65GS.com - Buick Gran Sport Enthusiasts!
General Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: elagache on March 02, 2019, 06:47:42 PM
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Dear 65GS.com members who are weary of "another Internet newsletter,"
Hagerty's seems to be having something of an identity crisis with that other classic car institution who's name starts with 'H". First, they upgraded their bimonthly magazine. Now they are planning daily email newsletters. I timidly signed up on the promise I can excape if they overwhelm me. As a teaser, they provided an article on what they claim is the sorely underappreciated V-6 engine.
To prove their point, they provide a list of what Hagerty's considers to be the most worthy V-6 engines related to classic cars. The article is here:
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/02/20/top-5-v-6-engines (https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/02/20/top-5-v-6-engines)
The first 2 are Italian engines that are arguably in the exotic category. The next is one I had never heard of: the GMC Big Block 478 V-6. Here is the Wikipedia article about it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMC_V6_engine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMC_V6_engine)
According to Hagerty's these engines were produced between 1960 and 1974. Wikipedia adds that a V-12 version of this engine as developed - the so-called "twin Six" had a displacement of 702-cubic-inch (11.5 L) and could produce a respectable Torque was 585 lb?ft (793 N?m).
The engine after that is a famous Buick GNX 3800 which I think we call can be proud of. Hagerty rounds out the top-5 with a modern Mitsubishi twin-turbo V-6.
Some interesting reading from Hagerty's. We'll see if they can keep up this literary pace!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Edouard,
You actually have heard of the GMC v-6 because it was used in most of the early 60's GMC pickups as the standard engine. Most of us were not aware that there were major differences between a Chevrolet and a GMC pickup. Chevys were the poor mans truck vs. GMC (the contractor-work) truck. Differences included as standard equipment were a 305 cubic inch v6 instead of a 250 straight six,four headlights instead of two,and standard multi-leaf rear springs rather than coils. I am sure there were other differences as far as options,but it was not until the early 70's that Chevy and GMC were merely grille and emblem distinctions. Dan
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Dear Dan and 65GS.com members with so much knowledge to share! :hello2:
You actually have heard of the GMC v-6 because it was used in most of the early 60's GMC pickups as the standard engine. Most of us were not aware that there were major differences between a Chevrolet and a GMC pickup. Chevys were the poor mans truck vs. GMC (the contractor-work) truck. Differences included as standard equipment were a 305 cubic inch v6 instead of a 250 straight six,four headlights instead of two,and standard multi-leaf rear springs rather than coils. I am sure there were other differences as far as options,but it was not until the early 70's that Chevy and GMC were merely grille and emblem distinctions. Dan
Well perhaps I should have known all this but I didn't! So thanks for the info. Of course I was born in the early 60s and would have become car savvy until my teenage years, so that by then GMC and Chevy trucks did look basically the same. Since pickups aren't my cup of tea, I would have never known without the tip so thanks!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear 65GS.com faithful who take care of cars of all ages,
Today Hagerty has an article on the new EPA regulations regarding fuels with 15% ethanol - so-called E15.
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/03/20/e15-ethanol-is-coming-like-it-or-not (https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/03/20/e15-ethanol-is-coming-like-it-or-not)
This has been looming for a while so most of you may have been somewhat aware of it. What really floored me is the effect it will have on our "modern" cars. According to this article: "There’s no need to panic, but you’ll want to be vigilant. If you own a car built since 2012, check the owner’s manual to see if you can use E15. If the manual doesn’t specifically say it’s OK, avoid using it." At our house, the youngest car is already 9 years old and clearly wasn't designed for E15.
The article includes a link to a website that attempts to list all the gas stations in the United States and Canada that sell only gasoline:
https://www.pure-gas.org/ (https://www.pure-gas.org/)
It may be some help in trying to avoid damaging any of your cars not designed for ethanol.
I'm afraid this another one of those "grin and bear it" situations . . . . . .
Oh well, . . . . Edouard
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Here our WI based major competitor introduced the E-15 as Unleaded 88, so that?s what we had to call it too. It should be marketed as E-15 but that would not appeal to people so Unleaded 88 it is. I don?t use it in my cars.
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Dear Jim and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Here our WI based major competitor introduced the E-15 as Unleaded 88, so that?s what we had to call it too. It should be marketed as E-15 but that would not appeal to people so Unleaded 88 it is. I don?t use it in my cars.
Thanks for sharing - definitely very curious. Another example of showing my age, but at least in California, the last leaded gas you could buy was 88 octane. I remember refilling my wagon after work one cold and gloomy December night during the 1990s. It was the last time she would get leaded gas. Starting on the first, only unleaded gas was available. At the time I remember wondering what kind of a future lay in store for my wagon.
How many people even know that 88 octane gas ever existed? I assume cars are designed for either regular or premium so you won't find any owner's manual stating a car needs 88 octane. It is hard to imagine why anyone would buy anything else but their usual gasoline. Are people foolish enough to switch brands just because it has just one more octane?
I don't think I really want to know! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/confused_do_no.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear 65GS.com faithful,
Hagerty's daily email newsletter has been sputtering a bit, but they finally came out with a new edition today. In it they ran an article on what their editors consider to be the 11 best wheel designs:
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/05/01/11-of-the-best-wheel-designs (https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/05/01/11-of-the-best-wheel-designs)
I'll withhold comment with the exception that the majority of the wheels are on imported cars. That might be something of a bias.
Opinions 65GS.com gang? :icon_scratch:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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None of them would make my top 50.
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Dear Jim and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
None of them would make my top 50.
I was definitely not impressed with Hagerty's choices. I have a bit of a soft spot for wire wheels - is it a very classic engineering choice. The Pontiac Trans Am honeycomb wheels aren't too bad. Still I was disappointed that Hagerty's seemed to heavily biased toward modern wheel designs. Most of those designs haven't been around long enough for history to really pass judgement upon them.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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I was not impressed with the article after seeing their pic of the "honeycomb" wheels. If a Pontiac guy sees that he will cringe....they actually came out in 72 Trans ams and an earlier gto version and do not look like the ones pictured. More fake news filler type articles to sell publications. At least do the research if you are going to form an opinion that is obviously biased from the start. I guess it annoys me because anything you search for now days is not necessarily the correct answer,but the most popular answer. I will agree that the "knock-off" corvette wheels belonged on that list,but get real Pontiac rally II's,magnum 500,road rally's,are basically ALL a slight variation of the same wheel(even the 69-70 SS is basically the same). The late 78 turbo Buick or chrome 86-7 Grand National wheel was a lot more deserving of recognition over most of the ones mentioned. Of course that is just my opinion,but at least they are unique by comparison.
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Dear Dan and 65GS.com faithful,
. . . .
I guess it annoys me because anything you search for now days is not necessarily the correct answer,but the most popular answer.
. . . .
Definitely sad but true. I would have hope for better from Hagerty's
Oh well, . . . . . Edouard
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Well...
it is just an insurance company trying to do business. It does make one wonder who comes up with this stuff
because obviously to the person telling the story the best wheels were only on imports,exotic road rally cars,or something else worthy of collector insurance. I guess I?m more of a realist of function over popularity. It may be simply that I can?t understand the total uselessness of such an opinionated article that does not even mention any real production ingenuity. Where are the mopar wheels that were installed with left handed threads in order to not loosen at high speed or the eight lug super duty Pontiac wheels that were used to clear the bigger drum brakes? I?m just thinking it was only for cars that someone thought was cool,but not necessarily me. I actually think the aftermarket cragar s/s and the American turbo thrust have stood the test of time,but as far as OEM wheels are concerned....nothing worth mentioning in the original article.
