The NCH Garage

Posting for the kid I work with, as I know some of them there HillyBillys like the V8 Rangers.

Anywho, here's a link to the craigslist ad:  88 ford ranger sleeper. trade?? - $2950

It was built in the late 90's (97-ish) at a place in Iowa.  Has a whole binder of receipts and manuals to do with the motor build and the truck in general.  Receipt shows over $9500 into the engine and install work.  Also has some wicked grandpa style graphics on the thing.  Minus the wheels, it'd be a sweet sleeper.  Thing scoots pretty good, too.  Anywho, check the ad if interested.

So I'll probably get burned at the stake for this, but maybe we should switch our show date...?   Sweet air and car show, complete with a "radar run" (racing down the runway).

Wheels and Wings, Air and Car Show

Text from last year:

"Osceola, Wisconsin  proudly  presents  the best Fly-in/Air and Classic Car show in the Midwest-on Saturday September 6th, just as the leaves start turning their glorious colors! Now in its 34th year, Wheels and Wings continues to be the largest family entertainment event of the region. Drawing over 8000 regional visitors, car and aviation enthusiasts fill the town and the airport for a full day of spectating- 750 custom classic cars from every era, motorcycles, hot rods, vintage planes, ultra lights and other incredible pieces of aviation, mechanical art and history. The popular Radar Run and Pancake Breakfast are in queue. Be ready for your jaw to drop as the pilots perform their acrobats and stunts with exhilarating performances. With more than 5 acres of aircraft displays,classic cars galore, fun for the kids, food and refreshments, and community group exhibits your family will be thrilled to be part of this very unique entertainment opportunity. And the best part is the admission is FREE!"

So.  Wife and I scored some wheels this weekend for the Subaru.  Guy was incredibly cool/nice/rockin', etc.  He let us swap the stockers out for the wheels he was selling (in his driveway) to try them on before the purchase, gave us a stellar discount for being "cool", and even ended up giving the wife a lead on a job.  All in all, it ended up being a pretty good time for a Craigslist deal.  So all that stuff aside, the car club he's in (First Fifty Auto Club) is having a show at the Mermaid bar/bowling alley Saturday the 16th.  His dad passed away 3 years ago from cancer I believe, and the show is a fundraiser to help make kids' wishes come true and also honor his dad.  We're planning on coming north that weekend so we're gonna swing in on our way through and support the cause for a little bit.  Just throwing it out there for everybody else, as I know it's a little bit of a drive from up nort-den-dere.  Starts at 8 and runs 'til 3, so we'll probably hit it early and continue on our way.



"We are a non-profit Minnesota auto club, raising funds by holding annual car shows to sustain our club in its purpose, and for our local charities. Founded in 1970.

Our mission is to unite the owners and admirers of vehicles of any manufacturers in order to promote the preservation and restoration for future generations, and to help those in need in our communities."

In honor of Hillbilly Les, gonna start this so people can share pics of rusty yard art they find sticking outta the ground, in weeds, trees, and/or tall grass.  A few of mine are from salvage yards but they're still cool.  I'll kick it off with a few recent "finds".

Most of y'all know the wife and I got a new ride semi-recently.  After some shady body work and 2 deer, she's finally been fixed up to respectable like.  Well, at least from the front doors forward.

Pics!

Prior to deer.



Deer 1.



Deer 2.



Repair sequence.









Woot!

I know there are a few people in the club that can appreciate this.  Holy canoly.

http://www.slotmods.com/

A sample:

 

Rat rod from Germany with a 9 cylinder radial engine. 

First start

First "drive"

Freedom is a Smoky Burnout... But Not For Long

I take comfort in the fact that I can still drive old cars instead of new ones. I don't have to have six air bags, stability control, back-up cameras or OnStar. If I like, I can use an old F100 pick-up as my daily driver. Or enjoy the computer-free rowdiness of my ancient muscle car. I do not want all the Stuff that today's (and surely, tomorrow's) vehicles are fitted with, by order of DC. I don't feel the need. It's expensive, often absurdly complex – and a lot of it is simply overbearing. I don't like being assaulted by a "belt minder" buzzer if I choose not to wear my seat belt. I don't have any use for a back-up camera (never having run over a child). And most of all, I like being able to squeal the tires without being countermanded by an electronic Mrs. Doubtfire. I definitely do not want a vehicle fitted with any sort of data recording device or GPS transponder – which pretty much all new cars now have.

If I'm signing the check, I'll do what I like with the damn thing.

But I fear this window is closing. At some point,  probably within the next five years if not sooner – older, pre-computer vehicles will be forcibly decommissioned. It will become a crime to use them for anything other than "parade" or "cruise" events – strictly monitored and enforced. It will be done in the name of the environment – or safety.

Maybe both.

