IN the mid-90s, Ginger had it’s vinyl top Ripped off, scuffed and had a couple coats of lacquer applied. After 25 years, there’s some bubbling happening under the paint. So most of the trim was removed, the car washed, and I went over the car with a magnifying glass to mark any flaw with pink liquid chalk. I dropped the car off to the paint shop. They’ll grind and repair the flawed area, scuff the car with 400 grit wet sandpaper, spray a coat of adhesion primer, and a couple of coats of black poly urethane.
I”ll pick up the car after my road trip to Detroit, to replace the trim – after its been polished. I’ve done a ton of work on the car since I bought in the 90s. Search this site if You’re interested.
19 Year Old Mopar Web Forum with Large Member Roster
I started this site on January 1, 2000 and at one time it was very active and had high sponsorship. My racing schedule caused me to neglect the site and activity dropped. Some fresh blood with fresh ideas and the time to call vendors to buy “Pay for View” or “Pay for Click” banners could soon have the site very active again, and very profitable.
This sale could include any or all of the following options:
The domain name
The perpetual Vbulletin License
The existing membership of the forum
A year of premium web hosting on a fast and secure server, including automatic backing up site each night and retaining multiple copies of backups
All of the old forum posts, or start off with a clean sheet with a fresh install of VB
eMail notification to all of the members of the new ownership and your message to them
Upgrading to most current version of Vbulletin (or fresh Install)
Changing look & Feel, colors and graphics to your design specs
Changing the forum structure to your plan
Installation and integration of a banner serving application that allows you to generate sponsor revenue through “pay per view” or “pay per click” rotation banners, with different priority serving and full reporting to administrator and/or sponsor
Installation and/or setup of a Word Press as a front door to the forum with or without graphics work EXAMPLE
Installation and setup of a Classified Ad web site which can be linked with Front Door and Forum Sites EXAMPLE
Installation and setup of a photo album application where members can each have access to upload event photos into its sub album EXAMPLE
A set number of hours for setup and configuration, or per hour help
A set number of support phone calls and per call (if needed) thereafter
Act as your Hosting Administrator or not
Act as your Forum Administrator or not
You tell me what else you want
So who would this be a great opportunity for?
Any person or group of persons who loves Mopars and has always wanted to build a better Mopar Commu ity than what’s out there
Any vendor with a product or service used by Mopar owners, wanting the Goodwill and audience that a site like this could bring them if properly ran. Admittedly, I didn’t run it well.
A Mopar club or organization, or collection of organizations wanting to become more dominant in the Mopar Fan sector
Any person or group of persons not liking the way they’ve been treated on another forum, and wants to crush them with a better mousetrap.
An entrepreneur willing to dedicate the time required to build the site into the One-Stop place to go for all things Mopar and aggressively market “Pay for View” or “Pay for Click” banners
Any Combination of the above
???
The price is really based on how much of my time you need. Outside of the Vbulletin application, other applications are free public licenses – but take a little time to install and set up to your specs. They also require more server space. If you’re a computer and graphics whiz who requires no help with set-up and maintaining ( or know that guy) – then you’d only be buying the domain name, VB license, the existing member roster, installation of other apps (if wanted) and hosting – but not my labor. Don’t want hosting as you’ll transfer to another host. Even less!
If you are interested, email me at DaveTheOldHippie @ Gmail.com with what it is you’re interested in, and I’ll shoot you back a price.
I no longer have the time to maintain this site the way it deserves
This sale could include any or all of the following options:
The domain name
The perpetual Vbulletin License
The existing membership of the forum
A year of premium web hosting on a fast and secure server, including automatic backing up site each night and retaining multiple copies of backups
All of the old forum posts, or start off with a clean sheet with a fresh install of VB (suggested)
eMail notification to all of the members of the new ownership and your message to them
Upgrading to most current version of Vbulletin (or fresh Install)
Changing look & Feel, colors and graphics to your design specs
Changing the forum structure to your plan
Installation and integration of a banner serving application that allows you to generate sponsor revenue through “pay per view” or “pay per click” rotation banners, with different priority serving and full reporting to administrator and/or sponsor
Installation and/or setup of a Word Press as a front door to the forum with or without graphics work EXAMPLE
Installation and setup of a Classified Ad web site which can be linked with Front Door and Forum Sites EXAMPLE
Installation and setup of a photo album application where members can each have access to upload event photos into its sub album EXAMPLE
A set number of hours for setup and configuration, or per hour help
A set number of support phone calls and per call (if needed) thereafter
Act as your Hosting Administrator or not
Act as your Forum Administrator or not
You tell me what else you want
So who would this be a great opportunity for?