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Dear 65GS.com fans of GM engine technology,
Hagerty's has a nice piece on the design modifications in the LT2 V-8 that is powering the mid-engine Corvette:
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/09/17/engineering-brilliance-behind-c8-corvette-lt2-v8 (https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/09/17/engineering-brilliance-behind-c8-corvette-lt2-v8)
The first paragraph sets the stage:
Given the C8 Corvette’s role as the pride of GM, this sports car is both a revolution in American architecture and exterior design and a prime opportunity for engine lab gurus to shine. Squeezing 495 horsepower from 6.2 liters—that’s 1.3 hp per cubic inch—without benefit of overhead camshafts, multi-valve combustion chambers, or boosting is a worthy accomplishment. Here’s how the clever GM engineers did it.
Now keep in mind this engine isn't as innovative in terms of horsepower per cubic inch. For a reference, Biquette's engine is 1.12 horsepower per cubic inch. So the Corvette engine is only squeezing about 13% more horsepower than Biquette's modernized Buick big-block engine. The innovation comes in how well the engine does this and "minor details" like this engine meets current pollution standards and is much more fuel efficient! Still, there is a point about heritage. It is the evolutionary descendant of the muscle car engines of the 1960s and 70s.
The last paragraph has another unique point about this super-car:
LT2’s real claim to fame is that it makes nearly 500 horsepower—enough to power your average $200,000 supercar—at low cost. This is why Chevy is able and willing to offer the new mid-engine Corvette at a $59,995 starting price. So the next time your bar bro disparages pushrods as yestertech, remind him that there’s no other car in the world capable of crowding 200 mph and scooting to 60 in less than three seconds for such a pittance.
Until now I couldn't help but feel that having the Corvette under the Chevrolet brand was a kind of outrageous bias of GM corporate management. GM has always has a problem with encouraging brand loyalty and a high-end sports car should never have been associated with their budget car brand. However, perhaps this has come full circle in a way that would please both Louis Chevrolet and Billy Durant. The mid-engine Corvette is the super-car for the masses in so far as any such car can exist.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Gotta go big, or go home Ed! GM has managed to squeeze 3.25HP/CI for quite some time at only 950 RPM. Youll appreciate where this is going. 11,360 CI @ 3500 HP at 950 spins. Think we could squeeze one in the BillyGoat?? Bill
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_710
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Dear Bill and mid-60s Buick owners who are fussy about the means of propulsion used on the various thoroughfares,
Gotta go big, or go home Ed! GM has managed to squeeze 3.25HP/CI for quite some time at only 950 RPM. Youll appreciate where this is going. 11,360 CI @ 3500 HP at 950 spins. Think we could squeeze one in the BillyGoat?? Bill
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_710
I'm sorry, but when it comes to steel rails I'm a purist - steam or nuthing!! . . . :laughing7:
However, the Wikipedia article pointed another sad fact of the tough times General Motors has been facing lately. I didn't realized they had sold it's Electro-Motive Division in 2005:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electro-Motive_Diesel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electro-Motive_Diesel)
Sure has been some desperately tough times for all the auto makers of the world.
Edouard
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Being from LaGrange, Il. and having had my dad work for EMD from 1940 (18 y.o.) till 1963, Ill always consider that site as EMD. Dozens of H.S. pals worked there making real money. Now theyre probably flippin' burgers at crack-arnolds for he senior menu LOL...
This is pops at 34 YO at the front door of EMD in 1956. 3rd row second from left. Mechanical engineering testing division. Bill
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Dear Bill and 65GS.com faithful,
Being from LaGrange, Il. and having had my dad work for EMD from 1940 (18 y.o.) till 1963, Ill always consider that site as EMD. Dozens of H.S. pals worked there making real money. Now theyre probably flippin' burgers at crack-arnolds for he senior menu LOL...
This is pops at 34 YO at the front door of EMD in 1956. 3rd row second from left. Mechanical engineering testing division. Bill
Thanks for sharing the story! Certainly hard not to feel at least a bit melancholy to see how things have changed in our own lifetimes.
Cheers, Edouard
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I guess Im a true "melancholic" LOL... Bill
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Hagerty's has the story of the Apollo GT on their website:
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/10/07/rare-and-inventive-apollo-gt-far-from-forgotten (https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/10/07/rare-and-inventive-apollo-gt-far-from-forgotten)
These cars were developed and built in Oakland, across the bay from San Francisco - right in my backyard. Works started in 1963 and the car's were successful, but the business wasn't able to make ends meet and they folded in 1965 after making only 88 cars. The scheme was to combine Italian styling with American reliability and that's were Buick came in. The power-plant started out as the 215 V-8 and was upgraded to the 300 V-8 when Buick switched to that.
Given that only 88 were built they are rare and therefore extremely collectable. Still, there are a few local owners and one has been a frequent visitor to the Orinda Classic Car show. I photographed This 1964 Apollo GT 5000 during the 2011 Orinda show:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/ClassicandCustomAutomobiles/Car-Shows/2011-Orinda-Classic-Car-Show/i-7kHFTPn/0/21d2abca/XL/1964%20Apollo%20GT%205000%20%28powered%20by%20a%20Buick%20300%20V-8%29-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/ClassicandCustomAutomobiles/Car-Shows/2011-Orinda-Classic-Car-Show/i-7kHFTPn/A)
Even if none of us could ever afford one, they are still pretty "eye candy."
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers with an eye to automotive history,
Perhaps most of you were already aware of the story of Henry Leland, but I wasn't aware of this man's pivotal role in launching the American luxury car market. Hagerty's has a nice write-up on their blog:
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/10/16/why-henry-leland-is-unknown-in-detroit (https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/10/16/why-henry-leland-is-unknown-in-detroit)
Henry Leland started out getting a solid foundation in machining and was successful in the Detroit area making among other things external combustion engines for marine and stationary use. Later he started manufacturing internal combustion engines for Oldsmobile.
Most of us know that Henry Ford's second attempt to form a car company became Cadillac, but the figure that made that happen was Henry Leland. His meticulous devotion to precision resulted in cars of higher quality that started Cadillac on its path to the high-end market. It was that reputation that attracted Billy Durant to buy Cadillac and make Henry Leland a high executive at GM.
It is the next phase of Henry Leland life that is less known and ultimately tragic. During the first world war, Leland wanted to build a plant to manufacture Liberty airplane engines. However, Durant was a pacifist and didn't want anything to do with war production. Leland left GM to create his plant and got a 10 million dollar contract to manufacture the engines. Based on this he started a second car company - Lincoln.
Alas, the U.S. Government didn't fully honor the contract and Lincoln ran into serious financial trouble - ultimately filing for bankruptcy in 1922. None other than Henry Ford would snap up the assets of Lincoln for 1/2 what the assets were considered to be worth and humiliated Leland when he took over. Hardly an appropriate fate for the man who had founded two of the best known car brands in the United States.
A interesting read if melancholy.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. There are some additional details on Henry Leland's life in the Wikipedia article about him:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_M._Leland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_M._Leland)
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Tony isn't the only one who has a soft spot for the Buick V-6 fireball engine:
http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,4351.msg33655.html#msg33655 (http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,4351.msg33655.html#msg33655)
Just 6 days after his posting, Hagerty's has a story on a 1964 Buick Special:
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/10/22/bare-bones-64-buick-special-taught-me-base-model-charm (https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/10/22/bare-bones-64-buick-special-taught-me-base-model-charm)
It turns out that a Hagerty employee found a 64 Special with an amazing only 17,000 miles on the odometer! The purchaser had plans rather like our own Yacht Man Bill (http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,4251.msg30593.html#msg30593). He originally planned to put a 455 into it and made a sleeper hot-rod. However once he found out how well preserved the car was - he decided to keep it that way.
It is a nice article and there are some nice pictures. Even a photo of the engine bay with the Fireball V-6!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. This article sent me back to my vintage copy of the 1965 Buick sales brochure and sure enough, even the catalog shows that the base model Special didn't have a hood ornament. You needed to upgrade to the Deluxe Special if you wanted one of those!
