FASTBACK340

Yeah, it's a cool job. Almost every day is interesting. We have a '64 C-10 pick up mild custom coming in today. Pictures to follow.

Ever wonder what it's like to deal with the practicality of owning a pro-street car? I'm not talking about fuel mileage and creature comforts, I'm talking about… getting a flat tire. Or having to perform emergency repairs in a strange environment? We have several pro-street cars in the shop this week. This is the owners `61 Falcon. As outrageous as it looks, it's actually a mild small block and automatic. He plans on driving it a lot. But if you want to change a rear tire you MUST raise the car high enough to allow the rear axle to drop down low enough the clear the axle studs and get past the wheel well lip. But you can't just drop the rear on the side of the road with a bumper jack. I installed a quick-disconnect fitting for the rear disc brake hydraulic line and then you unbolt the rear shocks…..and driveshaft….. what a job. And it requires a 4-arm lift, NOT a drive-on as pictured. And if all you had was a drive-on, you better not be easily freaked when you walk under it….. Yes…. half the tires are hanging off the center of the lift!

I had mentioned in a previous post about having an original `62 T-bird Sport Roadster in the shop. Here she is…... The current owners Father bought it new. Our shop restored her 10 years ago. While the carb is being rebuilt it sits making my work area beautiful…. Speaking of beautiful, every time this car visits for service I fall in love with it again. It just never gets old…... `69 GTO with a 400 / 5 speed Tremec, complete CPP suspension and 4 wheel discs. Power steering, windows, top, & brakes. I'm in love, lust, and trouble.

I just found out there's a Phantom `70 Dart convertible out here on Long Island. B5 blue w/ black tail stripe and top/interior. Haven't seen it, but a group of people were talking about it at a cruise night recently. If a clean `67-9 Dart 'vert fell in my lap it would be hard NOT to do one. I can't believe how much I like it…..

Love reading K&B in Car Craft… the kid in me won't let go of their antics. And we all know guys whom borderline on living that exact lifestyle (I have a friend whom admitted to sleeping in the garage after a late-night thrash…). Yeah, K&B rule!

The black A bone in the first set is my favorite. Then the grey & black primered pick-up right above….. Nice pictures, thanks for sharing!

Hits nail squarely upon it's head…..

I'm not anti-technology, but I am anti retro-technology….. To build something similar to it's name-sake (Challenger) makes sense. To apply nameplates to late-model vehicles that are non-revelent bother me. A 4 door Charger and a 4 cylinder Dart are high on my list. And while we did have a 4 cylinder "Charger" in the 80's, it wasn't marketed as a throw-back to the original. At least the 80's version was a 2 dr. And don't get me started on the Super Bee name badges on pick-up trucks……

When you see Norm & Mary tell them New York John & Amy say "HI"! The Baja really is a neat piece. It looks so RIGHT. And like Bob said, the man is meticulous.

I owned that car right at a fork in my life, where I often wonder where & what would have been different…. And believe me, it was a definite fork. Looking forward to building it as it was also during a great point in my youth.

I know Norm personally and let me tell you, he is the genuine thing. He's one hard working dude!

I was about to address this! This is just a body with details. You need at least the Tamiya Beetle kit, or possibly another manufacturers, to give it an interior and chassis. I just test-fitted the Tamiya 1300 Beetle's floorpan and it looks very accurate, but some trimming is required. This is NOT a drop-on & go transkit, unless I grabbed the wrong kit from my stash. Tomorrow I plan on cleaning out the hobby room after letting it sit all summer. Once that's done, I'll set-up the front & rear axle points and give an honest assessment of what's going work and whats not going to work. More to follow….

You have NO IDEA the memories that car brings back……….

That's REALLY nice looking Rich!