Anyone who loves Nostalgia Super Stock Racing and wants to bring all of the splintered organizations together in one place
Any vendor with a product or service used by NSS Racers, wanting the Goodwill and audience that a site like this could bring them if properly ran. Admittedly, I didn’t run well.
A NSS Racing club or organization, or collection of organizations wanting to become more dominant in the class
An organization wanting to standardize the class
An organization wanting to block any other organization from becoming dominant
An entrepreneur willing to dedicate the time required to build the site into the One-Stop place to go for all things NSS and aggressively market “Pay for View” or “Pay for Click” banners
Any Combination of the above
???
The price is really based on how much of my time you need. Outside of the Vbulletin application, other applications are free public license – but take a little time to install and set up to your specs. They also require more server space. If you’re a computer and graphics whiz who requires no help with set-up and maintaining ( or know that guy) – then you’d only be buying the domain name, VB license, installation of other apps (if wanted) and hosting – but not my labor. Don’t want hosting as you’ll transfer to another host. Even less!
If you are interested, email me at DaveTheOldHippie @ Gmail.com with what it is you’re interested in, and I’ll shoot you back a price.
I drive quite a cars/trucks that have key fob push button start. In theory, if the key fob is within 25′, the vehicle unlocks when you put your hand on the handle, in theory. Because I own and drive so many different vehicles, I tend to leave the fob in the vehicle, as the vehicle is in a locked garage. It makes it easier to move them around. If I carried all of the keys and fobs to my 31 vehicles on one key chain, I’d have to have annual Hernia surgery.
One of my cars, a Challenger RT, must have a loose power lock switch – as twice I’ve been locked out at a gas station from just closing the door. Boom, door locks. Since it’s a 2009, it was before the hand on handle unlocking the door. The two times I was locked out, someone was close by with the second key. I’ve learned to take key or leave door open when gassing up.
However, today I was driving my Ram 3500 Dually from my race shop to my lake house. They’re a little more than 100 miles apart. I take back roads and take my three dogs with me in the truck. I stopped at the only gas station on these back roads, which was about 1/2 way. I was filling with diesel, my dogs were sucking up the ac (95 degrees) and listening to Pink Floyd from my iPhone – played through the truck’s stereo via Bluetooth.
When I was done filling, I grabbed the door handle to open, and it was locked. Apparently one of the knucklehead Schnauzers stepped on the power lock while watching me. I tried the other three doors and none of them would unlock either. I could see the fob on the console – but the doors wouldn’t unlock. I’m guessing that if you lock from inside when engine is running, it disregards unlocking from outside as a car jacking preventative. My spare set was 50 miles away at race shop, and no one was there. My wife was at the lake house, which was 50 miles from me, and 100 from shop. My truck is equipped with Uconnect, but I’m a cheap bastard who isn’t seeing the value of the $20 a month. Besides, my iPhone was in the truck entertaining my dogs with Dark Side of The Moon. No phone or apps access.
So I asked someone filling up in the other aisle if I could use their phone. They agreed, and I called my wife told her my situation, gave her my address and what I was driving, and asked her to use the AAA app I installed on her phone to get me lock out service. A little over an hour later some kid showed up saying he was only one in miles who will come to where I was at, and since it was Saturday evening he really didn’t want to be there. However, AAA told him if he didn’t go, they’d stop using him. Five minutes after he showed I was back on the road.
So What Did I Learn That I’d Like To Pass Along, and To Spare Others of This Grief?
Renew your AAA subscription every year. Someday you’ll need it and the pressure they can put to bear on their vendors 24/7. I have it because I have so many vehicles, and I’m not changing rear tires on my dually if I don’t have to. Have the app installed on all family members phones. It would have taken three hours for my wife to get the spare key and she would have been pissed.
Don’t assume that your vehicle will unlock with a wave of your hand if the fob is inside. If the door is locked from the inside, the software assumes that someone inside has a reason to block all access from the outside. Take your fob with you or leave your door open when filling.
Take your phone with you. The dog’s will survive a few minutes without Pink Floyd. Since there is no such thing as a pay phone, your phone is your lifeline. It has the Uconnect/On Star app to get doors unlocked. It has the Uber app if you need to get other keys. It gets you help. It gives you Internet access to search for a solution. It’s GPS allows you to send a pin point of where you’re at to help.
Do be a cheap bastard on the Uconnect or On-Star service.