P.P.S. I know, the 1964 had the hood ornament on the grill but you know what I mean! . . . :laughing7:
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If anyone is looking for a Fireball V6 engine, I know where a very nice one is available....
Chuck
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Nothin' spins them slicks like a Buick V6!! LOL... I as well have several V6 pieces left over, radiator (like new) shroud etc etc... all listed in the parts 4 sale section. Ill even have a CORRECT '64 gas filler neck when I desolder it off the old tank. Any offers beat scrap! Bill
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The workhorse Fireball V6 and Super Turbine 300. Now resting comfortably on a shelf in my shop, waiting for a project.
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I have an extra chevette engine too if you really want to fry those slicks....They quit making stuff people could use and maintain a long time ago. Too bad that we consider it better to pile up mountains of scrap and debt than just keep what works. I have several 3800 buick engines that just refused to quit after a quarter million miles. I think those were among the most impressive engines to come out of the Buick research and engineering facility. It is cool to trace them right back to the old Fireball where they started and eventually became the GNX.
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Dear Chuck, Bill, Kevin, Dan, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Clearly a number of us have a soft spot for the Fireball V-6! :hello2:
The workhorse Fireball V6 and Super Turbine 300. Now resting comfortably on a shelf in my shop, waiting for a project.
Thanks Kevin for the pictures. That's one sharp looking engine freshly painted in Nailhead green! :love4:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Hi everyone, Back in the early 1980s my neighbor purchased a good used speed boat with a Inboard motor with a out drive unit. When he lifted the engine cover to show me the motor I started laughing, he did not understand why I was laughing. I told him that the motor was the marine version of the a odd fire Buick V6. The same motor that was in my Special that he always teased me about because he had a Mustang with a 351 and I had a 4dr Special with the V6. He along with the Mustang are long gone, and Me & my little V6 is still going strong. That reminds me of the story of the Turtle & the Rabbit !!!! :icon_biggrin:
Tony
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Hagerty's has another blog entry this time on what they perceive as useful math formulas.
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/11/27/5-math-formulas-car-nuts-can-actually-use (https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/11/27/5-math-formulas-car-nuts-can-actually-use)
The article is really lightweight. I wouldn't have posted it but the commentaries are interesting and probably will take on a conversation of their own. Perhaps it is worth watching for a few days just to see what comes of it.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Thats pretty interesting. Doing the carb math for my boat is way off however. A pair of carbureted 454s, making 330 HP each with 750 quadrajets. Propping is the math equation here. These motors "self govern" at 4400 rpm if propped correctly. A stock 454 will easily over rev in first gear in a car. Way back when, I had a 327 chevelle with a 2 barrel and that little guy would run out of carburetor at about 5000 rpm. Still good reading; Thanks! Bill
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
There is another article on the Hagerty's website that is somewhat interesting. The title is suggestive that you might learn some dirty secrets: "Here’s why you don’t let a dealer “detail” your new car." Here's the link:
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/12/05/dont-let-a-dealer-detail-your-new-car (https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/12/05/dont-let-a-dealer-detail-your-new-car)
The article isn't particularly surprising but it does highlight some potential dangers in trusting a dealer or perhaps even auto detail shop with a poorly trained staff. It also goes into some detail of what you can do to really get the most out of a new paint job. I've never gone as far as to use a clay bar or other decontaminating device, but this article makes more curious about the concept. The one point it reaffirms is that the only way to safely clean a car is with lots of water! Drought or no drought, I remain extremely suspicious of waterless cleaning techniques.
As with the previous Hagerty's piece, the comments are almost as interesting as the piece itself.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Hi Edouard, I read the article and it does have it's interesting points. But living here in the Rust Belt water is our enemy. :nono: So pouring buckets full of water on my Vintage Tin is not exactly what I would want to do. The water then sits inside the doors and where ever else for days until it dries in our humid climate. So as crazy as it sounds I rarely wash my Buick's with a hose. I use a terry towel and get it wet then ring it out and gently wipe the area down then rinse the towel out and repeat.. And I keep changing the water in the pail so I'm not putting the dirt back on the paint. Then I give it a coat of wax for protection. If I'm out for a drive or at a show and it does rain
"Oh well" that's out of my control and when I return to the garage I don't put the car cover on so the air can circulate and the car can dry out. Then I will return several days later and wipe it dawn and put the cover on.. :wave:
Tony :sunny:
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Dear Tony and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Hi Edouard, I read the article and it does have it's interesting points. But living here in the Rust Belt water is our enemy. :nono:
. . . .
Yes, I can see your problem. Around here humidities have always been relatively low and the directions for climate change have made that even more so. I'm having something of your problem today. This is the first chance I've had to wash our 2000 Buick Century for the winter and now it is so cold and humid that I'm having trouble getting the car to dry. This is something I'm definitely not used to!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Edouard Just take the Century for a run down the freeway or country road, the air moving around the vehicle should dry it off. That's how I dry off the top of my GMC Envoy after I wash and rinse with the hose (not garage kept) I take it for a ride 2 exits on the interstate and back, all I do then is wipe the door jams and i'm done :icon_thumright:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners with a curiosity of how things actually work,
Hagerty's found a very involved but interesting video that is basically a lecture on the physics of engine performance. Here is the Hagerty's article:
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2020/01/08/how-bore-vs-stroke-can-affect-horsepower (https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2020/01/08/how-bore-vs-stroke-can-affect-horsepower)
Here is a direct link to the video itself.
https://youtu.be/UV3RwBPqznU (https://youtu.be/UV3RwBPqznU)
Be prepared to see some equations and see some thermodynamics tossed about. Even with my very rusty B.A. in Physics, it went over my head on the first viewing - I'll have to see it again! Still, the fellow presents the issues in a clear and pleasant way. Some of this will be familiar to most of you, but I'm sure there is something new for everybody on this forum.
So take a deep breath, put on your thinking cap, and give this video a look!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Thermodynamics is only part of it; what about stoichiometric efficiency? Bill
https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ACYBGNSS8uxVIat_jAEr9m-5JJ2nOW-gNA%3A1578686727218&source=hp&ei=B9kYXuLOCpT5tAb21IPICg&q=stoichiometric+combustion&oq=stoichometric&gs_l=psy-ab.1.9.0i10l10.1864.1864..12423...1.0..0.101.101.0j1......0....2j1..gws-wiz.BREz5AkiyGY (https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ACYBGNSS8uxVIat_jAEr9m-5JJ2nOW-gNA%3A1578686727218&source=hp&ei=B9kYXuLOCpT5tAb21IPICg&q=stoichiometric+combustion&oq=stoichometric&gs_l=psy-ab.1.9.0i10l10.1864.1864..12423...1.0..0.101.101.0j1......0....2j1..gws-wiz.BREz5AkiyGY)
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Dear Bill and 65GS.com efficiency experts,
Thermodynamics is only part of it; what about stoichiometric efficiency?
Yes, you are correct. An internal combustion engine has an additional complication that combustion occurs inside the mechanism that is producing the heat cycle. So the efficiency of the chemical reaction is important. Here is Wikipedia's treatment of Stoichiometry:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoichiometry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoichiometry)
My introduction to heat cycles was mostly in the context of steam cycles were the chemistry was kind of in "another department."
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners with d'em wintertime blues,
Bill's pictures of the snow around his neighborhood are definitely beautiful, but they aren't exactly the sort of thing to cure those wintertime blues.
