Random Thoughts Thread

[El Kabong]

*reads PMs*

...yup. I LIKE this place. It is well-run.

[Stew]

I have the off-road bug now.  My dream ride has progressed from a Challenger Hellcat to a Wrangler Rubicon HardRock edition.  Mercy......

[Drew Dowdell]

*reads PMs*

...yup. I LIKE this place. It is well-run.

 

I do try.

 

And I do feel like I make every effort to be fair and impartial, both to the various car brands and to the posters here.

[Intrepidation]

Why doesn't Illustrator have autosave like Photoshop does?

[Thed]

Stock ride height:

 

 

 

 

 

Photoshopped lower:

 

 

 

 

 

Result: I bought lowering springs. 

Edited August 20, 2015 by Thed

[cp-the-nerd]

Why doesn't Illustrator have autosave like Photoshop does?

 

Autosave is for pansies! I live life on the edge of disaster. I'll work on a redraw at work for 3 hours, get up and do something else for 20 minutes, then come back and realize it still says "UNTITLED DOCUMENT" at the top!

 

[Stew]

Watched part of a Trump interview on CNN last night, i think it killed a few brain cells............

[balthazar]

Just finished a 4-hr stint of removing the cylinder heads on my 389 Pontiac. Car has been sitting unstarted, outside, since 1993, but MAN did all the bolts come loose beautifully. Motor is also amazingly clean inside, even the exhaust system is (was- I Sawzall'd thru it) rock solid. Pontiac built a helluva machine in the 60s.

[oldshurst442]

Just finished a 4-hr stint of removing the cylinder heads on my 389 Pontiac. Car has been sitting unstarted, outside, since 1993, but MAN did all the bolts come loose beautifully. Motor is also amazingly clean inside, even the exhaust system is (was- I Sawzall'd thru it) rock solid. Pontiac built a helluva machine in the 60s.

389? Did somoene say 389?

 

All I could think of when someone says 389 is this:

 

 

Little GTO, you're really lookin' fine

Three deuces and a four-speed and a 389

Listen to her tachin' up now, listen to her why-ee-eye-ine

C'mon and turn it on, wind it up, blow it out GTO

WA-WA!!! 

wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa!

 

 

 

What housed that 389?

And in what will it be its future dwelling?

 

Stock ride height:

 

 

 

 

 

Photoshopped lower:

 

 

 

 

 

Result: I bought lowering springs. 

You and Balthazar....

 

I respect mucho...because you guys are the real deal...when it comes to cars!!!

[ocnblu]

Bleh, I have a double class on the new F-150 scheduled for Monday evening, due to be over @ 10:00 pm...

[balthazar]

389 is out of a '64 Catalina. The whole car is coming apart this fall, save what's sellable, scrap the rest. It's no longer worth a resto, besides it's a 4-dr sedan. I sure enjoyed it as a daily driver when it was up & running, tho.

I've had 8 full-size '60s Pontiacs to date: 60, 64, 64, 64, 65, 65, 65, 66.

I also have a 389 out of one of the '65s left… or is it two 389s? Very good motor.

[oldshurst442]

389 is out of a '64 Catalina. The whole car is coming apart this fall, save what's sellable, scrap the rest. It's no longer worth a resto, besides it's a 4-dr sedan. I sure enjoyed it as a daily driver when it was up & running, tho.

I've had 8 full-size '60s Pontiacs to date: 60, 64, 64, 64, 65, 65, 65, 66.

I also have a 389 out of one of the '65s left… or is it two 389s? Very good motor.

Awesome!

 

 

I once wanted to buy a 1959 Chevy Impala 2 door sedan, but my daddy did not let me.

 

So I used his stupid 1986 Chevy Celebrity instead.    And in hindsight...its more like this emoticon...

That is as close as I got to own real American iron!!!

[Thed]

Running a shop would be a hell of a lot easier if everyone wasn't completely incompetent. The only one that isn't does what he wants, which makes things even more complicated.

Thanks ass holes.