Thinking about moving to Texas from California, Illinois, or New England, considered the different ways you can die in Texas.
First we’re all armed, but that will most likely keep you safer. However, Texas is littered with animals that want to kill you, and if you didn’t grow up here, you aren’t going to be prepared to survive.
Texas has millions of Cotton Mouths, Copperheads, Rattlers and Coral Snakes – all of which can kill you.
Texas has African Killer Bees, the meanest hornets in the world, Black Widows, Brown Recluse Spiders, Wolf Spiders and Tarantulas – all that kill you.
Texas has Coyotes, Wild Dogs, Feral Hogs, Wolves, Mountain Lions/Cougars, Panthers and Bobcats – all that can kill you.
The Texas Gulf Shores has about every breed of shark known to man cruising up and down the coast, Lion Fish, Sting Rays, Sea Snakes and Portuguese Man of War – that can kill you.
Our ponds and swamps are filled with gators that feed on 300 pound deer (which will also kill you) – and they’ll kill you. We have huge Blue Channel Cats – and they will kill you.
As many people who have died of all of that in Texas, more people actually die from our special breed of Fire Ants than any other wild animal. I have millions of Texas Fire Ants on my 5 acres. They’re bad enough when its hot and dry. It takes almost a year from the scars from their bites on my feet to go away. Fortunately I’m not allergic to them, or I’d died 100s of times since the late 50s. However, when it rains hard in Texas, a group or rafting Fire Ants will cause you a slow and painful death before eating every piece of meat on you.
So you can see that Liberal Pussies don’t stand a chance in Texas. You’re gonna die. It is best to just stay in your State Sanctioned Safe Spaces, and not travel to Texas. You just haven’t been properly prepared as a child on how to look for and survive all of the things that will kill you.
Heater box removed and new Block-Off Plate and fixin’ to be painted. New Wiring Kit run to front and split Left and Right.
Metal interior trim removed, scuffed, cleaned and shot with 1st coat of paint. Back in Paint container under the Texas Sun for Labor Day Weekend prior to me hitting with another coat.
Screamin’ Woody
Took the wagon for quite a few blasts on the road in front of the shop, and we made adjustments until confident its ready for the track. Have a couple little leaks to deal with. I’ll take it to the SHRA Race in Denton on September 14th. If that goes well, I’ll leave the 16th for the NMCA race in Indy.
Removed door cards and will use them (they’re cardboard) as templates to cut out new ones out of 1/8″ plywood, and recover in red quilted to match my seats.
Scooters
Moved the Scooters that I keep at shop (Rainbow Blue 51 Indian Chief, Rainbow Green 50 Chief, Metallic Red 99 Drifter 1500, and Ole Blue – my 93 Harley) to a bay, so I can service and Detail, before listing the Indians for Sale.
Aluminum Trailer
Finished Painting the trailer. Since photo, the tape has been pulled and the trailer dragged into the hot Texas Sun, to bake on over weekend. I’ll add reflective tape next week. In the Spring, I’ll hit the whole trailer with a power buffer and then wax. Working on the inside next.
That about covers much of last week in in the shop.
It’s been about three weeks since I’ve posted any update on the shop goin’ ons. There have been quite a few, actually so many is the reason why I’ve not been able to post much. I’ll post what I can remember, but I doubt it will be half of it.
First is the Screamin’ Woody
The motor is finished and installed with the fresh transmission. The car is about 15-18 hours from being Race Ready.
Petty Tribute
All of the trim is on. I bought a 10-circuit wiring harness to replace the 60-year-old stock wiring. I also bought a Competition Engineering aluminum dash to give it that NASCAR look, and a plasma cutter to more easily trim to correct fit. I’ve not yet decided on the gauges, but have bought the switches. The motor is ready and a Passion Performance Hemi 4-speed overdrive transmission ought to be here in another week or so. I found some rattle can blue-green that comes close to matching the vinyl of the seat tops, and I’ll remove and spray the metal interior trim soon. I’ve made a decision on the wheels – but not yet ordered them. This is a car that will stay on the lift of the stacker, and go to the races with me for off track duty.
The Mohawk
The Mohawk is a very neglected 30-year-old project, which has spent a lot of time at a couple shops rotting. It has been back in my hands for a couple of years now, and I’m starting to give it my attention.
