Tag Archives: Chevrolet Corvette

Build Your Own Engine – Bowling Green, KY

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If you’ve read my posting for a while you’ll recall my trips to the great state of Kentucky and my trips to the place the worlds most recognizable car is assembled.

Yes I’ve taken the Corvette assembly plant tour more times than anyone I know, hell when I retired I’m going to volunteer to work the tour route in the plant.  I love Bowling Green!!!!

The last time I visited they were building out the plant for the Chevy Volt and working on the new section for the C7 Corvette.  These upgrades mean more work for the plant and those doing “God’s work” (LOL).

Well there is more.  Corvette has had a program where the an soon to be owner of a new Corvette can pay to build the engine for his car in the Performance Build Center (http://corvetteblock.com/2011/11/performance-build-center-open-house/).  That may be the coolest idea I’ve heard.  Well this program is being moved from Michigan to the Bowling Green  assembly plant.

I think that is great news!!!!  You an build your engine, watch it installed in your car and drive it out of the factor!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

Next-Gen LT1 6.2-Liter V-8 for 2014 Corvette Revealed with 450 HP, New Tech – WOT on Motor Trend

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With the new C7 just days away with from it’s reveal – will it look the a Camaro or not much of a change from the C6?

We  don’t exactly know, but what we do know it will have the GM small block a mainstay for 57 years.  This version will be almost all new and dubbed the “LT1”,  (after the 70’s engine) and will be naturally aspirated with direct fuel injection (the first with push rods).  The idea is that the base Corvette will have 450 hp and 450 lb-ft, compression will be 11.5:1 and get 26 miles per gallon (yeah….RIGHT!!).

Read some more at the link below and in the Feb 2013 Edition of Motor Trend read “Up Close and Personal With the LT1” (page 15).

Next-Gen LT1 6.2-Liter V-8 for 2014 Corvette Revealed with 450 HP, New Tech – WOT on Motor Trend.

6.2 Liter LT1

6.2 Liter LT1

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

Bill Mitchell’s (and Elvis’ too) – The Truth About Cars » Speedys

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Bill Mitchell’s (and Elvis’ too) – The Truth About Cars » Speedys.

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Speedy’s blog has a lot of information.  Could use a few pics but a lot of good info.

Tim

More 2014 C7 Owner’s Manual Details Appear – CorvetteOnline

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Yet another – leak!!!

More 2014 C7 Owner’s Manual Details Appear – CorvetteOnline.

http://www.corvetteonline.com

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Sleeper Cars

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As you know  (I assuming here), a “sleeper” car is one that on the exterior looks “average” (that it’s normally understood as referring to “slow”) under the wrapper, it’s a fire breather.

I was reading a special edition of ……the best auto periodical publisher in the WORLD (normally understood as referring to “ever existed”) Hemmings’ Muscle Machines – All Modified….and came upon an article entitled “Sleepers” by Richard Brigidi.

He defined a “sleeper” car as one with no engine badges, no chrome or striping, but with a monster engine.  The idea was back in the 1960’s as to hide the fact that you had mega HP under the hood.  Of course back in the day, street racing was common (although non-legal – just like today) and often it was done for cash or “pink slips”,  so hiding (or at least under stating) that fact that you’ve got a super power plant would be a benefit.

I’ve always liked the thought of having a poverty wheeled – rubber burner and always had in mind a plain-Jane Chevy Biscayne.

biscayne

Or maybe a plain old Mustang coupe?

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What’s your idea of a sleeper car? Drop your idea in a comment below.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

sleeper carssleeper cars

5 Best Sleeper Cars of 2014

Meanwhile, I put together a list of Top 5 Sleeper Cars available today. It includes a few American-built vehicles, and a couple more coming from cold, snowy Sweden and rugby-loving Australia. Check them out past the jump and tell me your thoughts in …

 

Mopar Door Panel Project – The LeBaron

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Some time ago I wrote about repairing my 1984 Corvettes door panel.  The panel its self was not well made … read “cheap” and didn’t stand up well to time/use.  Unfortunately, I can’t say there was any improvement in “quality” of the door panels in my 2007 Vette.  But this project isn’t a Corvette door panel,  but my son’s Chrysler LeBaron.

