Trying to play catch up with Auto Factoids:
9/7/1954 – Production of the Ford Thunderbird.
Ford Thunderbird
9/8/1903 Preston Tucker born in Michigan.
1948 Tucker....love the suicide doors
9/9/1935 Studebaker exports first cars to London. They were Studebaker Commanders.
Studebaker Commander 1935
Thanks for reading.
Tim
One thing I really hate is a leaky car. I don’t like it when stuff leaks inside the car and I don’t like it when stuff leaks out of the car.
I have a friend that alway says…”Hey…old cars leak. That’s just what they do.” To this I normally just respond with “Yeah…I guess so.” I say this because he has pride in his work he does on his cars and I’m not going to poke at him about it.
What I want to say is “Bullstuff!!!!” Not this day in age, there all kinds of reproduction parts and hoses that can be molded and even entire businesses that make custom hoses. If it’s a gasket that’s leaking you can make your own, there’s all kind of gasket material on the market.
If you remember back a bunch of post ago, you may recall my power steering issue with my C4 Vette. Oh…yes…my poor old vette (which now has a new home), leaking everywhere!!!!. I hated that, but it was all fixable, right down to having a place in town customize a power steering hose ( it didn’t actually get that far, the oddly shaped hose turned out to not be the issue.).
The reality is that chasing down a leak is sometimes difficult, almost always time-consuming and the likelihood that it will be expensive is high. So, no old cars don’t have to leak.
What old cars do do (that’s just as funny to type as it is to say) is vibrate. My ’70 Mustang is mostly stock parts, with the exception of polyurethane motor mounts, and it will shake stuff loose, is it a pretty raw machine. A good portion of leaks can be attributed to that alone.
A few weeks ago, I notice a dime sized dot of oil in my driveway….errrkkk….no I’m not a neat freak, my drive has spots (been meaning to get it power washed), but with my older cars I like to keep an eye out for issues. So I climbed under the car and looked around and it appeared that the leak might be from the oil plug it’s self. So I grab my 5/8 ” open end wrench and gave it a bit of a crank. Now you have to be careful, especially with the type of oil pan I have (aftermarket chrome) as it can get out of shape if you over torque the drain plug and really leak. I wiped down the pan so I could tell later on if there might be another leak.
Chrome Oil Pan and Plug
A few drives later I noticed another dime size drip. Only this time it was a bit further back. OF NOTE: My driveway is sloped, and pretty good incline at that. This causes a bit of a problem determining exactly where liquid might originate, that whole gravity thing, ya know. This drip did seem a bit further back then the last.
Again I check the oil pan and this time the oil pan gasket between the engine and the block. Nope no oil. So I go topside and start checking the valve covers. And sure enough there, there appears to be a leak in the rear of the left value cover. Not really a big deal, looks like it’ll just need new valve cover gasket, this 302 engine is wide open in the engine bay with lots of room (nothing like the 84 Vette was to get to).
Lots of room in this engine bay to work.
Valve Cover, you can see the bit of oil grunge along the bottom.
I then recalled that FelPro gaskets were used and I specifically chose the type used on drag cars, designed so that you can pop the valve covers over between heats to make adjustments. This particular set of valve covers that I purchased when restoring the car came with bolts that tighten with an allen wrench.
Screw with allen wrench (or hex wrench).
Just in case:
Allen Wrench/Hex Wrench
Hexagon end of allen wrench
So I thought…to myself (really….can you think to anyone else?) “I wonder if they are all tight?” Sure enough they were all loose. Hence the oil leak. I tightened them all down, wiped down the engine where I could reach and drove it a couple of days. No leaks!!! Now I make it a habit to check those every so often. This is BTW a good tip if you drive your muscle or vintage car.
Now the latest leak, I noticed a couple of days ago. I check the liquid laying in my drive (only about the size of a quarter) and it was power steering fluid. I’m thinking oh…NO..not again!!! I didn’t even look under the car and went straight to the computer and did a quick search for new power steering parts for my 70 Mustang. What I found wasn’t horrible, as in, well no retirement for me, got to fix up this ‘stang, but bad enough price wise to see if it was repairable.
So I crawled under the Mustang (or hunk of iron, as my wife calls it…or maybe she was calling me the hunk :^ ) and took a look. Yup, there was a leak but it appeared to be coming from the flared steel hose fitting going into the power steering unit.
Steel hose and the leaky mess.
A couple turns with a 1/2″ open end wrench and again wiped down area. I keep checking back to see if any new leaks appear.
I can say… right now…. that my 70 Mustang doesn’t leak….I don’t think!!!
So now I stand corrected, sort of. Old car do leak, hey new cars leak!! However, they don’t have to stay that way.
