Monk's Car Kulture

Full Circle

2009-05-15T21:45:00.005-06:00

Once upon a time the neighborhood gearhead gave me a big box of car magazines. Among the titles were Super Stock & Drag Illustrated, Popular Hotrodding, HOT ROD and Car Craft. Inspired by the images that graced those glossy pages, I dreamed of someday building a righteous ride of my own. The '69 GTX I've enjoyed for more than 25 years has evolved to it's current state in pursuit of that dream. Though the GTX is far from perfect, it's fun and people seem to dig it! Last summer at the Car Craft Summer Nationals a young man approached me and struck up a conversation. Shortly into the conversation he asked if I'd be interested in a photo shoot, introducing himself as Car Craft magazine's John McGann. To make a long story short, he had photographer Wes Allison shoot it that evening. The result of his efforts are on display in the July '09 issue of Car Craft. I think his work is amazing, especially the motion shots. I hope the images inspire a young enthusiast to dream and provide them with a lifetime of enjoyment in the hobby. Then things will have truly gone full circle...

Check out the GTX feature at CarCraft.com

Havin' some fun!

2009-05-03T20:40:00.006-06:00

L to R: Ben (UF), Benny, Monk, Chris, Ron

Ben, Ron and I rolled out for the 20 minute drive to the Buick Club Show at 6:30 this morning. The GTX sure ran good in the 45° air, if Snelling Avenue wasn't so full of ruts and potholes I could have easily got into a little trouble. Once there, we figured out where to park. I cleaned a few bugs off the windshield then headed off to the swap meet area. On the way we conned a passer-by into snapping a group shot of us in our snappy new IBM Car Club bowling shirts. Billy, Warren and JR wandered off and managed to avoid having their mugs posted on the 'net.

All in all it was a great day! We caught up with old friends, soaked up some sunshine and enjoyed some cool cars. Exactly what we look forward to all winter...

She still cleans up pretty good...

1st Show of 2009

2009-04-26T18:58:00.003-06:00

Gopher State Chapter of the Buick club of America will be hosting their annual car show and swap meet at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on Sunday May 3. A bunch if the IBM Car Club guys are planning to attend if the weather is decent. Hopefully, we'll see you there...

Spring has Sprung...

2009-04-05T18:41:00.003-06:00

Finally, it's time to get the toys out of the garage.

Ron updated some stuff on his '69 340 Swinger over the winter. Among the changes is a set of Caltracs, 3.91 489 Sure-Grip differential, tranny tailhousing, billet shifter mounting bracket, motor mounts and line-lock. Once Ron puts the ET Street drag radials back on his Dart it should be pretty quick. I think I can still take him though...

Crane Cams says it plans to reopen

2009-02-27T19:17:00.005-06:00

I found this at another site, Doug's 1320 garage at HubGarage .com

Crane Cams says it plans to reopen after restructuring

By GREG MIGLIORE

A picture of Crane Cams says it could reopen in 30 days. Crane Cams says it could reopen in 30 days. Well-known cam shafts company Crane Cams shut down Feb. 24 for restructuring but says it plans to reopen, likely sometime in March. All of the company’s 280 workers were laid off, though about 25 remain to work on military contracts. The closure was in response to the global economic problems, said vice president Steve Leva. He said the Daytona Beach, Fla., company planned to reopen in as soon as a week, or it may take up to 30 days. Crane’s parts have become synonymous with performance and have been used by A. J. Foyt, the Wood Brothers, Bill Elliott, Richard Petty and many other well-known drivers. The 56-year-old company first made a splash at the 1961 NHRA nationals, when a dragster using Crane roller cams was piloted by “Sneaky” Pete Robinson to the Top Eliminator award, breaking records and upsetting more-established competitors in the process. Robinson’s success helped the company gain recognition throughout the 1960s as racing grew and the Detroit automakers thrived. In late 2006, Crane was acquired by Mikronite Technologies Group Inc., and Leva said $18 million has been invested in equipment since the acquisition. Earlier this week, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported that Crane was closing, though more details were not available at that time.

Get a Rope v2.0

2009-02-23T21:51:00.008-06:00

Stolen car - 1967 Barracuda 6.1 Hemi

Another high profile Mopar has been stolen! This time it's the "Mo-Powered Tour" '67 Barracuda owned and built by Dave Ferro, proprieter of Totally Auto. He posted about the theft on the Moparts.com Mopar forum and I'm putting the info on the blog in an attempt to help. Details are sketchy, like the theft of Nick Suckow's Charger, noboby saw or heard anything.

In case you missed the Mopar Collectors Guide feature, the car is a 1967 Barracuda with a 6.1 Hemi , white exterior, blue stripe, white leather interior and RMS suspension. The graphics, flames, decals etc were removed after the tour and an AAR fiberglass 6-bbl hood was installed. Be on the lookout for an all white 67 with a big scoop and blue stripe. A reward is being offered for information leading to the recovery...

Detailed pictures can be found on the Totally Auto website.

Dave Ferro - Totally Auto Inc.
http://www.totallyautoinc.com/ 215-322-2277

Cool Stuff

2009-02-23T20:53:00.004-06:00

Redline Gauge Work's B-Body Non-Rallye Tach

The factory tachometer in my '69 GTX was about as reliable as a $2 watch. It's registered on the high side of 7 grand on more than one occasion, despite having a 6,000 rpm module in my MSD 6AL. Not wanting a bulky 5" tach cluttering up an otherwise stock interior, I began looking for an accurate replacement tach. Several options were available and I settled on a reproduction from Redline Gauge Works. It uses modern VDO internals that are compatible with most any ignition system and the appearance closely replicates the original. Installation from under the dash took less than an hour so no major disassembly was required. Now I can run 'er through the gears with the utmost confidence! Cool...

Check out Redline's website to see their product and service offerings.

Pure Vision

2009-02-23T20:08:00.004-06:00

Nascar '68 Charger

I've long admired Pure Vision's Mopar creations like the Charger pictured above. It was built for well known car enthusiast George Poteet. The "Brand X" stuff on their website is pretty cool too. Their build style is best described as clean, well executed and painstakingly detailed. Check out the Pure Vision website and see for yourself...

Hot Rods in Paradise?

2009-02-21T17:23:00.003-06:00

Just when you least expect it...

Our recent Caribbean cruise included a stop in Aruba. It was our first time on the island so we took a 3 hour tour to see some of the highlights. While seeing the sights I managed to catch a glimpse of some good ol' American muscle, there was a FC7 Dodge Demon languishing under a carport and a nice looking first generation Camaro on the lift in an exhaust shop. Right before the end of the tour we passed a small shop with a handful of "Rat Rods" parked out front. After being dropped off we walked back to the shop to check them out more closely, unfortunately nobody was around to talk shop with. I snapped a few photos before wandering off to locate some fine Cuban cigars...

