My latest project got me to thinking how spoiled we have gotten in recent years. We can open a catalogue from a variety of vendors and purchase almost anything we may need for our cars. Admittedly it's a bit harder for those who enjoy the early A body cars from Plymouth and Dodge than our E and B body brethren but you get the picture. There is so much available now then there was 10 years ago.
It's gotten easy to buy a kit, bolt it on and call it done. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to see all that is available and am not knocking anyone who goes this route, but for me the fun is in the rebuilding. The act of taking some thing that would be considered a used, spent component and making it fully functional again.
Even for something as simple as an aftermarket air cleaner. I searched through swap meets, ebay, Summit racing and many other vendors looking for the right one for me and my car. Nothing looked right. They all reminded me of the same parts I have seen on every car at any car show I have ever been to.
I got to thinking about some of the Rat Rods I've seen at my local cruise night and how the early 50's hot rodders fixed their cars. They scrounged through junk yards looking for different parts to make their cars look different or perform better. They did this out of necessity. In the beginning, they had very few speed shops to go to let alone any catalogues to buy from. They made what they needed.
As my project has progressed, I to have had to make many of the parts I needed to move things forward. I didn't buy trunk panel extensions or inner fender lips, I made them from scrap panels. I didn't install a front disk brake conversion kit, I rebuilt a used factory 4 piston caliper setup and installed it myself. When I upgraded to electronic ignition, I didn't buy the readily available kit, I used the spare parts I already had and found the used parts I needed to make it work.
And when it came to a new air cleaner, I did not buy one from a mass merchandiser, I made one from a swap meet part. Many pieces I have used were swap meet or junk yard finds that I had to clean up and re work before I could use them.
Granted, I am thankful for all the items I can get for my car from a catalogue company, without them the car would still be on jack stands, but by taking this frugal approach I have saved a lot of money building my car.
My point is that by taking your time with some used parts and ingenuity you can make your car a little more unique than the guy next to you at the car show and save some cash too. So don't be afraid to skip the catalogue and try something different, you may like it better in the long run.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
From "Da Prez's" Garage
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.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Twas the night before Carlisle
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!
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