Director’s Thoughts for February 2014

The Month of Love With Valentine’s Day in the heart of February, it brought me to thinking about our car club & the one thing we all have in common – the LOVE for our cars!

We LOVE our cars, & that means that we like to talk to other people who LOVE cars & talk about cars. It’s that simple. There are, however, some things that us ‘gearheads’ refuse to admit, be it about our cars, about cars in general, or about car culture. Yeah there’s a lot of stuff that we ostrich about (& yes, we know ‘ostrich’ isn’t a verb).

‘I’m always fixing it.’ If you spend more time fixing your beloved Buick than you spend driving it, you’re likely to tell all your friends that it runs like a dream, so they don’t judge your weird addiction. ‘My classic car is object- ively worse than a newer vehicle.’ We think old cars are cool & full of personality. We also think they can be more fun than new cars, but it’s silly not to realize that new cars are faster, better handling, more efficient, & safer than ever before. Classic cars can be Fun, Fun, Fun! For me, care are not only a means of transportation, they can also be beauties & much fun! I actually like older cars more than newer. My favorite cars are those of the 50’s & 60’s. I can picture cruising around in my grandmothers ’57 Chevy with the top down, & gas was $.30/gallon. I was the envy of all my friends! Boy, wouldn’t it be great to have those days back again? Since then, most cars have started look- ing more & more the same. These days, you can hardly differ the various brands, not to mention the electronics on them making it almost impossible to do any work on them except to add water to the windshield washer. Oh for the good old days!

Now, getting back to Valentine’s Day! Lets not forget the people in our life that ‘put up’ with our LOVE of cars! They are the classics that we are all lucky to have in out life! Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Don 

“Free Spirit” Meeting Minutes, January, 2014

Director, Don Sterner, called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. There were 20 members & 2 guests present. A motion was made to accept the meeting mins. of November as printed in the December newsletter by Shirley Schaffer, seconded by Isabel Lenny, so carried. 

Charles & Kim Eckhart, of Liberty Auto Glass, Lehighton, talked to our group about auto windshields & glass fixtures. Charles explained the difference between replacement of windshields vs restoration. He also gave us a lot to think about in regards to choosing the right company to do this work for us. Their presentation was very interesting & very educational to all. 

Treasurer’s report for December was read, motion made to accept by Don Atwood, seconded by Shirley Schaffer, so carried.

• I. Committee Reports
  • A. Historian – photos from Kempton & Holiday Gathering have been posted to our web site.
  • B. Kempton – Clarence feels it is necessary for himself, Sally & Don to meet with the Kempton BOD to discuss our needs w/ them.
  • C. Membership – Don Sterner, 2013 Membership Chairman, reported, no new members. Dolores Kennedy is Membership Chairman for 2014.
  • D. Newsletter – Sally completed a 2014 Membership Roster. Copies were handed out to members who were present. The rest will be mailed.
  • E. Programs – Mr. Charlie Potts, a Certified AACA Judge, will be the February meeting guest speaker. He will raffle off many AACA items to the group during his presentation! You won’t want to miss February’s meeting!!
  • F. Publicity – no report
  • G. Technical – no report
  • H.Ways and Means – the ad for the chapters’ Buick Tapestry throw is, once again, in color in the monthly Bugle. Sally proudly reported, sold to Australia (2), NC, NY, Ohio (2), PA (2), TN, & Washington!!
• II. OLD BUSINESS
• III. NEW BUSINESS
  • Tours – Possible upcoming club tours were presented. As these tours are con- firmed, they will be added to our calendar of events & presented to club members @ the monthly meetings:
  • America On Wheels (Train Display) – Kathy Duckett will look into this
  • Backstage @ QVC – Stacey will look into this
  • Mack Truck – Tom Duckett & Paul Schaffer will investigate this
  • Martin Quitar – Stacy Sterner to investigate this
  • Overnight Tour – Sally to research, 1 of 2 choices;
    • Huntingdon, PA – Swigart Auto Museum
    • Indiana, PA – Jimmy Stewart Museum
  • Pines Dinner Theater – Stacy & Dolores to investigate
  • Turkey Hill Experience – Sandy Sylvester to investigate this

‘Thank You’s’ – Sally received 2 Thank You Notes: Yoder family-AACA Museum contribution in memory of Richard Yoder; & Dream Come True – Blue Ridge Chapter for charitable contribution for 2013. 
DAF 2014 – Shirley has pre-registration forms available for 2014 show.
Motion made to adjourn @ 8:30pm by Isabel Lenny, seconded by Kathy Duckett, so carried. 