Several states have passed laws making it much harder to register and drive an older vehicle on public roads. In my home state of Virginia, for instance, the police have the authority to conduct roadside "inspections" of any vehicle wearing antique plates. If, in the opinion of the cop – who is a cop and not a mechanic – the vehicle does not meet either safety or emissions requirements, he may physically seize the car's plates and registration on the spot – and have the vehicle impounded. It's then up to you to prove your car has not been unlawfully modified ( just as it's up to you to disprove whatever charges are filed against you by the IRS).

Other states have repealed laws that once exempted antique vehicles more than 25 or 30 years old from the emissions inspections required of modern cars – even though the number of cars over 30 years old in regular use is so low that their impact on air quality is nil.

That's the leading edge of the spear. Rigmarole such as the above can be a hassle – but at least, it can still be dealt with. Most old car hobbyists are fastidious about maintenance – and keeping their cars up to specification is already par for the course.

But there's the rub: "... up to specifications."

What happens when laws are passed requiring older cars to meet current safety and/or emissions specifications?

You know the answer. It will be the end of the road. Old cars will become true museum pieces. We will no longer be able to operate them on public roads – unless you're rich enough to retrofit your car into compliance. At the very least, I expect the government to pass a law requiring that every motor vehicle be fitted with a GPS transponder. Progressive Insurance is already pushing for it – voluntarily, of course.

For the moment.

Don't doubt it – the day is coming when it will no longer be voluntary.  The "safety" lobby and environmental fanatics will demand it. Government will be happy to oblige. It wants information, in real time – all the time.

And most of all, it wants control.

Your movements will be kept track of, the information stored in computer banks and cross-referenced against other bits of data to aid the state in properly profiling you. It is already happening. To expect that it will not happen to cars is wishful thinking.

The technology exists to erect the "intelligent highway" – one where transponders in your vehicle communicate in real time with satellites overhead and receiver/transmitters posted along the side of the road. It is possible to make driving any faster than whatever the speed limit is impossible simply by sending a set of instructions to your car's computer. And if a cop wants to stop you, he'll be able to shut you down at the touch of a button – literally. GM's OnStar system already has this capability – and it has been used. So far, only against car-jackers and other deserving parties. But that's just the opening chorus of the opera. Just as the "enemies of freedom" were – at first – only swarthy young men of Middle Eastern extraction.

Any old car that can't be monitored, that isn't subject to immediate control, will be outlawed.

Preventing you from doing a burnout is only the beginning.

So, not sure if anybody saw this but Krandy snuck in a link a while back about this random car collection.  Have been looking into it more and reading the back story and whatnot.  Anywho, they're doing a public auction of all the cars at the end of September.  It's a pretty good drive into Nebraska, roughly 5 hours from here (Owatonna), but man would it be cool to see some of them in person.  Who knows what parts of the country/world these cars will end up in and I'm sure they're gonna go for crazy money, but still.  

Randy's original link with a couple random pictures of cars and a quick summary of the collection.

Complete back story written by the daughter of the owner.  Cool just to read.

PDF of the auction flyer - might take a while to load

Full list of inventory - so many with single digit mileage

Link to all the pictures taken by the auction company.  There's like 5-6 pages worth.  Bring your drool rag.

 

So me and the wife went to Famous Daves Blues Bar & Grill lastnight in uptown.  My old boss (from S & T) plays in a pretty sweet blues band.  They were in a battle of the bands there and ended up getting voted through to the next round, which is March 24th at the same place.  Anywho, they're pretty frickin' good and the show was free.  Plus there's plenty of good food and drink to be had.

So, if anybody's interested, March 24th at Famous Dave's in uptown around 4 pm.

Also, they're playing a "normal" show on March 9th (the night of the Hillbilly meeting) in West St. Paul at a bar called Gallagher's.  This one starts later and he thinks it probably goes til midnight.  Said they play like 3 1-hour sets with a 20-25 minute break in between, so there should be plenty o' tunes to be had even after the meeting.  I know it's a drive from up nort' but it's also a Saturday instead of a Sunday.

That is all.

Somebody needs to get this guy into the club...

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/982267/391/State-Trooper-pulls-over-driver-of-unsafe-Ford-Pinto

 

(click the smilies...)

Just thought I'd start a topic for this mini-cruise / meet-up that's going down next weekend.  Sounds like a rally is in order for 4pm at the petrol station in Rock Creek, then cruisin' for a bruisin' over to Grantsburg.

We're hoping to make the trek up North to see y'all.  Good thing it's pay day that weekend so I can fill up the beast!

So the woman and I just got back from a boarding trip in MT.  Found a "pretty cool" place on the side of the road so we decided to stop and check it out.  Here's what ensued...

