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I haven't been back much lately, been too much going on to do much car stuff. If anyone remembers I built a 383 SBC stroker last Winter and it developed a tapping noise. I finally got around to pulling the engine back out of my '46 to investigate. I found a couple bad lifters and lobes on the cam, so it's time for a new cam set. I have a cam in another engine that I really like and think I will swap that into this engine. I am wondering about re-using the lifters from that, the good cam, in the new(er) engine. I read that some guys always use new lifters when swapping a cam and some guys re-use the already broken in lifters that were with that cam. I am leaning toward re-using the lifters, since they are already married to that cam, being sure to use them on the same lobe they broke in on. What thoughts on this one way or the other.

Here's a setup for a big stroker motor! 😄 Actually that's a rod and piston from a 1000' Great Lakes freighter, the Mesabi Miner. My friend took this picture, he's a wheelsman on the boat. They are currently docked at the Soo Locks repairing an engine. They cracked a cylinder liner and wiped out two rod bearings. One of the engineers told him the rod cap weighs 167# !!!!! The ship has two 16 cylinder engines, each hole produces 500 h.p.!!!!

I have had an interest in EVs for quite a while, love  'em or hate'em, the future is electric, they aren't going away. This past week I was at my daughter and son in laws. They purchased a Mustang Mach e about a month ago. I was very impressed by the car and its technology. It looks good, the build quality is good and it functions well. It is, of course, quiet, even road noise is negligible and there are no rattles or squeaks. Performance wise it is pretty impressive, 0-60 in 5.5 seconds, not bad for a car that's not meant to be any type of a performance vehicle, it's a four door SUV grocery getter. It can be driven with one pedal, the regen braking will bring the car to a stop pretty much like applying the brakes, just takes a little practice to know when to let off the accelerator. The technology in the car is remarkable, at least to an old guy like me. They can start the car with their phones, from anywhere there is cell service, in the World, they had an outlet installed in their garage to plug the car into at night and the car can monitor their service to charge at the best times. The car alerted us to a problem on the expressway we were on and routed us around it before we had any idea there was a problem. Honestly, after a short time you forget you are in anything other than a regular car...till someone driving next to you starts taking pictures!

I cobbled up a sheet metal fan shroud for my car. Fits the rad well, but it touches the front of the P.S. pump. I wonder if I could cut this part of the pully off, it would clear then. There's nothing inside for about a half inch.

O.K. How would you do this? I need to attach the TV cable from my trans to the carb linkage. The cable comes with ths barrel deal that tightens onto the cable, but no way to attach to carb. Ideally there is a barrel thing like this that has a threaded stud to attach to carb. Been looking for one for a couple days without luck. My other option would be to weld or silver solder a 1/4" bolt to the barrel and use that as the stud to attach to the carb. Any other ideas, or a source for one of these with a threaded end?

Any opinion or experiences on the difference between a pusher and a puller electric fan? The fan I want to use is a 2200 cfm unit, but it is too thick to fit between my rad and the water pump pully. I could mount it as a pusher though.

I need a new oil pressure sender, the one I need to replace isca VDO, 0-100 psi.  The number I see on the flats of the nut to tighten it in are 301 on one flat, and 655 on another. I cannot find this number online, even on the VDO site. I wonder if there is some way to cross reference this old sender with another. This sender is over 25 years old and is used with my digital gauges that I believe are Dolphin brand. VDO has several 0-100 psi senders, but I don't know if they are compatible with what I have.

Second question. I need to move my water pump pully out a half inch. I was thinking I could just put a half inch fan spacer between the pully and the water pump. Easy, peasy, anyone see a problem doing it this way?

I saw on a local FB car site that Milan will not open this year due to "unfortunate circumstances". A little checking found that the owners were behind on taxes and pawned the track to Les Gold from American Jewelry, remember that awful t.v. Show they had? Hopefully new owners can be found before it gets sold for "development "

The small things that seem to hold you up. I have to modify my trans crossmember to get the 700r4 trans in where the 350 was in my '46 Chevy. First I have to bolt the trans mount onto the transmission, easy, right. Nope can't use the bolts from the 350, the 700 is all metric, apparently. O.K. I have some metric hardware laying around...nope, nothing right. I look it up online, it calls for an M-10 1.5 pitch bolt. So I buy a couple, nope...go back and buy the M -10 1.25 pitch, nope....neither will thread in, the threads in the holes look o.k. I'm about ready to tap for 3/8 bolts......😜

What is the choice for break in oil on a fresh engine build? It's been so many years since I started a new engine I don't know what is available now. Also do you still change it after the cam break in.