Fortunately, the staff at Hagerty are trying perk up your mood and found some really unusual vehicles at the 2020 Rétromobile car show in Paris. Here is the link to the article:
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2020/02/07/cool-beach-cars-to-soothe-your-winter-blues (https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2020/02/07/cool-beach-cars-to-soothe-your-winter-blues)
Just looking at the pictures should be enough to have you daydreaming about a summertime visit to the beach! Enjoy!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners with an interest in automotive technology,
Okay this is extremely far afield from mid-60s Buick A-bodies, but Hagerty's has an interesting tale for the curious. It concerns the technical details of the GMC motorhome of the 1970s. Here is a link to the article:
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2020/02/21/gmc-motorhome-was-brilliant-rv-with-bad-timing (https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2020/02/21/gmc-motorhome-was-brilliant-rv-with-bad-timing)
The masterstroke that made this vehicle a real game changer was the front wheel drive power train first used in the 1966 Oldsmobile Tornado. Having all the drivetrain up front allowed GMC to lower the floor which made the interior more roomy. As a result, it handled better than a typical RV, got better gas mileage, and was more comfortable.
The article then explains why this master stroke was so abruptly abandoned. The power train division stopped making the 455 front wheel drive engine and transmission that the motorhome depended upon. In another sad example of GM not telling the left hand what the right hand was doing, the assembly like making the RVs simply ran out of engines with the production line still going. As a result, GM literally sold some of the unfinished vehicles.
There is a second link to an older Hagerty article assessing the GMC motorhome as a potental investment with some photos including the interior:
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/02/15/gmc-motorhome-is-fwd-wonder (https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/02/15/gmc-motorhome-is-fwd-wonder)
I've always thought these vehicles were really slick, so I enjoy looking at them even if their demise is ultimately quite sad. If you are like me, at least the daydreaming is always free! . . . .
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Hagerty's has a story about the owner of a 1948 Buick who was able to find out a lot about the original owner. Here is the link:
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2020/03/19/dig-online-into-history-of-your-car-you-might-strike-gold (https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2020/03/19/dig-online-into-history-of-your-car-you-might-strike-gold)
There are some tips on how to research your car's previous lives that might be interesting so some folks on this forum. The article is at least a pleasant distraction while many of us are being forced to stay indoors.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
With the COVID-19 making it way everywhere it seems, our transportation vehicles can also get contaminated. Hagerty's posted an article that includes a link to a YouTube video on how to sanitize your interior without damaging it. Here is the article itself:
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2020/03/24/how-to-disinfect-car-without-destroying-interior (https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2020/03/24/how-to-disinfect-car-without-destroying-interior)
Here is a direct link to the video itself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=0&v=NFuVNoYeo7Q&feature=emb_logo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=0&v=NFuVNoYeo7Q&feature=emb_logo)
Hopefully, we won't have to apply this procedure to our classics but there lots of useful information on how to clean up your daily driver and how to avoid getting it contaminated while using our vehicles.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Thanks Edouard. I watched the video and I did learn a few things. Since where I live we have 1/3 of the Virus cases in the country, And 13 people died just last night. To say we are on lock down is putting it mildly, I was outside early this morning cleaning the inside of my GMC truck with Clorox wipes then went to Karen's Chevy Cruse and did the same. The wipes did not discolor any thing, but I did try it on a small area first. And I did wipe down the key fobs with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol. And I'm constantly telling everyone to clean there Cellphone/Headphones/Earbuds & Laptops.. Considering what is happening here, stay inside as much as possible, don't share your vehicle with anyone. Wash your hands often, Be careful at the food stores. And if it's a nice day open up all the windows in the house and get some fresh air as we did today.
My family is fine so far, Stay Safe everyone.
Tony, Queens NYC ( at virus ground zero)
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers who's cars take long winter's sleep,
Hagerty's has an interesting piece on the pluses and minuses of fuel stabilizers:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/is-your-fuel-stabilizer-actually-hurting-your-car/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/is-your-fuel-stabilizer-actually-hurting-your-car/)
It is based on a YouTube video that you can view directly here:
https://youtu.be/chsGBhB5g7o (https://youtu.be/chsGBhB5g7o)
There is nothing all that new in this piece, but it does remind us about the difficulties of trying to keep fuel from going bad over extended periods of time. It isn't that easy a suggestion, but trying to fill up your car with gasoline without any alcohol-based additives is the best starting place to keep your fuel in decent shape over winter. There used to be stations that carried "good ol' fashioned" gasoline. However, I don't know if any are left these days.
Still for those that haven't yet stored their cars for the winter, there is some food for thought in this piece.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear patriotic mid-60s Buick caregivers,
In honor of Veteran's day, Hagerty's has a piece on the humble jerrycan:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/jerrycan-design-80-years-no-signs-retirement/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/jerrycan-design-80-years-no-signs-retirement/)
For such a modest piece of technology, it is surprising how complex its adoption by the United States turned out to be. Aside from its importance on both sides of World War II, it is wonderful example of minimalist, but extremely effective, industrial design. In our world cluttered with complex and often disconnected technology, it is a breath of fresh air to remember that things truly can be designed with KISS in mind!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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I love my Jerry cans! I got busted at a gas station by an over zealous attendant who didn't like my plastic Summit gas jugs...... "Sir, sir, those aren't approved gas containers....if you fill the white one I'm going to turn off the pump!".
I researched and bought some real nice VALPRO jerrycans from Atlantic British at https://www.roverparts.com/search/Jerry-can/ (https://www.roverparts.com/search/Jerry-can/)
They have specials at times, I believe I went for a 4-for-$200 special. They have them on eBay for $230/4.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-4-VALPRO-20-Liter-5-Gallon-NATO-Style-Jerry-Cans-Military-Spec/400924140518?hash=item5d58f0e3e6:g:SOoAAOSwjGxfrVy-:sc:ShippingMethodStandard (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-4-VALPRO-20-Liter-5-Gallon-NATO-Style-Jerry-Cans-Military-Spec/400924140518?hash=item5d58f0e3e6:g:SOoAAOSwjGxfrVy-:sc:ShippingMethodStandard)!18923!US!-1
They're not US-approved for fuel use since they don't meet all the spill-proofing requirements.... just peel off the 'for water only' stickers and they're good to go. Almost.....aforementioned overzealous gas station attendant then gave me a hassle because they were green and not red. I told her they were friggin approved by NATO! (she didn't like that). So I painted two of them red and left two green for diesel use.
These are far better than the plastic jugs since they don't leak, and maintain a tight seal during storage or transport.
I picked up a 2.5 gal one for trunk use when I need a reserve fuel supply while cruising.
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Dear Walt and mid-60s Buick owners who stroll down memory lane,
I love my Jerry cans! I got busted at a gas station by an over zealous attendant who didn't like my plastic Summit gas jugs...... "Sir, sir, those aren't approved gas containers....if you fill the white one I'm going to turn off the pump!".
Sorry for your unfortunate run-in with the service station attendant. In California we pump our own gas so attendants are rarely to be seen! I have a 2.5 gallon red plastic gas tank for the lawn mower and now the portable generator. Certainly not the best built tank I've seen, but I can't complain. If I recall correctly, it was purchased at about the same time as we moved to our present house. That would make the tank 40 year's old! Goes to show you that items that hardly appear durable can last with a little TLC . . .
I researched and bought some real nice VALPRO jerrycans from Atlantic British at https://www.roverparts.com/search/Jerry-can/ (https://www.roverparts.com/search/Jerry-can/)
They have specials at times, I believe I went for a 4-for-$200 special. They have them on eBay for $230/4.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-4-VALPRO-20-Liter-5-Gallon-NATO-Style-Jerry-Cans-Military-Spec/400924140518?hash=item5d58f0e3e6:g:SOoAAOSwjGxfrVy-:sc:ShippingMethodStandard (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-4-VALPRO-20-Liter-5-Gallon-NATO-Style-Jerry-Cans-Military-Spec/400924140518?hash=item5d58f0e3e6:g:SOoAAOSwjGxfrVy-:sc:ShippingMethodStandard)!18923!US!-1
They're not US-approved for fuel use since they don't meet all the spill-proofing requirements.... just peel off the 'for water only' stickers and they're good to go. Almost.....aforementioned overzealous gas station attendant then gave me a hassle because they were green and not red. I told her they were friggin approved by NATO! (she didn't like that). So I painted two of them red and left two green for diesel use.