World of Wheels Car Show

2009-02-04T19:32:00.002-06:00

The Legendary Hirohata Merc

The 47th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels rolls into St. Paul, Minnesota this weekend. Although the quality and quantity of cars will probably be disappointing, it's a nice way to break up the boredom of long midwestern winters. One car I look forward to seeing again is the '51 Merc built by the Barris Brothers for Bob Hirohata. There's also supposed to be a display devoted to HEMI powered rides...

World of Wheels website

Drag Racing Chassis Tuning

2009-02-04T19:12:00.003-06:00

Don Carlton's Motown Missle

Pure and simple, drag racing is an acceleration contest, not who goes the fastest. You win by being the quickest car through the measured quarter-mile, not the fastest at the end. Of course speed is important, but it is more a by-product of acceleration. Here's some tips on how to accelerate quicker and more effectively than your opponent.

Read the entire article here...

Get a Rope!

2009-01-24T17:27:00.018-06:00

Stolen dreams - Nick Suckow's '68 Charger

Swingin' from a rope was considered appropriate punishment for horse thieves in the Old West. But, hangin' would be too good for whoever stole Nick Suckow's "horses". The story of Nick's Charger was published in the March '09 issue of Mopar Collectors Guide magazine. The article chronicles how Nick pursued his dream of restoring this '68 Dodge Charger for the better part of 14 years. Having seen this particular Charger on a couple of occasions, I can honestly say that the fruit of his efforts is a Mopar enthusiasts fantasy! If you can imagine, it's even more spectacular in person than it is in pictures. But recently Suckow's enduring dream turned into a nightmare! Thieves broke into his home while he was away, stealing his prized Dodge Charger. Investigators believe the car bearing Wisconsin license plate "68 CHRGR" was loaded onto a trailer and hauled away. Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said there are no solid leads about the stolen car, valued in excess of $200,000.

The owner was on a 6-day trip to Las Vegas when the burglary took place. He had been playing in a "Texas hold 'em" poker tournament, and was nearly home when he received the bad news about his car. A friend who had been watching Nick's home was asked to turn up the thermostat and unlock the doors in preparation for his return. When the friend was conducting a walk-through of the home he discovered evidence of a break in and realized the Charger was missing. Immediately he phoned Nick to give him the horrible news.

Understanding the history of events leading up to Nick's ordeal helps to underscore why the theft is such a tragedy. Back in 1989 Nick finished a four year stint with "Uncle Sam" and returned home to, married and began living the good life in a small Wisconsin town. Like many car guys, Nick bought used vehicles and treated them to a little "TLC" before reselling them for a modest profit. Just weeks after his wedding, Nick was driving home in a Bronco he'd bought for resale when a steering component failed, causing a serious accident. Though he survived, Nick sustained injuries that have left him confined to a wheelchair without the use of his arms or legs. In spite of his condition, Nick never gave up on building his dream car. Unable to do the work himself, Muscle Car Restorations in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin was contacted. John Balow of MCR and Nick discussed the build and the Charger that Nick had owned since the early '80's was transported to the restoration shop so work could begin. Sadly Nick's Charger was deemed too far gone for a decent foundation. But John Balow wasn't ready to throw in the towel, he located a reasonably priced, rock solid '68 Charger so the build could proceed. Nick is not a wealthy man so work progressed as he could afford it, taking fourteen years and two thousand man hours to complete. As time passed, the project took on a special significance for the crew at MCR which generously donated a lot of their free time to get the build up completed.

Authorities have collected evidence at the crime scene and the investigation is ongoing. Let's help Nick get his Charger back! Anyone with information about the theft or the car's whereabouts is urged to contact the Barron County Sheriff's department by calling 715-537-3106. Anonymous tips can be phoned in at 800-532-9008.

October 2006 - Nick's First Ride! "Must see" Video:
Medium Resolution (6 MB) or High Resolution (18 MB)
Click here to see photographs of the entire restoration!

The Hunnert Car Pileup

2009-01-22T22:34:00.006-06:00

Picture from The Hunnert Car Pileup website...

Hot rodding is about two things – building your own car and driving it - FAST! Sure, they may be built to attract girls or to beat the pants off your friend in a drag race, but it’s all about building and driving. The Hunnert Car Pileup is for hot rodders who build their cars, and drive them. The Pileup is about hanging out, meeting new friends, and seeing old ones. It is about checking out the craftsmanship in others’ cars, and showing off your own. It is about great music, art, and finding that rare part. It is a nod to a bygone era that lives in each of us. It is about the drive there, the drive home, and the story that goes in between.

For more info check out "The Hunnert Car Pileup" website!

No explanation needed!

2009-01-20T22:09:00.008-06:00

The folks at Muscle Car Restorations sure turn out some outstanding stuff. I love this video of a Charger on their chassis dyno! Crank up the volume and enjoy...

Chris's Ratical Hot Rod

2009-01-20T21:31:00.003-06:00

You would think that a guy that does award winning paint and bodywork would have a killer Hot Rod with mile deep paint and laser straight bodywork. Not always, Chris's '37 Dodge "Rat Rod" pickup is a perfect example. Put together on the cheap with the help of a few friends, the build took 38 days from start to finish. Though it's been treated to a few upgrades since it was first built, it still retains an ultra kool vibe that grabs the attention of onlookers wherever it goes. ..

Frankensteiners Ball 2008

2009-01-18T19:15:00.006-06:00

These guys know how to party...

UF, Ronny, Trucker Bill and I all cruised out together. This year I was better prepared for the Frankensteiners Ball Halloween themed car show. I had a warm jacket (froze my ass off last year), an Elvis wig and a Dracula candy holder full of goodies for all the kids. Shiney paint and chrome don't pull much weight at this show, it's geared more towards low buck Rat Rods and that's cool. The music is good, mostly Rockabilly, not the same moldy oldies noise pollution commonly played at car shows. As usual we had a blast and look forward to next years Frankensteiners Ball 'cause the really fun shows get bigger and better every year...

2008 White Bear Dodge Show

2009-01-18T19:11:00.004-06:00

The front row at White Bear Dodge...

Other than Friday and Saturday night cruisin', the White Bear Dodge Night Show was all that was left. The White Bear Dodge show in early August was great, the weather was relatively nice for a change and it drew a lot of cars. Once again, the GTX snagged a "Top 25" award. The post show burnouts on Highway 61 were a riot to watch, as usual. Billy left and made a u-turn at the traffic light to head south on 61. Trouble was, the left turn arrow was red at the time. Wouldn't you know it, one of White Bear's finest was sitting at the light and when Billy made the u-turn on red the officer lit him up and made the traffic stop in full view of a couple hundred people. Luckily the officer was very understanding and let Billy off with a warning, unfortunately his pals won't be quite so easy on him...

2008 Car Craft Summer Nationals

2009-01-18T19:06:00.007-06:00

My '69 GTX on the move...

