Thread: Rod & Custom Tech............"Everything New Is Old Again"

Tweet

Check this out. Just got my July R&C and couldn't make is past this article. Even wrote to the Editor. I never write to any Editor. I couldn't believe how stupid it was. I wrote a nice long post describing all of it, so if you don't have the article, you wouldn't be lost. But as usual, I hit the spell check and whoosh........... it all disapeared. I don't have it in me right now to do it again. But if you get your new R&C, you will probably figure it out.

Originally Posted by dlotraf33

Check this out. Just got my July R&C and couldn't make is past this article. Even wrote to the Editor. I never write to any Editor. I couldn't believe how stupid it was. I wrote a nice long post describing all of it, so if you don't have the article, you wouldn't be lost. But as usual, I hit the spell check and whoosh........... it all disapeared. I don't have it in me right now to do it again. But if you get your new R&C, you will probably figure it out.

Now you gonna make us all go out and buy RC mag...you working for them....

Ok here's the deal. Guy bought a new 350 crate motor. Gonna make it look old. So he procedes to show how to remove and fill the accessory bosses on the heads. He even leave a bit on the bottom of the pad to, as he puts it resemble "a la early 265". Ok I sorta get this. Maybe if you had an early engine, such as I do, with later post 68 heads. But 1st. Early 265, had no oil filter, no side motor mount pads (not available till 58), no second dip stick tube boss on pass side (only crate motor). They use a short pump, but use thick ballancer, wrong. They put on an alternator, using this hideous high alt mount, by Pete and Jake, mfg since 1978. Use a NEW Summit carb, (summit only design). Did use a Pertronics cast dist, so it looks like orig point style. And lastly put on a PowerMaster starter, that looks like it was from a ancient 2010 Honda. So I kinda figured what was the point. The only person ya gonnna fool is some old blind guy, and thats if ya only let him touch the head. So I just don't get it. I can see someone doing that, obviously he did, but worthy of a tech article?????

Hey I shouldn't be so judgemental............. Maybe I've got an idea that could find it's way into R&C. I don't really like these graphic wraps they are putting on everything these days, but it gave me an idea. Maybe worthy of a Tech Article. I'll have a wrap made and write an article to show how I took this wrap and put it on my neighbors Honda Accord so it makes the engine look like a Keith Black blown Hemi. Hey it'll fool a blind man..............................

And I'm not a R&C hater. I do wish there were less (InfoArticles). They turn what should be an add for a bench grinder into a tool article. And I'll live with all of it, especially at the less than 80 cents per issue that I paid.............

I don’t know it kind of sounds like more fodder from the “Traditional Hot Rod Crowd”.......you know the 20 somethings that try to tell you how it really used to be.

I’ve got a couple of friends...... both fairly handy (one runs a garage and the other’s a pretty good home builder). The older gentleman (probably close to 70) has a 1959 El Camino and the younger guy (late 30s) has a 59 BelAir 2dr post car. As far as body work and paint both cars are on about the same level, but the way they were built and the parts selection really sets the 2 cars apart.

The 59 El Camino was really hits the late 50s/early 60s era hot rod. 348 Tri-power, aluminum glide, simple upholstery, generator, chrome reverse wheels, thin white walls etc.

The 59 BelAir is more along the lines of what you see at Rockabilly. Wide whites, spider wheel caps, skull valve stem caps, late model 350 with chrome valve covers and cast finned aluminum air cleaner (that I don’t recall ever being available until the last few years), alternator etc.

I look at the El Camino and it really takes me back to that era.....it just looks and feels “right”. To this old man’s eyes, the BelAir is kind of trying too hard to be something it’s really not anymore.

But hey, both guys (and cars) are currently up north right now having a ball running around route 66, enjoying their cars, and I guess that’s really what it’s all about.

I scanned the article and agree that there's nothing much there to justify a tech article. I took it for what it is, at least for me - a multi-page ad for Summit Racing. Throughout the article the theme is "one phone call, one source, everything I need from Summit." This has become a trend in most of the magazines over the last few years. Very few really good tech articles, with most being showcase print for a product line. Gotta wonder if Summit paid advertising rates for those seven whole & partial pages, or if they were just light on fodder to fill the new issue.

Originally Posted by rspears

I scanned the article and agree that there's nothing much there to justify a tech article. I took it for what it is, at least for me - a multi-page ad for Summit Racing. Throughout the article the theme is "one phone call, one source, everything I need from Summit." This has become a trend in most of the magazines over the last few years. Very few really good tech articles, with most being showcase print for a product line. Gotta wonder if Summit paid advertising rates for those seven whole & partial pages, or if they were just light on fodder to fill the new issue.

Yeah I gotta believe that somehow, Summit for example, there is probably more than just some free parts. And there seams to be more (InfoArticles). Just like tv. I wake up to em almost every morning. It doesn't bother me too much, at the cheap subscription price. Maybe at the newstand price. But at least it is still surviving. There has been some talk of eliminating the printed material and going to digital subscriptions. I gotta have the paper. The day you find me in the john with a laptop................. well that's the day someone needs to just shoot me...................

Originally Posted by dlotraf33

The day you find me in the john with a laptop................. well that's the day someone needs to just shoot me...................

An iPad will work much better for that application......

There you hit it! The internet is the world's biggest and most accessible library. If you want a "tech article" it's out there already, and if you're good at data search you can find anything fairly quickly. Well, there are some revenue producing things you have to weed through there too, but still........... It's only going to get more difficult for print media to compete. Probably won't disappear altogether in the short run, but will fade away over time to where there will only be a small market segment it appeals to.

I was reading about Ford's decision to change the Mustang styling again in model year 2013 or 14, drastically. When they brought out the current car's design proposal a dozen or so years ago it hit me. The late '60s styling trends were spot on for this ol' boomer.....and apparently quite a few others. I got one in '05 when they began production. Now, Ford believes they've already run the course............in just 7-8 years. The next generation folks are approaching their better earning years (yeah, lots of fodder for discussion there too) and Ford believes they need to bail on the nostalgia theme and bring the styling up to more modern, jelly bean theme. Time will tell I guess.

maybe its time for new escort or pintos----only low, loud, factory fart cans,loud sterio

Maybe you have matured past what those magazines can provide for.

Couple things here peak my interest –

First, Roger hit the nail square on the head. Summit is a major advertiser in this magazine and as such, favors are in order. So an article that “features” a lot of “cool stuff” that can be purchased from Summit is a no-brainer. I like Summit and use them on a regular basis. What they have done is just good business.

Second – the baton has been passed. We sixty plus guys remember a different kind of hot rodding, just as my father before me relished Packard and early Oldsmobile coupes with baby moons, I like American five spokes and Cragers. I’ve never been a big chrome fan nor do I like lowered pickups – my son is okay with both, but that’s okay because we allow each to enjoy what makes the hobby special to them. When we go to church, I still like to sing hymns and the pastor to wear a tie and at least be old enough to shave – the new generation sings “praise” music and has a guy in Levis on the drums and a pastor in sandals (hmmmm didn’t Jesus wear sandals?) My point being all aspects of life continue to change and we need to let the younger set embrace what works for them in terms of taste and presentation (cars and such, I still have a bit of a tough time with a pair of ripped up jeans that cost $100 – different story!!)

And finally, the Internet changed everything. I sit here with two wide screen monitors connected to a PC that has 16GB of memory, a 64 bit OS and it’s the size of a shoebox. I own a technology and telecommunications consulting firm and am surrounded by wizards and I have to work hard to keep up! But I do draw the line – see below!!

Regards All,
Glenn