Tag Archives: Auto Technology

Caffeine and Octane – Atlanta, GA

By | | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
1 Comment

It’s always cool to catch a car show when you are traveling.

This past week (Super Bowl Sunday) while visiting family in Alpharetta, Ga,  (just outside of Atlanta) I got the chance to ride into the ‘big’ city and take in the event – Thanks Brian!!

There often more than 1500 cars on the first Sunday of every month and even though it was cold and damp (and it being Super Bowl Sunday and the home town team was playing) there were a lot of cars!!!

We got there as it was starting to break up but there were still a lot of cars.  Here’s a few pics.

Take a look at this awesome creation. Built on a C4 Corvette body to best look like a 1957 Chevy!

Check out this Nissan!!! It’s power plant is in the next pic.

Nice straight six!!!!

Nice custom ride!!

Here is a great look for a Road Runner.

No one standing around new anything about the car.

 

I wasn’t even able to scratch the surface.  There were rows of Mustangs and Corvettes, long with 100’s of European and Japanese high-end rides and not all of them ‘stock’.

Check out more here: Caffeine and Octane – Atlanta

Thanks for reading.

Tim
caffeine and octane velocitycaffeine and octane velocity

ProjectBeepBeep – 1968 Road Runner Update Video 2

By | | , , , , , , , , , ,
5 Comments

Thanks for looking back in on #ProjectBeepBeep

Bill begins the odyssey.
Will he wrangle this Road Runner and show up that old Coyote or will an ACME Anvil be his fate?  Keep up to date by grabbing the RSS feed.

Here is Bill’s latest video


More coming up the ’68 Road Runner including a good video on replacing the vapor barrier in your Mopar car.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

’68 Road Runner Dash

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introducing #ProjectBeepBeep – Code H 1968 Road Runner

I’d like you to take a look at one of my constant readers classic muscle car. First let me say that Bill has been an a long quest to find a car to replace this car:   Back in the day. It was a long search with lots of phone calls with many …

Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction – Scottsdale, AZ 2017 Videos 10-11

By | | , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

Welcome back to  our recent trip to Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction 2017 in Scottsdale, AZ.  Keep in mind these videos were part of the our Facebook Live event and I’m sharing them here on our blog.  Quality is ‘iffy’ in spots but if you’ve never been to some this huge it’s cool to see some of the areas that the TV coverage doesn’t always show.

These videos show more of the grounds and where you can view the sold cars (if you attend early in the week you can see the cars in these areas before they are shined up and sold).  I apologize for top of the tent footage – sigh… live video streaming goes like that.  BTW the phone noises you hear are responses to the live feed.

 

 

 

More coming include my drive of the New Camaro SS and Camaro RS and the introduction of a new feature project car.

Thanks for reading.
Tim

Barrett-Jackson Auction Company – World’s Greatest Collector Car …

STEVEN TYLER, JUSTIN BIEBER AMONG MEGASTARS AT CRAIG JACKSON’S BARRETT-JACKSON 2017 SCOTTSDALE AUCTION. IN THE GARAGE WITH …

 

Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction – Scottsdale, AZ 2017 Videos 8-9

By | | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

Welcome back to  our recent trip to Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction 2017 in Scottsdale, AZ.  Keep in mind these videos were part of the our Facebook Live event and I’m sharing them here on our blog.  Quality is ‘iffy’ in spots but if you’ve never been to some this huge it’s cool to see some of the areas that the TV coverage doesn’t always show.

This next video is more of the staging area and a look at a few of the cars coming up.  You’ll see the ’69 Road Runner that appeared in Hemming Muscle Machines publication, it is as nice in persons as it was on pages of the magazine.


 

This video is at the Hillbank display.  These are beautiful cars and the all aluminum bodies are awesome to see.  The Daytona coups are built on CSX 9000 chassis (the originals were built on CSX 2000 chassis).  They have the 427 Cobra engine and the 427 S/C. You can find out more at WWW.HILLBANKUSA.COM .


Thanks for reading. A few more videos coming that include an impromptu conversation with one of the sellers and one of the guys working to get the cars up on the stage.