To refresh memories, it started life a 63 GT Hawk. The “Mo” part is that it will be Mopar powered. I have a 25-year-old “Fresh” Aluminum head 340ci motor. That’s to say that it was built by the first shop 25 years ago. Pulled a head and the pan for an inspection, and turned the rotating around a couple cycles. All looks and feels well, but the outside needs a wire brushing and paint. The first guy also grafted on some fins that look horrible. I bought a fiberglass front sheet metal clip from a 53-54 Commander about 25 years ago, but I’m going to see if I can find real metal. I have a pair of fins from a 1960 Plymouth that will replace the ones grafted on.
At the second shop, the body stayed outside with the windows open for a couple of decades. The floors are shot and the body has a lot of surface flash. I’ll take it to get Dustless blasted, and then primered, so I can see exactly what body work needs to be done. The second shop convinced me that I needed to make a tube chassis for it, and grafted on the Fat Man Mustang II front end that I’d bought for the original frame. I think the problem was the first shop butchered the frame and the Fat Man front clip was far from on straight. The rear end is a Mopar 8.75″. All of it was rusty from so many years sitting in the weeds at the second shop. The chunk in the 8.75″ was locked up to where it had to be removed to move the car. I don’t know what is salvageable on the new brakes and front end.
Everything was stripped off the tube chassis frame, some added strength welded in, and I did a little grinding and smoothing. Then I took the frame to get blasted and Powder-coated semi-gloss black.
I picked it up from the powder coater and it looked good, so I took the axle housing and leaf springs for same treatment.
I’ll pick up the axle and springs tomorrow and set up an area to reassemble the chassis. I ordered a blasting hopper, and will bead blast the axles, which have a lot of flash on them. Like all projects before (the 46 Olds, the Thug, Screamin Woody, my Magnum, and the Petty Tribute – this will most likely take a year of two. Stay tuned for Updates.
The Thug
My racing season is pretty much over for this year. I traded my motorhome in on a 2020 that I ordered. It won’t be ready until October some time. I sold my stacker and ordered a new one to match the coach, and it won’t be ready until November. The new coach is three feet longer, so the new stacker will be three feet shorter. The Thug is ready to go, and I might take it to the next SHRA race.
New Old Aluminum Trailer
I bought an early 90s Aluminum trailer off Jim Bailey. It appears to have been well cared for. I’ve done some work, like mount a 12000# winch and motorcycle chalks. I bought the Screamin’ Woody back from Indiana; and took my Son’s and my Harleys to ride in Colorado in it. Nice light trailer. All of the bearings now have new grease.
It’s in the process of being stripped and repainted White with Red/White/Blue stripes on from three sides, and the Texas Flag on the rear door. I’ll outfit it more to my needs as I have time. Already painted the A-Frame replaced the electric jack – twice. Need to mount a jack pouch, radio, a couple roof vents, and a few other conveniences, but after the inside is painted.
I suspect it will be finished this next week, before I take a week to stay at lake to get some work done there.
Odds and Ends
Spring Cleaning
I have a man in his early 70s who is my “Shop Rat”M-F 8-4. He keeps the place clean, does the yard work other than mowing (which I do), accepts deliveries on the days I’m not there, washes cars, etc.
I also have a racing bud working there about two days a week on the race cars and the cars I’m getting ready to sell. It is my plan to sell off about 2/3 of my stuff (cars and parts), and then build a smaller shop close to my lake house (100 miles) away. I want to move to the lake full time instead of commuting. That’s why there’s the thrash to get shit down.
Anyway, with three of us running around jumping from project to project, stuff doesn’t get put away well, and is often lost or put away dirty. Last week I spent three days solid, taking stuff out one of the four containers of parts, cleaning and wrapping; throwing out any junk and making sure everything gets put into the proper bin.
I’m about 7/8 finished with the one that was the biggest mess. I’m going to wait until it is cooler before tackling the others, as I about keeled over a half-dozen times working in the container on 100 degree days. I’m not taking the heat as well as I use to.
Trucks
I put bed saddle bags in my Ram, like I’d done for my daughters F150 – back when it was mine. I bought a ladder that mounts on the tailgate, to make it easier to get my fat ass in the bed. It wouldn’t work with my rollup bed cover, so I mounted it on my daughter’s truck – so her 7 months pregnant ass can get in the bed. I found a side mount ladder that works for my truck and installed it.
Sold my 58 Dodge Truck
The Magnum GT, Viper GTS, 67 Marlin, 78 Diplomat, 86 Grand National, 67 Barracuda, Sixpack Superbird and Genesis are all ready for new homes.
Daldavco & Bloomin’ Blinds of The Woodlands
Been spending a lot of time on the business end of things with that. Yesterday I went on an Installation with Dallas.
