and without the Liberal Gestapo tracking your every move, collecting information and reselling it, and punishing anyone posting to the Right of Bernie Sanders.
It’s called Old Hippie’s Damn Face Book. It “Looks & Feels” identical to Facebook, with most of the same features. You have your Profile, a Newsfeed of posts from friends and your Groups, Pages for businesses, Groups for like interests, a Marketplace to buy and sell, Photo albums and more.
It works perfectly with computers, tablets and even smartphones.
The simple goal is to grow a small community of a couple thousand like minded individuals, their family, and their friends. There is no desire to be huge, to make money, to have a Gestapo moderation department apply a Double-Standard of “Community Standards”, or to collect and sell your private information.
If you’re looking for a social community that will not be looking over shoulder and over-aggressively moderating your free speech – then why not be part of our small community by registering, checking in a few times a week, and participating, Old Hippie’s Damn Face Book would like for you to join us.
I’m selling a highly optioned 32′ 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.
Admittedly, the floors are a little dirty when I took these photos, once a year I use Aluminum Brite to make them look like new. I’ll post photos after I next clean up.
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.
So we’re at Atlanta Dragway, and it’s raining – so its a good time to catch up on what;s been goin on since last week’s post.
Racing
I’ll start with racing. I loaded up Tuesday morning and Deb, I, Smith & Wesson left at half past noon. That’s 12:30pm for digital Snowflakes. We drove to just north of Hammond, LA (350 miles) at about 7pm, and spent the night in a Walmart parking lot . We left the next morning at 9am and drove the remaining 550 miles, arriving at the staging area of the track at 8pm. The track started letting us in at 7:30am. By 11am my pit was setup, credentials established, and car teched in.
On Thursday you can buy two test hits in the afternoon, and I did so. The first was a 9.48 off the trailer. While that’s normally OK to run the 9.50 Index, the weather is going to be all over the map and I need to bag a 10th. So I took one of the 37 pound batteries out.
I made a second hit and got a 9.45. I have another trick or two up my sleeve if I need it. So I put the car away for the night. It drizzled and light rained most of the night. It is still 1pm, and they claim that we’ll all hit the track at 2pm – but I’m not thinking so. Still light drizzle, track still wet, and this track tends to seep.
We were suppose to have a time trial in the morning, then two of the three Qualifying passes today. Now its down to one Qualifying and no test hits – if that even happens. It needs to stop drizzling and the sun and wind needs to appear for that to happen.
Update 10pm
The track went hot at 5pm, as they were havinf problems getting the timing to work. They finally gave with right lane not getting an accurate MPH and neither lane getting a 1000′ time. We were called at 6pm, but it was almost an hour later that we finally ran because of a lane cleanup.
I went a little more “go for broke” than usual. I usually just try to get in the first Qualifying, then go for perfect in 2nd and 3rd Qualifying. I’m not sure if we’ll get another qualify, so I went for broke. It appears everyone had that plan because my 9.510 on a 9.50 index was only good for 3rd after first round. Pretty amazing everyone did so well as the weather was all over the map, the lanes are way different and you can’t plan which lane you get, and we sat in our cars for and hour.
Family Grows
Last week, Son number 1’s wife gave us Grandson number 4. The wife of his younger brother went into labor a couple of hours later, but Grandson number 5 didn’t arrive until the next day. Everyone is doing well.
My youngest daughter is due in October. We’re hoping for Granddaughter number 2.
My Petty Tribute
I have a 1960 Plymouth that I’ve been building to be a Petty Tribute, that looks like its been sitting out in the fields for 50 years. Click Here is you want to start at the beginning of this build. The latest news is that the motor and transmission has been test fitted and mounts made/tacked in. I’ll have a professional come in to weld the mounts in purdy.
Engine is coming back out and the car , and the body will get about 80 hours of wet sanding 400/600 grit; and High Build Primer and more sanding – until the body panels are as smooth as a baby’s ass. In June, it has a date with the lady in Indiana to wrap it. I ordered the clutch assembly last night; but I’m still needing to find a decent shifterless steering column and a 4-speed shifter.
