Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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We had a terrific car show in Ft Myers today, they were projecting 1000 cars, but my number was in the 1100's and my Son Don was in the 1400's. They ultimately said 2000 cars and I believe it. I got there at 7:45 (Don slept in and came at 9 or so) and already it was jammed. I asked a guy who was in the front section how he got such a good spot, and he said they got there at 6:30AM!!

It was an open show, with no categories for trophies, so we had every make and model you can think of. Here are some pictures, lots of pictures:

There were some true old time drag cars there like this one.............

and this Mustang FX car........first long nosed one they said. That is a blown Ford in it.........very very loud!!!!!

Some nice hot rods too.

Don---Everybody who wants to retire should be allowed to have a shot at it.---and then have the opportunity to go back to work!!! Retirement is fun for a while, and its great if you have a project to finish. But---and its a big BUT--what the heck do you do with all that time if you don't have a job to go to??? Alright---all you fellows who hate your jobs---I hear you. Maybe its better to watch the afternoon soaps and hang out at the WalMart, but for us lucky ones, who actually like (love???) our jobs, retirement ain't what its cracked up to be!! I worked for major companies all my life untill 7 years ago, when I started my own Engineering and Design Company. For the last 5 years I worked for other companies, I wondered what it would be like to be retired. Now I know. Sometimes, if things don't break just right, I go five or six weeks without a contract---and I friggin near go crazy!!! I don't really need the money (although it certainly doesn't hurt). Its just that without work, you run out of things to fill up the days. And all the time I'm trying to put in time, I keep thinking---Jeez, if I just had some work A---I'd be happy because I'd have something to do, and B-Damn, I'd rather be getting $XX per hour for doing something I like, rather than no $ setting around the house watching reruns of "I Love Lucy".

Don , you had a car show and didn't invite me.......LOL. I've been know to drive long distance on a whim.
BradC

Don, im getting ready to put disc brakes on my total performanc t. looking back i see you guys used gm calipers and rotors on youre sons t. what are they? can i buy them after market ? did you have to make caliper brackets?

Originally Posted by S19243H

Don, im getting ready to put disc brakes on my total performanc t. looking back i see you guys used gm calipers and rotors on youre sons t. what are they? can i buy them after market ? did you have to make caliper brackets?

Don't use the GM setup, we are going to pull his off and put Wilwood brakes on it. We were advised by Total Performance NOT to use these, but we had them and they were all chromed and all so we went against their advice. They were right. They stop like gangbusters, but he is getting a terrible "death shake" sometimes when he hits a bump at certain speeds. I spoke to Mickey from TP at Daytona and as soon as we told him the problem he said "BINGO!!" Too much rotating mass and weight up there. He has seen it time and time again because each brake setup is like 65 lbs. and too much for a light roadster.

These are off of a '69 GTO and are probably fine for a heavy car, but his light weight/ small tire combo is causing his problem. We have changed toe in, etc, and it is still doing it. It makes him afraid to drive it because you never know when it will crop up. The Wilwoods are very light and smaller, so they should help a lot.

Charlie, nice looking Plymouth. You swap cars like I change socks. I was surprised you got rid of your wagon, but I know some people don't get real attached to cars and change often. They become like a member of the family to me.

Don

Magnum Axle makes a kit that uses GM calipers and Volare dics and mounts them to an early Ford spindle.

OK, i will take youre advise ,thanks

Originally Posted by S19243H

OK, i will take youre advise ,thanks

Just didn't want to see you maybe have a similar problem. I have never done disc brakes on a rod, only drums, so I never had this problem. I bought this disc brake set up off of Ebay a while ago. They were newly chromed and the ad said they had them on a T bucket originally and decided to go with Wilwoods instead. Now we know why...........they probably learned what we just found out. We are going to pull these and store them for a heavier car that we might build some day. Don said he didn't even want to sell them back on Ebay to prevent some other guy from having the same problem, and I agree.

Shame too because they stop the T great.

Don

I herd that they cause a vibration over 50 mph, just wanted to be sure you answered my question.

No, this is a little different Denny. There is no vibrations at all under normal conditions so the tires are in balance. The "death shake" happens when one wheel starts to shake and the movement transfers to the other wheel. It can become so violent that you have to stop the car. Don's shook so hard one time it knocked his horn button off of the wheel! Several things can cause it and correct it, like more or less caster, and the same with toe in.

I briefly got it with my '27 after I had driven it for a while. The only way to get it to stop was to hit the brakes hard and it would come out of it. You never knew when it was going to happen or why. I finally cured it by going 1/8 inch toe out. I read an article on it and they suggested that.

We are going to look at two things with Don's car.........the brakes are going to get changed, and we are going to tighten up the play in his Flaming River steering box. Mine has very little play but his has much more. I think the play may be not allowing the box to damp out the shake when it happens. I spoke to Flaming River at Daytona and they told me what the correct adjustment should be.

Don is out on a date tonight in his T, so I hope he just takes it easy until we find out what will cure it. Like I said, it only happens every so often and without any apparent/consistent cause. I have a date tonight too. Dan and I are taking my T and going to Ft Myers Beach for a bite to eat.

S1924, that is the same thing TP told us about the 50 mph thing. We should have listened I guess.

Don

Perley: I used to hear these stories of people hitting the lottery and they would keep their jobs...........I thought they were nuts. But after not working since last February, I understand completely. Even though I have been busy with the car thing and other stuff like moving, that isn't really like work. I find that structure works better for me, like someone expecting me to be someplace at a certain time, and regular hours. Now I feel sort of displaced.

I've thought of doing something on my own too, but I play a better 2nd banana than to be my own boss. I just fit better into that role.

Don

Charlie Fisher--I hear what you say about people not doing well on retirement. I've known a bunch of people, in apparent good health, looking forward to retirement, then shortly after doing it, poof----GONE. Funny thing! My Dad was same way. Had no hobbies, no close friends, all he had was his job. Not too long after retirement he was gone! I have started S.S. but I'm so darned poor that I've got to still work (some) and I've got my 17 year old Grandson and a yard full of gems awaiting polishing!!! Together, he and I, hopefully will keep Grandpa a-kicking. Perley

Last time I was out on a date and got into a death wobble, I ended up having to get married---