I’ve had a ton of other time consuming stuff happening. And convinced this retirement is going to kill me. I’ve worked hard all of my life, but never this hard!
No Passes Since Restoration. Perfect For “No Prep”
This car is currently in “Turn Key” form, and I have about $70K in building this car, but all of the calls I was getting were wanting to put their own drive train in, so I’ll pull the engine and transmission and sell ready for your drive train. I’ll leave all electronics including the ignition box. I’ll leave the radiator. All I’ll take is the motor, transmission, torque converter and Flex plate.
This car features:
Basecoat/ Clear Coat that was clear sanded
Dana Rear End Narrowed for 17″ Slicks
Tube Chassis by Jeffers
Fiberglass front Clip
Fiberglass Doors
Fiberglass Deck lid
All Lexan Windows
Kirkey seats
All Electronics and MSD 7AL ignition
Rack & Pinion Steering
Fabricated Dash Filled with gauges
NOS Bottles and Rack
Aluminum Radiator
Cheatah 3-Speed Shifter
Driveshaft for Mopar BB & 727
Fuel Cell
Dual 12-volt batteries
Electric Fan
Fourwheel disc Brakes
Switchbox
You simply drop in you Engine, transmission and converter – fill the bottles and head to the track. You couldn’t build this car for twice the $30K I want.
I have a signed title from the Seller with open buyer, but I never titled. I’ll sell on Bill of Seller and give you the Title I was given.
I’ve given you all of the information and detailed photos I have. For a low price of $30k anyone who knows anything about drag racing has all the information needed to either be the first to jump all over this car or move on. I expect the car car to go quick. I’m told the car with an iron head/block 440 and a 7727 weighed 2300 pounds with a 180 pound driver. The car is set up for someone 5’10” to 6’4″. I’m 5’11” and my son is 6’3″ and we both fit comfortably.
The car is located at my race shop in Beasley, TX, which is 40 miles south of Houston on I 69. I’m generally at my shop Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays 8-4.
I’m way over the bag limit on street and race cars and only want to trade for dead Presidents. If you know someone or a group that might be interested in a Superman Deal at a Clark Kent price, please a link to this.
I’m selling a highly optioned 30′ Aluminum Stacker Race Trailer that I had custom built by Intech Trailers about 4 years ago. It will cost about $100K to have this exact trailer made. Features, in no particular order, include:
All aluminum construction for great weight savings and better road stability at high speeds. Previously, I had an all steel Stacker trailer the same size, but with far fewer options on 16″ G-Rated Goodyear tires. It weighed 22,500 pounds loaded and I’d average 10 blowouts a year. I had this trailer built to my very high specifications and loaded with the same cars, golf cart, tools, and far more parts & supplies — it weighs only 14,200 pounds. I barely know it’s behind my bus type motorhome.
I added 1′ increased interior height for 60’s full size cars, but still a legal 13′ 2″ — and goes under the 13.6 low bridges.
This trailer is set up for two LARGE drag cars. We load a 65 Dodge Coronet and a 60 Plymouth Station Wagon, with a golf cart having a roof – and we travel cross county with ease.
Triple 7,000 pound spread axles with high speed, H-Load rated Goodyear tires. I’ve NEVER had a flat and often travel at 75mph on Texas highways.
Optional .050 Aluminum skin thickness for a far better look over .040. It also avoids warping in extreme hot or cold weather and dents from hail.
Wrapped last year in Antique Bronze. Was previously blue.
The Roof is heavy duty braced to walk on observation.
The attic is heavy duty braced to transport a golf cart
Attic starts 6’5″ from floor for tall people to stand upright
Full width rear door goes wall to wall to make it easier to load wide cars
Aircraft cargo strips and Heavy Duty D-Rings
Floor made of Extruded Aluminum
Tongue extended 1′ for tighter turns and backing with out damage to trailer or towing vehicle
Tongue box to house jack hydraulics (instead of taking up a floor cabinet) plus two storage compartments. I have two pneumatic hydraulic jacks and an impact wrench with air for on one side and trailer’s 35 amp shore line on the other side.
Lift pump in floor compartment
Dove tail rear for easy loading of low cars and low headers. I’ve never hung a car up loading in trailer or on lift.
Spare tire mount with new H-Load Rated 17.5″ A Spare tire on front of trailer. A flat (NEVER HAD ON ON THIS TRAILER) can be quickly changed without going into the trailer.
All LED lights. Interior, Loading, Pit, Cabinet, under lift lights are bright low watt DC LEDs.
All Driving lights are LED.
