Real Gear Heads

[09pwrd55]

Who or what, is considered to be a real gear head? Dont no and cant answer that. But I do have an opinion on who or what is not a gear head.
Who or what is not considered a gear head in my opinion!
Someone with no real hands on Knowledge!
Someone thats only hear to make a quick buck!
The self proclaimed best of the best!
The credit taking cheque writer!
40yr collection of magazines with no parts or cars to back them up!
Some fast talking fake dispensing advice directly from a book!

Thats just my opinon the door is open tear me apart!
My other opinon is Richard Martin ,Bob Walker JR your real gear heads.

Remember small blocks, automatics, and opinions are like
hemroid,s and everybody has one! (that comment is a fact)
In my opinion.
:cheers ;09PWR

[fatride]

OOOUUUUh! Automatic hemorrhoid's, Or the "A H" syndrome! I think I may have them?? But I think mine are R4roids! :eek:

[CDNpontiac409guy]

;)
Looks like I better get this cast iron 'Glide out of my Nomad, and get a 3 speed std in there right away:eek:

Actually... I REALLY can't take it anymore ( the automatic ). I'm now gathering the correct parts to complete the conversion to standard... including a 3 spd column in the correct colour.

THEN I'll be a gear head:p


Someone's shak'in the barrel of bull moose poop:eek: ;)

[Va348]

A real gear head !

Look at his or now days her Hands. Rough ground in grease that will not come out untill you wash dishes for your honey a couple times on wk end,They will look better. When I go to shows to look at a cars and I want to ask a ?, after saying hi I look first at hands to know if I will just be polite or polite and ask some real ?

I allso Really like people Who make there own parts or modi parts, to work better or easy.

Allso I have been on Bob SITES sence Yo yo and 54 And in tread on 61 409 is the first time I have ever seen a arg. There is No need for Name Calling. All so I believe some are on here for future Business. I run a business,And I have never ofter any service. Because I love these old Cars. I do try to help with my 35 yrs of expernice from Time to time.

Bob I guess what I 'am asking is to step in and stop the name calling.There is NO need in it. We can dis agree with out it!

Just My Opin. and ever one has one they say!

Dale

[Fran Preve]

How sad, and I thought we were friends. What are YOUR "cred's"?. Here's mine:
1) 32.3 years at Chevy's only engine plant to build the big block, as an HOURLY UNION worker, from September 191 until November 2003.
2) Unofficial plant historian in 1986 and 1987, given access to ALL past records including production. In charge of building a series of display engines including a 348 and 409 (I took the W as MY engine), I also restored a Mystery engine. Those engines were sent to someplace at GM in Detroit now someday I'll care enough to track them down.
3) My knowledge got me paid as a speaker at NCOA Owners events for 5 years, a NCRS national convention, a USCC national convention, among others. I required them to pay for my way there and back, put me up in a room, and feed me, that's it. For that they "owned me" for a week. In 91 Smokey and me worked a Chevelle event together, for a week. He cost them the same plus $5 g's.
4) In 1990 and 1991 Dan Snachez, the original editor of All Chevy magazine paid me for 19 or 20 monthly columns on big block engine production, I was a columnist. Doug Marion had the opportunity but was more interested in my numbers than giving me any credit for them or my research.
5) Between 1986 and 1991 I met with and talked too, Smokey Yunick, Bunkie Knudsen, Floyd Garrett, Zora Duntov, among others.
6) Right now I have two 4 door filing cabinettes filled with reseach papers and documents.
7) My magazine collection runs from 1960 to today, all major "hot rod" publications and most minor ones, I'll let you know how many cubic feet in a couple of weeks because now that I have some TIME I'm going to re-organzine the room. I haven't had the time because I worked 4 to 2:30 am from 1984 until I retired 3 months ago, 6 days a week.
8) That magazine collection, plus my talking to many of the movers and shakers, plus knowing some of the more well known muscle car collectors, plus in "inside" information gives me a PHd in Muscle Car history, My business card reads "Fran Preve, Muscle Car Historian, Chevrolet Specialist" I freely admit I don't know everything about everything, but I do know a lot about a lot of general things.

