrMack was still using his Kirby vacuum to do his painting.

Interesting item the wood clock. We have a club member who made 5 of those clocks. Looks like it even came from the same pattern. The one he kept is still operating and keeps correct time.

Oh rbl2, I would have to charge extra for any dent removal, like maybe a nice light oak 3 door china hutch.


Actually my painting outfit is a Kenmore cannister job I found in a dumpster with the cord cut off, I taped a new cord on and cleaned the spray gun (for spraying moth repellent) put a new hose clamp on the cloth hose, and Walla! a top of the line HVLP outfit!

Thanks for the compliments.

I kept that clock running for years. It was one of thee few things I didn't lose when I went to Kosovo. Most everything I owned was stolen in my absence. They caught the man who stole it all and promptly dropped the charges to a $15 misdemeanor.

The only thing I lost when I went to Iraq was my 1946 Plymouth coupe. I paid someone to keep it for me and even talked to him occassionlly from Baghdad. In fact, I talked to him just 2-3 weeks before I got my million dollar wound that sent me home. My son ran into this man a few days after I got stateside and told him we'd be over to get the car in a few days. No one has seen him or my car since. The local police force weren't really interested in my personal problems.

I bought that Plymouth in 1970. If I ever run across that man I'll beat him within an inch of his life and if I can't do it I'll pay someone else to do it for me.

I best quit. My blood pressure gets high just thinking about it all.

Someday I'll either fix that clock or build another.

Hello everyone,

Bill (rbl2) you have a real talent for working with wood, maybe you should open up a shop and restore woody wagons.

I have a story i would like to share with you in regards to vacuum sprayers (for what it's worth) in my early 20s i sold a water based vacuum with the name of Rainbow, it had a great attachment package including one for spraying.
One of my first sales was to my grandmother (relatives always by stuff from you) and she referred me to a Marine living in one of her rental houses near the Marine corp base in
Twenty Nines Palms, California, so i went to see him and we got to talking about cars, and he said his favorite car was a 1940 Willys coupe, well i was floored because i just happened to own one along with a 1940 Willys pickup, so the Marine said "if you sell me your coupe,i will buy a vacuum"($425.00w/attachments) what can i say i was eleated, so the next weekend i hauled the coupe 135 miles up to it's new owner, the Marine came out to greet me and before he even said hi he said "you know what this vacuum has a sprayer attachment", i said i know, then the Marine asked me if i will help him paint his car, i wasn't sure how to answer him so i said sure alright i'm game, and besides he was a really good guy, and then i thought to myself this way i would have a personal account of how the sprayer works.
About 2 months had passed and i get a phone call, it's the Marine he said "i finshed the body work, lets do some painting", so the following weekend i arrive at his house and i see a strange 2x4 structure 12'x 24'wrapped in thick clear plastic in the yard, i come to find out it's his homemade paint booth, so i laughed and we got down to it, and when it was all said and done the Willys was now a beautiful shade of red, it really glissened, and i would have to say that little sprayer worked better than i expected, and it looked a whole lot better than the $29.95 paint job Earl Scheibe did on my 1957 chevy.
So if someone has a real tight budget and their not going for a show quality paint job it might be the way to go.
gnewt

In all truth, I'll have to say that my first paint job was on my 1930 F0RD Model "A" coupe that I bought locally for $80. It was black (many coats) so I went to town and bought some sand paper and a couple of cardboard buckets of LYE. I sanded, put on a mixture of LYE flour and water paste, waited scraped, and repeated the action several times, got down to bare metal used some metal prep my dad found at an oilfield supply store, sprayed on a couple of coats of red oxide primer, then went to town and bought 3/4 of a Gallon of Chartruse enamel paint and a quart of firetruck red paint. and 3 gallons of thinner. I used my mom's almost new SEARS Kenmore cannister vacuum cleaner with the anti-moth sprayer, The car was cool! after I painted the engine block and head, wire wheels and a body stripe with the Firetruck red with a small brush, I never did get the chartruse finger prints off the cannister.... I wish I would of had color film for my Brownie Hawkeye camera, but only had B&W film...........

[img][IMG]http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL1180/4341552/9153654/327374404.jpg[/img][/img]

My two brothers and our dog showing off in the rear, shop built mini-pickup bed with two sidemounts, oilfield welder style

rbl2,...I could probably do almost as good a job on your Chevy, since I have had 55 years practice!

A decent paint job can be had in many ways, including rollers and paint brushes. The trrick is in the sanding before and during and the sanding and polishing afterwards. I use a similiar method with wood and can take a dull gloss finish and rub it until you can see your reflection in it. I do all my finishing by hand. It's time consuming and hard but it's well worth it. A decent finish on wood can take longer than the actual construction of the project.

I remember those moth sprayers and my ol man and an uncle talking about painting a car with it but I don't think they got very good results.

It's not the actual painting I'm concerned with. It's all those tiny dings and itty bitty dents. I have no idea how to fix them. I'm told the metal has to be treated with something or the putty wil fall off in a year or so.

