Performance in Motion Magazine Vol. 12 No. 5

Page 1

Winter 2012 • Vol. 12 #5

erRATic

Flapper Gasser! The

Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #40609642


Making your ride better since 1964

We sell thousands of high performance parts from hundreds of vendors including:

Moving to:

Lincoln Alexander Pkwy

1515 Upper Ottawa St. Unit 4

1487 Simcoe St. N 905-725-3533 Taunton Rd.

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891 Upper James 905-574-6940

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.WINTER Why wouldn’t you have the finest brake rotors stopping your most precious cargo? Performance Brake Upgrade for OE Applications.

Superior Stopping – Wet or Dry Flapper’s ‘55 smokin’ thru the gears

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The best thing to happen to beer cans since Beer?

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Available at:

• Performance in Motion •

312-07-10

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Publisher’s Note Performance in Motion Publications NEW Address: 87 Advance Road Toronto, ON M8Z 2S6 Phone: 416-259-3678 • Fax: 416-259-6433 PUBLISHER Bob McJannett bmcj@sympatico.ca Phone: 416-259-3678 EDITOR Rob McJannett

early October, as I write this. The weather is starting to change, cooler in the mornings and longer to warm up during the day. Sunlight comes later and leaves earlier. I guess it really is fall. Car cruises and events are winding down and enthusiasts are planning how to store their cars for the bad weather. We have a couple of pages of tips to help you do the best job. This has been an interesting season, the problems, real and imagined with the MOE have certainly been a damper for a number of people. I have spoken with enthusiasts that say they are not taking out their cars for fear they will be stopped and ticketed. The confusion with what is expected or required has not been solved to anyone’s satisfaction yet.

CONTRIBUTORS Thomas Anderson Ed Barry Bob A. Booey Jim Husband David Irvine Jim Madigan Robert Michaelson Jeff Norwell Pat Shaw Dave Thomas Sandy Sanderson Leonard F. Slye Doug_Wertman with Bonnie Staring as the Reluctant Passenger COVER IMAGE Jim Madigan PROOFREADER Spike “The Machine” LaVigne MOVING? Please let us know! E-mail both your old & new address to: moving@performanceimprovements.com Return undeliverables to: 87 Advance Road Toronto, ON M8Z 2S6 PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. PERFORMANCE IN MOTION is published a year: Spring, Early Summer, Late Summer, Winter. Circulation is 30,000+ (ISSN

It’s

40609642 five times Fall, and 1703-8421)

Copyright ©2012 All rights reserved by Performance In Motion Publishing. Be good to the environment, recycle this magazine – give it to your friends. The fine print: We respect your privacy, and do not sell our mailing list. All opinions are those of our writers, (the usual gang of idiots) most of whom have sniffed too many gas fumes to trust as far as you can throw. The information presented is via said gas sniffers from which there can be no responsibility by the Publishers as to legality, completeness and accuracy. If you enjoy our magazine, be sure to let us know! This magazine may not be reprinted without permission of Performance In Motion Publishing. (We’re nice guys, just ask!) •BabaBooey! •

Dalton McGuinty’s sudden resignation, running ahead of potential scandals involving Orange and the canceling of the power plants destined for Oakville and Mississauga, also has caused a setback to some of the projects in play for the benefit of the car enthusiast. There has been a movement afoot to create a Collector Car Day in Ontario, similar to the ones in the U.S. and Manitoba. As well, John O’Toole, MPP Durham, has been preparing to petition the legislature asking for relief from the current stringent regulation being enforced against hobbyists. Proroguing Parliament puts all these efforts on hold. In the event an election gets called, it will be important to vote in those candidates that have a positive view of car enthusiast interests. Should there be an election, take the time to quiz the candidates about your concerns.

cars to be operated on public roads, for testing purposes, provided that each vehicle has a fully licensed and bonded operator in the driver’s seat to take control if necessary. With the goal of eventually permitting autonomous vehicles to be driven on California roadways, the bill instructs the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to adopt regulations that govern the licensing, bonding, testing and operation of such vehicles. The bill also instructs the DMV to adopt the new regulations as soon as practicable, but no later than January 1, 2015. Does this mean if you hook up with someone you’ll be able to send your car home on it’s own, or if you have one drink too many you will just sit in the back while the car takes you to the next bar? Ain’t progress wonderful? We will soon be off to the SEMA show, now considered the world’s largest car show, as well all the performance manufacturers’ latest products on will be on display. We will be there to find out what is new, what is interesting and what trends are either coming or going. Hopefully there will be lots to bring back for you to see. Thanks for reading Performance in Motion.

