JOE GONZALES

THE STEEL HORSE - 2017 MUSTANG GT

My passion for Muscle cars started when I was in high school. I always loved muscle cars. When I was in high school I drove a 1969 Pontiac GTO, then after high school I had a Camero Z- 28. It wasn’t until I was in my 30s, working full-time, I had a coworker that had a 2003 VWhen the 2005 model came out with the retro style, I wanted one so bad, but at that time, it was not practical to have one.

My mom and dad lived next to a Ford dealership, and every time a Mustang would be on the lot that had the colors that I wanted, which were the blue with white stripes, my dad would take a picture of it and tell me to come and get it. I still could not afford one at that time because I was saving for my daughter’s college education. Later in my older years, after my daughter finished undergrad and law school, my wife spotted a used Mustang on the internet for sale at a Toyo- ta dealership that had the exact color that I love. She talked me into buying it. My coworker friend passed away before I bought the car and so did my dad but because of the Covid epidemic he never got a ride in my Mustang. I think of both of them every time I drive my car. I know my coworker friend would have been so jealous of the horsepower in the newer Mustangs. Nothing runs like a Mustang.

Current mods include 20” Foose Legend wheels, MBRP H pipe exhaust, custom 3M vinyl stripes, GT 350 rear spoiler, JLT oil catch can, and custom coil covers and engine cover.

GONZALES

“JUST THE TIP

IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERE!

We’ve finally hit that time of year where winter starts to ease it grasp, and warmer, more favorable conditions are starting to arrive. Several months ago, we had gone over some Tips to get your car ready for winter, but did you know that you should de-winterize your ride? Now that we’re getting ready to hit the road for cruises and trips, here are a few easy steps to pull your car out of winter mode, and get it ready to roll:

Wash that thing – This is probably the most important thing you do coming out of winter, especially those of us in the northern areas of the country. Road salt that is added to road surfaces to melt ice and snow will wreak havoc on your car. The buildup of salt on your cars exterior will slowing leech away the paint, and will cause more vulnerable exposed metal parts to rust prematurely. While most of the time you may take your car to an automatic car wash, this is one time when a good had wash is essential. Wash it well, and focus on the undercarriage, wheel wells, and other crevices where salt and road grim could build up and cause damage.

Check tires and alignment – Driving in the winter months can be very difficult on a car. If your like us and live here in Pennsylvania (Nationally known for having the worst roads in the country), driving through potholes, ruts, and anything else on the road can knock your cars alignment out of whack, damage tires, and even speed up the dry rot of tires due to the amount of road salt. Check air pressure and tires for any cuts or visible missing chunks.

Wiper blades – Wiper blades can take a beating during the winter. Running over frozen, snowy windows for extended periods of time can cause the bladed to start to tear. Check them out and change them proactively if you have any concerns, so they don’t tear completely off when you really need them.

Oil change – Some vehicles allow for different oil weights to be run in a cars engine, where a thinner oil can be run in the winter, and heavier, more standard oil in the summer. If you went with a thinner oil blend over the last 3 or months, now is the time to change it back.