Tag Archives: General Motors

Auto Factoids for Week of April 12, 2015

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Just got this out for the week!!   Here is your Auto Factoids (#autofactoids) for April 12, 2015.

April 13 1965  Pontiac 10-millionth

The car was a 1965 Catalina.

1965 4 door Catalina the 10th Millionth Pontiac

1965 4 door Catalina the 10th Millionth Pontiac

 

April 13 1904  Caddy assembly plant burned to the ground.  More info on this site:   http://www.car-nection.com/yann/dbas_txt/Factq-s.htm

 

April 14, 1927  First Volvo is produced

1927 Volvo "Jakob"

1927 Volvo “Jakob”

It had wooden (ash and copper beech) underpinnings, sheet steel panels, leather upholstery, live axles and long leaf springs – loosely based on an American design.  It had a 4 cylinder engine that produced 28 hp.

 

April 16, 1908  Oakland motors sells its first car.

I believe they actually began producing cars in 1907.

I believe they actually began producing cars in 1907.

 

April 17, 1964 Ford Mustang debuts

1964 2+2 Mustang

1964 2+2 – My favorite of the under 1968 Mustangs.

 

 

4/17/1969 Ford began selling the Maverick.  <cricket…..cricket…>  Come on..it was a good car and getting more and more collectible!!!

 

1964 Maverick

1964 Maverick – Proper mods and you’ll have a monster street car!!

 

April 18, 1955  Lincoln becomes a separate division of Ford.   Lincoln started out as a separate brand in 1917 with its plant at 6200 West Warren Avenue in Detroit, Michigan and was name after Abe Lincoln. They began business by producing Liberty aircraft engine with pistons purchased from Ford for WWI.  After the war the re-fitted the plant and produced luxury  Ford bought the company in 1922.
April 18, 1964  Sunbeam Tiger Debuts

 

Shelby Cobra was the inspiration for the Tiger.

Shelby Cobra was the inspiration for the Tiger.

 

 

 Thanks for reading

Tim

#autofactoids

 

Auto Factoids for the Week of April 5, 2015 – Lotus and Tires

It’s a light week for the automotive history. April 5, 1923 Firestone introduces balloon tires. Everything we’ve accomplished with our rides has greatly depend and relied on Mr. Firestone’s improvement. It was a combination of …
Auto Factoids for the Week of 3/29/2015

Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) to finish out March and kick off April 2015. March 29, 1980 – Audi introduced their all wheel drive 1980.

C6 2007 Corvette – Fuel Gauge/Low Fuel/Service Fuel System

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If you’ve viewed the links below you’ll know that there are a few glitches that you need to be aware of with the some of the C6 Corvettes and most you can live with….at least for a while.

One of those is the fuel gauge issue mentioned in this  posting  C6 07 Corvette – Fuel Gauge/Low Fuel/Service Fuel System http://wp.me/p2YxYx-I4 .   So here’s the rest of the story.

The gauge issue started out as an intermittent annoyance, which only occurred when I filled the tank(s).  As you can see in the above posting and subsequent postings/comments that there was a common ‘solution’ for the problem.  Most owners believed that the use of Techron gas additive would clear that up.  But I’m betting most of them discovered that it wasn’t a dirty sensor, but a defective on.   I tried the Techron solution for months and it never seemed to clear up.  Eventually the gauge failed to work at all, except every now and then it would kick up and hang at a position on the gauge for a few miles and then drop back to the empty position.

Recently (within the last month) it began to work in the opposite direction, steadily showing some sort of fuel level, but inaccurate.

Here are the offending pieces – (there a long back story on how I got the old parts and I’ll share that in the past part of this post).

Fuel Pump

Fuel Pump

Fuel Pump with pressure fuel line fitting

Fuel Pump with pressure fuel line fitting

Bottom with sensor connection

Bottom with sensor connection

Fuel pump - Top

Fuel pump – Top

Fuel filter

Fuel filter

IMG_20141010_190538957

Bottom

Bottom

IMG_20141010_190554320

Fuel Pressure fitting. You need the release tool to disconnect

Fuel Pressure fitting. You need the release tool to disconnect

Sensor and float

Sensor and float

sensor

sensor

Sensor

Sensor

IMG_20141010_190656530 IMG_20141010_190834314

 

The sensor run about $150 depending on where you find them and the fuel pump it’s self from $499 – $600.

More of the store coming up.

Stay Tuned!!!!

Tim

Also see  Livin’ with the  Glitches – 07 Corvette
http://wp.me/p2YxYx-tG

C6 07 Corvette – Fuel Gauge/Low Fuel/Service Fuel System
http://wp.me/p2YxYx-I4

They Made How Many? Chevy 1975 Part II

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Continuing  with Baseball, Hot Dog, Apple Pie, Chevrolet  and 4th of July theme….

Last post we touched on a rare Chevy but they made some great car in 1975…ok….maybe…not ‘great’, but there are some collectibles I think are over looked. (Keep in mind that I think just about any 2 door Chevy can be ‘all that’!!!)