Friday at the Summer Nats it rained 4 or 5 times during the course of the day. As I was drying the GTX off for the 4th time a nice young man walked up and began asking questions about the car. After chatting for a few minutes he asked "would you be interested in doing a photo shoot?" About that time he reached in his pocket and handed me a business card, it was John McGann from Car Craft Magazine! He said they would be back to get me at 5:00 to go to a nearby location for the shoot. The whole process was very interesting, he and photographer Wes Allison had selected several cars so we caravaned to an industrial area to do the detail shots of the engine, interior and the exterior. Next they did all kinds of driving shots and finally the full exterior shots. They wrapped up shooting the other cars first, an over the top Pro Street '65 Malibu wagon and an "Old School" red '68 AMX. Since my car was black, Wes wanted to wait for the right lighting conditions to shoot it. That was fine, it gave me plenty of time to work on the 10 page questionare that John asked me to fill out. If John or Wes ever read this, thanks again for all your efforts. I'm sure it was a terribly long day for both of you.

Left to Right: UF, Missy and myself...

The remainder of the weekend was pretty low key. We enjoyed looking at all of the cars, killed a few beers and caught up with our friend Missy, the reigning Miss Car Craft.

For more photos of Missy click here!

2008 MSRA Back to the 50's Weekend

2009-01-18T18:33:00.006-06:00

Todd and Susan's recently finished Buick

The next big event was the MSRA Back to the 50's at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. To say it's a big event is an understatement, we pulled in line at 4:00 am Friday and there was at least a mile of cars between us and the main gate! Saturday morning we were in line by 3:30 am and ended up in line somewhere about a mile and a half away from the gate. I know it sounds crazy but when almost 12,000 cars show up for an event you need to be in line early if you want a good parking spot. We try to park in the same place every year so friends and family can easily find us.

Here's the '37 Packard on the road ...

Sunday morning we all slept in until around 6:30 am, parking isn't too bad on Sundays because man of the out of towners head for home instead of going to the show. We hit the swap meet but didn't find anything I couldn't live without. After the door prize drawing we parked our butts in lawn chairs to watch the exodus. Since we always park on a one-way street that exits the fairgrounds, almost every car drives past us on their way out.

Mopars in the Park 2008

2009-01-18T18:25:00.003-06:00

'71 GTX at Mopars in the Park

Traditionally the Mopars in the Park show is the kickoff event of the season. This year Midwest Mopars moved the show from Raceway Park in Shakopee, Mn to a new venue, the Dakota County Fairgrounds in Farmington, Mn. The show had grown so much in the past decade that the facility at Raceway Park just wasn't large enough anymore. The new venue is much larger so there's plenty of room to grow. There's many other benefits to the move as well. Access is much better, there are numerous food vendors on site, a grassy area for the swap meet and buildings for special displays. Some minor tweaking will improve things even further but the general concensus is that Midwest Mopars hit a homerun with the change of venue.

Pictures from Mopars in the Park 2008

BTW, my good friend Warren won his class and so did I. We'll be competing against each other for "Winners Circle Plymouth" in '09, whatever the outcome it's sure to be a good time...

TorqueFlite 101 v2.0

2009-01-18T18:05:00.009-06:00

727 Transmission core prior to disassembly...

Since the very beginning, transmission issues have plagued the GTX. The first trans was built by a local performance shop with less than stellar results. (see Tranny Trouble for additional details) After having the trans freshened up, the car ran thousands of trouble free miles but large aluminum shavings found in the pan at every service was making me paranoid. The decision was made to find a usable 727 core and learn to build an automatic transmission myself. Here's what the core looked like after a session with the pressure washer, numbers indicate that it started life in a '67 C Body. The innards of the core were downright nasty. It smelled horribly burnt. Even though everything was coated with an oily sludge, many of the steel parts had become badly rusted. Everything was scrubbed clean and a lengthy list of necessary replacement parts was made. Once the parts were clean, I reassembled and disassembled the trans numerous times to become familiarized with all the sub-assemblies. One thing I learned right away was the importance of having a good snap ring pliers!

To supplement the factory service manual I picked up a copy of the Torqueflite A-727 Transmission Handbook from Amazon.com. It details performance modifications and has good pictures to aid in parts identification and assembly. After studying the 727 Handbook, the Moparts.com Tech Archives and Tom Hand's guide to the Torqueflite automatic transmission on Allpar.com I felt informed enough to discuss parts selection with transmission parts vendors. With recommendations from Turbo Action, A&A Trans and "T'Flite Patty" a list of parts was generated and the process ordering parts began. Though some of the items selected defy conventional wisdom, the trans performs flawlessly and should prove to be a reliable combination for a big block powered street cruiser. Time will tell...

Most of the following parts were chosen for improved performance and reliability, others were chosen because the original parts in the core transmission were in such bad shape. I didn't want to tear back into the trans because I was too cheap to replace any questionable parts.

Trans Build Parts List

TCS steel-sleeved aluminum front drum
Borg Warner tan clutch frictions
Raybestos steel plates
Basic bushings, gaskets, sealing rings, lip seals, exterior seals, etc...
Reaction shaft support – 1971+ (required with TCS drum)
Rear clutch piston retainer – 1971+
Borg-Warner flex KD band
Rigid low/reverse band
4.2 KD lever (Max Wedge & Race Hemi)
Output shaft ball bearing & snap rings
Bolt-in sprag w/rollers & springs
12 front clutch release springs (new Chrysler)
Front clutch spring retainer
2 pressure plates (new Chrysler)
HEMI governor kit (inner, outer, spring, snap rings)
Thrust washers
Sun gear and reaction shaft support bushings (not included in basic kit)
Turbo Action "Pro Street" forward pattern manual/automatic valve body
A&A deep steel pan with drain plug and billet aluminum filter extension
B&M Heavy duty SFI rated flex plate
9.5" "tight" torque converter - custom built by Dynamic

The biggest single expense of this build was the TCS steel banded aluminum drum. The primary reason for using this type of drum was for an added measure of safety, the stock cast drum can violently explode as a result of driveline failure. Additional benefits are the billet aluminum drum is more than 2 lbs. lighter than stock, it holds an extra clutch and includes a billet piston. The TCS drum uses the late style wide bushing so a '71 + wide bushing reaction shaft support must also be used. The support from the trans core was badly rust pitted so it needed replacing anyway.

A 45º bevel had to be machined on the rear clutch drum to eliminate contact with the front clutch drum. TCS included simple instructions with the drum so I brought the rear drum to a local machine shop to have it done. $20 later it was good to go.

Case prep was fairly basic, after being thoroughly deburred, all threaded holes were retapped and cleaned. I brought the case and tail housing to a local transmission shop to be cleaned in their hot, high pressure parts washing cabinet. A 12 pack of MGD was all the proprietor wanted as payment, to show my appreciation, I brought him a case. Once the case was back on the bench, a bolt in sprag was installed to reduce the chance (however unlikely) of the outer race spinning in the case. Before installing the sprag a 1/8” hole was drilled from the trans cooler return channel to aid sprag lubrication.

