Tag Archives: Car Show

A Word about Windshields – Quality, Installation and Insurance Part 2

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I’m going to ruin the ending, but I did end up with a quality install on my wife’s Lexus with quality glass.

Thanks reading.

Tim…………………Ok…just kidding.

The ordeal continued when I told the shoddy installer that I didn’t want them to return and remove the fun house mirror from the font of the Lexus.  This prompted several calls back to my insurance company.  For about two hours I telephonically  (that might not be a word!!!) climbed the corporate ladder  until I got to the “Head of Corporate Glass” (that was  the exact title…).

The individual I spoke to, listened to my story, including the intentional installation of faulty mirror support, and assured me the concern would be taken seriously.  That part went well and the next part was even better, but first have to set it up a bit.

It seems that when the previous windshield was installed I was authorized the original glass because the car was under 3 years old.  That was their policy.  However, since the car was over 3 years old this time, they would not authorize the original glass, unless…I paid a difference of $800.00. (More on the price of glass  in a bit later.)

So I was surprise when the  ‘Head of Corporate Glass’ (I hear this in a booming God-like voice, like when God spoke to Charlton Heston in the famous movie “Mose and the 10 Commandments”) say, “We’ll wave the $800.00 and authorize you original glass.”   I won…I won…I beat the evil insurance company!!!…Oh hold the proverbial horses…the round-up wasn’t exactly over.

She next told me I had to have the same installer put in this ‘quality glass’.   Oh…the horses have stopped.  I did not agree and she insisted, stating that because of the warranty they (the insurance company) had with Mr. Shoddy Glass Inc.  it was required to have them re-install the new piece.   I said that I should have the right to have anyone  put it in and that whatever agreement they (the insurance company) had with them (Mr. Shoddy Glass Inc.) wasn’t my problem.  I also mentioned again their total disregard for the safety and quality which should concern them (the insurance company….ok…do I have to keep lawyer-ing up here?….actually I just want to see how annoying I could be!!!…I sure someone will let me know.)  and they would have paid a lot more if the swinging mirror resulted in an accident.  She still insisted and I asked to be moved up a rung in the corporate ladder and she said there wasn’t a next rung.  I said no again and she said ok.  Ok…let the horses go because this was a complete victory!!!! Score a point for the down trodden masses!!!!

Almost…..it took nearly 3 weeks to get the new glass.  The  first company I selected said they couldn’t order the windshield.  I said, sure you can.  A few day later, they said we can’t find the glass to order.  I called the dealership and got  the part number and even how long it would take to get in (two days).  I gave the installer the information.  One week later still no windshield.  I called the installer back and found that they called the insurance company and someone a bit lower than ‘Head of Corporate Glass’ unauthorized original glass.

So another call to ‘Head of Corporate Glass’ .  I wasn’t able to talk to HER (get it..all caps???)  but the lady I did talk to found the note from  HER and said sure, no problem.  I said “Hold your horses, missy”.  And with that we telephonically (it’ll be a real word when I done with this article!!!) found the guy that “de-authorized” my original glass and while we are all   conference together, had him talk to a 3rd installer and tell them I was authorized… with everybody on the line as witnesses.   Ok…party hat time and no can’t you get back time it took you to read this!!!!

There was one more interesting revelation when I compared the prices of the glass provided by Mr. Shoddy installer, my insurance company preferred vendor,  paid for the glass and what Mr. Speedy (yup that’s what Mr. We Know What We Are Doing installer is officially known as) paid for original.  I know why Mr. Shoddy was preferred.  See below:

Mr. Speedy –  $1350  for original Glass

Mr. Shoddy – $252 for OME glass (There was no extra charge the fun house entertainment.)

Thanks for reading and drop me a note.

Tim

A Note About Blogging – Original or Run of the Mill

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In two months I will have been writing this blog for 1 year and I have enjoy every minute of it.

When  you blog like I do, to share a specific area of interest, you are always trying to increase readership.  Now if this were a commercial enterprise for me, then increasing my readership would be Job One. (Come on, which car company’s slogan was that?  If Ford jumped into your head that would be correct.) However, it is not, but still I’m always searching for a way to make this blog a place more and more folks want to view.

There are a lots of ways to do that, none of them huge as far as bringing in the masses and some aren’t inexpensive and others are labor intensive. (Guess which one I do…oh…yeah…cheap and labor intensive…Average Guy….say it!!!!……Average Budget!!) While searching for ideas or processes I could take advantage of,  I ran across some helpful hints. One in particular makes sense, namely, keeping the site updated regularly.  This suggestion dictated that it be daily, which is really a good idea.  However, the method it promoted was to jam the blog with other folks news feeds, articles and automatic updates from outside sources.

I thought about this a bit and I tooled around the web and looked at commercial blogs and forums and I realized that everyone had read this particular tip and employed it.  And I thought, I just don’t see the point.  The blog is no longer the owners writings, but really just a reorganization of things floating around on the web.  Nope, not for me.

I still think keeping up the daily effort is the right way to go, but I can’t do it in that manner.

Although I do pop on videos that I think are cool and maybe a link to a forum or another blog,  I’m going to keep the core of this blog full of original material, meaning my own scribblings and occasionally notes from the readership.

The life’s blood of a blog run like I run this one, are comments and readers.  So drop me a note, ask a question, or give me a suggestion  ( I do requests).

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

C6

 

 

Reader’s Pride and Joy His Chrysler LeBaron

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One of my favorite things is to have a reader drop by virtually and tell me about their rides.  I’ve known Bill for 2 or 3 years now. We use to work in the same building and his car is nearly mint. What makes this even better is that Bill wrote up his own narrative.  So I just have to copy and paste.

Take it away Bill.

Hi Tim:

Here are some LeBaron pics. (Pic are below) There are some from back in 2004, and the most recent from Jan 1, 2009 when the car turned over 100K miles. We actually celebrated that day the car’s odometer adding that most significant 1 to 5 zeros.

I bought this car Oct 2nd, 1991 from Celebrity Chrysler Dodge in San Jose, CA. The sales price was a whopping $15,344.15 out the door and no, I did not get any paint protection package, or extended warranty.

I know you won’t believe this, but this has been the very best car I have ever owned. It currently has 110K miles, and has the original water pump, alternator, AC compressor and Freon, fuel pump, master cylinder, and I could go on and on. The transmission was rebuilt a few years back, but otherwise only wear and maintenance items have been replaced. It has been very dependable from day one. I still get 23MPG around town, and lots of ‘thumbs ups’ at red lights.

The top has been replaced in 2004, but the paint is all original. This car has never been in a car wash, nor in an accident-not even a fender bender.

I get asked quite frequently who painted the car, and there is disbelief when I tell them it is original paint. I guess that is testament to the DriWash products and good ol’elbow grease.

This car has lots of memories and by accident has become a member of the family. I enjoyed cruising from San Jose to Santa Barbara along the Pacific Coast Highway 1, a few beautiful evening drives to Lake Tahoe and Reno with the top down, summer trips to Monterey and cruising Pebble Beach and the 17 Mile Drive. One thing going for this car, it is the most fun you will ever have at 35MPH.

The LeBaron convertible was the longest run for the K CAR based derivatives, lasting from 1982 to early model year 1996 when the Sebring came on-line. The original 1982 model was a conversion by ASC, and Chrysler sold out of the entire production run in just three weeks. Lee Iacocca ordered that the 1983 model be built-in house, and Chrysler had tool and dies made to factory build the convertible. It was the ONLY factory built convertible until the late 1980s when the Corvette switched to in-house convertible production. Up until the Miata was introduced, the LeBaron was the number one selling convertible, not only in the USA, but globally.

It is hard to believe that a car so popular died off so quickly. Chalk it up to poor resale value and low-cost (read cheap) Chrysler manufacturing. I still credit the smallest of the Big Three with the return of the convertible, and feel the LeBaron has an ignored legacy.

Bill's LeBaron

The LeBaron at 100k miles

 

This car has the same motor that powered the Mitsubishi 3000 and Dodge Stealth, a 3.0l V6. In K CAR duty, this is a SOHC, 12V motor with a frumpy 147bhp. The transmission is the (infamous) A604 ‘UltraDrive’, which was in its 2nd year in 1991. This was the world’s first electronic valvebody controlled auto trans, and some were so problematic mechanics nicknamed it the ‘a-sick-oh-four’. Mine lasted to 94K miles without an issue other than a flash memory recall. I had it overhauled due to the overdrive clutch worn out.

Thanks Bill…great story!!!

Tim

Auto Factoid for Week of 10/10/10

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A couple of debuts for this week.

10/12/50 – Kaiser-Fraizer built their 500,000th car – 4 years later they opened up car manufacturing in South America.

 

1950 Kaiser-Frazers

 

 

 

10/13/1902 – Packard Motor Car Co was formed out of the old Ohio Automobile.

 

1902 Packard Run-About

 

 

 

10/15/24 – The original Mr. Government Auto Company Bailout. Mr.Lee Iacocca was born this date.  If that’s all you remember him for, turn your car lover card…this guy rocked it in the car world!!!!  This might change your mind…yea…the Mustang was his baby too.

 

How ya like him now???!!!!!

 

And now for the new arrivals!!!

 

10/14/65 – the Oldsmobile Toronado – a friend of my had one of these when I was in college back in the late 1970’s.  It was my first awareness of a front wheel drive  car.

 

1966 Toronado - Kool factor of 8.5 out of 10.

 

 

And one of my favorites

10/16/58 the Chevy El Camino arrives. Now I’m big fan of those fins!!!  These also spawned  the GMC Sprint and a few other variations.

 

1958 - Fin Heaven

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

 

 

Auto Factoids for week of Sept 26

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9/26/1967  Everyone loves this car  AMC’s Javelin the car was in the public’s hands by 1968.  I loved the body style.

 

1968 Javelin

 

 

10/1/1908 – Mr. Ford began selling is Model T

 

Model T Ford – Rag Top

 

(they were all convertibles!!!…just saying!!!)

 

Oh.. you’ll like this one.

10/2/1959 – Chevy introduces the Corvair.  Believe it or not I’ve seen some of the sale footage and they treated it like a jeep.  Chevy had drivers drive up  embankment, up and down streams with water over the tires.  This gave Ford a scare but it wasn’t until they could put together the Mustang did they really have an answer.

 

1959 Corviar.

My Brother-In-Law’s 1965 Monza…very nice car.

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

 

1974 Torino – The One that Got Away.

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While I getting my act together after a very nice week-long road trip I wanted to share a car that I once owed and that for all too common reasons let it go to a new home.

1974 was about the time the U.S. government’s fossil fuel consciousness began to kick in, choking the horsepower out of the muscle car.  But this car was an exception. Here’s its specs.

Gran Torino Sport
VIN:  4H38Q107971
Body:  65R
Color:  3D
Trim:  DB
Trans:  U
Axle:  9
DBO:  75
Date: 08/73
Vin Code:  1974
VinCode Body Serial = Gran Torino Sport 2dr HardTop
VinCode Body:  Medium Blue Metallic
Seat:  Balmora B/Cloth & Corith (L/B Bench)
Trim Code:  Med. Blue
AxleCode = 3.25:1
DSOCode: Phoenix
Assembly Plant:  Lorrian

Undercarriage is aerodynamic ball joints are much larger than other Torino’s of the same vintage
Transmission  is unique (Minus the traditional “Humped” housing)
Engine is 351-V4 Cobra Jet (Not a Cleveland)
9” rear end
10.5:1 ratio
Came with a 3500 Stall Speed Torque Converter.

This was an amazing car.

Unless you are an expert on the Torino what you won’t know is that the 351 V4 Cobra Jet for 1974 was only one of 300 engines made that year.  It took me nearly two years of research to find this out.

I sold this car to a nice guy up in Green Bay.  Here is a before shot:

 

1974 Grand Sport Torino

 

Here is what the fellow up in Green Bay created:

 

After

 

 

Engine hasn't been touched.

 

 

Great looking hood.

 

It’s good to see that she’s looking so good.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Auto Factoid for Week of Sept 12 2010

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I’m head out on vacation.  There will one or two more post prior.  Please enjoy and thank you for reading my “Stuff”!!! 

9/13/1945 – Pontiac began producing cars for the first time after the war. 

 9/15/1881 – Ettore Bugatti Born, Milan, Italy – I just so a Bugatti (modern) sold at Barrett Jackson for  over $700,000 

Bugatti W16

 

9/16/1908 – General Motors Incorporates – Aren’t we close to their new IPO…yeah..I think so…oh wait…I’m a tax payer..I already own a piece!!! 

9/17/1854 – David Buick was born on this day in Arbroath Scotland – yes they named a car after him – sorry…not funny. 

Thanks for reading 

Tim

Chasing Down Leaks – My ’70 Mustang

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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

Updates for Abandon Car Contest Submit Pic and Win a DVD.

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I’m always interested in pic of abandon cars.

Next month the Ms and I will be taking a road trip through Northern AZ and New Mexico as well as  Southern Colorado and Uta.

One of my objectives is snap some pics of abandon cars as we travel around.

For fun I’m setting aside a couple of car related DVDs  for anyone that submits a picture of an abandon car, truck, motorcycle and the like.

You can email(timsweet@cox.net) the image to me, or post it on Facebook (Tim Sweet) or the Average Guy’s Car Restoration, Mods and Racing Group.

Just post your name, “general” location of the subject matter, and picture.  I’ll contact you privately to get an address for mailing the DVD.

That’s all there is  to it.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

The New Vette & Missing the Crossfire

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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