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I caught a little heat for not posting this here, but I have been accused in the past of being a post ho, so I didn't want to put this on too many forums.  However, here it is.

On Friday I did some work on my Kids blue T bucket that we just got running. I tightened up the steering box play and dialed in a couple more degrees of caster into it.  When I took it for a test ride after that I got about a mile or two from the shop, driving along at about 35 in the slow lane I sped up a little to go to the left lanes to make a U turn to go back home.  Suddenly there was a loud POP and I had no steering.  Traffic was very heavy all around, but thankfully the car went to the right and I got it stopped in the extreme right side emergency/turning lane.  I pushed it into a closed tire store and when I looked underneath the brand new chrome steering arm had snapped in half.  

I called Dan and he came and we got another arm and some tools from the shop and fixed it right there and drove it home.  There was no damage to the car or me, but thoughts of Megan's wreck sure did enter my mind and that this could have been very bad indeed.

I called Speedway yesterday and the rep in Customer Service was extremely helpful, concerned, and apologetic.  They buy these from Total Performance, and I am in no way mad at either company.  I think this was just one of those things that happen, and have dealt with Speedway for over 20 years.  Their service has always been the best, and they are acting that same way in this instance.  They are issuing a call tag for the part as they want to look at it.  As you can see in the picture below, it is a clean break and the discoloration leads me to believe it was fractured to start with, especially since it  broke on the big end.

I was surprised to see it made of cast steel because I have an original Corvair arm on my own T and it looks forged.  I heated and bent mine and it acted like a steel piece rather than a cast item.  We are going to buy my Son an original Corvair arm off of Ebay and use it.  I won't let him put one of these chromed cast ones back on the car.

So that is the deal.  Sorry if I slighted anyone by not posting it here, but I just didn't want to be posting it all over the net.  Someone did put it on the HAMB without my knowledge, but I am ok with that.

Here are some pictures of the arm.  I don't know how to stack pictures, so I'll do a couple of posts. (I've tried stacking them and it doesn't work for me)

BTW, this arm is only two weeks old.

Don

I have always been able to post pictures simply by clicking on "brouse" and selecting a picture from my file.  However, about a month or so ago this all changed, and no matter what I do now they do not come up on my posts.

Did something change that I am not aware of?


Don

You know that when I have had good service from a company I will be the first one to post that info here. By the same token, if I see that a vendor is not doing things properly I feel an obligation to tell you all about that as well.

In the past some of you have asked me where we get our stainless steel brake lines made up and where we buy our braided lines. I have told you that we have always used Inline Tube. Sadly, I now have to say that the last several transactions with them have been horrible, to the point where we will never do business with them again.

The first strike was the lines I ordered for my own T. They made up three custom length lines and simply threw them into a long cardboard box. When the box arrived all three lines were bent badly. Instead of them stepping up to the plate, they refused to rush ship 3 more, but would only use regular shipping. I ended up keeping the bent lines and paying for them to avoid the hassle of returning them.

Next strike was an adapter I bought for a residual valve that I also bought from them. It didn't fit as it was too long, and I just ended up eating it.

Final straw was today. Dan ordered a $ 200+ order from them for Don's T, and when the UPS guy walked in the lines were hanging out of the box and bent in half. Dan paid overnight to get them here for this weekend. He called them immediately while the driver was there, and they said the best they could do was to ship out more lines Monday REGULAR shipping, and that WE would have to pay the return shipping for the damaged lines, or refuse the entire order. We are rushing to get this car done for Daytona so we can't refuse the shipment as there are lots of other parts in it.

I'm not sure what is going on at Inline Tube, but their way of doing business has gone from very good to very uncaring. They used to put lines into a hard tube and ship them, now they throw them into a thin cardboard box and expect them to make the trip undamaged. Worse yet, they refuse to acknowledge the problem or to satisfy a good customer who has bought from them for years now.

I'm done with them, and just wanted to let others know that the good words I used to say about them no longer pertain. If you think I'm angry, you are right.

Don

Still hustling trying to make Daytona for Thanksgiving.  Made a major leap by firing the engine up finally.  It's a 30 over 302 that he was building for a drag car, so it's pretty radical for the street..........just what he wanted.    

It fired right up and sounds super strong.....70 lbs of oil pressure.  We later on jacked up the rear end and shifted through the gears, and the rear wheels turn, so I guess some brakes and steering and he can drive it.  The body is supposed to come back from the paint shop maybe tomorrow.

Thought maybe some of you might like to see the video of it fired up.

Don

I am pretty excited.  My Son and I fired up the 350 Vortec I built for my T for the first time the other night.  So far so good, no leaks, 65-80 lbs oil pressure (depending on rpms) and it sounds pretty good.  Still have to install the correct sparkplug wires and fuel lines, but at least all the hard stuff is done.

