Great quote from Dirty Harry: "Man's Got to know his limitations..." 🙂 ... View more

Hello Sajeev: I am not currently a professional engine builder, but I was for many years. Now I do it for fun or the odd customer that understands and is willing to pay for that level of Quality. When I build engines, not only do I always, prime the oiling system, I always hand crank the engine and make double sure every bit of oil passage had full oil flow and pressure before starting the engine the first time. I also test ran and did proper cam break in on every engine. Later in my career, roller cams became common, so the break in became a simpler affair. In some cases, after doing the break in, on my run stand we'd also take the engine to one of the local engine dyno shops and do a full cycle of running and testing before handing it over to the end user. No it's not inexpensive, to do it that way, but I never had a problem and always had happy customers in the end. ... View more

So, Toyota bought Subaru and Mazda? Wow, my plan to become completely ignorant of the current Automobile Companies and their products is working extremely well. 🙂 Oh, look, it's' time to go work on the '67 El Camino that's currently in the shop. ... View more

Excellent story Rob! Once, many years ago I was 'gifted' a mopar. After a short period of time, I kept hearing a voice, deep inside my head saying; "no!" A few years later; there I was looking at a '72 duster with a slant six that wasn't really running, but wasn't really rusty. I bought it, got it running and considered keeping it, and again there was a voice inside my head saying; "No." About two years later; here came a '69 Chrysler 300 with a 440 and 727 automatic, but the engine had caught on fire, the transmission leaked and the rear end had a hole in it. Then I heard the voice in my head yell: "HELL NO!" 🙂 Later I'll tell you about the time I had to 'assume the position' under the dash of a Mustang... 🙂 ... View more

Wow, Cam... I thought we were friends... Dig the Miata though. If you ever want to sell it cheap, I need a new off roader for dirt racing. ... View more

Well said! ... View more

The AC looks like a mash up and I do mean mash up, between a Bricklin and an X19. Ugh! Good job on the part of the Kansas legislature. I almost wish I could afford a Land Rover to get in on that sweepstakes. Pretty cool! No matter where you 'construct' the battery for the EV, most of the expensive raw materials ae coming from one place. ... View more

Is a Quarry filled with Canyon's an Irony? I do find it funny. 🙂 ... View more

Love the car! I could make my favorite LS joke here, but I shant. 🙂 It sounds like the fuel filter, on the carb, might be in backwards. Don't ask me how I figured that one out, once, a long time ago. It could also be the float is set too low or possibly a needle and seat that is stuck. Mikes Carburetor is an incredible resource! As an alternative, if absolute originality isn't that important to you; a guy could switch out to an Edelbrock carb. They are a new evolution of the WCFB's younger brother the Carter AFB. The current Edelbrock and Carter built AFB have a dual bolt pattern, but you might want to make sure the butterflies are in the correct positions when bolting to an original intake manifold. ... View more

Last time I checked, we get our oxygen from plants and other green organisms. Those organisms get their lively hood from C02 and give back oxygen, that we breathe. It seems, to me, that more C02 would tend to make a better atmosphere for plants etc. and that would make more oxygen for us. Yes, this is a bit oversimplified, but so is the 'science' of Global warming, Climate Change, Evil Rebuplicanism, Climate Denial, et al. The fact is Climate is always changing and will always change. Get used to it! What is the climate, today (right this minute, right where you are) supposed to be? Why is it supposed to be that? Shelter was sought, refined, built and changed by humans to suit their needs over time. The same thing happened with food and clothing. This is all natural. People and animals and even plants change over time, to adapt to their environment or Climate. Back in the day, the loss of people, animals or plants etc., over time, was considered 'Natural Selection'. Apparently that 'science' is lost on us today. I'm all for people making a living, but I'm not for doing it by the force of bad government fiat. Not only is that dumb, it goes against everything this country and it's Constitution stand for. ... View more

Love it! What a future this portends! ... View more

Agreed, well said and explained, Sajeev! ... View more

An excellent reply. Here, here! Whenever I hear a busy-body use the word 'Science' I want to splash them with really cold water and hope that might help them wake up from whatever dream or nightmare they are living in. That is something Doctor's used to tell parents to use on very small children who were having fits of anger etc. It worked exceptionally well the three times I saw it used. Unfortunately, I don't think it would work, nor do I think I'd stay out of jail for long. 🙂 ... View more