Anti seize or no on the plugs.  I read many conflicting things online about it. Never had aluminum heads before, but I am leaning towards using the anti seize.

I oredered an Edelbrock RPM Air Gap intake Tuesday and got it today, Thursday, about 36 hours later! But. When I test fit it to the engine, a 383 stroker SBC, the valve covers won't go back on, they touch the intake. Edelbrock heads, intake and cast valve covers. Anyone ever run into this?

First one I've seen without camo or a manufacturer plate. Absolutely beautiful car. I'm not a fan of silver, but I love this!

Another question for the engine building gurus here. What quench number do you like or recommend? I know the standard answer is .035-.045 for a mild SBC. I am looking at .037 with an .051 head gasket and was told that might cause pinging. I would like to be closer to .040 quench, but can't find a .054  gasket. Am I too worried?

What are you comfortable running for minimum rod bearing clearance? On a SBC 383 stroker with Scat rotating assembly.

I was metal detecting at my daughters house and found ths. It appears to be brass with a steel pin. It has the Ford script logo on it. It looks familiar but I can't put a finger on it...

I have a nephew that runs a mud truck, he's running a blown 383 Chevy stroker motor, dynoed at 788 h.p. and 850 ft. lbs torque. He uses E 85 in it and says there's a huge power boost from it. My question, is this a sensible thing for a street motor? He says there are carbs specific for this or a carb can be adjusted for it, and EFI is an option. Does anyone here run it on the street or have any experience with it on street cars. I know the mileage is about 30% less, but we don't drive them for mileage...😬

I'm about to pull the trigger and a stroker kit. I am hearing all kinds of difference opinions on them locally, both pro and con. It seems like Scat and Eagle are the common, affordable go to's. What's your opinion on these? And what are the pros and cons on rod lengths? This is just going to be a nice street engine, not radical, I already have the aluminum heads and cam.

Not the Al Bundy type, Pistons. My friend that drives the 1000 ft long freighters sent me a picture of the pistons used on his ship, the Mesabi Miner. The boat has two, 16 cylinder engines, each hole is 500 h.p. Total of 16,000 h.p. She is one of few freighters power by internal combustion engines, most are steam turbine/ electric. A few years back he gave me a set of rings from one of these pistons, they are 16" in dia. He said he wanted to get a piston, but can't pick one up, and he's strong like bull!

So now that we've seen the new mid engined Corvette what do you think? I really like it, it looks great to me, sposed to go 0-60 in 2.8 seconds, should handle even better than the last gen, and is priced under $60K. Seems like a bargain for a car that should be able to compete globally. I know some 'Vette guys aren't happy, but I think the time has come...there is a reason the exotic supercars are mid engined. 👍

We always see disguised and prototype cars in the area I live, it's right at the end of one of the expressways that goes through Detroit. Tonight my wife and I were out for a drive and spotted a new 'Vette. Got a couple pics, but when the driver saw me taking pics he dropped way back.

One thing about living at the end of an expressway that runs through Detroit is that we often have preproduction/disguised cars from the Big Three show up here. This is a 2020 Corvette at a park by my house,nice looking car. When the last generation of the Corvette was nearing production I followed two of them, undisguised, through the same area where this picture was taken. Some are so well disguised that even close up, walking around them, I can't tell what they are or even what brand they are. Have seen some really weird things! 😃

I see the news today that GM is closing at least three major plants by the end of 2019. One here in Hamtramk Mi. One in Lorraine Oh, and one in Oshuwa, Ontario. They are following Ford in reducing the number of car models and concentrating on SUV's and trucks. There will be a loss of about 4,500 jobs, 2,500 in Ontario alone. I feel bad for all those affected, not only at the closing plants but their suppliers as well, probably going to be many more jobs lost there also

I am looking for a plumbing part and I have xhausted all my resources locally. I need one nut for a drain on an antique claw foot tub. They are unavailable from plumbing shops and supply houses, I have checked...many...they say they were all junked 30-40 years ago. It is for the old 1 3/8 plumbing pipes. Just hoping by reaching out across the country someone might have one or have a source. This has the restoration of my daughters bathroom at a standstill till we can get the drain hooked up. The one in the pictures is brass, I have this one, but we need two. The threaded side is 2 1/8", the hole is 1 5/8" this one is brass, but anything this size would work.

