New York August NYC Meet-Up 2021

[Calzone]

Back when I had a 1993 Jeep Cherokee, I consulted with a fluid engineer (who happened to be the guy who sold me the Jeep) about maximizing fuel mileage. The Cherokee had the awesome 4.0L AMC inline 6 cylinder engine, known for extreme longevity, but not known for great fuel economy. This was back right at the beginning of our second military field trip to Iraq and gas prices shot up over $4.00 in California (adjusted for inflation it was still more expensive then than it is now.) Anyway, the seller was also a designer of supercharger systems and had been contracted by Shelby, so he knew his stuff. He explained to me that thinking about the engine as a pump is what is key. So after schooling me on some airflow knowledge, he recommended that I hook up a vacuum gauge direct from the intake manifold to measure efficiency. I did that then he showed me where the "vacuum sweet spot" was for volumetric efficiency and I started using the gearbox a lot more to keep the vacuum signal to the gauge as steady as possible. What this taught me was that even in a truck with a mid-size engine, and a body that is built like a literal box, I could get decent fuel mileage. I drove back and forth from central California to New Mexico a few times and up to the Seattle area as well. I maxed out fuel economy in that Cherokee regularly at 30-32mpg, because I drove slower and I used my vacuum gauge + gearbox + RPM as a speedometer instead of blindly just driving. As cyclists, we feel wind resistance on our bodies build even after a few mph headwind; in a vehicle this really takes hold above 38mph, and builds logarithmically, if I recall correctly. This is how 55mph was established as a "fuel efficient" speed limit back in the 70s, but it was done by eggheads in a lab, not by American drivers. The DOT found by the early 90s that only a few percent had been saved by the speed limit, but that was only because people weren't maniacs who were using their heads and ears as an engine management system using a vacuum gauge. Most people just put the car in gear and drive.
I think I drove that Jeep across the continent maybe 4 or 5 times. I really liked that truck and wish I could find another. Chrysler steel and paint during the XJ era was not well suited for any kind of salt exposure and these days most of the XJ Cherokees have built-in air conditioning a-la rust holes.
One of these days I want to find a Willys wagon to bring back to operating condition and drive.

Phil Forrest

Phil,

Your understanding of physics holds true. Drag follows inverse square law. The difference between drag at 50 MPH verse’s 100 MPH is 4 times the drag. This is not linear at all.

In New Mexico I filled my Jeep Scrambler with 23 gallons of High-Test. Note I advanced the timing to compensate for high altitude on a carborated 258 Ci I-6. Also note that the 258 had a squarish bore and stroke and redlined at 3K RPM. Only 100 HP, but 220 foot pounds of torque.

I was on a shortcut from Santa Fe heading to an interstate to drive to New York about 2000 miles. The Jeep had a 2 1/2 inch lift and big tires; the speedometer only went to 85 MPH, but I figured out my speedometer had a 20% speedometer error so when I pegged the speedometer at 85 MPH I figure I was just doing over 100 MPH, and in a Jeep Scrambler with the lift that is mighty fast.

It was a deserted road that was lined with barbed wire on both sides, and like a boat I basically burned 23 gallons in an hour doing sustained 100 MPH. The expansion cracks pounded out a punk rock rythem, and one in a while the Scrambler would catch air in a dip in the road and we would skip a few beats. Kinda hairy, but also mucho fun. It required intense concentration

I am acquainted with a vacuum gauge, I installed one when I changed the engine to a ZZ3 Crate Motor (Corvette engine) that had 350HP 400 Foot Pounds of torque. If you learn how to jet a carb for maximum efficiently and smooth power a vacuum gauge is your friend. The idea is to maximize your timing right to the point of detonation, but also maximize vacuum for efficiency.

This process involves lots of trial and error as well as testing. Detonation is bad and can blow a hole in a piston. The air to fuel is too lean and ignition just kinda happens on its own.

I had a serious problem with the Scrambler. Without the doors and half cab it only weighed 3000 pounds with a full tank of high test, even though I had a 200 pound cast iron tranny and a heavier 350 Ci V-8. The problem was wheel hop under hard acceleration and this could lead to twisting the leaf spring so much that it would snap violently and cause a crash.

So tuning carbs and understanding how vacuum plays an important role in efficiently and power. An engine is nothing more than a pump.

