Ye Ole Coffee Shoppe XXIII

[leghome]

My first car was a 1955 Buick Special. Dynaflo transmission would cruise at 90 all day long but it took about 5 miles to get there. Was coming back from Ft Wayne IN the summer of 66. About Marion, IN. I was cruising at 75 and only doing 30 about 25 miles later. Got off of I69 at exit 34 and the car never ran again. Did not know anything about cars at that time so probably blew the head gaskets. Turned over very freely but did not fire a lick. Would love to have that car now it would be almost a ratrod.

 

[RexHea]

Rex, I have been using Baush & Lomb Softlens Multi-focal for a few years now. The only difficulty is that the Add High (max == close in) is not quite high enough for me as well. Still they are like magic!

During the day I often go around with only one lens and if doing a bunch of really finicy model work then I will take both out.

What brand are you using?

take care ,,, ken

Hi Ken! I am still using the trial pair of contacts and they are Air Optix. My brain/eye communication link (LOL) is still in training and that may account for some of my close-in problem. I barely see a ghost image with letters, but can still read.and it seems to come and go. Everything else is wonderful. The Doc said I was already at max for the close up. I have researched these things a little more, I'm now wondering if this brand uses the three divided powers. I have read that this sometimes causes ghosting because of the pupil changes with the light conditions. I have read where Acuvue has a design that this doesn't happen and I may try a pair of them next week, if this doesn't clear up. Heck, if I could adjust to Progressive Lens glasses, I can struggle through this.

Mikey:I will probably be up there around lunch time...maybe sooner. I assume you said the Wrecking Crews layout would only be a "layout visit" and at McWane?

 

[vato loco]

I have read where Acuvue has a design that this doesn't happen and I may try a pair of them next week, if this doesn't clear up. Heck, if I could adjust to Progressive Lens glasses, I can struggle through this.

Or we can get u a white cane with a red tip and sun glasses. then seat you in front of Winn-Dixie with a tin cup! Knobby knees and BLIND, now we can make money off of that!

 

[vato loco]

My first car Olive Green 1974 chevy malibu with a inline 6. Not very fast or pretty, but a huge back seat!!!!!!

 

[RexHea]

Or we can get u a white cane with a red tip and sun glasses. then seat you in front of Winn-Dixie with a tin cup! Knobby knees and BLIND, now we can make money off of that!

I'm already doing that to pay my IRS bill . BTW: I got one comment about my knees: A lady told me they reminded her of a wonderful trip she had to the rolling hills of Ireland. Hmmm! wonder what she meant

My first car was a 1954 Chevy, metallic green, chrome stripped, California rake, spinner hubcaps, Smitty mufflers, and a ........ 6 cylinder GMC truck engine Looked "bad" sounded "bad", but..........
What the heck, it got me around and there was plenty of room in the back seat for the Drive-in theater.

Ken (lotoquestions): I just talked to my Doc's office and I am going to try the Baush&Lomb next week

 

[Steve B]

AND sat in a Thong

evening all, got a metal shed today, it came in kit form,,, all 700 pieces of it LOL

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

My first car was a 1954 Chevy, metallic green, chrome stripped, California rake, spinner hubcaps, Smitty mufflers, and a ........ 6 cylinder GMC truck engine Looked "bad" sounded "bad", but..........
What the heck, it got me around and there was plenty of room in the back seat for the Drive-in theater.

Speaking of bad sound, one of my nephew's early pickup trucks was a 1970 Dodge with 318. It only had a one barrel carb but the exhaust system was set in such a way that it sounded like four barrels. No one even dared challenge him to a race because it sounded like it could eat their lunch right off the line when in actuality they probably could have beat him in an old VW Beetle.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

They haven't been able to find a gas tank for the van that isn't rusted out so I'm thinking about mounting a newer tank in the back and modifying the FDM (the part that holds the electric fuel pump) so it has a tube that goes all the way down to the bottom of the tank and use it as a poor mans fuel cell. I should be able to reroute the filler tube from the existing gas cap easily enough. Building a safety enclosure around the tank to keep any fumes out of the passenger compartment should be a snap. They haven't been able to find a good steering column either. If I have to I'll adapt one from another model vehicle to fit.

 

[PNKFLOYD]

Rex said- Mikey:I will probably be up there around lunch time...maybe sooner. I assume you said the Wrecking Crews layout would only be a "layout visit" and at McWane?

You are correct, but lets talk when you get to the Civic Center and show....

 

[screen48]

Cars Ahy! First (co signed by Dad) was a 61 Impala Black/red with a 409 four speed. Traded it off for a 66 fairlane 500 when I got married in 69 to save gas and tires but that lasted 6 months so I got a new 70 Nova 396 SS and had that until the babies started coming in 74. AH! the good old days of real cars.

 

[kbkchooch]

My 1st ride was a hand me down (Dad commuting since 64, 2 sisters through college) 63 Falcon with a puny little 170 inline 6. Lasted about a week til my Mom borrowed it to get some groceries. A bag of loose oranges fell over in the trunk, and she did'nt know til she got home with an empty bag!!! Oh boy, terminal cancer of the floor!!! The nexxt week Dad came home with a 69 Mustang for me.........now THAT was a fun ride!!!!

This is the only pic that survived. This was prior to the addition of the Shelby hood, dropping the fog lights below the bumper, the engine rework, the Boss 302 chin spoiler, and the factory chrome GT wheels going on.

Sold her to get wife #1 a diamond ring.......
but
wife #2 wants me to find another one and build a replica!!!!!

