GETTING MARY LOU READY FOR HER FIRST SHOW OF 2026

In anticipation of our first car show, I took Mary Lou out to fill check tires, fill with gas, navigate the trunk with our new wheelchair (for really big car shows) and finally a wash and chrome polish.

That, and I found a spot at the dog park on Johnston Dr to test out a new photo location.

STUBBORN START - BIG ASSIST FROM CHRIS M.

Once I learned I could spoon some gas into the carburetor, I've been able to start Mary Lou when she sat for a while.  We drove the car March 8 after waking her up from the winter, but when I went to start her in April, she wouldn't fire.  I ended up pouring too much gas in and got a spark and a backfire so walked away for a few weeks.

I bought some starter's fluid.  I Googled many times trying to determine if this was a step to take.  Old hotrodders like Walt Johnson told me to use it.

Our neighbor Chris Masucci (AKA Smartest Guy I Know) is moving to Peoria and our neighborhood was having a garage sale, so I walked up to pick his brain.  He offered to come down and check it out even though he was starting his new job in 2 days.

He sprayed maybe 3 times (usually takes once) and we finally got it going.  He was looking at our setup and he feels our choke linkage is binding.

This was on a Saturday.  Sunday morning, Chris texted me at 7 in the morning.  He had been researching this 😀

So, what you’ve got here is a stromberg 97 model tri-carb setup on a dodge red ram hemi. Lots of info on the Red Ram Dodge hemis online, take a look if you haven’t. At least I was able to identify the carbs and apparently it was a pretty hot setup back in the day for hot rods using those engines. I’m trying to find an article on the choke sticking, and I did come across a conversion bracket or kits of some kind to do a cable actuated pull choke from speedway motors and summit racing. I’m going to keep looking for choke issues and solutions.

https://www.stromberg-97.com/cms/uploads/2018/11/stromberg_owners_manual_web.pdf

I also found that the Ford flathead guys use those same style carbs a LOT on their tri-carb setups. Almost exclusively. So if you can find someone that does flathead hot rodding, I’ll bet you they can fix that choke issue.

Something else I found online...

Hard Starting

Another common problem with the Stromberg carburetor is hard starting. This can be caused by a variety of issues, including:

• Low fuel pressure: If the fuel pressure is too low, it can cause the engine to be hard to start. Check the fuel pressure and replace the fuel pump if necessary.
• Choke not working properly: If the choke is not functioning properly, it can cause the engine to be hard to start. Check the choke to ensure that it is opening and closing properly.
• Clogged idle circuit: If the idle circuit in the carburetor is clogged, it can cause the engine to be hard to start. Remove the carburetor and clean the idle circuit.

FIRST BATH OF THE SEASON - GETTING READY FOR FIRST SHOW OF 2025

 We've had Mary Lou on the road this year but had to get her prettied up for the first car show of the season.  Temp out was in the 50s.  Wash and chrome polish on the menu.

FINAL RIDE OF 2024

It was time to put Mary Lou away for the season.  All 4 tires were low, so I took her out to get those in shape for the winter nap and topped off the gas tank. 

REPAIRS - BRAKE LIGHTS / TURN SIGNAL / DOOR HANDLE

 We took Mary Lou into Trevor on 9/4.  He was able to fix the brake pad so our lights would work.  And fixed my door handle.  We took her back on 9/30 once he got the part in for the turn signal.  And my door handle stopped working again.  So he fixed both but the door handle needs a new bushing kit so we will do that later.

Leaving Mary Lou with Trevor

Sad sight

Back in the barn until the turn signal switch part comes in from Florida...

Took ML back on 9/30 for turn signal part and the darn button on driver door stuck again.  Trevor showed me the packet the part came in.  He said, "tell me that's not an original part." When I picked up the car, the envelope was on the front seat.  He knew I would want it.

Made out of pot aluminum

Dropping her off

MARY LOU IN THE SHOP FOR THE FIRST TIME

 Cindy has been worried about our oil not being changed since we got the car.  Plus, not knowing the maintenance history.  The challenge was finding a place to do it and where we knew the car would be taken care of.

Our new friend Rob Holland said he would do the work, but they live in Indianola and just wasn't happening.  Cindy stayed with it and called a guy in Johnston who turned out to be our new "go to guy" for Mary Lou.  Trevor at JTown Auto is close and really likes our car.  I trust him to do right for us and the car.

WHAT WE STILL NEED DONE

> He said to start looking for a new brake booster and master cylinder.  Ours is rusting out and they are known to do that.  That is a sooner than later item.

> This fall he wants to finish doing something with our radiator and how it's mounted.  He found mount plate bolts leaking.  It's something he couldn't do at the time.  He said depending on when we do it, he would put our car on a flatbed and bring it to us to avoid salt/brine, etc.

> He said he can help with the blinker.

WHAT HE DID

> Oil Change.  New filter.  Used 20W50 oil.

> He tightened valve cover bolts.

> Re-tightened bolts.

> Removed front tires and re-tightened wheel bearings

> Installed exhaust wrap around exhaust pipe next to engine oil filter.  It was getting cooked and he said the oil was pretty nasty. This should help.

MARYLOO RIDES AGAIN!

 TEXT HERE

THROTTLE CABLE BLUES

 We were planning on going to a car show at Acme Tool today.  I knew I hadn't started the car for a few days so went out to get her cranked up.  She started but when I went to give it some gas, the pedal went limp...no action.  I looked down in horror and saw a confusing sight...the cable had snapped.  It took me a while and some Googling to understand what I was seeing.  Should be able to get a new cable.  Will take some finesse to get it the right length and now working on who can do the work in our garage.  This could have happened on the road!

PRE-CAR SHOW WASH (AND POST DRIVING IN THE RAIN)

 After getting caught in the rain, I wanted to make sure Mary Lou was ready for car show season.

So much for looking cool while doing it 😄

"APRIL SHOWERS" (BATH AND POLISH FOR MARY LOU)

 A weekend with temps in the 80s in April means time to wash off the dirt and dust.  Did just that on Sunday then took a cruise.  Stopped to get some octane booster.

BEFORE

AFTER

Tire pressure held pretty well over the winter.  

Needed to top each tire off...checked at 40 PSI and need to be at 44 PSI.

CAMP "DODGE" FOR A FINAL RIDE OF THE SEASON

 Last year didn't go as planned for putting Mary Lou away for the winter.  This year we had nice weather into November, so I gassed her up and added the bottle of Stabil I had from last year.  They also recommend you drive the car a while to let the additive circulate.  Darn!  One last ride it was.  I had seen other car owners get pictures of their ride by the jet at Camp Dodge.  The sun was going down, I had Jacob's camera, so I knew where I wanted to go.  Any why not?  The taillights on a '55 Dodge were inspired by jets...I mean it was The Jet Age.

WASHED MARY LOU - July 2023

 Mary Lou was getting a little road dirt on her.  I hadn't washed the car since end of April.  Didn't do the chrome.

    BEFORE

GIVING A LIGHT SPRAY BEFORE WASHING

DONE

ALSO DONE