But that's not a "gear head", just like someone who owns one or two 409's now and "remembers when" isn't a "gear head". A gear head is someone who, like me:
1) Began drag racing in 1964, I bought a NEW 1965 Plymouth Satalite (my first car was a '63 Dodge), I raced it 1965, my 1st wife in 1966). I also raced a 1966 427 Corvette (in 1967), After that was stolen it took me 2 years before I could get back on my feet. During that time I bought back my old 1963 Dodge and put a 440 from a GTX in it. This was 1968, I was about the first to put a (then) new 375 hp 440 into a '62-'65 "B" body. Then in 1969 I ordered a new Ford Ranchero 500 with a 428 Cobra Jet engine. I ran as low as 14.10's and .20's with it in H/PS in 1970. Fun truck, I "hunted" El Camino's, easy kills.
Then I got the job at Chevy and was able to buy my first house. In 1972 I bought a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda AAR witha 440 6 pack, 4 speed and shaker hood. Yes they made 440 AAR's, mine was completely stock, original, had factory stripes etc. Bought it of the back lot of a Plymouth dealer for $1750, traded it for a '67 Eldorado in '73. Let's see, diddled around from then until probably 1985, after a 3 year lay off from Chevy I got back in. Bought a 1985 Corvette new to replace a 1980 Vette I bought new in 1980. Began my "numbers" research, met Doug Marion in 1985, in 1986 I raced that vette in the first Muscle Car Magazine "Super car Shoot Out" at Quaker City, OH. Did it again in 1987, got to know the promotor Chuck Green, the editor of Muscle car Review Paul Zazarine, Cam Benty from (then) car Craft, rusty Symms when he raced is ZL-1. Long story, but it got me back into reviewing my muscle car history!.
Still not a REAL gear head tho', ya I built a couple of cars, ya I raced, but mostly stock cars, built a couple, anyway, in 1985 I began my 409 engine and parts collection, for Xmas I bought myself a '62 bubble top, sold my '87 vette in '87, bought my 2nd wife a 79 L-82 car, then in 1989 when she started racing I built myself a 1980 "shorty" van with a built up 400 that I raced when
I could (worked second shift remember). that 'homebuilt" conversion ran 9.90's, 15.30's and got me to the NHRA Division #1 Bracket finals from 1990 to 1994 towing my wife's Vette who (which) also qualified. She began racing in 1988 when She took that 'ol 62 down the track for the first time. In 1990 when she turned 40 she began running points in the Vette, was track champion in Street in 1991 after runner up in 1990, she was (is) the REAL racer in the family.
In 1994 I decided to build her a REAL race car and built her a 1984 Monte SS powered by a mild 454. The body was a regular Monte, given to us by Mike Swinarski (you may have heard of him, he races in Super Chevy Nitro coupe) I converted I to an SS. I also built the engine, a mild 9.5 comp basically street motor, I did the heads myself, and put it together. It dyno'd at 425 hp @ 5300 RPM and 500 ft pds of torque, the dyno operator was interested in my combo as a BOAT motor!. Which he also built at his shop, Oddy's Performance, you may have heard of Jimmy, he races a Pro Mod car, done pretty good with it too.
That still sits in the garage, didn't have time to race it on a regular basis, it was to SC at maple Grove for a couple of years (we raced that event since Doug Marion invited us there in 1985, various cars). But that said the Monte runs 11.50's at a buck 18 shifting it at 5600 rpm. It's all stripped down, well mostly, my wife DRIVES it, as in "No BOX, No Brake, No Bottle, all Foot, Brains, and Throttle". If you do the math, she started racing when she was 40, she's now 55 and can and DOES, load the car, trailer it to the track, unload it, dial it, run it, re-load it and bring it home. She's 4'11 and weighs 100 lbs. And a grandmother. Like I say, she's the racer, I just build them.
But in 1997 I bought a 1985 Vette from a friend of mine (long story), he didled with it from 1985 to then with bolt on prats then moved on. The car was a "hitter" at Maple Grove, deadly consistent, ran 13.0's, .10's and if the driver cuts a light it will take you a few rounds. That's my "toy". Now that I'm retired I'll dick with it, I think I can get 12.70's out of it with heads and cam. The monte will be out every week now too.
I won't bore you with all the cars I've owned, built, etc, but I'm known as having a car "farm". I never had the time to build that '62 Bel Air, sold it. Kept enough of my '09 parts to build a hi-po '09 and put it in a '56 Chevy x gasser with a flip front end, then I could call it "That 'ol Black Magic", to go with my wifes black Monte carlo "Black Magic". Nah, gave up on that too, I was burning out, plenty of money, absolutely no time working 6/10's week after week and second shift to boot. Now I'm cleaning out all the rest of my '09 parts, I'm too old to start over. there's one more "toy" I have to build, and I have to keep up her race car, her Vette, my Vette and there's the conversion van to keep going over to tow with.
The "farm" as of today. 1979 Corvette street/strip car 1984 Monte Carlo race car, 1985 Corvette street/strip car, 1994 Olds Cutlass Supreme (wife's driver), 1994 Pontiac Transport (my driver), and a 2002 Blazer Xtreme, dropped another 2 inches, Torque Thrust D's, summer cruiser.

