Hot August Nights are here!
Also known as “The Dog Days of Summer”
In either case; we have had some steamy days and ultra-hot car shows!
Hey, at least there’s been very little rain to cancel or ruin our shows
and cruise nights. That’s always a good thing.
I hope everyone has been enjoying this summer and spending time with
their rides. I for one have been so busy; what with work, family, and other
things; that I have had very little time to take my cars out. Pity. Fall will
be here soon, then winter, and I will regret missing out on “car play time”. Ah
well, that’s the way it goes sometimes.
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This month we have our first contest! See the section below!
This is going to be fun and profitable for our readers!
Prizes will be given from Long Island Classic Cars.com as well as from
some of our advertisers!!
Good luck!
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I have received numerous comments over the last two years regarding the articles in these Newsletters. They have unanimously consisted of praise for the writers and features. The comments are all appreciated, please keep sending them in!
Here are some of the latest ones I’d like to share with you.
Regarding Tom Sebastian’s Monza
article: Hey Tom! I had one of those way back when….
I enjoyed your column and agree…the
Corvair Monza was a vastly underappreciated car! I like it though!
Keep up the good and entertaining work!
Ed Phillips
Hey Pete,
Tell Tom the writer we really enjoy his
articles. They always give us a laugh! He’s a great find for your Newsletter!
My wife and I enjoy his stories!
Ken and Regina Wistrich
Nice job with the articles Pete. I have
been enjoying Lou Refano’s “Independent Series”. He has a lot of information
and it is very interesting to learn about the history of some of these great,
but small, car makers.
I hope he continues with the series!
Fred C.
Bayshore, NY
Like those Independent Car Makers
articles!! I have been printing them out to share with my friends.
Keep up the good work.
(anonymous)
Hey fellas,
Just to let you know, I have been using
many of those Tech Tips you write. They have solved many of my car problems and
given me new ideas on how to test things to find the trouble.
Thanks a bunch.
Al Gordali
Pete,
You should be paying your writers!
Especially Rich who writes the Tips column. He’s great.
Does he make house calls!? Too bad I
live in New Jersey!
Tommy DeRango
Thanks to all who wrote in. Yes, I am very fortunate to have these writers! And no, I am not paying them.
(Hope they don’t go out on strike now!)
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Please take
note of our new advertiser:
AMERICAN
DRY STRIPPING INC.
When you want to do your project right the first time, this
is one of the places that you should contact! They have over 20 years of
handling and perfecting all types of challenges in the removal of paint, rust,
and other types of coatings with no harm to your vehicle. They have over 7,500 sqft of space that is
clean and modern. A full staff of professional employees, up to date equipment,
and all the latest techniques ensure you a fantastic job! See their ad in the RESTORATION
section on the main page of our website.
Ask for Walter Jones. Tell them Long Island Classic
Cars.com sent you!
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Long Island Classic Cars.Com’s
Submit your caption along with your name and e-mail address to: newsletter@liclassiccars.com
This
contest is open to everyone! (LI Classic Cars.com paid personnel, regular
column writers, and business advertisers are not eligible.)
Winners
will be notified by e-mail and/or phone.
Please
submit all entries by the 1st of the next month. (ex: for August’s
contest the entries are due by September 1st)
No
substitutions of prizes will be allowed.
In
the event of prize choices, winner will be given the opportunity to select the
one they want.
All
decisions are final and are made by the paid personnel of Long Island Classic
Cars.com
A few
simple rules:
1) Be funny
and creative!
2) Keep it somewhat
clean!
OK – Here
is the first picture for our “Caption Cut-Up Contest”!!
___________________________________________________
More car clubs are listing their events, meetings, cruises, and shows for the upcoming season.
You can check them out in the EVENTS section on the main page of the
website. http://www.liclassiccars.com
If you are in a car club, get your club and your stuff listed ASAP! The sooner it is up on the site and everyone has access to it, the more people will plan on attending your events! Remember to list your rain-dates as well.
They are all featured in the CLUBS section of the main page of the website!
http://liclassiccars.com/cgi-bin/clubs.cgi?
___________________________________________________
“EXTRA EXTRA!
READ ALL ABOUT IT!!”
SEE NEW ITEMS BELOW!
2005 Cruise Night location
updates:
TUESDAYS: McDonald's. Metropolitan Ave. & 69th Road, Forest Hills, NY.
Sponsored by East Coast Car Association/Toys For Tots
TUESDAYS: Audrey Ave. Oyster Bay, NY
Sponsored by Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce
TUESDAYS: Bald Hill Cultural Center. North Ocean Ave. Farmingville, NY
Sponsored by the Farmingville Fire Department
TUESDAYS: Old K-Mart Plaza. Hempstead
Tpk. Levittown, NY
Public gathering.
