"Gran Turismo Omologato" Ferrari 250 "GTO" Pontiac GTO "Autodromo Nazionale Monza" Chevrolet Monza Opel Monza Ferrari 750 Monza Maserati Sebring Chrysler Sebring Cadillac SLS Mercedes SLS Ferrari California Volkswagen California Buick Century Toyota Century (a luxury limousine) Nissan GT-R Mercedes AMG GT-R Lexus LS Lincoln LS Mercedes SL Saturn SL ... View more

Where does the budget for Federal Highway Construction and Repair come from? The military budget. Remember the national highway system was created to be able to transport the military and vehicles from the interior of the US to ports on the coast. That's why there is a % grade limit on all bridges. Oh, and in 1951, "Good paying union job" dues to the Federal Government and Social Security were also added as part of "demand dispensary funds". So union dues will actually go up and social security will go down even more. As for China being our "really only competitor"- Nope! Right now the largest and fastest emerging countries are in Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the list goes on. China, India, Pakistan, and Mexico are pulling ahead of the US in GNP. Do your research, read a book or two, and get your facts straight. ... View more

I am a Power Plant Engineer who specializes in Power Generation Design, Maintenance, and Repair. I have worked in Simple Cycle and Combined Cycle Combustion generating stations all over the world. I even spent 3 years in Wind Power and realized it was a joke... Smoke and mirrors! The mining and subsequent disposal of lithium and lead/ acid is much more dangerous to the environment than oil. Then where or how do you dispose of the used batteries? As for EV, take all the combustion engines in the world and replace them with electricity... You better go nuclear with all the additional power plants that will be needed. Wind power? Most wind power sites rarely run at or above 30% capacity, so when energy is bought and sold on the market every 15 minutes to power companies, the government mandates that other power plants must be on "standby" in case the wind power contracts cannot meet demand. When power plants are on "standby" the combustion turbines are brought down to 30% load and taken offline. This means they are still running. Going to EV will remove the hydrocarbons and CO2 from combustion engines, but the additional power draw will require additional power plants that even with scrubbing will most likely add back 60-70% of the emissions removed. I am all for reducing the carbon footprint, but the world can reduce at least 3 to 4 times the 30% we'll take out by going to EV simply by forcing the other 70% of countries like Saudi Arabia and China to lower their power and factory emissions. Like Wind Power, EVs are not the solution to the world's global climate change problem. ... View more

Give it time, California law(s) will find a way to kill this motorhead enthusiast's hobby! California is why all the big speed shops and builders are moving to Nevada, Utah, and Texas. ... View more

My father added a 3" lift, larger turbo, larger intercooler, and flow through exhaust on his 2018- 3/4 ton 6.7 Cummins for hunting trips in Colorado and Alaska. DID NOT VOID HIS WARRANTY! He even had the option of having the dealership install it or one of their approved installers. Because I work overseas, my 2019 Longhorn rarely gets driven... Ram adjusted my full BUMPER TO BUMPER warranty to 6 years or 80K miles! I still got the free fluid changes and multi-point inspections for 3 years...They gave me 24K trade for my 2012 3/4 ton Cummins Longhorn, another 14K off which was actually for the Big Horn edition, and an additional 3K off for being a veteran. Ask your Ford or Chevy dealer if they will give you 41K off their top of the line truck! I'm telling you if you don't buy a Ram, you are being cheated in every way, shape, and form! ... View more

Even the Ram Rebel is more luxurious, has more features, just as off road capable, and rides better, and costs much less than the Raptor. Plus, Ram will allow you to install power adders such as a supercharger, and lift kits without voiding the warranty! ... View more

That interior picture of the Raptor tells you just how far the interior of Ford has come... It looks like a 90's King Ranch! As for Chevy, they are still installing the interiors left over from the '89 Cavalier! ... View more

I think it's hilarious that the TRX comes with a line lock system and launch control. It will also record and analyze your eighth and quarter mile times! All in a truck more luxurious, has more features, and is cheaper. ... View more

