Posted by: @tiny

↑

I have a book that lists the colors but don't have it in front of me at the moment.

Oooh, when you next dig that out, would you mind popping a post in here matching the trim colors to the main colors please? I think I've settled on making my character's chevy black with red trim like yours, Tiny, but maybe there's another combination I can consider too.

Also, that information about the electrolock is gold! Thank you so much - there's a little rewrite to do now based on that. You and/or this forum definitely get a place in my book's acknowledgements page - if you approve, of course.

By the way, are the original front seats a single long seat, or two separate seats? And, oh yes seatbelts and turn signals! I suppose they weren't standard way back when. They will have to be included given this car is being driven around on modern roads in my story.

Which brings me to another question! More a general one this time - over here in the UK cars have to pass a regular MOT, (it just stands for Ministry of Transport) but it's the road fitness test cars have to pass so they're legally deemed safe to drive on the roads. I'm assuming there's something similar you guys have in the USA, but what do you call it, and how often to do you have to do it? Any and all details would be welcome! Especially as pertaining to old cars like the 38.

Posted by: @rustoholic

↑

a very interesting conversation! I'm learning a lot

Hey Dean, yeah, me too! I have a lot to learn, as you can see. But I'm happy it's helping others. You guys are all so generous and helpful with your knowledge and experience, I really appreciate it.

Posted by: @rose

↑

Oooh, when you next dig that out, would you mind popping a post in here matching the trim colors to the main colors please? I think I've settled on making my character's chevy black with red trim like yours, Tiny, but maybe there's another combination I can consider too.

Also, that information about the electrolock is gold! Thank you so much - there's a little rewrite to do now based on that. You and/or this forum definitely get a place in my book's acknowledgements page - if you approve, of course.

By the way, are the original front seats a single long seat, or two separate seats? And, oh yes seatbelts and turn signals! I suppose they weren't standard way back when. They will have to be included given this car is being driven around on modern roads in my story.

Which brings me to another question! More a general one this time - over here in the UK cars have to pass a regular MOT, (it just stands for Ministry of Transport) but it's the road fitness test cars have to pass so they're legally deemed safe to drive on the roads. I'm assuming there's something similar you guys have in the USA, but what do you call it, and how often to do you have to do it? Any and all details would be welcome! Especially as pertaining to old cars like the 38.

Here is that page in the book. When I restored my 38 I didn't have the book and made the assumption that the orange tint was faded red but as you can see the stripes were indeed Vermilion, a bright orange so technically my 38's stripes are incorrect. As you can see there were different color combinations for the same body color. Mine is code 231 if I remember right, Mayland Black and Vermilion striping with Mayland Black wheels.

I can only speak for myself but, if you feel I helped your book, recognition is welcome. (Does it pay more? 😀 )

I'm not an expert on seats so if I'm wrong someone will correct me but my understanding is cars had bench seats. Two door models had seat backs that swung forward to allow access to the back seat.

Any vehicle manufactured prior to 1968 does not require seat belts although many of our member add them for safety. Turn signals became standard on passenger cars in the 50's but weren't legally required until later (the exact year escapes me).

Safety inspections vary by state. Kansas, my state, does not have a periodic safety inspection of non commercial passenger cars. I believe commercial passenger vehicles like busses must pass periodic inspections but I could be wrong on that.

I'm adding a couple of pictures of the electrolock used on the 1938. The first image shows it connected to the top of the coil, above the distributor. This picture was taken prior to the engine rebuild and repaint and has the wrong color on the engine. The second picture shows the engine during it's reinstall following the rebuild and repaint. The electrolock is hanging beside the engine. Finally, a picture showing the full electrolock. It was taken as I was checking it for continuity after I rebuilt it.

It's nice to see your picture young lady.  I didn't know that you were in the UK.   I take it that you guys drive on the wrong side of the road.  I am interested if your book is about bodies by "Fisher" or "Holden".   Since the "Holden" bodies were designed to be driven on opposite side of the road than the Bodies by Fisher

Hello Rose, I can see you’ve gotten a lot of good information from the members. If you need any further information I would suggest reaching out to Gene Schneider. You can find him in the member roster. He is a walking encyclopedia on Chevys. He has fielded questions from me that no one else could answer. Good luck.

Posted by: @john-schildberg

↑

I am interested if your book is about bodies by "Fisher" or "Holden". 

Hey John, thanks for your interest. Yes we do indeed drive on the left side of the road over here. Also, the same goes for my home country of New Zealand. In France they drive on the right like you guys though.

To answer your question, no my book isn't specifically about cars, or their bodies, or anything like that. It's a work of fiction, set in Washington State, (Mostly Orcas Island and Anacortes to be precise) and centres around a young woman struggling to reach her goal to become a doctor. She ends up working as a health care assistant for an elderly navy veteran who has moved in with his grandson after his wife died suddenly. In his grief he wants his grandson to get rid of his beautiful 38 Master Deluxe Coupe, which the grandson is reluctant to do. The car is sort of a symbol for the grandfather's love and marriage.  

