Sunday, August 24, 2008

Notes:

Distributor - Ford or Light Truck 56-54, 55-52 (FD8182)

Details:
432 (Stamped) FAE-12127-A2 (Cast)

.015 GAP
1 1/8 " Wrench for Oil Drain Plug.

Valve Cover Gaskets # per 1282 / 1281

Big B Valve Covers: 866-392-BigB #BBA7541

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Tribute to East LA Max RIP July 2008




On the way back from Ink and Iron stopped over in East LA for a BBQ. I noticed the neighbor had tons of cars and after a lack-luster car show in Long Beach I wanted to go check them out. Found out the guys name was Max. Went knocking on the door and this kids come out on the deck looking at us and we asked for him. He comes out and I told him if he had the time I would love to meet his cars. A girl was starring at us, he said ' that's my daughter but she acts like my wife'. He was an old-school leather face Mexican and I describe him that way with MUCH RESPECT. You could just tell he was a man who has seen the times.

He went to each and every car and gave me the story that went with them. He was such a traditionalist he took everything back original. Including disk brakes back to drum brakes. I told him about our break down on the way to Long Beach and he said if you ever need help in LA that we knew where to come. I was so tickled about meeting him knowing I left with a piece of history.


He very recently died in a car accident in Texas, he was crushed by the steering wheel, no seatbelt. I found out about this on my birthday. It really struck me. What I have taken away from this is how very important it is to talk to people about what they love, strangers or not, so that a piece of them and what they love will always have a place to be.

Especially, the older cats because cars are a way of life that is deeply rooted in our history and we really are the keepers of the stories of this way of life. It isn't coming back again and especially in the form of traditionalist. One may ponder if a seat belt would have made the difference but somethings going to get us one day and knowing that he was doing exactly what he wanted the way he wanted is as good as its going to get in the end. In this time of grief I hope the best for the family and that they can carry on his traditions.


Pictures of Max's Loves.


Thursday, June 12, 2008

Took My Hot Rear to the Mustang Ranch.



Really I did...the story goes like this...(skip to the end if you want to hear what happened to the car skip to the end)
I was driving to Long Beach for Ink and Iron with Miss Cris. I thought I smelt something but than we blamed it on Semi-Truck brakes. She mentioned coffee..talked about getting coffee didn't. Next stop 38 miles. Ranchero seemed to kick-down a gear than I was hearing a whirling sound when I hit 70. Made it to the next stop - Coalinga. Open the hood, had some oil burn from the warped valve covers. But than I kept smelling something...looked at the rear and she was SMOKIN!

Knew this was no good. Went to a shop across the way and he said I needed to take it to Fresno for a chance at parts. Had friends at home lending moral support, Miss Cris was totally positive and we had folks from 'The Wanderers' car club in Fresno paving the way for our grand entrance into town. Called AAA, thank god I had auto-pay set because my Gold membership expired the day before. Spent the next 55 mins. calling around to shops. The tow truck driver thought the tranny may have problems to from all the fluid on the ground so I was trying to find a place that would look at both - no one would, especially once they heard '59 ford' because of 'the parts' I kept trying to tell them its a 9" rear everyone still works on these babies. Didn't help it was Friday at noon and no one really had much interest in getting us back on the road that day. After calling a dozen places got referred to the MUSTANG RANCH. Turns out to be a alley shop, with a salvage yard and rows of axels on a shelf - I knew I hit pay dirt. They offered a reasonable hourly rate but couldn't get to it till Monday.

I had already called our hotel in Long Beach and they wouldn't let us cancel so I had to make a decision...so we went and got a rental car. All they had left was full-size trucks a Dodge and a Ford. In honor of Nameless I went with the F150-Ford 4x4. I have to admit I felt like a bad ass and the air condition was a bonus. I kissed Nameless goodbye and we were off. Only to discover a tomato the crisis and the increasing gas prices along the way.

Ink and Iron certainly wasn't worth bringing the car to! There was very few cars there. It was fun to check out for the day but we called BullSh@t on Sunday and drove to Hollywood for Safari Sams Rockabilly Brunch.

From there we proceeded to East LA for a Tee Pee BBQ, met a neighbor who could have his own car show and stayed in our spiffy F10 motel - (got to see it to believe it).

Monday, back at the Mustang Ranch round 1 they were putting the finishing touches. The Diagnostic: Last owner had a drive shaft that was too long. There was NO Fill hole. All the focus on my car has been on the front end. No one noticed this and after 4,300k of my miles on top of who knows how many miles before I got her she was running dry. He said that if it was night time the rear axel would have been glowing it was so hot AND we were lucky it didn't get the gas tank. He replaced the center piece and had a shorter yoke to compensate for the shaft.

We were on the road by two in the blazing heat. Man we missed the air conditioning a little bit but its all part of the adventure.

MORAL of the story:
- Don't book a hotel room in advance if you can avoid it
- Try to leave a day or two before a weekend
- Don't plan to make it back to work on Monday
- Shits going to happen, be sure you have friends with you who understand and maintain a network of car enthusiasts along the way
- Bring a credit card or plan to spend several days having friends try to help out (LOVE YA for offering)

#1 Rule of Hot Rodding - never leave your car behind...YES, I know I cheated with the rental car but I ask forgiveness because I did leave her in good hands and not the Shell station on the corner.





Friday, May 23, 2008

Brake Job


Ok, ya...I became one of those people working on the car hours before I head-out for a road trip...

More to come on the Brake Job and SANTA MARIA...

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Magic 59

Magic happened for me today on the streets of Oakland out in front of my house on Easter Sunday. I had just parked the car after a trip for ice-cream and cruise through the local cemetery...a gentleman was walking down the street towards me and hollored how "much of that is stock?". I hadn't heard that question before, usually it starts with what year is that?...but he already knew what Nameless was and he showed me his 'baby' picture of his Red 1959 Chevy El Camino.

He said his family had pulled up to the park down the street when he 1st spotted my car parked on the street and by the time he walked over I had just driven away...It was a happenstance that I came back the opposite way along the park and his family spotted me so he headed back over to see the car.

He was tickled about Nameless and that I gave him the complete tour...he had his camera and was taking photos...he was impressed with how clean the engine was and asked me some technical questions I didn't know about some of the wiring.

His name was Dave and he was from Burbank visiting the grandkids which he also showed me pictures of. He also showed me a picture of his "Pride and Joy"; which was a joke card with pictures of the cleaning products...made me laugh.

Dave had been told by his doctor that he had terminal cancer and he should live his life - that's when he got his 59.

He also told me that he was a magician for years. He performed a three piece rope trick where I cut it with his knife and some how puts it back together leaving a knotted piece that he gave to me. I said 'this will always stay with Nameless'...he said 'that means a lot'....The license plates on his car is "Magic 59".