real61ss

Wayne, I think you are correct it was about 1:30 last year at the scooters. That's fine with me, that should give those who may be judging time to get finished up (I guess)

Wayne, Last year, we all met at a specified time over by the motor scooters for a picture, are we trying to do that anywhere this year?

"I'm still having fun with this forum... are you?!" To answer your question, Peter, YES I AM!!!!! I visit it every day, don't always comment, cause , most of the time, I don't have a comment but I still visit, read, sometimes comment but always enjoy. Thank you very much for the time and effort that you put into it.

For any of you who like the W motors, this is the place to find the answers to your questions. A small but very knowledgeable and freindly group

Thanks, I thought somebody would know. "Since AACA doesn't check color codes on ID tags does any of this really matter? A factory white car painted red is fine with AACA, so why would wheel color matter?" Well, it is true that AACA doesn't concern its self with color codes as long as it was an available color, but if the wheels are supposed to be painted silver regardless of body color then it does matter because if they are painted any other color, then they would be incorrect. It's no big deal, I had just noticed at Hershey last year that there were two red 57 Chevrolet Bel-Airs in the same class, one had red wheels and one had silver wheels. When you see this, you figure, one of these cars can't be correct but according to the explaination just given, they could both be correct if one was an early car and the other was a late car. Guess I was being too picky

"I referred to my copy of The Hot One. It shows 16 different wheel colors for a '57 Cheby. Only silver cars had silver wheels." That's what I was thinking, but, I have researched and restored a 58 Chevrolet and those cars had their wheels painted body color EXCEPT for the Impala series. The 1958 Impala wheels were all painted argent silver regardless of body color. This is where the confusion started because 57 and 58 Chevrolets are in the same AACA class and some 57 owners claim that this practice started with the 57 Bel-Airs at SOME of the Chevrolet plants. We know that the cheaper body styles all had the wheels painted body color, the question only concerns the Bel-Air series. I didn't mean to get this thread off topic, but I do think this is a worthwhile discussion. Thanks for the response. What I'm trying to figure out is, is this true and if so, does anyone have information to document this and which plants used the silver wheels, which plants used the body color wheels. Somebody knows the answer cause 57 Chevrolet people are about as detail orinated as Corvette people are!!!

"In the case of tri-5 Chevies, just as with Model A Fords, so much research has been done, so many authoritative books and magazine articles have been written, so many original factory documents have been reprinted over time, there really isn't any excuse for an inaccurate restoration or incorrect accessories or options installed." Well.......I agree with the above but, I have a question that I'd like for someone to answer. I don't own a Tri-Five Chevrolet but I've noticed that some 57 Bel-Air's have their wheels painted body color while others have them painted argent silver. I've asked 57 owners about this and have heard all kinds of storys about why they have their's painted as they are but no one has ever been able to pin point factory documentation. Anybody know whats really correct?

Brian, I don't know if you have the Pontiac GTO Restoration Guide but if so, look on page 404. It says that the washer jars were opaque white in 64 and 65. According to this book, only the 66 came with either black or white jars. I'm sure that AACA would accept the book as documention.

Brian, I don't know about a 64 but I restored a 65 GTO a few years ago and it got a Jr at the National meet in Carlisle than a Sr. at Hershey in 2003 with a black washer bottle. The original one was black (or at least it sure looked original) so I replaced it with another black one. No one in AACA questioned it. The big question (in my mind)concerning my car was the color of the wheels, the car originally came with the full wire wheel covers and the original wheels were painted low gloss black. I changed to the little "dog dish" caps and some said the wheels should still be black, others said they should be body color which was Ivory. I first painted them black then changed them to ivory. It was never questioned at the AACA National Meets. I really think black was correct but they just didn't look right black. Good luck with it which ever one you choose. Tommy

Ronbarn, Thanks for the very informative post. Ron Green, I probably should not have brought up the National Award thing, I'm just a believer that I should never lose any point for something that I know is incorrect and have a chance to correct. You can bet that if you know something is wrong, somebody else will also. Most of the AACA classes are very competitive and you can't afford to lose any unnecessary points. I believe Steve got my point and for that I'm glad.

Earl, Yes, they did get you, I had all new brakes (drums, magnets, shoes, everything)put on my trailer last summer before we went to Buffalo. A shop here in Chester did it for me and if I remember correctly, the bill was a little over $700.00 and that included one Goodyear Radial. Tommy

"So far I can find NOBODY who will check my axles, much less say they can repair a bent axle or align them." Earl, Next time you're in Va., call Thurston Springs in Richmond (804 232-8981). My trailer has straight axles but they have removed them, straightened and reinstalled them. I take the trailer over to them every couple of years and just let'm go over the brakes and wheel alignment etc. Tommy

Steve, I don't think you'll regret doing this. I think Shafer's makes about the best there is, they also have the correct hangers. I'd check with Late Great Chevys @ 1-800-683-1961, they are a dealer for Shafer. Good luck and I look forward to meeting you and seeing the car.