Tim

The People of the 2017 Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction | Slideshow …

Jan 16, 2017 … Not All Cars Are Created Equal at Barrett-Jackson 2017. January 16 at 10:56 a.m. | by Jim Louvau · Justin Bieber Made a Ton of Cash at …

Barrett Jacksons 2017 Scottsdale Auction Will Feature An …

Jan 12, 2017 … BARRETT-JACKSON’S 2017 SCOTTSDALE AUCTION WILL FEATURE AN EXTRAORDINARY DOCKET OF RARE MOPARS. January 12 …

Barrett Jackson 2017 Scottsdale Auction Chevrolet

Jan 6, 2017 … BARRETT-JACKSON 2017 SCOTTSDALE AUCTION TO FEATURE INCREDIBLE DOCKET OF COLLECTIBLE CHEVROLETS. January 6 …

Lift Classic Mustangs and Avoid Suspension Damage

By | | , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment
How To Chassis Suspension

Lift Classic Mustangs and Avoid Suspension Damage

Lift it Right: Raising classic Mustangs on a lift requires a special tool to avoid shock and strut rod bushing damage

Jerry Heasley
December 6, 2016

Anytime you need work on the suspension on anything under a Mustang you have to lift it in the air, whether on a floor jack or a lift. But what you might not have ever heard is that raising a 1965-1973 Mustang on a regular two-post lift without a support between the upper control arm and the frame rail will damage the shocks and strut rods. There’s no telling how many times over the last 50-odd years of lifting a Mustang for a simple oil change that possibly has broken shock and strut rod bushings. The numbers must be in the millions.

Ford supplied dealers with a factory service tool, which they also used on the assembly line, to support the front suspension. Without this support, lifting the car drops the front suspension down and places all that weight on the front shocks and strut rod bushings. This damage is much more than cosmetic. The car will now be unstable at speed, more or less depending on the severity of the damage. Maybe one gentle lift will not result in visible damage, but with multiple unsupported lifts, the damage gets worse.

Bob Perkins of Perkins Restoration (www.perkinsrestoration.com) showed us how to avoid busting out shock tower and strut rod bushings when raising a Mustang on a conventional, two-post lift—or any lift with side arms.

01. This 1973 Mustang front suspension drops and “hangs free” when raised on a two-post lift. This lift picks up the car with arms at the side for access to the undercarriage.

02. Most of these Ford suspension support tools from the 1960s and 1970s have disappeared. Ford shop manuals instructed mechanics to place this support between the upper arm and the frame side rail. Notice the notch on one end. This original suspension support tool has a Ford part number.

03. Because original support tools are scarce, Bob Perkins has fabricated his own for everyday use. On the left are two supports he made. On the right is an original Ford support tool from the 1960s.

04. This illustration from Ford’s 1965 Mustang shop manual shows where to place the support tool when lifting a Mustang on a lift with side arms. The shock is inside the coil spring on top of the upper control arm.

05. The Perkins-built suspension tool, as seen on this 1973 model, fits between the frame rail (bottom) and the upper control arm under the ball joint. To install, first lift the car enough for the tool to fit.

06. Bob Perkins shows us damage to this shock on a car that was lifted without a support tool. The suspension dropped down and tore the rubber bushings in the top of this original shock.

07. Installing a support tool also protects strut rod bushings from damage.

08. On 1965-1970 Mustangs, the shock bushing at the top is apt to break when the suspension falls without support.

09. Likewise, the shock bushings in the 1971-1973 shock tower will have to absorb the weight of the front suspension if the support tool is not used.

Sources

Perkins Restoration

Juneau, WI 53039
920-696-3788
www.perkinsrestorati…

I thought that was a great article.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
Ford Mustang (first generation) – Wikipedia

The first-generation Ford Mustang was manufactured by Ford from March 1964 until 1973. …… “1973 Mustang Grande Hardtop – Mustang Monthly Magazine”.
1964-1973 Mustang Parts

CJ Pony Parts features 1964-1973 Mustang Parts at amazing prices. FREE shipping is included on most products, no minimum order is required. Find your First …

They Made How Many? 1959

By | | , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

I haven’t done one of these in a while, but I was reading an article from the ” Worlds Most Excellent” automotive publishing enterprise – Hemmings.  An article in the January 2017 issue of Classic Cars publication is a piece written by Jeff Koch (who is their – West Coast/Southwest guy) on GM’s Flattop designed cars of the 1959-1960 era.  These were massive cars with huge trunks and tons of  wrap around glass.

This a 1959 Pontiac Bonneville Flattop 4 door

This a 1959 Pontiac Bonneville Flattop 4 door- ain’t it huge?

According to the article these were just a two-year deal – ’59-’60.  So that got me to thinking how many were made?

Over all car production for 1959, which still saw the likes of DeSoto, Edsel (its last gasp of breath), Studebaker,  Imperial (as a separate brand…again) and even the Metropolitan, as producer of cars.    The leader for that year was Chevrolet in first place with just over 1.46 million cars produced followed by Ford in close range with 1.45 million cars produced.  The rest of the field looked like this:

Plymouth with 458, 261 (in third place which gives you an idea how the rest fared) followed by  Pontiac with 383k, then  Oldsmobile with 382K and  Rambler with 374k.   Buick managed 285K and  Dodge produced 156k, which was just slightly than Mercury with 15ok and Cadillac with 142K cars produced.  The field rounded out with Studebaker driving 126k out of the factory and a substantial for Chrysler with just 69, followed by Desoto with 45k, Edsel with 44k and Lincoln/Continental with just 26k.  At the bottom stood Metropolitan and Imperial 22k and 17k respectively.