[G. David Felt]

If money was no object, I would do what a group of GM engineers did to this lovely 1988 Monte Carlo SS. Original power plant was a LS3 180HP mated with a 4 speed transmission. They installed a LS376/525 Connect & Cruise system which included a T56 6 speed manual transmission.  Nice bump from 180HP to 525HP.

 

 

The full story of the car and the awesome crate engine / transmission package is found here.

 

http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/fuel-newsletter/2014/issue3.html

 

 

[ccap41]

Bleh, I have a double class on the new F-150 scheduled for Monday evening, due to be over @ 10:00 pm...

I now understand why you are not a fan of the aluminum..

[cp-the-nerd]

DOWN-VOTES ARE BACK.

[ccap41]

If money was no object, I would do what a group of GM engineers did to this lovely 1988 Monte Carlo SS. Original power plant was a LS3 180HP mated with a 4 speed transmission. They installed a LS376/525 Connect & Cruise system which included a T56 6 speed manual transmission.  Nice bump from 180HP to 525HP.

 

2014 Custom Monte Carlo with Engine kit.jpg

 

The full story of the car and the awesome crate engine / transmission package is found here.

 

http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/fuel-newsletter/2014/issue3.html

If money wasn't an issue I'd put a 4.6 from a 99-04 Mustang GT in my first car('95 Beretta Z26). And I'd put a 4.6 from a 99-01 cobra(or 03-04 Mac 1) in my 3rd car('03 Focus SVT), and I'd put a 4.6 from an '03-'04 Cobra in my Escape. I'd just have 4.6 mod motors EVERYWHERE!! Fck it, I'd even buy a brand new Mustang and swap in an '03-'04 Cobra 4.6 and up the power some.. Now that would be a unique build.

[surreal1272]

If money was no object, I would do what a group of GM engineers did to this lovely 1988 Monte Carlo SS. Original power plant was a LS3 180HP mated with a 4 speed transmission. They installed a LS376/525 Connect & Cruise system which included a T56 6 speed manual transmission.  Nice bump from 180HP to 525HP.

 

2014 Custom Monte Carlo with Engine kit.jpg

 

The full story of the car and the awesome crate engine / transmission package is found here.

 

http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/fuel-newsletter/2014/issue3.html

Damn fine ride they have there. One of the few cars from the 80's that's still worth a damn IMO (a close second behind the GNX)..

[El Kabong]

DOWN-VOTES ARE BACK.

Sorry man, but I had to test that on your post

[ccap41]

 

DOWN-VOTES ARE BACK.

Sorry man, but I had to test that on your post

 

lol I almost did that myself

[Drew Dowdell]

If money was no object, I would do what a group of GM engineers did to this lovely 1988 Monte Carlo SS. Original power plant was a LS3 180HP mated with a 4 speed transmission. They installed a LS376/525 Connect & Cruise system which included a T56 6 speed manual transmission.  Nice bump from 180HP to 525HP.

 

2014 Custom Monte Carlo with Engine kit.jpg

 

The full story of the car and the awesome crate engine / transmission package is found here.

 

http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/fuel-newsletter/2014/issue3.html

 

I really just want something a bit more up to date for my Toronado (if I had the money). No need for 500+ horsepower.  Swift and silent... a mild Turbo-6 would be fine. 

[El Kabong]

Duramax SS.

[ccap41]

Saw/heard my first Hellcat. Fck. Irrationally stoked.

[William Maley]

Saw/heard my first Hellcat. Fck. Irrationally stoked.

 

It's even better when you are behind the wheel.

[Suaviloquent]

It's gonna be daunting building a set of high performance/endurance bicycle wheels this fall.

 

Then again, the price of the wheels I'm building in materials and parts alone costs $800 retail.... I'm paying about half for those same things.

 

but dang it's supposed to be the best of the best wheel build combos. More on that as I start the build. Rims and Hubs are at the shop or at home and now I'm just deciding on the best spokes and spoke nipples. Prolly get DT Swiss stuff. 

