#Bob the builder and Tech are twins now

[shyjug]

UH OH

I have realised a mistake in my IRL Tech design

[kumkaniudaku]

Micah’s Battle

A/N: Here’s something I promised a while ago and now it feels right. It was inspired by that picture (that I won’t post) of Chadwick and the cute little girl walking around what I assume was LA. Also, the photoed child is what I imagine Micah to look like.

Warnings: None

“And...voila!” Chadwick exclaimed, standing from his position on the floor and stepping back to look at his creation. “Look, baby. I think I did a damn good job.”

Turning your body, you stopped your task for a moment to look over at him and then down to pile of screws near the constructed baby crib. “It does look good but, I think you’re missing something.”

His eyes followed yours before offering a cheeky grin, “Those are just extras.”

“Extras my ass. If my baby falls out of that crib, I’m leaving you.”

“You wouldn’t leave me, baby.”

Your grunt in response made him laugh, the sound booming in the half finished baby room. At just over seven months pregnant, the race to finish Noah’s nursery was on. Soon, your ability and desire to move would diminish leaving Chadwick to finish on his own. While you trusted your husband, you weren’t sure of his interior designing skills.

While Chadwick attempted to figure out where he went wrong, you continued to place pictures on the newly painted wall. 

Noah’s room was themed to honor the African continent, featuring framed photos of animals associated with the continent on the wall behind his crib. The individual letters of his name hung on the creme colored wall above his changing area, each one painted in a different animal pattern. Chadwick’s personal touch, a plush rug in the shape of the continent, sat in the middle of the room. After today, the only job left would be to bring in the chosen furniture and stock the room with all of his newborn items.

You worked in relative silence alongside your husband, both of you occasionally humming to the songs playing from his iPhone. A familiar set of footsteps excitedly shuffled down the hallway until they stopped in the bedroom’s doorway.

“Hey, Boop,” you cooed, smiling at her. “What’s going on, pretty girl?”

“Nothing!” She happily skipped into the room, stopping at your stomach to listen for movement before hugging your legs. “Daddy, can we play now?”

“In a minute, Princess. Daddy’s busy.” With his back turned, he missed the disappointed frown on his daughter’s face.

Looking between his focused expression and her sad eyes, you stepped in. “Mikey, why don’t you go and wait in the kitchen for me. We’ll bake some cookies and make hot cocoa. That sound fun, Diva?”

“Yes ma’am.” Though she agreed, the thought of baking with you wasn’t nearly as exciting as play wrestling with her Dad. She quietly shuffled out of the room, head down and shoulders slumped. Waiting until she was out of earshot, you turned to Chadwick.

“Aaron.”

“Yes, baby?” His tone was still disinterested, matching his body language as his back remained turned to you.

“You hurt her feelings.”

“Whose feelings?”

“Mikey’s.”

Lifting his head, he stopped tinkering with the baby crib and turned on his butt to face you. “What did I do?”

“As much as she loves me, baking cookies isn’t what she came in here to ask about. Your daughter misses you.”

“But I’ve been here the whole time? I haven’t left in months.”

“Baby,” placing the picture in your hand on the floor, you waddled to him and extended your hands to help him stand. When he was on his feet, you cupped his face on both sides. “She needs your attention. You’re her best friend. When’s the last time you two spent time together?”

“I mean, I picked her up from school the other day.”

“To take her to the dentist,” you laughed. “That’s not quality bonding.”

“But, baby-”

“Take a break for a day. Remind her that she’s still your little girl. Show her that the new baby won’t take away from that.” You watched his head drop in shame at the realization that he’d been unintentionally neglecting his first born. Kissing his forehead, you lifted his chin so that he was level with you. “Hey, don’t beat yourself up. You didn’t mean it.”

“Yeah but, I should’ve been paying attention. My Princess probably thinks I don’t care about her.”

“Impossible,” you encouraged. “I tell her all the time how much you love her. “Just...give her some attention. Boop’s gonna love any time spent with Daddy.”

“Can I join y’all for the cookies?”

Giggling, you pecked his bottom lip before breaking the embrace. “Nuh uh. Fix my son’s crib, Bob the Builder. And use the instructions this time!”

                                   _______________ 

When the crib was finished to your liking, Chadwick began focusing on getting back into Micah’s good graces. Calls were made, reservations were confirmed and schedules were cleared to accommodate his Princess for the entire day. Chadwick was up before the sun, clanging pans in the kitchen in an attempt to make Micah’s favorite breakfast. You helped as much as he would allow, relaying the chocolate chip pancake recipe when he would get off track and setting the table for her arrival.

“Can I come with you guys today, husband?” You asked, sneaking a mini pancake into your mouth. He frowned at your antics, popping your hand when you reached for another and replacing the treat with an apple.

“No, wife. Today is for daddy and daughter bonding.”

“Oh, so, now I can’t bond? Y’all just kicked ole CoCo out the family?”

“Just for a couple hours, baby. Daddy will be back to give you some special attention later on.” He smiled while you rolled your eyes.

“Whatever. My and my baby boy are gonna have a good time. Ain’t that right, Noah,” you rubbed your belly, hoping for some movement. “We gon’ take naps and eat all kinds of food!”

“You’re trying to turn my boy against me already.” With your help, he balanced the platter of pancakes on his arm to carry it to the kitchen table. He smiled at the display, satisfied with the way it looked. Now, the hard part of the day was upon him. “It’s time to go wake up Sleeping Beauty.”

“Good luck with that,” you scoffed. “Resist the urge to knock her out. Be better than me.”

Micah was tough to get to sleep and even tougher to wake up. You battled daily with her, fighting through the whining and pouting just to get her out of the bed and into the bathroom to begin the day. While Chadwick was the more understanding parent, it did little to alter Micah’s morning moods.

Quietly pushing her bedroom door open, he smiled at his little girl. Her sleeping position was almost identical to his usual: an arm and leg draped over her stuffed Black Panther toy and her mouth open while she lightly snored.

Chadwick kept his footsteps quiet before sitting on the bed beside her.

“Hey, baby girl,” he whispered as he rubbed her back. “It’s time to wake up.”

She groaned in response, attempting to turn her back to him and remain asleep. “Daddyyyyy!”

