FASTBACK340

You mean Graveyard B & E Bodies….. I'm a Mopar guy and I can't watch that show. Loving the detective work on the VI# and details.

Wow, that's coming along nicely! Looking forward to seeing it finished up!

Want me to mail you a beat Holley? I've been known to do something crazy like that…… Seriously, if that's all you need just say the word. I have access to goodies.

I dread the cold…. I hate being cold….. You can't do things outside because it's cold….. But I DO get some model building done when it's cold. Those old Ford half-tracks are interesting. How about a VW Bus cut wheel well to wheel well with tank treads!

Any plans on doing Holley's?

At times I sense some resentment from people I know ( and some I don't ) from me working at this shop…….. Granted, I'm grateful for the opportunity, but let's remember the 35+ yrs. I spent working for the dealership service scene. What was a really nice job that paid well deteriorated to one of the most depressing, morale-deflating places to spend 40 hours a week. I'd hate to expound on WHY I'm so happy here because that means really angry, harsh descriptions of the past. I'm so happy I made the move. As a side topic to my post, a recent thread over on Moparts.com had one of the regulars doing the same after spinning wrenches for decades. Made a mid-life career change and it's working out for him too. The only down-side is going to be my commute during the winter months, Holiday season in particular. I have to drive past about 6,000 malls, or so it seems…..

WOW! That's a nice Quadrajet! I bought your tires and was very pleased. These look awesome too!

BTW: WE have a stone-stock `60 Sunbeam Alpine going together. Cool little roadster.

We have some talented metal-men working for us. And the guys in the paint shop make everyone else look good. Great team of guys, I'm there 7 months and have never seen or heard an argument or anyone yelling. Nothing…. Communication does break down at times, but it's discussed and resolved. I attribute much of this to my Bosses mature, level-headed approach. If something bad happens, we have a fast meeting, find resolution, briefly touch on not doing it again, and get on with life. I almost had to fight my way out without having a Beer after work on Friday! (I don't drink…..) Great place to work.

Getting to my memories…. Growing up as a child being into cars, everything in print back then was Mopar. In the early 60's Mopar's were succeeding in all form of then popular motorsports. That instilled my interest in the marque. The first time I ever attended a drags trip was at the long-gone NY National Speedway out in Center Moriches in Suffolk County Long Island. The VERY FIRST car I see race is the Hurst Hemi under Glass. That day in 1968 changed me forever watching a car run 130 MPH on it's rear tires. And so started the Barracuda illness.

I have a friend down in Maryland that's addicted to 9C1's, has owned a bunch over the years. Years ago we used to pull banzai-runs to Toledo from Maryland,or to Masscar from NYC, everywhere. Best part is having people get out of your way when you come flying up behind them….thinking YOUR an unmarked car. Total bullet-proof reliability with great road manners.

Well said. I had Hot-Rodded Beetles 30 years ago and continued to drive 4 cylinder cars as recently as 2 years ago before my Wife's GTI was totaled. 5 years ago I had a `94 SE-R that would run away and hide from my Wife's V-dub…. But I also had the `Cuda. Although I'm not a religious person, my philosophy is this: Same Church, different pews.

Coming from an older modeler, but full-time "car guy" I can see why a replica of a tuner car is less appealing, but purely for unintended reasons. A musclecar or hot rod has a pretty much visible engine compartment, face it a focal point, with pretty much familiar systems. Late model cars (even the new Camaro's & Challengers) have plastic shielded engines or transverse 4 cylinders where if you detail the life out of it, nothing is visible due to design. To my eye, that's not going to grab my attention on a contest table. Paintwork is another story as that's going to work no matter what the subject matter. But again, details from a vintage car are more intricate than the jelly-bean look of todays designs. Ever walk into a new car dealership and see the display of aerodynamic nondescript shapes in all the manufacturers colors? Put wheels on them and that's almost as common all cars look today at a glance. At my shop extra effort is put into routing and bracketing and details because everything is seen. When we do late model stuff, it rarely looks aesthetically interesting after modifying. And it's all because of evolution by design. Same game, different playbook. Unfortunate todays youth has a different car to grow up with….

Witness: Am I being helpful? Detective: I've never had it so good…..

Network?

For starters, what pleased me today was finding this thread. A pleasant departure from the daily grid-sessions that occur. I've had an incredibly active summer which I'm grateful for. I must have driven the Barracuda over a 1,000 miles this year to shows, cruises, and just joy-riding. I'm grateful for landing a dream-job working at a premier restoration shop on Long Island. I'm grateful for having a supportive, involved Wife whom is with me at all the shows and functions I enjoy (as I do for Her). I'm grateful for being in good shape for someone approaching 60 (Huh? When did THAT happen?!?) I'm grateful for my big loving hound Buddy. I'm grateful to be actively involved with people I'll probably never meet in person, but on forums such as this, we're all neighbors. This all pleased me today when I gave it some thought…. After months of being too busy to slow down, I'm glad I finally read this. Great post, thank you.

We also have an ORIGINAL `69 Trans Am (one of 357….) awaiting it's turn approx. next January. It's a POS, but all the weird/impossible to find stuff is there and the owner is anxious to get it done.

This might be an unusual statement, but I really DO like my job……. I have a real treat to post the next time the storage unit is open. There was a very well-known Plymouth Superbird sitting in a backyard for YEARS out here. The owners were harassed no end about selling the car. Eventually they put it in a garage. This car was so week-known that a LIARS club member built a diorama of this car and was in the magazines. We restored that car. And it's sitting waiting to be re-assembled. In all it's bright green glory.

Very cool Falcon Blair! What power train combo was it?

Some weeks we do more repairs from other shops than build our own stuff.

Random stuff in the shop. `70 SS396 `84 ElCamino `65 Vette pro-touring Personally, we think the owner is making a bad decision, but here he's pro-touring his `69 Camaro Pace Car. Big ugly Foose wheels, 502 w/ fuel injection, 4 wheel discs, the works. Big-money build of a `35 Dodge. 6.1 Hemi is going in it….. How's this for an original styling cue? Adding the `55 sedan's belt line dip in the 210 wagon. And my new work cart arrived today!

For some reason our shop has turned into a stable! There's these plus a `68 & `64 in storage…. Here's two bookending a GTO `Vert… They are a fun, simple car to build. This one is going to be the owners toy. Complete pro-touring package.

She stopped by for a paint repair estimate. VERY sweet, well sorted truck. Drove like a dream…..

We have about 4 Mustangs being restored at the moment. I have a bunch of pictures I'll post in another thread.

It's a hot-rodded `67 Fastback…. 351-auto-4 wheel discs-Vintageair-etc… It was disassembled yesterday & media blasted today. Pictures to follow.