My Scrambler beat a SVO Mustang in a drag race. The Mustang driver was surprise and annoyed. He wanted a rematch. I only needed two gears, while he needed three. Also to be fare I gave him the lead (head start). The Corvette engine had so much torque that I could start off in second gear at a stand still, and then redline the engine to 85 MPH.

I had an amazing tranny in that Jeep, a NV4500, which is basically a 3-speed tranny with a 6.32 under drive and an overdrive. With the gear multiplication of 2.6 from the transfere case, and the 3.50 gears in the cut down Ford 9 inch rear I figure I had 60:1 gear multiplication just in case I wanted to nose up into a telephone pole and push it down into someone’s living room who I didn’t like.

So if you were a car, and since you are gifted having a very high VO2 Max, you would be a car with a supercharger that can sustain high outputs for extraordinary amounts of time.

Snarky Joe would kinda be a truck with a diesel because he has lots of horsepower and torque.

If I were a car I might be a Porsche 550 Spyder a car that raced in 24 hours at Lemans in the late 50’s. It is the same car that James Dean got killed in. Weighing only 1250 pounds it had a 220 HP dual overhead cam “pancake” engine and pretty much because of its light weight performed like a go cart with great acceleration, handling, and braking.

So now the “Green Mean Machine” (C-10) is pretty much an old geezer that looks good still and held up well. Kinda funny how I personify cars and trucks.

Cal

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Cal, it sounds like your shortcut out of Santa Fe was Cerillos Road to North Hwy 14 (Turquoise Trail) then on County Rd 42 over to Hwy 41, down through Edgewood or Moriarty where it links up to I-40 east. The section of SF42 used to be dirt and it was a favorite road for stupid kids like myself with more horsepower to weight than brains. At that time, I had a 1967 VW baja bug with a 1641cc racing engine that revved up like a motorcycle. Before it was stuck in the car, it was dyno'd out to almost 110hp, which was insane for a little car that weighed 1300lbs. I had racing suspension with 8 inch coil-overs on that car and regularly got the it airborne because I was 19. Sometime while I was in the Navy, maybe about the turn of the milennium, the county paved the road which didn't make it safer, it just made it faster for the guys in the Porsches and BMWs (and Toyota Supras, etc).
Speaking of superchargers, my first real job after high school was working in the kitchen at Philmont Scout Ranch, up in Cimarron. It turned out that I was witness to a car theft by virtue of being the last person to see the accused and the car which was stolen. When the police report was made, one of the NM State Hwy Patrol officers showed up in a Caprice. He took the report and I asked about his car which had no strobe lights on top but had them just adjacent to the headlights. He said that the car was built for open highway speed and the rooftop lights created too much drag.
Then he opened the hood and showed me and a few of the other staff the reason you don't try to outrun a NM State Hwy Patrol car...
There was a giant twin screw supercharger sitting on top of the engine and he said that an ambulance mechanic tuned the car to reach above 200mph.
I doubt they still do any of that severe drivetrain customization, as most of the unibody cars these days can't take that kind of torque which would cause the pinch welds to twist apart. Come to think of it, I recall all of the NM State patrol vehicles being SUVs these days, as they are the last ones on the road with full frames, not just unibody construction.

Phil Forrest

 

[Calzone]

Cal, it sounds like your shortcut out of Santa Fe was Cerillos Road to North Hwy 14 (Turquoise Trail) then on County Rd 42 over to Hwy 41, down through Edgewood or Moriarty where it links up to I-40 east. The section of SF42 used to be dirt and it was a favorite road for stupid kids like myself with more horsepower to weight than brains. At that time, I had a 1967 VW baja bug with a 1641cc racing engine that revved up like a motorcycle. Before it was stuck in the car, it was dyno'd out to almost 110hp, which was insane for a little car that weighed 1300lbs. I had racing suspension with 8 inch coil-overs on that car and regularly got the it airborne because I was 19. Sometime while I was in the Navy, maybe about the turn of the milennium, the county paved the road which didn't make it safer, it just made it faster for the guys in the Porsches and BMWs (and Toyota Supras, etc).
Speaking of superchargers, my first real job after high school was working in the kitchen at Philmont Scout Ranch, up in Cimarron. It turned out that I was witness to a car theft by virtue of being the last person to see the accused and the car which was stolen. When the police report was made, one of the NM State Hwy Patrol officers showed up in a Caprice. He took the report and I asked about his car which had no strobe lights on top but had them just adjacent to the headlights. He said that the car was built for open highway speed and the rooftop lights created too much drag.
Then he opened the hood and showed me and a few of the other staff the reason you don't try to outrun a NM State Hwy Patrol car...
There was a giant twin screw supercharger sitting on top of the engine and he said that an ambulance mechanic tuned the car to reach above 200mph.
I doubt they still do any of that severe drivetrain customization, as most of the unibody cars these days can't take that kind of torque which would cause the pinch welds to twist apart. Come to think of it, I recall all of the NM State patrol vehicles being SUVs these days, as they are the last ones on the road with full frames, not just unibody construction.