 

[leghome]

"Cars Ahy! First (co signed by Dad) was a 61 Impala Black/red with a 409 four speed."
My 3rd car was a 61 Impala, Roman Red with a White top. 283 with the power pack heads and 4 barrel carb and a three speed on the column. I had to have the tranny rebuilt and put in a floor shift. Went thru a clutch a week for a month and then put a 7500 lb pressure plate and racing disc that eliminated all clutch problems. I hated to get stopped at stop lights because the clutch was so stiff that my leg a would start shaking if I had to sit very long. I have an 8X10 pix hanging on the wall over this computer next to the pix of my 68 Nova. The Nova had a 325 horse 327, close ratio 4 speed with a 373 posi track rear end. I would love to have that Nova NOW.

 

[bnsf971]

They haven't been able to find a gas tank for the van that isn't rusted out so I'm thinking about mounting a newer tank in the back and modifying the FDM (the part that holds the electric fuel pump) so it has a tube that goes all the way down to the bottom of the tank and use it as a poor mans fuel cell. I should be able to reroute the filler tube from the existing gas cap easily enough. Building a safety enclosure around the tank to keep any fumes out of the passenger compartment should be a snap. They haven't been able to find a good steering column either. If I have to I'll adapt one from another model vehicle to fit.

Maybe you can get the newer plastic tank (and straps) with the fuel module, and remove the pump. Put a piece of fuel hose in place of the pump, and the sending unit may even make the gauge work somewhat correctly. We had a 1992 B2500 with the 5.2, and fuel injection. I had to change the in-tank pump, and it's not tough to get the module out, it unscrews from the top.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Maybe you can get the newer plastic tank (and straps) with the fuel module, and remove the pump. Put a piece of fuel hose in place of the pump, and the sending unit may even make the gauge work somewhat correctly. We had a 1992 B2500 with the 5.2, and fuel injection. I had to change the in-tank pump, and it's not tough to get the module out, it unscrews from the top.

I've thought about that. It depends on what I can get from the scrap yard. I'd like to find a square tank with a flat bottom, not angled. I have a brand new sending unit that was bought for the original tank so I should be able to rig it in somehow.

 

[kbkchooch]

Jeffrey
In the long run, wouldn't it be better (and safer) just to get the right gas tank? Aftermarket tanks at full retail from NAPA is less than $200.00. If you can finda store nearby that can cut you some slack, you could concievably get one for less than $150.00.
Then you wouldn't have filler neck issues, fumes in the cabin, possible impact issues or even worse, crispy critter issues.
I know your ideas may be less money, but can you put a price on safety? I would think with your involvement with the local emergency responders, you might err on the side of safety.

Yeah, I know, all this coming from someone who once also owned a Pinto!

 

[Rybcon]

Fiat 128 spider in 1974 and traded that in 1978 for Porsche 911. (I should've bought a house). Now I wish I had a 1968 Camaro.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeffrey
In the long run, wouldn't it be better (and safer) just to get the right gas tank? Aftermarket tanks at full retail from NAPA is less than $200.00. If you can finda store nearby that can cut you some slack, you could concievably get one for less than $150.00.
Then you wouldn't have filler neck issues, fumes in the cabin, possible impact issues or even worse, crispy critter issues.
I know your ideas may be less money, but can you put a price on safety? I would think with your involvement with the local emergency responders, you might err on the side of safety.

Yeah, I know, all this coming from someone who once also owned a Pinto!

Trouble is I don't have the $200 and am a LONG way from getting it. I've spent almost all my emergency money and only have $100 left. Besides, many of the older trucks at our dept have the gas tank right in the cab and we've never had a safety issue with any of them, even the ones that were changed to larger tanks.

 

[Steve B]

My first car was a Mini 850cc, it did 65mph flat out and scared you to death with the noise it made, my second wasnt much better it was a Ford Escort which broke in half on the motorway, the front inner wings came away from the bulkhead/firewall assembly

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

my second wasnt much better it was a Ford Escort which broke in half on the motorway, the front inner wings came away from the bulkhead/firewall assembly

That was a definite weakness in the Escort's design. We had quite a few did that here in the US. What got me about how weak the body was happened on a day I tried pushing one out of a ditch, at the owner's request that is. It was an 82 model as I remember. Anyway, the rear of it just seemed to disintegrate the instant I started pushing it with my huge '74 LTD station wagon. The owner actually laughed about it. He had been looking for an excuse to get something newer/better but his wife wouldn't let him since the Escort didn't have a mark on it. All I did was get my cars bumper against the rear of his car then gently tapped the gas. CRUNCH!!!. Splintered plastic shards went everywhere it seems (I found some behind the LTD's grille) and the metal just folded up like a beer can! What was funny to me was that my LTD's engine (400 cubic inch) was worn out and had low compression and here it had just totaled another car by simply pushing against it. Oddly enough the very next car I had was an Escort, but simply because it was given to me and I needed transportation as the LTD was dead by that time. It had just enough power to get to the scrap yard at 25 mph, FLOORED and sounded like it going to blow up at any moment.

 

[Secondhandmodeler]

Good morning everyone.

Sounds like everyone is doing okay. I see Jim is still out for the count. Oh well, at least we know he is alive!

First car: 1987 VW Golf. A quick little thing to get a kid around. Keep in mind, kids in my generation didn't get a V6 or V8. Four bangers ruled supreme!

We went to the Twins game on Wednesday. I never thought I would need my winter coat to attend a baseball game in the middle of May! Wouldn't you know, we have highs in the seventies today. Oh well, we won the game and it didn't rain like it was suppose to.

No modeling for a few weeks now. My days off are filling up faster than I can get them. I think I'll spend Tuesday playing with foam. Yup, it's been 'penciled in'!

The boss is gone for a week. If I sell enough while he's gone, the week will be stress free. No fool's errands to run when he's actually annoyed with his wife.

Have a great day everyone!