Jack: I had a really vicious, tongue in cheek, Diatribe here with all sorts of things written about you; including terms like Alarmist, Bigot, Racist, Narcissistic, White Supremacist, ICE Supremacist, Global (warming, climate change, cooling, etc) denier et al, but when I read it back to myself, out loud, I was afraid someone might take me seriously and you might get in some sort of Government Agency sponsored trouble. In my opinion it was really funny, but you will have to reassemble it for yourself, because I'm probably going to be too busy being cancelled by all sorts of Tech Giants that I didn't know exist, on platforms I don't even participate in. 🙂 Well such is the life of reading a Jack Baruth column and, to some extent, believing in the sanctity of the Constitution of the United States of America. As of today, March 1st; I can't find any info regarding the Felicity Ace and whether it's still burning. I found one report, that it was still burning as of four days ago. I peripherally know of one person whose EV started on fire in their attached garage, and it did a LOT of damage. This a poignant article that will likely go mostly unnoticed except by us few. I like the 1984 reference too. Keep it coming Jack! ... View more

I think that car invented the word "Swoopy". ... View more

Wow... That's... Wow... Neo Classic is right. I like the colors, even though the dark color is on the top. Not sure I'd want to be photographed anywhere near that 'Neo Classic'. There's just WAY too much Excalibur involved there. ... View more

Now that's a "cool" story! 🙂 Need more of this type of history lessons. Thank you! ... View more

I always thought Polestar had somethgin to do with strip clubs? 🙂 ... View more

For a second there I was thinking this the opening to a joke or a racing team... 🙂 ... View more

Larry: I'm not a 'Ferrari' guy and really not a 'Dino' guy, but I have done many an engine out etc on a lot of old cars. I'm along with you for the ride. Looks like fun to me. "a quarter-mile into my first around-the-block excursion, when the GT4 sputtered, stalled, and coasted to a stop." For a moment there I thought you were working on a Mopar. 🙂 Oh, that's not nice... I had somethgin similar happen to me on a test drive, when I had left a vise grip on the fuel line. I laughed out loud when I realized what I'd done. I'm sure you've already spoken to, your friend, Marc Trahan, regarding the possible valve problem. That's one of those things where Ai'd talk to a few well versed people and see what they had to say. In the end, if the engine does fail, then it's just the right time for an LS swap! I had to throw that one in. 🙂 ... View more

Pretty sure you have the problem surrounded with help from Mike at Mike's Carb parts! Love his website. So much good info on all kinds of carbs. When I was younger; we just thought of a WCFB as being a good excuse for an AFB conversion. Or even better, a new manifold and a Holley carb. 🙂 ... View more

Hello Nik; I speak to people all the time with classic or muscle cars and tell all of them: "If you want to drive it, don't paint it!" I've seen it happen, more times that I want to count; someone gets their classic painted and that's the last time it hits the road. I've heard all kinds of excuses: " ... don't want to scratch, mar, damage etc, the new paint." "What if I get a rock chip?" " I just haven't had the time to put the chrome back on." This from someone who had the car painted YEARS earlier. That car did nearly daily driver duty previous to being squirted. Happens too often and really makes me sad. Now wrapping the car might be interesting. I like patina myself; my daily driver is a '64 Chevelle with original faded paint and rub through and some small bits of rust. My second car is a '64 El Camino that I use on days I don't drive the other Chevelle. It was fully prepped and painted, but when we did it, we painted it with a nearly flat finish that makes it look like the paint is also really faded original material. It's not shiny, in the least, and I flog it like a rental. I'm not sure I'd worry about the bit of undercarriage rust proofing. I'd fix the crank seal, but I'm not sure I'd do more than take a rag to the rest of it. That's just good preservative. I would fix the heat! I live in Minnesota and I drive my cars right up until the salt hits the roads for deicing. Sometimes I'm walking out the door with the temps in the teens or 20's (on the Fahrenheit scale). A heater is a must. I figure the ride height problem is probably down to old springs. A new set of springs and shocks or dampers, and a new set of tires will probably do wonders. Keep on driving it every day! More power to those who do. ... View more

Brilliant! How much torque can it handle? ... View more

Hi Sajeev; Considering the trucks age and mileage, the first thing I'd do is change to a 15w40 oil and see if that doesn't fix the problem. High mileage engines do tend to leak a bit more and also have greater clearances due to wear etc. A little heavier oil can help with the small leaks and also give better lubrication when the engine gets warmed up. ... View more

Sajeev: Love the A-1 Shock Absorber website! That's quite a place. Easy to navigate and a ton of parts and information. 🙂 ... View more

