I may be getting ahead of myself (you said you would do TV ads later), but the best automobile ad I ever saw was the Cadillac ad where the lady said "When you turn your car on, does it return the favor?". Right on! ... View more

Last things I had in my vice were some sheet metal trans cooler duct work that I had formed in a brake and needed to weld a diverter addition to it.  Too many things to hold and not enough hands.  Just before that I had used my vice to hold my 3/8" fuel line tubing bender tool while I shaped some complex bends for routing the 8 ft long fuel feed and return lines from the tank to the front of the chassis.  It has saved my bacon many times when I am working alone in the shop. ... View more

Cool!  I missed your story on it and did not go this year, but I went about 4 years ago and had a blast.  I live in the Texas Hill Country north of San Antonio and we decided to make a weekend of it.  We went to the Keels & Wheels event on Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed it, including the boats (a couple had Chevy W-engines for power (348/409).)  The cars were immaculate and presented a wide variety of automotive excellence, from pre-war to hot rods and everything in between.  It was a wonderful day.  On Sunday, we went to NASA and toured the museum.  Just a short distance from the Keels and Wheels location, it is also a good day's activity.  Great fun with cars. If you are based in Houston, do you ever get to San Antonio or COTA for the vintage events? ... View more

I have to ask - the location in the lead photo looks like it was taken at the Keels and Wheels event in Seabrook, TX.  Is that correct? ... View more

I ordered an 8 foot long straight piece of 3/8" annealed stainless steel fuel line from a major hot rod parts supplier because I didn't want to spend $175. for a tubing straightener.  Because of the length, there was an added shipping cost, which was okay with me.  BTW, this was for a car that was awaiting completion of the fuel line before we dropped the body onto the chassis.  After waiting for a week with no line, I followed up on the tracking number and found that it was stuck in the (un-named) freight facility at the shipper's city.  I called the shipper and they said I would have to wait 2 weeks before they shipped a replacement to ensure that the freight company did not ship it.  I couldn't do that (for time reasons) so I ordered a second 8 foot fuel line from the same supplier.  It made it all the way from the supplier to my city, where it got lost in the (again-no names) freight company's local distribution center.  They would not let me go to the center to help them locate the item, so - second fuel line is now also lost.  Now I am desperate, so I call a different hot rod supplier who sells the same item and order it from them, even though they have a much larger shipping/packaging fee due to the length of the tubing.  Although this supplier is in a different state from the first supplier, this 3rd tube also gets lost in the freight company's distribution center at the shipper's location.  By this time, I am not only desperate, but kind-of upset.  Two different national suppliers, two different international freight providers, three orders and no product yet.  So I call the second supplier up and explain the situation and request that they ship yet another 8 foot length of straight tubing to me from their warehouse in my state, using a different freight company.  They agree and a couple of days later I actually received a section of tubing, although straight is not what I would call it.  This is what I got (after paying extra for shipping and packaging of an "oversize" item.)  No packaging of any kind.  Although not straight by any means, I accepted it, largely because of my now way overdue schedule and the fact that, after 4 orders, this was the only one that actually made it to me.  I was able to straighten it well enough to use without it work hardening from multiple bends.  What a pain!  BTW, all of the suppliers did eventually cover costs of the lost parts.   ... View more

I forgot to add the coil to the list of suggested spare parts. ... View more

Most of what is pictured in the article is of no use for my 1930's era hot rods. Metric wrenches - nope, nothing like that here. The only scanner needed is a timing light and dwell meter. Torx drivers - none of those either! Some common wrenches (1/2", 9/16" & 5/8" covers most things); a couple of screwdrivers (phillips & flat); vice grips; some electrical wire and electrical tape; points file; a crescent wrench and some bailing wire. A multimeter would be nice if you are splurging. Don't forget the spare parts - distributor cap, rotor, points and condenser (always the points and condenser), and a spare set of spark plugs. If you are planning a cross-country trip (I have done several in my '34 Plymouth hot rod), perhaps add a spare alternator (or brushes for a generator if you are using one). The only concession to modern technology is the last resort tool - the cell phone, charged of course! Happy Motoring! ... View more

Why not?  I'm 72-1/2 & have started on building a '33 Ford Roadster.  I can't think of a better way to spend my time than working in my shop on a car.  It beats the daylights out of sitting in front of a TV all day long! Jake (also in TX) ... View more

I did this one for my daughter for her 2005 Mustang GT.  She loved it (Dad done good!) ... View more

