About bblhed

bblhed

I think this was what a lot of people had in mind for the Redline Rebuild pickup. Either way, both are nice trucks.

bblhed

Your gesture probably saved that kids life.

bblhed

I once went to look at a car on a dealer lot and they wanted almost $1,000 more than any other dealer wanted for a similar car (Subaru outback wagon). There reasoning was that it had new brakes and tires, they didn't like when I mentioned that they wouldn't be able to sell it for $2,000 less with bald tires and squealing brakes so they had to do that work. Pet peeves Online Low Ballers that offer 60% no matter what the price even if it 60% below market. Alos people that show up and nit pick every single mark, ding and speck of dust on a 120,000 mile car as if it is a brand new factory fresh car. There is a reason why cars on dealer lots are priced higher than those in used car ads.

bblhed

That was a really interesting way to go about making a car that you didn't have to shift manually.

bblhed

That is quite a nice looking screen, perhaps touch screen, radio you got there, also you might have mentioned upgrading carpet and mats as I see a really new looking carpet in your car. That rug really ties the whole room together. I replaced all my speakers and went with an Android Auto / Apple Carplay head unit about two years ago and I'm really happy about doing that. I have a double DIN car so it was an easy update, and I can reverse it in about an hour if I want or need to.

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Below is a 1980's vintage chevy S-10 with a Geo Metro 3 stuffed into it sitting in front of a series wound 9" DC motor that was coupled to the 5 speed the S-10 came with. The engine and motor were coupled with an electric clutch so it could run pure EV, pure engine, or adjustable combined power. I actually drove this contraption to not one but two American Tour De Sol wins back in 1997 and 1999. We even converted the engine to propane. It was a waste of a good S-10 but we had a lot of fun and it gave me a lot of confidence in my engineering skils.

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Alright I have to say it. I served in the US Navy as a Submariner, I went in well after Top Gun was in theaters and I this past May I would have been in for 30 years if I hadn't been asked to retire some time ago. A guy I went to boot camp with who went from E-1 to O-5 (one rank below Maverick at the start of the movie) had to retire last year because the Navy said that even at that rank 30 years was enough. Another friend of mine who did the E-1 to O-6 trip will be getting out soon if he doesn't make O-7 because with 30+ years in the Navy if you aren't a Master Chief or an Admiral you have hit "High Year Tenure" and it is time to move on from the military. For someone, even someone that is in elite athlete condition when they join the military, to last over 40 years in a combat roll is unheard of. Even the most no load Movies Mattress and Meals Master Chiefs on my boat were broken men by the time they hit 30 years, these were guys that were in fairly elite units in Vietnam who wore some impressive hardware beyond the dolphins on their chests. They were not loose cannons, they did not talk back, even though they more than earned that right. My point is this, Maverick would have put out to pasture back around the turn of the century if he even made it that long, guys like that either get asked to leave or find out there is always someone better out there. They have to live with knowing they aren't the best for the rest of their lives, all 5 to 8 seconds of it. For me this rates right up there with JAG not reviewing rental and divorce agreements, and NCIS not using nonexistent evidence to charge people with drug use. But sure, you go on and believe that someone can do a job that stressful and physically demanding for almost 40 years.

bblhed

Correct fabric and pattern seat covers, I have no idea what the deal is with the fabric, or patterned vinyl, that car seats are made from but this has been a problem with just about every car I have ever owned.

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There are a few places repairing those Dash panels listed on line. Had a Fiero, want a Reatta so I know the value of research and knowing how to find parts. At one time I could get to the Fiero Store without directions. Those were not the days.

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Wow, that is a lot of EV news! I want to mention that I grew up in a town that had protectionist laws for the copper and brass industry. Here is how that worked out. The last place that processed copper and brass hasn't done much but receive and ship it in over 20 years and the laws to protect the industry started to disappear around the time that unemployment in the town hit 25% almost all copper and brass layoffs. Law makers will eventually turn on Auto Dealers, but by the time it happens they and the economy surrounding them will be so broken it won't really hurt them anyway.

bblhed

White Hearses are very rare, they were traditionally used children's funerals. I would hope that the new owner makes the car available when needed for the original intended use.

bblhed · ‎28-05-2022

https://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/2/2/6/0/3/6/webimg/254555376_tp.jpg Nice example of a Monte Carlo Drop Top

bblhed · ‎28-05-2022

GM did make a Monte Carlo it was called the Cutlass supreme convertible, perhaps you have heard of it? That said, for whatever reason the Monte was popular in my neck of the woods and every now and then someone would take a Sawzall to one. It would last a season or two then disappear only for another one to show up, they were always hack jobs and never had tops, or properly dressed cuts, just a rusty ragged edge. They looked good from 50 feet in the dark. https://www.mecum.com/lots/HA0419-372261/1970-oldsmobile-cutlass-supreme-convertible/

bblhed · ‎25-05-2022

Reality, no one has ever done anything s-h-a-d-y with a rental car, yeah right. This is aggravating

bblhed · ‎25-05-2022

Reality, no one has ever done anything **bleep**.