So an estimated 2,655,686 cars were produced by GM in that year.  That’s a lot of flattops this include Cadillacs that didn’t escape the design.
1959-cadillac-sedan

chevrolet

Nor did the Corvair!!

So where are the now?  I just don’t see that many around and I’m sure it’s due to the 2 year only style and finding all that wrap around glass.

Have you seen one of these cool designed GM Flattops?  Drop me a note and pic and I’ll publish it up.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

I don't really need a Lambo....but.....

#TheyMadeHowMany

#projectsprotsroof

Car Production Numbers. They Made How Many? 1901

This is it. The beginning of it all.     What were they making in 1901? The top producer was the Locomobile car company with a total out put for the year 1,500 cars. Winton was second with 700 cars. Oldsmobile (ahh one we’ve heard of!!) was third with 425. White came in fourth with 193. Autocar was next …
Car Production Numbers. They Made How Many? 1911

1911 oh… that was a great year!  Well I don’t actually have any proof of that, but there sure were a lot of new car makes that year.  Here the list: Alpena; ArBenz; Atterbury; Carhartt, Case, Chevrolet; Colby, Crow-Elkhart, Dalton, Gaylord, Havers, Hupp-Yeats; King; Lenox; Mighty Michigan; Motorette; Nyberg: Penn; Rayfield; …
Car Production Numbers. They Made How Many? 1922

It is 1922 and the car industry is moving right along.  Small start-up car companies pop up here and there in the 1920’s. Here is how they stacked up for 1922. Top spot was Ford  producing 1,147,028 cars. Dodge was a very distant second with 152,653 car rolling off their assembly line. Chevrolet ran …
Car Production Numbers. They Made How Many? 1928

The Roaring Twentys – a great time in US social and economic history.  1928 things still looked pretty good and no indication of the tough economic times that would lead to the terrible 30’s. 1928 saw 8 car companies fighting it out for market shares. Chevy lead the way with just over a million …

1973 Mustang 351 Cleveland is BACK!!!

By | | , , , , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

We interrupt this Heater Box restoration for an important announcement.

THE 351 CLEVELAND IS BACK!!!

postmach-1 postmach-2
postmach-3 postmach-4

The main piece of this project if finally complete. 

Here’s what we have now:
351C bored .040
Crank .020 and Stock cam
Flattop pistons
Double Roller Timing Chain

Here’s what I’m going to add:
Edelbrock 4bbl CARB 800 CFM ELEC CHOKE
Edelbrock Performer 2750 Intake Manifold

Heads have been restored and upgrade as follows:
Bronze valve guide, stainless 1 piece valves,  MATCHING retainers, a proper 3 angle valve job,
springs matched to cam and set up to proper height and pressure checked and hardened seats.

Here a more complete look:


The change in the bore only increased the CID (Cubic Inch Displacement) from 352 – 358 and that’s not a lot.  But keep in mind that this is a 1972 engine and the 351C with a 4bbl carb was rated at 285 bph @ 5400 rmps (The Boss 351 was rated at 330bhp @ 5400).    So I’m guessing with the Crank .020 milled, Edelbrock 4bbl  800 CFM, Edelbrock Performer 2750 Intake Manifold and the slight change in displacement that the horse power of this 1972 Cleveland will be about 300 hp – maybe.

Keep checking back as I have to finish the heater box, engine bay and the top half of the 351C.  Lots of fun coming up!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

projectsportsroof

Average Guy’s Car Restorations, Mods, and Racing

While the block is out for machining I can turn my attention to one of the MANY other sub-projects on #ProjectSportsRoof. If you’ve followed the blog you know …

restored-cars | Tumblr

Thanks checking back in with the 1973 Mustang (#ProjectSportsRoof). I’m moving right along with getting the progress on the 351C tear down posted up.

73 Mustang 351C is Out – YouTube

Aug 9, 2016 … Finally #ProjectSportsRoof gives up it engine. Thanks to my neighbor Dan Thomas for helping me getting this out.

Great American Muscle Cars – muscle cars – Community – Google+

Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. With the floor pans welding, sealing and coating finished the next step was to apply the heat and sound barrier. This is …

Auto Factoids for the Week of Aug. 28, 2016 – Goodyear, Porsche

By | | , , , , ,
Leave a comment

Here are your Auto Factoid for this last week of August 2016.

 

Aug 29 1898  Goodyear Tire & Rubber incorporated – With a capital stock of $100,000 and 13 employees, they began November 21, 1898, with a product line of bicycle and carriage tires, horseshoe pads, and poker chips.