Screamin’ Woody
So the wagon is getting there. I’m pretty sure my last post spoke of the new red paint under the hood. My shop Rat and Assistant Shop Rat spent the week getting the over spray off the brand new Lexan, and polishing it up. I took the headers to get blasted and recoated.
After blasting, a ton of pin holes were discovered, so I had to go bring back to the shop to get wet welded up. I’ll take them back to the powder coater when I get back home from racing.
1964 Imperial
Still finishing up the leather on my Imperial convertible. Repaired and dyed the front seat, but the the tint was off a little so we had to coat with adhesion promoter and dye all leather, plastic and vinyl. I had to order more Top Coat last light, so the gloss will happen when I get back.
Well that pretty much catches me up, and just in time as they just came over the squawk box saying that its time to get cars ready, as they project they’re going hot in an hour.
Here’s a recap of the Happenings in my MoparStyle Racing shop in the last week.
Texas Thug
If you followed the hood ejection story at the Bradenton race earlier in the month, you know The Thug lost it’s hood in warm up. A quick repair with pop rivets and duct tape got me through the weekend. Once back home, about 10 hours was spent repairing the broken off corners, the rivet holes, and the scrapes and breaks. On the underside it was reinforced where the reinforcement was broken, sanded and skimmed.
This poor hood been through Hell. Dallas lost it warming up the car in Maryland 6 or 7 years ago, when the car was black. Its been repaired so many times that it weighs more than a metal hood. On Thursday I took it to a friend who owns a body shop. He says still needs about ten hours worth of putty, sanding and three coats of high build primer before the paint. I should be picking up next Tuesday Morning, and put it on in the afternoon.
The Thug had its oil changed, interior cleaned, and aluminum tank and weight boxes polished. Valves were run, header bolts tightened, and plugs looked over. After the hood is reattached, the slicks will get swapped, the car washed and wheels polished by my Shop Rat (a 70-year-old Latino who is strong like Bull) and my Assistant Shop Rat (youngest daughter Hope, who goes to College in morning and works four hours in evening). I also got Summit racing to swap out my 16v battery charger.
The Stacker
I took it to get inspected today and renewed the registration. Shop Rat washed it. Assistant Shop Rat cleaned out the cabinets and washed the shelves. She’ll polish the wheels and scrub down pit mat. Have a few repairs to make, like reattaching the rear strap hanger, the fire bottle holder and gluing up some pads for the straps to bang against. The Coach is cleaned in and out and full of 15 gallons of DEF.
The Screamin’ Woody
If you’ve been following the progress at www.screaminwoody.com , you know the car is pretty close to finished. The underside stripped and painted, new fuel system, new 00 battery cables, new wiring, back compartment finished in spatter paint, new fuel cell and weight boxes, rear end rebuilt, transmission rebuilt, converter freshened and new Lexan. We’re waiting on the rotating to arrive so Damon can build the engine. I hope to bring the car to the Hot Rod Reunion in June.
Today, I took the tailgate to Tasco and had them match the color to a quart of single stage paint. The engine compartment was wet sanded with 400 grit and the first coat of red sprayed.
60 Plymouth Post
Moving on to my street cars, I’ve had this car for many years. In the last year or two, the interior was pulled and floor sanded to bare metal before getting a couple coats of POR, and new interior made from Indian Blankets I bought in New Mexico.
I bought a 8.75″ rear end out of a 68 Newport and rebuilt it with new brakes. The understide was also taken to bare metal, painted with POR15, and new rear end installed.
The Leaning tower of power and three on tree yanked and a bad ass aluminum head 383 built.
That engine and a yet to be purchased Passon Performance 5-Speed 833 will be installed. The car will be wrapped to look like Richard Petty took his NASCAR from 1960 after the season and drag it out back to let 58 years of weather beat it up. This brings me to what was recently done, and that was to paint the engine compartment Petty Blue before the engine goes in. The front end was also rebuilt last week.