If you want to watch a video, we did a YouTube: (I've posted it everywhere, and may even send one in my Christmas cards lol)


www.youtube.com/watch?v=AioHw2-6Jyc


Don

Just saw this update.  It was inevitable, the lawsuits had to happen.

Don


Wednesday Jun 27 14:53 AEST
AP - Australian driver Troy Critchley is being sued by the father of one of six people killed when the Queenslander's drag racer crashed into a crowd at a US charity event.
The organisers of the June 16 event at Selmer in Tennessee are also being sued by Bruce Replogle, the father of 15-year-old crash victim Scarlett Replogle.
He is seeking $US10 million ($A11.8 million) in damages.
Authorities say 36-year-old veteran Critchley lost control of his dragster while performing an exhibition burnout - spinning the car's back tyres to send up clouds of smoke - during a parade at the annual Cars for Kids charity event.
Besides the six killed, 23 spectators were treated in hospital.
Replogle alleges event organiser Larry Price failed to obtain a permit for the parade and failed to take precautions to ensure the safety of spectators. The father also accuses Price of encouraging drivers to do unsafe burnouts to attract crowds, despite warnings that they were not safe.
Texas-based Critchley is accused of being negligent by failing to maintain control of his vehicle and performing dangerous tricks without making sure spectators were protected.
Replogle accuses the vehicle's owner, AMS Staff Leasing Inc, of negligence by failing to make sure the car was in proper working order and allowing it to be driven by Critchley, who had an "unsafe driving record," the suit claims.
Critchley, who has not spoken publicly since the accident, was convicted of drunken driving in Virginia in 2000.
A call to Price's home in Selmer went unanswered. He has retained Memphis attorney Steve Farese, who did not immediately return a message left at his office after hours.
A message left at the Dallas office of AMS Staff Leasing was not immediately returned.
Replogle's attorney, Lewis L. Cobb, did not immediately return a message left after business hours.
Besides damages, Replogle seeks to stop Price and Cars for Kids from holding another event in Selmer without a detailed safety plan.
Critchley, who was said to be devastated by the accident, could also be charged over the deaths, Tennessee district attorney general Mike Dunavant said last week.
But Critchley's AMS Racing team last week pointed to the involvement of the local police in organising the exhibition, saying officers were responsible for blocking off the highway and were in charge of crowd placement.


©AAP 2007

I had the local driveline shop make me the driveshaft for my T this week, and when I went to pick it up, the owner wanted to show me something in the back of the shop.  Turns out he is a hot rodder for about 40 years, and currently has a '34 Plymouth, and a phonebooth 1917 Model T he is building out of aluminum.

Not my cup of tea, but I had to appreciate his workmanship and creativity. He has been on it since '98, I think he said, and it is running a 2.8 v6 chevy with automatic and 9 inch rear.

Thought some of you might like to see some pictures of it.  Sorry I have to spread it out over a few posts, I don't know how to group them.

Don

In fact, NO TECH would be more like it, but it saved me a little manhandling of the wheels when I had to sand them yesterday to prepare them for a new color.

Normally, I would lay a wheel on the ground and sand it, but I spotted my round mechanics stool sitting there, so I plopped the wheel on it and found it made a perfect holder.  It even swivels so that I could turn the wheel as I went along, and it placed it at a nice working level so that I could sit on a chair and work comfortably.  Yeah, I know it's super simple, but thought it might save someone else a sore back.

Gotta put it in two posts, have two pictures.  


Don

I know we have quite a few lady members, and also Wives and Girlfriends of members, so just wanted to say a somewhat late-in-the-day Happy Mothers Day to all of you.

We kid a lot about you, but deep down know we would be lost without you ladies.  Have a nice day.

Don

I'm posting this for another guy on another forum because I know a lot of you on here are seasoned rodders and might recognize this old manifold.

It reads "Ellis  Dual Port Manifolds" and is evidently for a straight 6.  We don't think Chevy because of the staggered bolt pattern on head stud holes.  Could it be Chrysler, or what?

Thanks for any info.

Don

Here is one for all you Deuce lovers, and that is like EVERYBODY.    


Don


www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNAele2PHZc&NR

My other Son (Dan's twin) is starting to build a T bucket from a kit I gave him as a Xmas gift.  We have just started mocking it up, and he is going to use a hot little 306 CI Ford roller he was originally building for his drag car.

It will be cool when the three of us go cruising.


Here are some early shots.


Don

Last April I started building a lowbuck modified out of an Ebay purchased Speedway body, and some parts I had laying around the shop.  My Son Dan and I built a new frame out of 2 x 3 tubing for it, and I am going to run a 350 Chevy Vortec I got for free. I have to freshen it up, but it is in pretty solid shape otherwise.

