Here's a way to tap without making chips.  Use a Roll Tap.  https://www.yamawa.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Roll_taps_2017_web.pdf   And pair that with a Flowdrill and you have a awesome way to make treads in thin materials.   https://www.flowdrill.com/usa_en/ ... View more

Turning the tap counterclockwise to clear the tap of chips helps prevent broken taps. Chip buildup is the main cause of broken taps. ... View more

In the summer if the wind is right I can hear the races at Sharon Speedway(Hartford, OH) from my house. Sharon is the oldest continuously running track in the country. My father raced jalopies in the 50's and I was going to races at 6-7 years old... up until I got my driver's license. lol My father, Ted Wise, raced sprints with Dave Blaney's father for years. Blaney's and others own Sharon now. ... View more

I don't see any sprinkler heads in the ceiling of his building. Would a guy this smart have his collection in a building with no fire suppression? It's probably even attached to his house... ... View more

More roadsters: https://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/the-10-greatest-indy-roadsters-in-history/ ... View more

the AJ Foyt roadster was the prettiest of them all! https://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/video-secrets-of-aj-foyts-watson-offy-roadster/ ... View more

No way that is a Cheetah! That's a homemade piece of crap! ... View more

This is just some piece of crap that some shadetree mechanic cobbled together! ... View more

Viva Las Vegas had real race cars. Only an ametuer would interupt the bottom rails of a frame by welding them to other pieces of tubing. ... View more

You call that a lathe? I call it a death trap and should be scrapped! Belt drive? No guards? What's that number for OSHA? ... View more

I've owned a '07 F150 w/5.4L engine since new and always had the Valvoline Quick Lubes use the Valvoline™ Durablend™ Synthetic Blend oil. So when I got it paid off (89k miles), I decided to splurge and use the Full Synthetic for my next oil change. What a disaster! Whenever I backed up or moved at slow speed the engine sounded like a diesel on steroids! I read online about $2200 repairs to the Variable Cam Timing mechanisms or whole engine replacements. I was able to put two and two together and figure out it had something to do with the VCT control valves in the heads. After I bought replacement valves, I notice the very fine screens they had. I the mean time, I called the local Ford service department and explained my predicament. To my amazement, he told me to put a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil in it. So I switched back to the Valvoline Blended oil and added a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil. To my amazement, in a couple of days my truck was back to normal. I can only guess that the full synthetic oil somehow loosened up accumulated sludge and it plugged up the screens on the VCT valves. I hope you were not one of those that paid thousands to have your F150 fixed, when a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil could have done the trick! ... View more

I used to help my Uncle restore L2 Taylorcrafts.  I got stuck repairing the aluminum engine cowls and tubing.  These were WWII era planes and by the time I got to the cowls, they looked like swiss cheese from all of the riveted patches and cracks.  I could TIG weld them and dolly them out to look like new.  Also welded up engine cowling and turboprop combustors for the local FBO.  Thought there might be a business opportunities there, but the price to be a certified repair station was prohibitive. ... View more

Most importantly, have a plan.  Breakdown the project into manageable steps.  It will help you stay focused and not get overwhelmed when you step back and look at all that still has to be competed.   I disagree with, "Do something every day, even if you just turn a nut".  Your project will never get done that way!  If you have your work planned out, (parts, tools, know-how, etc.) you'll get more done and enjoy your work and accomplishments a lot more.   PS:  While I've had a few automotive projects...  I've built a lot of Dollar General and O' Reilly stores throughout the country and know you have to plan, plan, and plan some more. ... View more

I've always wanted to build/find a dirt modified (coupe) from the 50's or 60's.  Guys have found them and made them street legal and they look awesome with big fat tires.  After looking at the 77 Vette I have, I realized they have the same proportions and would be an easy start for building one.  They have the same layout: Engine behind the front axel, fuel tank over the rear axle, and a ready-made interior.  All it would take is someone to pull some fiberglass molds off a nice little coup and a C3 of C4 and away you go. ... View more

"An Escape-based off-roader..."  I think I'll keep my paid off 2016 Escape and just paint the roof flat black.  Even the 17" aluminum wheels are nicer.  I've been driving it around a large construction site and it seems quite capable.  ... View more

The 40 Ford Coupe was my favorite model when I was a kid.  And it's still my favorite car 60 years later! ... View more

When my daughters were ready to drive in 2011, I wanted something safe.  We found a low miles 2002 Mercury Sable for $6k.  It was black with grey leather interior and premium stereo, and they loved it.  It was a mini Mercury Marauder and looked like a mafia car.   Soon after, one of my daughters pulled out in front of a pickup and pushed the front end over 2".  Long story short- I rebuilt it and they drove it for 2 years of high school and one of them drove it for 4 year of college and 2 year of grad school.  When the oil pan started leaking I finally decided to sell it, and gave a young family a $700 deal.   In the end I was glad I bought the Sable with it's 5 star safety rating. ... View more

I had a 1986 Fiero GT that would clean the clock of most of these foreign cars.  It shifted into top gear at 100mph!  Buy one now with less than 10k miles for $14k.  Wish I had it back now! ... View more

Ever since I saw the first Lotus 7 over 50 years ago, I've always wanted one.  But to have the chance to drive one on the Sea to Sky Highway in Vancouver, that would be at the top of my Bucket List.  I live in Ohio and have a girlfriend that lives in Lancaster, CA.  Last summer we flew to Seattle, spent a couple of day there, and in Vancouver before driving to Whistler.  It's hard to explain the grandeur of driving the Sea to Sky Highway... even if we were only driving a Dodge Charger.   After a few days in Whistler we decide to go on a tour to Squamish and take the almost 2000' Sea to Sky Gondola ride.  Unfortunately it was a misty/cloudy day and at 500' up the mountain we were in the clouds.  It was still a great experience walking the trails at the top and taking in the experience.   Then the next day we heard on the news that someone had cut the gondola cable around 4am that next morning and all the cars crashed to the ground.  Whew!   Post Script:  The cable and cars were replaced, only to have the cable cut again on September 14, 2020. ... View more

My '77 Vette left me like that.  Turned the key and nothing.  Car had always been reliable and always started.  I knew it was electrical and had to do with the start wire to the starter.  I did have a screwdriver, but I couldn't get at the starter to jump the terminals on the solenoid.   Called for the flatbed and kept trying to start it.  Still nothing.  When the flatbed showed up, I tried one more time.  And low and behold it started.   After I got home I started tracing the wires.  All was good.  I had not indication that it would be ignition switch, and the solenoid on the starter didn't seem like the problem either.   By that time I remember seeing a video about changing the two engine wiring harnessed on C3s.  They showed how they attached at the firewall and how to remove them.  (all with one hand) Knowing that the wire to the starter went through this connection I disconnected them.   Well, to my surprise, the terminals in the connector were all gummed up.  Looks like over time the sealant material they used to protect them broke down and seeped into the connectors.  It seemed that when the car was cold they made a good connection, but after the car was warmed up, the sealant would cause a poor connection.   Just goes to say... it's always something with these old cars.  And have your flatbed operator on speed dial! ... View more

The  Joie Chitwood Thrill Show was a regular at NE Ohio dirt tracks in the late 50s and early 60s.  Pretty exiting when you're a pre-teen. ... View more

Interesting article.  The  Ohio Transportation Research Center was sold to Honda years ago and is now the  Honda R&D Americas,  LLC.  I went on a field trip there a long time ago and the bus got to go around the 7.5 mile high banked test track. It was too slow to go all the way up the banks.   By far the more interesting were the board tracks of the teens and twenties.  Speeds were higher than the Indianapolis Speedway.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_track_racing ... View more