1978 Dodge Magnum GT
I’ve owned 9 Magnum XEs, but this is the only Magnum GT I ever seen in person. I’ve owed it for about 16 years. I’m in the process of selling what I don’t drive, so this whole car has been gone through to make run like new.
The driver’s seat was looking worn, but not ripped.
So I Cleaned the leather and redyed it red.
Last week top coated the leather. It looks pretty damn good.
1964 Imperial Convertible
For the last 40 years I’ve always had a big Chrysler convertible. There’s nothing like cruising down a country road at 70 with the top down in a big barge. First I had a 67 Newport, then a 64 300 and then a 65 300. About 15 years ago I bought this off the original owner old lady, who was in a nursing home. We’ve been going through it to fix anything not perfect. I intend to keep this car forever. The driver’s seat was a little rough, so I bought some leather repair and green dye.
It took about 10 coats to cover the repair. It still needs top coat. The closest match was a Ford color called Evergreen. Its a little too blue, so I ordered another pint so all of the interior can be done.
and Finally
I managed to mow five acres before the sun set, getting the Zero-turn stuck in the mud and having to pull it out with the John Deere.
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.
The back of Screamin’ Woody had two (cutdown) Aerospace Components battery holders, two weight boxes, fuel cell, and battery cables mocked up; taken back out; the compartment Spatter Painted and Cleared; the aluminum polished; and finally everything reassembled with fuel plumbed to Fuelab Pre-filter.
The back of Screamin’ Woody had two (cutdown) Aerospace Components battery holders, two weight boxes, fuel cell, and battery cables mocked up; taken back out; the compartment Spatter Painted and Cleared; the aluminum polished; and finally everything reassembled with fuel plumbed to Fuelab Pre-filter.
New Double-Ought positive cable to the front. New AN -12 braided also going from pre-filter to Fuelab pump, and then new AN -10 heading to front for the post filter & regulator.
Allante got it’s first power buff since it left the factory in 1993. I bought this car new in June of 1993.
Did some Spring cleaning on the cars in one of my warehouses. All walls and the floor cleaned, and all cars detailed in and out. The Superbird, Demon, Barracuda, Grand National, Drag Pak, Magnum GT, Marlin and 58 Pickup are for Sale. I also have a nice 2014 Ford Pickup for sale. I might even sell the Viper if enough money was waived in front of my face. It has sentimental Value and I have mixed emotions on that. It would have to be someone wanting the best 3000 mile 99 GTS available. I’ve posted an album of thumbnails that can be right-clicked and enlarged to full size. If you know of anyone interested in any of these cars, let them know. Below is my business card. Email or text as I don’t answer the dozens of unknown calls I get daily.
Last month I sold the Vitamin C to Dave Lewis in Oklahoma, under the condition that he kept it as the Vitamin C. He stripped the car down, did the minor bodywork needed and repainted with replication of the Original Graphics. Looks great.
A couple of years ago my 3000 mile Viper GTS had it’s fluids drained, battery and tires removed, and put in a climate controlled bubble. Last month we took it out, restored fluid levels, replace plugs and wires, replaced the battery, puts its wheels back on, and completely went through it. Broke it back it and then I ran it up to 140mph.
So the new Lexan is in, replacing the 2006 version. Moving onto mocking up the fuel cell, two battery hold downs, weight boxes, and fuel system. Them pulling back out for a couple coats of black spatter paint and a couple coats of clear top coat. Then all back together. After that, new fuel line and battery cable will be run to the front.
I n 1996, I promised myself that if I ever hit a homerun selling the largest of my three businesses at the time, that I would reward myself with a new black on black Viper GTS; and my family with a lake house and diesel pusher motorhome. In June 1998 I sold that business and ordered this car. It took almost a year to arrive. I never really drove it much, and in 2005, with only 3000 miles, I took out the battery, drained the coolant, took off the wheels and put in a bubble. Last month it came out, all fluids changed and topped off; new plugs, wires and battery, and the car started and taken for a ride. It ran great (and fast) and my shop rat power buffed the paint and my youngest daughter detailed the inside. Today, I applied for collector car insurance and when I receive the card I’ll take to get inspected and register It was raining today, so I’ll wait before taking for photos.