First Goodyear Factory

First Goodyear Factory

 

Aug 29 1876 Charles Kettering Born Dayton, Ohio 1876 – Kettering founded Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company (Delco) (which started in a barn) and later became head of research for GM (1920-1947)

Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company, or Delco.

Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company, or Delco.

 

Sept 2 1893  Frank Duryea car driven  – it wasn’t much just the typical ‘run-a-bout’ and I think kudos goes to Frank’s brother Charles as well 

1994 Duryea

1994 Duryea

Sept 3 1895  Duryea Motor Co.  incorporates –  Almost two years to the very day of the first drive, Duryea Motor Co. becomes a reality.  They produced some beautiful cars like:

This is the Model C Touring car. Production continued until 1927.

This is the Model C Touring car. Production continued until 1927.

Sept 3 1875 Ferdinand Porsche born  Mafferdorf, Bohemia – You may have heard of Freddy (as his Mom called him) Porsche, if not you know his cars:

 

Oh..BTW...it's a Hybrid!!

Oh..BTW…it’s a Hybrid!!

1976

1976

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Average Guy’s Car Restorations, Mods, and Racing

It was a 3 act comedy and had 344… View On WordPress. Tagged: AutoFactoids Auto HistoryAuto RestorationAutoBlog · 21st August 2016 · Video with 1 note …

They Made How Many? 1916 Automotive Production

Feb 25, 2013 … Interesting enough, Kaiser had no automotive business experience. In 1953 the company became… August 2, 2015. In “#AutoFactoids” …

Driving a 1929 Detroit Electric Model 97

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

It’s not often that the normal day in the life of a Director of IT includes an opportunity to drive a 1929 Detroit Electric. But this is exactly what one of my days included just this week.

The car has taken years to restore and is period correct in almost every aspect. As you can see in the video it might need a few tweaks and I am finishing up the clock for the interior.

Check out this video.

Thanks for reading.
Tim

1931 Detroit Electric Model 97 – Conceptcarz

The Detroit Electric Model 97 (1931); Electric cars represented a significant part of the automobile market in the earliest days. As today, electrics suffered from a …

Engine Mini-Series – Ford’s Small Block V8s Part I

By | | , , , , , ,
1 Comment

I haven’t done a Engine Mini-Series in sometime, I find readers like the Engine Line Up posts a lot, so I’ve stuck with that.  They are quick and fun pieces to research and write.

SEE A NOTED DEVIATION IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.

I received a request from a reader  (motown_missile) from the /r/classiccar subdirectory over on Reddit, who read my latest Engine Line UP post, for something on Ford small block V8’s specifically  the 221, 260 and 289 engines.  So I thought yeah that’s a great idea!!! But it didn’t really fit how I structure the Engine Line Up posts and then I recalled doing these mini-series and that fits the request.  Thanks motown_missile!!!!

Now the Ford small block V8 label (also called the “90 Degree V8s”) covers a few rare engines (limited production/limited use), one of the most iconic and some real workhorses.  The engines that fall under this designation are 221, 255, 260, 289 and yes the 302 and even the 351 Windsor (not the Cleveland).  I’ll cover each one in separate posts.

The Ford small blocks were designed the end of the 1950’s put in to production cars in 1962  the first and smallest (20 inches across and only 475 lbs) and it displaced 221 cubic inches and so designated as the 221.

The 221, in 1962,  had a compression ratio of 8.7:1 with a bore and stroke respectively of 3.50 x 2.87.  It sported two-bolt main-bearing, cast nodular crankshaft (only 37 lbs), cast aluminum pistons, hydraulic camshaft and individually mounted iron rockers.  The cylinder heads were wedge-shaped and the intake valves were 1.59 in. and the exhaust valves were 1.39  This was all topped off with a cast iron two barrel intake manifold and it produced about 143 hp @ 4,500 rmp and 217 foot lbs of torque @ 2200 rpm.  For 1963 it remained about the same with a slight increase in the bore and stroke (3.75×3.30 inches) producing a compression ratio of 8.8:1 and 145 hp.   Both years were topped with Holley carbs.

The 221 is one of the rarest small block.  It saw only 2 years of production use (1962 and 1963) and you could find it in the Ford Fairlanes and Mercury Meteor.  If you want to know if your 62-63 Fairlane or Mete0r originally had a 221 check the VIN for the code L ( C – 1962 export or 3 for 1963 export).

Nicely painted 221 V8

Nicely painted 221 V8

1962 Mercury Meteor 33

1962 Mercury Meteor 33

1963 Ford Fairlane

1963 Ford Fairlane

 

Next up will be the 255.

Thanks for reading and if you have any input or pic of your own 221, drop me a note a AGCarRestoration@cox.net.  Comments always welcome!!!

 

Tim

Out and About!!! #ProjectSportsRoof

Out and About!!!
#ProjectSportsRoof

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ford 221 v8 engine