Phil Forrest

Phil,

The road was paved before the millennium. When I performed that stint Ronald Ray-Gun was President. I was on field assignment at Los Alamos, even though I worked for Grumman.

I bought the Jeep Scrambler from a little old lady from Santa Fe. The truck was 5 years old and only had 20K miles on it. She used it as a farm vehicle and apologized that the bed had some wear and take on it because of hauling firewood.

Another great road to drive was State Highway 4 above Los Alamos. A climb around Bandelier National Monument with steep climbs and a hairpin switchback into the Jemez Mountains. I lived in La Cueva at the time and every day I drove the Via Grande, the volcano that once reached 10K-12K feet that blew its top like Mount Saint Helens to create a massive “Caldera.” I would see grassland and a prairie on one side of the road and mountain forest on the other side; and at times herds of Elk.

I loved the sense of scale, the textures, and the amazing light in New Mexico…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I have an infection in my right leg. My calf and ankle is swollen, so I went to urgent care to get antibiotics. Generally I never have any need to go to the doctor, but I don’t want things to go too far. Anyways the antibiotic is a strong one.

I looked things over on my C-10: there are no sway bars, and I determined that my original 56 year old springs have sagged though use and loading over the decades. The truck naturally lowered itself over time, and the usual 2 inch rake front to rear is now only 1 inch which gives my truck an aggressive “stance.”

Since I have no power assist on the steering I’m staying close to stock tire widths of 215 on the front and perhaps 235 on the rear, with either a 75 or 70 profile on my stock/OEM 15x6.5 steel rims with dog dish covers. I’m pretty much preserving the stock/factory look. I kinda like the “stance” as is. The 75’s are taller, and 70’s will slightly lower the truck, but it will have that old retro look.

Yesterday we went to a plumbing showroom to look at tubs and fixtures. On our way home we stopped at a “Vintage” store (antiques) and I found an array of camera junk I decided to buy because it was NOS in original boxes. Most useful is the Premier Safe lite. I bought another bulk film loader, so I am kinda collecting them, and I bought a Kodak Series 7 Skylight filter boxed, but I need a series 8 for my 21/3.4 Super Agulon-R. Oh-well, still a rare find for no money. Got a 24 exposure roll of Plus-X and a Polaroid 2 minute timer.

The kitchen needs touch up painting. And is pretty near completion. The powder room will get the plumbing don Tuesday.

The sweltering heat of July is upon us. A possible violent thunder storm is expected in the Hudson Valley region today until 9:00 PM tonight.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

The antibiotics are slowing me down, and I figure over the next 9-days I just will have to take it easy. Kinda like a down-time.

Meanwhile in the middle of the month will be a baby shower held at our house for “The Creature” who will give birth to “The Critter” around Labor Day. I expect a full blown “Maggie” attack. LOL. Just imagine if Martha Stewart had an older sister who was OCD. Anyways that’s Maggie.

So I finally figured out what makes my 1966 C-10 a nice truck is that it not only is pretty much stock OEM from the factory, but also is in clean shape. The wonderful “patina” on the green paint is something that can’t be replicated.

Further evidence that the truck was preserved because it not only was ordered with options for a “Camper,” but that for a very long time it was used as a camper revealed by the 56 year old springs that have sagged over decades. In effect the truck organically has been lowered, and the rake front to back has been reduced to a gentle 1 inch rather than the 2 inch when new.

The new extra set of springs I now realize are front springs, and they are likely stock height. I imagine if installed maybe the truck would lay level front to back. No factory sway bars installed, but I will install at least a front sway bar to stabilize the truck from body roll. Don’t know if I would want to add a rear sway bar, but one would be useful for towing or when carrying heavy loads which serves the utility I intend. The sway bars are pretty much just a bolt on.