Once the case was ready to receive the internal parts, it was time to assemble all of the subassemblies and check clearances. The clutch clearances were right where they needed to be according to the A-727 Transmission Handbook. The only special tool needed for the subassembly was a compressor for the front drum piston return springs. I fabricated this compressor using miscellaneous stuff that was laying around the shop, putting the spring retainer snap ring on without it would be nearly impossible. My brother in law made some drivers for the tail shaft and front pump bushings since they were larger than anything in my bushing driver set. Thanks Ron...

The clutch assemblies had to come apart again so the frictions materials could be soaked in ATF. Instructions recommended soaking them for a minimum of 15 minutes so I poured a couple quarts in a disposable cake pan and began soaking. The clutches soaked for over an hour while I cleaned up the workbench and garage. I saved the pan full of ATF because the bands will need soaking before they're installed. After soaking the clutches the front and rear clutches were assembled for the final time.

The sunshell, thrust washers and planetary gears were assembled on the output shaft and the clearance was carefully measured, at .017" the clearance was right where it needed to be. The planetary geartrain was disassembled and everything was slathered with assembly lube (Vaseline) and reassembled for what should be the final time.

Like everything else, clearances in the pump also have to be checked. Here I'm checking the outer rotor to case clearance. Specs call for .004" to .008", this was right in the middle with .006". Clearance between the tips of the inner gear and outer gear also has to be checked as well as rotor side clearance. Once again everything measured within spec, this almost seems too easy...

Endplay is another critical clearance that has to be verified. The observed reading was .021 which is a little more than the .012 -.015 recommended in the Torqueflite Handbook but tighter than the .037-.084 spec provided in the FSM so I left it alone. With all of the important clearances confirmed I pulled the front pump, installed the o-ring seal and reinstalled it using new front pump bolts and sealing washers that were purchased from the local Dodge dealer.
All that's left was to install the band struts, adjusters and perform an air check of the hydraulic circuits before finishing with the valvebody and pan. I Didn't put the deep pan on because I use a floor jack under the trans pan to lift the transmission into position and didn't want to risk damaging the new pan. Before installing the new trans I bolted the new heavy duty B&M flexplate onto the crankshaft, it appears to be a much sturdier piece than the Mopar Performance flexplate it was replacing. The 9.5" Dynamic converter was partially filled with ATF and wrestled into the input shaft. The fit was very tight so it took some effort to get it to seat properly. With the trans installation nearly completed I tried to install the driveshaft but to my dismay it would only slide onto the tailshaft about an inch. After much head scratching it was determined that the tailshaft of the core transmission was somehow damaged. Out came the trans again, thank goodness I had figured out that the trans could be swapped without removing the headers! Once again the trans was disassembled and the output shaft from the old transmission was carefully cleaned and reinstalled. This time everything went together without a hitch. The trans was filled with Type F ATF and the motor was fired up. The fluid level was brought up to the add range until everything reached operating temperature, then I topped it off to the full mark and carefully checked for leaks. Everything looked good so I took a little test drive, the converter seemed slightly tighter than the 10" unit it replaced but the trans performed flawlessly. Good thing too, Mopars in the Park was only a week away and I still had to get the car cleaned up after a long Winters storage.
Update: After a brief break in period I used and abused the trans throughout the summer, it hasn't missed a beat in nearly 2,000 miles.

Frankensteiners Ball

2007-10-22T18:44:00.001-06:00

Fun for kids (and kids at heart)

On Sunday October 21st we cruised over to Coon Rapids, Minnesota for the 2nd annual "Frankensteiner's Ball" car show. It's probably the final show of the year, but what a way to end the 2007 season! I guess it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Frankensteiner's Car Club would host a show with a Halloween theme, but that was just part of the fun. There was a ton of cool door prizes, a kids costume contest, an exhaust rapping contest, a flamethrowing contest and some totally bitchin' handcrafted trophies. About 250 cars showed up with a nice mix of Rods, Rat Rods, Kustoms, Musclecars, a few late models and a couple bikes thrown in for good measure. For pictures of damn near all of them, click here...

Bad day at the track...

2007-10-06T17:55:00.000-06:00

bad weld.mpg

2009 Chevrolet Camaro

2007-09-12T17:11:00.000-06:00

Not too bad for a Chevy...

Car Show Rant

2007-09-08T10:44:00.001-06:00

My brother and I attended a local car show on Labor Day with at least 300 cars. Awards were given for the top 10 in each of 2 classes and "Best of Show". The 2 classes were "orphan" and "still made". Orphan cars are vehicles that were manufactured by a now nonexistant car company such as Packard, Nash, Hudson or Studebaker. "Still made" are vehicles built by companies that are still currently in business. The "still made" class top 10 was a nice mix of stuff, but despite a large number of quality cars the orphan class top ten went primarily to host club vehicles. I don't recall the exact number, UF says 9 out of 10 were host club cars but I believe it was 8 out of 10. The numbers were very disproportionate, it seems very odd that Studebakers won 80% of the awards when they made up about 30% of the class. What a way to run a car show, as far as I'm concerned the North Star Chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club should be ashamed of themselves. For starters, I feel the host club members cars should be for display only or in a seperate class and certainly should NEVER be included in the judging. Participants support the club by turning out for the show and paying the $10 entry fee, in return they should at least get a fair shot at winning something.

Hot Rodding is Dead?

2007-09-08T08:01:00.000-06:00

A well done YouTube Video...

Back behind the wheel

2007-09-01T10:54:00.000-06:00

'69 Swinger 340/4 Speed

My brother in law Ron is finally back behind the wheel of a Mopar musclecar. He'd been looking for quite awhile when this super clean '69 Swinger showed up for sale at the White Bear Dodge car show on August 3rd. I suggested that he look at it, about a half hour later Ron came back and said that he bought the car. I figured he was joking until we walked back over to look at it and the "For Sale" sign was gone. He picked the Swinger up a few days later and has been enjoying what's left of the Summer attending small local shows. Congratulations Ron...

Historic Custom found in Mexico

2007-09-01T10:23:00.000-06:00

"Big Daddy" Ed Roth's "Orbitron" found in Mexico

From Hemmings Auto Blog~

Actually, were this 1995, I wouldn’t have expected to find the Orbitron anywhere else, but since the explosion in Roth-mania since the man’s death six years ago, the fact that it served as a trash bin outside of an adult bookstore in Mexico is pretty surprising, along with the fact that nobody recognized it until just recently. Of course, before that, it was used in a carnival for several years.
Looking at the pictures, it’s mighty rough, missing a lot of essential pieces, including the nosecone and the bubble top. But considering the length some guys have gone to not just restore, but re-create some Roth vehicles lately, I imagine this one will be hitting the shows again soon.