Congratulations Rob! Sounds like you found an excellent place to your addiction... uh, non-collection. Looks like there's some interesting stuff hanging about the new space. I second the idea of getting friends together to move the other cars. If nothing else it's an opportunity to get together with like minded friends and have a day of fun along with pizza and beer. Sounds wonderful! ... View more

Hey Sajeev: Your first thought was "... you have a clogged radiator". My first thought was: "Sounds like it's time for an LS conversion!". 🙂 Just couldn't resist. I did that, just for Sajeev and the two other guys out there that laughed also. For those of you that didn't get it, it's really just a bit of inside baseball... Some really good suggestion here. Love your readers. ... View more

I believe Ben Dover is the lead attornew for the Dewey, Prokem and How legal group. 🙂 Couldn't resist. ... View more

mmmmm... Bolognese! ... View more

Neat Story Rob: I think the first pic probably gives the best clue to what the next installment will read like, but I won't blow it for those who want to preserve the illusion. There are so many possibilities here for hand clapping, and witty repartee, that I just don't know where to start. First and last pic: "Such a face... Such a face!, how can you just walk away from that?" Ok, I'll admit the Elan +2 is cute. But, I think that would be just taking the easy way out. All it really needs is some engine work, and you could even use a Pinto engine to power it. I seem to remember you can build some ridiculous power with the 2.0 or even the 2300 Pinto engines. Probably more than enough to destroy whatever darling, British transmission that car has in it, so you would have the opportunity to upgrade that as time went on also. For the right money (I'd say around $ 2000) I think that could be space worthy. On the other hand: I kinda like the Elcat, especially with V8 Power and in my deepest sarcasm (or possibly my lizard, Hot Rod, car guy) brain, I see it as being completed by a group of like minded Loti enthusiasts, surviving on beer, pizza, smoked and grilled meat and who knows what else. These Loti Warriors sacrifice knuckles, joints, skin and possibly ultimately their sanity to get this machine back to life! Oh sure it's been done before, but still it could make for some wonderful stories and good times, if you can find friends foolish enough to participate? It might turn into a You Tube Sensation or possibly a show on Motor Trend Channel and make all of the guys famous! In the end; you could call it "El Cid" and the car could become the complete opposite of it's name's progenitor. Think of the possibilities! 🙂 Ok, enough of the fun stuff, let's get back to the physics. I love the last pic and the quote, from the other Rob: "Unless it becomes unstable, in which case it becomes a dynamics problem very quickly!" That is so true. That alone could be the basis for a whole bunch of stories involving bad or goofy things happening in the shop or life. Up here in Minnesota, and other places of great snow and ice, you could turn it around and say, 'it's a dynamics problem, unit it becomes a statics problem' when you hit the snow bank, or tree, or ditch etc. 🙂 Wish I could've seen the arrangement of hoists. I love ingenuity. I have a pretty good idea of how he did it, but I'd really love to know, if you get my meaning. Keep up the good work, Rob. Thank you. ... View more

Love the info on the Chevelle Concours hyperv6! That brings back a few really obscure thoughts. ... View more

Rob; I'm of the opinion that you're problem isn't really the age of the used cars, you prefer to drive as daily drivers, rather it's the brand... 🙂 Oh, I'm only joking! Really, I'd say it's more of an age problem, in that your daily driver isn't old enough. My daily driver is a 1964 Chevelle 4-door with the 194 six cylinder. I've updated it with disc brakes and a 2004R overdrive transmission, to make it more drivable at modern highway speeds, the only maintenance I've done is a tune up, many years ago, an alternator (easily found at nearly all auto parts stores across the US and a voltage regulator. I wonder if much the same could be said of a BMW from the 70's or maybe the early 80's? ... View more

Love, Love it, Love it Sam!!! Brilliant. Smiled all the way through. 🙂 Still smiling. More of this please. ... View more

Great story Rob. Really good reminder for people to check their tires (and other things) once in awhile. Especially on our utility vehicles. Most of us car guys do check them on our fun cars, but we do tend to forget our utility rides sometimes. I find it a bummer that so many shops didn't treat you very well. But, I also find it very positive that the folks at JP Carroll stepped up, to once again show you what good Customer Service is all about. When I get Service like that, I tend to tell everyone I know and try to push as much business as I can their way. Even if it costs a bit more, than other places, I appreciate that sort of Service. Also good on you for giving the tech a tip. When I was in that position (working as a tech and tire rat in my youth) I always remembered those who treated me well and made sure to go out of my way to help them. Keep the truck, you're in it so reasonably, you're way ahead of the game! ... View more