WEDNESDAYS: Long John Silver's/A&W. Union Blvd, South of Sunrise Hwy. West Islip, NY.
Public gathering
WEDNESDAYS: KFC. William Floyd Pkwy & Montauk Hwy. Shirley, NY
Sponsored by Bow Tie Boulevard Camaro Club
THURSDAYS: Wendy’s. LIE South Service Rd at Exit 62. Holtsville, NY.
Sponsored by The Fabulous 50’s & 60’s Car Club
THURSDAYS: Wendy’s Shopping Center. Montauk Hwy and Locust Ave, Oakdale, NY
Sponsored by Still Cruisin’ Car Club
FRIDAYS: Huntington Shopping Center. (Toys R Us) Route 110. South of Jericho Tpk. Huntington, NY.
Sponsored by Greater NY Region of the A.A.C.A.
FRIDAYS: Bellmore Train Station. Sunrise Highway. Bellmore, NY
Public Gathering
SATURDAYS: *AM Cruise* Steve’s Collision. 618 North Bicycle Path. Port Jefferson Station, NY.
Sponsored by Steve’s Collision.
SATURDAYS: Sonomax Station. 278 Greenpoint Ave. Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY.
Sponsored by East Coast Car Association/Toys for Tots
SATURDAYS: Kohl’s. Corner Grand Blvd and Commack Rd. Deer Park, NY.
Public gathering.
SATURDAYS: King Kullen Shopping Center. William Floyd Pkwy. North of Montauk Hwy. Shirley, NY.
Sponsored by Bow Tie Boulevard Camaro Club
SUNDAYS: *AM Cruise* Ocean Pkwy, Captree Beach Parking Lot through May, then at OBI.
Public gathering.
More Cruise Night updates as they develop in the next Newsletter.
Be sure to check the EVENTS page daily!!
http://liclassiccars.com/cgi-bin/events.cgi?
A little note about the cruise
nights: Tuesday has shaped up to be quite a night out on Long Island! There are
now four cruise locations to choose from!
I am getting some mixed reviews
about Friday Nights at Bellmore Train Station.
Some say its good again, others
say it isn’t so hot. Well, which is it folks? Can I get some more feedback on
this?
___________________________________________________
GUEST WRITER(S)
COLUMN(S)
Lou Refano continues
his well received series on independent auto makers. This time its one of the
most famous. TUCKER!
This man was a genius, he
was inspired and had revolutionary design visions that are still amazing today!
If it wasn’t for the government purposely trying to ….well, I’ll let Lou tell
the story.
“Rich’s Tech Tips” is another great column on a problem almost 100% of
car owners have been frustrated with; Vacuum.
Of course, Richie being a
comedic sort of fellow, also has another fittingly funny title to go along with
it!
In this month’s “My Car Story” we have two features!
Pete Bertuccio’s original owner - time capsule Corvette is up first. This guy is a
fanatic beyond fanatics. This car looks like it was transported out of the past directly from the dealer showroom
into today. It is an unbelievable vehicle. Better yet…it is now for sale!! Hurry up! Whoever gets this car will
assuredly have the best original in the entire world. No doubt about it!!!
Next up is Mike
Dunne’s 1933 Franklin. This car is beautiful and certainly is one of the
rarer vehicles you will see!
I saw this baby at a
cruise night in Oyster Bay and knew I had to see it featured! Mike is a nice guy
and enjoys driving this trip-to-the-past as often as he can.
Enjoy…
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Independents' Day, Part 7 of a series...1948 Tucker by Louis Refano
No discussion of American independent automakers could be complete without
mentioning the Tucker automobile.
This was
the brainchild of Preston Tucker, a visionary, a dreamer, a car nut, a bit hyper,
but one of the automotive industry's best independent thinkers of all time.
People crowding car dealers' showrooms in 1947 were yearning for something more
exciting than the offerings of General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, whose
designs seemed old-fashioned and unimaginative. Into this void stepped
Preston Tucker, a brash entrepreneur and master of promotion who insisted that
he had just what Americans wanted–"The Car of Tomorrow Today." That
was his goal; to not just produce his own car, but produce a car that was
really a breakthrough.