Motor Trend said last year that "If Ford and Chevy don't begin to offer more amenities, upgrade their interiors, and lower their price points, there will be a Ram in every driveway." My father-in-law was a die-hard blue oval man who retired from Ford 5 years ago. He drove my 2019 Longhorn, almost passed out when he heard what I paid for it, and bought a 1500 Longhorn with the EcoTech Diesel. For just $7,000 more he could have bought the Longhorn in 3/4 ton, 4x4, with the 6.7 Cummins which doesn't need Blue Def. What is the price difference between the Ford and Chevy 3/4 ton diesel to their 1/2 ton? The 4-wheel air suspension was a huge sale (he has bad hemorrhoids). The truck rides better, is more powerful, has more amenities, and is more luxurious than my sister-in-law's Cadillac CTS. REMEMBER that the CEO for DJCR is a former Rally World Champion and he has stated that they will build the most luxurious and powerful cars and trucks of all, and they have. You can now get a 500hp Jeep or one with 450' lbs. of torque out of a small turbo diesel. Let's see, a Jeep Renegade that will out run a 2021 Corvette? Yep! For those that don't believe- Go test drive the King Ranch, Chevy whatever, and then the Ram Longhorn... Make sure you take a picture of the window sticker... You'll buy the Ram! ... View more

I like your comment "dough". Anyone can win a murder trial, acceptance into a certain university, even the presidency with enough money. As a gas turbine engineer, give me 2M and I'll build you a 500mph Rocket... Let's see on of those at Ridler! I also appreciate "Tony T"... Ridler contenders should all start 100 miles from the convention center doors and go from "A" to their display areas trouble free! ... View more

A friend of mine built a '59 Ford School bus this year for a gentleman in a wheel chair and the Wounded Warrior's Project. It's a fine piece of work that lays flat on the ground so a ramp the wheelchair ramp that automatically slides out the side door is at the lowest angle. Inside, are only two seats up front and from there back it's all wheel locks for wheelchairs. The only funding was a reasonable donation from some local charities and Kicker threw in the system. Even though he built it for a fraction of what he charged for it, the exposure at SEMA has launched his shop to another level where he can quit his job, hire additional technicians, and add onto the place. So don't feel bad for the Quintal family only getting 302K for a 2M investment. The amount of work they will get for winning a Ridler will more than make up for the loss in the future. Thank you Quintal family for going off on your own and building something outside the box. I have a '36 Buick Series 40 "Humpack" 4-Door that I would love to build and take to SEMA. It's nice to see something other than the '32 Coupe, '37 Chevy, '69 Camaro, and all the usual's chosen as finalists for the Ridler.  ... View more

First Chevrolet KILLED the Blazer and due to the power options and ridiculous weak power of the Bronco, Ford will kill it. In countries like Saudi Arabia, Toyota still supplies the old FJ-4 (not to be confused with the FJ Cruiser) with a stout diesel, V6, or V8. They even still make the FJ Cruiser with the V8. Now in the US, the Chrysler Company who seems to be winning the war on ALL fronts offers the Jeep Wrangler with a turbo diesel and now a 475hp SRT-392! Can you say "Corvette Killer"... And both are reasonably priced when compared to the Ford! Do you know the only vehicle that retains its retail value when you drive it off the lot? THE JEEP WRANGLER (per Consumer Reports and Hemmings). As Motor Trend stated last year about the 2019 Ram Lineup... "If Ford and GM don't update their models and lower their price points, there will be a Ram in every driveway!" Like the Hummer, people are buying into the hype and '**bleep** envy' while putting themselves deep in debt by purchasing the Bronco. Forget about the Blazer... It's a soccer mom grocery getter!  ... View more

I replace all Header Bolts/Studs with Allen Head Bolts. I then buy a 'GOOD' Allen Wrench that has the "Ball End" on it. Cut it to the required length and use a socket to turn my 'New' Header Wrench. Make sure you buy the correct bolts though. I'm not just talking about length, pitch, and size; I mean material. Some materials begin to react with each other when heated like chrome and aluminum or stainless. Those chrome bolts may look cool until you have to remove them! Read up on "Dissimilar Material Bonding".  ... View more

