Thread: Nor Cal Mike Checking In

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Hi, I'm Mike A and I'm new to this forum. I live in Willits CA which is in the NW part of the state. I am 52 and am a lifelong motorhead. I got started with minibikes and karts as a kid just like many of you. I've done motorcycles, dune buggies, rods, musclecars and sports cars in my time.

I currently am driving a 62 Falcon 4 dr wagon with a 200 I-6 and C3 automatic. I bought this car to pull my teardrop travel trailer. She runs pretty well. I am currently installing AC and hope to see new paint on the old girl someday.

I also have a 64 Triumph Spitfire Mk1 that is also a driver. The 64 is slightly modded but all Triumph. I also have a 65 Spitfire Mk2 that is under construction with a Chevy 2.8 MPFI V6 and T5 trans from an 86 Camaro. I have a 78 Vette 3:73 pumpkin to install in her along with the carriers, disc brakes etc. She'll get the same Vette rotors and calipers mated to Pinto spindles in the front.

I have a 23 track T roadster, minus running gear, hanging from the rafters that I hope to get to someday. As my sig says, "aint life sweet."

I've already done V8's and big motors so now I want to explore little motors. Inline 4's and 6's and V6's are my interests. I may not make any friends here by admitting this but I'm not a typical rodder in that I also have an environmentalist streak. I would like to switch all of my rigs over to EFI and find a way to make these early rigs run as clean as possible. I can't wait until Hybrid powertrains show up in the junkyards for rodders like me to play with. (Track T hybrid??). I think that we owe something to our grandchildren in the way of a livable climate and that we ought to leave a little oil for their generations needs.

I will stop by from time to time to check in.

Nor Cal Mike

Hey Mike ~ Welcome...and I think your thoughts about switching over your hot rods is a great thing to pursue....I've certianly been thinking about that with my car...I love it and plan to have it forever...but I wonder what happens when other fuel is being used...i imagine that at some point gasoline will be phased out to a degree and people will use more environmentally freindly sources....Awesome to be Proactive on that!!!

Jerilynne1965,
You folks in Europe are much more aware of what's coming than we Yanks on the other side of the pond. We've long been insulated by policies that mask the true cost of oil. With China emerging as an industrial power and their resulting demand for oil, combined with the fact that we have probably crossed the upper threshold of oil supply, I see no end to high oil prices in the long term. It isn't just oil. Have you checked the price of steel lately?

Mike A

Mike Welcome to CHR. You have some different and neat ideas with the smaller engines.

Originally posted by Nor Cal Mike
Jerilynne1965,
You folks in Europe are much more aware of what's coming than we Yanks on the other side of the pond. We've long been insulated by policies that mask the true cost of oil. With China emerging as an industrial power and their resulting demand for oil, combined with the fact that we have probably crossed the upper threshold of oil supply, I see no end to high oil prices in the long term. It isn't just oil. Have you checked the price of steel lately?

Mike A

At first I couldn't figure out why you would think i'm on the other side of the pond...until I looked at my info...Holland. I'm in Holland, Michigan. I would say i'm well "Insulated" ha ha!

But as insulated as I am about environmental impact our family is still trying to do what we can here to minimize environmental impact (short of selling the T/A...) We recycle, compost, and we re-use tons of stuff...1/2 of my furniture is made by my husband out of old barn wood, scrap industrial woods & even nails from an old deck...ha ha even our "household garbage cans" are 5 gallon plastic pails painted to match each room. We're currently looking into alternative power for our house...couple things actually there...Wind Generators and Solar Panels...

For 1 thing you could try is running a cat converter on them and tuning the engine so it woulden't burn them up. Hopefully your not 1 of those tree huggers that want to make hotrods and classics have to pass a current emissions test, then you are an enemy but, you obviously respect Hotrods so I doubt it. Enjoy your stay at CHR. I belive there will always be oil because it's made up of old rotting like trees getting compressed underground and such, so in theroy, as long as there are trees rotting under the ground rotting and getting compressed, there will be oil, because we do not know how many of these rotting/ compressing trees and plantlife there, that is why nobody knows how much oil we actully have.

Jerilynne1965,
After I sent that post I wondered if you meant Holland Michigan. The thing that gave it away is that I doubt that there many T/A's in Amsterdam :-)

I have a very good friend from Holland Michigan who now lives out west. Her maiden name is Van Lente. I think her family owns a nursery there.

Mike A_

Matt,

I am greener than many in the hot rod world but that doesn't mean I want to make you smog your old car. I want to employ modern technology to make MY cars cleaner and more fuel efficient. If you can make more HP on less oil why not? Honda has a new Civic that makes a bunch HP with hybrid technology, about 250 hp as I recall. 4 and 6 cyl. family sedans (grocery getters) now run as fast or faster than their V8 counterparts of my childhood. My wife's current 2001, 1.8L Miata would give my old L82 powered 84, Z28 Camaro a pretty good run.

Hot rodders have always been a resourceful bunch who push the envelope well beyond what the auto manufacturers put on the market place. I see rodders picking up technology and making use of it all of the time. Carburators have yielded to EFI, points were replaced with electronic ignition. Even dizzies are going away and everybody now wants overdrive.

I don't agree that there is an unlimited supply of oil. There are too many factors driving supply and cost that are beyond our control. China is a huge new emerging economy that is now competing for the very same oil resources that the West has in the past taken for granted. The Middle East is a continuing powder keg. How much will it cost to raise Manhatten as the ocean level rises? These are real world issues that are and will drive costs at your local gas pump.

The market place will ultimately dictate where our hobby goes. I believe that it must continue following the trend towards technology if it is to survive. I hope to be ahead of that trend.

Mike A