Now in my HUMBLE opinion, I think I might be a "gear head", others may not. But then I think you and Ricky are that "bad word I used".

Have a nice day............................................... ..........................

[dq409]

Fran,,, I think the problem here is not what you know ,,,,it`s how you use it !

Are we, the members of this forum, interested in what you know ?

ABSOLUTELY !!

Are we interested in being called "THAT NAME " when we disagree with you?

ABSOLUTELY NOT !!

That IS the problem !!!

Please refrain from the name calling !!

None of us here are "that name" !!!

We have lost a knowledgeable friend and member of this board who has ALWAYS conducted himself as a gentleman because of your name calling !

Somehow I/we hope he comes back,,,HE will be missed !!

,,,,, ,,,dq

[09pwrd55]

Franny; your wright i problebly am what you say, and after saying
smokey was just full of smoke . and I personally make your unapproved list thats great . Cause personally after reading your heart wrenching story I beleive you couldnt LACE MY BOOTS
wrench to wrench. But i will admit defeat when it comes to your interpitation of 40 yr old paper work picked out of some obscure garbage can, I will admit production #s intrique me , but after that If you cant make it run who cares.
Why dont you do something useful with all your knowledge like get us some 583 heads cast , heck since Samantha died any
Gennies Master tony nelson wont let her use her powers your the next best thing. Please help us mere mortals out, and whip us up some 583,s
09PWR.

[CDNpontiac409guy]

Guys...
May I "lighten" this up a bit:confused: :p

Talk'n about REAL gear heads...

You be the judge here:

Meet my Grandfather:

Lac Du Bonnet ( 2500 people ), Manitoba
It's 1997
My aunt Louise ( My dads only sister, 41 years old at that time ) is in the grocery store parking lot, standing beside her Corvette, talking to my aunt Lynnette about Calvin's ( her son, 27 yers old ) driving habits... AS Calvin walks up to them.
Lynnette starts in at Calvin for driving like a fool... and Louise starts to back her up.
Just then, they hear a car squeal it's tires, and pull out onto the road at speed, turning, and driving onto the road in front of them.
Lynnette throws up her arms, and exclaims,
"OH, WHAT'S THE USE" ? !!!!!!!!!!!
As my 82 year old Grandfather waves from that car:cheers :cool:

Then there was my Dad.... RCMP for 28 years.
One example...
Travelling on the Hope-Princeton highway in the mid 1970's. 66 Toyota Land Cruiser pulling a 14ft travel trailer.
Every once in a while my Mom would say something like,
"Why do you drive like that" ?
As the tires of the Land Crusier are squealing going around the hairpin corners.