I agree with Sam's comments about keeping the enthusiast car world alive, but this Z just doesn't grab me.  It has no styling, every feature has been smoothed out of the design.  I was trying to think of a good description, but the best I could come up with is that it looks like a stick of melted butter.  Perhaps it is the color. ... View more

When my 2 kids were young, a long time ago (before cell phones), we used to play a driving game.   After we had gone somewhere (anywhere), I would tell the kids that it was their job to get us home and that they had to tell me where to go, when to turn, etc.  At ages of under ten, they gladly played along, telling Dad when to turn, etc and I dutifully followed their directions, much to my wife's consternation.  It made for great fun, perhaps more for me than anyone else, but we inevitably got to see some neighborhoods and countryside that we wouldn't have ventured into otherwise.  BTW, we never made it home under their direction, and after a couple of hours of wandering (and my wife's pleading to "let's just go home now"), I would end the game and head to the house.  I don't think people would do that now, mostly because devoting a couple of hours to nonsense just isn't acting responsible anymore.  It's a shame! I'm glad to see that Sam is still a free spirit.  Maybe next time he could take the kids with him and share the adventure. ... View more

I disagree.  The 24 hour race was the first time competing on a track for the C8.  The second race at Daytona in July suggests otherwise, after the Corvette got a fair shake on the BOP.  Let's see how it goes this weekend at Sebring. ... View more

I really enjoy Sam's stories.  I can so identify with this, and it's timely, too.  I just spent 3 weeks pouring over forums, internet gurus, manuals and whatever opinion sources were available trying to find out what were the right OEM part numbers to use to replace the front suspension of my high mileage, but late model car-hauling truck.  After pulling and finding an interpreter for the truck's RPO codes, the OEM sites were less than helpful.  It turns out there are lots of parts and part numbers that could fill those spaces under the fenders, but finding the exact replacements was an adventure down the rabbit hole.  Does my truck use aluminum A-Arms or cast steel; does it use blue or green striped strut bumpers; are the ball-joints pressed, threaded, staked or an integral part of the A-arm?  I finally threw my arms up, covered my eyes and said "I choose you", hit the "Order Now" button, and waited.  Within a few days (or weeks in some cases), boxes and boxes arrived from all over the country with just one order.  As you said, it's Christmas time in June and you  open everything.  And the wife has no idea why I'm so excited. Of course, after the vehicle is all apart, and the new shiny parts are going in, you inevitably discover that you forgot to order something, and you need to make that mad last-minute dash to the parts store before they close (or it is already the weekend and they are closed until next week).  Or, even better than getting new parts, you discover  that there is a new tool that is needed to disassemble/reassemble the vehicle and you get to order that to add to your already large inventory of single-use tools. Truck is now together and I took it to be aligned.  It is now proudly back on the road and I regale to my wife how talented I was and how I saved us big bucks by doing the work myself, even if it did take the truck out of commission for 5 weeks.   Next week I start on the brakes for my sports car.  I've pulled the RPO codes and already started looking on the internet for the correct part numbers.  Perhaps I can get the parts ordered later this week and it will be apart for only a couple of weeks.  I'm getting better at this! ... View more

Although I like the lead-in of "2 Shelby's and a McLaren...", my ideal 3-car collection is currently in my garage.  That is a pony car (my '66 Mustang), a hot rod (my '34 Plymouth coupe), and a sports car (my C6 Corvette Grand Sport).  Of course, it is a growing collection (currently building a '33 Ford roadster with a fuel-injected Chevy 348) and the needed support vehicle (my crew-cab pickup).  But perhaps the best part is the shop itself.  With the exception that it is taking longer to get mail-order parts, I have hardly noticed the "stay-at-home" orders 'cuz I have lots to keep me busy in the shop. Everybody stay safe, healthy and keep the dirty side down. ... View more

Great suggestions.  I have used all of them except the hose.  I just learned another new trick.  I would also caution people to be careful when working around the front of a running engine not to catch the probe, etc in the fan belt, pulleys or fan.  That will get your attention in a hurry! ... View more

I purchased a 1968 Camaro SS 350 4-speed new off the dealer's showroom floor in 1968.  I have seen the comment several times in "official" articles on '68 Camaro configurations that also stated that the "window" vents on the hood were only for big block cars.  I have proof that that comment is wrong.  My '68 SS 350 had the "window" vents in the hood from the factory. ... View more