The concept was to build a car under $ 3000.00, but I got carried away and am using some more costly items like slicks, etc so it is going over that a little, but not by much.

Here is the start of the project with the frame we laid up and built.

Don

Tony:  These two are running on Ebay right now. Looks like they made more of these than I thought.


Don

I may have posted this video before, but I could watch it a hundred times. Gotta build me a blown car before I die.      


Don


Grrrrrrrr. It won't post. Give me a minute.


Trying again..........

http://videos.streetfire.net/hottestvideos/4/C7BF2E28-32E7-4904-B5F9-F3D0275DC7D8.htm

I posted this on another forum, and thought maybe some on here would enjoy it too.  My Son sent it to me. He finds these on the internet somehow.

Turn up your speakers real loud and hang on.


Don


www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC8OmisBikg

And here is another one. I've watched this one 15 times, at least.

Don

I thought you guys might enjoy this video.


Don

Hey Russ, you got us all fired up in your thrash to get the Monte done, but you never let us know what happened on the 15th, when she got home.

Did she like it??      Can't leave us hanging like this. :?:  :?:


Don

Saw this on Ebay, and am thinking of ordering one. Anyone ever used this same one?  If so, is it any good? It looks like it differs from the standard presses, because it is designed to bend brackets up to 1/2 in thick, and comes with some mandrels.


Make a bracket or two? You gotta have one of these!!    Item number: 7597019889   

Sorry, I tried to make it so you can just click on it, but I am computer challanged. But if you enter that number in the ebay description box and search it will come up on Ebay.


Thanks, Don

It looked like we were a little light on posts, so I thought I'd tell you what we got done on my '39 today. Hope you don't mind all these updates. If so, just let me know and I'll stop.

After getting the main part of the top chop finished, we decided to attack the bed next. We can do the door chop after the body is removed from the frame, but we need the body on to get the proportions for the bed. Once that is done, we will pull the body off and start finishing the frame and suspension.

Today we went to Home Depot, and picked up some masonite and firring strips to build the mocked up bed. We wanted to get the proportions then we will duplicate it in steel. After some measuring we got the look we thought we wanted, but after standing back and looking we have decided to narrow it about 1 inch per side, and also to make the main bed less tall, and to put a separate panel down below it to break up the height. We are also going to bead roll some rolls into the sides and tailgate, and have as many louvers as possible punched into the gate. The entire tailgate will not open, but we are going to make it look like it does, with hinges and raised edges. By shortening the height you will also be able to see the suspension, which I have decided to have chromed.

But, it is starting to take shape, and I taped off  the area where we are going to build an aluminum hood, which will have a cut out for the tripower, and also be louvered to the max.

I'm starting to get antsy. Want to drive it by summer.

Last Sunday my Son and I got the top on my '39 tack welded on, after chopping it 5 inches. WHen we quit, it was just tacked, and we planned to work on it more this week. Today, my Son called me to ask if we were going to work on it after I got off of work, so I headed over to the shop. When I walked in, the top chop was finished !  He had stayed Monday and Tuesday night until 4 AM and finished all the welding and grinding.  It looks great, and I can't thank him enough for doing that for me.  Here are some current pix.

My Son and I went over to our shop today, and we made some real progress on the top chop on my '39 Dodge truck. We had to lift it off about 10 more times to grind and fit it closer, but we finally started tack welding it back on tonight. A couple more days should have the main welding and fitting done, then we can start on the doors.

Don

Does anyone have any experience with the motorized bead roller sold by Pro Tools ? (www.pro-tools.com) They are in Tampa, Fla. I just ordered one today, because we figure it will be great for adding strength to panels, and also to add detail to interior panels, etc.

We have bought a couple of items from them (tubing notcher and tubing bender) and the stuff has been first rate, and this piece looks good in the video and literature.

We didn't know what size rollers to buy, so we got the 1/4 inch, 3/8 inch, and 1/2 inch sizes. The guy on the phone said these are the most common for street rod fabrication, from what he has seen.

We have never used one, so if anyone has any experience with this particular unit, or a bead roller in general, we would appreciate any tips.

Thanks, Don

I've never worked on an 8.8 Ford rear axle before, and my one Son is setting one up for the Capri he is building. The two bearings on the ends of the axle don't seat all the way into the housing. They protrude about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch. We didn't build this rear, it was already set up with 3:73's etc. We only pulled the axles to have race studs pressed in.

My question: Are these axle bearings supposed to protrude like that, or are they just not pressed in all the way?  I put my fingers befind the bearing, and it feels like there is room for the bearing to slide in further, but I didn't want to just arbitrarily tap it in flush if it wasn't supposed to be that way. It is confusing me, because both bearings have exactly the same amount sticking out, so it looks like it should be that way.