Hey peoples.  My bro is in search of a motor to replace the 302 that he's going to give to me.  We're thinking either a 351 or a 390.  Something that wouldn't be much of a hassle to put in.  It's a '68 Galaxie so there's probably plenty of room for either.  Anywho, not looking for anything fancy but would be nice to find a complete, running motor. 

If anybody's got anything or knows somebody who does, please let me know.  Thanks much!

Howdy boys (and ghouls).  I've got some rubber I be needin' to get rid of.  I bought em a little over a month ago with the intention of rewrapping my SHO wheels and slappin' 'em on the wagon for a while, but that plan didn't pan out so well.  They'll fit the rims on the Vic but their overall height is a big enough difference where I don't wanna use them on it (meaning, I need all the MPG I can get...).  And they're way too nice to just burn em off.

Anywho, they're 225/50-16.  Two of them are Kumho Ecsta AST and two are General Altimax HP.  Don't know how much tread is left in technical terms, but they look like they'll last a pretty good while longer.  

I bought 'em for $80.  Putting them on Craigslist for $100 to see what happens.  Will offer them to a club member for what I paid or at least somewhat close.  Not looking to get rich, just need 'em gone.

So as most of you now know, the woman and I have recently adopted an ex member of the force into the family.  Toni named him Victor.  He's a 2000 Crown Vic with 132xxx miles and a few slight battle wounds.  Nothing too serious, tho.  It replaced my shaggin' wagon in the stable and will most likely be my daily driver (as it is currently), as well as our new road trip vehicle, and possibly even something finally worthy of taking on the Hillbilly cruises.  It's my first V8 to my name, and despite the cost of gas and how much more it uses than the wagon, I'm pretty stoked on that (so far at least).

I don't really have any crazy plans for it since it's a daily driver, but I do have a few little things I'd like to see done to it.  I also don't really have the fundage to do anything exciting and crazy right now, so hopefully they'll come with time.  One of the first things I wanna do is get some pipes on it.  It's a little too quiet for my liking and it needs to breathe.  

Only things I've done to it so far is an oil change, gutted and cleaned out the interior, and installed a couple old sirens I had lying around as well as the old school horn I had in the Taurus.  Still needing to do the rest of my basic tune-up things and might have to replace the rear shocks.  Got a few squeaks going on back there that I need to investigate.

Lastly, I know it's not the kinda work that most of you guys are doing and showing pictures of, but I'll be putting a stereo in it within the next couple weeks.  Can't really afford any go fast parts for it (although I don't really need any either) but I do have a decent collection of car audio goods accumulated from some past vehicles.  Gonna go all out with what I have and put everything I've got into this car.  Plans include a new receiver, 3 amps, new speakers, and probably one sub.  I've got the amps on hand as well as a couple different options for subs.  Ordered some speakers off Amazon yesterday on a crazy sale.  All I need now is the deck.  Got one picked out on Crutchfield, just gotta pull the trigger.  

Will attempt to document the process with pictures and words.

Greetings all.  Due to the recent car purchase I don't think I'll be needing to keep this around any longer.  The trunk on the new car is plenty big enough to hold it, but I don't want to sacrifice all the room for a little "bump".  Gonna build something a little smaller and more compact to better fit the shape so I won't be needing this.  Proceeds from this will go towards some supplies for a new setup.  If you know of anybody needing/wanting one, please let them and me know.  Thanks much!

It's got a few scuffs on the plexiglass window (I think from rubbing against the carpet in my car?) but other than that it's in perfect condition.  And they pound pretty good, too.  They handle about 1200w max and that's what size amp I had running them. I can get pictures of the actual box up in a little while, too, but for now the stock photo will have to do.  The subs are silver but in the picture they look purple/blue because the lights are on apparently. 

Anywho.  Asking $100 obo.  Will give a deal to a Hillbilly member, tho. 



Specs:

Dual XNBP12D

For big boom on a little budget, check out Dual's XNBP12D bandpass enclosure. Its two 12" polypropylene subs can handle up to 400 watts of continuous power for deep, sustained bass.

The black carpeted box features an efficient four-port, dual chamber design, with a curved plexiglass window that lets you watch the subs at work. Built-in blue interior lighting reflects off the mirrored chambers to cast a cool glow in your hatch or trunk.
Details:

    bandpass enclosure with two 12" polypropylene woofers
    medium density fiberboard construction with four port vents
    black, industrial-grade carpet covering
    blue interior lighting
    plexiglas front window
    4-ohm impedance (one set of terminals)
    recommended power: 200-400 watts RMS total
    dimensions: 29"W x 17"H x 18-1/2"D
    warranty: 1 year

Any a y'all hillbiller type peoples coming down to the big Twin crapties to get yer Car Craft on this weekend? 

Usually makes for some fun times and I think this RIDICULOUS humidity is supposed to be gone by then.