Research Help - Classic Cars

[Madame Pandora]

Hello,

We should really have a board where people can post research help they need....lol. But then I guess it would just be called "Harold's Page," so this will do.

Anyway, the next story I'm working on needs some technical details I don't have in my noggin and which really can't be looked up.

Anyone got a really good working knowledge of "heavy metal" classic cars from the 50s, 60s, and 70s? I would like to pick your brain in email if you do ;-)

Patience is a MUST. Sometimes I don’t know what I’m looking for until I ask enough questions.

Thanks to anyone who can help ;-)

MP

 

[Closet Desire]

OMG...

...these are "classics"? But...but...but...it was just yesterday...sigh. Sorry...I owned quite a few of that era, but only one "muscle car"...a piss yellow Plymouth Satellite with the fenders cut off, a 440 Engine with twin Holley carbs, and all the other exciting accessories that made it loud and fast. I'm sure there are plenty of people on here who love these things and still breathe for them. Good luck!

 

[JadedHeart]

Madame Pandora,

I have a good knowledge of classic cars, and I can explain things in "chick terms"! I would be more than happy to help you, just e-mail me.

 

[KillerMuffin]

I know bout muscle cars. Some technically, some less technically (I'm a dodge lover baby). Other option is to go to the library and look for muscle cars. Not heavy metal or classic cars, you want Muscle cars. Like the Oh sooooooooooooo yummy panty wetting Hemi 'Cuda. Oh my. You can email me if ya like.

 

[SweetCherry]

I know bout muscle cars. Some technically, some less technically (I'm a dodge lover baby). Other option is to go to the library and look for muscle cars. Not heavy metal or classic cars, you want Muscle cars. Like the Oh sooooooooooooo yummy panty wetting Hemi 'Cuda. Oh my. You can email me if ya like.

I agree there, KM. Once saw a '69 Hemi Cuda in racing green. I think I had an orgasm then and there over that car. I stayed around after the car show until it left, just to hear it start and take off. I still have wet dreams over that car.

*eyes glazing, drooling*

 

[Guest]

MOPAR!

 

[KillerMuffin]

CAR GLOSSARY in Laywoman's terms!

A powertrain refers to the stuff that makes the car go, from the engine to the axles. The drive train is the same thing, without the engine. Cool huh?

An engine really cool looking. It has pistons, which move up in down in something called a "stroke" isn't that the most delicious thing? Each piston does 4 strokes. All the way up, then all the way down, creating a vaccuum that draws the vaporized fuel from the intake valve (i think that's right please correct if wrong!), then up to compress the vaporized fuel (gasoline), and then BOOM, the spark plug lights that gas and the resulting explosiong SHOVES the piston down. The piston is hooked to rods, which is hooked to a camshaft. The pistons explode in order, so that the turning of the camshaft will make the other pistons that aren't exploding, move up and down, as well as turn the stuff in the transmission and the drive shaft which turns the axles, which turns the wheels, which makes the car move forward (or backward!)

A V8 engine has two pistons doing the exploding at the same time, making it more powerful than a V6, or a 4 cylinder. 8 pistons, 6 pistons, 4 pistons.

Now, the cubic inch displacement also affects the size of the pistons. The bigger the piston, the more powerful the explosion, the more torque produced when the camshaft spins. Got that? So a 318 will produce less boom per bang than a 429. However, like Indy pointed out, the weight of the engine makes a difference too. The MOPAR 440 only weighs 70 pounds more than the MOPAR 400, where the Ford 460 weighs about 80 pounds more than the MOPAR 440. So obviously the 440 has less stuff to move than the Ford 460, it's going to be slightly more effective. I'm not too sure why. I'm quoting half remembered crap my brother in law used to bellow at me. Feel free to correct car guys.

 

[Madame Pandora]

You guys are SO cool!!

Thank you for all the help. I am a GOOD distance from a library, and some of the decissions I had to make were subjective. I've got enough to start with (already have), although I will doubtless be pestering you all for details along the way.