There are 6 Deep Cycle batteries in floor compartment, which can power the trailer (lights, lift, jack) for better than a week in the pits and away from shore power.
Completely wired for 35 AMP shore power service that automatically powers the numerous 120V outlets and heavy duty battery charger. Circuit breaker box, battery charger and master cutoff switch in street-side upper compartment.
All aluminum lift with three removable center sections — to service the underside of the race car.
Two more in-floor spare tire compartments, one containing a new matching spare tire (never on ground) and the other supplies.
Wall fender compartments with shelving on street side.
In floor winch compartment with wired 12,000 pound electric winch. Also has a slide in pulley for loading the bottom car, while the lift has a pulley mounted to load the top car.
Full width upper/lower cabinets with stainless steel work bench and full length closet in front of the trailer.
Double side doors that open wide enough to drive a Golf-Cart in.
Slide out door step.
Puck door lock for greatest security
Wall mounted race car tire holder in attic
Wall mounted 5 jug holder in attic
Wall mounter jack pouch
Built in Tool Chest
Large door mounted cabinet with drop down table
Front & Back wall mounted strap holders with closed cell foam rubber under it to protect wall
4′ Rubbermaid wall rack to hold extension cords, blower, broom and mop
Extra long aluminum lift ramps to load low cars with headers
Extra long full length aluminum door ramp with lock downs — for loading long cars
Heavy Duty 30,000 pound safety tongue – for safe towing
Wall mounted Fire Extinguisher Holder
Inverter that converts DC to AC – I use on bench for weather station and computer. Master cutoff switch.
I’ve pulled this stacker all over the country with a 43′ motorhome with a 450hp Cummins. It tracks real well behind the coach and I pass trucks going up the mountains. My deal is that I’ll be ordering a 45′ Coach and as such, I need to step down to a 30′ stacker to stay legal. This trailer was built to last for decades with good care and annual axle greasing.
My opinion is that Intech makes the very best aluminum trailers, and they have not experienced the quality/welding problems racers have experienced with trailers like ATC. They do cost more — but are worth it. A trailer with all of these important options (extra height, 17.5 H-Load (and 86 MPH Speed) Rated wheels and tires including two spares, thick skin, extra roof and attic bracing…) will cost you around $100K to order. This trailer is ready to go. will last you years. I’ll sell for $60K. I believe it is a 2015.
If interested — email me at davetheoldhippie @ Gmail.com or call me during reasonable hours at 713-899-7704.
The first week of May 2019, I raced in Memphis. See the Memphis Recap for that story. After I returned from the Memphis Race — here’s a few of the items accomplished at the shop, in no real order.
First we had a butt-load of rain here. I actually had more flooding coming closer to my home and the shop than the last two hurricanes and the last Tropical Storms.
My pond grew to about three times its real size
got pretty close to the back door of the house
The five acres that the house and shop are on had hundreds of truckloads of dirt brought in before building – so we fared much better than our neighbors
about three days later the water receded and I mowed the very wet yard as the grass had grown knee high and the varmints were taking refuge in it
Speaking of varmints, this fried up little guy climb the power pole and got electrocuted going from wire to wire — cutting off power to the property for a couple of hours – until Centerpoint got here.
Moving to the topic of cars, the following was part of the happenings.
This is how the seats (once light grey) for Screamin’ Woody now look after 12 coats of dye. Still a little splotchy so I ordered another 16oz of dye, which came in Yesterday.
While on the subject of dye, 48oz of Evergreen Dye has been applied to the interior of my 64 Imperial. Still needs more so I ordered another 16oz this morning.
And while on the subject of my 64 Imperial, I took it for a 60-mile shakedown ride yesterday. The goal was to identify what problems I still have to address after all of the work (new brakes, power steering pump, complete exhaust system, major motor tuneup, leaking transmission fixed, odometer fixed, convertible pumps fixed, carb rebuild, new shocks – and a ton I’ve forgotten). The below is the first of five videos I took, which documents the repairs I still need to make.
None of the problems were really major — and two actually corrected themselves. However, about 29 miles into my trip I kept getting smoke looking like it was rolling out from under the dashboard. I stopped the first time and looked under the hood and under the car – but could find nothing. When I started driving again the smoke reappeared only thicker. I stopped again and looked under the dash and found nothing. As I was getting back in the car I noticed smoke coming from the back seat — and that’s when I saw my carpet was on fire. Fortunately I carry a fire extinguisher in most of my old cars — as I was way out in the sticks and had no water. After I got the fire put out — I found that the brand new exhaust was too close to the floorboards and set jute on the back of my 56 year old carpet caught fire. I order a fire mat made for Turbos and catalytic converters, which I’ll use as part of my repair — but I will have to get a new carpet. You can see the other videos of the test drive on my You Tube Channel.