Respectfully submitted by: Stacy J. Sterner, Secretary 

• OLD BUSINESS
  • Sally updated the phone chain & handed it out to everyone.
• NEW BUSINESS
  • Calendar of Events – Don briefly ran through the Calendar of Events for the beginning of the year (see back of newsletter)
  • Kempton – It was suggested that Clarence, Sally & Don meet with Kempton BOD meeting prior to the flyers going to print to discuss needs. Hopefully, then, flyers will be available in time for Hamburg Meet on March 3.
  • Monthly chapter meeting guest speakers:
    • January – Kim/Charles Eckhart – Liberty Auto Glass
    • February – Charlie Potts – Certified AACA Judge
    • March – Tracy Trapp – March of Dimes, LV Chapter
    • April –
    • May – Pam Bechtel – Meals On Wheels
    • June – annual chapter picnic
    • July –
    • August –
    • September – Ed Tremba – AAA
    • October – Note change=Monday, November 6th – Bob Bohnenberger- Retirement Issues
    • November –
    • December – Holiday Gathering
  • Tours – Possible upcoming tours were discussed. As tours become confirmed, they will be added to our Calendar of Events & presented to the chapter membership at the monthly meetings. (PLEASE SEE AS PREVIOULY LISTED UNDER MEETING MINUTES.)

  Next BOD meeting will be Tuesday, March 4th at Starlite Diner & Lounge prior to monthly meeting.
  Motion made to adjourn at 5:55 pm by Sally Getz, seconded by Dolores Kennedy, so carried.
  Respectfully submitted by: Stacy J. Sterner, Secretary

  February’s Meeting:
  Please make every effort to attend February’s meeting. Guest speaker is Charlie Potts, a Certified AACA Judge. His presentation will offer valuable informa- tion for those who attend AACA meets & have their cars judged. Besides his presentation, he will be giving away some very nice AACA items to the group.

  April 9, 2014 – Martin Guitar TourPLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THIS DATE!! Stacy Sterner is going to take the chapter on a tour to the Martin Guitar, Nazareth, on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 ( no weekend tours). This should give you enough time to swap work days, ask off, or what ever you need to do to enjoy a nice day out w/ the ‘Free Spirit’ chapter & its’ members! Please wear CLOSED toe shoes, is handicapped accessible, & pictures are allowed. Watch your future newsletters for you to make your reservation(s).
  How To Keep Mice Out Of Stored Cars!If you’re a classic car owner, chances are that you’ve had to store your car at some point. Check out some ideas for nipping rodent problems in the bud, ranging from D-Con & dryer sheets to sulfur & steel wool. Read on for ways to keep those small, unwanted guests out of your classic.

  Dryer Sheets: The best thing you can use is dryer sheets. Just go to the Dollar Store & buy a box. They don’t have to be expensive. Just lay them all over the interior, under the hood, in the trunk, on top of the tires – even in the exhaust pipe. Then, in spring, gather them all up & toss them. Not only will there be no mice, the car will smell like it just came out of the dryer. One of the best things to deter rodents is to put multiple sheets of a fabric softener inside the car (‘Bounce’ is excellent!) There is a very low odor associated w/ the smell after taking the car out of storage, yet rodents hate this item!!!

  D-Con: The most effective means of removing all rats & mice from virtually any place is to place D-Con around in areas accessible by the mice & rats, but too small to be accessible by dogs, cats, or any other pets you may have. You may (or may not) detect a slight odor as they are killed off, but be assured, you will never be bothered by them again.