Here’s something to scare you! California has passed legislation to allow driverless

• Performance in Motion •

5


_WTF

Taking Recycling to a new Level

Story by Bob McJannett • Photos by Sandy Sanderson

R

ecently, an email came through telling the story of Albert “Tapper” Torney, an eccentric who was claimed to roam the back alleys scrounging beer and pop cans. His neighbours just thought he was a little weird. Then he was supposed to have died and a series of amazing cars were discovered that were claimed to have been built from the cans he had scavenged. When I looked at the photos, it just didn’t seem right to me. The cars were truly works of art, with no scratches, dents or creases. Hardly the stuff you would find in dumpsters or garbage cans. So I went hunting, I am always suspicious of information from the internet. This time

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I was right, in Hamilton, New Zealand, lives a gentleman named Sandy Sanderson. Sandy is the designer and builder of the can cars that were included in the false email. So I thought we should set the record straight and give credit where credit is due. Trained in England as a draughtsman, retrained as a technology teacher, he ended up migrating to New Zealand where he taught and pursued his interest in classic cars, model airplanes and bikes. In fact, it was one of the bikes that bit him, damaging his wrist. Sandy has been a staunch supporter of the recycle movement since long before it became the thing to do. But every time he threw away a pop or beer can he kept

looking for something else to do with them. It took an accident that gave him time on his hands to move to the next level. He got out a pencil and started designing a race car he could build from cans. Using can bottoms for wheels and the main body of the can as painted panels. Work was begun. There is a lot of thought put into each project, inner structures are built from balsa, body panels are carefully planned since he builds the can graphics into the outside finish. Wheels are built from can bottoms, small trim details from numerous items. Attention to detail is amazing. Check these models out carefully.


Artwork that makes you want to drink more beer! (Wouldn’t it be nice if one came with every case?)

To see more can cars, and to learn how they are made go to: www.sandyscancars.com

• Performance in Motion •

7


_TECH_

Time for a new Carb? Story by Leonard F. Slye • Photos by Demon Carbs

S

ince the last domestic car that came with a carburetor was built in the very early 90s, you have to admire a company that pulls out a sheet of plain paper, sharpens the drafting pencil and designs an all new version 21 years later. Well, the Demon carburetion team has done just that. Their all new Street Demon is destined to be the carburetor of choice for V8 street performance applications. No matter if you are running a stock or mildly modified engine you should take a look at all the features the 625cfm Street Demon offers. The technicians at Demon have looked at problems that affect other makes and tried to resolve them with their unique design. These are not me too carburetors. Check out these features. They designed the one piece fuel bowl in such a manner that there is no place for fuel to leak from. The integrated bowl and body’s main gasket is above the fuel level. Street Demon models come with a dual mounting bolt pattern that will fit nearly all

performance intakes either spread or square bore. The smooth look is created by having all fasteners bolt from underneath the carb. The 1 3/8 front throttle bores provide good fuel mileage and crisp throttle response when you step on the pedal. When you bury the gas pedal, the goggle valve secondary system delivers more than twice as much air as the primaries. Street Demon carburetors provide a total air flow of 625 CFM with the smaller primaries maintaining the crisp throttle response we want for a street car. Interestingly, fuel is fed through what Demon calls a “triple-stack” boost venturii. Two of the boosters are suspended across the bores in a conventional manner, while a third is actually integrated into the throttle bore’s walls. The idea is to create a better fuel/air mix for good throttle response, improved drive ability and better fuel economy. Tuning is simple, with metering rods changeable without any disassembly or No More Leaky Carbs Integrated fuel bowl/main body design with gasket above fuel level eliminates all potential leak paths. Available in standard aluminum or aerospace composite. The latter keeps fuel up to 20º cooler for optimum performance and improves hot starting and hot weather drivability.