Moving onto Race Cars, The Thugs now has Wheelie Bars as twice I was surprised with Wheel Stands far higher than I was expecting.
Before trimming back some
Finished Product
Yesterday I picked up the block to my wagon, the Screamin’ Woody, from the machine shop. After a thorough washing the crank was sent in, and then the rest of the rotating.
Also on the wagon, the cage was painted hammered gold to blend in a little with the Maple wood on the pillars.
I intend to leave the carpet black — but will make new interior door cards in a red vinyl that will match the seats going in.. The car is on the home stretch to getting finished.
I’ve had a 63 Studebaker GT Hawk for about thirty years now. It’s bounce around a couple of shops to get converted into a Mopar Powered chassis car with a 53 Commander front clip and 60 Plymouth fins — called the Mohawk. It’s come back worse from each of the shops its been to in the last 20 years — so I bought it to my shop to try to tackle the job. The body has been separated from the chassis.
A good bit of work has been accomplished since these photos. The body is wrapped in a tarp at the moment, but the chassis has been reinforced and the welds smoothed. It is about ready for paint – and then will be brought into the shop to get the all of the chassis components right. On the body — it needs to have those nasty home made rear fins cut off and a set of 60 Plymouth fins I have grafted on — and then blasted, repaired and primed.
A lot of wet sanding has occurred on the 60 Plymouth that will be my Petty Clone — but I don’t have any photos of that.
I took my Magnum XE for a shakedown ride, and it’s almost ready. I’ve had this car for a very long time and love it. Ought to be the fastest Magnum out there.
I putting a cactus garden at the entrance way of my race shop and so I picked up a couple yards of a sandy soil mix at the local dirtyard. Photos of the cactus garden to be in the next shop update.
Finally, I’m thinning my cars down from 31 to about ten. I have a lot of real nice ones for sale. The list includes:
67 Marlin
99 Vioer GTS
79 Magnum GT
86 Buick GN
72 Demon Roller Race Car
69 Barracuda Race Car
70 Superbird V-Code
09 Drag Pack 42
78 Dodge Diplomat
64 Dodge A-100 Pick up
58 Dodge Pickup
a pair of low mileage 09 Challengers with 6-speeds
So in my last post, I was racing in Atlanta – and there was a rain delay. When we resumed and I completed the third of three Qualifying passes — I had qualified 4th of 25. On the ladder that put me up against Jim Netherland in the first round. A little humor was Jim wearing my T-Shirt.
Jim Netherland Sporting a Texas Whale Championship T-Shirt from the DDC in 2015
Jim was gracious enough to give me lane choice and I took the Left as I swear the roll out on the Right lane was quicker and had me red-lighting. Jim runs a 10.5 Index and I run the 9.50 — so Jim got a 1-second head start. I caught Jim too Quick meaning I must have had a much better light, even though I had bagged a couple of numbers. I blipped at the MPH cone and took the stripe by a few feet. I saw my win light come on and when I got the ticket it was a RT win – .039 to .110. Jim Broke out with a 10.497 and I had a 9.550 at a slow 133mph.
In Round two I had the points leader Mike DiChicco. We both wanted the left lane — so we flipped – and I lost. The weather turned on us hard, and I had to take any extra weight out of the car. I removed a battery, the weight box lids and the passenger seat — to shake about 80 pounds.
Neither of us would lift at the stripe and we had a double breakout when Mike took the stripe by three feet.
For the next round I had Kurt Neighbor. With just having a .028 light in the right lane — I felt I’d figured out how to wait — and now wanted it. So did Kurt — so we flipped – and I again lost the flip. The weather was really getting tough and I had nothing else to take out. While Kurt didn’t have a great light (.05X) — mine truly sucked (.090). There wasn’t enough steam left in the Thug to catch Kurt and my time was 9.58 to Kurt’s 9.55 on the brakes.
It was 7:30pm Sunday night and I wanted to get on the other side of Atlanta while it was still Sunday — so I rushed to load up and get on the road at 9PM. At about 11:30 I stopped about 50 miles west of Atlanta to spend the night. Up at 6 and back at the Shop in Beasley, TX at 9PM. Tim Frees won the next round against Kurt, and then against Corky Bumpus in the Final. Congrats to Timmy.
