You Like It Hot? Try This Heat Out!

Jeremy Nutt 3 Comments
You want heat in the winter do you?

Over the last century there have been thousands of really amazing automotive achievements, and then there have been truly awful failures. Today, I bequeath to you the latter.

I was at a car show over the weekend and saw this really great absolutely terrible “feature” on a late 1920’s – early 1930’s vehicle.   I am leaving it’s name out intentionally.  The “feature” is a heater, which obviously sounds like a good idea right?  Well it is, but only when executed properly.  This design was excellent use of creativity for sure, but heavily lacking in foresight in my opinion.  It was a cast iron box that mounted to the top of the exhaust manifold that basically funneled exhaust gases cool outside air through it, warming it up, and shooting it into the interior of the car to warm up your little toesies.  This is all well and good until there is an exhaust leak or a cracked exhaust manifold.  Then Mr. Carbon Monoxide walks into the place and spoils the winter time party.  I don’t know about you guys, but this gives me a new appreciation for my heater core and blower motor.

What Car Will You Buy When The Price Drops?

Jeremy Nutt 6 Comments

Recently, I talked about my deep rooted relationship with Cadillac Cateras.  In that post we learned how truly “special” they are, but we never touched upon their evolution into the CTS.  Yes, the CTS is in fact an acronym for Catera Touring Sedan.  Ouch! Don’t worry though, they aren’t really the same car…..well….sorta.  In 2003 the CTS still had the same heart, soul, and terrifyingly – awful engine as the Catera.  After that year though, Cadillac strapped on their game face and abandoned that awful drivetrain for good.  In walks 2004, oh hello there!, we now have a……….wait for it…… 400hp LS6 engine option. (queue – the sound of angels….  ooooaahhhhhh..)

This brings me to the point of this whole post.  I want to buy a Cadillac CTS-V, badly.  When the CTS-V price drops to an absurdly low level, I’m getting one.  Come to think of it, I don’t care if the car has been wrecked, recovered theft or sunk in a river. I want it, as long as it’s cheap.  I want 6 gears to shift into manually, I want rear wheel drive, I want big brakes, and obviously a big LS V8.  I would likely end up stuffing so much forced induction onto the engine that it would spit my rear end gears out at every set of lights. That’s ok though, because I will do it in high class Cadillac fashion.

What will you buy?

Images borrowed from:

http://www.ridelust.com/

http://www.caranddriver.com/

The Engine That You Have Never Seen

Jeremy Nutt 3 Comments

I have spent the vast majority of my life reading about, researching, and working on cars. Every once in a while though, I am smacked in the face with something that I have never seen before.  Most recently, it was the “triflux” engine.  I don’t know a whole heck of a lot about it, except that it was experimental and designed by Lancia in 1986. The way I’m understanding it, it has 4 cylinders, 2 turbochargers, 2 intercoolers, fuel injection, a dry sump oil system, and ~600 hp @ 8000 rpm.  There is confusion all over the place though.  We’ll start with mechanical timing? Ummm, isn’t the crankshaft supposed to be connected to the camshafts? If not, how is mechanical timing controlled? Secondly, how is 600 horsepower being made from less than 1.8L? It must be running super efficient turbos at high pressure, and revving to the moon.  I guess this is why I am not an engineer.  Enjoy the wackiness that is the turboflux. Read More

What Happened To Miss Belvedere?

Jeremy Nutt 4 Comments
Miss Belvedere, What Happened?

Miss Belvedere was the talk of the town in June of 2007 after being unearthed from the deepest darkest depths of downtown Tulsa.  She was a brand new 1957 Plymouth with just 4 miles on her when they dunked her in the pit of no return.  Fifty years later when the light of day finally shined on her again in 2007, she had not aged well.  She looked like an automotive version of the Cryptkeeper (Remember that show – Tales from the crypt!??).  Anyway, as it turns out, automobiles cannot be preserved by dunking them under water for 50 years. Wait….WHAT!? Yes it is true, dirty gutter water from the Tulsa streets does not preserve sheetmetal, fabric, or plastic.

Shortly after she was raised from the sarcophagus, she was put on display for all the interwebzz and journalists to get their piece.   Read More

DO WANT: Rock Crawler + Rocks.

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I often find myself day dreaming about building a rock crawler and bashing it through the woods without fear of breakage. I think about TIG welding the tube chassis together with its fully custom suspension, and using Unimog front and rear axles. Modern turbo diesel power would be suitable, and I might even be convinced to use an automatic transmission (it’s against everything I stand for). It would probably have 2 seats, 4 cup holders, and a nice spot for a large cooler. That way I could bring along a friend, and thoroughly enjoy a horsepower-filled day in the wilderness. Once the picnic is over, I would strap myself back in, turn on the roof camera, fire up the turbo diesel, and blast through the mud, rocks, and trees until I run out of fuel. Then I would switch to the reserve tank and head back home for a nap. Yeah, that would be a good day….

Image borrowed from ebay # 160441587411

What are YOUR Favorite Wheels?

Jeremy Nutt 2 Comments

If there is one thing that I have learned over the years, it is that you just can’t drive a car without wheels.  Many people have tried, and many people have failed.  So in celebration of this great necessity, I ask you this: If you had a barrel full of cash money to spend, what wheels would you put on your car? Would you go for the Teddies?  Maybe the ultra rare set of Michelin man wheels?  Gold 100 spoke Daytons with real knock-offs? Possibly even the Donk style 26’s?

For me, I would probably grab some 19’s from a new BMW, powder coat them black if they aren’t already, and stuff them under the fenders of my truck.  For my ’64 Impala, I would probably have some stock “looking” steel wheels custom made, but have them 17×9, and able to handle disc brakes.  Then I would wrap them in Michelins and roll low with chrome dog dish hub caps. Maybe I’m weird.

What would you do?

Images from:
http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/52070/000_0164.jpg
http://ekhatch.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/michelin14x6-2.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xRFNBWST25E/SXvgUbseCLI/AAAAAAAAC-Q/mXN9sBtfyqU/s400/Drunken-VW-Beetle.jpg

Toyota Truck Spark Plug Mystery?

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I Don't Get It?

There are some rumors going around today that newer Toyota truck’s come with NGK brand spark plugs on 1 side of their V engine and Denso brand spark plugs on the other side of the engine.  I have stewed on this for a while now, and I am left baffled as to why they would do this.

Is this True? Got Proof?

Why the heck would Toyota do this?