Got the 1966 Porsche back on the road.  I think I will drive it home this weekend.  I sold the 1965 Barracuda.  I thought my kids would be trying to sell that car.  It's a great shell, but somethings just don't sell like you think they are going to.  In truth, I will miss it.  I always wanted to fix it and drive it around.  Oh well, if i didn't sell all the cars I liked, I wouldn't have a business. 

Today was pretty mild.  We put a new steering Column and power steering pump in the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee.  We bought that car after some jokers tried to steal it.  We installed the new parts, replaced a few fuses they blew, and it started right up and is running like a champ.  The Challenger is done with it's floors. I have several cars waiting at paint to come back to me, it's frustrating.

Was out of the shop last week for the first annual Curtis Earth Cruise to Cozumel.  It was a great time.  I'm not quite back 100%.  I still feel the boat moving under me.  The shop was plugging away while I was gone.  The 1970 Challenger R/T is almost ready to get its new quarter panels.  We have finished reinforcing the frame, and are almost done with the floors.  The Torino is gone. The Karmann Ghia convertible is finished and has been delivered.  Amen.

Well the Torino didn't make it in, but we still had fun.  Todd entered his Dodge Charger, and Pontiac GTO.  Chris entered his Shelby eleanor.  Chris took second place behind a very nice chevelle.  It was sad about the Torino, but still a good day.  Today at the shop, we got the transmission in the Torino to mate nice, and got it started.  We did some more work on the 1970 Challenger R/T.  Also we got the new carb on the Ghia, and it is drving good. 

Well, as much as I tried, i missed the car shhow deadline.  I had a little trouble getting the tranny to seat perfect.  Things happen, but we will get it.  The cold weather here makes the shop a little rough.  That Torino has been a thorn in our side for awhile, but we keep plugging away at it.  Got a new carb for the ghia.  So, that thing should be done.

Todd really wants his Torino for the car show on saturday.  We got the motor back in, and are bolting everything together.  We needed a new water pump for it, so that slowed us down a little.  Then we found out that the headers wont work on this motor because of the silly california emmisions tubes it has.  Annoying.  We went back to work with the old manifolds, and are cutting and welding exhaust pipes to make them fit.  A very simple project becomes more and more complicated.  We will get it done though.  Put a new carb on the 1964 ss impala convertible.  hopefuly that helps it run a little smoother.  I could really use the break. 

So, we tried and tried, but did not succeed with the Ghia.  We decide to just order a new carb for it.  That will fix it.  The thunderbird showed no codes on the scanner, so who knows there.  We installed the new motor for the torino, but had to pull it back out and change the flywheel.  Ordered a new flywheel, and back in it goes.  In a happy note, we are having lots of fun.

Well, we are back on a winning streak for Curtis Earth Trivia.  Tune-up didn't really fix the Thunderbird.  We need to put it on the scanner and see what it reads.  It must be a sensor issue.  The Karmann Ghia runs, but is still not running consistently.  It's somewhere in the fuel delivery.  When you come to a stop it dies.  At the end of the day we installed the flywheel and torque converter and put the 302 out of the 1968 fastback mustang into the 1974 starsky and hutch gran torino.  In the morning we will finsh bolting it up, run the lines, and get that car out of here. 

We have a 1993 Ford Thunderbird Supercoupe for sale.  It is a one owner car, and has always been extremely fast and reliable.  A buyer came to see it today, and of course it wouldn't run.  It starts fine, idles for a few seconds, then dies like it's starving for fuel.  But it is getting plenty of fuel.  We are going to start with a simple tune-up and see where that takes us.  On friday, we removed the stock 302 from the 1968 fastback, and Todd brought over the newly built 390 for us to install.  It is a pretty engine, and hopefully will fall right into place with no issues.  We have an apprentice in the shop today who is beginning to weld the floors in the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T.  It is nice to get some help.  Meanwhile, we are still working on the Ghia, replacing every gasket in the intake, hoping to solve our air problem.  I think i will post a tech bulletin to iATN tommorrow if that didn't fix it.  I am on my way to go play some Curtis Earth trivia this evening, hopefully we can snap a bad Vehicle Re-Creations losing streak.

Went into the shop early today to do some much needed housekeeping.  Tried to clean out some of the old parts that aren't quite worth keeping.  I put a lot in the dumpster.  It's funny how you can clean and organize all day, and still feel like you haven't done anything.  I got a bumper for the 1964 Pontiac Safari station wagon the other day, and finally got around to opening it.  Unfortunately it was not as nice as hoped, but is definitely serviceable.The Ghia is still a problem.  We are getting too much air into the carb, but are unable to locate exactly where it comes from.  I got tired of cleaning by lunch so I decided to get a head start on next week by pulling the original 302 motor out of the 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback Bullit re-creation.  It is getting ready for a freshly built 390.  After some fighting with the export brace, and one very annoying exhaust manifold, we finally got it out.  Monday morning i will make sure the motor is ready to be installed into The 1974 Ford Gran Torino Starsky and Hutch re-creation.  Unfortunately nobody ever came by to buy the 1965 Ford Mustang. 

My best buddy Todd asked me today what medication I am on.  He seems to think I am acting strange.  I think it is just the stress of trying to grow your business in a stagnant economy.  You'll never guess what I spent the day working on.  That's right, the Karmann Ghia.  It's all done except for a strange problem in the carb.  We spent the day changing chokes, jets, floats, and all the other bits and pieces between three solex carbs trying to get this one to dial in.  I hope we got it.  I just got a call with someone wanting to buy my 1965 Ford Mustang.  I hate to sell this one, becuase it is so flawless.  I have never seen a Mustang in better shape.  It has no rust under it whatsoever.  But there must be something in the air,  Yesterday was the BMW, today it's the Mustang.  Hopefully tommorrow it will be one of our jeeps, or the 1966 Porsche.  I would love to start the new year off with selling every car.  Tonight I am going to drop the top on the 1964 Impala SS and cruise to a party to watch the NCAA national championship. 

Sold our 1984 BMW 533i today.  It's always nice to sell a car.  I still have a lot left though.  The buyer is very excited, which is always fun.  It's great to keep these old cars on the road.  I have been playing with the website today, not sure if I am happy with the results though.  The Karmann Ghia is still here, but I am told we are gaining on it.  Hopefully tommorrow. 

I stole that title from Todd, one of our favorite customers.  Today at the shop was pretty mellow.  Still finishing the tweaking of the Ghia.  It's always the last little bits that seem to take so long.  It's supposed to be out this thursday, so it is definitely a priority this week.  We are looking for a new mechanic, so i am still reading resumes.  It's a lot to keep straight.  Somebody is supposed to come by this afternoon and buy our 1984 BMW 533i.  Hope they do.  I spent the morning at the greyhound bus station waiting for them to find a box that's 8 feet long by three feet wide.  It holds a new bumper for a 1964 Pontiac Safari Bonneville Station Wagon.  We are just waiting to get it back from paint.  See you tommorrow.

I have archived all old blog entries except for the intro.  I thought I would start fresh this 2009, and try and be more consistent.  Not a whole lot happening in the shop today.  I am reading resumes for a new mechanic.  We posted a job ad, and I thought I might get one or two applicants.  I actually got over fifty.  Now I am trying to sort them.  Meanwhile, out in the shop, kevin is finishing up a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia convertible that has been giving us trouble.  It was scheduled to go out at christmas, but unfortunately it is still bug ridden.  Hopefully they will work themselves out.  I am also taking the fresh start of the new year to do some much needed housecleaning.  I have been listing parts and cars all over the place.  It is amazing how many parts we have.  It would be real nice to sell them all.