Thread: Greetings from Minnesota

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HemiTCoupe;

I'm in Arden Hills.

I tried to go to North St Paul with my Dad in his '51 F1, but we didn't get there until 5:30 and couldn't find a place to park. I hear that even though the show doesn't technically start until 5:00, you need to be there by 3:30 or 4:00 to get a decent parking place. Some of my customers have commented that the show is always the same - same cars parked in the same places - week after week. Maybe we'll try again someday when we can knock-off early.

As far as other projects that might interest me - here's the deal. I've seen and driven a lot of hot rods. I get to drive crazy nasty street rods regularly at work, so I get my speed fix there, I don't need a gasser of my own. I take a vacation usually twice a year, and what I do is drive to the west coast and back (usually about 4500-5000 miles). What I want to build is a car that is extremely reliable, and fairly fuel efficient. Something I can drive through the mountains and the desert without any worries. Something I can drive through heavy rain and light snow with confidence. No extra wide tires or crappy streetrod windshield wipers. When I was just out of high school I had a 1990 Mustang LX 5.0 that got over 30 MPG at 70 MPH. I want to build a hot rod that can equal that. So it needs to be sort of small, yet have enough head and elbow room to drive comfortably for 14-16 hours a day. And as long as I'm dreaming, I want something unique and unusual, not a Mustang, Falcon, or a Chevy II. In fact I can rule out most GM's because their roofs are too low. I'm 6'3" 250# so this also rules out t-buckets and early '30s cars. I like the idea of a Henry J, or a Mid sized Rambler or Studebaker. I'm thinking EFI 289-302 and 5-6 speed manual.
Speaking of Ramblers, I'm becoming one. If anyone has an idea what other cars might meet my needs, I'd like to hear them.

Joe G

P.S. I hope this post works, the last three did not

Joe, welcome to CHR! Has Spring thaw started in Minnesota yet?? I have friends in the Minneapolis/St Paul area and I think they are still in a freeze. Sounds like you and your dad have a good little thing going. Lots of interesting projects passing through. Actually it is good to hear from a professional on certain aspects of rod building so chime in anytime you feel like it.

N St Paul is a fun time, they block the street except to Hot/Street Rods. The wife and I walk it and eat our dinner from the food stands each friday. We have also judged the car show on Saturday, the Crazy Days/car show, that starts the friday nights. There is more cars all the time. A different car club gets the main street corner to display their cars/trucks.

We have a '87 Mustang GT 5.0 convert. I changed the nose, hood, cowl cover, trunk lid/spoiler, rear cover, smoked head/fog lights. The wife made me remove the roll bar. The motor is stock, only the exhaust is changed. I had it painted "Arrival Blue", a GMC truck color. A new top is next. It's has 225x55x15's & 295x50x15's on wires.
I wish I got 30mpg, I get 20 at best, as low as 15mpg, depending on the gas they give us and how cold it is out. I have to change the rear end gears, their 273's. 70mph at 1400rpm's.


Pat