 

Again, bicycle wheels. It's ridiculous but at the same time understandable how much good ones cost. But the best ones or the best parts are made in the same kind of way McLarens and Ferraris are made. For example, King R45 hubs rely on spoke tension to deliver the right preload on their bearings. You can ruin the bearings by turning the hub before it's laced. It's that kind of overengineering that a wealthy doctor/lawyer/engineer/entrepreneur can salivate at in a sales pitch.

 

A set of good tubular race wheels. An easy $3000 to start. And people buy those things; at a rate I do not understand, even though I've been in the cycling industry for a few years now.

[ocnblu]

I woke up as a Windows 10 user.

[El Kabong]

You can change your name as often as you want, but you can't fix stupid, folks :D

Edited August 23, 2015 by El Kabong

[ocnblu]

I recently "liked" an extremely relevant page on Facebook:  "Camry Corners".  It is nothing but spotter photos of damaged Toyota products.  Pretty funny.

[oldshurst442]

I recently "liked" a Chears and Gears post about a poster "liking" an extremely relevant page on Facebook about damaged Toyota products...because:

 

1. post was funny.

2. poster shares same sentiment about Toyota products as me.

[ccap41]

 

Saw/heard my first Hellcat. Fck. Irrationally stoked.

 

It's even better when you are behind the wheel.

 

I couldn't imagine having 707hp at my disposal. It's gotta be such a rush. I mean in town or even up to 60mph where it'll just light them up is super gnarly n all but I couldn't imagine being in a vehicle that size at 100mph and having it still pull like a son of a bitch.

I recently "liked" a Chears and Gears post about a poster "liking" an extremely relevant page on Facebook about damaged Toyota products...because:

 

1. post was funny.

2. poster shares same sentiment about Toyota products as me.

HA me too!

 

Minus the Tacoma.. That has some real staying power/equity in its name. It's earned it.. imo.

[cp-the-nerd]

 

If money was no object, I would do what a group of GM engineers did to this lovely 1988 Monte Carlo SS. Original power plant was a LS3 180HP mated with a 4 speed transmission. They installed a LS376/525 Connect & Cruise system which included a T56 6 speed manual transmission.  Nice bump from 180HP to 525HP.

 

2014 Custom Monte Carlo with Engine kit.jpg

 

The full story of the car and the awesome crate engine / transmission package is found here.

 

http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/fuel-newsletter/2014/issue3.html

 

I really just want something a bit more up to date for my Toronado (if I had the money). No need for 500+ horsepower.  Swift and silent... a mild Turbo-6 would be fine. 

 

 

That Monte Carlo is way overkill on an astronomical budget. If I had a resto car like that, I'd get a modern port-injected 5.3L from a junkyard because they're inexpensive and can be found anywhere. Couple of mods and it would make 330-350 hp.

[ccap41]

I saw my first Chevy SS yesterday.. sadly it was in my rear view mirror so I couldn't get a good look at it. That is one underrated/underappreciated car.

[G. David Felt]

 

If money was no object, I would do what a group of GM engineers did to this lovely 1988 Monte Carlo SS. Original power plant was a LS3 180HP mated with a 4 speed transmission. They installed a LS376/525 Connect & Cruise system which included a T56 6 speed manual transmission.  Nice bump from 180HP to 525HP.

 

2014 Custom Monte Carlo with Engine kit.jpg

 

The full story of the car and the awesome crate engine / transmission package is found here.

 

http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/fuel-newsletter/2014/issue3.html

 

I really just want something a bit more up to date for my Toronado (if I had the money). No need for 500+ horsepower.  Swift and silent... a mild Turbo-6 would be fine. 

 

 

Talked to the conversion department at EV West

 

http://www.evwest.com/catalog/index.php?osCsid=lovusud1cnut5f29dhbq3serb4

 

They were telling me about some conversions on 1970's era full size sedans and station wagons. Enough room underneath to have a battery pack with a 200 to 300 mile range and you can put in just about any electric motor you want.