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removal of the carburetor. There are three models available, the most popular is built from ball burnished aluminum for a great look. If heat and fuel percolation is a problem, they have a model with a polymer main body and fuel bowl that does not transfer heat as the aluminum does, so it will keep the gasoline 20% cooler. Finally for the really fussy they are offering a completely hand polished version. There are loads of other interesting features. The Street Demon redefines the street carburetor offering enthusiasts a straightforward carburetor designed to deliver a stable idle, amazingly crisp throttle response and smooth performance. Its optimized calibration and dual mounting pattern make it Run–Ready for a large variety of engines and vehicles!


The Street Demon’s secondary mechanism includes an air valve situated above the Goggle valve.

The “Go Valve” - Goggle Valve Secondary This revised secondary throttle plate delivers over twice the air flow of the primary bores for power you can hear and feel. A lot of thought and planning influenced the Goggle valve’s unusual shape. The Street Demon is designed to fit intake manifolds of both spread-bore pattern and the smaller square-bore patterns. To maximize the air flow the Goggle valve was created. Without it, generating air flow of 625cfm would have been almost impossible. The unusual shape was devised through investigating numerous OEM and aftermarket intake manifolds. Its arc of travel from closed to fully open will accommodate a variety of divider walls without adding any unwanted spacers.

When you stomp on the throttle pedal the air valve opens in response to the air flow demand. Of course, the Goggle valve beneath it opens as quickly as you depress the throttle pedal. So to compensate for the rush of air when you hit the throttle hard, the air valve remains closed momentarily as it increases the vacuum signal on the secondary nozzles and the carburetor draws fuel faster. The air valve arrangement compensates for the sudden opening of the Goggle valve. To increase performance you can increase or decrease the spring torque on the end of its shaft, allowing it to open sooner or later.

The accelerator pump (A) distributes its blast of fuel through two orifices in the pump shooter (B) aiming its discharge at each outer ring of the boost venturii.

Instant Throttle Response The idea is that stacked boosters increase the signal (or pressure drop) across the outlet, which introduces main-circuit fuel earlier than single-booster designs. If this sounds like an idea straight out of the school of Quadrajet design, it is. The smaller, 1-3/8-inch Street Demon primary throttle bores increase velocity for crisper throttle response.

Because this carburetor is designed for street applications, accelerating on the smaller primaries while delaying the opening of the Goggle valve makes the vehicle responsive to drive. To quickly activate the Goggle valve—the secondary mechanism— just stomp on the pedal!

• Performance in Motion •

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_FEATURE_

erRATic

Flapper Gasser! The

Story by Bob McJannett • Photos by Jim Madigan

Craig

Murray has been around cars for years. He has a penchant for Tri-5 Chevrolets. In fact his garage is filled with two 57’s. When he decided he needed to have a period car to drag race with the ONDR (Ontario Nostalgia Drag Racers) it would obviously be one from that milestone three year period. He settled on a 1955 Chevrolet 150 coupe. He wanted to “do it himself ” and build the complete car in the Roadmates car club garage. His vision was an early style “Gas-

ser” just like they used to be, built by the owner and his friends using parts he had available. Now Craig is a very determined guy, once he sets his mind to something its “Gung Ho” till completed. Starting in November, 2011, it was work every day till the car was completed. Seven months later, in May, 2012, the car rolled out of the club garage a completed racer. Oh, by the way, he held down a full time job as well. During those seven months Craig and a number of his fellow club members worked

Here’s what Craig started with in the Roadmates Clubhouse.

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tirelessly to complete his vision. When asked who he wanted to acknowledge he said, “There are a few very key people in the club that helped me achieve my dream. I could not have finished that car in this time frame or built it to the quality standard that we achieved, without these people. They know who they are. These are the type of who you will never forget what they have done for you; they are the best possible friends you can have! I have to thank my family as well for letting me work the hours it took to finish the car in this time frame.”

With the frame separated, Craig gets cross members and brackets strengthened.


Cars this nice aren’t built alone, Craig had help from his fellow Roadmates creating some one off parts for his Gasser. Here Craig, Norton and Doc whip up some custom floor panels. Don’t you wish your garage was this well equipped?

Rear end is being fabricated, shock brackets built, ladder bars mounted.

Finished beaded panel tacked into place.

Ah - Now I see that’s what the Holes are for!