The trailing arms on the rear suspension are new and the entire front end has been overhauled, as well as the steering. I’ll definitely need a new set of tires, and I intend on using the factory OEM steel narrow rims. I’ll keep them with the distressed original paint to keep everything as is as a statement. Tire size I think will be 215 front and 235 rear on the 15x6.5 wide rims, but I don’t know if I will go with a 75 profile for a larger diameter, or go slightly low profile with a 70 profile with a slightly smaller diameter.

The lack of power steering limits my use of perhaps a 225 or 235 on the front. I had manual steering on a Jeep CJ7 so I know that lots of upper body strength is used to turn the steering wheel to maneuver when not moving. Pretty much parking requires a larger space because steering gets easier if slowly rolling. The CJ-7 also had a large diameter steering wheel to offer additional leverage.

At best a 225 front and maybe a 245 rear is about as far as I would go. Maybe this is where I’ll end up. Remember that this truck is being set up as a cruiser… On some trucks the 215 looks too skinny…

At this point the lazy slacker in me wants to keep and maintain the C-10 as is because there is where the “Mojo” of this old truck lays. Just a clean, OEM truck that has not really been modified that kinda shows its age through some wear and tare and through the patina on the paint.

Drum brakes will get replaced with discs as an upgrade and for safety. Again better brakes for carrying loads.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Brothers Trucks sent me a 5% off coupon, so I’m thinking about buying a new wooden bed that I need for the truck. The one I want has oak for the wood instead of the OEM pine, and the metal strips are polished stainless steel. I think if I stain the oak with a tad of red it will compliment the green patina of the truck.

So anyways I’m getting a quality kit, upgrading to oak and stainless steel, and saving money.

Nice thing too is they have a replacement bed sill I need for $38.00. The OEM bed sill was destroyed/hacked when the under bed tank was installed.

Overall about $1.2K. Pretty much a nice project to dress up the truck, but that will be about it. In addition they have lock sets for the doors and glovebox. My C-10 is a “Custom” so it has keyed door locks on both doors, non-Customs only have a key lock on the driver’s side. Only $114.00 for the two doors and the glovebox.

I think they have new vinyl seat covering kits for $200.00. I have to look at all the stuff offered in their catalog…

Out of all trucks 1964 through 1966 C-10’s are basically the same truck with minor cosmetic differences. Oddly since my truck is a 1966 it should have backup lights, but it doesn’t. Pretty much this minor difference makes my truck look like a 1964 C-10. Anyways that what I thought it was until I got the title. Because the same truck basically was built over 3 years it has a vast aftermarket for parts.

Sometimes you have to spend money to save, and even though I was suppose to wait till next year, oh-well, they say there are times when you should “load up the truck.” I’ll take the 5%.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Not that I’m tired of the house, but I guess I’m excited about getting the truck on the road.

Devil Christian sends me these links to Epson printers that people are getting rid of. The most recent one was an Epson P7000 that had two carts not being recognized. I have had cart chips suddenly go south, and pretty much all that is required is to replace the chip. EZ-PZ. Happened to me maybe three times, but never two channels at a time.

The P7000 is a 24 inch printer, and is even bigger and heavier than my 7800 “Jersey Barrier.”

I can see me buying big printers and servicing them as a business. Don’t tell “Maggie” but I could see having an Epson junk yard in my basement.

So I also need another floor standing printer for color. I like Jon Cone inks for economy, and I don’t think Epson likes that refilling ink from Jon Cone is cheap-cheap-cheap. My B&W Piezography inks are expensive, but printing color is mucho inexpensive.

Then I would need yet another printer because I like using “Gloss Overcoat” from B&W Piezography printing on color prints. Pretty much is a protective coating that makes the colors more deep and vivid. Piezography glossy prints and color prints with gloss overcoat you can spit on and wipe the spit off with your hand and the print will not suffer any ill effect.

Because I’m a “Drama Queen” I did this at a workshop I did at ICP for entertainment value where I spit on a print to the horror of my audience. LOL. Lots of shock value…

So I think I have “Christian” disease which is a life of many different open projects that is a bit crazy and OCD. Christian also is the epicenter for “Linhof-Disease” which infected Snarky Joe and I.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Further forensics reveal that likely a gun rack was installed in the C-10. I found the four holes where the rack would have been mounted, so more confirmation that my truck was a camper for a hunter.

