I know it's goona come up so I'll start it

I just got the July issue of Rod & Custom in the mail today. That made me happy Cool cars on the cover. Looks like another good issue with it's fair share of traditional stuff in it. Then I get to page 34 and here is a nice long article on a Toyota engine. I almost had to go back and look at the cover again to make sure I hadn't picked up a ricer mag by mistake . I'm sorry JimA but I just don't understand that. I know inexpensive four bangers blah blah blah but a TOYOTA Give me a brake. Maybe it's because I'm in the automotive industry and from Michigan where we live and breath the traditional Big 3. And no Japanese car company will ever in my Big 3 weather they outsell GM, Ford and/or Chrysler or not. And no Japanese engine will ever be in what I consider a Rod or a Custom. So don't do that again

 

I agree with you there. I sure wouldn't run one in anything.

I'm not a huge nascar fan, but I think it's a disgrace to let forien jobs run in it. Just as well, they might as well take the "s" out of nascar anyway, because there's nothing stock or production about any of them anymore.

 

Not to criticize JimA, but I would be interested in hearing an insider's view into how articles, especially "controversial" ones like a Toyota engine how to, get picked. Again, I'm interested in what criteria magazines use to determine content, because there's not a magazine I've ever read, car or non-car, that I haven't wondered about certain articles.

Tucker

 

give it a fucking rest already,toyota this, big (turd) 3 that,
none of it made here anymore.
sofa king what.....

put down the magazine, get off the shitter and get to work...

 

Man all this mags are going to shit ville now
that's why I dig RoadApples mag just cars
and no bullshit

 

From what I have read the TOYOTA CAMERY has more parts made in the USA than any other car sold in the United States.
My wife and I ( both 50 years young or older ) have driven FORDS all of our lives her last Ford was 84% made in Mexico and we felt it would not even last 100,000 miles so we traded it in for a 2000 Camery that now has 130,000 trouble free miles.
I bought a Ford Explorer the same year as the Camery two full brake jobs, one Automatic trans, and a complete front end rebuild all by 100,000 miles. And the best milage 17mpg from a V6. I now drive a 1993 Chev Surburban that get 18mpg and we will see how reliable that turns out. I would not hesitate to put a Toyota motor in a street rod myself.

 

Im savin parts for my next RPU A 29...it is gettin a Datsun 4 with 5 speed.....ha ha!! take that! Just kiddin Fuel Pump......Im tired of gas hogs-
[BTW-Im -AM-keepin my V8 HOTROD stuff]
.......and Im buildin this as a parts runner...

It's a 55 mile round trip for parts from here-My chevy v8 pickup takes 4 gals of gas to make a parts run minimum=
that's $10.76 a trip so trad is not an option for me.

 

i got it in the mail today .....haven't got to read the whole article....but from glancing at it ....it has some info i can use......my track t has a 20r /5 speed and a toyota truck rear.....nothing new ....i started the project 5 years ago....hoping to get it out by louisville....would have used a 2.5 s10 or a 2.3 ford......but when your given a fresh rebuilt 20r ....you use what ya have......they run good in the trucks.....so take half the weight out ....and that mother ought to fly ......who knows ....it could be a interesting ride to take to the foreign car day at the strip........ha brandon

 

Hey, how about that badass Hot Rod magazine I just bought! Cover story on 13 Retro '60's street machines and some other very cool articles....

Joel

 

that grey 66/67 nova is the stuff.....awb and a stack motor to boot....too cool.....brandon

 

Hey guy,December 7th 1941...there's alot of guys on the bottom of Pearl Harbor who died because of the Japs. Don't tell us how much you like your Jap car, go tell them.. Gary 4T950 Chevy Guy

 

uhm... then there was Hiroshima so.. i don't think we need a culture war here. Japanese cars (these days) are far more superior in the small vehicle industry. They sell and they sell well.. the north american manufacturers are still trying to keep up because the compact/sub-compact craze is gettign bigger.

I dig anyone trying new things.. 4 bangers/imports whatever.

i just don't see how bombing something over 50 years ago affects a choice of vehicle manufacturer when that country has been through.

let's see here, Pearl Harbour 2000+ deaths
Hiroshima 242,437

 

Good point. Only problem is, if the domestic manufacturers don't start building some decent cars, pretty soon you won't have a choice.

 

That was the point of my post, making payments on a new car and spending 1000 year after year fixing a new car gets old quick. And also look on the door post and see how little of your american car is american made. By the way my new old 93 Surburban seems to be better made that the lot newer truck than it replaced.

 

And there's other folks who think Rod and Custom's turning into a rat rod rag.There's room
for everyone.
GeminiEFI

 

great point, my daily driver is (gringe) an import but a rare import and quick . Trucks North America is good at, Japan has never met them there but the cars aren't even close. I was just recently in the market for a new car, even going to the auto show sitting in a Chevrolet compared to a Mazda then comparing prices, reliability it's mindless.