Body back on the frame, with the new extended frame rails.

• Performance in Motion •

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Check out the custom one-piece tilt assembly. No car gets finished without a list.

A lot of work went into making everything smooth. Once the firewall and frame received a generous coating of black paint, front and rear motor plates were fabbed. 49 Chevy Spindles are fitted to the Tube Axle. Things are moving forward.

Gasser inspiration was never far away.

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Over the seven months, the car was stripped to bare bones, body separated from the chassis, everything scraped clean. Once they had a suitable basis to start from, front and rear suspension was worked out and installed. At the rear a Ford nodular iron 9” rear end with disc brakes was mounted on stock rear springs. To keep the rear end in proper alignment, a set of ladder bars were installed. The front was changed to traditional Gasser suspension. The 55 frame was chopped off at the firewall and then 2” X 4” frame rails were fabricated to accept semi elliptical suspension and a dropped tube axle. Front spindles are 49 Chevy, and the steering box is Vega. While the chassis was being fabricated, in the other corner the body was being cherried out and a tilt front end fabricated. Finally the two parts were ready to go back together With wheels installed and the body back on, WOW it really looked like a 60s Gasser! Now the real fun begins, the 468 Big Block engine from Craig’s street 57 was installed with all the appropriate speed parts, scatter shield fitted, all attached to a Jerico 4 speed. At the same time, all the insulation, headliner etc. was removed from the body. The roll bar fitted, lots of angles and notches, much grinding and filing till it was ready to be tig welded together by Bryan Gault. Wiring was done, instruments installed and aluminum interior panels built. Off to the paint shop for a coat of Dupont Hot Rod Black (what else!) a set of M&H tires front and rear mounted on 55 Chev front rims and a pair of Vintage Ansens on the rear. Finally ready to go racing. First trip to the strip was to see that everything worked as planned, drive it around the pits, check everything, then an easy pass, check everything, then a harder pass. Holy Smokes it lifts the front wheels!

Work is progressing on the body. Once some wheels are on your project car, you know you have to get it on the road!

Ignition Box and coil are mounted on a custom panel installed under dash. Wiring has begun!

Bryan Gault applies his amazing welding talents to the roll bar.

Boomer is tired, he’s been here every day.

• Performance in Motion •

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As the season progressed the car ran faster and faster, Craig’s 55 hooks with a vengeance hauling the wheels up even on second gear shifts. With this type of abuse the usual gremlins reared their ugly heads. On a 10.80 pass at Grand Bend the rear end decided to move around, tossing the driveshaft and bending the brackets. Craig rebuilt and braced the delinquent parts. Those won’t move around again. A couple of weeks later the engine let go, deciding it was tired of all the abuse. Once again Craig replaced it with a high revving 427 filled with heavy duty bullet proof parts. If that wasn’t enough, at Shannonville the axles and gears earned a trip to the dentist after breaking off some teeth. As usual Craig went to the source, ordered and installed heavier, stronger parts. Hopefully the carnage is over. So since November 2011 Craig and his Roadmate friends turned a 55 Chevrolet shell into a fire breathing 60s style gasser. Turning 10.80 at 123 mph. Quite the accomplishment we would say. Hats off to all who were involved, club members, family and of course Boomer the dog. You see Boomer watched every inch of the build, goes to the track and although he can’t weld, offers lots of support in other ways. Craig says he can’t wait till next year, the adventure continues.

• Performance in Motion •

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erRATic

Flapper Gasser! The

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About the Photographer: Jim Madigan is a true car enthusiast who travels to car shows, cruise nights and drag races, never without his trusty camera. When he’s not shooting, Jim can be found teaching photography at Mohawk College. See more of Jim’s work or get a print at: jvm.smugmug.com. • Performance in Motion •

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Boomer watches his master disappear down the track.

