American Made – Are you sure?

Ran across the article with some interesting facts about what’s made in American.

What do you think is the most red-blooded American car?

Maybe this 07 Vette??

Our government declares that any car where 75% of its value  is from parts made in USA (or Canada) the car is American made.

But here are some numbers:

The Corvette above is only 75%  US where as the Honda Accord is 80% US, Toyota Camery is 80% US.

The Ford F150 is only 60% US.

The Dodge Challenger and Charger only 70% US.

The most American cars on the list are  Honda Accord and Element at 80% and 85% respectively, the Ford Explorer at 85% (90% for the 2010 model year) and the Dodge Grand Caravan at 82%.

Now you know.

Thanks for reading

Tim

Aluminum – Chrome 70 Mustang Brackets

As  I start gathering the different parts for all the new mods for my ’70 Mustang one thing I’m sure of is that I want a little more ‘bling” under the hood.  I think the Ford blue engine paint with the brushed nickel look of the current intake need something to offset that color scheme.  I’d like to do most of the brackets for the power steering, alternator, and ac compressor all in chrome. However that’s not going to be possible, if I rely on aftermarket/stock suppliers, as most of my brackets are custom-made. (That’s what you get when you keep the 6 cylinder components when you do a conversion to an 8 cylinder.)  So I’m going to make do with what I can find and the rest will remain iron.

Now with the cost of all this mods looming on the horizon and having less than the average budget, I’m trying to upgrade at least the tension portions of the  Alternator, A/C and the power steering to chrome.  My goal is to replace them with heim joints w/adjustable rods between them.  These are not inexpensive and often require some modification.

So in the pursuit of this end I purchased a kit from Summit Racing for my alternator. This was an all aluminum kit and only advertised as being for a ‘stock” 302 engine.  So going in I knew that it might not work at all.  This turned out to be correct except for the heim joints and the threaded aluminum rod.

So I going to use those for the tension rod for the alternator. However, it wasn’t chrome and had a very heavy coding to make it look like brushed nickel.  The goal for this pieces was to polish it up and see how “bling” like it could look.  This would be a series of repeated sanding, buffing and polishing.

I used my Dremel, sanding disks and buffing and polishing wheel, 200 and 600 grit sand paper and Purple Metal polish, cotton rag (ok..fine it was an old t-shirt) and a vice.

Dremel buffing while and 160 grit sanding disc

Now the 160 grit disk might have been a bit much but the coating was pretty tough and the disc made quick work but did leave a few marks on the test sample that might have causes a bit more work with the lighter grits.

This is actually purple in color and gritty like rubbing compound.

In short the process started with hitting the test piece (one of the stock bracket parts that wouldn’t fit) with the 160 grit disk via the Dremel.  Next I ran the 220 grit sandpaper (by hand) over the aluminum and then the 600 grit and then with the buffing/polishing wheel via the Dremel with a coating of the Purple metal polish.  I switched it up by using some metal polish with the 600 grit sandpaper.

It took a lot of elbow grease and a couple of hours.  Here is what the test piece looks like. You can see the aluminum w/coating and polished portion.

Chrome? Absolutely as shining as chrome.

Now there are some in perfections in the aluminum and if not being careful with the sanding you can leave gouges but generally you can get this type of shine and it looks very close to chrome without the cost, just some elbow grease.

Next will be the polishing of the actual rod that will connect the two heim joints (they are already polished steel).  (I’ve already started, but you won’t see it until it complete.)

 

Heim joint on one end and the aluminum rod.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

Goodguys’ Car Show – Favorites

So I thought I’d take the last few post and just show you some of my favoriates.

First up is a 1957 Ford Fairlane.  Beautiful car with a little some’in extra under the hood.  Check it out:

1957 Ford Fairlane - great looking wheels!

 Great view of the portapotties  – I guess I should have photo shopped them, but that wouldn’t make you feel you were actually there. 

Oh..I bet you didn’t see that one coming!!!! Knocking out some HP with that set up.
 
 
Sorry but I have to go back to the wagons.  The two doors are the best!
 
1957 Chevy Wagon - 2 doors - Great...newish LS2 Corvette engine...enough already!!!
 
You need to check out this next car!!!
 
They did this 1960 Ford Starliner just right!!
 

Header cutouts with side pipes and those headlights!!!!

But check out the bling!!!
 

Now say that ain't nice!!!

Thanks for reading.
 
Couple more coming up.
Tim
 

Goodguys Car Show AZ The Wagons

As I have mentioned, I love the old station wagons.  I love the fact that they are being restored.  I even like the fact that many are getting the power plants they needed back then transplanted. Although I have to admit I am growing bit  tired of the seen a “Corvette” engine between the front wheels – maybe just the fact that they left the “Corvette” labeling on them.

There were some beauties at this show.

All Custom Wagon 1

Nicely Done.

 

Here is a nicely done Plymouth:

 

Plymouth Wagon

 

 

Love the Nose of this Ply - They really didn't want any one near it.

Now you can call me a DORK but I love this Ford Wagon.

 

Ford Wagon

 

Love the Grille

 

Hey..I even love the hood ornament.

This Torino Wagon, although banged up and hood all mis-aligned, it’s still a keeper with good tread and not too shabbby wheels.  I think it’s a keeper.

 

Ford Torino Wagon.

Lowered  but still standing tall was this beautiful Chevy Wagon.

 

Loving the paint and the roofline!!

I’ve got a few more post coming up shortly before wrapping the Goodguys’ car show trip.

Keep reading and thank you.

Tim

 

Goodguy’s Car Show AZ – Vendors

I hope everyone enjoyed the Nearly Live posts from the Goodguy’s Car Show.

The next few posts will be a wrap up the event by looking as some of the cars and a couple of vendors

Nearly on par with the Barrett Jackson auction, there were a lot of vendors.

Very impressive were the car’s brought by Drew’s Garage Cars

Take a look:

Custom Chevy

Awesome Pickup

Chevy Vert

Ironworks Speed and Kustom was there with some great looking frames.  Check them out at http://www.ironworksspeedandkustom.com/

Chevelle Frame

Chevy

I found some great looking wheels being displayed by MHT Luxury Alloys.

They were very reasonable and ideal for my Mustang, but most of the size are 17″ and above.  I not thinking 17″ on my Mustang will work.

They had these Foose designs on display.

Legend-Black-SS-500 - They might look good on my all white Mustang

Nitrous-B-5-250 - These wouldn't look bad either.

Thanks for reading

Tim

Nearly Live Goodguys Car Show

Coming up in about 60 minutes, Nearly Live – images from the Goodguys Car Show in Scottsdale Az.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Nearly Live Goodguys’ Car Show Scottsdale, AZ

Tomorrow (3/11/2011), I’ll be at the Goodguys’ Car Show in Scottsdale, AZ.  I”ll attempt to provide some “Nearly Live” posts from the location.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

1928 Service Notice

I just had to post this up.   Send to me from Joe Hart (Florida Joe).

This is a service post card send to Ford owners back in 1928.

This is a great little piece of auto history.  Thanks Joe.

 

 

Post Card to Current Ford Model T owners right after the Model A came out.

Oh..get a load of those labor cost!!!!

 

Model T

Thanks for reading

Tim

 

 

 

Custom Vette – Picture share

I just saw this and thought:

That’s what the C7 should look like!!!

New C7? Let's Start the Rumor!!!

New C7? Let’s Start the Rumor!!!

 

Toss in a LS7 and let’s go!!!!!

What do ya think?

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Nearly Live 71 Cheyenne

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Something about this Chevy pickup I like.