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Checker cab

Discussion in 'Off Topic Hot Rods & Customs' started by squirrel, Nov 22, 2024 at 7:15 PM.

  1. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 5,554

    RodStRace
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  2. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 57,460

    squirrel
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    I shoulda bought it when it was $200, eh? :)

    I already read the stories....I like the road test. It's a good poke at the buying public.
     
    porkshop, 41 GMC K-18 and Deuces like this.
  3. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 5,554

    RodStRace
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  4. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
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    squirrel
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    heh...yeah, it might kill me!

    I tried to start it, didn't want to get going, although it was trying. I pulled the plugs and cleaned them..four were OK, just dry carbon, but two were funky, one had corrosion, the other was wet fouled. Then I tried again, and eventually got it to run like it should. I was filling the carb float bowl with an oil can through the vent hole, which lets it run for about half a minute at some RPM. Had oil pressure and charging. The cooling system is holding water, I only had to add less than a gallon to the radiator....there might be old antifreeze in it, hopefully. Seller said he'd replaced the freeze plug on the back of the block, and I found the receipt for the plug in the glove box.

    Sorry, no video. I'll never make a living from youtube, apparently.

    plug6.jpg plug5.jpg
     
  5. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 57,460

    squirrel
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    Oh, did I mention the muffler is a bit rusty?

    muffler.jpg

     
  6. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 13,437

    Johnny Gee
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    from Downey, Ca

  7. Sharpone
    Joined: Jul 25, 2022
    Posts: 1,463

    Sharpone
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    Looks like a free flowing muffler to me.
     
  8. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 57,460

    squirrel
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    very free flowing!

    I pulled the tank, and it looks surprisingly good. Didn't have any gloop in it, just a little brown layer on the bottom. After a couple small flushes with fresh gas, it seems relatively clean. The pickup tube was partly plugged, but carb cleaner blows thru it now. The filler neck rubber hose is a bit cracked, so I'd like to replace it, but it looks like 2-1/8" ID. And the sender seems to work after a few blasts of an old can of Blue Stuff tuner cleaner. 75-10 ohms, like a Ford. The cork float is intact. And you can get to the sender without removing the tank, which is nice. The whole car was built with serviceability in mind.

    I'll see about getting the title transfer in the morning....hopefully all will go well....
     
  9. Kerrynzl
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 3,236

    Kerrynzl
    Member

    All Canadian assembled Export RHD Chevys and Pontiacs had those valve covers.
    Our Pontiacs had 283s in them.

    Here's a 65 Pontiac Laurentian 283 I picked up approx 12 months ago.

    upload_2024-11-25_19-9-50.jpeg
     
  10. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 20,145

    DDDenny
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    from oregon

    Who saves a receipt for a freeze plug?
     
  11. oldiron 440
    Joined: Dec 12, 2018
    Posts: 3,540

    oldiron 440
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    Those tail lights can be sanded with 1000 grit and clear coated, this makes them look as good as they can possibly look…:)
     
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  12. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 57,460

    squirrel
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    If I leave them alone, they'll match the rest of the car....which I think looks better, than having a freshly lipsticked lens on a pig....
     
  13. TrailerTrashToo
    Joined: Jun 20, 2018
    Posts: 1,338

    TrailerTrashToo
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    The owner of the Checker dealership was known as "Charlie Checker". He did not sell a lot of his trade-ins. Instead, warehoused them in a medium-sized 2 story brick building. About 30 years ago, there was an ad in the Tucson newspaper about auctioning off the contents. I attended the preview.

    The building had a drive up ramp to the 2nd floor. I suspect that it might have been a 1920's auto dealership. Two stories of 1960's trade-ins, in as-traded condition (very good physical condition, would have qualified and a good used car in the day). Nothing was running, having sat for many years. Mostly family cars, nothing that I was interested in - A couple of Plymouth Barracudas - No obvious defects - I just never warmed up to the "fancy" Valiant...

