Record snowfall….frigid temps….hurricane force winds… I’m tired of it!! And its only mid-February! What did that groundhog have to say this time around? Who knows!! All I know is that I am looking forward to the Spring temps big time!!

We had a taste a few days ago of 60+ degrees after months of teens, twenties, and thirties….then the next day – 24 degrees with wind chills in the single digits!!! CRAP! Then yesterday – 6 inches of snow!

On the 60 degree day I got home from work around 5PM and even though darkness was encroaching, I dragged out the hose, turned on the water and prayed the line wasn’t still frozen or split – it wasn’t, and I washed my 300C. It was NICE. Felt the warm air currents circulating around as the night fell. Finished around 7PM and the car looked and felt better than it had in months!

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It’s usually right about this time – mid February, that all of us car folks in the Northeast have had it with winter and are dreaming of the springtime so we can get our vehicles out and on the road again. Put winter behind us and start cruising again. You see, we kind of get in a funk and forget about things from the end of November (Thanksgiving time) through about now… other things going on, holidays, etc. THEN, in January – the first thing to shake us back into thinking about cars… the Barrett-Jackson auction on TV. We watch that and think…. “Oh yeah… I DO have a great interest in these beauties, what was I not thinking these past few months!”

Then, February brings the “President’s Car Club Council Meeting” – and for those of us that attend it – its great!! We see all the old and new friends that we haven’t seen since the Fall season… reminisce… BS a bit….talk cars… then have a great meeting and we all get really juiced-up for the upcoming season! In addition… the Daytona 500 is on TV along with some other auto events.

That starts the impatience-factor kicking into a higher gear as we see others around the country having a great time with cars!

Sadly, we know that we still have two months to go before our time comes, the road salt has been washed away by Spring rains and we can take the cars out. Finally… to get us going even more…..the Long Island Classic Cars.com Newsletter for February goes to “print” and we all get psyched!

Enjoy…………….

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1 Editor’s Introduction

2 Automotive Picture Caption Contest

3 Cruise Night Information

4 Guest Writers’ Columns

Dennis Quitoni

Tom Sebastian

Rich’s Tech Tips

5 My Car Story

6 The Archive

7 Editor’s Closing

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Long Island Classic Cars’

AUTOMOTIVE PICTURE CAPTION CONTEST

Submit your entry 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 20th of the next month. (Ex: for August’s contest the entries are due by September 20th)

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

Winners must claim their prizes within 30 days of contest end or forfeit the prize to the runner up.

If there are multiple correct entries on puzzle, matching, fill-in, or Q&A contests - winner will be randomly selected from all correct entries.

A few simple rules:

1) Be funny and creative!

2) Keep it somewhat clean!

Here is this month’s picture…

Go to it! Send in your funniest creative captions by 3/20/11 and win the prize!

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“EXTRA EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!!”

The Cruise Nights are going to start in April. I will be posting the listings and updates starting in March.

If anybody knows of any changes or new places – enlighten us and we will pass it on.

Winter Cruise locations:

SUNDAYS: *AM Cruise* Ocean Pkwy, Captree Beach Parking Lot through May, then at OBI. Babylon, NY

Public Gathering

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Guest Writers’ Columns

We welcome the return of a writer who has vast knowledge of cars and the hobby. Dennis Quitoni has contributed before and we always enjoy his insights and musings. We hope to have him several times this year! Dennis goes waaay back (sorry Dennis) to the hey-dey of drag racing on Long Island. He is a builder, modifier, racer, restorer, hobbyist, and much more. This time ‘round; he gives all of us something to think about carefully before we build or buy that next engine!

Need some good fun? Well then Tom Sebastian’s article is just the thing for you! Too stressed about your classic’s investment value? Worried about high-end, rare pieces you can’t even drive? Tom’s got a great idea (revelation even) about a new way to go about enjoying old cars!

Rich’s Tech Tips finishes up the two-part lesson on batteries. This oughta gjve you all the info you need to figure things out.

So next time yours gets cranky, review Rich’s tips and get things started easily! (Enough puns there for ya?) We really all should be paying the man for all this info and help!! But hey- that’s what a Tech Tips column is for! Thanks Richie!!