Love those fins and love those tail lights! ... View more

Hello Sajeev: Interesting question. I'd say just drop an LS into it and go from there. 🙂 That was for those who have read my responses on Hagerty previously. I did know that a lot of brake lines are made of a copper-nickel alloy, (it makes them easier to bend and not kink) but hadn't thought of the copper, or nickel for that matter, being subject to electrolysis or a chemical corrosion with normal brake fluid. The science of that might be interesting to read about. As I've written previously I don't get involved with new cars, much, but I am a a Tech Service guy for a manufacturer, so I deal with unusual failures, on mechanical devices, all the time. I'm wondering it the materials used in the ABS systems are reacting with the brake fluid and that in turn is reacting with the brake lines either chemically or through electrolysis, or possibly some other way. In regards to the OP's question: I agree with relton; I'd try a new master and see if that doesn't solve the problem. It's much less expensive and relatively easy to do as a DIY project. ... View more

Hmmm... Thirteen cars... Thirteen! Wow, do I feel unworthy. I only have the '64 El Camino, the '64 Chevelle more door, the '67 El Camino that is currently in two major pieces and LOT of smaller pieces, all over my shop. Then I have my winter beater 2000 S10 and I just got rid of another 2002 S10 that was just a really big paperweight. It went to a buddy of a buddy to serve as the base of a '54 Chevy coupe Hot Rod. Now I've got two big driveways that are empty. Hmmm... Does anyone know of a nice '64 Tempest or Lemans, or maybe a '64 Buick Special? I need to expand my fleet a bit. 🙂 ... View more

So you're saying (to paraphrase JRR Tolkien): "One building to house them all!... 🙂 ... View more

Way to go Kyle! You know deep, down, inside you really wanted to spend the Winter working on the Corvair. 🙂 That's why you put off the alignment so late in the year. In your subconscious, you knew there might be problems that wouldn't allow the car to be aligned and you simply created the situation that would allow you to make the Corvair up to that standards you really wanted. Good on ya for that! ... View more

Well done Sajeev! Really good pics and seriously creative and magnanimous and charitable descriptions... When I look at that I like to say to myself: "Born from Jets, huh? How the might have fallen". 🙂 That should generate some venom. ... View more

Kyle: I had a really funny response, while I was thinking Rob 'The Hack Mechanic' had written this piece, but that irony is now gone. 🙂 I do seem to remember; watching some old movie involving young German machinists, learning how to file, by hand, for a year or two, before they were allowed to start using machines. And yes, there was a specific way to file. YA! ... View more

So, Jack; Are you telling me the SCCA, which has a full rule book covering all sorts of things including Safety and I would think behavior, yet it doesn't have a set in stone, or at least written on stone, rules for how multiple classes should act when running on the same track? These sorts of things are down to region by region, or track to track, or even official to official? I've always thought the SCCA was really on top of their game, but that makes me question my thinking a bit. I'm with the Official from Nelson Ledges, keep your line, it's the faster cars job to make the pass safely. Doing things the other way, seems way too unpredictable and with too many variables. All of that aside: It's always fun to find new stuff and new challenges. Good on ya for this Radical departure, you're involved in. 🙂 ... View more

Hello Sajeev et al; I believe this is a time for testing, testing, testing, rather than just throwing a bunch of stuff at the possible problem. I agree it's probably vapor lock, but it could be somethgin else. I like the idea of of a pressure gauge, in the fuel line, and it would give excellent data. But, I don't think we need to do that just yet. So, as Jim R pointed out, lets get the truck out and running and keep a rag and a really cold bottle of water (a bottle of water in a cooler with ice, so it's really cool would be best) and when the problem occurs, soak the rag in COLD water and wrap it around the fuel lines. If that fixes the problem, then the final solution is up to the end user on how to fix it. The fuel line looks like it's riding right on top of the valve cover, so that would impart a lot of heat into the fuel line. Looking at the carb; I see it's sitting on some sort of adapter? I've not seen whatever that is previously. I don't think that's causing the problem, I'm just curious what it is? We really need more info here; especially the circumstances of when the problem occurs. Full tank, partial tank, ambient temp, is the fuel tank vented? A replacement gas cap won't be vented, like the original cap, and that can cause problems with fuel flow under certain circumstances. A compromised tank pick up, or screen, could be a problem. A rusty tank where material covers the screen sometimes, but not others could also be a problem. Fuel can always be a problem particularly if the fuel has a lot of ethanol in it. Modern fuel doesn't have any of the anti-boil additives like it did when all the vehicles were carbureted. So, fuel can boil really quickly when you park for a short period of time and the carb or other parts, get heat soaked. ... View more