I also confirmed that my three on a tree is in fact a Muncie 318 which is a more heavily built tranny than the Saginaw version.

I have to call Brother’s Truck Parts tomorrow. I want to find out if I can use the 5% off on stuff I will back order. The way inflation is I want to try and save money not only by the 5% off, but I also want to lock in the price.

The interesting thing about Brother’s Trucks is that they only do Chevy and GMC, so they are specialized. Some things on my 56 year old truck need replacing like the sun visors that are kinda ratty that I can replace, then there are the door locks
I need because the truck came without the key. Brother’s basically has a lot of stuff I need that I can’t get elsewhere.

Tuesday comes the plumber and a painter. We are close to being done, but there are a few open items that require waiting.

Been running the Bertazzoni dishwasher a lot unpacking dishes that were store during construction. WOW. This dishwasher pretty much runs silently, and it does a really good job cleaning. Even though it is small it has a huge capacity. Anyways I love ther Italian appliances.

Last Saturday I dropped off a pair of Oakleys to have new prescription lenses made. About a month ago I went to the eye doctor to see if I needed a new prescription. I learned that my prescription barely changed from 3-4 years ago before Covid. Had the back of my eye photographed to document when I might need cat-R-act surgery, seems like the time for surgery is way in the future for me.

My eyes are stable.

I expect the powder room will be up and running sometime tomorrow. Maggie and I cleaned up the over 100 year old wardrobe I got from Rosemary the Dom-Man-A-trix. This Arm-war will be a freestanding closet in the powder room. Steven will be coming by tomorrow also to do the touch ups on the sheet rock and paint.

I will stay off my feet tomorrow which will be good for my recovery from Cellulitis. My goal is to place a big order at Brother’s Truck Parts as I can to get started on next years project. Getting a pickup is part of my new identity as a hill-billy.

Calvin-August AKA “Augie”

 

[MrFujicaman]

Cal, I think the reason you have no back-up lights on the truck is this: at some point the bed got badly damaged. The owner couldn't find a 1966 bed and used a 1964 bed for some reason.

 

[Calzone]

Cal, I think the reason you have no back-up lights on the truck is this: at some point the bed got badly damaged. The owner couldn't find a 1966 bed and used a 1964 bed for some reason.

MFM,

A 1964 or 1965 bed is a plausable explanation, but perhaps Chevy was like Fender Guitars and amps where a lot of undocumented stuff happened and maybe my truck was an early transitional truck that has a leftover 64 or 65 bed. I suspect this is more likely. Perhaps one of the first C-10’s of 1966. Even better yet, a mistake.

Been digging into tire and rim sizes because of brakes. OEM size back in 66 was a 215/75R15 for a 27.7 inch diameter. Pretty much I can’t go much wider in the front other than a 225 because of manual steering, and because I don’t want to upgrade to power steering.

Interesting to note that I have 215/75R15 on the rear and 255/60R15 on the front. This explains why steering is so hard: basically the suspension garage put the rear tires on the front and the 255’s have mucho big contact patch that creates too much friction with the pavement to overcome. Counterintuitively the 215’s is 0.7 inch taller than the 255, so if I reverse the tires to the correct positions, along with 56 years of sag the truck will have a near level stance which is perfect for me.

The single point leaf helper spring only gets loaded when the rear gets loaded enough to lower itself 1 inch. This opens up some possibilities, I won’t go too crazy, but I could use 255/60R16’s (28 inch diameter)on the back and 225/70R16’s on the front (28.4 inch diameter). This is me playing around and utilizing the 56 years of suspension sag to my advantage.

It seems that I have to upgrade the rims anyways when I convert to disc brakes. The small 15 inch diameter steel OEM rims are too narrow a diameter to accommodate the rotor and caliper. Trying to retain the retro look though and only go to 16 inch rims and tires that have sidewalls. I found some steel rims the call “Smoothies” made in the US. They are primed white, but know the truck came with 5 rattle cans of white pearl. Hmmm.

A dark maroon paint on the steel rims would play off the green patina… Then I could go loud and have chrome smoothies.

What is cool is that Smooties come in different widths so I could do a 9x16 on the front and a 10x16 on the rear.