bblhed · ‎25-05-2022

s-h-o-p to make parts for you when there is no other way.

bblhed · ‎25-05-2022

Having a trusted professional machine **bleep** something.

bblhed · ‎27-04-2022

First let me complain about the Buick Riatta not being mentioned, If you are going for the drop top Buick I think it is the better choice. I'm also a little upset about the condition 3 Miata not being mentioned. I have a coworker who is letting one go for around $8,000 right now and with less than 100,000 miles it has a lot more years left in it. I personally have a 93 Miata with over 180,000 miles on it and I honestly haven't worried about getting into it and driving wherever I need to go except when I realized the timing belt was over ten years old and had about 80,000 miles on it, with that replaced two years ago I have no worries whatsoever about the reliability of the car and expect to get at least 60,000 miles out of it before any major work. Condition 3 bonus, I have no problem driving the car and not worrying about making it less valuable, the only way I could lower the value is a major accident or a blown engine taking it to condition 4.

bblhed · ‎22-04-2022

Just an FYI, some of these jobs just aren't worth it, like when Jacobs (Yes, the Jake Brake people) wanted me to drop out of college to work for them. I might not be in automotive today, but I'm also living a lot better than I would be if I was a College dropout. Also I have a job that only five other people in the world can do.

bblhed · ‎20-04-2022

Lombard Ford, the home of YENCO Mustangs.

bblhed · ‎20-04-2022

I actually saw a 1979 Indy 500 pace car the other day sitting in a front yard rusting like it was any other car.

bblhed · ‎12-04-2022

He agreed that he wants to sell you a car, don't kid yourself.

bblhed · ‎12-04-2022

What happens if that turns out to be a T-Bird that was being passed off as a Mustang?

bblhed · ‎08-04-2022

Tear it down? In a few years the earth is going to reclaim it anyway, they might as well just wait.

bblhed · ‎08-04-2022

Like when you can street park your Ferrari in a dirt parking lot at a trail head and ho hiking?

bblhed · ‎04-04-2022

I am reminded of the guy the owned the highest mileage car ever who said that the trick is that you should never let more than two things be wrong with the car at any given time, doing that will keep the car going almost forever. The other thing I remember is telling people on many occasions "Yes, it is a S***Box but it is my S***Box and it makes me happy".

bblhed · ‎01-04-2022

A safer bet would be a 2+2 configuration. Do you want to sit three across in that car, I know I don't?

bblhed · ‎01-04-2022

Toyotas look boring, no reason to believe they drive that way. I have a Scoin that can sit at 4,000 RPM's all day and not complain, trips to the redline don't even phase it. Not amazing in the corners but pretty good even with cheap tires, and it can go all day at 80 MPH like a good commuter car should.

bblhed · ‎01-04-2022

That C6 was pushing out 400 pony's in base configuration, although I suspect some have escaped the barn over the years, so on paper it should be a faster car. In reality I think it would be a lot closer between stoplights or on a dragstrip given the traction advantage of the Toyota, around a track I think the Corvette would be out suspensioned all other things being equal and with the extra ponys, we are talking 20 years of suspension updates.

bblhed · ‎01-04-2022

That is 98.73642 cubic inches pushing out 300 horses! That is just over 3 Horsepower per cubic inch and that is done with five less pistons than most people here think are required to make it a real engine. This will make an interesting toy for the boy, and girl, racers out there.

bblhed · ‎30-03-2022

What about the Shelby Daytona's that Dodge put out, is there no place for them here? Asking for a friend.

bblhed · ‎29-03-2022

Skimmer.

bblhed · ‎29-03-2022

I have seen "FUN 42" on a BMW M3, and "TOP LES" on a 4 seat convertible, I have a Miata and wanted both of those.

bblhed · ‎24-03-2022

Sounds like someone left out the phrase "with intent to defraud or conceal".

bblhed · ‎24-03-2022

Make it safe and test drive it, then figure out the long term plan.

bblhed · ‎21-03-2022

I can feel the rattling of keys now but while $71K is insane for a truck you can't take on vacation, remember these are being targeted at people that actually use them as tools to get back and fourth to work on job sites where they will use them to power their tools. Those job sites are normally less than 50 miles form home leaving plenty of power for the tools and the ride home on even the base model. I know you say you want a V8 but in reality most Ford pickups that are actually being used for work have 6 pistons in them.

