From "Da Prez's" Garage

A few random observations to share.

Has this happened to you? You've been working in the garage all day any your significant other comes down to see how things are going. You get close to get a little kiss and you get this. " Eww, you smell like car." How do you respond to that? I mean, what can you say to that?

" Well, Hell Yeah I do!" "It's my new cologne, ode de car guy." "Huh, I don't smell anything except the burritos I had for lunch."

Space heaters are not overated. I got a good sized kerosene heater to warm the garage so I can get some work done on the car this winter and I have made some good progress. "Heat, it's not just for Summer."

Air Compressor. Don't forget to turn it off when your done or it will leak pressure slowly to the point where the low pressure switch trips and the compressor turns on to refill the tank. This is only a problem if your garage is directly below your bedroom at it kicks on at 3 AM.

When using a can of brake cleaner to clean a transmission valve body, wear a face shield. That stuff burns.

To wrap things up, don't lie upside down to take pictures under your dash with a head cold. The pressure is too much and your pictures look bad.

Twas the night before Carlisle

Twas the night before Carlisle and all through the shop,
Not a Mopar was stirring, not even a Dart.

The car keys were hung on their peg hooks with care,
In hopes Clif Winters soon would be there.

The tools were packed all snug in their chest,
After going non-stop for a month, they needed a rest.

And momma in her nightgown and I in my cap,
were watching re-runs of “Pinks”, to restless to nap.

When out in the road there were tires a squealin’,
I sprang from my bed to see what was peelin’.

Away to the garage door I flew like a flash,
Pulling open the door and knocking over the trash.

The full moon shone bright on the dew covered lawn,
and glinting off chrome, early before dawn.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear?
But an early A body with a resonator and 8 cylinders.

With a little race driver that was so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Veep Clif!

More rapid than chevys his coursers they came,
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name.

Now Polara and Coronet, now Valiant and ‘Cuda,
On Charger, On Challenger, On Demon and Daytona!

Watch the top of the race tree, Pre-stage lights so tall.
Now race away! Race away! Race away all!

I ran back behind my Barracuda and hid,
as Veep Clif stopped in the driveway with a skid.

He was dressed all in denim from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were covered with brake fluid and dirt.

A bundle of parts he had flung on his back,
And he looked like vendor from a swap meet at that.

Into my garage he came, a right jolly old tech,
He popped open my hood to give things a check.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
He tuned her up good, and then turned with a jerk.

And laying a key in the ignition he did,
It fired right up and idled, then closed the engine bay lid.

He sprang to his ride, to the throttle gave a kick,
And down the road he blasted, rowing his Hurst 4 speed stick.

But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,
Happy Carlisle to all, and to all a happy cruise night!

Chrysler and GM in merger talks!?

I for one would not want to see the publicity photos of the 2009 Camaro coming down the same assembly line as the 2009 Challenger. Possibly on the same platform! It’s just too horrid a thought. Perhaps these merger talks are a very bad Halloween joke/nightmare being played on the car world. The thought of a Hemi in a GMC Denali, or any other GM vehicle for that matter, really, really depresses me.

How would this affect us older Mopar lovers? Well, I’ve always been one of those “Glass half full” kind of guys who tries to see the silver lining in things so here’s my take on the up side of this possible merger.

More Licensed Reproduction Parts.

GM has a pretty good program for producing or licensing good quality aftermarket reproduction pieces for their hobbyist’s vehicles.

In the GM camp, there are many aftermarket companies producing GM certified replacement parts at reasonable prices. If, and it’s a big if, GM and Chrysler were to merge, it would make good business sense that the licensing of Mopar Reproduction parts follow the same model as how existing GM parts are certified.

The trouble Dave Layson got into over the summer brought to light that there are some “Gaps” in Chrysler’s Reproduction Parts supply plan. Not to re-hash the “Laysons Incident” and not knowing both sides of the story, but what if Chrysler was charging outrageous fees to license their products? Could this be why Laysons never really pursued licensing the many good quality products they were making? Is it poor execution on Chrysler’s part?

As much as I would to hate to see a merger happen, the outcome for those in the hobby looking for genuine parts could be huge. There would be licensed Mopar Reproduction parts available, hopefully at a reasonable price, for all levels of the hobby and there would be no fear of sub-standard or non-licensed parts bringing down the value of restored vehicles.

The better scenario is Chrysler and GM don't merge and Ma Mopar steps it up in the reproduction parts business.

I know times are tough for businesses large and small and this merger is just that, business. But Ma Mopar being owned by GM just seems wrong. I guess the other good thing that would come out of this possible merger, other than better reproduction parts, would be the small consolation that Chrysler would at least be owned by an American company.