I’ve been incredibly busy, mostly with starting a new business for my son and I, but some stuff has been completed at the shop. Some on the Texas Thug, some on the Screamin’ Woody, and some an some of the other vehicles I have. This will be the extremely condensed version, as even that will be a little long.
Vitamin C Sold
Yup, I sold the Vitamin C. It gave me 10 years of loyal service but it was time for another caretaker. I sold it to a 70-year-old drag racer in Tulsa by the name of Dave Lewis. He’s in the process of stripping it down and will freshen it up in the same Vitamin C theme.
I mentioned that I started a new business with my son. We sell, install and repair Blinds, Shades and Shutters. It is now running and my eldest son is now handling the day to day operations.
The Texas Thug has a new rear ProGlass window installed to replace the one that skated across the finish line at 140 mph in Indy last year.
The underside has been cleaned, the every nut and bolt has had a wrench put on it, and the valves run. Everything was looked over and appears well. The oil still needs to be changed and the car a good polishing. I had wanted to redo the inside of the trunk – but that might have to wait.
Not a whole lot of work has been done on the Screamin’ Woody. The block has been machined, but the crank had a crack – so I’m shopping for a new rotating.
I just bought a 4’X8′ piece of 1/8″ Lexan; stainless steel #10 buttonhead/hex drive machine screws and nuts; and some weatherstripping – so the windows are next on the list.
Years ago, I bought a Tube Chassis Barracuda and restored it. It’s spend about ten years in a bubble – until taken out last week.
Everything was gone through, filled with new fluids, carb rebuilt and a new battery installed. The car was started, tune and I took it for a shakedown drive. It’s now for sale, as I’m going with the Japanese Kondo philosophy of it doesn’t bring Joy – get rid of it,
The Demon that was Dallas’ first race car wasn’t so lucky. It’s ten years in a bubble cause a pin hole in number 6 cylinder. It took me half a day to tear down the motor and get the piston out.
It’s one of those deals where the sum of the parts are worth more than rebuilding the motor for it. I’ve already sold the heads, intake and rocker assembly. The car was been detailed and I’ll be listing for sale.
Next up, my 64 Imperial Convertible.
I’ve had a full size Chrysler convertible since the 70s. First a 67 Newport, then a 64 300, then a 65 300, and then I bought this from the original owner in her 90s about 18 years ago. I stopped driving it about 10 years ago. So in the last couple of months all of the brakes, brake lines and master cylinder was replaced. Gas gauge sender replaced. The carb was rebuilt. The power window switches disassembled and reassembled. The convertible pump system rebuilt. A brand new complete factory exhaust system installed. Brand new tires. Odometer rebuilt. The AC system rebuilt. The paint was power buffed. The leather conditioned. All off the dash chrome meticulously polished. Right now I’m waiting for the power steering pump to return from the rebuilder. Then the only thing left is redying the carpet when it gets a little warmer. I’ve really loved getting reacquainted with this car again. It’s a blast to drive.
In 1964, I remember the Mustang, Barracuda and Marlin fastbacks coming out. I loved all three of them. When the 67 Marlin was released on the fullsize Ambassador, it looked so much better than the smaller 65-66 versions on the compact Rouge chassis. There were very few made and all of my life I’d only seen a picture of one, and never one in the wild. About 20 years ago, I started my quest to find one in good original condition. About ten years ago, I ran into a man with a large car collection who had this car from Florida in it. He was dying of cancer and selling his collection off, and I bought this car. It had electrical issues, so I had in the back of my warehouse and planned to restore it to Red/Black with black Interior some day. That day never came, so the car was pulled out, the electrical completely redone, the ignition replaced with a Pertonix, the carb rebuilt, new battery, and new tires. The car runs like a Champ, but I’ve decided to keep it original and find a new caretaker for it. I’ll not drive it enough with my busy life.