In the My Car Story section we feature a custom, kick-butt Camaro from a fella in the Bronx. Johnny Sepulveda did this car up nice and we are happy to present it here for your reading delight! Check out his story and the car’s history. Johnny is also the President of an old but new car club here on the site that we feature later on in this Newsletter. Check it out!

Enjoy!

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A Great Motor or a Crate Motor!?

By Dennis Quitoni

I have a problem and it concerns the trend in resent years of Hot-Rodders turning to the buying of create motors as opposed to going to one of our very fine Long Island custom engine builders. We have many qualified engine builders; local, knowledgeable, reputable, and experienced shops.

They can, and almost all the time do, build a better motor than the crate motor factories. Truth is, I know that it’s hard to knock the crate motor deal. Mostly it’s right there on the shelf, the price seems good and at least its lower than what the guy down the street paid for his Long Island built motor. The warranty is better, and “Well it must be good, it was built by a large company’

I’m going to make a case here for those of us on the Island that design, modify, and build custom fitted performance motors. But first I must get up on my soapbox and let you know what I can about the crate motor industry. Firstly, almost all the time they are not built here in the USA, and today with what has become of our economy, that my friends is something to think about. The parts, the labor, the profits are going to companies outside our beloved land. Second point: Most of the parts used are not made in the USA. You may not know this, but aluminum, steel, and even iron that is produced in Mexico, China, India, Taiwan, and other countries are not the same. The standards are different, and the raw materials are different. The interpretation of what’s on a blue print is different from our language to theirs as well.

I know! I’ve been deeply involved with a manufacturer here that was buying both raw and finished products abroad and had one heck of a time controlling the quality as well as the specifications of his product! Third point: I’ve been on many dyno pulls and have had many discussions with dyno guys and, guess what! The horsepower and torque numbers that are being shown in the ads almost never happen. Let me say that again, crate motor advertised power numbers almost never ring true on the dyno. I just ran a 502c.i. Big-Block, brand new out of the crate. This motor was supposed to make one horsepower per cubic inch, and it should. [A custom built motor for the street should make one H.P. per cubic inch to 1.2 H.P. per cubic inch.] Well it labored to make 452 H.P. and 526 FT. LBs. of torque! We tried to run it to 6,200 RPM. The motor would not rev over 5,800RPM and the power fell off at ,100 RPM. The owner of the motor took the dyno sheet back to the dealer. Guess what they said? They were not responsible for the advertised information and blamed the dyno. Surprise, surprise! Now I’m not going to sit here and tell you that a crate motor won’t run good in your street machine, most do. But many need to be inspected before they are installed into your pride and joy. Loose rockers, out of balance rotating assemblies, lifter noise, and who knows what inside, account for a good percent of the crate motor problems according to engine builders I’ve called on this subject. Some have told me that they found loose head bolts, piston knock due to out of round cylinders, and even dirt in the oil pan!

But here’s my angle: Local engine builders may not always be able to price match the crate motor, but I can tell you this, we are not only trying to be competitive with price, but every engine builder knows that he is competing with the other engine builders on the Island for making horsepower. Allow me to explain what’s happening here. The engine builder that you can go to here on the Island will ask you what you are putting the motor into. He will ask you the weight of the car, the type of transmission, the type of use you are looking for, daily driver-street racer-Friday night cruising- drag racing on occasion-bracket racing at the track, etc. He will design your motor from what he learns from you, as well as what he has done in the past to make your motor, your motor!

Not one that was taken down off the shelf and sold as is.

When you buy a crate motor they don’t custom pick a camshaft or change the compression ratio. Your 350c.i. crate motor going into that 2,300lb. street rod gets the same components as the guy that is installing a crate motor in a full size 3,800lb street machine. Don’t you think that weight, converter size, rear end gear size, tire size, as well as type of use, plays into the blueprint for what is needed to make the power where and when it is needed? Well it does!

One more point. If you have a problem after you install your crate motor and have installed all the add-ons needed to make it a finished product and it needs to be removed, by you, and returned to Mr. Crate motor company, do you think they will work that out with you… Doesn’t happen! Never will. The local engine builder inspects his own work first, assembles it, and most of the time runs it before he sends it out! Because his name is on it. That means everything to our local custom engine builders; I know it does to me.