The car was originally named the Tucker Torpedo but was changed to "Tucker
48" to emphasize safety rather than performance. To just rattle off
the specs of the car he created does not do it justice. Alex S. Tremulis
designed a breathtaking, big yet graceful car. It stood sixty inches
high, low for the time. It did 0-60 in 10 seconds, astonishing for
1948. It also had a projected top speed of 125 mph. But this car
was much more than style and speed; it was all about the features. The
Japanese like to brag about headlights that turn with the front wheels, but
Tucker had this 57 years ago!!!...a third central headlight that turned with
the wheels. There were other safety aspects that no one else dared to
envision, such as a windshield that popped out on impact. Tucker had
wanted to use a one-piece windshield but no one could make glass like that back
then; that would be a few years away. He also devised a safety zone for
the front seat passenger...instead of a dashboard on the right side, the car
had a large open padded area below the windshield where a passenger could dive
into in the event of a pending impact. The Tucker also had a collapsible
steering column, also decades ahead of its time, and a padded dash. The
original design had an aluminum air-cooled engine, but this was dropped in
favor of a conventional water-cooled motor.
In mid-1947 a hand-built prototype was introduced to the press and the public
with much fanfare. Tucker was eager and
full of enthusiasm. But as with so many independent business ventures,
money was tight. To raise cash he sold dealer franchises and stock to the
public. He also sold accessories such as luggage, seat covers, and radios
to potential car buyers. He had raised $25 million; he had an energetic
production and design team. But for all the hoopla and enthusiasm he was
not able to put the car into production; some automotive experts are doubtful
that he could have ever accomplished it. Tucker was a man of marketing and
big dreams, but they ran into the brick wall of reality.
Preston Tucker was just not very savvy when it came to business; also, he
appreciated good engineering, but he just wasn't an engineer. His ideas
were ahead of their time, so much so that they looked great on paper but could
not be easily produced in that era. Ed Cole, former
president of GM, said that "Tucker had real hope of being able to make it
work" and there were enough elements there "to make a car out of
it," but John Bond, publisher of Road and Track, said the Tucker was
catastrophic in many ways and called its inventor someone who proved that
"a little knowledge about cars can be dangerous."
By mid-1948, the U.S. government got suspicious. There were rumors about
Tucker being a con man and the whole thing a scheme. Supposedly the other
car companies saw what a threat his advanced car was, and were out to get him,
but this is merely the stuff of conspiracy theories. The SEC charged him
and his associates with fraud, but they were all found not guilty. But
Tucker's reputation was forever tarnished. However, before the plant
closed his team was able to put together 51 hand-built prototypes, of which 47
survive today. If you are fortunate enough to see one of these up close,
take sufficient pause and enjoy that work of art. You won't expect to
find one on a typical Long Island cruise night, but if by some miracle you did,
the cars surrounding it, if they could, would bow in reverence. For this
car was truly the work of an American genius.
Preston Tucker tried one more attempt at a car; in 1956, a sports car called
the Carioca that was to be built in Brazil, but he died before the project was
completed. He was only 53. But this car nut, this backyard
mechanic, embodied the spirit of the American passion for cars and
entrepreneurship. To quote President Ronald Reagan, "He dared to
dream romantic dreams."
Tucker 48 Specifications:
1. Engine: H-6 (horizontally opposed), ohv, 335 ci (4.50 x 3.50 in. bore x
stroke), 7.0:1
compression ratio, 166 bhp, 372 lbs/ft torque.
2. Size: 128" wheelbase, 219" overall length, 60" height,
79" width, 4200 pounds.
3. Performance: 0-60 in 10 seconds, est. top speed 120 mph
4. Original (projected) price: $2450
5. Current value: from about 1/4 million to 1/2 million
Sources: BookRags.com,
The Dream Machine
by Jerry Flint,
Tucker Club of
America,
Stone Mountain
Antique Car and Treasure Museum.
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Vacuum Leaks - They Really Suck !!!
By Rich Fiore
Not too long after
the invention of the automobile did the engineers realize that manifold vacuum
could be a very useful tool. Besides drawing fuel in through the carburetor,
one of the earliest uses they first came up with was to power the windshield
wipers. While vacuum is a wonderful thingy, it does have the
potential for problems ... like leaks and blockages there Charles.
So what exactly is vacuum you ask ? I'm glad you did. To put it simply; suction
at the manifold. Some will say there is no such thing as suction and it
should be referred to as absolute pressure above pure vacuum. Pure vacuum being
zero, ziltch, zip, nada ... get it ? But who cares what you call it as long as
it does the job. At idle, manifold vacuum is high. Manifold vacuum being the
area below the throttle plates while carburetor vacuum is the area that is
even with the throttle plates. Upon acceleration throttle vacuum picks up while
manifold vacuum drops off slightly. Manifold pressure or Manifold
Absolute Pressure is very important more so in today's computer cars. Most
cars are equipped with a MAP sensor which feeds the computer vacuum
information.