Since there is always someone whom has never dealt with the aftermarket asking if a product or vendor is any good, I figured I'd share opening my delivery from Norm at Replicas & Miniatures. When asked if Norm's stuff is any good I just tell people to send him money…. and you'll get something very nice in return. Today's something nice is the new Baja Bug. Oversized shipping box packed with newspaper. Inside the two individual kits. Each kit is a sub-package with the body in a separate box and all the accessories bagged and where needed, surrounded with a cardboard perimeter to protect the delicate pieces. Everything is surrounded with those darn peanuts. Side crash bars, bumpers, stinger exhaust ….. And the body is in a separate hand-taped box that protects this little jewel! Kit comes with front & real tubular bumpers, tail lights, signals, headlights, door handles, a few engine dress-up bits, optional canvas roof insert, and the side bars and stinger. A sheet of acetate is included for the glass. This casting is absolutely beautiful with minimal flash and clean, warp-free panels. Norms castings rival kit plastic. As a meter of fact, the INSIDE of the body shell has the locator pin receptacles for the Tamiya donor kit. Nice! This kit is beautiful and replicated really nicely. I owned, and loved, one of these back in the early 80's. Back in the day I lived air-cooled VW's. I loved those little beasts. Here's one of my winter projects for this year. If your into VW's, this is a MUST HAVE!!!!!

I saw a Lexus driver use his turn signal on the Parkway! All kidding aside, if you guys want to see what I see everyday, will you all get sick of it? Where I work I can snap some new stuff almost daily….

I agree, Stacey does a good job of a believable, hands-on approach. And he tackles everything. Good to see it back on a channel I already enjoy.

Was a `54 GMC Surburban ever available in plastic, resin, die-cast, etc? I would like to build a replica of my shops swap-meet truck. Thanks!

Looking forward to building. I've been collecting "samples" of recent paint jobs in the shop. Should have some neat choices…. As for work, considering I start working on a car in May and it get's finished in Sept. I always have 4-7 cars on my plate at once to keep busy while metal work, parts locating, and fabricating is completed. At the moment I'm finishing up a mildly-modified `65 Nova with a 283/powerglide, putting the finishing touches on a 64 1/2 Mustang resto-mod with a 351-4 spd., an `84 Caddy Coupe de Ville with a 454/700R4 swap, an original `62 T-bird Sport Roadster (I'll get pictures tomorrow), a 428/auto `67 Mustang, and a `68 Mustang drop-top getting a full coil-over pro-touring suspension package to go with the 302/tremec 5 spd. It's amazing what I'm learning on a weekly basis. I'm starting to learn TIG welding along with polishing up my MIG skills. My Boss is deliberately keeping me away from the Mopars so I can learn some of his bread & butter work (Camaros…..Mustangs…..GTO's…..etc) It's all good, I'm having a blast and getting paid for it. Can't complain.

<sigh….> I had one of those too. Another must-have kit!

Portion of an e-mail regarding the Baja's: The VW Baja body is $35.00. "Glass" will be flat sheet stock. Having trouble with distortion in the resin copy I did. Other clear resin parts will be headlight lenses, taillight lenses in clear red. I can do the front fender parking lights in clear or clear yellow. Also, the front and rear nerf bumpers, side nerfs, a couple simple engine parts and the stinger exhaust. A separate sun roof soft top and headlight bezels. Also, separate exterior door handles. Donor kit is the Tamiya VW Beetle. Haven't had a chance to see how well the Revell Germany VW Beetle parts work with the Baja body. Hope this helps. If you've never dealt with Norm, he is first-rate. As a person, as a businessman, as an enthusiast.

My Wife was asking me earlier in the week when I was going to clean the hobby room and get ready to start building again. I said when it get's cold enough that the heat goes on. She turned it on this morning…… now it's time. Plans call to finish the Pink `Cuda, maybe squeeze in a vintage rail, and once Norm's Baja gets here, a full detail replica of my old car.

Most of the dealership system is in such a deep depression right now…… Morale in shops is at an all time low, making bonus money is impossible, never mind earning a 40 hour week due to overwhelming warranty work. The reliability and quality control of some new vehicles is atrocious. But on the other hand, there are more good vehicles on the road today than ever before. You must choose wisely. This gentleman didn't…..

If your talking about VW cylinder barrels, I'm in for 3 sets. PM sent…..

Just to give this topic the bump it deserves, Norm said I should have my Baja's early this week. I'll post pictures ASAP. I just know it's going to be "right"!