Check these out.

How about the Malibu for ’75?   It came in the S and Landau versions and with a total of 258,909 units built, there a good bet you can find used parts.

1975 Chevelle....the hood wasn't an option!!!

1975 Malibu….the hood wasn’t an option!!!

The Nova was on the decline design-wise, but you could get it in  a V8 and a Super Sport version.  There were 273,014 Nova’s built-in two door and  (hiss…boo) 4 door configurations.  Of that total 138,879 were six cylinders and 134,103 were V8’s.  Within the V8’s 9,087 were Super Sport!!

Nova SS (Hatch backj? Yup!)

Nova SS (Hatch back? Yup!)

There was a the Impala/Bel Air/Caprice platform.  No I am serious!!!!  The two door version are under rated and can be monsters in the right hands (the Bel Air only came in 4dr and wagon sub models).  The Impala had the Landau, Custom Coupe and Sports Coupe with a total production of 176,376.  The Caprice had Custom, Landau and the Convertible with 103,944 units coming off the assembly line.  That totaled included 8,349 Convertibles.

75 Caprice Caprice Convertible

75 Caprice Caprice Convertible

Saving (arguably) the best two platforms for last the Chevelle series (which included the Malibu, the Malibu Classic, the Classic Estate [station wagon] and the Laguna) and the Camaro.  The Camaro was still longish and sleek and the Chevelle etc was….well Monte Carlo like!!!  Both came in 6 and 8 cylinder and had a few two door configurations.  The Malibu and Malibu Classic and the Laguna Type S-3 having two door cars for the Chevelle and of course that’s all there was for the Camaro.   The Malibu units totaled out at 63,530 (21,804 – 6 cylinders/41,726 – V8s) with the Malibu Classic production at 131,455 (3,844 – 6’s and 127,611 – 8’s) and the Laguna Types S-3 (think NASCAR) 6,714.

NASCAR Laguna

NASCAR Laguna

75 Laguna

75 Laguna

The Camaro came in the base model and the LT.  There was the Rally Sport package which sources agree were about 7,000 produced.   There is some issue with the total number of Camaro produced with number ranging from 141,629 to over 145K.    But with other numbers like 145,755 had power steering and 29,359 with 6 cylinders and 116,430 with V-8s (totally 1445,789)   We do know that there were 4,160 car built for exports.

1975 Camaro RS

1975 Camaro RS

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

ChevCamaro

#car4sale #camaro Chevrolet : Camaro Camaro 1975 Chevrolet Camaro Base … http://t.co/GAwXUuCyIf #usedcar #forsale

Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu turn 50 | Hemmings Daily

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Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu turn 50 | Hemmings Daily.

 

Hugely collectable with many a Malibu becoming “Chevelle SS” in the 69-72 years.  Beautiful car when they were angular and beautiful cars after they round them up a bit.

 

1964

1964

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

chevy chevellechevy chevellechevy chevelle

Chevrolet Chevelle

The Chevrolet Chevelle was a mid-sized automobile produced by the Chevrolet … The Heavy Chevy (RPO YF3) was ONLY available with the base …

Engine Tech: Borowski Builds Mild-mannered 427ci With LS Next Block – LSXTV

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This is a MONSTER engine. Read below and follow the link.

This is a MONSTER engine. Read below and follow the link.

 

LS-based engines have earned notoriety for power and performance while becoming one of the most popular choices for both drag racing and street-engine swaps. They have been strong, reliable engines in most applications, but then racers and engine builders soon began leaning on them with longer strokes, higher rpm demands, stronger boost levels in addition to other traditional paths to power.Unfortunately, these power quests sometimes revealed problems which ultimately prompted various upgrades and a few elegant solutions from the aftermarket. Such is the case with the Dart LS Next advanced cylinder block, a design refinement targeting some questionable design elements of the factory LS platform. The new block boasts hardcore racing features designed to upgrade oiling and crankcase breathing functions.

via Engine Tech: Borowski Builds Mild-mannered 427ci With LS Next Block – LSXTV.

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

Chevrolet LS7 427 7L V8 Z06 engine + LSX motor | Speed-Wars

2013 is likely the last year for the legendary LS7 427 7-liter V-8 engine in a Z06, 427 convertible, or any new production Corvette, but it will continue on in the 2014+ Camaro Z/28 muscle-car. 2013 is also the last year for the current C6 (sixth …

Buying a New 1963 Corvair at the Lambrecht Chevrolet Auction

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Buying a New 1963 Corvair at the Lambrecht Chevrolet Auction.

 

I watched the event on History Channel – more thoughts on that later.  I didn’t actually see this particular Corvair, but I thought, wow that is a lot for this car.

$40k Corvair. I wonder what the largest sum every paid for a Corvair?

$40k Corvair. I wonder what the largest sum every paid for a Corvair?

