1973 Torino - Old Car Truth's

Yesterday I was working on the fuel system in the Torino. I am getting it ready to support the fuel injection system. One of the first items I decided to do was to replace the old fuel tank with a brand new tank. I wanted to to do this in order to make sure that no old debris clogged up my new system. This change would also enable me to install a 27.5 gallon tank from a later year Torino in lieu of the stock 22 gallon tank.

This whole process is going to be part of a video that I am making on installing the Holley Sniper system. So I won't go into this in any great detail right now. I would like to say that by removing the tank after 44 years exposed one of the "Old Car Truth's".

The Truth in this case is that working on these cars leads to other work that is required. So if you are working on your own vehicle you must be prepared to be distracted from the initial goal to take care of an issue that you did not know when you started working on the current task.

With the old tank removed I discovered that there was no undercoating above the tank. It had surface rust, and a little more serious rust. So rather than continuing with the fuel system install I now have to take care of the rust and then paint the area. I could just leave it alone and move on, but I can't. I know its there so now I need to fix it. So that's what I'll do.

The next "Old Car Truth" that was exposed by this fuel system install is that you never have all the parts you need to finish the project immediately. With changing tanks, I need to order a breather for the top of the new tank. between 73 and 74 they made a few changes between the tanks other than the capacity.

Now mind you I'm not complaining, I am just stating fact. I will continue plugging away because I cannot wait to drive the car with fuel injection and I want it done prior to Cruising the Coast in October.

Empty Nest Update: Making good decisions.. is hard sometimes..

I really thought that I would miss my girl terribly while she is off at school. Rather than seeing her everyday, we now are seeing her once a month or so. It isn't too bad. Its not great, but it is manageable.

One of the main reasons I can say that is that she seems to be settling in and continuing to make good decisions. She and her room mate get along, and she is definitely spreading her wings in her new environment.

We raised her to be respectful and to make good decisions. She has learned these lessons well and seems to know right from wrong. The knowledge that she is mature and capable of making the right decisions, even if they are hard, puts my mind at ease.

With my mind at ease regarding her behavior and habits, I can go about my daily routine and not have to worry about what she is doing. I know she is doing whats right for her, and that it will not cause a lot of angst for her mother and I.

I look back to myself at the age. I was already in the Air Force. I was on my own, and I wasn't necessarily always making the correct or wise decisions. I seem to remember getting a half keg with Mark Brumbaugh and about four of us drinking the whole thing. Definitely not mature decision making. Which I think is why I was a little worried. I had my own misbehavior to look back on and luckily she landed away from the old apple tree and then rolled a little further.

So the excitement and joy of this new chapter in her life as well as ours continues, and it seems to be going well.

Toilet Repair - Fill Valve & Flapper replacement

This is a how to video to replace a fill valve and a flapper in a toilet.

This is the link for the kit I bought and used in the video.

Taking our baby to college.

Join Prime Student FREE Two-Day Shipping for College Students



I think the next few days will be slightly rough for my wife and me. We get to participate in the act of our daughter growing up and leaving the nest. She is headed off to college, and as an only child, this will leave a large hole in the fabric of the nest. We get the pleasure of loading all her earthly belongings up, driving for hours, and then trying to squeeze it all into a dorm room.

Everyone keeps telling me that once we become comfortable with the change we will thoroughly enjoy our empty nest. Though this may be true, I really do not see that occurring anytime soon. Not only will our daughter not be there to interact with us on a daily basis, but neither will her friends.

This will be a big change as well, since the kids have been part of our life for the past 10 years. I wish them all the best, and I am rooting for them to do great in school and in life, I just know we will miss them.

We have been extremely fortunate to have a daughter that has always been a pleasure to be around. Her intelligence and maturity has meant that no matter where we go or what we’re doing she fits perfectly into most all situations.

Based on this maturity she has always made some good decisions and been trusting enough of us that decisions she is not comfortable with, she discusses with either my wife or I. Although she will now be “on her own”, I truly hope that this personality trait continues. She will use this emotional intelligence to hopefully make many new friends that will last her a lifetime, while not forgetting the friends the she has now that have helped make her whom she is.

The range of emotions this activity is producing is incredibly wide. We are sad that our baby is going out on her own. Meanwhile, I can only imagine the incredible excitement, and curiosity that my daughter feels about getting to make a run at being “independent”.  She will be facing her own adjustments that while she doesn’t know it will be as big as or bigger than ours. I wish her luck, and want her to know that we are always here for her or any of her friends.

As all of these young adults head out into the world to make their mark, let’s say a prayer for them and their parents as everyone adjusts to this part of the circle of life. There will be success and failure, but that is life and that is what they are about to learn. Hopefully we have prepared all of them to be successful in their coming endeavors

MSD 6AL Install 1973 Ford Torino Part 2

Part 2 of installing the MSD 6AL in my 1973 Gran Torino Sport.

This is the MSD 6AL that I purchased and installed.

MSD 6AL Install 1973 Ford Torino - Part 1

Part 1 of my MSD 6AL install.

This is the MSD 6AL that I purchased and installed.

Labor Day

What is Labor Day? Why do we celebrate it?

Honestly I had to go look it up.

Who would of thought that it is a holiday to celebrate the contributions of the American worker. Brought about by the organized labor movement at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th Century.

Having been in a union and having many members of my family in the United Auto Workers, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the Carpenters and Operators Union, Teamsters, AFL/CIO, I understand the struggle that made this holiday possible.

So thanks for all of those who came before us and made it possible.

Unions gave many folks a much better life. Brought about workplace safety regulations, better pay, shorter work hours, and that list goes on.

But I wonder if the American worker is actually losing ground now. I don't remember the last time that there was a strike that caught my attention. Is it because big business is kinder and gentler and giving up on negotiations more easily? I don't think that is the case, I think that unions have slowly had their bargaining positions eroded over the past 30 years.

If you look at the beginning of this downturn, it was with the Air Traffic Controllers. They went on strike, and the negotiations that they received were, "Go back to work or lose your jobs". They stayed on strike and were all fired. They lost effectiveness and that is why there are only approximately 11% of all workers in Unions.

I don't have a solution, or know if a solution is needed, but I think one is.

If something is not done, wages and benefits will stagnate and decline. All the while, factory's are moved to countries with absolutely no labor laws and folks work for pennies a day.

You cannot legislate morals and proper behavior so at some point there will be another "labor movement" and the American working man will regain some of his glory that is celebrated on Labor Day.

So think about that while your drinking beer and barbecuing on Monday.

God Bless America!!!