Back At The Shop
The trailer was unloaded
The seats of the 64 Imperial are now finished, with the exception of one last coat of semi-gloss clear, which is on order.
Here’s a before pick
Engine and transmission stabbed into the Petty Tribute car.
motor mounts made and welded in
transmission mount made
clutch master cylinder mounted
clutch Z-Bar modified
drivetrain yanked back out
On the Screamin’ Woody
Front end metal put on the car – although the red lights need to go inboard
The grey seats have 8 oz of red dye on them — but I had to order another 8oz to finish
The roll cage is being painted a hammered gold
So that’s going to be it for a while. Deb’s and my 40th anniversary is coming up — so we’ll be leaving for a couple of weeks in Europe, only to return just in time to make it to the Memphis race.
No, no motor yet. Still waiting on the rotating to get delivered to the Machine Shop. However, some progress was made to prepare for the engine’s insertion.
Black paint was scuffed
car wrapped in Plastic
Hit with a coat of prime
Hit with first coat2nd through 5th coats
plastic and tape removed – wheels and tires on
Hood installed
Still to come
Transmission and torque converter have been freshened and waiting for the engine to get assembled.
New braided fuel line and 00 battery cable has been run to front, and will get connected to it’s under-hood components.
Rear bumper ready to be installed.
Cage painted red
Red Leather/Vinyl dye and adhesion promoter ordered, and will be applied over the previously beige/gray seats. After a top coat they’ll get installed.
New belts will be ordered closer to go time.
Engine should be ready to go in this time next month.
The front body parts installed
The car cleaned up and off to get the cage installed.
Leaving Sunday evening for the NMCA race in South Florida, so a lot of the last week was spent getting the Motorhome (Not driven since October), Stacker and car ready. Loaded the car and golf cart today as it appears to have had the only two hour window of no rain between now and Sunday.
Getting my Magnum GT ready to sell, and the only real sore spot was the front seats.
I bought some dye from autoleatherdye.com, watched the video, and taught my shop rat how to do. He dabbed on six light coats to get to here.
Next he needs to scrub the dye off the buckles, apply the Semi-gloss topcoat, and finally the conditioner. The pictures don’t do the job justice, and it will look pretty damn good when finished. I ordered dark green dye and self-leveling crack filler to do the seats on my 64 Imperial.
My Magnum XE (Ginger) has had a ton of retro-mod upgrades over the years. Motor, 8.75 Rear-end, stereo, convert from column shift to factory floor shift, new carpet, addition of power windows, headers and 2.5″ dual exhaust, modern leather seats, and a new dash and custom gauges. Click here to read more. This week it was new wheels and fabricating the missing console plate out of 1/8″ aluminum plate and black wrinkle paint to match the dash. The AC leak was fixed and recharged, and the turn signal issue from the gauge upgrade fixed. Also added a deep trans pan with temperature sender to go to the gauge. I normally wouldn’t have an oil temp gauge, but I had an extra hole to fill when I did the gauge panel.
There was some work done on the the Screamin’ Woody. The fuel system’s AN -10 hose was run to the front of the car, as was some double-ought battery cable. Stopped short of running under the hood as that needs to be freshened up with new paint.
Turned the shop rat loose with some sand paper to scuff it up. Need a couple days of 70+ degree weather with no rain before being able to paint. Ordered the rotating and bearings for the wagon’s motor. The block is done, so assembly will start soon. Getting down to home stretch.
Wheeled my 60 Plymouth into the bay. While it doesn’t look like it, a lot of work has been done in this car. Click here to check out it’s story.
Its getting all new front-end parts. Then then engine compartment will be painted Petty Blue. Then the trim will get removed, body wet sanded and spray with clear. Then a bad ass lowdeck and 5-Speed stick installed.
Finally it goes to the wrapper to get wrapped to look like Petty’s 60 Plymouth in the woods in back of his shop for last 55 years.
So other than a little cleaning of the shop and some parts that I’m selling/sold; ordering new parts and shipping sold parts – that’s most of it for this last week.
Immediately following the end of WWII, and ending with the beginning of the Korean Police Action, there was some crazy futuristic shit put out by a metals company called Bohn. Check out what they saw the future to be back in the late Forties. Some of it did come to fruition. Click on a thumbnail below to see the full size version. With some browsers, you have to right-click and open in a new browser.
Dozens of WWII Era posters of Automakers proudly telling the public what they’ve been assigned to do for the War Effort. Click the thumbnail to see the larger version. Some browsers require you right-click and open in a new browser page. Germany was doing the same and I included a couple of their posters as a comparison.
