Frosty

Hmmmm......could be Stratman!!!! After nearly 20 years of ownership on 14 x 6 wheels and GR70 x 14 tires, yeah, I want a little more rubber under Lucy although I have not really decided on tire size just yet. I was going to break out the Percy measuring tool this spring (when it warms up) to figure that out. A 235/60-15 sounds like a good place to start though. I am not going to get too radical - just something that fills the wheel wells nicely. When you look at the 14 x 6s up close, they are a little dinged up paint wise from lug nut wrenches over the years. In addition, I've had these BF Goodrich T/A Radials on the car a long time too and while they don't have a ton of miles on them, I need to inspect them for checking and cracking.So I figured it was time to spruce the old rims up a bit. I've seen the success some of the guys have had powder coating the rims, so I thought I'd go that route too. These new babies I will go with a more chrome than argent silver and charcoal look so I can go without the trim rings if I want to. The original 14s will go back to the stock colors of argent and charcoal. You are spot on with the sizes of the rims too. You have a keen eye there buddy.

With all the talk and questions by the media to Belicheck and Brady, I keep wondering how long it will take the NFL to actually talk to the game day side line ball handlers. Its been over a week already, and the media certainly has not thought of it yet, and apparently, neither has the NFL Commissioner.

For my money, it would be on the same platform / size as the current Impala. So it would long (for current vehicles) and curvy. The man I would have design it is a friend of mine, a retired GM and Pontiac designer by the name of Paul Deeson. He designed the GTO crest that appeared on the '66 GTO, he designed the first S10 Blazer amongest his many designs. He did a lot of designs for Buick as well.

Priorities !!!! Redneck priorities !!!

Both theories that killer and notallthere are very feasible. Has the knock come back, perhaps muted, at say between 2000-3500 rpm and then goes away again? I am fairly confident that the balance shaft is not the cause. The balance shaft would cause the motor to shake but not cause any knock if it were not properly timed.

Finally, after the swap meeting, I headed south and I stopped to see brother Indymanjoe. He had picked up a set up 15" Rally IIs plus trim rings for me for cheap!!! I was also able to proved to his wife that he had not purchased these rims for himself!!!! LOL! I am glad I could get you off the hot seat Joe and put some coin in your car parts kitty bud. I am very excited to get some new rubber on these bad boys after I get them cleaned up and powder coated this spring.

As I said, I hit the swap meet. I picked up some interesting goodies. An AC PF25 oil filter for $5, the last edition 2009 Pontiac model car printed catalog for $2, a pair of Pontiac arrow heads for $2/each, a Michigan Bell sign for $15, a license plate for Superior Pontiac-Cadillac (a Flint MI dealership that went out business), and some rare AC decals for about $20.

Well yesterday was an interesting day. I went to Saginaw for a swap meet, on my way there, I was passed by a 3-car caravan - all shrouded in automotive camouflage. I have no idea who's vehicles they are (that's the idea people). They were hauling the mail too, doing 85 mph on I-75. Its a good thing I had my Canon Rebel in the front seat next to me or I would have never had a chance to even get these pictures.

Welcome to FP - I am quite impressed on what you are doing and plan to do. I have one question. So are you planning on going fast in a straight line with it or going fast in an autocross/roundy-round circuit with it? Lastly, one observation, I noticed that you didn't mention any sort of brake upgrade. Typically adding "go" power should also include adding some sort of upgraded "whow" power.

After seeing the trunk personally for myself this past weekend, it came out looking great Joe.

Never under estimate the power of stupid people !!!! Especially in front of cameras and in social media !!!!

Interesting idea Ghosty.

I suppose the damn thing looks like an intergalatic pair of scrouts and a ...johnson. I guess for some people that counts as "sexy", but this thing belongs in a crusher...IMHO.

Ughhh.....why? It's gdfugly!!!!

There was a Minnesota phone company that was going to hire one team of telephone pole installers,and the boss had to choose between a team of two Norwegian guys and a team of two Irish guys. So the boss met with both teams and said: "Here's what we'll do. Each team will be installing poles out on the new road for a day. The team that installs the most phone poles gets the job." Both teams headed right out. At end of the shift, Pat and Mike, the Irish guys, came back and the boss asked them how many they had installed. They said that it was tough going, but they'd put in twelve. Forty-five minutes later, Ole and Sven, the Norwegian guys came back in and they were totally exhausted. The boss asked, "Well, how many poles did you guys install?" Ole, the team leader, wiped his brow and sighed, "Sven and me, we got three in." The boss gasped, "Three? Those two Irish guys put in twelve!" “Oh Yah,” said Ole, "but you should see how much they left stickin out of the ground!"

Yeah, but it also can jump back up 25-40 cents just as quickly too.

1.699/gal at Kroger when I drove past it on my way to the post office at lunch today.

Yup, the proceeds are going to the United Way of SE Michigan - so the money is coming back here to the Detroit area. Of course, Rick Hendrick bought it. He made Jeff Gordan sign for it.

Not to worry - he's mostly harmless, so long as he's taking his medication and he is properly supervised.

Hit the link I provided above the video or below. It is an online store that specializes in new and old model kits and slot cars. It appears to still be available. The asking price is $25 (plus shipping and handling I would imagine). http://round2models.com/models/amt/49-merc-club http://www.autoworldstore.com/product_p/amt654.htm

Well, the Ron Pratte collection GM Futureliner sold this weekend at Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale Arizona. The proceeds of the sale are going to the Armed Forces Foundation. It sold for $4.1 million. Not exactly close to Craig Jackson's prediction, but still a large win for the Armed Forces Foundation. Here is the article and the video of the sale. http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/classic-cars/news/a24787/gm-futurliner-auction-raises-4-million-for-armed-forces-foundation/ >https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwoUCNFpfkI

Stratman - check this model kit out. I think it might have a lot of cool parts you are looking for. AMT, MPC, Revell, or Monogram 1/25 scale would be my first choices. http://round2models.com/models/amt/49-merc-club >https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWAHy3HsmFE

Here is Gene WInfield himself chopping the top off of a '61 Ford Starliner at last year's Detroit Autorama. That's Gene holding the tape measure.

How about the George Barris-built '49 Mercury convertible?

Bravo Stratman Bravo !!!!! Not only did you recover part of your youth, you have give the youngens' here an education in plastic in how the pros do a proper top chop!!!! I am truly impressed. I certainly hope you finish your "lead sled" Merc some time in the near future. I think it might look like this some day!!!!