These are far better than the plastic jugs since they don't leak, and maintain a tight seal during storage or transport.
I picked up a 2.5 gal one for trunk use when I need a reserve fuel supply while cruising.
Certainly painting them red should keep the station attendants from bugging you. Did you buy this 2.5 gallon tank from Atlantic British?
https://www.roverparts.com/off-road-accessories/jerry-cans/JC3013/ (https://www.roverparts.com/off-road-accessories/jerry-cans/JC3013/)
This one is even legal in fussy California and looks well constructed to boot. However, they aren't for sale on the Atlantic British eBay site. They even claim to have a 5 gallon CARB compliant jerrycan.
https://www.roverparts.com/off-road-accessories/jerry-cans/JC3009/ (https://www.roverparts.com/off-road-accessories/jerry-cans/JC3009/)
However, they are out of stock! Oh well, such are the conditions (as Tony would put it) on da' left coast! . . . . :laughing7:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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....
Did you buy this 2.5 gallon tank from Atlantic British?
.....
No..... I bought the non-compliant can and peeled the 'for water use only' sticker off!
It looks like the CARB approved models have the same can, but a different nozzle.
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Hagerty's reports that Edelbrock is moving its headquarters from California to Mississippi as part of a merger with Comp Performance Group. Here is the full story:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/edelbrock-to-shutter-los-angeles-county-hq-after-83-years/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/edelbrock-to-shutter-los-angeles-county-hq-after-83-years/)
Sadly, times have really changed from the days when California was the cradle of hot rods and speed parts.
Oh well, . . . . Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Hagerty's reports that Edelbrock is moving its headquarters from California to Mississippi as part of a merger with Comp Performance Group. Here is the full story:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/edelbrock-to-shutter-los-angeles-county-hq-after-83-years/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/edelbrock-to-shutter-los-angeles-county-hq-after-83-years/)
Sadly, times have really changed from the days when California was the cradle of hot rods and speed parts.
Oh well, . . . . Edouard
So yes the headquarters have moved, and their legendary facility in the South Bay will close. But sounds like a lot of the manufacturing is staying in California, being moved to San Jacinto. Wonder how long that's going to last......
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers with a taste for automotive history,
Hagerty's has an interesting piece on the curious 8-wheeled car by Milton Reeves:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/the-1911-reeves-octoauto-was-an-8-wheeled-technological-marvel/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/the-1911-reeves-octoauto-was-an-8-wheeled-technological-marvel/)
Here is a period illustration of the car from the article:
(https://media.hagerty.com/media/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/1911-Reeves-Octoauto-car-1953-54-Topps-World-on-Wheels.jpg)
As the article explains it was a novel but very reasonable solution to the problem of harsh rides and poor quality roads - to quote:
Reeves is best known for his eight-wheel, 20-foot long Octoauto, which may seem unconventional today but made perfect sense for the time. In 1911, Reeves modified a 1910 Overland by adding four wheels and creating two sets of four in front and back. Roads in his time were generally horrendous (particularly in rural areas), and since suspension consisted of leaf springs and tire design wasn’t what it is today, passengers felt every bump and pothole. Reeves simply borrowed a design employed on railroad cars, which used quad-wheel “bogies” to distribute the weight and smooth out the ride.
Alas, there was one problem with the concept - once more to quote:
The idea worked brilliantly. So much so that few argued when Reeves began calling the odd-looking automobile “the only easy riding car in the world.” The problem was that it cost too much to build. The four-passenger Octoauto—powered by a 40-horse engine—retailed for $3200, which is nearly $100,000 today.
The article tells the story of this interesting inventor and is an enjoyable read!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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The Reeves family also built steam engines in the late 1800s. Milton's father started the company and his brother Marshal built steam engines at the time Milton went into autos. My great grandfather had restored a mid-sized Reeves steam engine among others. He stoked them all up at family reunions including a small Case he built that I enjoyed driving at about age 10 or so.
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Dear Good Dr. and mid-60s Buick caregivers with a taste for things mechanical,
The Reeves family also built steam engines in the late 1800s. Milton's father started the company and his brother Marshal built steam engines at the time Milton went into autos. My great grandfather had restored a mid-sized Reeves steam engine among others. He stoked them all up at family reunions including a small Case he built that I enjoyed driving at about age 10 or so.
Thanks so much for sharing! :hello2: Since I also have a soft-spot for steam I really enjoyed the story and picture!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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A little more background then. My Great Grandfather build that small Case from scratch as time was available from 1950-1954. One of my Father's cousins wound up with it after my GG died. A college in IL rebuilt the boiler in the early 2000s as a project and returned it to my Father's cousin. I took that picture while visiting in 2003 and it was running that day. It was heartening to see, hear, feel and and it smell run again.
MY GG also had a midsized Reeves, as discussed, a full sized Port Huron and a full sized Case stream tractors. They were all amazing to me individually at the time, but even more so to see them all running in the yard at once. Some years they put a huge fabric belt from the Port Huron's flywheel to flywheel on a large thrashing machine. That was a living history lesson to me with all those old guys standing around in bib overhauls running the thrasher and steam tractor as one.
I know my GG rebuilt some of the other stream tractor boilers by himself after purchasing. Not bad for a one armed man who could not tie his shoes. They were all sold off after his death by my grandfather as well as his model T. That is still a sore point with my Father. He wanted the T, and would have driven out to retrieve it. But, it had already been sold.
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Hagerty's had a piece by an auto detailer on how to remove odors from a car.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/how-to-get-smell-out-of-car-lemon-law/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/how-to-get-smell-out-of-car-lemon-law/)
The article starts out with a horror story of car odors. I suppose it shows that even in extreme cases you can get odors out of a car cabin.
The first part is some common sense about cleaning that shouldn't be a big surprise to anyone. However once you have done everything to clean, the odors still need to be neutralized and in this I wasn't so familiar. In particular, I wasn't aware of these whole car deodorizing foggers. Here is the fogger from Meguiars the the detailer recommends.
https://www.meguiars.com/automotive/products/meguiars-whole-car-air-re-fresher-odor-eliminator-mist-new-car-scent-g16402-2 (https://www.meguiars.com/automotive/products/meguiars-whole-car-air-re-fresher-odor-eliminator-mist-new-car-scent-g16402-2)
This is the sort of a product that might be useful to apply periodically to your daily driver to keep your car smelling fresh.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
This morning Hagerty's shared an opinion from Nik Berg of their English division about bringing back car model names from the past. The piece is very appropriately called: "Dear car companies: Nostalgia is a deep but empty well." (https://www.hagerty.com/media/opinion/dear-car-companies-nostalgia-is-a-deep-but-empty-well/)
https://www.hagerty.com/media/opinion/dear-car-companies-nostalgia-is-a-deep-but-empty-well/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/opinion/dear-car-companies-nostalgia-is-a-deep-but-empty-well/)
The thrust of Berg's comments is to accuse auto makers of attempting to reclaim some past glory associated with a successful vehicle model, but failing to deliver a new vehicle worthy of the name-plate. Berg lists quite a few examples of vehicles with resurrected names that really don't live up to billing. As a result, driving enthusiasts are disappointed and glory associated with these special vehicles of the past is diluted needlessly.
There is some healthy food for thought in this piece.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers with a taste for *MORE*!!
