Included in my list of mod and upgrades for my 1970 Mustang was some new upholstery.
Now there is always the issue of replacing vinyl with vinyl or replacing it with leather died to the color. But that’s just not going to happen on this “average” budget.
So I ordered a complete set of TMI from M Detail in Riverside, Ca. The price was right and although I’m not in a hurry the shipping was quick.
Now I’ve never done upholstery before, so this will be the first time. I’m also no expert in Corinthian vinyl (umm..I’m no Ricardo Montabon…) or Ruffino vinyl (just for the record I’m against harming Corinthains and Ruffinos so I specifically ordered imitation version) but the quality of the stitching and the thickness of the padding was very impressive.
So I’m going on the record as saying that if want to stay on budget and quality is important give TMI Upholstery a try.
I don’t receive compensations for these review, just make comments on what I like.
A small excerpt of a car photo will be post and you have to guess the car and year.
Each pic will be accompanied by a few hints. These will be production cars, not concepts or one off’s.
I’ll post them as often as possible and keep a tally of the first right answer on the image that follows.
You have to be the first with the right answer and the first to reach 5 correct answers.
The first with five correct answers will win a free gift. Normally, car related DVD, CD or a Bolt Depot Fastener gauge (screw/bolt) – metric or U.S. (These will be mailed to you, so you are going to have to provide an address.)
I’ll start the contest tomorrow (4/11/11). So stay tuned.
Brush up on your car parts. (Additional note: All of these cars will have had appeared on my blog over the past 1.5 years.)
Maybe one of the most famous carburetors was the Carter. Famous, you ask? Read on.
Will Carter was born in 1884 in Union City, Tennessee. He opened his first shop when he was only 17 years old where he repaired bikes, guns and anything mechanical. In 1902 he moved his business to St. Louis, Missouri where it expanded it to include the few cars that were in the “big” city.
It was there that he became familiar with the current issues with regulating fuel (not great quality) for the power plants in those early cars. Finding them wanting he began as all inventors, experimenting.
His improvements eventually lead to a reputation for providing the best fuel air mixture carburetors available and my 1909 with financial backing from a friend he opened Carter Carburetor Company. One year later he was granted a patent for his Model C carb, an updraft carb with an air valve. It featured, automatic-multiple jets, with adjustments of low, intermediate and high speeds.
By 1911, just 2 years from opening he had designed the first downdraft carb, using vacuum from the manifold to pump fuel from the gas tank and filling a small bowl above the carb.
In 1915 Will moved this manufacturing into a new building. Financially the company wasn’t doing well under Will’s management and in 1916 filled for reorganization and Will was no longer involved in the management of the company. In 1922 the company was purchased by American Car and Foundry Company (now called AFC Industries). The company continued on producing replacement carbs for the next three years.
In 1925 they received their first order for producing original equipment for Chevrolets. Three years after that Chrysler came calling for original parts and eventually the likes of Ford, Nash and Willys followed.
The next major milestone for the Carter company was in 1952 with the development and marketing of the first of its kind – the four barrel carb. It’s first use was on the Buick straight eight engine. The new-found horse power and the ability to add more than one carb to the manifold, ‘fuel’ the development of all the super-cars to come.
Carters 1952 4 Barrel Carb
So where’s the famous part? (As if creating the first every four barrel carb wasn’t enough!!!!) Ok you may have heard of the Beach Boys, yes? Yeah that’s right the “409”….my four speed, dual quad Positraction 409..409..409…” Two Carter four barrels were what was on top of that 409 and it was called the “dual quad” still is today.
The company continued on to a developed the Thermo Quad in the 1970’s (first carb to use a plastic main body) and followed that up with an electronic choke model. The company still produced “old school” carbs for the restoration market and new cars.
The company continued on to a developed the Thermo Quad in the 1970’s (first carb to use a plastic main body) and followed that up with an electronic choke model. The company still produced “old school” carbs for the restoration market and new cars.
Carters 850 cfm Thermoquad
Some of the common uses back then:
– Chrysler used them on their Hemis and they helped power the “Street Hemi” which sported the quad set up.