    Russ
     
  14. Phillips
    Joined: Oct 26, 2010
    Posts: 1,596

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    I am way too excited about this. Watching!
     
  15. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 57,460

    squirrel
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    I got the title transfer and registration this morning...went very easy.

    Heading to the tire store to get some new skins, then I'll get the new hoses in and the gas tank installed, and the new fuel pump, and see if I can get it to run for more than a minute at a time.
     
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  16. 41 GMC K-18
    Joined: Jun 27, 2019
    Posts: 4,181

    41 GMC K-18
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    After you get things sorted out and get it running and operating as good as it can get, considering how historically, for these lemons rally,s that you participate in, you try to limit the budget, which I totally understand.

    After it participates and hopefully will do well in the rally, I really hope that you will consider keeping this very cool Checker, it deserves to be a cool keeper and a member of the @squirrel fleet of unique vehicles!

    I really enjoyed the two that I owned.

    They were very comfortable drivers and even though my friends used to tease me about them, they never complained about riding in them, when at events, they would all pile into my checker to go out to eat or what ever, because their cars just didn't have room for everyone to fit into!

    It will be very interesting to see the evolution of this cool checker survivor that you have!

    Thanks from Dennis.
     
  17. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 20,145

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    I was thinking this would belong in the "This is just wrong thread".
    But maybe not!

    upload_2024-11-25_10-54-9.jpeg
     
  18. You could help finance your drive during the LeMons Rally by picking up a few fares along the way.
    "Keep your meter running... rollin' down the hiway... lookin' for adventure..."
     
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  19. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
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    squirrel
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    I was thinking about that...the theme could be "uber uber" or something.
     
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  20. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 5,554

    RodStRace
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    Last edited: Nov 26, 2024 at 9:56 AM
  21. Or "Uber Tuber" it kind of has that misshapen spud look to it.
     
  22. 41 GMC K-18
    Joined: Jun 27, 2019
    Posts: 4,181

    41 GMC K-18
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    On my dads white checker, I hung this very cool metal placard over the front license plate.

    IMG_1293.jpg

    I used to be a rigger and professional heavy machinery mover. One of the machines our company was hired to move, was a very large piece of machinery, and it had this very cool metal placard on it, so I removed it from the machine, because the machine was going to be scrapped,
    For years it was attached to the front of my Dads Checker.

    011.jpg
    As a practical joker, when people would ask me about that placard, and especially if they didn't know anything about Checker's, I would explain it to them, that this particular 65 Checker Marathon, used to be owned by the famous "Pratt & Whitney" Corporation!
    I always just smiled when the reply sometimes would be, "WOW"

    Thanks from Dennis.
     
  23. Kerrynzl
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 3,236

    Kerrynzl
    Member

    Chuck a 292 into it.
    Restore the interior with a couple of Mexican blankets, add a roof rack

    And use it as a tow-hack for your race car adventures.

    And play this when you show up at the track.
     
  24. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 25,215

    Deuces

    My favorite is "Lonely bull"....:D:)
     
  25. oldiron 440
    Joined: Dec 12, 2018
    Posts: 3,540

    oldiron 440
    Member

    J
    That sounds good until you get rear ended because somebody can’t see your tail lights. As far as lipsticked lens they wouldn’t look any different than a new lens.
     
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  26. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 57,460

    squirrel
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  27. Doesn't matter about tail or stop lights theses days it the cell phones that will get ya. JW
     
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  28. noboD
    Joined: Jan 29, 2004
    Posts: 8,640

    noboD
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    You better put a dual master cylinder and disc brakes on it too.
     
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  29. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 5,554

    RodStRace
    Member

    @noboD , It;s got a booster and dual. Drums, but big. Check the pics on the first page.
     
    Deuces, porkshop and 41 GMC K-18 like this.
  30. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 57,460

    squirrel
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    this car is so safe, I won't know what to do with myself. Seat belts, padded dash, the whole works.
     

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