Phil is correct that drum brakes function and have functioned for decades, but discs do better when wet and disparate heat better. The safety advantages are kinda worth the expense. Since I have to deal with mountains and I intend on hauling loads, good brakes are a great asset. They also say before you upgrade brakes, upgrade the tires, and in a ways I’m doing both tires and brakes at the same time. Anyways it makes sense that these have to get done together.

Another thing involved is that the axels have to be removed to remove the drum backing plate and install the mount for the caliper. At this time it makes sense to add a posi differential if one is wanted. I don’t think an open differential is a handicap for my purposes though…

The powder room is up and running. Mucho good. More smoothing and sanding the sheet rock tomorrow, and painting on Thursday.

Still lots of open details required to close the job. A partial payment for most of the work, but I’m withholding a few thousand to maintain pressure and leverage. It’s just business…

The saddles I had made I sanded, stained and am applying poly in a satin finish. A few more coats… This un-needed wood I ordered that was costly turned out to be a great resource that adds a powerful original eye popping detail that is mucho crazy. The saddles and thresholds match the quarter sawn heart pine floors. The effect is breath taking.

”The Creature” came by and has not seen the kitchen and powder room so far along. There is still “Ram Board” covering the floor, but the most outstanding thing about the kitchen are the stained moldings. I can take credit for a tedious job in staining them. Kinda funny how I topped out all the luxury of the custom cabinets and the lux appliances which are amazing.

”Creature Junior” really likes what I’m doing to “her” house. How entitled is that?

Cal

 

[Calzone]

More talk saying a recession in the next 12 months, oil prices are trading downward, and it seems our SPR (Strategic Petroleum Reserve) is being drawn down to sell oil to Europe.

Is the break in the cost of oil a signal that things are beginning to slow down? Also how long can the SPR be used in this manner before it becomes depleted? Surely this is an emergency measure and is not sustainable.

Eyes wide open, I worry about the mess we are in. As we battle inflation, it seems we also are creating it. The new arms race (supply and demand), the war in the Ukraine (supply and demand), the disruption of food supply (supply shortages), and the restocking of arms(demand) are all inflationary and as I say, “The money has to come from somewhere.”

A crazy example of inflation is this 17 inch wide retro sink with a fancy bridge facet. It cost just about $750.00 about 5-6 months ago, is now priced at $1.2K. It is still a nice sink, but now the price went from a little crazy to full blown insane.

The U.S. is not alone; looks like recessions are looming in other developed countries, and undeveloped countries have lots of debt that will be difficult to repay if we have a global recession.

I wish Biden would kill the Canadian Trump Tarriffs. The Canadian lumber tariff is 20% and surely this caused inflation because 25% of our lumber comes from Canada. Also there is a 25% tariff on finished Canadian wood products, so things like our 10x10 pergola are ridiculously priced. For transparency know I would like to buy more Canadian lumber and Canadian finished wood products like a shed kit.

The talk of killing Chinese tariffs does nothing for me. I basically avoid buying products produced in China which is basically cheap crap. Perhaps the only big box store I frequent is Home Cheapo. I avoid “Chinese quality,” and I can say this without being racist because ethnically I’m Chinese.

The Rat-Rod is an interesting challenge. I pretty much would want to build a truck to keep for decades, and exterior cosmetic expenditures are kinda like Botox, artificial, and leading down a road where looks are most important part of identity. Kinda also like needing fancy clothes to be pretty, or having a nice body, but not willing to spend time in the gym sweating.

I have to draw a line; if I wanted a new truck I would have bought one; but I wanted an old truck to project some of my personality, and to make it my own. This truck already stands out because of its condition, then I’ll be customizing it updating it with some modern features for durability, safety, reliability and efficiency.

Pretty much not a hot-rod because the inline-six is only getting “warmed over” and pretty much any extra power would be due to better breathing and efficiency. This truck will be a cruiser. It will be able to carry payloads as designed, so no lowering for looks, loss of utility, or loss of payload capacity. In fact the brake upgrade makes it better for towing and carrying payloads.

So overall the truck is like me; old but in good condition, with many decades left, that still is attractive and functional. Interesting how counter trend this is, and this is why I like the idea. Also Phil’s description of modern trucks as “Bloated” rings true to me. There also is wisdom in knowing that decades out gas prices will get even more crazy. Something has to give…

What is kinda crazy is how regulated the auto industry has become. How is my Audi A4, a compact “Executive-Car” weigh about 150 pounds more than a half ton long-bed pickup truck? Again, “The money has to come from somewhere,” and it seems the costs that make modern trucks “bloated” is in the price. Another example was my Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler. With the Corvette engine, 200 pound NV4500 tranny, heavy half ton Ford 9 inch rear, a 4-core hundred pound copper radiator (Cost over $500 over 2 decades ago), and massive bumpers and grill guard only weighed 3,000 pounds with a full tank of gas without the cab and doors measured at BNL’s truck scale.

A new Jeep Gladiator weighs 4500 pounds. How bloated is that? The price also is “Bloated” IMHO. Perhaps we should consider my C-10 another “Skinny-Bitch.”

Anyways is my thinking distorted or crazy? I just want to spend my limited resources wisely, and buying this old truck seemed like a great way to save money, especially the way I intend on utilizing it. Also it provides a statement and a lifestyle that is me that is counter trend. Not my first Rat-Rod. I remember how kindly one of my neighbors in the Long Island suburbs delicately asked me not to park my ratty 60 Ford 4-door Falcon in front of her house. I took no insult. LOL.

Also I owned the famous 1967 Ford Falcon 4-door that was half mucho faded maroon and the rest of the body was pure rust. The roof bike rack was worth more than the car someone said. This car had no floorboard on the front passenger side, and when I drove through puddles I would get splashed. LOL.

The thing now is that I can preserve the C-10 as is in the garage. This truck will only get rarer, and if preserved in this condition as is, I can see how it can only go up in value, meaning the key here is to always think of any money I spend that I should be able to recover because of the value added. Even though I don’t intend on installing a V-8 the disc brake upgrade kinda promotes moving in this direction. For someone wanting to build out a hot rod they would want ideally a stock OEM truck with only mods that they would retain. The disc brakes are such an upgrade.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I use to bust Snarky Joe about retirement because there is more to life than work, but I understand the concept now that I never did before of having “skin in the game.” Understand that Joe is a businessman and I’m just a lazy-slacker who went to art school and held day jobs for 40 years.

So owning a house and fixing it up is “having skin in the game.” So now I understand how this work becomes an extension of oneself, or at least in my case it is. The same for the 1966 C-10, I have skin in the game. Kinda like in photography the extra pride that goes in when you do your own developing and printing, especially when you are good at it.

So the Audi A4 was a “bought” car that is kinda turnkey, but built out as a really fine car. I stumbled into buying it before it got mucho inflated due to shortages, so it is valuable in other ways.

Anyways, I just want to acknowledge that I understand why Snarky Joe continues to work. It is very-very different working for yourself. After 40 years of working “day-jobs” that is kinda what I’m doing. It is a very different kind of work now where its more about value added and richness rather than just getting a paycheck. Also the sacrifice, the saving, and the delayed gratification is paying dividends to enjoy. Anyways I’m not really retired…

I lived part of my life as a “dirt-bag” with very little, and now I afford luxury. Not easy escaping poverty, not everyone can do it, and it requires a plan, determination, and being stubborn. I don’t think it has to do a lot with luck, it takes time. Perhaps entitlement promotes an attitude that prevents many.

So anyways I hope this rant does not come across as bragging, but I want to inform people in a helpful manner. I remember here on RFF the personal attacks from people I thought were my friends, who I knew personally from B&H, who felt entitled thinking they deserved shooting Leica’s as some form of entitlement. I got called being like a “Rich Dentist” as an insult and my being a serious photographer was disregarded.

Matt and Brennen were both young BTW. I profile them as “Posers” as my insult. Matt came to NYC from the Pacific Northwest, and Brennen came from Tennasee to NYC.

This is rather harsh, but IMHO they only came to NYC to fill out a “Bucket List” so they would return back home as hero’s. Anyways not real New Yorkers, not so tough or not tough enough to hang around. Back home them might be taken as really cool, but I know they are real posers trying to pretend they were both real New Yorkers.

These guys had Leica envy big time. I mentioned how I did not drink or smoke, and how I walked everywhere to save $2.75 Metrocard fares to afford Leicas. Fell on dead ears. These guys though and likely still think they are great. Jerks. They felt they deserved Leicas in an entitled way.

Calvin

 

[jszokoli]

Cal,

I've always acted like 'I had skin in the game' even when working for my old employer, and really didn't. Owning the company is the ultimate 'skin in the game'.