Tips:
1. Check under your muscle or vintage car for any liquid (hey…it’s ok if is just water from you AC..usually) on a regular basis.
2. Get under the hood and after your ooo’ss and aaahhh’s at your magnificent creation, tight things up. ( I always ooo and aaahhh!!!)
3. Get the car up in the air “”SAFELY”” and check the fittings you can’t see or reach from the top side.
4. Chase down the leaks and clean the area to make checking for a continued leak easier.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
This site is getting a lot of hits and as all of my readers know it’s not a commercial enterprise..as in I don’t sell anything, nor do I have sponsors. I do it for fun.
A few months back while I was surfing the web I ran across a web site that offered to find small “Mom & Pop” racing teams sponsors for their companies. I read the site and I thought it was a really cool ideal. Then I got to thinking, which is often a laborious effort, and more times than not ends in some sort of less than optimal situation, I’d like to do something like that. Small draw back…..oh you know what’s coming…..Average Guy, Average budget….hell most of the time I can afford my this hobby of mine either. So there won’t be any cash involved. (Hear that?!?!!??! That’s the sound of internet browsers slamming closed!!!)
Well if you are still with me, here is what I’d like to do.
I’m going to add a portion to this site called “Mom & Pop’s Racing Corner. I’d like to feature the small racing teams from anywhere in the in the world from time to time. What’s in it for me? Nothing. What’s in it for the racing team? Some recognition outside their local areas. Maybe you get noticed pick up a sponsor or even a couple fans!!!
So if you want to play here is what I need:
1. Name and size of your racing team
2. Details on the vehicles you race…i.e., cars, and trucks (other types might be considers but NO…ABSOLUTELY NO…..LAWNMOWERS!!!!..unless they are really cool) like engine, mods, horsepower, transmission, you get the idea.
3. Type of racing (oval, drags, drifting)
4. A brief paragraph (or longer if you desire) on history and resent racing results and even next event you are going to attend.
5. Include some way for a reader to contact you. (email, facebook or other social media)
6. Include some pictures. At least one of your vehicle. It would be really cool to show the driv
er(s), owner(s), pit crew, engine builder, stuff like that.
I’ll select one every two weeks or so, depending on the response and run the information in that corner.
It’s going to be fun to introduce these small racing teams and learn more about their cars and their type of racing.
You can drop me a comment here and I’ll get back to your or just email me directly at timsweet@cox.net with your information.
This should be fun.
Thanks for reading
Tim
My Coupe taking of from the line. Before the new paint!!!
Before you judge me…LOOK!!!!!
2007 Corvette
Wait…LOOK AGAIN!!!!
Side view
Another View
And one more…..
The LS2
Yes the 1984 C4 Crossfire has a new home.
But in its place is the 400 hp LS2 powered 2007 Corvette.
She has a 6 speed manual trans mission, Z51 suspension, leather and power everything, key-less entry and starting and a host of other cool stuff. I’ll go into more detail in the next post.
I thought I’d miss the ’84 more then I do, it will be going to a good home and hopefully will stay a Crossfire. The ’84 goes with twice as many miles on it then when I bought it, lots of new, original parts and some improved and a really awesome stereo, it’s a better car then when I got. It deserves to be a show car and not a daily driver/grocery getter/race car (drags and auto cross)/show car. But it did them all very well, with the trophies to prove it. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot about that middle ground technology that was a huge advance from the older cars, a first of its kind in many ways and a stepping stone to technology that is in the replacement Vette.
I’ve heard from a lot of guys (pssstt…when I use the word “guys” I mean all genders….just wanted to be clear ) that really miss driving their older Vettes, there’s really nothing that can capture the rawness of that kind of driving. I’m bit luckier then those guys because I can still jump in to my ’70 Mustang (thanks to a very understanding better half) and get that feeling of old school nothing but metal and tires driving. I think that alone makes it easier to let the ’84 go.
Thanks to the guys up at Dynamic Crossfire Solutions in Chandler, Az (http://www.crossfireinjection.net/) and all the guys in my Corvette club – Arizona Corvette Enthusiasts (ACE) http://arizonavette.net/, they helped a ton with my learning curve…HEY GUESS WHAT GUYS….I’m going to have a bunch of new ‘stuff’ to learn.
So get ready loyal readers, (all three of you!!!!). I’m going to take my average skills, average tools, and now below average budget and take on new technology.
But where to start????!!!!????
I’ll be back to you on that.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
Well, I’ve been preoccupied over the past week with …ok…don’t shoot me, you classic car lovers…….working a trade for a 2007 Corvette with my 84 Corvette. Yeah, I know..WTH???