@tiny Thanks so much for the pictures of the electrolock. Wow that does change things quite a bit! So, ok, firstly, in my scene, it's not a thief tampering with the car in order to steal it. The keys are lost, and the character driving the car is stuck unless he gets it started again. How much damage is he going to have to inflict to get it going? How would you do it? You mentioned bolt cutters earlier, presumably to sever the electrolock casing and the wires inside. Would he use the bolt cutters under the hood, or inside the car, (where you usually see people messing about under the dash to start a car without the keys)? Couldn't he just tap a screwdriver into the ignition to turn the engine over? Whatever happens, he's going to have to replace the keys/ignition/electrolock, I should think.

Oh and with a bench seat, do you mean the back of it is divided so each side can be inclined separately for accessing the rear seat?

Also I'm stunned to think of a all those non commercial cars running around your roads with no legally required safety inspection! So, technically, my fictional Chevy might not even have seatbelts, and no one will mind! Over here you can be prosecuted for driving a car outside of its safety inspection time.

Posted by: @tiny

↑

Safety inspections vary by state.

You know what? I just looked it up on Wikipedia - Washington State has no safety, emissions, or vin inspections! It's the wild west out there 🤣 That does bode well for another character's vehicle though. That is a rust bucket of a Ford pickup from the sixties. Hmm... is it blasphemy to post a non Chevy here?

Edit: found a site that suggests my cowboy reference earlier might be incorrect - a website called partsgeek (last updated in 2016 I might add) says that emissions tests are required in some counties in Washington. But not Skagit County, and the San Juan Islands, which is where my story is set

@enrique-cardona Thanks Enrique, I'll look him up, although, since he hasn't replied in this thread yet, maybe he's not so keen to be involved? Don't want to bother anyone.

@rose Good morning Rose. I'll kind of start in reverse order of your posts. Gene has been a stalwart of the VCCA for decades and one of the few "senior" members to have made the move to the new club site. Many others have decided not to participate. Since Gene made the move to the new site he's not been as prolific of a poster as in the past. That could have many causes, not the least that he's a senior individual and life itself may be slowing him down. When he does choose to participate we value his input highly.

Secondly, feel free to discuss non Chevy/GMC vehicles but please put those questions in the General Discussion forum instead of a Technical forum. Many of our members own non GM vehicles but, to keep the forums organized and germane, we try to stay "on topic" in the technical forums.

You are correct. In many ways it IS the wild west over here. Our DNA as a nation is pretty much constructed from the principle of "if I'm not hurting you mind our own business". On a personal note pertaining to seat belts, I believe they can and do help the user survive a serious accident. Having said that, it's none of anyone else's business whether I wear one or not. If I die, it's no skin off of anyone else's nose, e.g. it's a good idea to not go around hitting yourself over the head with a hammer but we don't need a law making that person a criminal. This is as far as I will go on the subject since political discussion is strictly verboten on the site. (Neither my 38 or my 53 have seat belts)

You know, that's an interesting question, "How would I do it?" if I lost my keys away from home and had to start the car. I've never considered that and will have to give it some thought about how I would proceed. A lot would depend on what tools were at hand at the time. It'll be interesting to read others ideas.

Yes, the seatbacks in two door cars tip forward individually to allow access to the back seat.

Thanks for the synopsis of your book. It should be an interesting read when finished. Let us know when it's finished. I'll pick up a copy.

@rose Rose,  I take it that when you said "Washington State" you are referring to A state over in the UK and not in the USA.   Your book sounds like an interesting book.  I can't wait to read it.

Posted by: @john-schildberg

↑

@rose Rose,  I take it that when you said "Washington State" you are referring to A state over in the UK and not in the USA.   Your book sounds like an interesting book.  I can't wait to read it.

I could be wrong but I take it as the US Washington State. It has a Skagit County and a San Juan island.

<It seems Washington State ended testing in 2020.>

Posted by: @john-schildberg

↑

I take it that when you said "Washington State" you are referring to A state over in the UK.

Actually I meant the Washington State that’s nestled between Canada and Oregon in your country’s Pacific Northwest 😀 Here in the UK regions are called counties.

Also, thank you so much for your kind words about reading my book. I will let you know for sure!

Posted by: @tiny

↑

I take it as the US Washington State.

You take it correct sir! And yes, I’m aware there could be some irony in a New Zealander living in England while writing a novel set in the United States.

Posted by: @tiny

↑

to keep the forums organized and germane, we try to stay "on topic" in the technical forums

Noted. My interest is primarily in learning more about the 38 Chevy, since the other cars mentioned in the story aren’t as important. But knowing me and how interesting the answers are, there’s a chance I will stray off topic now and then, in which case feel free to move me as you see fit. 

Oh and yes please to you thinking about starting your car without the key. I would love to hear about that. In lieu of a better way I think it might have to be the somewhat brutal, but hopefully believable way of screwdriver into the ignition. Then he will have to replace the ignition and also incur his grandfather’s ire.