Thanks, Don

This is the top before we started cutting

I'm new to RRT, so maybe this topic has been brought up before, but I thought on a cold night like this (well, I'm in Florida, so it isn't TOO cold, but I see some of you are in places like Iowa.............brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr) that it might be nice to trade stories about cars. Every car nut has one or more, and to start things off, here is one of mine.

I grew up near Pittsburgh, Pa. and in the mid '60's the street racers from Pittsburgh would travel north every Saturday night  to a stretch of four lane (Rt. 51) where they would meet up with the racers from the Mon-Valley, and they would race each other for maybe 3 or 4 hours until the cops would finally show up. (The nearest State Police barracks was far away)

In about 1965 the car that was one of the fastest on the street was the 396 cubic inch/ 425 horsepower Corvette. They were tearing up the streets. On one particular Saturday night there was a huge crowd there (guys would bring their dates, sit on an overlooking hill, etc. It was like the Nationals, only illegal). As the racing was going on, a white 1965 Chevy Impala pulled in. It was a nice car, had whitewalls, stock 3 bar Chevy hubcaps, fender skirts, two dummy spotlights.........just a nice slightly customized cruiser. Except it had " 396" flags on the fenders.

After some discussion, he made arrangements to run one of the 'Vettes . As soon as the negotiations over money were made (and the 'Vette crew stopped snickering about how they were going to take this guys money) the guys who came in the Chevy got to work.

Out of the trunk came a floorjack, and two M & H 11 inch dragster slicks. Off came the fender skirts, and one guy climbed underneath and uncorked the headers. Now we noticed the Impala had a 4 speed, and looked a little different when the slicks went on. After they were finished, the guy fired up the Chevy, and the entire disposition of the car changed.

As he did a few short burnouts,  the inside drivers wheel was getting real close to coming off the ground, and it sounded like a fuel dragster. He staged against the 'Vette, and when they took off he put about 10 car lengths on the 'Vette in the first 1/8 mile. He shifted all four gears in about the 1/8 mile (we later found out he was running 5:14 gears).

When they came back, the guy in the 'Vette wanted to fight, because somehow he felt he had been cheated, so the Impala guy offers to let him have another shot at it...........for another $100.00 bet.  They line up again, and the Impala fries him even worse the 2nd time.

They jack the Impala back up, put the slicks back in the trunk, put the caps back on the headers, and finally open the hood. There on the valve cover of the big block was a little sticker that read "Engine built by Bill Thomas Race Cars." The Chevy drove off, $ 200.00 richer, and leaving all who witnessed the race in awe.

I never saw or heard of the Impala again, but I have never forgotten it, and it made me build a few of my own " Sleepers" over the years. After all, it is so much fun to blow someones doors off with a car that looks like Grandma drove it to church last Sunday.

That is one of my favorite car memories, do any of you have one?  I'd love to hear it, and I'll bet others would too.

What the mock up looked like before frame paint

MY Son directed me to this roundtable because he is a rodder also, and heard very good things about the members that participate here. He feels the conversations here tend to be very constructive and kind toward fellow members, and he thought I might enjoy participating.

I live in Ft. Myers Florida, and have been a Hot Rodder all my life. My two grown twin Sons and I share a shop where we play with our cars. My one Son is building a drag '84 Capri, and my other Son is building a '29 Ford Fordor that is going to be killer. My personal cars are a '50 style 1927 Ford roadster that has not been driven in about 5 years. I took it off the road to rebuild it, and got sidetracked with other projects. My current build is a '39 Dodge pickup that is chopped 5 inches, channelled 4, and sits on a custom Z'd frame my Son and I built. The engine is a 406 (bored out 394) Olds, with trips, etc. I also have a T bucket and '29 Ford Modified in the collecting parts for stage.

I like forums like this, because TV stinks, and I feel at 60 years of age I can offer some suggestions to younger rodders who have build questions. Plus, some of the members have knowledge that amazes me. You are never too old to learn. I hope none of you mind if I post answers on threads I feel I can be of some help on. I guess the safe thing to do is sit back and don't post for a while, but I have never been exactly shy. I don't think I am a know-it-all, because I don't know-it-all, but I have a soft spot in my heart for youngsters coming into this great hobby, and like to save them a few bruised knuckles whenever I can. I just hate to see someone struggling with some problem that I have wrestled with and found some answers to.

I am going to post a picture of my current build, as well as the frame my one Son is building for his '29. Mine is the flat black one, and his is the pretty one.  I look forward to making some new friends and learning some things I didn't know.

Thanks, Don