Then there's me ( and you're thinking, Oh no, not a 3rd generation:eek: )...
I'll go WAY back
I'm 16+ a bit... doing my road test for my driver's license. ( NATURALLY a standard transmission )
Yes, in that Toyota Land Cruiser... 300HP 327 Chev, coupled into a two speed overdrive into the stock floor shift 3 speed... YOU BET ! ... SIX forward gears in high range !
I knew this truck pretty well. Doin pretty well on the road test too;) . Instructor thought I was a being a smart a$$ by shifting all those gears, so, he had me parallel park on a steep up-grade, between two cars.
Pull up beside the front car. Coast back ( yes, the hill was THAT steep ), crank right, then left and stop.
Instructor looks to the curb...
Rear tire 6" from the curb, vehicle straight, front tire turned to the left, rear of it against the curb.
no comment:p
"ok, you can pull out now".
I checked my mirror... all clear... and pulled out.

When we got back, the instructor said to me, "ya' know, I have failed people for not doing a "shoulder check" when pulling out of a parking spot... but you certainly seem to have the other basics covered".

And now there's "him"... My boy, Donovan.
3 years old.
Just the other day... I hadn't seen him for a while, when I noticed the bathroom light on.
Oh no... what's he up to now :rolleyes:
I slowly opened the door.
There he is, sitting on his "throne".....
Going through page by page of the
latest issue of Custom Rodder magazine:cheers

Can't IMAGINE where he got THAT from:confused:

[Fran Preve]

Go back to the first post by 09 and don't tell me he wasn't "slapping" me, sorry, but I respond in kind, I don't take that from anyone, much less him. Then go back to his response to my response, tell me HE isn't keeping after ME!. You want me to play nice, then do the same. There's my "bio", you be the judge as to whether or not what I'm talking about, and if I'm a "gear head".

O9 started it, my response was mild to say the least. Trust me, if he did it to Smokey he'd be...., well let's just say deep doo doo. Pick a side, his or mine, 'cause it's one way or the other.

[Bungy]

I just read this entire thread, there's 10 minutes of my life wasted:cry I thought the thread was going to be about gearheads and/or gearhead storys. In the future could you guys label your posts "pissing and mouning" or "bitching and arguing" so I can skip over them. If anyone wants to know, I'm a real gearhead:D

[bobs409]

There's obviously some friction between 09pwrd55 and Fran by the looks of this post. Im going to ask that if you want to continue, please do so off the board. My best advice would be to just let it die out.

I have seen alot of arguments on many sites over the years and none to date ever did any good.


Please see the new section in the FAQ: http://www.348-409.com/forum/misc.php?action=faq&page=4



Bob

[fatride]

Someone once said to me after looking over my Impala very closely, you must know alot about cars! My reply, I know alot about "my" car! Some thoughts are best kept to one's self!

:cheers

[Loafer409]

Some thoughts are best kept to one's self!

====

That's why I'm keeping my mouth shut...09
:stooges

[dq409]

Having up to 13 cars and NO garage ,,,,,,

Keeping your cars at ALL or any friends houses ,,,,,

Keeping your rental houses garages to store YOUR cars in,,,,

Getting tow tags on the dead cars in front of your home,,,

Skipping paying a bill to buy THAT needed part,,,,,,

Buying two new AVS carbs when your two old AFB`s still work,,,,,,

Laying under a dash or car at the wreaking yard when it`s 100*

Working in your unheated garage in January,,,,,,,

Pulling your engine just to detail it,,,,,

Retuning your engine even if it`s running good,,,,,

Cussing at that expensive Pertronix junk,,,,,

Smiling at that new conversion from Dave http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/r/winknudge.gif

Loging on to this forum,,,,,,

,,,,ok ,,, keep them coming,,,,dq

[tmracing62]

I just like to play with cars. These cars especially. I'm here to learn and maybe help and have some fun. My time is extremely limited (got home at midnight and started at 0630 hours which is not unusual) and sometimes I do write the check to get the job done when I am not knowledgable enough myself or don't have the time. There are a lot of things I am not and I suppose I don't fit the definition of a gear head. But I'm not gonna burst into tears over it.