“Oh, not you don’t!” He exclaimed, scooping her up and sitting her in his lap. His animated kisses all over her face and neck finally did the trick, making her open her eyes and lay her head against his chest. “Daddy has a big day planned for you, Boop. You wanna have some fun with me?”

“Yeah! Are we going to the park?”

“Better! We’re going to go the zoo to see your favorite animal.”

“A giraffe!”

Her excitement made him smile. “That’s right, twin! We’re going to see some giraffes. But first, Mama helped me make you breakfast so, we need to go eat before the food gets cold. Is that okay with you?”

Without hesitation, she nodded and wiggled in his lap. Taking her restless movements as a positive response, Chadwick threw her on his shoulders, making sure she was secure before jogging to the kitchen.

Breakfast was a lively affair as Chadwick sought Micah’s approval for the day’s itinerary. In matching outfits that you picked the night before, the tandem hopped into Chadwick’s Tesla to take on the day.

The zoo was the first stop on the list. Micah gaped at the animals and information around her, asking the zookeeper questions whenever she could. Chadwick thought she would explode from excitement during the giraffe feeding, gaining the attention of everyone around her as she squealed from the experience.

“Daddy, can I have one?” She asked wide-eyed when they were back in the car and headed to their next location.

“Uh, maybe we can talk to Mama about a puppy first.”

He knew you would say no but, if he could put off the conversation until the end of the day, she would hopefully forget.

The next stop was a trip to a nearby nail salon to get the Princess the royal treatment. She was greeted by name by the staff and given a tiara as a gift upon entering.

“Welcome, Princess Micah,” the receptionist greeted. “Are you ready for your appointment?”

Looking up at Chadwick for confirmation, he sensed apprehension in her body language.

“Go ahead, twin. She’s gonna take you to get your nails and toes painted like your mom’s. You like that, right?”

“Can you come with me, Daddy? Please?” Her eyes pleaded with him, making it hard for him to decline her offer.

In a matter of minutes, his feet and ankles were submerged in a basin filled with warm water, choosing a pedicure for himself while Micah chose her nail color. Her face scrunched as she looked between shades of blue, making her resemble you.

“You look just like your Mama when you do that, Boop,” he laughed.

“Mommy says that your nails should match the season. What’s the color for February season?”

The nail tech aww’d at her statement, “Would you like to try pink, Princess? For Valentine’s Day?”

Taking a moment to think, she accepted the suggestion. Her face lit up in awe as she watched the technician work magic on her hands and feet. She’d only been allowed to have her nails when you had the time to sit and do it for her, making this a totally new occurence. Now, with the help of her father, she felt like a grown up.

“So, Miss Micah, what do you want to be when you grow up,” the technician asked.

“I wanna be a doctor and a soccer player!”

“Sounds like you’ll be making a lot of money. You ready to retire, Dad?”

“I can’t retire as long her and her mother keep up this designer shoe habit.”

When the process was finally over, Micah marveled at the pink polish and silver glitter adorning her hands and feet. So much so that she all but demanded that her father send a picture of the creation to you before they could continue their journey.

With Micah’s excitement at an all time high, Chadwick wanted to get in her last surprise before she came crashing down. Another shriek of excitement filled the backseat once the sign of her favorite pizza parlour came into view. As a whole, the family had been following Chadwick’s vegan lifestyle, keeping the growing child away from her favorite meal.

Still having enough energy to talk, Micah filled her dad in on all the first grade drama at school. She remained tight lipped about a possible “boyfriend” but shared all of the details she could remember about her recent field trip to a wildlife center and the new words she was learning to spell.

“Well, when your brother gets here, you’ll be ready to teach him everything you know, right? He’s gonna need your help.”

At the mention of her sibling, her mood took a noticeable turn. “Daddy, I don’t want a brother anymore.”

“Why not, Boop? You were so excited.”

“Because, when he comes, you won’t like me anymore.”

Chadwick’s heart broke at her explanation. His worst fear was coming to fruition. Sliding into the booth beside her, he quickly picked her up and sat her in his lap to face him.

“Listen to me, twin. Me and your Mama will love you forever. It doesn’t matter if we have ten more babies after this, you are still our baby girl.”

“But you don’t play with me anymore. You’re always doing baby stuff with Mama.”

“I’m sorry, Princess,” he apologized, hugging her close. “I promise, I to play with you more often. You’re my best friend and I don’t want to ever hurt your feelings. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

Unconvinced, Chadwick tickled her sides. “I don’t believe you. Let me see that pretty smile!” Giggling and twisting in his arms to free herself from the comedic attack, she revealed a missing tooth in her bottom row. “Who’s my twin?”

“I am!”

“Who’s always gonna be my big girl?”

“Me!”

“Alriiiight,” holding out his hand, he signaled for Micah’s hand to collide with his before pulling her into another hug.

                                 _______________

It only took the 20 minute drive back home for the energetic five year old to succumb to the events of the day. Chadwick stole glances at her sleeping frame every so often, silently thanking God for blessing him with his baby girl.

Posted in the living room with an assortment of snacks, you couldn’t help but swoon as he carried her past you and into her bedroom to sleep the rest of the day off. When he returned, he flopped down in the space beside you to rest his head in the little bit of lap you had left.

“Did you have a good time,” you asked, playing with a stray grey hair tangled in his coils. “You look worn out.”

“I am, baby. I don’t know how you do it,” He rubbed at his temples as he tilted his head to look up at you. “But we had a good time. She knows that we’re not trying to replace her now.”

“Did she really think that? My poor baby! I’m gonna go give her kisses.” You started to get up when Chadwick pulled you back down with a chuckle.

“Calm down. I told her how much we love her and that she’ll always be our baby. Everything is good now.” He waited for your worried facial expression to change before lifting your shirt and placing a gentle kiss on your stomach. “How’s the love of my life and my son?”

“I’m swollen and irritable but, watch this!” Grabbing your phone, you pressed play and held the speaker close to your stomach. “Put your hand on the top on my belly.”

“I ain't no joke, I use to let the mic smoke. Now I slam it when I'm done and make sure it's broke. When I'm gone I wrote this song 'cause I won't let nobody press up and mess up the scene I set.”