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• Performance in Motion •


TNT Race of Champions

Performance Directory

A

fter a two year absence, Jamie Stoneman of Clarence, NY returned in the familiar S10 pickup and took home the highly sought after title of TNTSS Race of Champions winner. In round one, he took out Chris VanBaalen by pushing him under the index. He tree’d Harry Phelps in round two and then benefited from Paul Young’s red light in the semi-finals. In the final round, Jamie faced Tom Coonly, also from western New York. Jamie was set on kill cutting an .009 light and running a 10.887. Turned out he didn’t need to be as Tom went red by a mere .001, handing the victory to Jamie. “I have to thank my dad, Jim. He is by far the biggest supporter of this racing operation,” said Jamie. “Thanks to Mike and Joe Janis for the new 565, Wayne Sipos for the transmission, he and his wife Pat are always there to lend a hand. Also Mo and Joe Passero and Jason Vitez for a reliable piece.” Sponsors on the S10 include Rosehill Auction House, Jays-Son Construction, J Muro Plumbing, JRO Design and Phil’s Quality Auto Service. “Thanks to Tom Coonly who is a huge help and my fiancée Heather for her support. Big thanks to Joe Boniferro and Ted Barnes. Without them and the people at Performance Improvements, none of this would be possible.”

What the Hell is This?

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• Performance in Motion •

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Product Showcase Revolutionary Indoor Car Cover No dust. No trapped moisture. No chance for mold to grow. If you use the old-fashioned cover just after washing your car, you subject yourself to growing mold and bacteria under the cover and within those unreachable nooks and crannies. We’ve all entered a car that has the faint (or strong) odor of mildew. This can be prevented by immediately covering your just washed car with the Touchless Car Cover.

Piston Ring Filer Assures Proper Piston Ring End-gap To assure proper piston ring end-gap, the piston ring filer enables the user to file piston rings quickly and accurately. Position the piston ring firmly against the dowel pins, crank the handle to turn the abrasive wheel. Using a feeler gauge, file the piston ring to meet the manufacturer’s specification. PR66785

Classic Braid NEW CLASSIC BRAID! In 2005 Painless introduced PowerBraid Wire Wrap which went on to become one of their hottest selling products. Never ones to sit back, the R&D dept at Painless has a second version Classic Braid! It looks like braided hose and it really dresses up an engine compartment and if you were looking for more of an old school look, more cloth like, Classic Braid is what you are looking for! The soft, almost cloth-like material has a lateral split along it’s length that easily closes in around the wire bundle without the need for additional tape or wire ties. Classic Braid retains its shape and rigidity from -100 degrees F to + 250 degrees F and has a melt temperature in excess of +400 degrees F. So remember if you are looking for that cloth appearance in a flat black covering look to Painless NEW CLASSIC BRAID! PWclassicbraid

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• Performance in Motion •

Holley Billet Aluminum Fuel Rails Kit Includes Hose & Fittings These billet aluminum fuel rails make a great addition to any GM LS1, LS2, LS3, LS6, or L99 engine bay. They are direct bolt-on rails for OE-style intake Manifolds and are machined from solid aluminum with the undersides relieved for ultimate weight savings. Finished in a high-gloss anodizing. Fuel rail kits come with matching hand-polished fittings and a stainless braided hose. Both the fuel rail set and kit come with -6 to 3/4-16 O-ring Adapters but are machined to also accept -8 O-ring. Fittings available separately to fully take advantage of the 5/8-inch diameter fuel passage. HO534-210

Vibe-Lock Bolts The ultimate locking fastener. Utilizes a patented locking washer and clip to lock the bolt in place so vibration won’t back the bolt out. The ease of installing and removing the Vibe-Lock beats the competition hands down! Installs like any other standard bolt, the only additional step is to simply use a hex key allen wrench to unlock and re-lock the bolt in place. TC310000


Vehicle Weighing Scale Get ready for the track Proform Part’s electronic scales have a 1,250 pound capacity per scale pad, and will accommodate up to a 5,000 pound car. This scale kit helps you get your chassis ready for the track by providing individual wheel weights, total vehicle weight and percentage weight. Features: The scale also comes with a backlit display powered by 4 AA batteries; durable carrying case also included; 20’ cables, marked for correct pad; front and rear percentages; oversized, easy to read display characters. Batteries included. PR67650

Pinion Setting Tool PROFORM’s Universal pinion setting tool allows you to measure pinion depth of most automobiles and trucks. Most OE gears do not contain pinion depth dimensions so they must be calculated. This is done by measuring pinion thickness and subtracting it from the mounting distance. Tool includes a mounting distance chart for most muscle car rear ends. PR66516