 

If you had family who died at Pearl you may think different.
Fuck Japan.

 

In the back of the R&C there is a quickie blurb on Church and the t-shirts. They do not mention the mini-mag though. That is some H.A.M.B. power right there.

Also they mention the reintroduction of the Big T model. I went on the Revell-Monogram sight but couldn't find any info on it. I'll admit I didn't spend too much time looking for it though.

 

Brad,Brad,Brad. A lot of people died in a very sad situation a long time ago, including parents and relatives of everyone. Like it or not. it is a world wide economy now and "Japanese" cars, made in America by American workers are often far superior to "American " cars made in foriegn countries. And Chrysler is owned by Diamler-Benz,so thereain't no big three. You are entitled to your opinion, provincial as it may be, but the HAMB is not about politics. Speak to the merits of the motor,period.

 

This is the progression of logic. We go from Japanese 4 banger to Pearl Harbor.

Own a Japanese car = screwing the coffin on U.S. Soldier.

This is the stupidest arguement ever.

I won't ever forget the service and sacrifice of our soliders but this sort of logic cheapens their contribution.

Dumb, just dumb.

 

Here's the problem with this logic...

American assembled, American made, and American owned are different. When a foreign owed company hires Americans to assemble Automobiles, it actually represents less than 2% of the revenue for the car. There is some slight money made by the Americans transporting this stuff into the country as well.

The question to ask is where are the profits going? The bulk of profit for a Toyota that was made in America goes to Japan. The bulk of profit for a GM car (Chevy Aveo) made in Korea goes to America. The trade deficit is made up of not only automobiles, but just about everything else.

I read a story that went something like this:
An American man came home in his German car, with a Chinese sticker of an American flag in the rear window. After a tough day he turned on his Japanese made television and poured himself a glass of French wine. He then slipped into his Italian loafers. After relaxing a while he took his Canadian prescription drugs, he sat down in his Swedish furniture and admired all of the nice Chinese made belongings that decorated his home. He needed this break from life because he had been unemployed for a while. He opened his newspaper to look for work and was bewildered why he could not find a good job in America.

It is not so hard to take a little effort to find out who is who and what is what as far as investing in this country versus a foreign country. I know it is easy to give up and say there is nothing American Made any more or the foreign company assembles all of their stuff here.

For those interested in how easy it is to actually buy American, I highly recommend this site:
http://www.howtobuyamerican.com/

I do not have any stake in the profits for this company. I used to work for Isuzu, so I am not trying to say that I am somehow above this issue either. It would be nice if Americans can invest in themselves again.

The news is not all bad for GM and Ford either:
General Motors and Ford Motor Company Earn Record Number of Model Awards
http://www.jdpower.com/news/releases/vds2005089.asp

God Bless America!

 

As a proud employee of GM (and it aint easy being proud these days guys) I reallly have to say that this import thing is killing me. GM's latest quality has been shown to be superior to many Japanese models (Toyota included) but the public doesn't know it. Do some reading - its true.

I know some of you may have stories about 1985 Toyota's you drove into the ground for 150,000 miles and never needed an oil change, etc. but you gotta give the Big 3 another chance - other wise they aint gonna be around much longer.

Trust me, I have seen the writing on the wall. I lost some friends last week due to layoffs at GM, and these layoffs are directly related to lost market share to the Japanese. True, Toyota (and the rest) are building cars here in the US, but the big $$ are going back overseas and not staying here. And true GM (and Ford and DCX) do get many components from overseas, but if you look at the percentage of American content on big three vehicles vs. the imports there is no comparison. I have seen the numbers...its true.

You are still buying significantly MORE AMERICAN when you buy GM, Ford, or DCX than any of the imports on average by a large percentage. And the more import vehicles you buy, the more the American car companies have to drive down component costs to make up for it, and the more shit they have to get from China instead of Toledo. Its a fact, jack.

In the end the US auto industry could end up like the textile mills of the east coast - a piece of history. Lets not let that happen, ok?? Especially you HAMBer's who appreciate American iron - please give the US auto industry a chance here eh???

Thanks - I'll get off my horse now! Back to the garage!

 

It is all well and good to try and keep your money at home, but when you are spending any where from $20+ for a new car, you want at least some level of quality. Unfortunately the american automobile industry has not stepped up to the plate when it comes to quality. I work on cars of a living and have for over 34 years, the "foreign" stuff is extremely well designed and well made. Toyota and Honda build absolutely bulletproof cars. No problems, nada. Fords, Chevies, etc are junk. And those are the better ones, don't even get me started about Jeep. So don't jump on the public for wanting something for their money, how about jumping on the people behind "The Big 3", et all. Get those management people on the carpet and make them answer for the crap they are trying to push on the American buyer.
And by the way, I don't think I'd ever put anything but an American V8 in my hotrod, but I think the V8 is the one thing Detroit can do right.

