Anybody out there using their Crosley as a daily driver? I mean day-in-day-out work commuter of 10-20 miles each way? My commute is 15 miles of rural 2-lane here in Amish country where we share the road with horses and buggies, bicycles, farm tractors, combines, schoo' buses and motorcycles in nice weather. 45-50 mph is fine with me. With gas pricesgal maybe I should intensify my search for a Crosley. Does anyone really drive their Crosley a lot? Any comments?
I have 2 crosleys, a 48 wagon and a 49 car. I drive them 22 miles to work each day and then 22 miles home. They run very cheap. Not to fast but steady.
I have a 46' sedan 47 wagon and a 51 wagon, I take them on short trips when ever I can, (except winter), but I don't drive them to work because it is about 80 miles round trip, and it mostly interstate. If you have ever drove a Crosley, you will know they aren't made for the interstates.
If the weather is good, I drive mine quite often. But I'm only a mile and half from work so take that into account.
I keep the time of day, the day of the month, the phase of he moon and all national holiday in mind if I wander out on any highways, be they county or state. On Interstates you'd be foolishly if your car wasn't hopped up to the gills. (Barry Seel would keep up with eyes a blur and fenders flappin) I'm of the opinion we, as Crosley drivers need to stay off roads that are post any more than 55 MPH. All the traffic takes at least 8 MPH over the speed limit, if I get rear ended it will be a 18 MPH differential impact and I'll be dead. I drive my Crosleys at 45, which was the speed limit in most states when they were built. You'd be safe, with most of the Amish drivers. But, I have no idea what it would be like to be rear-ended by a horse.
I can run along with the big dogs on the interstate, it's when they pass me, that scares the heck out of me. Those big semi's create a big vacuum when they pass, almost got sucked under one more than once. .
I used my '49 as a daily driver (it was my only car from '98 to 2000). My biggest problems always came from trying to get by with something that I knew should be fixed. The car had been sitting for years when I got it and I should have replaced the wiring and brakes right off the bat. I had a few problems, but always managed to limp home. If you start out with a solid car i would think it should be pretty reliable. they are so simple there isn't all that much to go wrong. the big thing is realizing that you can't drive it like a regular (i.e. post-1970) car. Crosleys are slow and have no syncromesh and 1930's brake technology. You will be dealing with a leaky water pump every once in a while and I have had an adjustment shim spit out from under the cam at speed. But, all in all, Crosleys are pretty straightforward. Never be in a hurry and your Crosley should do just fine.
I drive my Crosleys a 51 SS, a 48 pick up, and now a 47 as often as I can. I have never ventured onto the interstate. Mainly 3 to 8 mile trips to the hardware store, donut shop etc. I get a lot of looks when I take my two dogs in the SS. I remove the pass seat for them. One is 50 lbs and the other is 75 lbs. So I have a full load.
I will add my couple of cents regarding use of most old, by which I mean 40's or earlier, cars as daily drivers. We own a '48 Crosley wagon, a '50 Chevy sedan, a '51 Kaiser sedan, a '50 Studebaker sedan, a '28 Chevy sedan, 61 Corvair Lakewood and 61 Rampside pickup. We have driven all of the above long distances, that is over 100 miles but none of them on a daily basis. I think to do so is to put yourself in a perilous situation due to the craziness of traffic now days. When we tour with our old cars we usually tour with other old cars so traffic has some sense that there is not just a traffic jam but an old car tour to contend with. Still we have encountered people in such a hurry that they swerve around and cut into our tour line to avoid head-on collisions before speeding on around the remainder of our line. To put an old car in the traffic mix today is to ask for trouble, even if your old car is very dependable. The brakes are not up to modern traffic standards and other drivers don't seem to understand that we may need a few (100) extra feet to slow and stop or a bit more time and distance to get up to speed (our speed not theirs). To save a few bucks by trying to drive a Crosley in modern traffic is not a smart way to go. We love to drive our old cars but we take back roads as often as possible and always are on the lookout for possible hazards, pull off to let long lines of anxious drivers speed by us etc. I wish it were otherwise but I think the old car hobby does not mix with modern iron.
I agree with Steve and understand the interesting situations one can find oneself in. Case in point: I have been nearly rear ended leaving intersections in the '48 Crosley, '48 Frazer, '79 Datsun and '91 Merc. Sadly it is the hurry up and get it done society, quick off the lights 0-to-60 in 10.2 nano seconds acceleration! Another problem I have gotten "Precious" to vapor lock, once so bad I had to call my brother to bring the truck and trailer to haul her home. High altitude only makes matters worse because the cars have to work harder. Sure I could advance the timing, tried that once, got shocked when I grabbed the dist, almost dropped the timing light into the fan, decided that she was running juuuust fine. So I drive "Precious" on sidewalks now to avoid all of this.
- One of the most frequent questions I hear at a show is "do you really drive this on the road?" I usually tell the story about my last highway trip with Norman. I was driving down our local 4 lane (55 mph) at between 50 and 55 when an 18 wheeler went by about 70 or more. The "draft" from it literally sucked me out into the passing lane behind him. There wasn't a thing I could do about it!!! If someone had been following him, I am sure the results would have been tragic. I have not been on a 4 lane since then and never will. If I go a distance, it is on country roads.
For vapor locks add a Heat Shield under the fuel pump. They had them to keep the heat from the exhaust manifold away from the fuel pump. A very easy part to make and install.