Second Generation Camaro Harness Painless has complete wiring harnesses for the second generation Camaro These harnesses will replace the old and brittle 30+ year old wiring found in second generation Camaros. 18 circuits give you everything you need, plus more, for connecting standard factory components as well as components from the abundant aftermarket that has grown with the popularity of these cars. These harnesses follow all of the same routing found on the factory harness which allows you to utilize the factory harness attachment points. 20112 fits 70-73 Camaro 20113 fits 74-77 Camaro 20114 fits 78-81 Camaro PW20112

_SPEEDTRAP

WE’RE NUMBER ONE! According to a public polling to identify the worst speed trap states or provinces in North America (conducted by the National Motorist Association) the province of Ontario leads the listings for worst speed traps states and provinces. YEAH, we’re number one!

Nationwide Poll Reveals Top Speed Traps In the spirit of election season, the National Motorists Association (NMA) has conducted its own public polling to identify the worst speed trap locations across the United States and Canada. Speed traps typically combine arbitrarily low speed limits with heavy traffic enforcement designed to generate ticket revenue. While the intent may be to modify driver behavior long-term, that is rarely the result. Speed traps keep springing up in the same locations, the issuance of tickets flows unabated, and there is no material effect on traffic safety. That is why the NMA advocates for increased speed limits in chronic speed trap areas supported by traffic studies and proven engineering principles. The NMA analyzed the most recent five years of data from its website The National Speed Trap Exchange, which lists tens of thousands of chronic speed traps in the United States and Canada and includes descriptive commentary about each listing. Since postings are generated by the public, and users vote on which locations qualify as speed traps, the rankings reflect the consensus of thousands of drivers throughout North America. The bottom line: Before you travel, be particularly watchful of the speed trap locations identified by fellow motorists at the National Motorists Association’s Speed Trap Exchange (www.speedtrap.org). It could save you from a ticket that could otherwise ruin that business trip or family visit.

National Motorists Association www.motorists.org Flickr Photo: doug _ wertman

• Performance in Motion •

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Automotive Hibernation

Story by Leonard F. Slye • Flickr Creative Commons Photos

S

ince we live in a climate where there is winter weather, many of us put our car away to avoid driving in snow, slush and salt. Here are some tips and reminders to help give your car the best winter protection.

Change the oil and replace the filter, be sure to use high quality oils with the proper additives to give your engine the best internal protection from corrosion and rust. Just before finally putting it away drive the car for twenty minutes to be sure everything is properly coated with lubricant. Check your anti freeze water mix to be sure the coolant won’t freeze when the weather gets really cold. Even if you are storing in a heated facility keep the protection high. It is always possible the power could go off leaving you without heat. Transmission and rear end fluids should be topped up to the proper levels. If they are low, it’s possible for seals to harden and begin to leak. Completely fill your gas tank with premium, no ethanol fuel. Ethanol is corrosive and can release rust causing water droplets into the fuel system. Add a gas stabilizer to keep your gas sweet until it is time to come out of storage.

Wash off the grime, take your car through one of the brushless car washes. Sign up for the wash method offering the most bottom blast. I usually run mine thru twice to get as much dirt and debris off the bottom. Next polish your car, we love Mothers products, particularly their three step Ultimate Wax System. First the Pure Polish, followed by Micro Polishing Glaze finally bring out the ultimate shine with Pure Brazilian Carnauba Wax. Thoroughly clean the interior. Remove all waste and debris that has accumulated during the season. Pay particular attention to crumbs or food waste you don’t want to be feeding rodents. Again we like Mothers carpet and upholstery cleaner. If you are fortunate enough to be storing in a heated facility you may want to remove the carpets. This prevents them from developing a musty smell. After all this, you are ready to store your car. Go to the local Rona and buy a sheet of vapor barrier plastic, lay the sheet on the floor then park your car on it. This will protect the underside of your car, from water vapor. You will also be able to easily spot any fluid leaks in spring when you take the car out.

Blow up your tires – Over inflation

will reduce the chance of flat spots from sitting in one place.

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CC by Bark

CC by firexbrat

CC by Divine Harvester

Check and overfill your tires. Over inflation will reduce the chance of flat spots from sitting in one place for the winter months. This is particularly important with bias ply tires.

