New Project - no Fj content!

[Flynt]

Et Tu Brute?

Should be "Et tu Wizard"...  no?

I'll refrain from any further guilt inducing commentary...  please forgive.  

Frank

[rlucas]

Quite a project. Makes me want to take my '55 bird out of the garage and do some work on her...

Bird? As in 1955 Ford Thunderbird

Here's Dad's, next to my Miata...



We had a red '55 when I was a teenager, but, in an exhibition of sound judgment, he wouldn't let me drive it. I did, however, get to drive thi http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/rocklucas9/P1000031_zps608d45ca.jpg s one to a local festival in home town last summer (the source of the photo) and I found out that, due to my height, I just don't fit. The red one was an automatic; this one's a 4-speed. When I try to depress the clutch, my left knee hits the door panel or that skinny, 45" diameter steering wheel.


Rossi

[rktmanfj]

Bird? As in 1955 Ford Thunderbird

Here's Dad's, next to my Miata...



We had a red '55 when I was a teenager, but, in an exhibition of sound judgment, he wouldn't let me drive it. I did, however, get to drive thi http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/rocklucas9/P1000031_zps608d45ca.jpg s one to a local festival in home town last summer (the source of the photo) and I found out that, due to my height, I just don't fit. The red one was an automatic; this one's a 4-speed. When I try to depress the clutch, my left knee hits the door panel or that skinny, 45" diameter steering wheel.


Rossi

[rlucas]

Quite a project. Makes me want to take my '55 bird out of the garage and do some work on her...

Bird? As in 1955 Ford Thunderbird

Sorry. F'd up the cut'n'paste. Trying again...

Here's Dad's, next to my Miata...



We had a red '55 when I was a teenager, but, in an exhibition of sound judgment, he wouldn't let me drive it. I did, however, get to drive this one to a local festival in home town last summer (the source of the photo) and I found out that, due to my height, I just don't fit. The red one was an automatic; this one's a 4-speed. When I try to depress the clutch, my left knee hits the door panel or that skinny, 45" diameter steering wheel.


Rossi

[rlucas]

Lib, you beat me by 3 seconds. Damned slow connection...

[Pat Conlon]

Very nice Rossi. Do they call that color Sea Green? It's a beauty. Kudos to your Pop.

My '55 was also my dad's so I guess it's still technically a one owner car. I got my drivers license in that car. I drove it all through high school. My dad's strict instructions was to keep it stock and I did...for the most part, except the time I put some 'cherry bomb' glass packs on the dual exhaust. Pop was not happy. He said it sounded like a fuckin tractor...said that it was "a stupid move." I said, "How come?" He said, "Now we know what time you come home at night 'cause we can hear that car coming a mile away, you dummy"....

My bird is Ford White in color with red and white interior, 292 with the Ford'o'matic 3 speed auto. And with the electric adjustable bench seat I fit in it fine. I did convert it over to 12v negative  ground from the original 6 volt positive ground, that's about it.
I currently have the engine out replacing the valves, seats and guides with harder material so I can safely use unleaded gas.

Gotta get that chopper out of the way first....

Kinda funny that we like Miata's, we both have FJ's and our dads had T-Birds...go figure. Cheers. Paddy

[rlucas]

Kinda funny that we like Miata's, we both have FJ's and our dads had T-Birds...go figure. Cheers. Paddy

Don't forget...we both have hair that's simply fabulous. At least we did, 'til I shaved mine off.

rossi

[rktmanfj]

Do they call that color Sea Green?

I once worked in a factory where everything was painted that color... Rust-oleum calls it Seafoam Green.

Of course, we quickly re-named it Seasick Green.     

[gumby302ho]

  Imports, I grew up being taught they were the enemy in 4 wheel versions. In high school days small block chevy"s would walk through those cars and we took our cars off road,we used them for camping and we pounded these chevs, put on thousands of hard miles with little issue., no room for anything in those Z,try tearing off a piece a tail in one!! My friends and I never seen the hype about those cars. Of coarse this is my opinion and a very small one at that. We grew up being told they were taking away good north american jobs! propaganda at work or fact, I dont care anymore. And that 1000hp video with that very lovely young lady in the car, come on now, 1000 hp. Not saying it cant be done or hasn't been done but I would need to see that one on a dyno to believe it. Cheers to the big three and all our favorites 

[Flynt]

Imports, I grew up being taught they were the enemy in 4 wheel versions.

I was a redneck too...  but that was a different time and competition has proven who was "right".  The target was Triumph, MG, and to a lesser extent Porsche, so the z was not taking many US jobs anyway.  Now days most all Nissans consumed in the US are made here, just without the fucked up UAW bullshit that destroyed the US auto industry.  What I liked most about the z is it chased the period Brit crap off our shores within a few short years...  Katayama-san (the father of the z) was the most American Japanese guy you'd ever meet and built a car specifically for the US market that Nissan wanted to kill, until they sold 180,000 of them in 3 years.

In high school days small block chevy"s would walk through those cars..

This a bullshit fantasy you're recalling...  my buddy had a stock but well tuned '72 240z that would squirt around small and big block Chevy's of the day (all choked to shit with smog equipment in those days) in any stoplight encounter.  The big block (454ci) corvette of the day was like 270 Hp and the z blew it out in street use...  lighter, better suspension, better power to weight AND it could turn (unlike the Chevelle et. al.).  Sorry, but the z was flat out superior and 1/2 the price of the competition.

What are you restoring?

Frank

[gumby302ho]

  Thanks for a little history on your Z cars. the exception to the rule for these cars that had high output at the cost of big bucks. Sure they had power to weight going for them being so small and I am glad they helped chase Morris Garage from american roads like you say. That big block you speak of came from the most shit years of the smog days so yes I agree with the lame output. That being said say a 74 laguna with a real 454 breather with radial tuned suspension or a nice cammed and headed small block would kill those cars in real world driving, we smoked those sewing machines is all I am saying. Stick 30 000 grand into the motor and I would be impressed with the little guy. Again I did say small opinion and I am not a red neck but a cheap prick who likes gobs of torque from lots of cubes, thats why I also love the FJ. I new I would get some flack and I respect your facts and views. My bigger play toy project is a 468 mill chev 79 malibu 4 dr ford 9 inch, 350 gears bla bla bla Its a sleeper project that can still drive the family around. No doubt thats sounds a little red neckish to you but its different strokes for different folks right. 

[Klavdy]

Kinda funny that we like Miata's, we both have FJ's and our dads had T-Birds...go figure. Cheers. Paddy

Don't forget...we both have hair that's simply fabulous. At least we did, 'til I shaved mine off.

rossi

Shaved you say?
Your hair, shaved clean off?
Has the world gone quite mad?
Pics or it didn't happen.

[rlucas]

Shaved you say?
Your hair, shaved clean off?
Has the world gone quite mad?
Pics or it didn't happen.

Hide the women and children...

Currently:




tRoy's speculative PhotoShop job from a few years back. Pretty accurate.





rossi

[Klavdy]

Hmmmm,,,

[Flynt]

I new I would get some flack...

Glad to not disappoint...  only the most loving flack intended.   

My bigger play toy project is a 468 mill chev 79 malibu 4 dr ford 9 inch, 350 gears bla bla bla Its a sleeper project...

I like that kind too...  one of the ZONC (z owners northern ca) members took a '72, tubbed it, and installed a 454 with about 750Hp naturally aspirated.  F'ing crazy, but so well done it is spectacularly crazy.  One of the things I like about the z cars is the diversity of different strokes you'll see...  and the different folks you'll meet.  The same is true for the Mustang club (VMOA) that we also participate in (Wifey has a '66 A-code GT that has been on a rotisserie as well).  I just love machines in the end and cars/bikes are the most fun machines I've found.  Glad to see you enjoy as well.

Frank