"Depending on the car i gotta believe the AACAs judging on one knee style your gonna have a tough time checkin out the muffler and the clamps" Not on a 58 to 64 Chevrolet, these are the "X" frame cars, the mufflers are on the outside of the frame, first thing you see when you look under the car. Steve, I'm pretty sure I know you from another forum and I've seen pictures of the car, very, very nice car. This is just my thoughts, I think I've sent you my thoughts on AACA showing before, but here goes again. If I were you, I'd get it right before I brought it to a AACA show. The car is just too nice to give up any unnecessary points. You gotta look at the big picture, in my years of showing cars both in AACA and other club events, there is no higher honor than getting to go to Philly to receive a National Award. If your car is in that catagory, not saying it is but if it is, you could blow it by having something so simple as 2 incorrect mufflers. Look at it this way, most likely, you can get your Jr. award like it is, maybe even the Sr., the few points that you'll loose for the mufflers might cause you to not receive them but probably not if everything else is correct. But, at the end of the year you might get one of those coveted letters from the National Awards guys and then those points that you lost will be devastating!!! Just remember, AACA wants to see the car presented as it arrived at the dealership from the factory, not as it left the dealership. There are some things that are hard to find or correct, exhaust isn't one of them. You can have a really nice car without it being original but it's not likely to excel in AACA. This is something you have to decide, good luck and I hope to see you at a AACA show somewhere. Never go to a AACA show thinking; I hope I can come with-in 10 points of the others, shoot high man, go thinking; "wonder how many of them other cats can come with-in 10 points of me!!!!!" Not really but it's a good thought!!!!! :grin Just my thoughts Tommy "real61ss"

Steve wrote "Naturally, I will be there. I'd sure like to take your 409 back home with me! I just thought I'd save you the hassle!" How 'bout coming and getting it, clean it up and bring it back to me at Roanoke!!!! We got our Sr. at Hershey last year and we've been driving it and having a ball, now it's time to pay the price for those miles. Tommy

My wife and I will be there, class 36b, 63 Chevrolet Impala SS409 Tommy

I plan to attend also, I have a 63 Chevrolet entered in the Hornet's Net AACA show on Saturday. Let's hope for good weather. Tommy

posted by Matt "It would suck if I joined and people in the AACA ignored the car and me." Matt, AACA even has a class for your car, 36e. Join us, bring your car to Greensburg and Hershey, I'll guarantee you it won't get ignored. Tommy

There are two different companies that make these battery toppers. I have one from each company. Here's the link to the other company.........Tommy www.batterytoppers.com

I didn't go but try looking at this site. Tommy http://wolfepics.smugmug.com/gallery/431801

Wayne, Wayne, Wayne ..... You left out the most famous of all Chevrolet motors, my beloved 348 and 409's!!!!! Have fun in Philly, I'm not going to make it this year. Tommy

Terry, Where I grew up, a liter was something a hog had Tommy

Hemiragtop, Good luck on getting the 62 409. That must be an Anniversary Gold car. They had 2 golds in '62, the other was called Autumn Gold but it wasn't available with gold interior. According to all of the information I have, only the Anniversary Gold had the gold interior and that's the only interior that was available with that color. Should be a 927 paint code. I'm sure you're well aware but the 62 409 with 2x4's had 409 hp. That would be a good one to have.

The carburetors are great!!!!!! I wondered if that was you. Jeff, the last carb you did for me was for the 61 409 motor, it's ready to go on the dyno anyday now, just waiting it's turn. Thanks for all the great work!!! Tommy

OK, somebody's gotta like something other than a Mopar so I'll add my two cents. My 1st choice for this year range is a 1963 Chevrolet Impala, dualquad, 4 speed, posi-traction 409. I had one in 63 and I've got one now, I drive it and still enjoy it. My second choice would be the 66 Nova, L-79. I bought a new one, kinda wish I still had it. But, perhaps I'm a little older than you guys, cause my real favorite muscle car memories go back to 1961. The 61 Ford Starliner 390/375hp, the 61 Chevrolet 409/360hp and the 61 Pontiac Ventura 389/348hp are my real favorites. My dream car collection would include the 3 cars listed above. I've got the 61 409 Chevrolet, still looking for the Ford and the Pontiac. The 61 409 Chevrolet was by far the rarest of the 3 in terms of numbers produced, I just got lucky when I found the one I have, wish I could get lucky on the Ford and Pontiac.