In fact with bias ply tires it is best if you put the car on jack stands. Use a quality pressure gauge such as the Moroso or Autometer models.

Suck it Clean – Remove all the dirt especially crumbs - you don’t want to be feeding rodents.

Wash your Bottom – Car wash “Bottom Blasts” will get the most dirt and debris off your ride’s bottom.


CC by ghostofsasha

Yes, Winter is coming...

Leave your windows down a crack, not enough to let in rodents but enough to allow some air movement. I like to put a bar of Irish Spring soap on the floor, it smells great and when the car comes out you can take it in the house and have a bath. Don’t get Stuck - To prevent the wiper blades from sticking to the glass you can either remove them or wrap them in saran wrap. Since you will be adding a car cover you can’t pull them out from the windshield. Release the parking brake, we don’t want the pucks to stick to the brake drums or rotors. Lock the doors. In case anyone gets into your storage facility you don’t want to make it too easy for the thief. Hook up a maintenance battery charger, CTEK make a good one that keeps your battery at full charge. Once it’s charged it automatically switches to the maintenance phase. Their charger is small enough to fit under any hood, you will simply have a wire coming out from under the car. Finally, give your car a last minute dusting with a Car Duster and install your car cover. Be sure you are using one of the good quality breathable covers, if your cover won’t breath you can do more damage than if you didn’t have one. To be ultra safe use one of the car cover cable lock systems to keep everything on the car. There that was easy, it may seem like a lot of fuss but if you do all this, your car will come out in the spring ready for the first event in perfect shape.

CC by Robert Couse-Baker

Get Dirty – Change that Oil & Filter before you put it away and you’ll be ready for the first drive of Spring. • Performance in Motion •

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_EVENTS

Mississauga Classic Car Club goes On Stage! (Stage West that is.) Story by Bob McJannett • Photos by David Irvine, Pat Shaw, Jim Husband and Ed Barry

On

Saturday August 25, the members of the MCCC put on their greasepaint and best costumes to join the Ramada/Stage West Hotel and Dinner Theatre in presenting the first annual MCCC/Stage West car show. Gates opened at 9am with the early risers ready to go first thing. Favorite parking spaces were chosen, cars were cleaned up ready for the day’s events. As the day progressed more and more collector car enthusiasts arrived with their muscle cars, street rods, imports and classics. Soon the available space was overflowing with great looking cars and enthusiastic owners. As

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well hotel guests had the treat of getting up close and personal with these great cars. When the MCCC and Stage West got together it was to create and present not just another rod sit, but a real collector car extravaganza. There were door prizes and trophies to be won. A gourmet Bar B Que for lunch, plus live entertainment right there in the parking lot. The entertainment started at 11am, Kevin Grant from 1150 CKOC acted as the MC with four tribute artists entertaining the participants in the styles of Elton John, Elvis Presley, Connie Francis and John Denver. Certainly a style for everyone to enjoy. As the afternoon

wound down trophies were awarded. Normally that would be the end of an event but wait there’s more. You see participants were invited in for a buffet dinner and dance, all part of the event package. There were spot prizes and the hotel supplied preferred overnight parking with security so car owners could dance the night away, stay over and enjoy a great breakfast before they left for home. All and all the first MCCC/Stage West car show was a great success, the staff at Stage West really loved it and began to plan for next year immediately, they promise to step it up another notch with more tribute


artists and more surprises. Hats off to Blaine Shaw from the MCCC and Laurie WallaceLynch from Stage West for stick handling their event to completion. The date is set for 2013, their second annual will be bigger and better but still held at the great Stage West facility. Plan to join in August 24, 2013. Come for the day or stay for the night, it’s the next generation of car events. For updates visit www.stagewest.com and www.mississaugaclassiccarclub.org or check their facebook pages.

Best in Show Ford Mr. Steve Hauck, St Catherines – 1958 Ford Fairlaine Convertible Hardtop - Sponsored by Wall Paralegal Services • Performance in Motion •

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Best in Show Engine Mr. Mike Giammattolo, Bolton – 1974 Camaro Z28 – Sponsored by Mississauga Engines Inc

Best in Show Mopar

General Manager Choice Award

Mike Fox, Brampton – 1971 Plymouth Duster – Sponsored by Mississauga Classic Car Club

Alex Agardi, Caledon – 1974 Ford “Starsky & Hutch” Gran Torino – Sponsored by Stage West Theater

Best in Show Import Mr. Dave Irvine, Toronto – 1975 Rolls Royce - Sponsored by Performance Improvements

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Performance Directory Get Ready for

WINTER Bring in your ride NOW!