This morning Hagerty's has the story of a custom built V-12:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/motorsports/the-mad-machinists-who-built-a-920-hp-v-12-nearly-from-scratch/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/motorsports/the-mad-machinists-who-built-a-920-hp-v-12-nearly-from-scratch/)
Alas, of course these machinists turned to Chevy components since they are the most plentiful. (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink.gif) Still, . . . . . . Ya' think that Matt and his gang at Buick Nailhead could be coaxed into trying to custom fabricate a V-12 Nailhead? (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/big_laugh.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink.gif) . . . There is still of course the usual problem. Even if someone came up with a custom Nailhead V-12, we would have a terrible, simply terrible time trying to stuff it into the engine bay of our beloved mid-60s Buick A-bodies! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/Laughing_LOL.gif)
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers looking for new tools of the trade.
Yesterday, Hagerty's had a piece on some of the new products debuted at SEMA:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/4-problem-solving-products-to-help-you-and-your-project/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/4-problem-solving-products-to-help-you-and-your-project/)
The list had a clear bent toward restomods, but one item could be useful to anyone attempting to restore a classic.
The first was a variation on the Holley 4150 carburetor by Edelbrock - the VRS-4150:
https://www.edelbrock.com/vrs-4150-carburetor-650-cfm-1306-plasma-finish-1306.html (https://www.edelbrock.com/vrs-4150-carburetor-650-cfm-1306-plasma-finish-1306.html)
The biggest twist on this product is a provision to mount a throttle position sensor. This would allow you to incorporate some more high-tech devices while keeping traditional carburetion.
The second a modular system of aftermarket electrical relays. It certainly could be handy if you are interesting in incorporating after market devices in your classic.
The third is the item of general interest - the Plastex Plastic Repair Kit:
https://www.plastex.net/ (https://www.plastex.net/)
They provide a series of photo examples of the sort of repairs that are possible with this product:
https://www.plastex.net/Repaired_Photos.php (https://www.plastex.net/Repaired_Photos.php)
It definitely looks like the sort of product that could be the difference between making a good looking repair and frustration!
The last item is a distributor for vintage 4x4s. Certainly an emerging market, but of no interest to mid-60s Buick enthusiasts.
FYI!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers who indulge in "wrenching" . . . .
To our great chagrin, this disagreeable business called aging goes all the way down to our hands. When getting down and dirty hurts your hands too much, the temptation to find some sort of gloves is overpowering - but can gloves actually work in the engine bay? Rob Siegel has a thoughtful piece where he outlines an arsenal of gloves depending on the wrenching task:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/opinion/the-hack-mechanic/when-it-comes-to-protecting-your-hands-do-your-work-gloves-actually-work/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/opinion/the-hack-mechanic/when-it-comes-to-protecting-your-hands-do-your-work-gloves-actually-work/)
This sort of advice seems especially relevant to someone like me who will be getting back to wrenching after a long absence.
Cheers, Edouard
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Edouard, Good to see that you are posting, we all want to see you back here and soon you will be wrenching again. Hand safety is a great topic. Most of us work on our own Buicks and sometimes other cars too. Usually we keep our Buicks so clean that we don't need hand protection. But when that dirty job needs to get done I have learned to put those gloves on. Absorbing all of those chemicals in your skin is not good.
The blue 3 mil gloves are a good general purpose glove. But If your doing brakes, cooling system, using carb cleaner or any nasty greasy work move up to the black 5 mil. I've learned not to keep them in the supply cabinet, because if they are not out where you need them you will not use them, so I put them out in the open. I have a smaller hand so I wear large size, but I also keep a box of X-Large 5 mil. So when a friend comes over to talk, while I'm working. I can invite them to help by offering a pair of gloves to fit there hands !!! So far it works every time....
If I work with paint remover or any kind of acid I have a good pair of acid gloves that I always use. 10 to 15 dollars at you local neighborhood hardware store, after use clean them with soapy water, rinse and let dry.
Like everything else they do deteriorate over time, so check them for cracks before each use.
Just putting in my 2 cents on Skin Safety.
Tony :thumbsup:
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Hi Tony and mid-60s caregivers,
Hand safety is a great topic.
. . . .
Thanks for your sage suggestions! I can remember (and I suppose you can do) when you were working with your dad - what gloves? :icon_scratch:
But the suggestions you are making weren't available 40+ years ago. It is important to keep up with the new technology even when it comes to glove material!
I've learned not to keep them in the supply cabinet, because if they are not out where you need them you will not use them, so I put them out in the open. I have a smaller hand so I wear large size, but I also keep a box of X-Large 5 mil. So when a friend comes over to talk, while I'm working. I can invite them to help by offering a pair of gloves to fit there hands !!! So far it works every time....
These are both good points. Gloves need to be handy just in case a situation that you thought didn't need gloves - turns out to need them! What better way to make wrenching a community activity than to protect the hands of your guests!
If I work with paint remover or any kind of acid I have a good pair of acid gloves that I always use. 10 to 15 dollars at you local neighborhood hardware store, after use clean them with soapy water, rinse and let dry.
Like everything else they do deteriorate over time, so check them for cracks before each use.
I've also come to the same conclusions after damaging my hands with those sorts of solvents. So I have a pair of these gloves handy as well.
Indeed if you make working on your car more pleasant, you'll work on it more often!
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers who are fussy about fuels,
Hagerty has a quick recap on the issues of gasoline with an increased ethanol content:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/what-you-need-to-know-about-e15-fuel/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/what-you-need-to-know-about-e15-fuel/)
I would expect essentially everyone on this forum would have heard that President Biden has permitted temporarily the sale of E15-blend gasoline through the summer months, a time period in which it is typically banned.
The Hagerty article reminds us of the issues we need to consider in filling up at a station with E15 and reminds us that we can avoid this if we are willing to search for stations selling more conventional gasoline.
It is a quick but prudent reminder of the issues we will be facing this summer as we get our beloved Buicks out for good weather.
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers with an interest in other types of internal combustion engines,
The folks at Hagerty's seem to have a bit too much time on their hands and thus dig up some surprising YouTube videos. Here is the article link for the jet engine video in question:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/video/how-does-a-jet-engine-work-lets-look-inside/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/video/how-does-a-jet-engine-work-lets-look-inside/)
The video is of a small turbojet engine with plastic sides which are tough enough to withstand the heat and pressure. The demonstrations are quite amazing even if you aren't into jet engines.
https://youtu.be/MgL0GW248mE (https://youtu.be/MgL0GW248mE)
As the Hagerty's author points out, jet engines are very different beasts from gasoline and Diesel engines. It must be said, it appears that jet engines produce power in a manner that looks like a car engine working with the heads removed. It turns out there is a very precise exploitation of gas dynamics and thermodynamics at work to make a jet engine produce power. The crudest explanation is that the "head" which keeps the combustion inside the engine to power the plane is the constant compressing of air at the front of the jet engine.
If you want a more detailed explanation, there is another YouTube done by Lesics (https://www.patreon.com/m/Lesics) which explains the process with greater clarity and detail:
https://youtu.be/KjiUUJdPGX0 (https://youtu.be/KjiUUJdPGX0)
On the other hand, if all this physics goes over your head, just stick to your trusty Buick engine and you'll be fine! :laughing7:
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Winter is in the wings, so some of us need to store our cars until the spring. There is tons of advice on how to do this and Hagerty's has tossed in their own suggestions:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/4-critical-items-to-get-ready-for-winter-storage/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/4-critical-items-to-get-ready-for-winter-storage/)
There were a few ideas in this piece that had not occurred to me such as making sure the gas tank is full. It is certainly a quick read.
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers in need of some light reading,
The "holidaze" are in full swing and automotive-related news is taking a back seat to all the lunacy. If you need a dose of some "car-guy" news, Hagerty's has a piece on heated windshields on their website:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/a-brief-history-of-the-heated-windshield/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/a-brief-history-of-the-heated-windshield/)
It is definitely lightweight, but perhaps it will scratch that itch . . . . .