I know, I know. I love my 84, it’s unique and the value has increased since I’ve purchased it. But there is a desire to upgrade. This isn’t the first time I’ve considered getting another Vette, I actually considered a trade for my Mustang for a second Corvette.
I have to admit the recent troubles with my 84 does play a small part of the desire to replace it. And this 2007 Black on black C6 with 4oo plus hp, with a 6 six speed manual trans, with only 40k miles. Still under factory warranty. But the price was just unbelievable. The original deal fell through because we couldn’t agree on a good price for my Vette. But it looks like I might have a second shot at it tomorrow.
Even if, it’s hard to get rid of my first Vette and there is always the concern that you’ll regret it later. So I figured, I just add a third car to my stable!!!!!…..oh….that’s funnier then you might think….considering how UNDERSTANDING my wife has been with my current stable of classics….but even I know that’s way…yea…way too much for even a saint such that she is. “Love you cutie” (just in case she gets really bored and actually decides to read my dribble.)
So I’ll catch you all up by the end of the weekend.
Oh..here’s what we are looking at. Drop me a note and let me know what you would do!!!
2007 Vette Trade or not too Trade????
Another view...give you view....trade or not to trade???
I have a fun give way coming up as well as some more auto factoids and a quick fix for my Mustang.
Thanks for reading
Tim
Every one that reads this blog knows that older cars, no matter how careful you, or how much you baby your car you are going to have problems. That’s the nature of any relationship. Things break, undiscovered issues, or even your own missteps can issues. You just can’t through in the towel “Honey, I’m going to have to find another mate, you just can’t run as far as you use too.” or “Sorry but that broken leg changes everthing…ur outta hereeee.” (Lawyer up…my wife is fine, no injuries, still running fine..no worries…just wanted to be clear!!!!)
Well, over the past few weeks my Corvette has been a serving up a bunch of consternation.
If you remember a few posts back I had replaced one power steering hose and need help with the power steering reservoir. That got done. Shortly after that, a leak developed from the front end and over the course of two days it got a little worse. So I pulled it in to the garage and crawled under neight..and that’s no small effort.
The power steer of course provided hydraulic power to make the turning of the front wheels easier. (There you got the basics of the how it works.) This entire process insists that the fluid, in this case power steering fluid stays in place. Well my beauty failed conform to the standards.
Rack Pinion
If you look at the image above you’ll see the plastic boots (A) that cover and protect the shaft. Those are supposed to be dry. When I touched the boot on the left side of the Vette fluid poured out, clearly it was no longer dry. What was also very very clear at that exact moment was the pain in my wallet.
Basically, the you have two options when something that is supposed to be dry is wet on a car, replace it or rebuild it. I chose both. Lucky for me the complete unit for my 84 Vette is still available through on-line Corvette parts houses. EEERRRRKKKK..While I’m writing this I have the Speed channel up on up in the corner of my monitor, they are testing an Aston Martin DBS against a Bentley w/ W12 engine…soft girl cars…of course that girl’s got some skills, putting eyeliner on at 150 miles per hour!!….end of EERRRKKK – I’ll let you know how that turns out.
A quick trip down the street to Tim Sisk proved my investigative results. I’m the Average guy with Average skills, there was not something I wanted to attempt. Additionally, it requires a front end alignment. So I order one, and because I hate having the car in the shop I had it expressed shipped, or at least that’s what I asked. It didn’t shipped and took a total of four days. What…you say…”oooohhh poor baby, took 4 days to get it here!” Hey, that’s a life time for some car guys!!!!
Now ordering the rack and pinion requires a core charge (that’s where you have to return the old part or pay the core fee – they rebuild the old part and resell it) but as I stated I wanted to do both so I paid the core fee and kept the part. This allows me to either learn to rebuild the part or sent it out to have it rebuild and store it way. Plus I have the original part, although there isn’t much benefit in collector value for having the orignal rack and pinion (numbers matching) 84 Vette, well least not for another 20 years!!!!
The part was replaced and the car realigned, in total it was out of service for a solid 7 days. Picked the car up and drove it home and that was that…and if you believe that, I have some swamp land out here in AZ to sell ya!!! Stay tune for what happened next
Oh…the Aston Martin and Bentley match up. Here the details:
Braking 0-100 to 0 (time speeding getting up to 100 and then distance measured for stopping-shortest distance wind) ….15 second from 0 to 100 for both cars, breaking the Aston won at 40 feet shorter stopping distance.
