I’ve been workin on and breathin cars nearly as long as I’ve been breathing. But really can’t remember why. Dad didn’t drive and mom didn’t know the difference between a dipstick and a pogo stick. I do remember, back in school, studying the “Little Pages” hotrod books in study hall and cl***es. Most of my friends were, and are, old car nuts. I can’t go to their houses without fallin over car junk, a 49 Merc. grille, 32 Ford bumpers, etc. This introduction should have been easy. I’ve been playing with old cars and this computer for a few years. But, for some reason I am skeered you won’t think I am worthy of this HAMB forum. After all, I know nothing about the site. I only came here to read about that odd UltraVan a friend told me was here. I spent an hour doing an intro, to be informed that I wasn’t signed in when I was. Already you don’t love me! I may be slow. But I aint a quitter. So here I go again. I really am a car guy---and I’ll never change. I don‘t want to! First car was a 1949 Dodge coupe that I customized in 1956 using those “Little Pages” magazines. Still got the mag with the pictures of the Dodge or Plymouth that inspired me. Married as soon as I graduated HS in 1957 to my HS sweetheart. Right after buying second hand furniture for our tiny home I bought a 31 Model A coupe project. Sold it to buy a Model T. That’s where I got the handle Model T. From that time on I’ve had a few old cars and my high school sweetheart to play with. Still livin and breathin old cars and hangin out with my high school sweetheart. We ride around in the 1955 Chevy 2-dr wagon I bought while back in Illinois in 1987. Don’t call it a Nomad! It ain’t a Nomad, it’s a Handyman 210 2-dr wagon! Okay, the quarters were rusted out so I added 55 Nomad quarters and 1955 Bel Aire trim and paint scheme to create R-toy-55. Everything from paint to interior and mechanics was done back in 87-89 in my driveway and home garage using crude tools, just like the shade tree mechanics of the past. The wagon is gettin old and tired, like me, but we are still puttin miles on both of us. Same paint and body work, but third engine/******. Now has a HO 305/200R4, Dakota dash, modern wipers, cruise, Vintage AC/heat/defrost, and the same junk yard disc brakes and Camaro rear end. Getting soft with age so needed an upgrade. Our other toy is a yeller 1941 Ford 4-dr. Camaro sub frame, 350/350/Camaro rear end gets us down the road like a Chevy. Sittin in the shed is my 1939 Ford deluxe coupe, owned since mid 70’s. Early project with 283/Powerglide/57 Chevy rear, etc. Another dream/nitemare is our 1946 Mercury coupe project in about a jillion pieces with enough to build almost two cars. Extra rollin Flathead ch***is. Our unfinished RV tow vehicle is a 1948 Chevy ½ ton panel truck. MMII with T-Bird power rack, 350/350, Camaro rear. Hey the combo works and I can always steal parts off the others. Shaved doors and even power cowl vent, rear roll pan with hidden receiver for RV. I wanted to chop that ****er and make one of those Dodge hump topped panels but common sense stopped me. 1950 Studebaker Commander 4-dr project is really my son’s. Gave it to him when he was nine to play with. He’s 22! We work slowly. Have 440 Dodge/Torqueflite from our old motor home waiting. Last but not least, the reason I came here to snoop, a 1969 UltraVan motor home. 48,000 miles on Corvair drive train. Wanted one since late 60’s. Ours is unit #481. After Calif. designer/builder sold out they were built in Hutchinson, Kansas in an airplane hanger till after GM stopped building Corvairs. They tried 307 Chevy/Vette rear, complete Toronado sub frame transaxle setup, even a Ford or two before finally closing shop. Since I know very little about Corvairs and there are few and far between Corvair garages left, my plan was to drop in a late model GM front wheel drive complete unit, in the back. Still dreamin! But that’s what car guys do and where great ideas come from. Since I got temporarily deleted from this forum, I finally took time to look around as a guest. Most of you are mentally disturbed and seem to have been breathin too many fumes. I might just fit in here. If I don’t you’ll have to change your ways. I’m too damned old to be changing myself! Front tag on old Illinois plate shows what it is.
Model T1------------See the space after the "l" in Model before the "T"? I didn't notice it and took three days to get on here. I was using ModelT1. Kept getting new p***words when I couldn't get in. The administrator got out of his sick bed and left his wife and new baby just to help me. Now that I'm here, talk to me. Let's talk cars-----or girls----or bikes-----or ****!
Thanks. Born and sort of raised near Peoria, Illinois. Been to Indy for many car shows and some sort of races at a little race track that goes round and round. .
Mid west is friendly. Thanks. Been to many large rod runs and covered bridges in Indiana. Nice place to cruise and visit in the summertime.
The Jalopy Journal