Instead of cluttering up emails with thanks....I just wanted to post it here. I appreciate it greatly, gang.

I decided on the hemi cuda convertible, BTW ;-)

Thanks

{{{{{{{{{{{ }}}}}}}}}}}

 

[Mr_Neb]

Awww, too bad. I'd suggest another car but at least you didn't pick a Mustang. Sure, they were very popular cars but a "muscle" car? nope.

I'd suggest these cars if you are really interested.

1969 GTO
1970 Chevelle
1969 Dodge Charger
1971 Hemi Barracuda
1968-1971 Camaro

Frankly, I'm partial to the Chevelle. Why? 'cuz I have a 1969 Chevelle. (I have owned two.) My son has a '70 SS Chevelle.

I'd be more than happy to provide motorhead jargon if you need some atmosphere for your story. I can email you some pictures (including the '71 'Cuda) if you need some inspiration.) You can email me at:

mr_neb@hotmail.com

Good luck with the story.


[Edited by Mr_Neb on 01-23-2001 at 02:14 PM]

 

[KillerMuffin]

Hemi 'Cudas rock!

Don't listen to the chevyluvver sweets, he's a lil off his bowtie. (just kidding Mr. Neb)

A carbuerator!!! They are measured by bbl. These means barrel. This is the thingy that turns the gasoline from the tank into a more combustable vapor. Carbs sit on the top of the engine, usually right beneath the big round thingy where the air filter is. They suck the gas from the tank, mix it with air, and shoot it through the intake valve. I think it's the intake valve. It's not a manifold is it? Then it gets injected into the combustion chamber. That's where the spark plugs ignite the gas vapor and make things go BOOM in the engine (see earlier post). Carbuerator barrels come in pairs. Small engines have 2 bbl. The average V6 or V8 ran 4 bbl. Muscle cars can run 6 bbl. These are also known as 6 packs. Hence the expression 429 Hemi with a 6 pack.

Side note, in the mid 80s the carb was replaced with fuel injection, so if you pop the hood of your car, the top of your engine will look totally different from the engine inside of a 70 Hemi Cuda.

 

[Mr_Neb]

Watch out for those MOPAR babes!

Just a couple of minor points. A V8 isn't more powerful because it fires two cylinders at once. (It doesn't.) It is just another configuration to get more displacement so that each cylinder doesn't have to be so big.

Another point...

The carb sits on top of the manifold, the design of which is very critical since it determines quality of the air/fuel distribution. There are two valves per cylinder, one to let air & fuel in (intake valve) and one to let the exhaust gases out (exhaust valve). One way to get more air into an engine is with a supercharger, lovingly called a "blower" and then there is of course the tuned exhaust pipes called "headers".

Just remember, "There is no replacement for displacement."

Playfully yours,

Mr. Neb

[Edited by Mr_Neb on 01-23-2001 at 02:29 PM]

 

[GuyJD]

Hello,

We should really have a board where people can post research help they need....lol. But then I guess it would just be called "Harold's Page," so this will do.

Anyway, the next story I'm working on needs some technical details I don't have in my noggin and which really can't be looked up.

Anyone got a really good working knowledge of "heavy metal" classic cars from the 50s, 60s, and 70s? I would like to pick your brain in email if you do ;-)

Patience is a MUST. Sometimes I don’t know what I’m looking for until I ask enough questions.

Thanks to anyone who can help ;-)
Try http://www.myclassiccar.com.

MP

 

[KillerMuffin]

You go Mr. Neb!!!

I know enough about everything to be dangerous, but not enough to be informed.

 

[Mr_Breeze]

Classic Cars

Well Ms. Muffin,
I owned a 1969 Chevy Original Z-28 Factory Show car for about 2 years. If ya need info on that I'll be glad to help.

Let me know.
Tie me to your roll bar.......Baby......LMFAO.......

Mr_Breeze,
codyscamp@hotmail.com