The LeBaron is 1990’s car and the door panels are 1990’s cheap, no nice way to say that.  This quick project was didn’t start out about the door panel, other than we had to take it off to check the multiple window control switch.  The window controls were part of a plastic insert that also has the remote control for the drivers’ side mirror poked through it.  It stays put, normally by 3 prongs that push into “V” clips that are on stand-a-lone braces that are mounted on the door panel directly – but not well done.

Since the insert has slid down over the past few months, it seemed that either driving vibrations and/or normal door operations, so while we are in there we’d push the prong back in.  Seemed simple enough.

The back of the panel a fiber board/plastic composite – not really fiberglass but similar and it’s pretty sturdy.

Back side of the door panel.

Back side of the door panel.

Here you can see the brackets I mentioned above.  However, the way in which the bracket are attached to the board is meant to last forever.  They are held together with bits of glue in holes along the edges of the bracket.  In the heat of Arizona and the great condition our roads are in (tongue in cheek) this type of connection is not ideal.

Here you can see the glue and at the back of the bracket and that is oozed out into the holes.

Here you can see the glue  the back of the bracket and that is oozed out into the holes.

This image below is the results of the glue pulling off – separating from the fiber board.

Part clue - Part fiber board. This was laying at the bottom of the door panel

Part clue – Part fiber board. This was laying at the bottom of the door panel

I’ll finish this up in the next post.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Big Dog Garage: 1953 Chevy Wagon

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Big Dog Garage: 1953 Chevy Wagon.

 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

1953 Chevy Wagon

This 1953 Chevy Wagon was bought new by my Grandfather as a delivery wagon for his grocery store.  My Uncle and Cousin had restored and maintained it until it was passed on to me.  This is the actual first car I remember riding in as a toddler.  I was fascinated by the chrome on the dash, and have been a car nut ever since.

After a lot of thought and conversations, I have decided what direction to go with the restoration of the Wagon.  At first, I wanted to preserve the original state of the car, but if I did that, it would be dangerous to drive in today’s traffic.  In 1953, there were no seat-belts and few other safety devices.  I really would like to enjoy the car as it was meant to be…. driving it as much as possible.  I would love to build it with a Big Block, but I am realistic so I plan to install the original Corvette engine and transmission from the ’78 Vette.  I also want to install disc brakes all around with radial tires.  Of course there is creature comforts like air conditioning I want to install.  I will keep the original look of the car with a few exceptions like wheels and over-sized tires.

 

Cops and Roders Car Show 2012 – Chevelle Row

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This show is to benefit the local police departments (city and count) as well as other first responders.  This is the first year in the last 4  that I didn’t bring at least one car (Vette and/or Mustang).

As will all car shows, the hosts normally try to list the cars by class, but that doesn’t always work – often car clubs make up a large percentage of the participants and if the Mopar guys want to park together they will be allowed to.  So you’ll see the “rows” that don’t seem to match up.

In this case, however the Chevelle’s got this one right.

Chevelle Row

Another beautiful Chevelle

SS version

More coming up.
Thanks for reading

Tim

Parking Lot Spotlight – 1963 Mercury

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Here’s another Parking Lot Spotlight.

I love just about any car in a 2 door configuration older than 1975.  This two door Monterey is no exception.

1963 Monterey  – you can see my newer than 1975 two door in the pic.

Tail light configuration. Love the over hang on the rear electric window.

The Monterey was a large heavy car, even the two door configuration, nearly 4000 lbs. It came in 4 door and 2 door body styles with only about 8000 combined production between the 2 door sedan and the 2 door coup.  (The Monterey Custom had 3 separate 2 door models – the Mar fsback coup, hard top coup and convertible.)

Engines were V8’s, mainly  the 390 with a bore and stroke of 4.05 x 2.94.  Compression was 8.9:1 and managed about 101 hp with a ford C3OF-9510 two barrel.  (1963 Mercury used the 427 in their NASCAR offerings, grabbing 1 Grand National win.  It was the first appearance of the 427 in a Merc.)

This one will need a little work before it’s ready for the track!!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Tucson Classic Car Show Mustang Row

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This was early dawn and a few of us early birds already lined up.

It was a great day. Over 400 cars!!!  I had the good look to be backed up to the Corvette Class row and right behind me was a friend with his BRAND NEW Carbon Grand Sport (see it in the other posts).

No trophies today, but a great time and a lot of beautiful cars.

Tim