60-130 test on roll – Bentley win 13.2 second, nearly a second faster than the Aston
The rolling mile – top speed 165 mph for Bentley, 1 second faster than the Aston – 159 mph
Road course – 55.6 seconds for the Bentley 53.8 seconds for the Aston
Like I said – girls car..my 84 Vette has a top speed of nearly 200 miles an hour. My personal best, 174 mile per hour in the Vette – yeah that’s just last year. Dyno proven.
Thanks for reading.
Very like week this week.
OH….the Corvetttes at Carlisle is a huge event going on over in Carlisle PA. I might make it there one of these years.
For all you caddy lovers on 8/27/1902 the Cadillac company was born. Yup it was its own company.
This sure isnt' what one thinks of when they think of a Cadillac
Oh and this was the olds from around that era:
1897 Olds.
London, England had an auto (and plane) historical event this week. Charles Rolls was born on 8/27/1877 (Rolls Royce). Beside creating the an iconic car, they did plane engines and more.
1903 Rolls Royce
Thanks for reading.
Tim
Before I start this next segment on the 318, I have to admit that organizing and presenting this work of art (oh..yeah..I’m laughing too!!!!) could have gone in a lot of directions. The two that stuck out the most for me was by year (chronologically) or by brand. Neither was a solid idea and at some point in the ’70s the only thing separating brands within most U.S. car manufacturers wasn’t much more than vinyl vs cloth seat covering. So I decided to go with brands, Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth, knowing that there we would be some crossover information and it might look a bit disjointed. There’s some good stuff, and a couple of things you might know about the 318.
Chrysler began using the 318 in 1967 and carried that power plant until the late 1990s.
From 1967 to 1971 the 318 carried a 230 hp rating w/ the standard 2 barrel carb, managed 340 ft lb of torque and sported 9.2:1 compression ratio. (that is actually a lower compression ratio than the original Ford 250 straight six I took out of my Mustang). In 1967 the 318 engine was used in the Belvedere, Satellite, Fury, Coronet, Polara and Charger and in 1968 they added as the base option in the Dart GTS and Barracuda.
1967 Polara 4 door.
From 1972 to 1979 the 318 was bounced around in the horsepower arena between 150 to 140. That’s nearly 100 hps lost from the late 1960’s. At lower end of the new scale were the California models with the extra smog control. It was still a mainstay, being the base engine choice for the Duster, Cordoba, Monaco, New Port and unexpectedly the Road Runner, just to name a few. It was never sported anything bigger than a 2 barrel carb and the compression dropped to 8.5.
It didn’t get any prettier in the 80s either, although there a bit of a bump in the high-end of the hp range to 175 hp but the company more than made up for that dropping the lowest number 120. Interestingly, they made the California models with 155 hp and a 4 barrel carb. The compression stayed about the same, but in ’83 – ’90 they made a HD version of the engine that had between 165 to 175 hp, depending on the year and sported a 4 barrel carb. This configuration managed to lay down 240 – 250 ft lb of torque, not too bad in one of the lighter cars, like the Dart, but barely power enough for the big old St. Regis. The 318 was also added to some of the most memorable cars….come on..you doesn’t remember “vooo..la rau….oh..oh…” (Volare )and the LeBaron, and Aspen. Even some larger cars like the St. Regis, New Yorker, Gran Fury (I can’t see any car begin called grand with only 120 hp, but that’s just me.) and the Imperial.
1976 Volare
Oh and speaking of the Imperial something interesting happened in 1982 and 1983. That little something was EFI. More on that in the next segment.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
This isn’t my normal “on this date back in…” factoid. This one is current.
8/6/2010
At the VW Automóveis Ltda. plant in Portugal today the hundred-thousandth third-generation Scirocco rolled off the production line. Since its launch in 1974, this compact sports coupe has been the most successful Volkswagen two-door with more than 800,000 sold to date. Another notable Giugiaro coupe is the breathtaking beautiful Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint.
These cars were a hot item in the use for a short while.
2010 Scirocco
Thanks for reading
Tim
7/26/1945 Kaiser-Frazer Corp organized – it also include what was left of Graham-Paige car manufacturer. Frazer Nash was a British car making company. In 1953 it became just Kaiser Motors.
1946 Kaiser Nast Sedan
1953 Kaiser Darrin Convertible
7/29/1916 Nash Motor Company as founded by Charles Nash when he purchased a company called Jeffery Company which made a car called the Rambler. I bet you can guess what came eventually American Motors and their Rambler.
Oh..in 1909 Buick purchased Cadillac on the 29th day.
8/3/1900 The Firestone rubber company was founded by Harvey Firestone. It was based in Akron, Ohio and had only 12 employees. Six years later Mr. Henry Ford contracted with Firestone to supply tires for the Model T.
8/7/1937 the Cord company stopped production car, but of course when one to build planes etc.
Thanks for reading
Tim
