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I started the old Dodge to wash it, the car started to fill up with smoke! I turned off the ignition and pulled the hood releases. Flames shot up on the right side. I know I should have grabbed the fire extinguisher but the water hose was right there. The fire melted a vacuum line and caught the paper of the air cleaner on fire and the hood has some slight paint blistering. The culprit was a rubber fuel line that was only a year old! The line was cracked and had split open and must have sprayed the coil. This rubber crap coming from China can not be trusted. I replaced the fuel line with some hose made for fuel injection, it has a pressure lining running through the center. My stupid mistake, not doing an inspection under the hood before starting the car. In my defense, the crappy hose had one season and less than 500 miles of use.

Went to a traditional hot rod event Sunday. I was dinged for my "newer" chrome wheels, which aren't very new, and sent to the display area. That was OK with me as that parked me about where I wanted to be anyway. The car must appear to have only equipment available before 1965. There were some cars on display that were well engineered and looked to be great old school hot rods. My problem was with the ones that I wouldn't even drive out in the pasture. Some of the front suspensions looked like they would fold up under the car the first time you hit a major pot hole. It was a nice laid back event with great live entertainment, I would go again. Of course I would have to stick on those old skinny 15" wheels with spring clips showing, as I sold the hubcaps.

NSRA has been crowing about attendance being up at all the events this year. In years past they have run a 4"x4" add in the Kalamazoo Gazette. This Sundays paper had an eight page full color magazine about the upcoming Nats North. I guess advertising does pay off. Added value, they did include a map of the fair grounds and where every thing will be going on. Hope they hand these out at registration, it's more informative than what we usually get.

Tomorrow morning I'm heading out to the 131 Dragway for the Mopar show. The Dodge isn't ready for the public yet as a lot of interior parts a scattered around the shop. But I'm ready to to watch some big block and hemi shoot-out heads up racing. Heck, I'm not even taking a lawn chair.

A thanks to the purple pickup guy for info on the bucket traps. Since last Sunday I have made a dent in local mouse population. Wish I had done this sooner.

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My friend is looking for a bottom pully to a 1991 Dakota 318. This is a one year only application to run a serpentine belt. The next year Dodge went to multiport and all equipment moved forward one inch.    OK it's a little new but is being built as a hot rod. I think he's just practicing so when he gets back to work on the F-1 it'll go easy ...... :(D)

Jim Downs,long time Rodder and owner of Downs Manufacturing has passed away. His son and the employees built a special street rod casket the Kalamazoo Gazette story can be found here.
www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/news-19/115959006893750.xml&coll=7