Hello Brandon; Oh, there's a really nice spot here for a really hilarious 'Let's Go Brandon' moment, but it's really too easy and I'm above that sort of cheap frivolity and joke making. My stuff is much more high brow that that. Even though I'm keeping to to myself, I just want to say I laughed pretty hard. 🙂 Now, to the commentary at hand regarding the four problem solving products. 1. As previously pointed out: Edelbrock invents the 4150 Holley Carb. All of this was done previously by Holley, Quick Fuel and Demon. In my opinion this is really just a Holley for the guys that want everything on their engine to say "Edelbrock" on it. 2. That looks promising. I like the idea and programmability. Very cool. 3. Looks like something a friend of mine, or other competent professional, can use to fix something on my vehicles. I'd never use it, because if I did, the repair would look like I did it. 🙂 4. Go Binder, Go Binder, Go Binder, Go! No, I'm not being sarcastic! I love Binders. Now you can fix an International for less than the cost of an LS swap. Back in the day, Binder owners understood they would be working on their trucks, but many of today's owners (I've spoken to quite a few in the last few years) don't realize finding parts and people who want to work on one can be difficult. Good job by the folks at Top Street Performance! ... View more

Way to go Danger Girl!!! Moments of that sort of breakthrough are, for me, even better than when a really good plan just comes together and works perfectly. The constant challenges and lack of expected success can put a real squeeze on the psyche, but when the clouds clear and the sun shines, the joy and relief can bring an enormous positive emotional and physical push that's really gratifying. Most people have those sorts of breakthrough moments, but few can write about them with such eloquence and loquacity. (No, I'm not sucking up... I just needed a way to use the word 'loquacity' in a sentence, in a published space, to win a bet... as far as you know). Kudos to Ross Bently, for the phrase, and to you for bringing it to this audience. The Great and Powerful Philosopher, Swamibob said somethgin similar, I'll just have to go find it now. Lucky Charms? Ok; I was more of a Quisp and Quake guy in my youth. That and Wheaties of course. I will, however, admit to playing a Leprechaun, on several occasions, named Elvis J. Peewiddle III (sometimes Esquire, but only when I'm feeling tort). Not sure those stories would be publishable though... 🙂 ... View more

Jack; It sounds like there may have been a little too much class at that race. 🙂 🙂 🙂 ... View more

My deepest condolences on having to purchase a "J" car... Sometimes life is just full of HATE! 🙂 ... View more

It's difficult to beat the '59 Caddilac tail lights, but for Honorable mention; I'd say any Desoto tail light from the fins era.  They were all excellent.  Also the Dodge Coronet tail lights from '65-70.  Loved all of them.   Also the '66 Pontiac Lemans taillight.  Another classic! ... View more

I'm amazed how that bike, could go that fast with that much brass hanging on either side of the seat! 🙂 ... View more

Thank you Rob; for reminding me of the word 'taxonomy' and using it correctly in a sentence. 🙂 Beyond that, excellent article and thoughts on the human species. Fortunately, for me, I didn't get too imprinted when I was younger. My family was a Rambler and AMC family. We had a lot of Americans, Matador's Rebels, Gremlins etc, while I was growing up. As I look back now the only thing that could've been worse was growing up in a Mopar family. 🙂 Yes, that was cruel, but it was funny! I did grow up as a car guy and a slot car racer and collector and both of those passions inform (or maybe haunt is a better verb) me to this day. I grew up reading Hit Rod, Popular Hot Rodding, Car Craft etc and somehow settled on A-body GM cars as my metier. Chevelles mostly, but I do love a Tempest (Lemans) or Special (Skylark) also. As I get older I find I'm more attracted to the models from '64-'67 and the newer ones are just not my thing. In slot cars; I did get imprinted with Aurora T-jets when really young and in spite of Tyco cars being faster, something about the pancake motor stuck to me and LOT of other people too. I race T-jets all over the country with people, from many walks of life and we all enjoy racing and a lot of us enjoy collecting the little cars. I spend a lot of time, in both of my main hobbies/passions, building and driving and enjoying. Lots and lots of smiles, either walking into my shop and seeing my El Camino or Tempest or walking into my basement and looking at my slot cars and racing them. There is much joy and tranquility to be had in embracing such passions. In these difficult times it might even be more important to our overall health to find such things that simply help us to smile. May I also say, I really dig the quilts! Most impressive. Most impressive indeed. ... View more