I'm a Gas and Steam Turbine and Generator Engineer who manages the maintenance and repair of such equipment in power plants. One of the things I do is as the crew is disassembling the unit or has disassembled the unit, I look at all the nuts, bolts, screws, etc. for damage caused by wrong or worn tooling, too much heat applied, not ensuring the tool is fully inserted before applying torque, and so on. Taking your time, ensuring you have the correct tool (size and shape), and that tool is in good condition will save you much agony and pain to yourself and your wallet. If your tool "is just a little worn or loose" and the hardware store just closed... LEAVE IT! Do it tomorrow or next week or whenever you have the correct, well fitting tool. Believe me, I've had plenty of pre-war projects (all the fasteners are standard screws); patience here is a must. Soak it with a good "creeping" lubricant if you can (Kroil, PB Blaster) are the best I've found. Apply it liberally of the course of a few days. If you're able, cut off the back of the fastener of it extends past the bolt. Like 'NITRO' stated, a little heat goes a long way even if applied by a "Bernz-O-Matic" torch. Heat both the fastener and around it and let it cool. Do this several times. The thermal expansion and contraction will help break up whatever has the fastener locked up. Finally, before you reach for the drill because you went ahead and rushed things and now the head is stripped or broken off; try welding a nut to the head and put a wrench or ratchet on it. Wet the nut on the head and weld inside the nut with a couple of tacks on the outside. ... View more

Knowledge can never be overlooked. Find clubs or individuals with the same interest in cars who have done it before. Go online and build your "mechanic's mental toolbox". Example... Visit some of the larger bolt and fastener shops or purchase "The Engineer's Little Black Book". These will help you identify nut and bolt types, grades, thread patterns, thread types, taps and dies to use, and helicoils. I take anything that may apply and keep it in a book of "knowledge". Technical articles, drawings, suppliers information, phone numbers of people with additional knowledge or expertise, anything I find that might relate to what I am doing placed in document protector sheets in a binder. I am rebuilding/modifying a '54 331 Chrysler Hemi, rebuilding/modifying a '54 264 Nailhead and I have my wife's '36 Buick Straight 8 to rebuild. T here are tricks to ALL three of these engines that if you miss, there is a good chance you'll see the inside of the engine again really soon! Most of all, make sure you build a pedigree of your project. Later on, when you are wondering what part number of the head gasket you need to replace the one you just blew, going back and finding that receipt, or being able to contact "that guy" in "BFE" who helped you find that "thing-a-ma-jigger" really helps put the mind at ease. This knowledge and knowing what to look for has also saved me at swap meets where I might have easily purchased a part thinking or being told it is what I needed only to find that it doesn't fit, won't do the job I need it to, or is actually a cheap knock-off of the original and will fail. Knowledge is power and soon you'll find the word gets out and people will be reaching out to you for help. ... View more

I purchased a '36 Buick Series 40 in excellent condition with the original Straight 8- the engine's claim to fame is "first year with the valve in the head". It's so cool- suicide rear doors with vent windows, rear curtains, and even brass flower vases on either side of the rear seat- which is as big as my living room couch. Philco radio and brass along the driver door to rest your arm on so you don't rub the paint. These pre-war beauties can be picked up for extremely low prices (especially 4-door models when rear suicide doors were the norm). Costs hover around 15-20K for a nice driver. I've even seen pre-war Lincolns with the 12-cylinder for 25K. This car gets more attention than my chopped and channeled '54 Nailhead-powered '28 Ford Tudor, '64 Corvette, 50s inspired '58 Edsel 2-Door, and '65 Cobra Kit Car. ... View more

What's more boring than Chevrolet's "Real People"? Chevrolet's Interiors! ... View more

In high school, you never found me driving my baja bug without a small tool box of tools with an ohm meter plus... the points, cap, rotor, generator belt, and longest spark plug wire from previous maintenance. In addition, emery cloth, fuses, sections of wire, electrical tape, JB WELD, tire plug kit, length of fuel hose, couple of clamps, and anything else I may think I'd need. MOST importantly, two $50 dollar bills tucked away in my wallet which I never touch unless there is an emergency. I may sound crazy but it helped me out of many jams and I helped others I met along the way. I still do the same with all my cars and trucks today. In my trucks, I keep a 2-liter bottle of water between both fender wells and the grill. May sound crazy, but I always got home. ... View more

Ford has never really had a decent manual transmission have they? I had a "beefed up" T-5 World Class on the shelf and hung it under my Shell Valley AC Cobra kit car and it was a boat anchor within a month. Sure I'm pushing a little over 490 'Keith Craft Ponies' but the car is so light the tires rarely hooked up stressing the tranny. It was simply banging through the gears that did it. Great job Ford and I agree... Chinese? SHAME ON YOU! ... View more