I'm not interested in a show quality paint job but I want one that looks good from 5-10' away and isn't gonna fall off in a year or two.

About 6 years ago I had a Chevy Cavalier that ran real good but needed a paint job. My son borrowed a real cheap spray gun and a small compressor that maybe would go up to 60 lbs. We slapped some 2x4's together and wrapped it up with visquene. It looked pretty good when my son was done and no doubt had he had the peoper equipment he would have done an excellent job.

As far as doing restoration work on woodies goes it's not that I can't do it, I just can't do it in a timely manner anymore. My health won't permit it.

Well Mack, I ain't goin no where so get on over here and paint my car. I might even be talked into buying some beer (after the fact) and some mudbugs. :grin:

heck, I might even be talked into buying a decent air compressor to go with that decent spray gun I have. While I'm at it I might even close in the carport so bugs don't get in the paint. :)


:vcca:

That's ok bill, you just keep sharing those stories with us,there more special than any old woody anyway.
Oh GOD what did i say, please don't strike me down with a bolt of lighting.
gnewt

Bill, with your ability to smmoth wood out as smooth as a baby's belly, I bet you can do an excellent job on car skins, remember to mechanically get the dings out as best you can with a hammer and dollys, then apply a shallow layer of good filler (Bondo is good) and block sand it out, spray a light coat of contrasting color primer block sand with the fine stuff, the contrasting color primer will tell you where the low spots are, fill them again with a smear of bondo and block sand again, use the body putty to fill in any tiny holes in the bondo, block sand and before you know it you will have sanded 95% of the bondo off and have a smooth surface to prime with high filler primer and block sand smooth and prime for the final coat, it s easier to do than tell you how to do it. That is about it! You could have it done before I get half way there. I know that you have a problem standing beside the car very long, I do wish you were living close by, we could work on cars and have a good time chewing the fat , and quaffing a root beer or something good and cold with some foam on top!

Hey Mr Mack explain to me what an anti-moth sprayer is and how
you use it.
genewt

MrMack
In one of your previous post you stated "I would encourage getting a 53 or 54 Chevy Station wagon and getting your boy involved in restoring it.
Why the 53-54 versus a 49-52, is it just a personal preference?
gnewt

gnewt,
You connect the hose to the vacuum cleaner exhaust (blows out)an to the sprayer, which is a simple spray gun without any adjustments and with thinned paint in the cup press the trigger and the paint sprays out in a fairly fine mist.

rbl2,
here is a pic of my second attempt at building a musical instrument about 6 years ago. My first was a cigar box banjo that I built when I was 10 years old. It appears to me, that the building is much more easy than learning to play them.

[img][IMG]http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL1180/4341552/19685581/327386450.jpg[/img][/img]

Have I ever told you the story about the time my First Sgt and I got stuck downtown Baghdad with no weapons or radios and no one knew where we were? It all began one day when..... Oh wait, this is a family forum.

Well, then there was the time... mmmmm family forum....

Ok, here's a car story I wrote several years back for a woodworking forum I go to. It's family safe.

In the story I have to explain a few things to the readers because they have no knowledge of antique cars to speak of.

----------

This mornin I went to do my laundry when I discovered I was all out of laundry soap. No big deal. It's a beautiful day out. I was wantin a cold drink anyhow. This is just the excuse I needed to take the old car for a drive. :vcca:

So there I am headed for the Winn-Dixie with my 32 oz. coke in a styrofoam cup sitting in the corner. There are no cup holders in a 1926 Chevy, never were. I can see the store about a mile away. I reach over and grab the cup, fixin to get me a drink, when for no reason known to God or man that danged ol cup squished and coke and ice went everywhere. Primarily, of course, in the crotch of my pants.

Now there I am, drivin down a four lane road in an 80 year old car with people pullin up beside me to wave and give me the thumbs up, a hollerin at me and askin what model F*** it is, not meanin no harm, just generally givin me cause to be concerned and extra alert, all the while I have the better part of 32 oz of coke in my lap, soakin in, real good. :eek:

I ain't exactly in the mood for bein friendly at this point, if you know what I mean. Can't let go of the steerin wheel. Can't let go of the cup. Can't wave and I ain't in no smilin mood. I don't care how good and straight it goes down the road you just don't ever let go of the wheel of an 80 year old car. You just don't. Ever. Period. Which is what it looked like I had. Unprepared. And alot. :o

Dontcha know by the time I got that cup and 1 oz of coke that was left in it situated my pants were just drippin wet. But only in the crotch. Of course.

So what am I sposed to do now, turn around and drive the 10 miles home just to change my pants so I can remake the 20 mile round trip just to get some laundry soap that I am now so desperately in need of? If I go in that store lookin like I peed my pants it ain't like I can hide afterwards, I mean, just how many other short, fat, long haired, old men drive a bright yellow 1926 Chevy roadster? Might as well put my picture, wet pants and all, on a billboard, or the tv, or the world wide web, or the Pearly Gates, or somethin.