Your trusted Licenced Mechanic, Serving Etobicoke over 20 Years!

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SUMMER Now!

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• Hot Rod Projects • Engine Rebuilding • Distributor Tuning

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34 Chauncey Ave. Etobicoke, ON

236-8261

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Grand Prize Winner People’s Choice Award Best in Show Truck

Dave Seal, Brampton – 1934 Ford Coupe – Sponsored by Stage West Theater

Jim & Marge Bray, Milton – 1947 Pro Street Chevy Truck - Sponsored by Pink Slips Car Club/ Southern Belles

Second Prize People’s Choice John Bandassara, Brampton – 1969 Chevy Nova – Sponsored by Stage West Theater

Third Prize People’s Choice Best in Show Street Rod Mike Grey, Etobicoke – 1932 Ford Roadster – Sponsored by Hobby Shark Diecast

Best in Show GM Mr. Todd Brown, Waterdown – 1969 Camaro Z28 – 302 – Sponsored by Tailgunner Drag Racing, Diecast & Collectibles

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John McCullogh, - 1939 Sayer & Scovil – Sponsored by Stage West Theater



Attention Holiday Shoppers Warning:

this article will not contain a list of must-have products for automotive enthusiasts. As a reluctant passenger, I know all drivers’ wish lists are not created equal. There are some drivers with rides in full overhaul mode, while others simply need new filters, chrome bits and a ShamWow. And if it were up to me to suggest automotive holiday gifts, all passengers would enjoy heated seats and stereo systems that only played hits from the ‘80s with “everybody” in the title. Dreams can come true, people. Choosing the ideal gift The holiday season does strike fear into the hearts of those who must exchange gifts with vehicular virtuosos. I mean, what do you give a guy who has the schematics of his Mustang GT tattooed backwards on his chest for easy reference? Besides a chest wax, of course. Beware the holiday car purchase Although giving someone a new or vintage vehicle is a truly awesome thing to do, it can lead to unleaded letdown. Unless you know exactly what a driver covets, you run the risk of the recipient feeling embarrassed behind the wheel of a taupe Reliant or being poverty-stricken by a Jaguar XJ12’s numerous trips to the shop. There are sure-fire ways to demonstrate you’ve been listening to all those never-ending monologues about horsepower, suspension and torque. Even those pressed for time can find an appropriate gift without getting their hands dirty. Try one of these gift-identifying techniques. Grab a pen Get him to circle five things he wants in this magazine. Also have him indicate specs and quantities so the guys at PI will know just what he

needs. If an item has been circled several times with stars next to it, you might not need to get him anything else. Consider yourself lucky. Space, the final frontier If the garage looks like a prime location for a Hoarders episode, you may want to give your driver the gift of space-saving organization. It’s a splendid idea for households where the term “parts to spare” has been used in conversation too often. This awesome gift may consist of new shelving units, some sturdy totes or offering to jettison rarely used automotive maintenance and repair items into space. For enough cash, I’m sure there’s a space program that will be more than happy to help you out. Pick another aisle Far be it for me to tell you how to select the ideal gift for that special person in your life, but drivers who love their rides often love the parts and on-the-road-again solutions that play hard to get. After all, that automobile will do anything in its power to keep a guy interested, from intermittent charging system symptoms to brake squeals to flickering interior lights. Remember that car nuts actually enjoy spending time on their cars, including finding that carburetor, HID conversion kit or the specific whatchamacallit that makes it go faster. So you might be best giving a non-automotive item—perhaps a pair of gloves or a Ricardo Montalban bobble head—wrapped up with cold hard cash to spend on parts. Hey, as long as drivers are happy with their gifts, we can go shopping for more of our own.

Enjoy the ride •

About the Author: Bonnie Staring is a comedic triple-threat (writer, performer, coupon user), and she appreciates the road of life a lot more than she might let on. Bonnie has plans to master social media one day, right after she learns how to machine rotors. www.bonniestaring.com

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