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