I bet cleaning the trash out of the car must have been a trip.

More pictures can be found on iowahawks blog...

Car Craft Summer Nationals

2007-07-31T18:33:00.000-06:00

Craig and his '69 Plymouth GTX

Friday morning temps were in the mid 50's so the GTX ran great on the short drive to the fairgrounds. I had to stop at work on the way but the delay worked in my favor, there were no lines and I drove right in. Getting set up was a matter of unloading the cooler and putting out a couple of lawn chairs. We walked over to get an event t-shirt right away because some of the cooler designs have sold out quickly. T-shirts in hand, we wandered around and took in the sights. Over at the Muscle Car Restorations display was one of the most stunning cars I've ever seen, a flawless black '68 HEMI/4 speed Road Runner. According to the MCR website, "The event was extra special for Archie Duiker as this was the weekend that he was to take delivery of his newly finished ’68 Hemi Road Runner". Enjoy your car Archie, she's a beauty...

There was a crowd around the '68 all weekend

Saturday was a repeat of Friday, only with more cars and a lot more people. The unofficial numbers, 4600+ cars and 300,000+ spectators. Since we try to park in the same place every year, everyone knows where to find us. The guys we met from Mason City, Iowa showed up again but they weren't moving too fast. It seems they had a few too many at the hotel bar. After finding some coffee and a little breakfast, they looked much better.

We looked at hundreds of cars and finished up our participant voting. All that walking around in the sun makes a person hungry, it's a good thing UF is around 'cause he keeps everyone well fed. Ben cooked up enough hamburgers and hot dogs for the club and fed the leftovers to whoever happened to stop by.

You eat well when your best friend's a butcher

Sunday was the most laid back day of the weekend. We got going a little late and ended up in line near the intersection of Snelling Ave. and Como. Instead of waiting in line I should have done what the fellow in the red GTO did, pass everyone and cut in at the fairground entrance. When we got to the staging area I took a walk up to where the GTO was parked, curiousity got the best of me and I had to see what kind of asshole would pass a couple hundred cars and cut in line. And you wonder why people get road rage! GTO drivers not withstanding, we enjoyed the show and headed for the bikini contest when it was announced on the PA system. The awards presentation followed the bikini contest so I stuck around to see who won in the various categories. Much to my surprise, the emcee called my name and participant number when reading the list of the "Participants Choice Top 25 Cars". It made my summer!

We sat and watched cars filter out until the Police told us it was time to leave. That's fine, everyone was hot and sunburned anyway. We'll see you next year...

TorqueFlite 101

2007-07-29T19:36:00.000-06:00

Trans core after high pressure degreasing

My biggest regret in the build-up of the GTX was farming out the transmission overhaul. Without going into a lot of detail, the first transmission I had rebuilt by a local "performance" shop failed before the car was finished enough to drive on the street. As a result, the trans had to be removed and brought to another shop to be rebuilt again. I vowed to never let that happen again...

The time has come to take the mystery out of automatic transmissions. I found a well used big block 727 for $100 and dug in. Wrestling with a grimy transmission is no fun so the first step was to clean it up using some degreaser and a pressure washer. Armed with the 727 TorqueFlite Handbook, and a '69 Plymouth Factory Service Manual, UF and I had it disassembled in a couple of hours.

After cleaning and inspecting all of the parts I reassembled and disassembled the trans a few times to familiarize myself with the components. Once comfortable with the parts and assembly procedures, I began researching what parts would be best suited for my combination. Several experienced trans builders have helped with parts recommendations, when the list is complete I can start ordering parts.

So far this hasn't been quite as difficult as expected. Time will tell...

Miss Car Craft '07

2007-07-26T22:17:00.000-06:00

Missy Trow
2007 Miss Car Craft Summer Nationals

Pretty girls and cars are a natural combination. Every year the Car Craft Summer Nats has a bikini contest to chose Miss Car Craft. In addition to cash and prizes, Miss Car Craft has to help promote the next years Car Craft event. After winning in '06, Missy has appeared at numerous car shows to promote the Summer Nats and sell autographed posters. I got to know her a little bit over the past year and have to say that besides being damn good lookin', she also seems to be a genuinely nice young lady. Since Missy won the bikini contest again, we get to enjoy her presence for another year...

Back to the 50's Weekend

2007-07-26T21:54:00.001-06:00

"Little Duece Coupe"...

Getting up at 3:30am to be in line by 4:00am is a pain. If you want a decent parking spot, that's what you have to do when there's nearly 12,000 cars in attendance. Some guys start lining up at midnight. No wonder people have such a low tolerance for line-cutters...

There was so many cars that it would be nearly impossible to see them all, even with 3 days to do it. We were content to relax, see what we could and eat like kings (thanks UF). I also found some cool stuff at the swap meet and figured out how to convert the Packard headlights to 6 volt seal beams. I can hardly wait until next year...

Mopars in the Park

2007-07-26T21:21:00.000-06:00

Cars don't melt in the rain do they Wayne?

We had a few sprinkles during the day on Saturday, the heavy rains held off until it was time to go home. Did I say heavy rain? Deluge or monsoon might be a better description. I had just left 169 heading east on 94/694 when the sky turned black and it started pouring. Thanks to zero visability, traffic slowed enough that the almost treadless drag radials on the GTX handled it OK. We left the highway and found some cover until it looked like the danger of hail had passed, then we hightailed it for home. It took several hours to clean and dry the car so it would be ready for the next day.

Sunday morning started out with more rain, after checking the weather sites it was obvious that the day would be a washout. The prospect of a 90 mile round trip in the rain just didn't seem worth it, my Mopars in the Park weekend was over...

Midwest Mopars - Mopars in the Park 2007 Photo Gallery

2007 Mopars In The Park Class Winners

Partnership Academy 1st Annual Car Show

2007-07-26T20:34:00.000-06:00

Fins are in...

The first show I participated in this year was a fundraising effort for the Partnership Academy in Richfield, Minnesota. A friend was helping to promote the show and asked if I'd like to attend. It was late April and the GTX had just been taken out of winter storage, I was chomping at the bit to put some miles on it so off I went.

There was a cool variety of cars from MG's to Yenko Deuces, something for everyone. Combined with some warm spring sunshine and friendly spectators, it had all ingredients for a great show. Hopefully there will be a 2nd Annual Partnership Academy Car Show...

GSTA Rod & Custom Spectacular

2007-07-26T20:17:00.000-06:00

Old School Custom

The Gopher State Timing Association Rod & Custom Spectacular isn't a huge show but it's sure draws some interesting cars. To see a photo gallery of vehicles entered in the 2007 GSTA show, visit the GSTA website.