Frankly, I don't worry too much about the disagreements. When it's designed to hurt someone else by making them look bad, it does make me PO'd. But life is WAY too short and there are way too many really awful things out there. When everybody just works to make nice, not a whole lot can happen. Sort of like having Cream of Wheat and rice and milk and Wonder Bread for dinner.

Everyone here that posts seems to have strong character. You can't have so many diverse people with so much knowledge and experience and will without there being some heated disagreements. So what's the problem? Better to work it out than be angry after everyone else has forgotten about it. Most of us haven't even met and when we do there will be likes and dislikes, probably not the ones we expect, but that's just the way it is.

[tripowerguy]

I think that I'm a gearhead, I started racing cars in 1956 [40 F--d] raced every sat night and sun until 1962. Had a 1964 409 that only made it to the drag strip once and started raising a family just dropped out of racing. My oldest son and I got interested in motocross when he was 14 and he is still going strong at 42. I think he's crazy because your bones get brittle as we age. The next son got interested in bycicle motocross and traveled with a factory team until he was 18, never could understand all that interest in something without a motor. He still is into mountain bike racing, at age 40. I now am at an age that I can take the time once again to enjoy a car. I think that you should always do it yourself if at all possible. I got an exteme amount of pleasure out of making the spacers under the carbs and seeing the improvement. I am interested in tuning my car so that it outperforms or is as good as the best in that class. My wife says why don't you leave it alone, I just can't, and I believe that is what makes a gearhead, you just can't leave it alone. :cheers Roy

[grumpy]

and probably don't want to be if I have to fight about it.

I can build a SBC and have many times, some for street, some for drag, one went under the Corvette Club drag record right off the trailer first time out, some for road racing, won the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) NARRC ( North American Road Racing Championship) [sounds much better than what it was] in 1977 as owner, builder,driver.

Built BBC and W motors. Currently working on 2TC Toyota motor for daughter's race car. She came in fourth in SCCA MARRS Championship in 2002.

Built several road race Corvettes from ground up, all did pretty well.

Had to keep my 409 together by myself, as I had no real money for repairs as I broke or had problems with the transmission several times, camshaft, rear end, rear axle, carburator, rear axle housing, shift linkage, brakes, ball joints, exhaust system, driveshaft, etc, etc. all while I was trying to get thru college.

Maintained every car I owned, since 1962, except for automatic transmission, and stuff I didn't have time for or warrantee stuff.

Opened an after hours side business for auto repair to make $$ to pay for my toys.

And I learned it all by doing it wrong, and doing it again.

Backyard has four project cars, two race cars, two car trailers. Driveway has four street cars, two of which have major updates, and the zoning board is on first name basis with us. And there is only two of us living here.,

Am I a gearhead? I don't want to be, if I have to fight about it.

[Rockfish39]

Originally posted by tmracing62
I just like to play with cars. These cars especially. I'm here to learn and maybe help and have some fun. My time is extremely limited ...

... Frankly, I don't worry too much about the disagreements. When it's designed to hurt someone else by making them look bad, it does make me PO'd. But life is WAY too short and there are way too many really awful things out there. When everybody just works to make nice, not a whole lot can happen. Sort of like having Cream of Wheat and rice and milk and Wonder Bread for dinner.

Everyone here that posts seems to have strong character. You can't have so many diverse people with so much knowledge and experience and will without there being some heated disagreements. So what's the problem? Better to work it out than be angry after everyone else has forgotten about it. Most of us haven't even met and when we do there will be likes and dislikes, probably not the ones we expect, but that's just the way it is.

Ditto! Well said !!!

The forum ranges, in personalities, from the Guardians of the Sacred Scrolls, to simple weekend hobbyists like myself.

But, it takes that wide a range to make up our collective. I dont always agree with what is written either, but we're all intelligent enough to decide for ourselves what we accept and what we dont. No need to get hurt feelings over it.

Am I a gear head?? Perhaps, Perhaps not...

I'll see YOU on the Super Chevy and the GoodGuys showfields in'04 and lets have some friendly competition, then we'll find out who walks the walk and who just talks... :D

That is, of course, except for Ken Reeves.:bow: Ive heard, from many, that his show cars are the baddest of the bad!!! From the photos Ive seen, He would be hard for anyone to beat!