The Leaning Tower of Power and 3-on-tree that was in my 60 Plymouth Post car was pulled in favor of a bad ass 383 that was recently rebuilt for it. When I drove this car home from Arkansas, I had it over 100 with that engine and skinny ass 25-year-old tires. I’m looking to put a 4/5/6-speed that has overdrive. That car is a keeper.
I’ve done a lot work on that car, which is a topic for another day. The point for this post was that I Cleaned the engine up and hit it with some Slant 6 blue. I’ll wrap and store it for a future project.
Finally, two of my Magnums had a lot of work done on them. I’ll be keeping the big block XE that is now exactly how I’ve wanted it for years. I just bought some new wheels for it. I’ll take it next week to get tires swapped over. I love the look of the Keystone Klassics on the car, but the Uni-lug design keeps having the nuts loosen up.
The rare 79 GT with E58 Cop motor has been completely gone through, detailed and I’ll be selling.
The shop has actually been busier than that, but I hit the important stuff and that catches me up.
There really hasn’t been much work done on the drag cars in December. Frankly the work in the shop has been pretty hit and miss too so far this month. In October, my eldest son Dallas and I started talking about a partnership in the Blinds, Shades and Shutters business. I did some research and due diligence on franchises, and made a road trip visit in November, before deciding on Bloomin’ Blinds. We bought a territory up I-45 and about 20 miles east and west of it from North Houston through Huntsville. There will be three main locations: Bloomin’ Blinds of North Houston that also cover Spring, Tomball and the Woodlands; Bloomin’ Blinds of Conroe that also covers Montgomery, Willis and Magnolia; and Bloomin’ Blinds of Huntsville that covers that area.
So I’ve spent a lot of time dealing with my attorney and accountant setting up the LLC, obtaining my EIN and sales tax permit, opening a bank account, and all else pertaining to getting the business running. January 7th Dallas and I will be at the home office training for two weeks, and we open up shop on the 31st of January.
All of that said we did get some stuff accomplished at the shop. I sold the 81 Imperial I had traded my brother a 67 Newport convertible for back in 85. In 2000 I stripped it, had it painted, and reassembled with a 380hp/360 Crate motor. I also installed an 8.75 Surgrip from a 68 Charger, and a CRT street Strip 904. I never really drove the car enough, so I went through and fixed everything, had my shop rat detail it and I sold it. I picked up the buyer last week at the airport, and he drove to North Carolina.
I have another Imperial, a 64 Convertible. I’ve had it for about 15 years, and hadn’t driven in ten. All of the brakes and brake lines have been replaced, as have all four shocks and tires. The gas tank drained, the carb rebuilt, a new fuel pump; and the points ignition was replaced with MP electronic ignition. The battery, alternator and power steering pump and hose were also replaced. The power window motors were removed to be cleaned and greased, and the power top pumps rebuilt. I set the Shop Rat loose with a tube of metal polish and some microfiber towels to clean all of the interior chrome. He also conditioned the leather. Now its having a new factory exhaust system put on, and then I’ll dye the carpets before having the Shop Rat power buff the paint out.
The Imperial will be one of the few cars in my garage when I die. I’ll be taking it to the lake house when finished.
I’ve had a 67 Marlin for about 15 years. It is the only Marlin that was made on the long Ambassador platform. The 65 and 66 were on the short Rambler American platform and never looked right to me, but I’ve always loved the very rare 67s. I was planning on restoring it, so about 60 hours was spent getting it running and driving right. I was to then strip down and send out to be painted. After a lot of time and money was spent making everything right, I’ve decided I just need to cut bait on some of the cars I really love. I just have too much to do and too little time to do it. As such I’m getting it cleaned up and put on the chopping block.
Another car ready to sell is my Magnum GT. I’ve also had it for about 15 years. I was pretty busy buying stuff back then. Anyway, same deal. Got it running right. Today the Rat took the power buffer to the paint and detailed under the hood. My mechanic bud who works in the shop two days a week, still has to replace the brake booster and a few more detail items before I can list it.