bblhed · ‎21-03-2022

I always liked the MR2, all versions but the convertible was a favorite, and the first generation Rav4. What do I know, I don't like the C2.

bblhed · ‎11-03-2022

Buy it when you can afford it, keep it, take care of it and enjoy it. I had a 1966 Barracuda that I paid $50 for back in the 80's and frankly the car was awful. I had a $200 Duster as well, and a $100 Chevy II. All those cars go a whole lot more today. The C2 was never my car, I like the C1 and the C3 was the Corvette I grew up with as a Corvette. Those cars were not meant for the fate that awaits them sitting in a climate controlled garage, they were for driving, those cars will likely never see the open road again.

bblhed · ‎10-03-2022

I know a lot of people are going to hate this thing but it looks like it is ticking just about every "Mom Mobile" box there is. This van can be used as a daily driver, school and sports drop off car, grocery getter, and it can move big but not big stuff. Whoever is the primary user doesn't have to deal with going to the gas station either. Bonus it is an EV so it will not be the family vacation car. Down side, is that it is an EV and can't really pull duty as the vacation car. This is not and should not be viewed as an instant classic, but as what it is, a utility vehicle. Look what happened to the VW bug when it came back, it was a car that collectors pounced on only to find out that it was a regular car.

bblhed · ‎10-03-2022

Well, you asked.

bblhed · ‎09-03-2022

160 Horsepower is what the 350 was putting out in the 80's, a 2 liter Miata last year was putting out 181 horsepower. So that argument is just plain not true. That's right, a Miata has more power than your C-10, let that sink in.

bblhed · ‎09-03-2022

If the Isuzu and the Daihatsu were allowed on the lawn my daily driver Scoin xA should be allowed, I think it might be cleaner. I honestly read twice to be sure this was the actual Amelia Lawn and not the Concourse De Lemons lawn. I have seen people street into local cruise nights with more interesting and cleaner stuff.

bblhed · ‎09-03-2022

Forcing these people to drive these cars 10 miles, not just onto the show floor might actually get some functional cars. This thing looks like a bunch of chrome pipe that was added just to be added. Also it might be nice if they had to prove everything works otherwise it is just a "Batmobile".

bblhed · ‎07-03-2022

I have a feeling that the 325 unit limit is going to keep a lot of buyers out of the market. I would love a Duesenberg and this scheme could make that a reality. I can't afford the millions for an original, but I might be able to afford a reproduction. Also, can we try calling them "reproductions of classics" I believe that sums them up nicely.

bblhed · ‎07-03-2022

Not really all that cruel, I doubt many people want a car built today to have the reliability of 1967. New drive line means new car reliability and as a bonus it will pass emissions of today. I don't think many people are going to want a 4 banger in their car but lets face it a 4 of today would make an 8 form the eighty's look like a lawn tractor engine.

bblhed · ‎04-03-2022

Funny, because all those "Real Men" that want a manual would never drive a Miata but Mazda is selling a whole lot of Miata's with three pedals. Not only that they just announced that they are going pretty much all Manual https://jalopnik.com/everything-but-the-most-expensive-miata-is-manual-now-1848228688 Just saying.

bblhed · ‎02-03-2022

Not shocking to see the third pedal dying a slow death. Between the EPA, the noise police, and the automakers themselves, except Mazda, turning the third pedal into something that slows the car down and makes it quieter people should have seen this coming. Just watch, Dodge is going to have a "technical" reason why they have to delay the 6 speed several times until the model year is over and then they will announce the even better 10 or 12 speed for 2023 with no third pedal. I wasn't a fan of the Automatic only Corvette but I understood the reality and accepted it. Complain all you want but when Ferrari started shipping cars with no manual option people should have seen this coming.

bblhed · ‎02-03-2022

Thank god for the grammar police, although in this case the writer is a professional so maybe I let it slide a little.

bblhed · ‎02-03-2022

Remember when Homer became Mr. Plow on the Simpsons and he has a TV ad made? After watching it his reaction was the same as mine was after watching that Lotus ad, "What the hell was that".

bblhed · ‎28-02-2022

They say that almost half the people alive on this planet today owe their lives to Refrigeration, Chlorinated drinking water, and Synthetic Ammonia. All amazing inventions that we take for granted. For those wondering, Synthetic Ammonia is the base material for fertilizer, it was invented by the same person that invented Mustard Gas and was thought to be so important that he got a Nobel Prize for it because Synthetic Ammonia saved and created a lot more lives than Mustard Gas took.