Engineers came up with another great use for vacuum. It was to advance the
spark on the distributor. ( Believe it or not this was done manually by
the driver many moons ago ). Other uses are for heating and A/C, Brake
Power Booster, Evaporative Emissions, Automatic Transmission, Cruise Control,
Computer Control, the PCV and EGR valves. I'm sure there is
something else I left out.
So lets look at some experiences. A Mustang had a bad idle but ran
well when the throttle was opened. A vacuum gauge showed about 15” ( a little
low - normal is 18" - 23" ) and bounced around a bit.
Heater function would change on its own. The fix was a vacuum line which ran to
a storage tank in the fender well. Water got under the undercoating and rotted
the top of the tank. With the same car was a delayed upshift on the trans.
The problem was a kinked rubber line which connects the steel line to the
trans. I have also seen the trans modulator diaphragm rupture causing
a vacuum leak along with pulling trans fluid back in the engine. The
telltale sign is the white smoke out the exhaust. EGR valves if stuck open can
also create problems. Another strange source of a vacuum leak is the oil pan
gasket. Think in terms of the PCV system and what it does. Vacuum is used
to draw vapors from the crankcase. If it not a sealed chamber , vacuum
will draw in outside air from the gasket area creating a leak. While we are on
the PCV system, keep in mind that if a PCV tube should collapse, crankcase
pressures could create an oil leak.
So lets move
on to troubleshooting.
I firmly believe it is always easiest to
perform a visual inspection prior to touching anything when the vacuum system
is suspect. Inspect all lines particularly those below the throttle plates
- especially if there is a rough idle or slight hesitation. Look for
disconnected, broken or chaffed lines. If nothing looks obvious you can
then try to spray some carb cleaner on the intake manifold .... particularly
its gasket area along with the base of the carb. Loose bolts at these
areas can create leaks. I once had a carb base that refused to seal
after I rebuilt it even with a new base gasket. The problem was caused by
severe warpage after removal. Give the carb a wiggle to check for
loose hardware. If the problem still exists you can start removing lines
one at a time and look for a change in the idle or the vacuum gauge. If idle
speed or vacuum goes up on the gauge, you have found your leak. That would
include the brake booster, PCV, trans line ( if equipped ), and choke pull
off. Again anything below the throttle plates. The distributor vacuum advance
can be a source of leakage upon acceleration along with a lack of advance.
Overall, vacuum systems are not all that extensive unless you are dealing with
the " newer " cars. Even so you do not really have to
understand how every component works. Rubber or plastic tubes have not really
changed. Remember to perform your visuals first and check everything next while
the engine is running for lines that could collapse. Include PCV and EGR if so
equipped. Always check the vacuum system first when dealing with idle and
driveability problems. It’s easier to replace a vacuum tube than a rear oil
seal.
Talk
about a sucky job!
Keep
Cruisin.
Quick and
Dirty : When was the
last time you checked those diaphragms on the distributor, choke pull off, air
cleaner snorkel and transmission along with inspected all lines for age ?
(Rich, maybe we should start charging for your advice!) Pete
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Pete Bertuccio:
1980 Chevrolet Corvette
(With
ghost writer L. Onafer)
I purchased this brand-new 1980 Corvette on
September 19, 1980. I had bought myself quite a special 19th birthday
present! 
Pete made quite
a name for himself around school with his previous car, a gold '78 Pontiac
Trans Am with the "screaming eagle" decals. Remember, this was
the time of Smokey and the Bandit, and just about every high schooler with a
driver's license who had the bucks and wanted to be cool, had a Trans Am, a
Firebird Formula, or at least a Camaro. But stepping up to a full-blown
'Vette? Now that was the big leagues. And on his 19th
birthday, Pete had arrived.
The Frost Beige exterior he chose simply because, as he said, he "always
liked it". You have to admit it's not the typical flashy Vette color
like a Cinnamon Metallic or Candyapple Blue...no, this one is a bit subdued,
but it works extremely well. And of the 40,614 sold that year, 5,714 were
ordered with this color. Unlike the gold Trans Am, its looks don't need
to scream...the potent L48, 350-cubic-inch V-8 engine does the talking.
Now Pete had a plan...he knew he had something very special here, so from Day
One he introduced the car to a garage and a soft blanket, and it never saw rain
nor snow in 25 years and 26,000 miles. That's right, we're talking
showroom condition here, right down to the original tires and wiper
blades! And speaking of those tires, not a single crack or scrape...great
testimonial for the long-term wonders of Armor-All and ultra-careful driving!