– Pontiac use them on their GTO
– Oldsmobile used them
Thanks for reading.
Comments:
Good history on Carter, Tim, but you left out the one Carter product that gave me numerous nightmares and other issues on my old 440 Dodge Coronet. That is the famous AFB.
According to Carter, AFB meant ‘aluminum four barrel’, but as I experienced, in reality it was “an f&%ing b&%ch” (joke told to me by an ol’timer mechanic). It seems the air horn of the aluminum machined surface would oh so slightly warp over various heat cycles and the car would never twice idle the same. Full throttle would cause all kinds of intermittent operation (it bwould either flood, or run lean and the engine would ping to death). To this day I shudder when I hear ‘Carter AFB’.
I learned later that (believe it, or not) Holley has a rebuilding center in Bowling Green, KY, that acutally re-planes the air horns on AFBs and has a ‘propriety’ re-assembly procedure that alleviates the issues. It has something to do with the order and torque of the air horn on re-assembly.
Chrysler loved to use the ol’Carter “BBD” 2 barrels on every 318 and ‘super’ slant 6 made. They were a simple, reliable carb that was plagued with funcky choke pull offs and bi-metal springs. I finally mastered this carb after spending hundreds of hours tinkering with these.
Carter today is owned by conglomerate Federal Mogul. They make Champion spark plugs, ANCO wipers, FelPro gaskets, etc, etc. I believe the AFB is still in production in Mexico, although I can’t understand why anyone would buy one of these when a Holley is such a better product?
Thanks for the trip down (a bad) memory lane. Take care, Bill
Just thought I’d follow-up with the finished product.
If you look a back at the original post (http://wp.me/pKHNM-sS) you can catch up on this mini project.
After a few more hour of sanding with 220 and 600 grit and Purple Metal Polish (applied with the 600 grit and polishing wheel for my Dremel) you can see the results as compared with the original code aluminum pieces.
New Heim Joint
Now I won’t be able use the entire kit from Summit Racing but I will install this as the replacement for the old stock tension bracket.
It’s the technology that can take a stock small block Chevy engine produce 420 hp and still get reasonable mpg’s. It’s the technology that kicks in the Active Handling when you get yourself in trouble ( I personally drive with it off).
But it’s the technology that can be troublesome and cause confusion.
My 2007 C6 has equal to or in some areas more technology them my wife’s 2011 Lexus RX. Her car will let you know when the tire pressure is low, the Corvette lets you monitor it was you drive, right on the Driver Information Center (DIC) and you can toggle between front and rear. However my Corvette has nasty habit of giving me a false reading every now a then – gives me the “ding ding” warning and then prompts me that my is flat..not just low pressure, but straight to flat and then warns me not go to over 55 miles per hours. The computer assumes you have run flat tires and that it’s safe to do so. Of course there is nothing wrong with my tires pressure, (however, I always pull over to check it anyway with $1800 worth of rims and as much in rubber, you can’t be too careful). Normally it clear up after a while.
Another interesting glitch is the “headlights suggested” warning. That’s great but in the middle of a bright sunny Arizona day? Happens all the time. It darkens the dash so I can’t read it and then as some point it goes away and allows me to continue with just the daytime running light.
Every now and then the light for the passenger air bag show on, without a passenger.
One of other glitches which isn’t technology based, however none-the-less interesting. It’s emerging now that, that C6 Corvettes with manual 6 speed transmission does not shift well in cold weather. I’m not talking 85 degree below zero, I’m talking just under 50 degrees (above zero). I live in southern AZ where under 50 degree weather isn’t as common as else where in the country. How do those of you in northern climates adjust?. The most common issue is that the driver is unable to shift into reverse. That is the issue for my 07. Others have reported not being able to reach 3rd and 4th gears.
How about the known issue with the removal roof? It often becomes unseated and squeaks unmercifully. The quick solution is to stop the car, unlatch and lift the top and the re-latch. First ride I took my wife on, give her the impression that I got a lemon.
So are the glitches worth it? Is the prestige of owning a world reknowned sports car worth the glitches? Is 420 plus horsepower and suspension that sticks to the curves like a fly on flypaper?
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.