Also ready to sell is my 58 Dodge pickup. My wife wanted family photos taken with it as a prop, so I wasn’t allowed to sell it. Those photos were taken yesterday, so I’m good to sell it. Yes I’ve had it about 15 years. The below are from the photographer’s cell phone. The good ones are a few weeks away.
So I put the Demon that Dallas use to race in a bubble a few years back, and pulled it out to get it race ready. Well the engine wouldn’t turn over and was seized. My bud pulled it and removed a head. It appears that that a pin hole happened in cylinder #5 and seized that piston. I spent the afternoon tearing the engine down as far as I can. I can’t get to one rod bolt on #5 and #8 so I’ve soaked the piston/cylinder in WD40 and hopefully I can free the piston in the morning.
Tomorrow, I’ll have the the shop Rat detail under the hood, the interior, and hit the paint with the buffer. I’ll sell the car as a roller and the engine parts on eBay as I get them cleaned up.
So that about brings me up to date.
Three solid days were spent with a guy coming two days a week to help sorting out the nightmare electrical system in my 67 Marlin. It had been butchered over the years and virtually nothing worked. The car is almost ready for a drive, then it will be torn down and restored. I want everything working first.
The rear window from Pro Glass has arrived, and will hopefully be in the Thug next week.
On the Screamin Woody, new Lexan arrive and I’ll start on that soon. The Fuel Pump is at Fuelab getting freshened up. I’ll put the fuel system on the car when I receive it back.
Also related to the wagon, the machinist called and said that my 9 month wait is over. I was having a sleeve hammered in and the block machined – except for decking – which will occur after rotating is ready. I took the Callies Crank to him. It’s gonna need to be turned down for stock Chevy rods, if it passes being Magnafluxed. I’ll have to wait on the crank before ordering rods, pistons and bearings. If I have to buy a new crank then I’ll go a different way. Also, its been so long that I don’t remember if the crank came out of the 540 or 580ci. They’ll have to measure for that too. I inventoried the other parts for the motor, and I have a set of 572 heads with new valves and springs; rockers with only 7 passes (before the Indy built motor with cheap ass rod bolts blew); Jessel belt Drive and Bullet Cam; Milodon Oil Pump and Aerospace Vacuum pump; Valley pan and the Indy bathtub Intake which is about to go to Florida for modifications. Damon should be getting to work assembling it as soon as I know what to order for pistons, rods and bearings; and receive. Outside chance car might make it to Bradenton in March – but I still have a lot of work and I’m only working in the shop three days a week because of a franchise I’m in the process of buying is taking a couple days a week of my time getting it set up.
I taught my Shop Rat how to use the polisher with “Fine Cut” polish and then cleaner wax to brighten up the paint on my 79 Magnum GT. Its another of my 30+ cars that I’m making ready to sell. Went through the car last month and fixed anything that wasn’t working right. Just need to detail the interior, photo and list for sale.
On my 78 Magnum XE, I’m replacing the Dakota Digital gauges I installed 18 years ago with custom white gauges in a modified stock panel. The above photos show it mocked up in the modified dash panel, and the dash wet sanded and painted. I’m letting the paint dry for a couple of days because of three coats (the last very wet) of black hammer toned, before putting gauges back in. CLICK HERE for the details.
Also in shop news:
Picked up the coach after two weeks in the shop for oil leaking through lug nuts on both steering and one tag axle wheels.
Mowed five acres
Replaced one of the six 8′ florescent shop lights with LED, to see if I like it. I do and ordered five more.
Did a little more cleaning, organizing and photoing parts I no longer need for sale . CLICK HERE to see what I have for sale (or need to buy/trade for) on my For sale site.
Three solid days were spent with a guy coming two days a week to help sorting out the nightmare electrical system in my 67 Marlin. It had been butchered over the years and virtually nothing worked. The car is almost ready for a drive, then it will be torn down and restored. I want everything working first.