By now of course, I'm at the Winn-Dixie, which required a lot of turnin and down shiftin and watchin for those pedestrian folks, just to get into the parkin lot and find me a decent place to hide and cuss. I mean park.

Ever try to down shift an 80 year old car? They don't have no synchronizer thingys in them that make shiftin alot easier. You have to double clutch them things and rev the engine a little bit and pray you don't grind no gears away cause you ain't buyin no more of them if you do. Now, you try to do all that while you have 32 oz. of coke and ice soakin into your pants, right above your private parts and startin to drip on them too. :cry:

Finally, and I mean it felt like it took forever, finally I get parked. Of course I park a bit away from everyone else, something I would have done anyhow, or so I told myself. What I don't need now is a bunch of spectators who wanna ask me what model F*** it is.

I no sooner get out, and hadn't brushed my lap but one time when a woman walks over. Just to be friendly of course and ask about the car.

"Oh my! What happened to you?" she asked upon seeing me. I told her and she laughed, of course.

"It sure does look incriminating. Are you goin in the store lookin like that?" she asked. "No way, Ma'am. I can't do it. Not lookin like this." I replied. Then she asked, "Do you have any coke left?" "A little" I replied. "Let me have it." she requested. Having no idea why she wanted what was left of the coke I gave it to her.

She then lifted the bottom of my T-shirt and poured what was left on it, from the center down. "Problem solved. Now it looks more like you spilled a drink then peed on yourself. By the way, what model F*** is this?"

Mack, we're talking about some pretty small dings here. The vast majority are not as large as my small fingernail and I have small hands. I'm not sure it would be worth the effort to try and bang them out.

If you look closely at the doors it appears as though they were allowed to rust and there is quite a bit of pitting under the paint. No doubt I could media blast the paint off but this is were I'm told I need to treat the metal before applying any bondo. Supposedly if the metal is not treated the bondo will come off in a few years, or so I read somewhere or was told.

You're probably right, I probably can do it and just lack the confidence.

That's a nice looking Dulcimer. you're like me, I can build musical instruments but can't play a one. :(

You're right, you need to move to Mississippi so you can come over and bag up my gremlins and paint my car. :grin:

I put the fret numbers on to help me learn the positions for different notes and chords. They are removable.
I have done some bondo jobs on hail dents, after sandblasting with regular blasting sand and wiped them out the same day with metal prep, applyed bondo and block sanded without any problems, they have remained unblemished for 10 years. I did have a problem with several that I used a red permemant marker to circle the tiny dent, it peeled off where the red marker was after they were bondoed and primed and painted..
I figured that the ones that lasted ten years and still look ok, were a successful and quick repair. I have tried to use lead and just never mastered that process.

I'm not even gonna consider using lead. I've been told that those who used it years ago were as quick with it as using bondo today and got better results. I'd like to see that. I don't doubt it, I'd just like to see it.

I can remember the frets and I can pickm out single notes and play a song that way. I've just never sat down and learned the chords.

I used to play a harmonica fairly well but I haven't picked it up in years to speak of.

MrMack, that is a fine looking job on your musical inmstrument. That should qualify you to do the top bows on my 28 Roadster. From this string I have found you are better at the wood than the vacuum cleaner painting.

Good Morning Everyone

I would like to become a member of VCCA, is it safe to join on line since you have to give out personal information?
gnewt

Mack, That's the first time anyone has mentioned lye and flour on this site to my knowledge. When I was about 15 in the late '40s an older friend bought a '31 Chrysler 8 and wanted to paint it. We asked the old timer for advice and he said it had at least 4 coats of paint over the original and recommended using lye. He warned us about the danger of getting in our eyes but only the eyes. He was the same guy who recommended egg preserver to seal small cracks in the cooling system and we were amazed that it worked. So we listened carefully and followed his directions. The result varied. In some places it went to bare and some places it left two coats of mostly brushed on enamel. So we just did it on those places again. And again we were amazed that the old timer's advice worked. We then borrowed his spray outfit and followed his direction and the result was just OK.That was my first car painting experience....Joe

Hi gnewt,

Try this, and download a form, which you fill out and send with a check to the address on the form.

Membership Ap

If you have any more problems, bring them here to be sorted out.

Glad to have you as a new member.

Hi Ray

thank you, i'll fill this out and put it in my out going mail
tomorrow, i wish finding a station wagon was as easy as replying
to all you.
thanks again
gnewt

Ray its gnewt again

As much as i like reading the posts over & over again,
is there a way to remove some of them?, i have to keep scrolling
down through all of them everytime i want to get to the most current one.
gnewt

Click on your name in the upper left of one of your posts. On the right side and above you will see ACTIVE TOPICS. Use the pull down arrow and select the time period that you will be reviewing the Chat Site again. That will give you all the current posts.