Cheers, Edouard
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Hi Edouard, I read the Hagerty news story. Very interesting, I did not know that they even had such a thing. Since I live in NY I can honestly say that I never really had a problem defrosting my windshield after a ice storm/snow storm. You just need to plan ahead by keeping your engine and heating system at peak efficiency so the heater core & blower motor can push out the heat once the engine reaches normal operating temperature.
You must also give yourself additional time to clear the vehicle of snow and time for the engine to create enough heat to defrost the ice so you can clearly see out before you put in drive and pull away.
Safety First :thumbsup:
Tony
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I had to read it since I was in a related industry, primarily heated display panels. The heated display works both as a defogger to raise the temperature above the dew point, and in extreme temps as a defroster. That is a very important feature when the displays are being used in aviation and military applications.
Since the gold-coated windshields used in the 1980's, the optics industry changed to other TCO (Transparent Conductive Oxide) films, primarily Indium-Tin Oxide (ITO). Gold had the disadvantage of reducing transmission of light and therefore visibility. ITO can be combined with layers of other materials to improve visibility much like the anti-reflection coatings on eyeglasses. It certainly reduced the cost over gold and performed better.
While the film-coated heaters worked well for smaller panels they weren't up to heating large glass such as a windshield. Hence, the embedded wires used in today's heated glass.
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Dear Tony, Walt, and mid-60s Buick caregivers who don't want to get being too cool! (https://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/freezing.gif)
I'm glad that you both found the article interesting. As Walt points out, it is clearly a daunting technological challenge that hasn't been fully resolved. Tony you offer some sage wisdom. These days too many people insist that they can force nature into their schedule. Quite the contrary, if you don't respect the power of nature and take the necessary precautions, sooner or later you will regret it.
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers in need of a little distraction,
As already noted, new automotive-related material is hard to come by this week. This morning Hagerty's decided to revisit their piece on the humble jerrycan:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/jerrycan-design-80-years-no-signs-retirement/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/jerrycan-design-80-years-no-signs-retirement/)
Even if I read it only 2 years ago, I had forgotten enough to enjoy reading it again. So if you need a feel-good piece with just enough of twist in the plot to make it interesting, I think you'll also enjoy reading this one twice.
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers who enjoy a good detective story,
Hagerty's has a good story about a seemingly straightforward carburetor repair that turned out to require a bit of detective work:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/opinion/mechanical-sympathy/the-curious-case-of-the-sno-runner-carburetor/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/opinion/mechanical-sympathy/the-curious-case-of-the-sno-runner-carburetor/)
It is an enjoyable bit of "car guy" reading distraction.
Cheers, Edouard
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Speaking of weird snow machines did you see this at Unique! https://www.uniqueclassiccars.com/vehicles/3845/1960-trail-a-sled-air-sled-4-passenger (https://www.uniqueclassiccars.com/vehicles/3845/1960-trail-a-sled-air-sled-4-passenger)
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Dear Jim and mid-60s Buick caregivers can be occasionally competitive,
Speaking of weird snow machines did you see this at Unique! https://www.uniqueclassiccars.com/vehicles/3845/1960-trail-a-sled-air-sled-4-passenger (https://www.uniqueclassiccars.com/vehicles/3845/1960-trail-a-sled-air-sled-4-passenger)
Ya' know, that's definitely Unique alright! That's so darn unique . . what on earth are they doing to do for an encore?!?? :laughing7:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Rob Siegel has a piece on Hagerty's website with suggestions on what to check before getting your classic out on the road for the first time this spring:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/11-checks-to-make-before-your-first-springtime-drive/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/11-checks-to-make-before-your-first-springtime-drive/)
Most of it is common sense, but it isn't a bad piece to read as a reminder of what to look for.
Cheers, Edouard
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Went yesterday morning to pick up my Skylark from storage. Everything went smooth. :icon_thumright:
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Good reminders. Thanks, Eduoard!
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers with a taste for automotive trivia,
Hagerty's has a curious piece on an experimental tire material developed by Goodyear called Neothane.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/why-goodyears-bright-idea-for-illuminated-tires-didnt-shine-for-long/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/why-goodyears-bright-idea-for-illuminated-tires-didnt-shine-for-long/)
It is a quick read and certainly something to add to your collection of automotive trivia
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers with a soft spot for woodies,
Lowell Paddock has a piece on the Hagerty's website describing the history of cars constructed with wood:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/a-century-on-wood-sided-cars-are-still-stylin/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/a-century-on-wood-sided-cars-are-still-stylin/)
There are some interesting snippets about the early history of wood construction that I wasn't aware of. For example, I didn't know that vehicles that would be later called "station wagons" were first called "depot hacks". Personally, I'm very glad that the name got changed!
Enjoy the read!
Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Hagerty's has a piece on "Buick city" a 413 acre complex that GM vacated in 2010. It is finally getting a chance to be redeveloped.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/buick-city-once-an-automotive-metropolis-finds-new-life/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/buick-city-once-an-automotive-metropolis-finds-new-life/)
Most of the piece is the history of Buick which I assume virtually everyone on this board already knows, however it is nice to see a piece of history finally getting a new purpose.
Cheers, Edouard
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Thank You Edouard, I really enjoyed the article you posted. I never get tired reading about our nation's automotive history and the great men who created it. And all the jobs it created. I'm very proud to say that my Father was one of them that worked 5 days for the Buick Dealership and the 6th day for himself here at the house so he could put my Sister thru college, and every couple of years we would go on a small summer vacation. In the 39 years he worked, he was never unemployed ! Thank You GM
Tony :thumbsup:
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Thanks Edouard,
There were several Flint factories connected and in close vicinity in the heyday of the union. America was in its prime and being a union brother had true meaning. In fact, the local 651 union parking lot had a sign that read Foreign cars will be towed. If a factory went on strike nobody worked until the issue was resolved. By the mid 80?s Buick City had to truck in wheels and tires and the rest of the car was literally all made there. By the 90?s my dad helped me through college and political science teachers were already explaining why German cars were so much better than U.S. vehicles. Multi-national corporations were teaming up with media,educational institutions,and of course the P subject we don?t speak of.
GM,Ford,and Chrysler were now competing in a world market that was exponentially growing and demand for more money from municipalities and regulations from safety to fuel mileage had taken its toll on the automotive industry as far as Flint was concerned. Corporations found it more profitable to build new plants from the ground up rather than pay all the extra dollars that in now took to do business in the new world of post Reagan economics. Interestingly enough the GM truck plant survived all of this and is still going today. Buick did not survive as a plant but definitely survived as a name and it would be nice to see it once again where it started.
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers who like to tinker,
This morning Hagerty's has a piece on the sort of hearing protection you should have in your auto shop:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/4-types-of-hearing-protection-any-shop-should-have/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/4-types-of-hearing-protection-any-shop-should-have/)
If you actually do a significant amount of work on your classic(s), there is some good advice in this piece worth considering.
Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers who like to tinker,
This morning Hagerty's has a piece on the sort of hearing protection you should have in your auto shop:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/4-types-of-hearing-protection-any-shop-should-have/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/4-types-of-hearing-protection-any-shop-should-have/)
If you actually do a significant amount of work on your classic(s), there is some good advice in this piece worth considering.
Edouard
And the disposable ear plugs work well at night if someone makes too much noise when you are trying to sleep...... . . :icon_thumright:
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For us do it yourselfers that have the power tools that help us get the job done, excessive noise is a problem. When I upgraded my Shop/garage back in 2007 I set up a portable workbench that stays outside, It's an old stainless food service cart that I salvaged from a local hospital, I added a pressure treated wooden top with vice that I purchased for $5 at a local estate sale. If I need to cut or grind most of the sound dissipates, and cleanup is easier. For the tools that are stationary, the air compressor, blast cabinet vacuum and the drill press. They are loud and I have over-ear muffs that I use. I find them to be very comfortable and quiet and sometimes I even forget to take them off and just enjoy the peacefulness.