 

OK... Here's an argument... The crude oil that makes your gasoline or the oil that leaks out of your traditional car is probably pumped from one of the SOB's country (Saudi Arabia!?!) that did 9-11! So if you are so strong in not supporting any country that killed any American, you need to quit using all petroleum products.... including Vaseline!!!!

I don't like the way our government allows foreign based companies to take up residence here without making them play by the same rules that American companies do.... (Toyota has yet to my knowledge pay much in taxes for its Georgetown, KY plant, that makes the Sienna and Camry. I've heard that it has something like one hundred acres under roof, and when it was built, the curvature of the earth had to be taken in consideration, probably wives tales, but it is a big fuckin' plant). I really hate the way imported cars do not get taxed, yet our (American) cars get taxed by foreign countires when exported. BUT, foreign based companies provide hundreds of thousands of jobs for Americans... I work for a Japanese company (Not Toyota) but I won't buy a Japanese car by personal choice, not for the fact that WWII happened. (PS: you probably shouldn't buy any German cars because of WWII and the Nazis, British cars and products shouldn't be bought because of the Revolutionary War, etc. etc.)

Regardless, I do not like Japanese based motors in tradional Hot Rods. The baby Toyota Hemi looks kind of neat, but I don't think it fits traditional. I respect what some of the ricers can get out of their engines, but I still won't own one. I think all R & C is doing is shaking up the pot to see what happens. I don't personally remember, but I have seen several old magazines from '73 / '74 during oil embargo discussing oddball engines, which I beleive R & C is trying to do. A 2006 version of the Pinto motor, the Buick V-6, etc.

Andy

 

Ric - check out the JD power link above my first post.

Check out the bar chart.

Don't get me wrong - I am not saying that Toyota and Honda don't build good shit - but Cadillac, Buick, and Lincoln are above them on this list for quality. (granted Lexus is still number one - but we're working on catching them too!)

 

Yes, I tried to think that way when I was employed by Isuzu. I figured If I took the money that a Foreign company paid me and buy American that I was actually reducing the trade deficit. The problem was that I knew how to do good work and Isuzu was using my good work to increase profits. I quit, and shortly after Isuzu stopped selling cars. I don't think that it was due to me, but at least I do not have to work to improve foreign product any more.

I am no longer a Gai-jing (Japanese for low life foreigner) in my own country!

 

i cant complain about my 98 3/4 ton 4x4 chevy it has 116000 miles all its had is a front brake job ,fuel pump and a water pump.this truck gets USED i pull heavy trailers allot .and run it very hard...i plain on keeping it for at least 4 more years .ill get another 3/4 ton chevy 4x4. my mom had 96 firebird that had 126000 miles and it would still boil the rear tires.all it ever got was a heater core and a drivers door window switch....im happy with all the GM stuff ive bought .have no reason to buy anything else....

 

Hell yeah Ryan I'll pay for a premium hamb!

Oh...huh?

Olson

 

I worked for Delphi (parts supplier for mostly GM) until last February because the plant I was at is getting ready to close... I wanted outa Dodge before the shit hit the fan... Now I work for Mitsubishi Electric making Alternators and Starters for FORD, CHRYSLER, as well as Honda, Mitsubishi, etc..

I live in a GM town. My Father has worked for GM / Delphi for 30-odd years.... I spent 6 years there after working 4 years for another Japanese based automotive supplier. Of the 32 years I've been alive, there are only about 4 years that GM didn't pu food on my table or a roof over my head. I have all American based cars and am very happy with them... '94 Chevy Pickup with 180,000 miles, only replaced the brakes three times, 2 fuel pumps, 1 water pump... 1966 Buick with 275,000 miles on it... the original stuff lasted (prior to rebuilding the suspension and engine) lasted well over half of its life.... '98 Mustang with a V-6 / 5 sp that gets 25 mpg on the highway to work and back, 99 Olds Intrigue that has 100,000 miles on it and has yet to need anything but gas and oil... What American Automobile manufacturers need are more cars that aesthetically appeal to the masses and better advertising / marketing to improve their perceived lack of quality / longevity. The new Mustang is close, but every 4 door sedan made by GM looks just like every 4 sedan made across the pond. Chrysler's 300 has broken the mold alittle, but more needs to be done...

I for one will always support the Big 2 1/2 and buy what I can made in the USA, regardless of where my check originates or how I industrially whore my self. And I will only have American engines in my hot rods!

Andy

 

qzjrd5- That JD Power graph is encouraging, please don't misunderstand my intentions here. I wish the american auto industry well, I have always felt they were capable of so much better in terms of quality, etc. Maybe things are turning around. I am an independent repair shop owner, so what I work on is usually 4-5 years old at least, the domestic stuff I see is usually even older so I am not seeing the newest to come out of Detroit. Unfortunately they have a long history of poor products and the public remembers that.
Hey I always said, if we can put a man on the moon, how come we can't build a car that is worth a shit. I hope that maybe we are finally building that car.