Rockfish
:cool:

[tmracing62]

"I just can't, and I believe that is what makes a gearhead, you just can't leave it alone. " Absolutely right Roy. The compulsion to do it forces us to learn which increases our knowledge and then we must redo what we did last week because of what we learned. And we can't help ourselves - we just have to keep making it better or at least different.

Any one of us can bury every other person here with our knowledge about something. It might not have to do with cars, but each of us is stronger than someone else on something. There's always someone ahead of you on the highway you're on right now and it's always impossible to be the only leader. So agree, disagree, learn and enjoy it.

I think a gear head is someone that loves it. It doesn't mean they are good at all or many or even any aspects of it. And no one is the best. They just love making stuff work or knowing all about that stuff or both and do their best.

[63z11]

I am fairly quiet member of this forum but have found it to be informative and fun at times. This latest round of B.S. had me wanting to jump right in start letting people have it. But why bother, everyone has there own ideas about these cars or whatever the subject is. My definition of gear heads doesn't include lawn chairs at a car show or stacks of paper from the archives. My preferences are for well tuned steel bodied chevrolets on the drag strip. But so what, theres room for every type of chevrolet or canadian pontiac fan in here. Hope everones getting ready for sept. Then we will see who the gear heads are.:cheers

[dq409]

OHHHHHHHH,,,,, Now it`s getting FUN !!!! http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/f/2jump.gif

[CDNpontiac409guy]

Rock, TM, z11.... Now THESE are excellent messages... and I mean MESSAGES :cheers
Wish I had said it !

Is Grump a gear head :confused:
Does a bear ....... well, you know;)

BTW, DQ.... I hear you have a part time job as a florist:eek:

AAAAH HEE HEE HEE !!!!

[Fran Preve]

Grumpy is a gearhead, and I've LOVED those "himmmee" T2C's since I drove my first one in 1973. Grump, down in Florida the hispanics put a Weber and NO2 on them and run 12's and under. A hoot to see a little "buzzbomb" screamin' down the track on a 12 second run.

[Loafer409]

Does a bear ....... well, you know
====

Been there with an 09, yea he does
;) ;) ...09

[JIMS409]

Lets flip da' switch... Now's a good time :)

[348NUT]

I can't leave it alone either! I'm not real smart on engine internals and that kinda stuff just cause I haven't done it much. I've never been on a race track, but I love wrenching on these old Chevys and as I find more time, I will learn more about actually putting one of these Ws back together. :D When I can't find a simple solution to a problem I will lie awake thinking about it until I come up with a solution. I'm still working the bugs out of the Windshield wiper motor that's inside my tailgate to open it with the keyless entry remote on my 56. (I just couldn't stand having that button that didn't do anything!)This carries through to everything. My wife will ask me if we can have something a certain way and I'll say no that's impossible. She just smiles and says you'll figure it out. A few days, weeks even years later, I'll figure out a way and presto, I've made myself another project to take me away from "car Time" again. Dang! I hate it when I do that! :rolleyes: Very seldom does anything get thrown away in our house cause Daddy can fix anything. :rolleyes: Gear Head? Maybe not. Chevy NUT? You Bet!

p.s. All I can say is it's gonna be real weird to meet you guys in person at KC! Some weirder than others, I suspect!:D

Aaron Hufnagle the 348NUT

[dq409]

[i]
p.s. All I can say is it's gonna be real weird to meet you guys in person at KC! Some weirder than others, I suspect!:D

[/B]

:D Da Florist !!! http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/w/super.gif

[Southtowns27]

Does this make me a gear head?

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid83/pe33667a8c20959701a7e3f2eae2d64e8/fad27aa2.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid83/p16401db9b669b6003983dec3157e773a/fad27a9e.jpg
Yes, that is a smallblock Chevy

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid83/p87ebfdf1528ba51de1489627fcd38796/fad27e11.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid83/p3f58af24958fb0b1e6fb21d37a5edda0/fad27e26.jpg

:cheers