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Recap: the Lambrecht Chevrolet Auction | Mac’s Motor City Garage

A crowd estimated at 10,000 people, including 3,400 registered bidders, helped to shape the spectacle at the Lambrecht Chevrolet auction in Pierce, Nebraska this past weekend. … 1963 Corvair Monza Coupe, 6 cyl. 4-speed …

 

Curb Weight – Corvettes and Corvairs

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This is my latest segment.  It will be a frequent blathering of car stuff – current and maybe some old stuff.  I hope you enjoy it.

I’ve visited the Bowling Green assembly plant a few times and it never grows old.  The last time I was there they were expanding the plant to include Chevy Volt production and (not releasable at that time) and this as well:

The new Corvette Stingray will be built at GM’s Bowling Green, Ky., assembly plant, which underwent a $131-million upgrade, including approximately $52 million for a new body shop to manufacture the aluminum frame in-house for the first time.

Check out my post from one of my visits Bowling Green Corvette Assembly Plant Tour…AWESOME!!

OOOHHH....I'd work there!!!

OOOHHH….I’d work there!!!

I did a post from a car show down on the border and covered a corvair with a Ralph Nader for President bumper sticker which was a hoot. (See it here Corvair – The Last Car .) But one Corvair I haven’t seen in years at a car show  or anywhere is the  Lakewood.

1962 Lakewood

1962 Lakewood

There’s a good reason for this.  These  Corvair station wagons were only made in 1961 and 1962.  Only 33,271 wagons were produced in those two years.  A subset of those were the Monza of 1962.  Only 2567 of those wagons were produced.

A there were a couple of engine the 80 horse power Turbo Air and a 98 horse powered Super Turbo Charge.

That makes me think I need to do post on just Corvairs.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

corvette corvair

FelipeM1000

1954 Corvette dream cars – Corvette Corvair fastback, Corvette Nomad wagon and Corvette convertible coupe http://t.co/OrJk5A2sX1

 

 

 

 

2014 Camaro Concept Is ALSO Bumblebee In Transformers 4 – LSXTV

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If it is reall….I REALLY like it!!!!

2014 Camaro Concept Is ALSO Bumblebee In Transformers 4 – LSXTV.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

 

2014 camaro

Shadow__2013

@killer_jane3 see *points to my 2014 Camaro SS*

 

 

Plush 1973 Caddy – PartingOut.com

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Sometimes just wandering the junk yards either in person or virtually can spawn some ideas for a quick  blog entry.

One of my favorite places to conduct my virtual tooling round is WWW.PartingOut.com They put a lot of hard work at delivering a very useful online tool for locating parts.

So while wandering around their site I found this 1973 Caddy.  Now I grew up in the 60’s and ’70 (why does that seem like a long time ago?) and having spent some of those years  either hanging out in or working in one my Dad’s body shops (he started and closed several in that time span) I was close to the car scene (not that I liked it much at the time).  I remember the auto industry’s move into the long, thick cushioned Ford LTDs and Thunderbirds as well as the GM Buicks and Caddies.

With shows like Starky and Hutch and Mod Squad showing off some of the (criminal element or shady characters often drove them) plush mobiles,  the excess they represented was easily noticed – I think Huggy Bear has a plush T-bird – he was often portrayed as a “business man” that organized a all women work force (any one get that?).

The 1973 Cadillac came with two engine.  The most powerful was the standard V8 which displaced 500 cubic inches and had a bore and stroke of 4.30X4.06 inches.  They had 5 main bearings, hydraulic lifters and 10.0:1 compression ratio.  Top it off with the Rochester Quadrajet four barrel and you’d get about 375 hp.

Now the Eldorado came with the Eldorado V8 which had a smaller stroke 4.306 inches, reducing the compression ratio to 9.0:1 and produced only 365 hp.

You’d need every bit of that power, because these cars topped out at over 5,000 lbs

1973 was the year GM produced their five millionth Caddy (it was a DeVille, however, not an Eldorado).

Now days these cars are being restored and finding used parts keeps the cost down, most cars of the 70’s aren’t going to bring you big bucks when they are done.  This 1973 Caddy has a lot of parts and looks to be a project car that’s either taken to long to finish or replaced  by a ‘cooler’ project.

Still has the Engine

Still has the Engine

Grill and Headlight assemblies are all there!

Grill and Headlight assemblies are all there!

Looking at the pics all the lenses seem to be there as well!!!

Looking at the pics all the lenses seem to be there as well!!!

Check out the other parts cars at WWW.PartingOut.com

 

PartingOut.com

PartingOut.com

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

Video: Edelbrock’s 8th Annual Revved Up 4 Kids Car Show – RodAuthority.com

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Video: Edelbrock’s 8th Annual Revved Up 4 Kids Car Show – RodAuthority.com.

Some great cars at the Edelbrock Kids Car show (which kids – big kids?  both!!!)

I love his Malibu!!!  Under appreciated when they came out and still today they are more often thought of as the lesser brother the the Chevelle.

IMG_7593

Cragger and the like.  Great looking car.