If I were you I would keep the truck as close to stock as possible, given safety, and maintainability are maintained. I kept my mouth shut when you were in full resto-mod mode.

Seeing that this tread was started a year ago, it might be confusing to some one reading it and could end up at the Astoria beer garden on the 8th...

What's your thought on a meet-up any time soon?

Joe

 

[Calzone]

Cal,

I've always acted like 'I had skin in the game' even when working for my old employer, and really didn't. Owning the company is the ultimate 'skin in the game'.

If I were you I would keep the truck as close to stock as possible, given safety, and maintainability are maintained. I kept my mouth shut when you were in full resto-mod mode.

Seeing that this tread was started a year ago, it might be confusing to some one reading it and could end up at the Astoria beer garden on the 8th...

What's your thought on a meet-up any time soon?

Joe

Joe,

I’m tired of being a house slave. After the middle of July Things will open up for me. I say have another August Meet-Up at the Beer Garden in Astoria.

I think you will like the MD-2 with the 21/3.4 SA-R. Eventually my M3-DS got repaired. Then there is the camera I call “The Devil Christian.”

My agent inquired about what kind of photography I do. My response was B&W street along with urban landscape. Not sure if this is connected to photography, but Vanessa has a Leica connection. I am kinda very busy, so I was hoping and believing in the delayed slow start in November, but the backstory here is that there seems to be a lot of possible interest going on.

I had no skin in the game as a cyclotron engineer. Pretty much only a job with benefits. When I worked at two National Labs there was honor in that, and at Grumman work was part of my identity.

I agree owning one’s own company or business is the ultimate “skin in the game.” No one to blame when things go wrong because you are “ultimately responsible.”

I guess I miss my old Jeep, but this a more sensible replacement. I’l just mildly “warm” things up, nothing too hot. Pretty much updates would be for reliability, safety and economy. When said and done mucho cheaper than any new truck, but a lot cooler.Keeping the truck OEM as much as possible adds a lot of cool.

Cal

 

[pyeh]

Cal, if you're not traveling in November, can we have a meetup on the weekend November 10-11? I will be in NY again for the first time since January 2016, which is when I met y'all at Puck Fair. You kindly convened the Annual Beauty Pageant one month early to accommodate me.

I actually will be in NY for a week, so for me it could be on a weekday following that weekend. I'll even get myself to Peekskill if that's what it takes.

 

[Calzone]

Cal, if you're not traveling in November, can we have a meetup on the weekend November 10-11? I will be in NY again for the first time since January 2016, which is when I met y'all at Puck Fair. You kindly convened the Annual Beauty Pageant one month early to accommodate me.

I actually will be in NY for a week, so for me it could be on a weekday following that weekend. I'll even get myself to Peekskill if that's what it takes.

Pete,

Sunday November 11th it Is.

If you like you could also set a day aside for a daytrip to Peekskill. Take a train to Peekskill and then I have a car.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I was clever and modded the thread title to have 2021 in it to avoid the confusion I created with two August Meet-Up threads.

Snarky Joe would approve.

Cal

 

[pyeh]

Cal, it's so good of you to start the ball rolling for November. Thanks very much. Maybe we'll get other international or interstate attendees as well as you locals.

I might take you up on your invitation to Peeky. I'd like to see some countryside. Some friends drove me up to Connecticut in that 2016 trip and we stopped in Hudson for lunch. That's about as much as I've seen.

 

[pyeh]

Sorry, that should be the weekend November 12-13, not 10-11.
Thanks

 

[Calzone]

Cal, it's so good of you to start the ball rolling for November. Thanks very much. Maybe we'll get other international or interstate attendees as well as you locals.

I might take you up on your invitation to Peeky. I'd like to see some countryside. Some friends drove me up to Connecticut in that 2016 trip and we stopped in Hudson for lunch. That's about as much as I've seen.

Pete,

Lots of possibilities to explore. We were in Hudson recently, but there are many places to explore in the Hudson Valley. Let’s make this an adventure, do some exploration over the Internet, let’s dig in, and plan a day trip to really explore some place interesting. This could be a really cool adventure that we can really plan out.

Also at a certain level knowing history and local culture can certainly aid in making good photographs and especially is important in editing. Let’s try to do some of this legwork.

Cal