A brief history of the Gopher State Timing Association

Vintage Drag Racing on YouTube

2007-04-01T17:49:00.000-06:00

Kool Vintage Drag Racing Video

Mr. Norm's Grand Spaulding Dodge

2007-03-24T19:03:00.000-06:00

3300 W. Grand - Chicago, IL
Back in the heyday of Musclecars, Mr. Norm's Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago, Il was the worlds premier high performance Dodge dealer.

Norman Kraus, alias "Mr. Norm" and his brother Lenny, had a used car lot next to their father's gas station when they were approached by Dodge to open a new car dealership. Initially the brothers declined until they heard about the new Max Wedge performance cars. Before long a deal was made and they opened the dealership in October of 1962. Their marketing efforts were directed towards young performance enthusiasts, and the "Mr. Norm's Sport Club" was formed. When a new high performance Dodge was purchased from Mr. Norm’s Grand Spaulding Dodge, the buyer automatically received a membership in the Mr. Norm's Sport Club. Members received a monthly news letter that informed them about service and parts specials, sales contests, and special events. It also included a subscription to Drag News. To help promote the “Mr. Norms Sport Club”, Mr Norms high performance Dodges were treated to the now famous window decals, Grand Spaulding emblem on the deck lid and a “Mr. Norms” license plate frame. More importantly, when a new high performance Dodge was sold at Grand Spaulding each vehicle was dyno tuned. The carburetor and distributor were recalibrated for maximum performance. When completed the dyno man would put a dyno sticker on the left rear quarter glass.

Sales soared and by 1966, Grand Spaulding Dodge grew to become the country’s biggest performance Dodge dealership. By 1972 Grand Spaulding was the worlds largest Dodge dealer. A second location in Buffalo Grove soon became the number two Dodge dealer. Unfortunately, Grand Spaulding's dependence on the high performance market made it vulnerable when the performance era ended in 1973. Grand Spaulding Dodge closed its doors in 1975, the video below shows Grand Spaulding Dodge as it appears today.

Posted on YouTube by artistmac

I.B.M. Car Club

2007-02-26T20:13:00.000-06:00

Official Logo of the "I Built Mine" Car Club

Last summer we started an informal club called the I.B.M. Car Club. There's no officers, let alone any kind of formal structure. There are dues however, and you can't buy your way in. Sorry, there's no admittance for guys that buy "done" cars or pay someone to build their car for them.

The only way be part of the gang is to build your own...

Sox & Martin to be honored

2007-02-25T14:54:00.000-06:00

Elkton, MN 2006

From the official NHRA website.

Late Pro Stock legend Ronnie Sox and his longtime racing partner Buddy Martin are among the 2007 inductees to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

Sox and Martin combined driving artistry and mechanical genius to form one of the most famous teams in drag-racing history, headlining in Stock and Super Stock match races throughout the 1960s. Sox, listed as number 15 on the list of the NHRA’s 50 all-time best drivers, piloted Martin-prepared Pro Stock cars to three consecutive NHRA championships between 1970-1972 and exhibited unique domination in vehicles equipped with four-speed transmissions.

Other inductees are former NASCAR champ Bill Elliott, Indy 500 winner Jim Rathmann, Goodyear Tire’s Leo Mehl, and motorcycle racer Bubba Shobert. The induction ceremony at State Theater in Detroit is set for Aug. 15.

Ronnie Sox Bio Vintage Sox & Martin Photos - GPC

HEMI History

2007-02-25T08:56:00.000-06:00

The Legendary 426 HEMI

Learn about the history of the early HEMI®, built by Chrysler, DeSoto, and Dodge. Get all the details on the 426 HEMI on the street and in race cars, from NASCAR stock cars at Daytona and Darlington, to NHRA Super Stock, Funny Cars, and Top Fuel dragsters. Meet the engineers who designed the original HEMI, the 426 HEMI and the new 5.7 HEMI. Learn how Don Garlits and other legendary racers adopted the 331, 354, 392, and finally the 426 Hemi as they set records year after year.

Visit HEMI.com, the official DaimlerChrysler HEMI® Web site.

Evelyn

2007-02-24T17:28:00.000-06:00

Evelyn at the 2006 Back to the 50's Weekend

You might wonder why a guy with a penchant for Hot Rods and Musclecars has such a soft spot for a mild mannered old Packard. It's a story of dreams, faith and honor...

It all started about twenty six years ago when my brother in law purchased a small collection of old cars that were sitting in the machine shed of a small Midwestern farm. Among them were a couple of old Packard's, a '48 sedan and a '37 115c 4 door touring sedan. Since my mother in law Evelyn had always dreamed of having a "fancy" old car, a deal was made and she became the proud owner of a '37 Packard. We changed the fluids and got it running for her, but the brake system needed repair to make the ol' Packard roadworthy. I used a kit from Kanter to completely overhaul the brake system. Next we pulled the chrome for replating while "Bondo" Jimmy repainted it in a '70's Cadillac color that closely matched the original. While it wasn't perfect, the Packard turned out to be a pretty neat old car.

Evelyn treasured her Packard, occasionally driving it and entering it in the local 4th of July parade in northern Minnesota. Eventually, failing health prevented her from driving it anymore. She still loved the old Packard and wanted to make sure it would go to a good home. One night last winter she called and asked if "I would like to have her Packard". Without hesitation I answered "YES", I've always loved the car and really hoped that it would somehow stay in the family. UF and I journeyed North to Baudette, Minnesota on Mothers day weekend with a borrowed car hauler in tow. Despite sitting for over a year, it only needed a jump and a little gas through the carb to coax the flathead 6 into firing up. After a short test drive, I drove it onto the trailer and lashed it down for the 300+ mile trip home.

With the help of friends it took a month of evenings and weekends to make the ol' gal safe and reliable again. Sometime during the course of the month, the topic of what to call the car was discussed. Naming it "Evelyn" was the only logical choice, assuming it was OK with my mother-in-law. When I called to ask her approval, she laughed and said "that would be wonderful".

Last summer "Evelyn" made her first public appearance in several years at Back to the 50's. Local cruise nights, car shows and sunday drives accounted for an another 800 miles of easy cruisin' last Summer. I tried to call my mother in law whenever we took "Evelyn" out and relay the kind remarks from people that enjoyed seeing "her" car.

Before heading south for Winter in the fall of '06, my mother in-law and I climbed into the Packard and cruised around for awhile before going home. She laughed and smiled the entire time, what a wonderful memory. It was the last time I'd see her alive.

Evelyn passed away on February 14, 2007...

F.A.S.T. Cars

2007-02-21T23:07:00.000-06:00

426 HEMI 1969 Plymouth GTX 11.35 @ 122 mph

There are fast cars, then there are F.A.S.T. cars. The F.A.S.T. (Factory Appearing Stock Tire) racing format is for 1955 to 1974 muscle cars that were built in the US and Canada. No matter how you look at them, F.A.S.T. Cars appear showroom stock, including the body, interior, engine and all its external components & manifolds, even the wheels and original 1960's style skinny bias ply tires. As a matter of fact, F.A.S.T cars place very well at shows for "restored" cars, and even sound stock at idle.But get a group of them on the drag strip, and LOOK OUT! You will see F.A.S.T. cars covering the 1/4 mile in 13 second, 12 second, and even the low 11 second range, with the fastest cars posting trap speeds of over 125 MPH! You see, F.A.S.T. cars may look and sound stock, but internal engine modifications are NOT restricted.