 

I was thinking the Siamese Warp 11 would do nicely in your Toronado. Totally silent, 1000lb ft of torque even comes with the transmission so it just connects to your driveline.

 

http://www.evwest.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=8&products_id=213&osCsid=lovusud1cnut5f29dhbq3serb4

 

 

You could have a silent Sleeper that really would leave all others caught up in your Toronado of destruction!

[oldshurst442]

 

 

If money was no object, I would do what a group of GM engineers did to this lovely 1988 Monte Carlo SS. Original power plant was a LS3 180HP mated with a 4 speed transmission. They installed a LS376/525 Connect & Cruise system which included a T56 6 speed manual transmission.  Nice bump from 180HP to 525HP.

 

2014 Custom Monte Carlo with Engine kit.jpg

 

The full story of the car and the awesome crate engine / transmission package is found here.

 

http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/fuel-newsletter/2014/issue3.html

 

I really just want something a bit more up to date for my Toronado (if I had the money). No need for 500+ horsepower.  Swift and silent... a mild Turbo-6 would be fine. 

 

 

That Monte Carlo is way overkill on an astronomical budget. If I had a resto car like that, I'd get a modern port-injected 5.3L from a junkyard because they're inexpensive and can be found anywhere. Couple of mods and it would make 330-350 hp.

 

If I was doing a G-Body resto-mod...

 - Id go with a TT 3.6 LF3  for the  Regal ....Id get the engine from a crashed CTS V-Sport and install it in the Buick...you know...Turbo 6 connection...

 

-  Grand-Prix would be a 6.0 LS2  @ 400HP/400 ft.lbs torque from a Pontiac GTO...because Pontiac...

 

-  Monte Carlo would get the 5.3 liter...like we said about a Camaro...for 327 cubic inch nostalgia purposes and Chevrolet

 

-  Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme would be getting an LS3...from a wrecked Pontiac G8 or Chevrolet SS or 2008 Corvette...

 

I wouldnt want more than the 400 or so horsepower with all these engines I chose.

Actually...Id be more than happy with your choice of the 5.3 @ 330-350 horsepower range you chose...

I chose those engines for some sort of connection I made with history and such...

 

These are my restomod G-Body models.

 

1987/1988 Chevy Monte Carlo LS

 

 

1981 Grand Prix LJ

 

1987 442

 

and/or

 

1983 Hurst/Olds

 

1987 GN GNX

 

Edited August 25, 2015 by oldshurst442

[G. David Felt]

                           

 

Lovely Cars you choose there.

 

I understand everyone wanting the nastalgic V8 thing, but I have to give KUDOs to GM for their Performance Crate Motors with Auto or Manual 6 sp Transmissions. True Plug N Play!

[El Kabong]

Ya, it's kinda crazy how straightforward it appears to be.

[ocnblu]

No way I'd put an LS motor in the Pontiac, Olds, or Buick.  The Pontiac would get a Pontiac 400, the Olds an Olds 455, and the Buick GNX was already QUITE potent with its Buick V6.  The Monte Carlo would receive a proper modern smallblock.

[ccap41]

Ford still shows the GT350 as having a V9 on their website.

 

Correction, Only the GT350R has the V9.

Edited August 25, 2015 by ccap41

[balthazar]

Minus the Tacoma.. That has some real staying power/equity in its name. It's earned it.. imo.

I dunno : the factory buy-back & crushing of like 6 years of Tacoma production is tough to forget.

[Stew]

It always bugged me that the Monte Carlo SS didn't get the TPI 350, or at least the TPI 305/5 speed combo. 

[G. David Felt]

It always bugged me that the Monte Carlo SS didn't get the TPI 350, or at least the TPI 305/5 speed combo. 

Totally agree with you, the car should have had more than the wimpy 305 only. But still loved the body especially the aero model.

 

That was my favorite in their burgundy color.

 

[ccap41]

 

Minus the Tacoma.. That has some real staying power/equity in its name. It's earned it.. imo.