It looks like Florence will hit North or South Carolina this week. Looks like a big storm. Hopefully with this much warning no one will die. If we have any members in that area, please stay safe. My daughter and her family live in Raleigh, and I am worried about them, she says they are "well prepared"....she also said Jim Cantore was already in Wilmington N.C. She said "We are screwed" 😮

Afriend asked me about locking up the converter on a 700R4 trans today. I have no idea, but this is what he asked me in an email.

The driveline that I am putting into the coupe is out of my old 1990 Chev S10 pickup.  A 4.3 v6  and 700r4 trans.  I have removed the computer, fuel injection and serpintine belt system.  I installed a manifold with quadrajet carb, v belt pulleys and a HEI distributor.  I want to lock the torque convertor in 2nd, 3rd and 4th with a toggle switch.
I think that if I connect 12 volts to wire A  from my brake switch through a double pole, two position toggle switch, and twist wire B and wire D together and ground them through the other side of the toggle switch it should lockup in 2, 3 and 4 gears.  The toggle switch will have 12volt on on side and go to ground on the other side.  I can hear a click  when I ground them.

Any ideas or help I can pass along?

Finished a painting today, I did this one for my brother who will retire from the local FD after more than 25 years as a firefighter. Funny thing, as I was in the process of painting this he sent me several old firetruck pictures he thought might make good paintings, lol, he had no idea I was doing this.

I recently finished a couple car paintings, the Caddy just today. It's really hard to photograph a painting correctly, the green car looks washed out, but it's really quite distinct, the Caddy looks very shiney, that's just reflection on the painting.

Two of my most recent paintings. I named these ones, "Last run of the day 1939" and " the Ghent Special"

Here's a couple more paintings. The coupe was an experiment that didn't translate to the canvas like I thought it would, but was a good lesson. The one with three cars is one of my personal favorite, it was a struggle but fun to do.

Here's a couple more, let me know when you're tired of seeing them, I have seven more! 😄
The one with the tow truck is for my late Dad. His name was Al, there's several references to him in the painting, his old phone number, the addresses of the houses I grew up in, and his birth year, among others. 😀 The sprint car picture is cropped, due to the size used to get it on here, but there is a purple sky above the car.

Here's two more paintings if anyone's interested. The coupe was my first try at acrylic painting.

O.K. Someone asked for more, here ya go. Lots of detail in these, the red car photo is a little blurry, but There is a lot of fun little things on it. Be careful asking for more, I have many! 😄

I have been doing some automotive themed paintings lately. I had done oil landscapes for a long time and thought I'd try acrylic paints, it is quite a learning curve, but I am catching on. This one was my second try, I think I got lucky.

Some of you have probably seen this, I can't believe it went national. This occurred about a half mile from my house. An unsanctioned annual event, people didn't pay attention to the wind Sunday and ended up in Canada, lol

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/fifteen-hundred-possibly-drunk-americans-successfully-invade-canada-via-the-st-clair-river

I hope all the Dads here are having as good a day as I am!

Hopefully it's o.k. to post here on the main page, I don't think I would get much action on the want ad pages. A friend is looking for a rear outer wheel house for a '62 Chevy Impala, two door. Apparently they are not repopped. If anything ne knows of a donor car it would be great.

I am helping move the die shop where I used to work to a smaller location. They are selling excess equipment very cheap ( they sold a nice medium sized mill for $150) I am buying a 12" bandsaw and a 4" belt sander for $30 ea. The bandsaw was setup to cut wood, if I can slow it down it would work o.k. for metal, correct?

https://www.facebook.com/steve.loxton/videos/10153639320526469/
A 93 yr. old retired power plant was imploded here today. They had been dismantling it for about a year, it was about a third bigger. It has stood on the lower level 'stilts' for months while they removed asbestos. My wife's uncle worked his whole working life there as did many locals. The video was taken from Canada, across the St. Clair River, about a half mile away. The smoke and dust drifted across the river, I bet the Canadians were happy!