See the F.A.S.T. Racing website for rules and info...

Photoshop Fun

2007-02-19T21:00:00.000-06:00

Nothing really special here, just a Photoshopped rendition of one of my all time favorite Mopars. This virtual '69 "Bee" has been slammed, mini-tubbed and treated to some subtle body mods. The side markers, door locks and door handles were "shaved", the emblems and vinyl top removed as well as the Bumblebee stripe. I'm still trying to settle on a color, what do you think, blue or green?

Drag Radial Revolution!

2007-02-13T22:12:00.000-06:00

By Jake Amatisto jamatisto@fscmag.com

Can you have the best of both worlds? In the '60s, if you wanted to go fast there wasn't much of a choice in tires. It was either full-blown race slicks or crappy stock bias-plies. Like everything in the performance aftermarket, tires have evolved over the decades, and today's race tires are stickier, softer, and far better than they used to be. Hell, today's street tires are better than most full-race tires from 30 years ago! With the introduction of the BFGoodrich Drag Radial roughly ten years ago, racers have been given the choice of a good compromise between streetability and ultimate traction.

Read the complete article in Fastest Street Car Magazine

The Galaxie Project v2.1

2007-02-08T20:18:00.000-06:00

UF makin' sparks fly...

Ben got a good deal on some 4" x 3" heavy wall tubing so we started fabbing a body dolly for the Galaxie. We layed it out so it will support the body from several of the original body mount locations. On each side it will contact the mounts at the lower firewall, just behind the door and behind the rear wheelwell. It should provide a rock solid platform for doing the bodywork and with swivel casters on each corner, moving it around the shop should be a breeze. Now all we need to do is figure out a safe way to lift the body shell from the frame...

Evelyn's new "glasses"

2007-02-05T18:14:00.000-06:00

Pieces awaiting reinstallation

After getting the Packard, my top priority was to make it reliable and safe. With that accomplished, it’s time to take care of some minor cosmetic issues. The most noticeable flaw was the deteriorated condition of the side glass. Over the past 70 years it’s become badly yellowed with delaminating along some of the edges. Since all of the glass is flat, finding suitable replacements was no problem. Jim from JTR Customs used the old glass as templates for cutting the new pieces. He also polished the edges before reinstalling the bottom channels.

New window channel and vent window weather stripping should make for a rattle and leak free installation. The most difficult aspect of the glass swap has been reinstalling the new window channel. The original parts had retaining clips incorporated into the channel, the new stuff is of the "universal" variety and needs to be glued in. The adhesive is slow curing so the job will take several sessions to finish, but the final results will be worth it...

The Galaxie Project v2.0

2007-02-03T22:20:00.000-06:00

After a couple of missteps, the 460 and C6 dropped right into place. I have to give Crites credit, their engine swap motor and trans mount kit perform exactly as advertised. The headers that Crites makes for this swap also fit perfectly. I shouldn't be suprised but "bolt on" parts seldom are...

Now that we’re sure that everything fits properly, the teardown can proceed. The next step is to build a dolly to hold the body after it is removed from the frame. Thanks to the excellent diagrams in the factory service manual, fabricating the dolly should be easy. Once the body is on the dolly, we’ll strip the chassis down to the bare frame. The goal is to have the frame sandblasted, painted and the suspension rebuilt so the Galaxie chassis is a “roller” by spring. It’s going to be fun to build a car from the frame up!

A Banner Year

2007-01-28T18:15:00.000-06:00

Mopars in the Park 2006

One of the cool things about the Internet is how it can bring people together. About this time last year, a few Mopar enthusiasts decided to do something for an auto forum they participate in. The site, Moparts.com is an international community of Chrysler product enthusiasts. Members span the globe from Canada to South America and from Australia to Europe. The plan started out simple enough, have a few members from a local show sign it then present it to the sight administrator as a token of appreciation.

The banners incredible journey started at a car show in San Francisco. Since there was room for more autographs, another member suggested mailing the sign to him so he could bring it to a show his area. And so it began, for the past year the banner has zigzagged from coast to coast numerous times. It has turned up at Mopars at the Strip in Vegas, Mopar Nationals in Columbus, Chryslers @ Carlisle, the WPC Museum, Englishtown, Mopars in the Park and numerous other shows in the US and Canada. The picture above was shot in early June when there was still a lot of space left for autographs. By the time summer ended, thousands of members had signed the banner and it was completely filled. At show after show, it became a meeting spot where old friends were reacquainted and new friends were made...

Green...

2007-01-24T23:11:00.001-06:00

Green, the color of money...

1265.1

1969 PLYMOUTH HEMI GTX CONVERTIBLE

$220,000.00

Unless I win the lottery, the price of owning the GTX of my dreams is forever beyond reach. In all honesty, I can't begrudge someone for paying what they think is a fair price for the car. Only 700 '69 Plymouth GTX convertibles were built in the first place. Of those 700, a mere 11 of them were equipped with a 426 HEMI. To break it down even further, only 5 were built with the 426 HEMI and an automatic transmission. The term "rare" is often used too liberally, but it certainly applies to this GTX.

I sure hope the new owner enjoys driving the GTX. It would be a cryin' shame for it to sit in the garage because it's "too valuable of an investment". After all, what could be better than rollin' down the road with the top down, listenin' to the pipes?

Mopars in the Park

2007-01-21T23:06:00.001-06:00

"Old School" custom paint

If you're into Mopars, a "must attend" show in the Twin Cities metro area is the Midwest Mopars "Mopars in the Park". Last year there was nearly 600 cars registered. In addition to the show field, there's a fun field, car corral and a huge swap meet area.

Mopars in the Park 2007
June 2 -3, 2007
Raceway Park in Shakopee, MN

Online Registration Form

Car Craft Summer Nationals

2007-01-21T22:55:00.001-06:00

"Here come da Judge"

The Car Craft Summer Nationals in St. Paul, Minnesota, has become an annual tradition. The Summer Nationals are always a big event for street machines, "muscle cars" and hot rods. This three-day event will showcase over 4,200 street machines and muscle cars and will attract over 35,000 spectators. All makes and models of two wheel drive vehicles welcome. The awesome “Miss Car Craft Summer Nats” contest, the DynoMax Dyno Challenge, the Burnout Contest, and rolling rods galore, will all be a part of the action. Over 100 awards will be handed out to great cars and trucks. General Motors Performance Division will display their latest automotive creations.

