"Almost persueded..."

[Fat Hack]

Naw, not REALLY...but last night at the cruise in Ypsi, Jay pointed out a ratty 49 Chevy coupe that he had seen there before. The owner told him he would trade his running coupe for a Fleetline body in ANY condiditon!

Ha Ha Ha...well, I just HAD to scrutinize this heap a little closer!

After a pretty carefull looking-over...I realized that I'd just be making MORE work for myself!

Sure, the car ran and drove...so in the "plus" column was the fact that it already had an open drive rear axle in it...and functional brakes (even if they did use the stock master cylinder and front drums!).

In the "minus" column was the fact that a coupe body (in stock configuration) doesn't look NEARLY as cool as a Fleetline, the wiring on this car was begging for a re-do, and the Sin of Sins...small block Chevy power!

(Roadstar even snuck over to whisper in my ear "I will NEVER let you live it down if you do this!")

So...I did some thinking...I'd have to rip outh the small Chevy, AND the silly flamethrowers the kid had on the car...and drop my V6 (with really cool motor mounts!) into it! It'd be nice having a useable rear axle and functioning brakes...but it'd cost a small fortune to re-wire the thing and it'd still be a ratty coupe!

No deal! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

(Don't worry, Rudy...unless I'm driving a 4x4 or a Camaro (hmmm...or a 4x4 CAMARO! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif), you'll NEVER catch me running one of them small block Chevy motors in my heaps!!!)

It was a GREAT time at the cruise, though...seeing Rudy and his Famous Forty, along with Denise, and her parents again was cool as always...and RocketJ2's little boy asked for Denise by saying "Where's the hot girl?"!!!

Priceless! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[burger]

You're cracked!


Ed

[hotrodladycrusr]

I had an awesome time last nite as well. It was great to see you Fat Hack, and the RocketJ2 family out and about. It was also nice to get out of the local area and visit a cruz nite that had some different cars for a change.

The priceless moment for me was seeing Fat Hack pusing the baby stroller! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Vanessa (RocketJ2's wife) of course, didn't leave the baby in there, he was safely in her arms. Maybe NEXT time she'll actually let you PUSH the baby. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif


Weather permitting we'll be at the Sears cruz nite tonite then the 50's MickyD's. Tomorrow nite we're going to check out Woodward Ave and see how much trouble we can find and Sunday is the big Clinton Twp cruz on Gratiot Ave from about 12 Mile Rd north. Any GMB wanna come out and play this weekend? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Smokin Joe]

[ QUOTE ]
Tomorrow nite we're going to check out Woodward Ave and see how much trouble we can find

[/ QUOTE ]
Jeez, Woodward still there?
Last time I was up that way was in the 70's because of this car... Jimmy Addison's Silver Bullet... Don't ask... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
One of the top all time street racers.
"Oh Belvedere, Come heyar boy!" http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
http://www.boulier.com/billy/story_of_the_silver_bullet.htm

[hotrodladycrusr]

Woodward Ave is alive and well and hopping on most Saturday nites.

The Siler Bullet is still around. I just saw it last month at the "Downriver Cruz". A true legend around these parts. So, fill me in on why the Silver Bullet brought you to Detroit?

[RileyRacing]

Yeah, it was funny when Michael said that...
" Dada, where's that HOT girl?"
"Who?"
"The HOT girl, in the pink shirt!"

He's only 3... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

And after we walked away, he says "I want that one" to a yellow 32 roadster... I think I'm doing all right. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jay

[safariknut]

Greg:Was that Chevy in light grey primer and have a little triangular sign painted on the trunk saying,"Under Construction"?If so there is a really interesting story behind that car.LMK
Ray

[RileyRacing]

Yup. That's it, you did some work on the glovebox door! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jay

[safariknut]

Thought so;it belongs to a friend of mine(RJ).I first met him when he was about 9 years old.His dad buys and sells cars and RJ has been working on cars since he could hold a wrench in his hand.One of the politest youngsters I've ever met.If he saw you at a cruise night or a show he would come over to say hello but would never interrupt if you were talking with someone else.Very knowledgeable about cars.His father got that for him when he was about 12 and he has done the VAST MAJORITY of the work on it himself.He saves his money to buy parts and wheels and deals for others.He is a great kid and a true hot rodder.
I have probably told this story before but this is a good time to repeat it and illustrate what kind of a kid he is:
I had pulled in to the Ypsi cruise one night and was starting to unload my bike out of the back of the Safari.RJ was about 11 at the time and had set up a little cruise night of his own with some Hot Wheels cars on a flower planter next to where I was parked.
He saw me unloading my paint(to get to the bike)and asked if I was going to stripe anything that night.I said probably not;I just needed to get the bike out.
He thought about that and then drifted off to check out some other cars.Awhile later he comes up to me and in a real conspiratorial sort of way asks,"Ya wanna make a dollar?"
Not knowing what to expect I hesitated a bit and then said,"Depends."
He pulled out a purple Hot Wheels 51 Merc out of his pocket and said,"I like you to put some stripes on it"and out of his other pocket he pulls out a crumpled dollar bill that looked like it had taken up residence in there and said,"and I'll pay you a dollar".
Knowing that a dollar to a kid who didn't have much was a whole lot of money,I told him,"Look I'll tell you what;I'll stripe the Merc for nothing if you will take a picture of it for me so I can add it to my photo album."
He agreed and I proceeded to lay a bunch of stripes on it.Took me maybe 10 minutes and I told him to be careful of it for awhile.He thanked me and went off to show his friends.
A friend of his dad had been watching this whole thing transpire and he came over to me and said,"I hope you realize that you have just made his day." I replied,"No he has made MY day because you don't have enough money to buy the look on a happy kid's face and besides I'm going to get a LOT of mileage out of telling this story!"
Anyway I see RJ at a lot of the meets and he always comes up to say hello and ask how my wife is doing.Those two have had some unreal conversations.
And that is basically the story.RJ just graduated from high school this year and I know he will go far in this world.

[colorado51]

Hey Hack,

The Coupes are a little harder to find these days, in 49 around 75000 were made, and 180000 Fleetlines were made.

But, with that big bulbus roof line, and the long trunk, the body lines are not for everyone. Ive had my 51 Coupe for a few years now, and to honest, Im still not 100 percent sold on the body lines. A lot of people ask me what body style it is because they dont see them around too much.

I wouldnt worry about the small block, you can always change that (a warmed over 292 would be cool!). And for a harness, pull one out of a junked Camaro or Nova.

Go look at that Coupe again, maybe it will grow on ya!

[safariknut]

Here's a pic.......

[safariknut]

rear view....

[willowbilly3]

I wonder if he still has the merc?