I have a bad sound coming from the rear end in my '02 Dodge Ram 1500. Never heard a rear ended make this noise, it's most closely described as a roar, but not really. It makes the noise on deceleration only, and stops if you give it even the least amount of throttle, not even enough to change vehicle speed. Now the weird part...it goes away, it might do it for half an hour straight then just go away, for days, then suddenly one day it's back, only to go away after a while. I had my mechanic ( my nephew) ride with me and of coarse it went away after two minutes. He thought it could be brakes, I took the rear disks off and checked, everything is o.k. In there. He actually replaced them this summer. I have never heard a rear make this noise, and it's LOUD, then just completely disappear. I changed the fluid, including the additive for the limited slip last year, and it's still full. Any ideas?

has anyone gone there? My son in laws uncle invited me to go on a tour, he works at the Design Center and can have three guests come on a tour with him. Sounds like it would be interesting. He twice took me on a tour of the Design Center that was really great.

Our '39 Allis Chalmers at deer camp is supposed to use straight 30 NON detergent oil. This past season it was so cold, below zero some days, that the old girl didn't want to turn over till we heated the oil pan. We really need to use thinner winter weight oil but I can't find any that's non detergent. This is a dipper style motor and the thinking behind not using detergent oil is the it will foam and not lubricate well. Is there any truth to this? Has anyone ever seen multi viscosity oil that is non detergent? The tractor is usually only run about a half hour at a time if that makes a difference.

Does anyone have recommendations for fuel pumps? It appears the one I put in my daughters Cavalier has failed after about a year. She got it from Rockauto, I don't remember the brand. I wonder if I should just try a Delco replacement pump, but then again, the original one failed at about 80,000 miles.
As a side story when this pump died she was near Cincinnati Oh. this past Sunday so I drove down there from here in Michigan and brought her car home on a trailer, got home at 3:30 a.m., was a fun day!

Hope all the Dads have a great day. I slept in till almost 7, wife made me Belgian waffles, I washed my old truck and painted the side porch. Now I'm gonna sit and watch Napscar  and Tigers baseball!

Anyone know what's going on over there? They have been down several days.

Just had number two grandson this morning, Max Oliver! Everyone is well, sorry about more o.t. stuff, carry on with the regular programming.

Looks like I'm heading to China in February. The company I retired from in '08 contacted me looking for someone to go to the China plant to help make them more efficient. I've never been out of the U.S. other than Canada which I don't count since I live within site of it and can be there in about five minutes. Definitely out of my comfort zone, but when will I ever be able to travel to China on someone else's dime and get paid for it!?

After driving over 500 miles home from deer camp Saturday in Michigans U.P. I stopped at a traffic light less than a half mile from my friends house that was riding home with me. The check gauges alert sounded in my truck and the gauge showed a no charging problem. I figured the alternator had died so since I was only a couple miles from home I dropped my friend off and continued home. I twas a long drive home much of it in blowing snow, some in whiteout conditions and i was tired, so after unpacking I decided to wait till morning to look at the truck. I was very surprised by what I found, the serpentine belt had shredded and most of it was wrapped around the fan spacer. There was a quarter inch piece still on the pulleys and the tensioner bearing was seized. the tensioner bearing was still there but the pulley was gone! The remaining piece of belt was riding on the back of the tensioner bracket. I couldn't believe how lucky we had been, if the belt had broke during one of whiteouts on U.S. 2 in the U.P. it would have been a long day to say the least. I guess it has been my week for good luck though, i managed to get two nice bucks this year including a nice eight point. Maybe i should get a lottery ticket. I have included a picture of what was left of the belt, you can see by the truck what kind of weather we had driven through.

Thanks to all that served and those that are still serving. Big salute!

Is the new Corvette on the market yet? About two weeks ago I saw two of them driving nose to tail here in town.  I thought that was unusual, then later I wondered if they had been released for sale yet. Once in a while we see new models here before they are released for sale and I have seen some mules or prototypes too. We are about 60 miles straight up the expressway from Detroit so they must like to come here for the drive and the local scenery. BTW the Corvettes were really good looking, but I couldn't get behind them to see if the had  Manufacturers plates on them.