Saturday, February 25, 2012

the signpainter's 28 was unearthed and for sale at the big 3 swapmeet at Qualcomm





Whitworth tool find at the annual Big 3 spring Swap Meet, at Qualcomm (still going to be there tomorrrow if you can make it)

 All of these are at R H Parkers Garage, and it's under a large long grey canopy, about 10 rows from the North side of the Qualcomm parking lot
 This set is unusually helpful in that it has both Whitworth and British Standard sizes marked

 The Dowidat set is a German company, and good tools, I have a set of metric combo wrenches from Dowidatt
but the big score waiting for someone is this Bluepoint tap and die set, it's Whitworth. Only tap set for Whitworth I've ever heard of, a mechanics necessity

A variety of kids pedal cars old and new I saw at the Qualcomm annual spring Big 3 Swapmeet











Cox racing fuel

 There was still about a half can left in it, and the seller wanted $50 for it.

Marc looked it up, it's 50% methanol, 30% nitromethane, 18% castor oil, and 2% Klotz oil

Wagons of all varieties at the Qualcomm Big 3 annual spring Swapmeet, 2012















Penn State mission affiliate Pennsylvania College of Technology is going to start a auto restoration major

The restoration of a 1965 Ford Mustang convertible for the Antique Automobile Club of American Museum in Hershey has led to plans for a new major at the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport.
Students at the special mission affiliate of Penn State restored the car for the museum in 2010. Last year, it won a first-place junior award at the club’s America eastern regional meet.

Because of that success, the college plans in the fall to offer a two-year degree in automotive restoration technology, which pleases Michael Barrett, executive director of the museum that will be a major sponsor of the program.
“It will teach a skill that has been lost over the years,” he said.
It is difficult for young people to get into the restoration field, only three other public colleges in the country offer such a course.

It is almost a recession-proof industry to work on high-end classic cars, unlike work in a body shop that often takes only days, restoration can take a year or longer and cost upward of $80,000. There are no computers or replacing a damaged fender with a new one, students will learn how to pound out dents and restore the cars to their original condition.

Williamson expects the first class to have 18 to 20 students. They will have to take collision-repair courses the first year, he said. Only students with at least a B average can opt to take the restoration course the second year.
They also could decide to complete their collision-repair degree and return for a third year for the restoration degree, he said.

Only serious students will be selected for the restoration program because classic car owners are very particular about their vehicles, Williamson said.

from http://www.pennlive.com/east-shore/index.ssf/2012/02/classic_car_restoration_leds_to_plans_for_new_major_at_pennsylvania_college_of_technology.html
via: http://multibriefs.com/briefs/vrl/index.php

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Keeping a camera handy while out driving about is a good thing, you might spot about anything




 You don't see these on the free way ever, especially far from the rich parts of town... and in the below image you can see how much they stand out among normal cars

 Cute little tiger tail under the trailer hitch
 hand made bumpers... don't see that often in this city with many parts junkyards
from bumper or push bar? And what could you push with an under-powered econo-box?

Even a soccer mom van can be made interesting... found in a parking lot by accident, this one grabbed my attention





Houston, 1958, before dragsters had a standard looking header in a weedburner or zoomie style, they made them any way they wanted

Thanks to Damian of http://capitaldiecastgarage.blogspot.com and http://onfourwheels.blogspot.com via http://www.redlinederby.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=676

is  the Houston International Raceway 1958 / Redline Derby Racing

Indian scooter I've never seen before from Carros Antigos

Found on http://carrosantigos.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/album-de-figurinhas/ via the excellent Jacques Rouge Gallery on Flickr 

wow, this is likely the best video I've seen all week

hey 5 point detail... send me your info!


Keep smiling friends and readers, life can be a lot of trouble at the wrong time, but there is usually humor to be found right here

Thanks to my friend Randy! 

Wednesday, February 22, 2012