The first verse of Rakim’s “I Ain’t No Joke” muffled against your swollen stomach as you waited for action. Soon, a strong kick from the inside rocked Chadwick’s hand to his surprise. The more the song played, the more Noah made his presence known.

“My boy is a Rakim fan,” Chadwick laughed looking from you to your stomach. “What you know about Rakim, AJ?”

“His mama is keeping him cultured!”

“And I love her for that. C’mere, girl.” Sitting up, he gave you a few quick pecks to show his appreciation. When the room was silent, you allowed your head to rest against the back of the couch while you closed your eyes, enjoying the quiet intimacy. “Hey, baby, who is Dominic?”

“Hmm,” you answered a little too quickly, clamping your eyes shut to avoid his glare.

“If you can ‘huh’, you can hear. Who is Dominic? Mikey won’t say anything so, I expect my wife to tell me.”

“Oh, spare me! He’s just a little boy in her class that has a crush on her. It’s no big deal.”

Chadwick shot you an incredulous look from his position in your lap. “When can I meet him?”

“I’m not allowing you to shake down a six year old.”

“That’s okay, CoCo, I’ll get to him one day.” turning on his side to face you, he began talking to your stomach. “You got an assignment when you get out here, Little Aaron. Protect big sis at all costs. No boys without the last name Green or Boseman allowed!”

TAGS: @njadont @k-michaelis @wakandanmoonchild @idilly @texasbama @afraiddreamingandloving @inxan-ity @daytimeheroicsonly @onyour-right @brianabreeze @sisterwifeudaku @ironsquad @killmongerdispussy @90sinspiredgirl @willowtree77785901 @maynardqueen101 @heyauntieeee @halfrican-heat @purple-apricots @lalapalooza718 @blue-ishx @profilia @ljstraightnochaser @girl-wtf-lmao @dramaqueenamby @royallyprincesslilly @melaninmarvel @thiccdaddy-mbaku @lavitabella87 @purplehairgawdess @unholyxcumbucket @airis-paris14 @uhlxis @oshasimone @maliadestiny @drsunshine97 @cozyshack2 @zxddy-panther @queentearra @skysynclair19 @retro-melanin @mermaidchansons @misspooh @melanisticroyalty @babygirlofwakanda @wakanda-4evr @sarahboseman @karensraisns @blackmissmarvel @wakandankings @kaykay4454fan @ororowrites @awkwardlyabstract @mixedmelanin @brownsugarcocoabutterwildflowers @sunflowerpsalms @panthergoddessbast @justanotherloveaffair @jaeee-http @iliketowrite1996 @blackpantherismyish @thompettiedatheaux @msincognito67 @reignsxjackson

[itsworn]

Speed Shops, Tacos and Frozen Yogurt. Edelbrock’s 27-year Veteran, Smitty Smith has Done it All, and He’s Still Doing It!

The hot rod world is awash with personalities. Some, you know. Others, you should. Smitty Smith is a name that likely hasn’t permeated dinner conversation or your TV guide. He’s never been on an episode of Street Outlaws, Overhaulin’ or part of any other automotive theatrics. But, if you’ve ever bolted an Edelbrock part onto your car, engine, or otherwise, there’s a good chance Smitty had some role in that.

So, who is Smitty? To start, we don’t know his real name–few do. We just know him as the guy you call when you need to know some random part spec, number, or application–something he has all but memorized. He’s the parts counter king, and the man to go to when you need something built. But who is he really?

Officially, Smitty is the Senior Advisor and Technical Sales Coordinator at Edelbrock–senior being a semi-underrated title given his 27 years at the company.

Physically, he’s a bear of a man that doesn’t shake hands, but instead people. At tradeshows, he has a penchant for surprise headlocks, lung-emptying back slaps, and a few other moves the WWF has since banned.

He’s a good-natured, booming chuckle that rattles ear drums and a friendly face at every SEMA show, happy to methodically pull new part specs seemingly from thin air. Smitty’s been a part of the performance aftermarket almost since it began, and despite a behind-the-scenes role, his larger than life personality has rippled throughout the automotive spectrum. But if you asked him, he’d say simply, he’s a car guy–like all of us.

HRM] Where did the “Smitty” moniker come from?

SS] That came along way, way, way back when I was in diapers. I’m a Jr., first off, so my dad’s a Smitty. My mother told me a story of us shopping in a Sears department store in 1953 or so, and–uh–filled my diaper, as kids do. Some guy said, “Who’s this? This must be little, “Shitty Smitty from Culver City,” and the name just stuck. Once I started working at speed shops, it was Smitty from then on out. At this point, if someone called me by my real first name, they’re probably a bill collector!

HRM] When did you first find cars and hot rodding?

SS] At the age of two. My mother and father both raced Jalopies. Those were the ‘33- ‘34 Fords that they raced on dirt at our local track, which was Gardena Stadium. My mom even raced in the Powder Puff class. It was in my blood I guess. I got a go kart for my 5th birthday and never looked back. I just have a passion for cars. I own 8 of them!

HRM] What was your first car?

SS] My first personal car was a 1953 Plymouth. I got it for Christmas at the age of 14.

HRM] And how long before you started customizing it?

SS] I drove it around the block on Christmas day and the next day I had bed-spreads over the torn seats. After that, I painted the Chrome grille, gold­–if you can believe that! Hey, I was 14! I was a little bit green!

HRM] How Many cars have you had?

SS] Oh man, I’ve probably had over 100 in my lifetime. I had 9 cars at once and sold 6 of them to come up with a down payment on a house. I’m still in that place 40-years later.

HRM] What was your favorite car you’ve had over the years?

SS] That’s tough. I really liked the ’51 Ford Woody. I’ve had a lot of Tri Fives, which I loved, but I’ve always had El Caminos, too. My first El Camino was a ’64 with a 327 and a 4 speed. That and the Woody are probably the two I remember most from my youth. Now, I have a ’37 Ford Truck street sod, a ’64 Chevy II gasser Wagon, a ’62 Rambler American, a ’62 Falcon Ranchero, a ’71 El Camino SS big block, and my race car.

HRM] You’ve spent a huge portion of your career working for Edelbrock. How did you get involved there?