The loudest tool in my shop is a large Craftsman shop vac that we purchased back in the late 1980s. I don't know what possessed us into purchasing such a large vac. When you flip that switch it sounds like a Grumman F16 ! And it can suck up rocks, tools and probably a beer can (with beer) It's actually too bulky & powerful to clean a car so I only use it to clean the shop floor. I purchased a small Craftsman Shop vac that has a normal vac noise to vac the cars. The Hagerty article points out that there are many different ways to protect your hearing. I use the over-ear muffs it works for me...
Tony
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers with some concerns about regulation,
There are a few members of 65GS.com in California. Some of you might have received the vintage vehicle survey from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). That survey raised alarm bells throughout the classic car community. This morning Hagerty's Aaron Robinson has an insightful piece on what that survey actually means. The title basically makes for a good synopsis: "Opinion: California CARB’s vintage car survey is about data, not doomsday" (https://www.hagerty.com/media/opinion/opinion-california-carbs-vintage-car-survey-is-about-data-not-doomsday/)
https://www.hagerty.com/media/opinion/opinion-california-carbs-vintage-car-survey-is-about-data-not-doomsday/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/opinion/opinion-california-carbs-vintage-car-survey-is-about-data-not-doomsday/)
There is no missing the point that there is increasing governmental pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, it seems likely that vintage car ownership isn't at least immediately threatened.
FYI: . . . . . .
Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers who like to tinker with modern vehicles as well,
Admittedly this is a bit off-topic, but Hagerty's has a piece on an issue at least I wasn't aware of. There is an effort to force manufacturers to allow users to repair devices that otherwise could have to be abandoned. Here is the link:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/right-to-repair-made-strides-in-23-but-the-movement-has-far-to-go/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/right-to-repair-made-strides-in-23-but-the-movement-has-far-to-go/)
The issue can be summarized by this sentence from the article: "In a nutshell, the Right to Repair fight comes down to this: Consumers want the right to work on their own cars, farm machinery, and electronics. Manufacturers, of course, would rather keep the required computer codes and specialized tools to themselves, citing trademark issues and trade secrets."
It is an interesting matter at least to me.
Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers with an interest in anything mechanical,
It is definitely off-topic, but Hagerty's has a story about a man who collects classic boats:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/member-stories/style-stories-history-why-i-collect-classic-boats/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/member-stories/style-stories-history-why-i-collect-classic-boats/)
These old wooden boats are definitely beautiful and the stories of their engines is also interesting. It is a worthwhile few minutes of reading.
Edouard
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Edouard. Off topic but definitely a worthwhile topic on a cold winters night. Reading the article brought back a flood of memories of my youth and the first attempt at restoration. When I was 17 I purchased a very sad looking 1959 Cruisers inc. 16ft wooden boat for $50. I found the boat sitting on blocks in the neighborhood where my Family had purchased a beach house on the east end of Long Island several years before. Since most of the homeowners had boats, I was able to borrow a trailer and bring my the boat home and secure it back on blocks. It did not have a motor or any controls, what it did have was lots of leaves, acorns, pinecones and families of mice living in the bow. After eviction, shop vacuuming and sanitizing my Father & I gave it a good look to see if I bought a $50 flowerbox or would it float ! We decided to turn it upside down and check the bottom to be sure. So with our neighbors help we flipped it and checked the hull with an ice pick. It was solid, I had no idea what I got myself into. I had just started college and had a part time job cleaning a clothing manufacturing facility. So paying for supplies was a slow grind, but I would ask family, friends & neighbors if they had any old painting supplies & sandpaper whatever I could get for free I would use including an old belt sander that I found at a yard sale along with a half gallon of coral blue bottom paint. Marine grade poly & deck paint were paid for by selling a bike, scrap radiators & heater cores from my fathers side work at the house. With a lot of hard work 18 months later my boat was ready. It looked new and I was so proud. But it was the middle of the Summer and I'm sitting in a boat in the yard having a beer with my Father and don't have a trailer or a motor ! or enough money to buy either and refuse to ask my parents for money since they were paying for college. So I covered the boat with a tarp and walked away.. When I get a real job I will buy what's needed.
after several weekends went by we were headed back to the east end on a Saturday and my Father was not taking the usual route, so I asked my Mother "where are we going" she said "your Farther wants to see something" so after driving for an hour we arrived at the Lindenhurst boat basin ? I was totally clueless ! The three of us went inside and my father told me " Tell the man what type of boat you have because we are buying you a new trailer" I turned to look at my mother and she had her checkbook out and she was smiling. I said "no but she said "yes" and it was final...Paid in full, we were to pick it up the following weekend. We got back in the Buick and continued on. I said Thank You to both of them and as soon as I get a full time job i would save up for the outboard motor and a bottle of champagne. My Mother said "Oh no! we are not waiting that long, Your Grandfather told me if you finished the boat he would buy you a new motor. So when you get the boat on the trailer it goes to the marina for the new motor!" Again I said Thank You and realized, they were planning this all along just to see if I could restore the boat.
We spent many summers Fishing & cruising in our vintage wood boat, we even had a garage built so it would be out of the elements in the winter months.
When I started working for NYC I moved up to a bigger boat and sold the wood boat and never seen it again, but I will never forget the story behind the boat called ANTICIPATION. I don't have a clear photo of my boat, but I looked on the internet and found the same boat, mine was in better condition......
Tony
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Dear Tony and mid-60s Buick caregivers with aquatic inclinations,
Edouard. Off topic but definitely a worthwhile topic on a cold winters night. Reading the article brought back a flood of memories of my youth and the first attempt at restoration. When I was 17 I purchased a very sad looking 1959 Cruisers inc. 16ft wooden boat for $50.
. . .
but I will never forget the story behind the boat called ANTICIPATION. I don't have a clear photo of my boat, but I looked on the internet and found the same boat, mine was in better condition......
Thanks for sharing Tony! It is a wonderful success story!
I have another boat story that involves my trusty wagon, but without such a happy ending. My parents enjoyed waterskiing. Shortly after we bought Biquette in 1968, they started shopping for used ski boat. We were looking at a 14 foot runabout when Mom accidentally locked us out of Biquette with the keys inside!
The family who were selling the boat helped us out and eventually we got Biquette unlocked. Feeling guilty, my parents ended up buying the boat. Alas, it wasn't a good choice because it too small to accommodate 4 people and it was under-powered for waterskiing. Worse still, a crack developed along the keel. Apparently the boat hit an obstacle in the past and damaged the fiberglass. My Dad toyed with various schemes to repair it, but in the meantime, our interests switched from waterskiing to sailing and the boat was left idle. It remained that way for decades before we finally donated it.
We did manage to keep some pictures. Here is one from the Biquette website:
(https://www.canebas.org/Biquette/Images/Biquette%20and%20La%20Belle%20Poulette-2.jpg)
Obviously, I was quite young at time!
Nonetheless, it was an expensive purchase simply because Biquette had been accidentally locked with the keys inside!
Edouard
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Hi Edouard and members that have Boating or Sailing memories.. Yes, that 14 foot runabout was under powered for skiing. It looks like a 50hp outboard. You would need at least an 85hp to ski with 2 skiers, a driver and a spotter. I tried skiing once and it was not for me, I'd rather be sport fishing. Catch & release is fun and relaxing and how we spent lazy summer days on the water. My boating days are over, now I spend time with my Wife, Children & 3 Gran Sports and sharing stories & information with everyone on this site.
Tony :cheers2: