Name That Part: Vinyl Record Edition

If you're spending $125,000 for a record player, seek help. $125,000 for a car, though? Oh that's just fine.
If you're spending $125,000 for a record player, seek help. $125,000 for a car, though? Oh that's just fine.

Yesterday’s Name That Part had a personalized touch. As Mike The Dog pointed out, it was the fuel pump from an AMC 195.6 OHV inline-six, circa 1964. I fought with this part at length, and after replacing it twice, ended up taking one apart and making a few tweaks to solve a problem I was dealing with. My dad, after watching me fight with this for more hours than I care to admit, told me I was “obsessed.

We understand that many of us could safely qualify as “obsessed” when it comes to cars. For some of us, that obsession also translates into other parts of our lives. Not content with “good enough”, we insist on finding a product that perfectly suits our needs. Personally, I like my music.
As a musician and performer myself, I tend to be critical of music, and am a horrible critic when I hear it live. When directing a musical several years ago, I went up to the conductor after the twenty-one-piece orchestra finished playing the prologue, and informed him that the tenor saxophone was off-key. He argued with me, insisting there was no way I could know that. I asked him to check, and sure enough, it was.
To that end, I’ve chosen a home entertainment system that was the absolute best I could afford. I’ve spent months shopping for all the best deals so that I didn’t have to “skimp” on any part, and chose to use analog equipment where possible. I was heartbroken, a few years ago, when my old record player broke, because I couldn’t afford the cost to get it repaired. Not that it mattered, I only had a few vinyl records, but it was the principle of the matter. I no longer had a way to listen to that “raw” analog music.
Some people, of course, are even more obsessive than me. The record player in the photograph is called a ClearAudio Statement. It retails for $125,000, and can perfectly play your record through a fairly significant earthquake. Now, I’m not that obsessive, but I’m sure if I had unlimited funds, I could become that way. I would need unlimited funds, too, as it weighs almost 800 lbs, and can tax the floors in some houses.
What does all this have to do with today’s Name That Part? Well, that’s for you to figure out.
Mystery Part 2
In fairness, I’ll disclose that this part has been very slightly modified, but not in any way that will prevent it from being identifiable. Whether or not the generous number of hints help in your identification will depend heavily on how “obsessed” you are with your mission.

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71 responses to “Name That Part: Vinyl Record Edition”

  1. Mike the Dog Avatar

    I see a lot of parts under there, which one are we talking about?

  2. Andy Wallwhore Avatar
    Andy Wallwhore

    Which part are we supposed to be guessing? I see a brake line balancer and lines going to a drum brake. Or are we supposed to guess what the sum of parts in the picture are attached to?
    Is it from an Opel Rekord?
    (I’ll add to the chorus, this place rocks. You dethroned the J as my homepage.)

    1. Deartháir Avatar
      Deartháir

      That’s kind of where I was going with the article series. Name the part, and use that to name the car. Clearly it’s suspension, like yesterday we had “fuel pump” nailed in seconds. But what car does it belong to? And bonus points if you can figure out how it all ties together!

  3. Graverobber Avatar
    Graverobber

    I wish my cars were that shiny underneath. Instead, I have road rot and blackwidows. Ouch!

    1. aSoundofSleep Avatar
      aSoundofSleep

      Be glad, my blackwidow sleeps in my bed …..

  4. p161911 Avatar
    p161911

    Well, the most prominent part in that picture is the brake line. But I see a tire there too. Can we get an arrow to what we are supposed to ID?

  5. Mike the Dog Avatar

    The driveshaft looking thingy is obviously a spring of some sort. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.

    1. baldy_pm Avatar
      baldy_pm

      I don’t think its a spring, IMO there has to be something to keep the wheel from moving in and out.
      Unless, there is no ball joint, and the lower control arm is fixed to the spindle. Then it could be a spring.(?)

      1. Mike the Dog Avatar

        The ball joint is down by the spindle, right behind the brake backing plate. The pivot (where the U-joint would go if the driveshaft looking thingy was a driveshaft) allows tube to slide in and out with suspension travel without binding.

  6. Tim Odell Avatar
    Tim Odell

    Why are you using part of a driveshaft as an upper suspension link?

    1. JeepyJayhawk Avatar
      JeepyJayhawk

      That’s what I’m burning to know

    2. drewdraws2 Avatar

      It looks like an F1-style inboard pushrod suspension setup on a…I have no idea what kind of car, but something awesome obviously.

  7. LTDScott Avatar
    LTDScott

    That was a good drum brake.

    1. BGW, Capt. (Ret.) Avatar
      BGW, Capt. (Ret.)
    2. Jo Schmo Avatar
      Jo Schmo

      COT…. oh wait…

  8. jeremy! Avatar

    suspension pushrod?

  9. baldy_pm Avatar
    baldy_pm

    This is a very confusing setup.

  10. jeremy! Avatar

    i see no springs, cantilever then?
    also, i see no lower A arm. so then it is an upper and lower I arm?

    1. Mike the Dog Avatar

      There’s only a lower control arm. The upper mounting point seems to be the pivot at the end of the tube. Almost like a primitive strut suspension.

      1. Deartháir Avatar
        Deartháir

        You’re getting warmer…

  11. joshuman Avatar
    joshuman

    That bulbous pointy thing in the middle of the photo near where the stainless brake line connects with the hard line looks slightly modified. Or maybe it is just a little dirty. It looks like a weight to me. Maybe it functions similarly to the handlebar end weights on motorcycles to dampen vibrations.
    Front drums and the tire point to an older car but I’m sure which one. I do know one thing, that is not the front assembly of a Corrado!

    1. Tim Odell Avatar
      Tim Odell

      That’s the bumpstop for the suspension. When it compresses all the way, that bumps up against the lower suspension arm.

      1. joshuman Avatar
        joshuman

        That makes much more sense.

  12. JeepyJayhawk Avatar
    JeepyJayhawk

    Axle shaft off a Corvette modified to be an upper link?

    1. JeepyJayhawk Avatar
      JeepyJayhawk

      Fullshot FTW!

      1. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
        BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

        Me thinks it´s a 50´s chevy truck front wheel suspension with 16×8 diagonal tire, and very strange drive shaft upper arm. JeepyJayhawk: I like the way you explain.

        1. FЯeeMan Avatar
          FЯeeMan

          That’s a phenomenal looking reply you’ve got there. Unfortunately Nutters (nibbles older brother) has forbidden me from seeing it. 🙁

          1. jeremy! Avatar

            put a “-tn” between 961 and .jpg.
            its still incredibly small though

        2. JeepyJayhawk Avatar
          JeepyJayhawk

          Way to take an idea and run with it. Your MS paint skillz are dope yo.

  13. Jo Schmo Avatar
    Jo Schmo

    Is is some sort of pneumatic self leveling system or auto camber adjustment?

  14. Formerlythegreatestdriver Avatar
    Formerlythegreatestdriver

    I will be honest. I tried for all of 50secs and I am flummoxed!

  15. aSoundofSleep Avatar
    aSoundofSleep

    Is it some sort of 4-wheel steer setup?

  16. salguod Avatar

    Hmm, there’s the brake lines and bump stop that others have ID’ed. The tube in the front seems to be a tie rod and the edge of lower control arm I think is just visible above that. It’s what would contact that bump stop. the drive shat looking thing I think is the upper control arm which must have a pivot out of the frame in the upper right. There’s a monotube shock in the background.
    Maybe the simple answer is the front suspension of something. I was thinking of a 20’s – 30’s era something, but the hydraulic brakes would make that unlikely.

  17. Al Navarro Avatar
    Al Navarro

    FWIW, I would not spend that kind of money on the Clearaudio Statement. I would stop at the new VPI Classic. In fact, I plan to stop there myself sometime this year. Check out the stereo pix on my FB page for the two systems I co-own (they are not even at my own home, btw…the big one demands way too much room…801 Matrix S3s will do that…..

  18. Goingincirclez Avatar

    The tire sidewall and the color of the wheel it’s attached to make me think “vintage” for some reason. Also it looks like the body is simple sheet metal – it’s all to simple, smooth and clean to be a normal production car. You can see the “shop” in the background underneath the lower control arm, so there’s virtually no body overhang past the wheel.
    That said, I’m not sure where to go from there. Doesn’t look like anything I’m familiar with, but then that’s not a very long list.

  19. Deartháir Avatar
    Deartháir

    Sorry if there is too much vaguery. We’ve clearly established it’s a shot of a suspension setup. But WHAT suspension setup? I know, the photo kinda sucks, but geez, you wouldn’t believe how hard it is to find a good photo of it.

  20. discontinuuity Avatar
    discontinuuity

    If it’s a swingaxle setup, then the drive-shaft thingie has a coil spring inside of it.
    If it’s a double a-arm setup, then the drive-shaft thingie is the upper control arm and the spring is hidden somewhere else.
    I’m going to say that this is on a ’40s or ’50s era car, but I’m not sure what kind. If I had to guess I’d say Kaiser-Nash, just because they’ve always seemed a little weird to me.

  21. Jo Schmo Avatar
    Jo Schmo

    The closest thing I can find to this is a Rover 3500 but I don’t think thats it.

    1. Mike the Dog Avatar

      I had investigated that angle, too. It doesn’t match up, though.

  22. pj134 Avatar
    pj134

    Well, I just spent longer than I’d like to admit trying to find the answer… can’t be done, this part is a hoax.
    That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

    1. Deartháir Avatar
      Deartháir

      Hahaha it’s not a hoax, and in fact it’s quite distinctive. But all the references to record players are a HUGE hint.
      Here’s another: it’s very similar to the suspension used on R/C cars.
      Okay, GO!

      1. pj134 Avatar
        pj134

        Alright, so I went again, and have only found out two things, and gained another question. first, the lancia lambda was freaking awesome, second, I can’t tell if I like this: http://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/Custom/yamaha-xs650-chopper.jpg
        The additional question is, why does searching for “model a suspension” bring up a wikipedia guide to bondage?

          1. pj134 Avatar
            pj134

            … is the answer your looking for cardan joint?

          2. pj134 Avatar
            pj134

            Additionaly, is it out of a 40’s bmw?

          3. pj134 Avatar
            pj134

            From looking at the body work you can see, its very flat, and you can see most of the wheel well, so it has to be an older car, 30’s or 40’s, with a rounded back like almost all cars from that era, so I have no idea… can I go back to it being fake? my phils lost today and my flyers aren’t doing all that much better…

          4. pj134 Avatar
            pj134

            nvm, I think I’m wrong on all counts, is that even a powered wheel?

          5. Mike the Dog Avatar

            I don’t see an axle shaft, do you? I’m pretty sure it’s a steering, non-driven wheel.

          6. Deartháir Avatar
            Deartháir

            You’re correct, it is a front, non-driven, steering wheel.

  23. Jo Schmo Avatar
    Jo Schmo

    Dearthair, I. Hate. You.
    This is going to bug the ever-living sh*t out of me.

    1. pj134 Avatar
      pj134

      Well from my research heres what I’ve kind of figured out, the record player has a kardan suspension system, the car has a cardan joint visible. R/C cars seem to have swing axles, mostly, and it would appear that the car in the picture uses a cardan jointed swing axle. For some reason, when searching cardan joint, quite a few 40’s era bmw 328’s showed up… what does all of this mean? not a clue.

      1. Rob Avatar
        Rob

        That’s not a Cardan Joint.

  24. jeremy! Avatar

    gabriel snubber!!!

  25. Andy Wallwhore Avatar
    Andy Wallwhore

    I think I can name the type, not the veicle though
    “Leaf Spring & Solid Axle
    Otherwise know as Hotchkiss suspension. This arrangement is most commonly used in 4×4 vehicles and very old cars. The concept here is that two parallel leaf springs are attached longitudinaly to the frame. One end of the leaf spring must have a shackle which acts as a pivot and allows the spring to change in length while compressing or rebounding. The center of the leaf springs are attached to the axle typically with U-bolts. The springs also act as a lateral locater for the suspension, though a panhard bar can be added for more lateral stability. Many vintage cars and trucks incorporated a single transverse leaf spring in their suspension system.”
    Although, it would appear if there is a leafspring, it’d be horizontal to the frame, that is what I envision that U-joint connects to. Man, you’re such a tease.

  26. Andy Wallwhore Avatar
    Andy Wallwhore

    Damn, I wish I could delete that…

  27. ptschett Avatar
    ptschett

    I’m giving up for the night, though I have found a suspension that’s even weirder:

  28. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    It’s a complete longshot, but is it off an older Mercedes?
    The hints suggest something Brucey. My first instinct was a VW Iltis (between the slight obscurity, the VW love, and that it looked sorta raised), but I from what I can find, it doesn’t look right.

  29. Mike the Dog Avatar

    What bothers me is that while the whole thing has a ’40s-’50s tech vibe to it, the banjo fitting on the drum brake is highly incongruous to say the least. I have never personally seen a drum brake that utilized a banjo fitting.

    1. pj134 Avatar
      pj134

      maybe its one of the
      “In fairness, I’ll disclose that this part has been very slightly modified, but not in any way that will prevent it from being identifiable. Whether or not the generous number of hints help in your identification will depend heavily on how “obsessed” you are with your mission.”
      parts

  30. Mike the Dog Avatar

    I’m going to make a WAG that it’s the air suspension of a ’57 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham. It’s just a WAG, though. I couldn’t find any pics to back it up.

  31. Dearthair's American "Aunt" Mary Avatar
    Dearthair’s American “Aunt” Mary

    Is it a pre-1941 Crosely?
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crosley

    1. Mike the Dog Avatar

      Crosley was a good guess, given the record player connection, but as near as I can tell, prewar Crosleys used a beam front axle on leaf springs:-(

  32. Dearthair's American "Aunt" Mary Avatar
    Dearthair’s American “Aunt” Mary

    A backup guess is the Bose Suspension System, based soley on the hints and not on the appearance nor on the R/C car mention.
    http://www.bose.com/controller?event=VIEW_STATIC_PAGE_EVENT&url=/learning/project_sound/suspension_results.jsp

  33. BGW, Capt. (Ret.) Avatar
    BGW, Capt. (Ret.)

    Wild-Ass Guess of the Day: Lloyd LP-(somethingorother), emphasis on the LP. No idea what any of those is packing under the skin, but it seems like the kind of sadistic arcana Dear Perfesser would un(d)earth.

  34. nj_hoon Avatar
    nj_hoon

    Alrighty….here is my guess, an educated guess but still a guess none the less.
    – A mid 50s to early 60s Chrysler suspension, probably an Imperial,

  35. HoonWannabe Avatar
    HoonWannabe

    Based on the turntable clue, I want to guess a ’56 Chrysler product (with the Hiway HiFi in-dash record player) but I don’t think that matches the picture.

  36. Mike the Dog Avatar

    I spent a lot of time cruising on Plymouth Road (Hi-Way Hi-Fi angle, natch), but it seems that during the time frame ChryCo suspensions were of the basic bread and butter control-arm variety with nice fat coil springs that would been front and center in this pic.

  37. Deartháir Avatar
    Deartháir

    Well it will be revealed tomorrow morning, and so far Auntie Mary is the closest with her Crosley guess. Still not right, but closest. Take note, boys, you’re getting your butts kicked by a girl. Mostly because she’s got the right time period. Take heart though… maybe Graverobber will go easy on you for tomorrow’s Name That Part.
    Probably not though.

  38. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    I see your $125,000 and raise you the Pagani Stereo.
    As they say, if you have to ask…

  39. Dearthair's American "Aunt" Mary Avatar
    Dearthair’s American “Aunt” Mary

    Closest isn’t good enough. This? http://www.allpar.com/history/plymouth/1938.html