A couple of small modifications were
made to help personalize the vehicle...pinstriping and initials on the doors,
mirror finish appliqué on the console, black rear window louvers. An interesting
touch are the quad red taillights...the inner lights, as most Vette owners
know, are supposed to be backup light/reflector combos, but Pete figured, who
needs backup lights? Reminds me of that movie where the Italian race car
driver rips out his rearview mirror and says, "What'sa behind-a me is-a
not important!" * Also, Pete's taillights are
half-moon shaped rather than the flat ones provided by the factory.
I have had the good fortune of riding in this car in one of the rare times it's
been taken out on the road in 25 years...all I can tell you is, this car is
designed to be a race car, as 100 mph on the LIE feels like you're just
cruising and exit ramps at 70 give no lean at all...the car rides heavy and
flat as a pancake. There is nothing like that kind of reassurance when
you're driving at high speed, and this car is born to stretch its legs and do
so in singularly special American comfort.
1980 Corvette – Factory Highlights:
* New front/rear spoilers that help high speed aerodynamics
* Production: 40,614
* Weight dropped by 250lbs thru greater use of plastic &
aluminum
* A smaller 305cu.in. engine was used in California Corvettes
(180hp)
* Std. 350 engine rated 190hp, optional 230hp available
* The Federal government mandated an
85mph speedometer!
Engine Specs (L48): Dimensions:
OHV V-8 Wheelbase:
98.0 in.
Bore * Stroke (in.) 4 x 3.48 Length
(Overall) 185.3 in.
Displacement (ci.) 350 Width
(Overall) 69.0 in.
Compression Ratio 8.5:1 Height
(Overall) 48.0 in.
HP @ rpm 185 @ 4000 Track
F/R 58.7 in./59.5 in.
Torque @ rpm 270 @ 2400 Curb
Weight 3495 lbs.
FI/Carb 4 Barrel Drag
Coefficient 0.443 cd
Transmission - 4 Speed, Turbo Hydra-Matic Standard
Tires P225/70R15
( * That quote is
from “Gumball Rallye” said by Franco, who was played by the late Raul Julia. ) Pete
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Mike
Dunne: 1933 Franklin Olympic Coupe Convertible
This car is originally from Louisiana.
I have owned it now for over ten years, and my friend was the previous owner
for almost twenty years! He bought it and brought it up from down south. 
The car’s engine is a straight six that is air cooled. It runs very well and overheating is not a problem. It runs at 340 degrees! These cars had aircraft engines in them! Yes that is right. Franklin was actually an aircraft engine manufacturer. The engine utilizes an aluminum crankcase, steel block, aluminum heads, and a cast iron rocker box. This is the original engine to the car. Unlike many high performance cars of later decades, rarely did an engine ever go, or get changed out. The car has a manual transmission with three forward speeds and one reverse. The transmission has been rebuilt.
Other work I have done to the car includes: new brake system, wiring, tires, leather interior, and a new top. The body was redone before my friend purchased it, so the paint is over 30 years old!
All systems work on the car and it runs very well. It has an electric starter and hydraulic brakes which was very unusual in its day. The car has factory steel spoke 17” rims and air tube tires.
Franklins were made in Syracuse, New York from 1903 to 1934. They were a high end car and suffered from the economies of the time to due the Great Depression of the 20’s and 30’s. I am not sure how many were made, but they are indeed rare.
I drive the car on occasion and enjoy it very much. At this point I guess it is worth upwards of $40,000.
(Very nice and rare car Mike!
Thanks for sharing it with us.) Pete
_____________________________________________
Here
is where you can access previous editions of the Long Island Classic Cars
Online Newsletter.
October 2003 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Oct03.html
November
2003 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Nov03.html
December 2003 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Dec03.html
January 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jan04.html
February 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Feb04.html
March 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Mar04.html
April 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Apr04.html
May 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/May04.html
June 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jun04.html
July 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jul04.html
August 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Aug04.html
September 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Sep04.html
October
2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Oct04.html
November 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Nov04.html
January 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jan05.html
February 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Feb05.html
March 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Mar05.html
April 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Apr05.html
May 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/May05.html
June 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jun05.html
July 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jul05.html
You
can also access the previous Newsletters through a link on the main page of the
website.
___________________________________________________
There you have it folks.
I
hope you enjoyed this month’s edition. All the writers did another great job!
Many
thanks to them!
Let’s
see who comes up with the best caption for the “Caption
Cut-Up Contest” !
Remember,
the winner gets a prize as well as seeing their comment posted in next months
Newsletter!
Submit
your caption along with your name and e-mail address to: newsletter@liclassiccars.com
Pete Giordano
Long Island Classic Cars.com