  Traps: The best killer is the Victor snap traps w/ the 1-inch square plastic yellow tongue. It’s more sensitive than traditional snap traps w/ the small metal tongue. I prefer a small smear of peanut butter in a center hole. You don’t want much: just enough to give off the scent. The on downside of these traps is that if they sit long enough without a mouse going for the bait, crickets (& some small bugs) can eat all the traces of peanut butter without setting off the traps because they are so light. A combination of fabric sheets, snap traps, & building inspection & maintanence will keep your classic rodent free.

  Sulpher: Garden stores sell granular or powdered pure sulpher. Mice, roaches & other vermin hate the smell. Cut an old pillowcase into 8×8 squares & put a spoonful of sulpher in the center. Gather the ends & tie into a small pouch. Place these bags around areas that may have a mouse of bug problem.

  Steel Wool: In addition to the soap & mothballs, put wads of steel wool inside the car & in the exhaust pipes.

  Other Tips: Don’t forget to put tape over the tailpipe opening & the air intake. A friend could tell you a story about tearing down an engine & finding a mouse carcass on top of a piston. Mice have been known to ‘nest’ behind the sun visor & cause damage to the visor & headliner. Always lower the visor to eliminate the chance for the critters to establish residence on them. Learn not to cover the car because mice like dark areas to build their nests, usually out of the car’s insulation, hood blanket, seat cushioning material, etc.

  Soap: Irish Spring bar soap can be used to keep away rodents. Just place shavings on a small tray in side your classic. The smell keeps them away. This could be your best inexpensive way to keep rodents out of your classic!

  My Little GPSI have a little GPS, I’ve had it all my life;
  It’s better than the normal ones, My GPS is my wife.

  It gives me full instructions, Especially how to drive;

  ‘It’s 60 miles an hour’ it says, ‘You’re doing 65.’

  It tells me when to stop & start, And when to use the brake;

  & tells me that it’s never ever, Safe to overtake.

  It tells me when a light is red, & when it goes to green;

  It seems to know instinctively, Just when to intervene.

  It lists the vehicles just in front, & all those to the rear;

  & taking this into account, It specifies my gear.

  I’m sure no other driver, Has so helpful a device;

  For when we leave & lock the car, It still gives me advice.

  It fills me up with counseling. Each journey’s pretty fraught;

  So why don’t I exchange it, & get a quieter sort?

  Ah well, you see, it cleans the house, Makes sure I’m properly fed;

  It washes all my shirts & things, & – lets me have a shed.

  Despite all these advantages, & my tendency to scoff;