Car Craft Summer Nationals
Friday, July 20 – Sunday, July 22, 2007
Minnesota State Fairgrounds
1880 Como Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108

Car Craft Summer Nationals Event Information

MSRA Back to the 50's

2007-01-21T22:30:00.001-06:00

From "mild to wild", there's something for everyone

The Minnesota Street Rod Association (MSRA) is a group of dedicated auto enthusiasts whose purpose is to unite its members to promote the mutual interest in the hobby and sport of street rodding; to encourage a better understanding of street rodding as a constructive sport among its members, the public, the press, the community, regulatory and legislative authorities and law enforcement agencies; to increase the knowledge of its members in the proper construction of, and guidance in the operation of, overall safe vehicles and to promote street rodding as a safe family activity to be enjoyed by all.

They also host one of the biggest Street Rod events in the world, last year 11,069 cars were registered...

Back To The 50s
June 22- 24, 2007
MINNESOTA STATE FAIRGROUNDS
1265 Snelling Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55108-3099

Online Registration Form - Adobe Acrobat Reader Required

The Galaxie Project

2007-01-21T21:51:00.000-06:00

Trial fitting the 460/C6

Here's a shot of the '63 Galaxie 2 door hardtop project that my best friend Ben is starting. It was origionally powered by a 352 2 barrel and automatic transmission but the engine was locked up when he bought it. Using Crites motor and transmission mounts, he's swapping the 352 for a 460 and C6 transmission. Once the fit of the 460, trans and exhaust headers is deemed ok, the remainder of the car will be stripped for rebuilding and refurbishing.

Future plans call for a performance oriented engine overhaul, rebuilt trans with a high stall converter and a fresh 9" with 4.10 gears. Other upgrades planned for the Galaxie include rebuilt steering and front suspension, rebuilt rear suspension, a dual master cylinder, disc brakes, hidden wiring, aluminum radiator and custom interior. Watch for updates as the project progresses...

Elkton, Minnesota

2007-01-21T13:14:00.000-06:00

Lee Smith's 1 of 6 factory altered wheelbase '65 Plymouth

Every July the sleepy rural town of Elkton, Minnesota wakes up to the ground shaking rumble of historic Detroit iron. Thanks to Fred Engelhart of Engelhart Performance, this small town (population 149) in southern Minnesota is home to one of the greatest car shows in the country. What makes it so great? While primarily a Mopar show, guests can bring anything they like. This year, in addition to race cars, there were musclecars, street rods and classics. Big deal right? It is when 40 legit factory Super Stock Darts and Barracudas show up! As a tribute to the late Ronnie Sox, the largest gathering of Sox and Martin cars ever assembled was on display. If the cars aren't enough to get your interest, a lot of personalities from the golden age of Super Stock drag racing were also there, mingling with fans and signing autographs.

Mopar Action's Coverage of the Engelhart Performance Show

"My Junk"

2007-01-20T01:00:00.000-06:00

1969 Plymouth GTX - 440 4bbl - Automatic - 4.10's

Just to give visitors a better idea of where I'm coming from, here's the lowdown on my cars. They are about as different as two vehicles can be. I bought the '69 Plymouth GTX for $1,750 back in '82 and drove it for many years before performing the resto-mod. It's a pretty respectable street car that's driven a couple thousand miles per summer. For further details, please check out my Project GTX website.

The Packard has only been in my posession for less than a year. It was given to me by an elderly family member that knew it would be appreciated and well taken care of. It sat gathering dust for many years so it needed some repairs to be roadworthy, even though it only had 42,000 miles on it. It was treated to a complete brake overhaul, some new Diamondback wide whites, ignition tune-up and completely rewired. The engine doesn't smoke and runs so smoothly it's unbelieveable. It still needs some side glass replaced because it's delaminating, I'll have that done by spring. Even though it's slow, the car is a blast to drive. I've met a lot of nice folks who owned vintage Packards when they were new or recall fond memories of them as a family car from their youth.

1937 Packard 115c Touring Sedan - 6 cyl - 3 Speed

The "House of Hook"

2007-01-20T00:28:00.000-06:00

Last Fall my buddy UF asked if I'd like to make a trip to Cedar Falls, Iowa to help Mike Splett campaign the Gopher State Timing Association front engine dragster. Mike managed several high 8 second exhibition runs despite the less than ideal track and weather conditions. Mike really appreciated the help and invited us to help him again. We will, because being a participant is even more fun than being a spectator...

Video of 8.08 second/ 160.5 mph run

"Dandy Dick" Landy dies

2007-01-20T00:03:00.000-06:00

Dick Landy - Elkton, Minnesota 2006

Dick Landy, the popular cigar-chomping engine builder and driver who campaigned successful Dodge factory race cars in a variety of classes including Pro Stock throughout the 1960s and early '70s, died Jan. 11 of kidney failure. He was 69.
As a pioneer in the Funny Car and Pro Stock ranks, Landy acquired a winning reputation in NHRA national-event and match-race competition. Landy's considerable skills as a driver and engine builder were equaled by his flair for showmanship, as evidenced by his trademark cigar and bumper-scraping wheelstands.

Click here to read the complete story on the NHRA website

Bro's '58 makes its maiden voyage...

2007-01-19T22:59:00.000-06:00

I'm so proud of my brother, this is the first project vehicle he's ever built. He bought the battered farm truck with the intention of building a cool cruiser. Most people don't have the vision to see a project like this through to completetion. Chris isn't a mechanic so a project of this scope presented a lot of new challenges for him. Luckily he knew people that were able to help him along the way. For the most part, he built it himself and learned a lot in the process. Not only does his '58 look good, it drives like a new car and hauls ass too!

'58 Chevrolet Stepside Specs

Nova front subframe with power steering and disc brakes, mildly built 454 4 barrel V8, GM Turbo 400 automatic transmission, Chrysler 8 3/4" "Sure Grip" differential, front coil lowering springs, TCI lowered rear suspension, Diamondback "Wide White" radials, owner designed flamed paint scheme, custom beige interior and oak/stainless bed floor.

'07 Barrett Jackson Auto Auction

2007-01-19T21:47:00.000-06:00

1969 Plymouth GTX 426 HEMI Convertible

Once again, the 3 ring circus known as the Barrett Jackson collector car auction is taking place in Scottsdale, Arizona. Much of the event is being televised on Speed TV. As an auto enthusiast, it's interesting to see such a wide variety of cars but all the hype gives me a headache. At one time Musclecars were cheap and plentiful. Sadly, they are becoming so expensive that owners are reluctant to drive them for fear of damaging their "investment". The "Kings of the Street" are quickly becoming neutered "Garage Queens"...

Here's a couple predictions of what will happen this year;

Prices for Clone/Tribute cars will drop to more realistic levels.
Smart buyers will continue to pay good money for rare, high quality cars.

On a somewhat related note: Collector-car writer ejected from show