SS] That’s a long story. Before here, I was working at speed shops out of high school. I used to call Edelbrock all the time and place orders, and I’ve known about them since I got into the performance world in 1968. I got to know a lot of people that worked over there while I was at Service Center Speed Shop. In 1980, I worked for Mr. Gasket but when it got sold, I was out of a job! In 1984 to 1989 I started a restaurant and lost my derrière, if you will.

HRM] Wait, you were a restaurateur? It’s hard to picture you doing that. What kind of food did you serve?

SS] I sold Mexican food out of a corner building in Marina Del Rey. It was called Loco Louie’s. It was “loco” because everyone said I was crazy for selling Mexican food and Columbo frozen yogurt. Hey, it was the ‘80s! Frozen yogurt was big; we sold more of that than tacos! I worked 100 hours a week for five years and only took four days off in Feb and November to go to the NHRA Winter Nationals and the World Finals. It was rough! After that, I got back into the parts world.

HRM] What came next?

SS] I went to work for Service Center Wholesale, which was acquired by 4WPW, where I was selling parts to Edelbrock’s dyno room. Dyno’s were a big deal back then! I said to Mike Eddy at Edelbock, who I’ve known since 1972, “If anything opens up, let me know.” He said, “you lookin’?” I said, “yeah,” and three interviews later … I’ve been here 27 years. When Vic Jr. first saw me, he said “I know you!” And I said, “I sure hope you do!”

HRM] What was it like to work with Vic Edelbrock Jr. for so long?

SS] Amazing, and there’s such a void here in his absence. Even talking right now, I’ve got goosebumps on my arms. He treated all of us like family. Working for him was just a dream and sometimes, I had to pinch myself. We all miss that. But, you know working at speed shops for almost 20 years I had to remember the whole catalog rack, which I have a knack for. I can remember part numbers and phone numbers without even lookin’. I’m blessed in that respect. But working here at Edelbrock was enlightening because I only had to worry about one catalog. I wish I came here out of high school, like Curt Hooker who’s been here 49 years now, but I’m glad I got here when I did.

HRM] Have you had your hand in the design of any parts over the years?

SS] It’s funny, but the one thing I brought to Edelbrock was a two-piece timing cover. I used to sell them when I worked at speed shops and Mr. Gasket, they were flimsy and cheap–they all leaked. But when I got to Edelbrock, we made one from scratch out of stamped aluminum that was .090in thick and drawn over mandrel. It was a nice piece and we still make it today.

HRM] You didn’t just build street rods, you raced. What was that like?

SS] I always wanted to race. My dad and uncle (twins) were oval track racers, but I was a drag racer. My first car that was not a street car was a ’55 Chevy that I got in 1972. I ran NHRA Modified Eliminator in that, then moved on to a ’56 Nomad in the same class. Then, I did a purpose-built S10 Blazer 9.90 Super Gas Car in the mid ‘80s. I finished it in 1990 and I still have it today.

HRM] What is your favorite racing memory?

SS] That would be debuting the car at the Bakersfield Super Chevy event, pulling up to the bleach box, and being surrounded by photographers. I don’t think they ever saw an S10 Blazer drag car before. The tires on that car were early Mickey Thompsons from when he first started making drag tires. The one thing the guy that gave ‘em to me said was, “You gotta get ‘em hot.” I said, “Sir, that won’t be a problem.” Boy, I gave those photographers a show. When I got home that Sunday night, my answering machine was full. I had so many messages from people wanting to do a magazine article on my S10 Blazer!

HRM] You’ve worked with racers and builders and even some of us HOT ROD Magazine folks over the years. Do you have any fond memories?

SS] I can tell you a few that stand out as a tech guy answering phones. I’ve gotten calls from Bob Glidden, Warren Johnson, Herb McCandless, Dave Russell, Ed Pink, Dave McClelland, and Roy Brizio. Magazine guys; sure, I dealt with Gray Baskerville, Jim Losee, Cam Benty, and Jeff Smith, all of those guys. There’s a lot of great people in the industry. It’s so big, yet it’s small. It’s really been good. It’s a great feeling to be part of something big and know that you’re accepted. That’s the way I feel. You earn respect, it’s not given.

The post Speed Shops, Tacos and Frozen Yogurt. Edelbrock’s 27-year Veteran, Smitty Smith has Done it All, and He’s Still Doing It! appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

from Hot Rod Network http://www.hotrod.com/articles/speed-shops-tacos-frozen-yogurt-edelbrocks-27-year-veteran-smitty-smith-done-hes-still/ via IFTTT

[itsworn]

Old-School Blown 1967 Chevelle Street Machine

Perseverance. If there was ever a word to describe what a car builder/owner must have in their psychic makeup it would be that word. You stick to the task absolutely until it is completed, no matter the punji pits or the Claymore mines in your road, and when everything that conspires against your forward motion, you don’t quit. Paul Tortorici is one of those kind. It was like he was working with the Murphy’s law encyclopedia. Virtually anything that could go wrong did, but none of it caused by him. As a young fish, Paul’s indoctrination included his dad’s 1967 Riviera GS and his uncle’s 1966 4-4-2 when they were new cars. It was graphic. “I’ll always remember [them] going out on Route 80 and racing one another.”

His fable began more than a dozen years ago when the kid from northern New Jersey bought a car way out in freakin’ Oregon. It was a genuine 138 SS396 Super Sport Chevelle, replete with bucket seats and a console. It had a tarpaper roof that has capped four paints: gold, red, white, and the glassy obsidian sheen it has now, and he declares that he’ll defend that patch of vinyl forever.

So the car is thousands of miles from New Jersey, may as well be on the moon, and all he had to go by were images he saw on the Internet. Of course, he discovered too late that the whole thing was misrepresented. The seller told Paul the car didn’t need any bodywork, wasn’t slathered with Bondo, and was ready to go cruising right now. But any hope of a complete numbers-matching deal was lost in the ozone. The engine wasn’t original. The quarter-panel on the driver-side and both front fenders he had to replace with N.O.S. pieces. But there was a lot more that made Paul’s stomach do a dirty boogie.

“Though the seller told me that everything worked, the car arrived with two flat tires and no brakes,” he gasped. “You step on the brake pedal and all the lights would go on.” It’s only encouraging aspect was a clean, unmolested interior, which Paul could leave intact and save money doing it. “I decided to do a body-off restoration and mediablasted the body shell and the frame.”

Paul makes his living from his screen printing business in Hackensack called S&P Tees, but long before this adventure consumed seven straight years, Paul knew he’d have to be wise and frugal. He and his son Pino would build the engine from a 540-cubic-inch Bow Tie block and a forged rotating assembly. They sent the pieces to B&B Automotive Machine down in Rahway. Bob did the machine work; Dave Jack prepped the Canfield cylinder heads.

Between the shaping of the combustion chambers and the configuration of the corresponding piston domes they tailored the compression ratio at 8.5:1 in anticipation of the world’s most formidable-looking power-adder. Blower Drive Services (BDS) provided more than 40 years of experience along with its specific intake manifold and 8-71 smokestack that Paul decorated with Demon carburetors and an airscoop that’s about as subtle as an elbow in your eye socket.

He and Pino built the drivetrain unorthodox, again shunning the typical stuff for things people would likely remember about his car. Instead of the noted TREMEC five- or six-speed transmission, they were enthused about a McLeod flywheel and pressure plate assembly and a Richmond Gear Super Street five-speed overdrive. Rather than a power-eating Ford third member, they put up the minimally parasitic Moser 12-bolt knowing that they had nine inches of small-tire failsafe that would erupt long before anything could compromise the mechanicals.

Paul wouldn’t be intimidated by popular notion or current trend. He gathered some truly ’60’s cues and did the throwback. After setting the stance with conventional coil springs (not coilover adjustable shock absorbers), he went after the candy. He found the eye-popping polished Tri-Ribb rims at Radir Custom Wheels just down the road in Montville, New Jersey, and stacked them with modern Mickey Sportsman Front tires and really old-school bias-ply Pro-Trac 60 skins.

The glassy exterior was created in two places. Colors Auto Body in Budd Lake, New Jersey, purified the sheetmetal, where Ryan (son) and Steve Korek (dad) of Korek Designs assembled and finished the front clip. Then they sealed the contract at their shop in New Berlin, Pennsylvania, worrying over the mile-deep Mercedes Black.

So what did Paul’s perseverance reveal? A capital offense, that’s what. Buying something sight unseen often means disappointment along with a lot of expense that could have been avoided. On the other hand, sticking to his guns was an experience he’ll never forget. “Taking the car out for the first time after seven long years of working on it when I had time and trying to run my screen printing business at the same time.”

And at that stage of the game that’s all that really mattered. CHP

Tech Check Owner: Paul and Pino Tortorici Butler, New Jersey Vehicle: 1967 Chevelle SS 396

Engine Type: Bow Tie block Displacement: 540 ci Compression Ratio: 8.5:1 Bore: 4.500 inches Stroke: 4.250 inches Cylinder Heads: Canfield, 2.25/1.88 valves, bowls blended, ports matched Rotating Assembly: Callies crankshaft, Manley 4340 connecting rods, JE pistons Valvetrain: Comp lifters and retainers, 1.7:1 rocker arms, Manley 3/8-inch pushrods Camshaft: Comp solid roller (0.600/0.580-inch lift; 268/276-deg. duration at 0.050; 112-deg. LSA) Induction: BDS intake manifold, BDS 8-71 supercharger (at 12 psi), Demon 850-cfm carburetors, Speedway Motors airscoop, 12-gallon fuel cell Ignition: MSD 6AL, Blaster 2 coil, Moroso 8mm primary wires Exhaust: Stainless steel American Racing headers w/ 2-inch primary pipes, 3.5-inch collectors, 4.5-inch outlets, MagnaFlow mufflers Ancillaries: Be Cool fans and radiator, Tuff Stuff alternator, Mr. Gasket water pump Output (at the crank): 1,000 hp Machine Work: Bob at B&B Automotive Machine Services (Rahway, NJ), Dave Jack did the cylinder heads Built By: Paul and Pino Tortorici

Drivetrain Transmission: Richmond Super Street five-speed, McLeod flywheel and twin-disc clutch assembly Rear Axle: Moser 12-bolt, Detroit Locker differential, 3.73:1 gears, Strange Engineering 35-spline axleshafts, custom aluminum driveshaft

Chassis Front Suspension: Strange Engineering spindles, tubular control arms, coil springs, QA1 adjustable shock absorbers Rear Suspension: QA1 Drag Racing Level 1 (coil springs, adjustable upper control arms, adjustable shock absorbers, lower control arms) Brakes: Strange Engineering 11.25-inch discs, four-piston calipers

Wheels & Tires Wheels: Radir Tri-Ribb III 15×4 front, 15×8 rear Tires: Mickey Thompson Sportsman Front 28×7.50 front, Pro-Trac 275/60 rear

Interior Upholstery: OE vinyl Material: OE Seats: OE Steering: ididit tilt column, manual box, SS rosewood wheel Shifter: Hurst Dash: OE Instrumentation: AutoMeter Audio: OE HVAC: Vents pulled, wing windows wingin’

Exterior Bodywork: Mike McBride/Korek Designs at Colors Auto Body (Budd Lake, NJ) Paint By: Mike McBride/Ryan Korek (New Berlin, PA) Paint: PPG Mercedes Black Hood: Stock Grille: N.O.S. SS Bumpers: N.O.S.

The post Old-School Blown 1967 Chevelle Street Machine appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

from Hot Rod Network http://www.hotrod.com/articles/old-school-blown-1967-chevelle-street-machine/ via IFTTT

[itsworn]

2017 Detroit Autorama: 65 Years of Show Car History

February in Detroit. Outside, it’s gloomy and cold. Inside, it’s hot and exciting—especially if it’s inside at Cobo Center, home to the Detroit Autorama. The Autorama has packed Cobo Center since 1961, but the event began in 1953. This year, STREET RODDER joined Championship Auto Shows, the Michigan Hot Rod Association, 150,000 spectators, and nearly 900 participants in celebrating the milestone 65th Meguiar’s Detroit Autorama.

STREET RODDER showed up two days before the show opened, and there was already action on the Cobo floor, as vendors, builders, and the show crew prepared for opening day. The Detroit Autorama launched (literally) a few minutes before the doors opened on Friday, as the General Lee 1969 Charger from TV’s The Dukes of Hazzard sped past spectators on the street outside Cobo, hitting the ramps for a 25-foot high, 150-foot long jump with an imperfect landing that you can watch at hotrod.com.

That excitement was just a warm-up for everything inside: hot rods, customs, bikes, and trucks of all description. To celebrate the heritage of the Autorama, the promoters collected cars from the history of the event. Those included Al Bergler’s “More Aggravation” Hemi-powered Bantam Coupe (the first Ridler Award winner), Wes and Bob Rydell’s 2002 Ridler-winning 1935 Chevy sedan built by Chip Foose, Dave Jenkins 1957 Chevy custom built by the Alexander Brothers (Mike and Larry) and Paul Hatton, and the 1935 Ford coupe originally known as “The Little Beaver” that won the ISCA Championship twice—a rare and difficult feat.

Primary among the numerous award categories was the Pirelli Great 8 competition, which determines the finalists for the Don Ridler Memorial Award. Other major prizes were the Lokar Driven Award, Best Ford in a Ford sponsored by Ford Performance, the STREET RODDER Top 100 presented by Painless Performance, and our Editor’s Choice Award at Autorama Extreme held in the basement level of Cobo.

The action at the Autorama went full throttle for three days, culminating in the presentation of the 2017 Ridler Award to Buddy Jordan’s 1933 Ford roadster, handbuilt by Steve Frisbie and his team at Steve’s Auto Restorations.

The Pirelli Great 8

It’s been a while, but the American hot rod has made a resurgence in the world of indoor car shows. Need proof? Look no further than the cars selected as the Pirelli Great 8.

The PG8 is the gateway to the Don Ridler Memorial award, but being chosen for this exclusive group is an honor in its own right. These rides represent the ultimate in craftsmanship, creativity, and styling. In the past decade or so we have seen plenty of early hot rods in contention, and some have won the Ridler. The field in the recent past has been diverse. This year was a boom year for early hot rods, although two of this year’s selection were Corvettes; these American sports cars have influenced, and been influenced by, American rods—whether you’re talking about classic nine-fin valve covers or contemporary LT4 engines. Here are the Pirelli Great 8 in all their glory, including the Ridler winner.

1930 Ford Five-Window Coupe / Ted & Colleen Hubbard / South Bend, NE Ted and Colleen Hubbard’s Model A has all the right stuff to make it an elite show contender, and the attitude to make it a genuine hot rod. Andy Leach and his crew from Cal Auto Creations won the Ridler in 2013 with a 1940 Ford, and this chopped 1930 highboy coupe shares some personality traits. A supercharged Ardun-converted Flathead provides power, along with a portion of the remarkable eye-appeal.

1932 Ford Tudor / George Poteet / Memphis, TN George is another PG8 and Ridler veteran (with many other automotive honors to his name). His 2017 entry was this stunning black Deuce sedan, another highboy. The exterior was treated to countless mods, and the deceptively austere interior is packed with creative details. Ford power comes from a Hilborn-injected Ford Y-block. Congratulations to Alan Johnson and Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop this beauty.

1966 Corvette / Dennis Johnson & Scott Roth / South Burlington, VT The Corvette’s nickname “Split Ray” is a clue to its hard-to-recognize uniqueness: the body that was sliced lengthwise down the center and widened 6-3/8 inches. The plus-sized Vette rides on a Roadster Shop chassis, under the power of a blown LS9 engine. The Z06 interior components are smartphone functional. Fat Pirelli radials wrap the 19- and 20-inch Evod wheels. The Corvette is the creation of The Auto Shoppe in Vermont.

1949 Chevrolet Pickup / Bobby & Hazel Collins / Ft. Collins, TX The road to their PG8 award was particularly long for Bobby and Hazel. The owner-built custom 1949 Chevy truck (riding on a C5 Corvette chassis) was on its way to the 2016 Autorama but was damaged en route. A year later, it returned. The cab has been chopped and sectioned, and cut apart and re-assembled to match the chassis. The interior features leather buckets and panels. A well-detailed Magnuson-blown LS engine lies underhood.

1941 Ford Pickup / Ed Sears / Annapolis, MA Ed Sears took a more nostalgic approach to his classic truck entry. The golden brown 1941 Ford, built by One Off Rod and Custom, was the sole whitewall-tired Great 8 winner, with artillery wheels carrying the tires. Proportions have been altered throughout, including on the cab, which has been stretched 8 inches and chopped less than 2 inches. Three Stromberg carbs top the 8BA Flathead engine.

1954 Custom Corvette / Larry & Robbie Griffey / Powell, TN Corvettes have been receiving custom mods and concept car treatments as long as they’ve been in production. That tradition, especially GM’s Corvette Convertible Coupe Motorama show car from 195, inspired this 1954. Larry Griffey’s Hot Rods and Restorations added a few 1956 Corvette elements, and a few modern components, including the LS1 engine, Jamison chassis and C4 suspension, and modern interior.

1929 Ford Pickup / Dennis Portka / Hamburg, NY Sixties styling was well represented by Dennis Portka’s homebuilt pickup. The raw material was rough when the project started 24 years ago. It’s styled after a ’29 Ford, but virtually every piece of the body was fabricated by the owner. Dennis filled the engine compartment with a Chevy 383 with little room to spare. Other cool details are the Rhino coating floor and the homebuilt chassis with IFS and IRS parts.

The 2017 Ridler Winner 1933 Ford Roadster / Buddy & Nancy Jordan / Portland, OR The Don Ridler Memorial Award was presented to the Jordans’ 1933 Ford, called “The Renaissance Roadster.” The fendered and removable hardtop roadster was designed by Chris Ito and built by Steve Frisbie of Steve’s Auto Restorations. The hand-formed frame features one-off independent suspension parts. The engine is a much-modified Chevy 427 big-block. The centerpiece of the interior is a 1930 Nash instrument cluster. Read more about this extraordinary work of automotive art at hotrod.com.

Painless Performance Products Presents STREET RODDER Top 100

Painless Tech Tip: OE-Style Light Switches OE, original equipment from GM, Ford, and so on, require two power inputs. One power input is for the headlights only and the second is for all the rest of the lights controlled by the switch. They are this way in case you lose one circuit you have the other for nighttime safety.

The Detroit Autorama gave us plenty to choose for our selection of Painless Performance Products/STREET RODDER Top 100 winners. The 10 we picked came from all over the show, from the Pirelli Great 8 hopefuls to Autorama Extreme participants, and one from the Cavalcade of Customs exhibit. More photos and video of our choices can be found at hotrod.com and hotrod.com.

1960 Ford Thunderbird / Dennis Spence / Magnolia, DE The Thunderbird was in bad shape when Ed spotted it 25 years ago. Ed took bodywork and welding classes to learn how to do the work himself and eventually teamed with builder Ed Denkenberger at Superior Autoworks. Now the redesigned body is channeled over an Art Morrison chassis with AccuAir suspension. Ford power is provided by a 351 stroked to 408 inches and topped with two four-barrels. A TREMEC five-speed and Ford 9-inch send power to the rear Heritage wheels from U.S. Mags. PPG Bordeaux Reserve Red Metallic covers the body and tan leather covers the custom interior.

1932 Ford Coupe / Larry Smith / Scottsdale, AZ Some our favorite Autorama Extreme cars have been built by Bill Jagenow of Brothers Custom Automotive, like this unchopped steel 1932 owned by Larry for 15 years. In addition to timeless styling, the coupe is a dependable driver. The 276 Merc Flathead has all the good stuff: S.Co.T. blower, dual 97s, Elco twin plug heads, and Nash Twin 8 distributor with angle drive. A dropped and drilled I-beam axle, chrome radius rods, and chrome shocks and springs have been added to the 1932 frame, rolling on commercial truck wheels. A 1940 dash was added to the interior, which is upholstered in black tuck ’n’ roll.

1929 Dodge Sport Coupe / Ed Tillrock III / Schaumberg, IL Ed Tillrock’s friend found this 1929 Dodge Brothers Senior Six Sport Coupe as just a cowl, doors, and rear quarters, lightened with bullet holes. Ed rebuilt the rest of the body using a 1963 Chevy truck hood as a trunklid, a 1934 Pontiac grille shell incorporating 1940 Ford hood sides, four door hinges, boattail rear quarters, and a golf club door. A Buick Nailhead runs four Holley 94s on a Martin intake. The chassis is built around 1932 Ford ’rails. Firestone Indy tires roll on 1940 Ford steel wheels in back with dirt track tires in front. The interior has a 1952 Stude wheel and espresso-hued leather.

1933 Ford Tudor Sedan / Rick Start / Grand Rapids, MI The idea was to build the Tudor as an early ’60s hot rod combined with numerous Cadillac touches, such as a 1959 Eldorado 390 Tri-Power engine, 1951 dash, Cadillac crest hubcaps, 1961 steering wheel, and a 1931 Flying Lady hood ornament. The body and fenders are original Ford steel, with a mild wedge chop by Gas Axe Garage, where the 1933 was built. The Guide headlights, 1939 Ford taillights, 1935 Ford wire wheels, and black paint and upholstery add a classy personality. Rick bought the 1933 in original condition from the widow of the previous owner; it had been in her basement garage for years.

1952 Chevy Styleline DeLuxe / Don Monshau / Channahon, IL We found Don Monshau’s 1952 Styleline DeLuxe in the Autorama’s Cavalcade of Customs. The Colorado car ended up in Illinois where Don found it. His first mods were the 4-inch chop and then lowering it with airbags. Shaved panels, frenched antennas, and 180 hood louvers are some of the many classic custom touches. Don built it to drive, which accounts for the trusty 350 mill and the easy-to-touch-up GM Grenade Green pearl paint. Upholstery is rolls ’n’ pleats Naugahyde. “Devil’s Daughter” made its maiden voyage through a torrential downpour and continues to be driven everywhere.

1953 Ford Ranch Wagon / Scott & Shannon Smith / Naples, FL This owner-built project started with a frame that was given to Scott by his father, and continued for eight years during nights and weekends at home. The one-piece quarter windows and full custom interior (including the surfboard) are a few cool mods. A Fatman frame, drop spindles, and air suspension lower the car, and an injected Chevy small-block powers it. Foose wheels are paired with low-profile Diamond Back whitewalls. The charcoal and white paint combo is repeated on the interior leather. Scott is a Detroit native transplanted to Florida but he never misses the Autorama.

1950 Plymouth Business Coupe / Duane Sherman / Northville, MI A lifelong Mopar guy, Duane Sherman selected an unusual car and a great shop—Denz Place and Restorations—to build his Plymouth. The car received no body modifications, and retains the stock chassis. The original 235ci flat-six engine features an Edmonds intake, twin Webers, an Isky cam, and Fenton headers. The 18-inch wheels are from a Dodge Charger cop car. The inside is covered in lipstick red vinyl. The previous owners had the Plymouth for a very long time and made the trip from North Carolina to Detroit to see the revived car on display at the Detroit Autorama.

1952 Henry J / Daniel Nelson / Los Angeles, CA “Henry Jaded” was built for show and strip by Dave Shuten. Another former Michigan gearhead, Dave now works for Galpin Auto Sports in California, and brought several Galpin vehicles to the Autorama. Daniel Nelson’s early Funny Car–themed Henry J was bone stock when he turned it over to Dave with the instructions to build it the way Dave would do it for himself—and to NHRA rulebook specs. An Alston chassis forms the foundation and a Chevy big-block brings the muscle. Dave sprayed the ’60s-style paint with graphics done by Hot Dog. Audio is provided by a pair of Flowmasters.

1940 Ford Coupe / Gary Zaborowski / Riverview, MI Gary Zaborowski, aka Boogie Man, named his car “Impact” because it makes one; plus the former 9-second drag car hit the wall at 167 mph at Milan Dragway. Then it sat for six years until Gary started the five-year rebuild in his home garage. Show car body mods include the filled hood, hood scoops, and peaked fenders. The legendary Bill Hines built the door hinges. The frame is handbuilt 2×3 tubing. A fuel-injected 485hp LS3 packs the engine compartment. American Racing Salt Flat Specials and Mickey Thompson rubber fill the fenders. The candy red over gunmetal gray was shot by Boogie Man.

1932 Ford Coupe / Harold Chapman / Florence, TX After winning the Ridler Award in 2017, Harold Chapman from Customs & Hot Rods of Andice was back with his personal ride. The dark brown Deuce started out in rough shape and ended up with several Autorama awards. The unchopped body rides on a modified Pete & Jakes frame, rolling on custom Halibrand-style wheels. Chassis goodies include an I-beam axle and hairpins, and a quick-change. A 620-horse Dart Machinery 427 small-block runs Hilborn injection. The leather-covered interior includes a custom bench, Classic Instruments gauges, and a one-off steering wheel.

STREET RODDER Magazine’s Best Ford In A Ford This Homebuilt 1963 Falcon Flies With Coyote Wings

YEAR: 1963 MAKE: Ford MODEL: Falcon OWNER: Roger Gaynor STATE: Michigan

Roger was looking for cars online when he found the Falcon. It was just a body, sitting in the chicken coop that had been its home for 15 years. It looked just like you’d expect it to considering the circumstances, but Roger was able to see beyond that to his vision for the finished Falcon.

The rebuild began in 2016, when Roger started cutting out and replacing the stock floor and firewall. He shaved the doors, eliminated the vent windows, tucked the bumpers, and modified the hood with reversed hinges to tilt forward. The handcrafted frame is equipped with RideTech suspension components. Heritage 15-spoke wheels from U.S. Mags measure 17 and 20 inches, and are wrapped with 225/35R17 and 305/40R20 low-profile tires. Stopping is handled by Wilwood disc brakes.

After Roger and his friend Bruce Rathburn prepped the sheetmetal for paint, the Falcon went to Dedic’s Diamond Auto Body for its Vivid Metallic PPG paint. The next stop was Fender Design where Bob and Kathy Fender provided a complete custom interior. The fabricated buckets are separated by a custom steel console. The tobacco-colored leather is a combination of pebble grain and perforated with mesh screens in the seat backs. That look continues on the door panels and the underside of the trucklid. The smoothed dash is filled with digital gauges from Inteltronic.

It was important to Roger to keep his Ford all Ford. He was impressed with Ford Performance’s 5.0L 32-valve DOHC all-aluminum engine and managed to shoehorn one between the front fenders of his Falcon. The hood was cut open to let the world see how an up-to-date engine looks in a classic car.

After an intense year of work—with help from Frank at Power By The Hour, Tim Spencer, Steve Groll, and Mark Newport—Roger finished just in time for the trip to Detroit. A prominent spot in Cobo Hall is a long way from the chicken coop his car had once called home. At the Autorama, Adam Gair from Ford Performance presented Roger and his wife, Helen, with a custom-made plaque, designating their homebuilt Coyote-powered Falcon as the STREET RODDER Best Ford In A Ford award, presented by Ford Performance. Read more at hotrod.com.

Lokar/STREET RODDER Driven Award

Brian Downard from Lokar gave the STREET RODDER Driven Award Presented by Lokar Performance Products to Tracy Chapman and her 1949 Cadillac convertible on the first day of the Autorama. For Tracy Chapman, driving is as fun as winning an award. Her white 1949 Cadillac convertible has won a few awards—and is driven frequently. The day it was finished, it started a 3,600-mile test drive. “We didn’t want a show car, we just wanted a driver.”

In building the Caddy, Tracy and her husband, Harold, at Customs and Hot Rods of Andice, used a Roadster Shop independent frontend, parallel four-link, and RideTech air shocks to upgrade the chassis for highway use. Harold packed the big car with a Don Hardy LSX with a Magnuson 2300 supercharger. Handmade covers provide a unique look under the hood. A 4L80-E trans delivers torque to the Ford 9-inch locker rear.

The sheetmetal was treated to countless mods and finished in PPG custom white paint, contrasted by a dark blue cloth top. The white extends into the wheelwells, where custom Diamond Back whitewalls roll on 18-inch Triple Cross wire wheels from Dayton. Wilwood brakes are used at all wheels.

Custom seats are heated for comfort and wrapped in Relicate leather. Classic Instruments modified the 1948 Cadillac gauges. A resized 1948 wheel from Quality Restorations sits on an ididit column. Vintage Air A/C and an Alpine-controlled audio system are welcome additions on the road.

In the fall of 2015, Tracy’s freshly finished convertible was driven from Andice, Texas, to Loveland, Colorado, onto Bowling Green, Kentucky, and then home to Andice. Last year, it was back on the road, driven from home to Chicago to Fort Worth and back. Those trips have brought total mileage to about 12,500 miles. Tracy enjoys the attention the Cadillac gets on the road. “People see cars like this at shows and in Grandpa’s garage, but not on the road.” Read more at hotrod.com.

Extreme Rod Editor’s Choice Award

The Detroit Autorama’s “Autorama Extreme” exhibit, in the basement of Cobo Center, is dedicated to traditional rodding. Live music, handmade trophies, Gene Winfield’s Chop Shop, the Miss Autorama Pinup Girl contest, and great nostalgic rod create the atmosphere of Autorama Extreme.

Each year, STREET RODDER has the opportunity to hand out an award that’s titled the Editor’s Choice pick for the car of our choice. What was once a rare occurrence has now become a tradition. For the past few years, by coincidence, our choice has been a Ford Model A, whether it’s a coupe or roadster. This year was no different.

David Weinberg of Royal Oak, Michigan, brought out his 1931 Ford Model A highboy coupe. The car was carefully fabricated by Bill Jagenow of Brothers Custom Automotive. The body is customized by a Deuce grille shell with E&J headlights, and is fitted to a 1932 frame. Power comes by way of a 276 Merc Flathead topped with a pair of Stromberg 97s, all linked to a three-speed moving the power back to a Speedway Engineering quick-change. The interior features a very cool-looking set of Classic Instrument gauges to set off the Model A dash.

Front rubber comes by way of Firestone, measuring 5×16. At the rear, the Firestone Deluxe Champions measure out at 7.50×16 and are mounted to chrome steelies with Merc caps. Congratulations to both owner David Weinberg and builder Bill Jagenow for coming up with a great little highboy Model A coupe. For more photos of the Extreme Rod Editor’s Choice Model A, visit hotrod.com.

The post 2017 Detroit Autorama: 65 Years of Show Car History appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

from Hot Rod Network http://www.hotrod.com/articles/2017-detroit-autorama-65-years-show-car-history-2/ via IFTTT