  I do wish that once in a while, I could turn the damned thing off!
  What’s the Right Way to Test for a Faulty Alternator?Disconnecting the battery while the engine is running isn’t a valid for alternator function & may damage sensitive electronic parts. Instead, use a common voltmeter & the following test procedure. Although some of the steps reference typical GM alternators, the basic methodology is valid for any charging system.
  01 – Test voltage across the battery terminals w/ engine running. A good alternator should maintain battery voltage between 13.9 & 14.8 volts (14.2 is optimal). Even worst case, w/ all accessories turned on, there should be > 13 volts @ the battery. Be sure that the engine is running at a high enough rpm for the charging system to function (especially if running a 1-wire alternator excited at a specific rpm). If voltage is low, go to Step 02. If voltage is > 15 volts, go to Step 05.
  02 – Connect the voltmeter between the alternator’s output (BAT) terminal & ground. If voltage = 13.6-14.6 volts, the alternator is OK, but power isn’t getting to the battery, go to Step 03. If voltage is 13.6 volts, go to Step 04.
  03 – Check the battery cables & alternator charge-wire for bad connect- ions, improper cable & wire size, or corrosion. Repair or replace as needed. Recheck as per Step 02. If voltage = a constant 13.6-14.6, the problem is solved. If voltage = normal, but slowly decreases, go to Step 04.
  04 – Check the alternator drive-belt. Adjust its tension or replace as needed. On a street car, the crank pulley should be 3 times larger than the alternator pulley; fix as needed. If voltage = normal but slowly decreases after these repairs, the alternator is OK but can’t keep up w/ the vehicle’s current demands; upgrade to a higher-output alternator. If you get an immediate under 13.6 volt reading, go to Step 05.
  05 – Test the voltage regulator. For external regulators, go to Step 06. For internal regulators, go to Step 07.
  06 – Unplug the harness from the regulator. With the engine running, connect a jumper wire from the connector’s B+ Terminal to the connect- or’s Field terminal (on most GM cars, that’s respectively the red & blue wires). Only do this for 30 seconds @ a time. The engine will bog down. The alternator should have an audible whir & ramp up to max output. If you see a visible arc, repair or replace the regulator. If there’s no arc, the alternator has an open Field circuit or worn-out brushes. Fix or replace as needed.
  07 – GM Sl alternator internal regulators can be checked. If voltage goes up during this check, repair or replace the internal regulator. If voltage is lower than before, repair or replace the entire alternator. Late model GM CS alternators don’t have serviceable regulators; the entire unit must be replaced
  CALENDAR OF EVENTSFebruary 2014
  4 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Loung, Rts. 100/78, 7:30 p.m. Join members for supper @ 6:00 p.m.
  6-8 – 78th Annual AACA Meeting, Philadelphia, PA. www.aaca.org 28-March 2 – Atlantic City Convention Center Auto show & Auction

  MARCH 2014 (WEATHER PERMITTING)
  2 – 47th Annual Hamburg Swap Meet, Hamburg, PA. 610-944-8619 4 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Rts 100/78, 7:30pm. Join members for supper @ 6:00pm. Guest speaker is Tracy Trapp, March of Dimes, Lehigh Valley Chapter!

  April 2014 (WEATHER PERMITTING)
  1 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Rts. 100/78, 7:30 pm. Join members for supper @ 6:00 pm.
  11-13 – 32nd Spring Englishtown, NJ
  12 – Misercordia University Car Show, Dallas, Pa.
  23-27 – Spring Carlisle & Auction, Carlisle, Pa
  26 – Bethany Wesleyan Church Car Show, Cherryville, Pa. 610-393-8636

  CARS/PARTS “FOR SALE”
• 1937 Buick, original Owners Manual, MINT condition! $40.00 610-489-1253 Set of 4 � NOS full size 1951 Buick hubcaps-never used! Set of 4 used 1963 LeSabre hubcaps-good condition. Ed @ 610-967-6053
• 1972-79 Front Brake Rotors, Full Size Buick, new & US made w/ bearing races, $65.00/pair. kriebel12@verizon.net, 610-489-1253
• Silvertown Wide White Walls, 700 x 15, $100/4. kriebel12@verizon.net
• 1953Buick Super 8, green 4-dr,74,4K original miles, 2nd owner. New tires, original bumpers, excellent interior. $10,000. 610-767-5693, 610-799-5423, linda.wuerstle58@me.com.
• 1966 Buick Riviera – excellent condition. Is a BCA member. Located in CT. 15K OBO. Arlen Roth 914-629-9654
• 1968 Buick Electra 225 Limited 4-dr Htp, Cameo Cream w/ black vinyl top & interior, excellent unrestored condition, 38K mi. All power, AC, 2nd owner, Old Cars Report valued at $12,000, asking $10,900. 610-530-1553, dwebster80@gmail.com
• 1969 Skylark Convertible – kimberly.pavlick@scranton.edu
• 1981 Buick Regal V-6 with A/T, A/C, new paint, excellent interior. Runs Good! Rally wheels. Asking $5,500 OBO. Tom Sylvester, 610-366-7151

Used it to haul children to school? 
Need to earn money to keep her running great?

Why not consider joining Avon and keep your baby in fantastic shape!

Mary Lacy, Ind. AVON Sales Rep.
639 W Tilghman St. Allentown, PA 18102
www.youravon.com/marylacy
610-820-9188