Greetings, First off, for those of you who don't speak "New Englandese" a Swamp Yankee is the North East's version of a redneck. Yup, we have 'em up here too! Although I used to commute to work in Cambridge, I didn't "paahk my caah in Haavaahd Yahd" and I don't care one bit about the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, or Bruins. 'Cause if you can't drive it, shoot it, or otherwise cause severe bodily injury by improper use, it ain't on my radar. I grew up working on Chevy trucks, Model A Fords and Ferguson tractors. My first car was a 68 VW Beetle that took me 2 years to restore and less than one year to destroy. That car taught me many things, such as, ... always plan the landing before the jump... VWs really do float.... and cops don't like to follow you across a river. I've owned or driven everthing from Hyundais to Tanks. My two favorite vehicles are My 1952 1/2 to Chevy and My Dad's 1932 Ford Model B roadster. Both have been frame-off restored in true back-yard mechanic fashion. His is all stock with an original 4cyl "B" engine. The only upgrade was to add hydraulic brakes off a 39 merc. Mine is mechanically stock with a newer 235 and original 4 speed. It runs, but The engine is tired and it's long overdue for an update. I plan to swap the body over to an S10 4X4 frame and put in a rebuilt 283 SB that I saved from an old project. Nothing wild, just a low buck, low tech, bark the tires and scare the neighbors cat machine. I welcome advice from anyone who's made similar swaps, and willingly share the benefits of my mistakes with others. Regards to all, and repeat after me ...."So What, I made mine..."
Welcome to the Hamb! We've got at least one thing in common, I couldn't give a **** about the farking Red Sox, Bruins, blah blah blah. (And if I never have to go to the peoples republik of Cambridge again... well, that would be just great by me) BTW, does Swamp Yankee really mean redneck? I kinda took it to mean cheap cheap cheap cheap mofo. Not that I'm saying that's what you are, but as a transplant of sorts, I'm a little new to the term.
A 31 MO FO, I've only got this one shot of Dad's 32 online at work. I'll have to down load some better ones. I've also got a photo of the "Gibbs/Reilly Special, a B motored dirt tracker he used to drive. There's some open-wheel nostalgia for ya'. Before I was born he restored a 30 five window and I grew up with it in our garage and 3 or four Model A "cutdowns" or "Doodle bugs" (used as log skidders and for pulls) in the yard. He sold the A to put the money into restoring this roadster from a basket case consisting of a good frame and some pretty dilapidated body panels into a fully functional B roadster. How many of those do you suppose have survived? I know of two others. It won't win any races or show-n-shines, but My kids love to hop in the rumble seat and let Grampy take them for an ice cream. That's what it's all all about to me. I've got little use for trailer queens and "bought-rods".
Welcome from a displaced swamp yankee nutmegger. My family fought in King Phillips War and the old state house in Providence is built on land my family donated. Of course, I really don't give a **** about that, since I dont have 2 pennies to rub together anyhows. You ever get over to Ray Helger's in Little Compton RI? Nice model B there. Welcome- I think you'll fit right in here. Jay
Small world Nosurf, I live in MA but I work down here In RI (W.Greenwich) and most of my commute goes through CT. I spent two years stationed at FT Riley KS. In fact, that's where I bought my 52 chevy Pickup. As you might recall, it's damn near impossible to find anything around here over 20 years old with much left south of the door handles. When I first brought my truck back here (still registered in Toto land) I couldn't park it for five minutes without the windshield getting festooned with WTB notices.
Ahhh. The Big Red One. I actually met my wife there, taking a summer cl*** when I was going to engineering school at Kansas State. Grahjee-ated and then moved/worked in Boston, got tired of not being able to afford to live, and moved back here. small world.
The Jalopy Journal