I dunno : the factory buy-back & crushing of like 6 years of Tacoma production is tough to forget.

 

I don't recall.. Got some deets on it? (I honestly never really looked much into Tacomas till about a year and a half ago when my dad was truck shopping so forgive my ignorance)

 

Either way, understandable. Everything hits everybody in a different way, rubs them the wrong way..

[Stew]

 

It always bugged me that the Monte Carlo SS didn't get the TPI 350, or at least the TPI 305/5 speed combo. 

Totally agree with you, the car should have had more than the wimpy 305 only. But still loved the body especially the aero model.

 

That was my favorite in their burgundy color.

 

MonteCarloAero.jpg

1986MonteCarloAreoCoupe.jpg

WhiteSS.jpg

 

Yes, they got the exterior just right.  Had a teacher who had a Monte SS in school (maybe aging myself here lol), absolutely loved those cars

[ccap41]

I found some pictures of my C350 when I had her. First pic everything is factory. Then I changed the grill and hood emblem and had it tinted 20% all the way around. And the last picture of the 700+ miles was one day of driving where I intended to buy a Mach 1 in Iowa and the dealer straight up lied about the condition and it being all bone stock. It had exhaust and rock chips EVERYWHERE. like, even rear deck lid kind of everywhere. Then I ended up buying the Mach 1 that I did from Kentucky. In fantastic condition.

Oh and just a couple that I thought looked cool. One next to my gf's G and another near a Raptor at my gym.

[ccap41]

Okay I kind of messed up the last post picture-wise..

[FAPTurbo]

 

 

 

 

If money was no object, I would do what a group of GM engineers did to this lovely 1988 Monte Carlo SS. Original power plant was a LS3 180HP mated with a 4 speed transmission. They installed a LS376/525 Connect & Cruise system which included a T56 6 speed manual transmission.  Nice bump from 180HP to 525HP.
 
2014 Custom Monte Carlo with Engine kit.jpg
 
The full story of the car and the awesome crate engine / transmission package is found here.
 
http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/fuel-newsletter/2014/issue3.html

 
I really just want something a bit more up to date for my Toronado (if I had the money). No need for 500+ horsepower.  Swift and silent... a mild Turbo-6 would be fine.

 

 
That Monte Carlo is way overkill on an astronomical budget. If I had a resto car like that, I'd get a modern port-injected 5.3L from a junkyard because they're inexpensive and can be found anywhere. Couple of mods and it would make 330-350 hp.

 

If I was doing a G-Body resto-mod...
 - Id go with a TT 3.6 LF3  for the  Regal ....Id get the engine from a crashed CTS V-Sport and install it in the Buick...you know...Turbo 6 connection...
 
-  Grand-Prix would be a 6.0 LS2  @ 400HP/400 ft.lbs torque from a Pontiac GTO...because Pontiac...
 
-  Monte Carlo would get the 5.3 liter...like we said about a Camaro...for 327 cubic inch nostalgia purposes and Chevrolet
 
-  Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme would be getting an LS3...from a wrecked Pontiac G8 or Chevrolet SS or 2008 Corvette...
 
I wouldnt want more than the 400 or so horsepower with all these engines I chose.
Actually...Id be more than happy with your choice of the 5.3 @ 330-350 horsepower range you chose...
I chose those engines for some sort of connection I made with history and such...
 
These are my restomod G-Body models.
 
1987/1988 Chevy Monte Carlo LS

 
 
1981 Grand Prix LJ

 
1987 442

 
and/or
 
1983 Hurst/Olds

 
1987 GN GNX

 

[Intrepidation]

[oldshurst442]

Im confused....so...are you two Pixar playmates for or against overhang and the GM G-Body?

 

Because...everytime I see overhang on a classic American car...

 

 

 

And I just...

 

TOUCH MYSELF...

 

OOOOH...AHHHH

[ocnblu]

*fap*  oh jeez i did not mean to type that one handed sry carry on

[G. David Felt]

Wow is that woman flexible at 1:12 in the Touch Myself Video!