If the guy down the road tells you that he paid $5,000.00 for his motor that was built by a local custom hi-performance engine builder, and you think that you can get the same quality motor from a factory, stop and compare apples for apples. Is it the same performance intake manifold, same cylinder heads [aluminum or iron], is the ignition included, carburetor sized for your needs? When he paid more for his, did he maybe get more add on’s? Better valve covers, better wires, better oil pan, better quality?

Think twice, you only want to pay once.

Dennis J. Quitoni

Performance Services Inc.

(Thanks for giving everyone something to seriously think about before plunking down their $$ Dennis!) Pete

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Tom Sebastian Hillbilly Heaven -- Blame It On Woody!

(And the Recession, Of Course)

Woody Allen, that is, and his movie, Annie Hall.

When Woody first tries to retrieve his beloved Annie from La La Land, they are sitting outside a café -- and while they talk nonsense, the most remarkable string of mid-70's automobiles go by in the background! Not a one is a classic in the sense that they are immensely desirable or would be up for grabs at next year’s Barrett-Jackson gala but, still, every one of them is a treat for eyes long accustomed to the boring stuff passing outside my window now.[1] They had certain panache... caché, even! It was at that moment that I saw the light. Instead of New, Used and Classic categories… how about just cool looking, well-kept, Older Cars?

Now down the street from me, two families, living side-by-side, seem dedicated to this category. I have passed both their homes for the last 10 years and have always slowed down to see what was in their respective driveways. But, after seeing that movie again, I paid more attention.

I stopped to see one of them who was selling a rare Mercedes Station Wagon, circa early 1980's. I tell you, it was an eye-catcher! (And the guy next door had an impressive version of a forerunner to the SUV binge of the last 15 years: the Jeep Wagoneer -- which followed on the heels of the original, Willys Jeep in 1963 -- and lasted right into the first year of the Clinton Administration. And it was a cool 'woody', no less!)

I asked the lady about her and her husband's penchant for these cars strewn about on the lawn and she just laughed saying: "People around here think our two families are the reincarnation of the Beverly Hillbillies!"

But, no, I thought... this isn't Jed Clampett, Grapes of Wrath tin... these guys are amassing some good looking, automotive memories. Behind her Mercedes was a Saab Turbo 9000 and, behind that, a Saab 900S, the former as stylish a car as any out there today, and the later an iconic vehicle in its own right. (Next door? Just behind the Wagoneer? A great looking Rambler Ambassador circa early 60's and one of the later T-Bird sedans behind that... OK, that last one is a bit red-necky -- but I'd still like one.)

And these cars are all fairly cheap. And that's the heart of it. I want a lot of cars... 5 per driving season in the northeast would be my ideal. And now I can do it -- Social Security income or not. Who cares if I get a return on my investment, if the original investment is small? (I have friends in the 'upmarket' collectible market who would love to try out another vehicle. But they can't get a return on their huge investment, so year after year, the car -- pretty as it may be -- sits in their garage. Unless it's an heirloom with memories attached, life is too short for that.

Anyway, I am now the third person in my town competing for the 'Buddy Ebsen' Award for old cars strewn about on the lawn. Check my latest find: a 1980 Celica ST.

I started to see the clubs for these in California ... and then some beautiful examples in Costa Rica ... But I wasn't completely hooked until that conversation with that Beverly Hillbilly down the road. So, what the heck, right? -- Go find one!

When I first went bidding for this car, and the bids starting coming in from as far away as Guam (!), so I knew we three weren't the only ones on planet earth going for the My Name is Earl Trophy. But how high could he go for an old car? Not high enough! (I am such a serious buyer now for these cheaper cars that I've changed my name to VonRichthofen on Ebay, you know, the old Red Baron? So, if you see me 'coming out of the sun' towards the end of the bidding, forget it. You will not survive. You're wasting your time -- and your wife's money -- by running up the bid.)

For a mere $1,800, I obtained one blast of a driver! Everyone who first saw it knew it was rare, said it was cool -- and then wanted to buy it. And talk about a Low Maintenance date! No computers, no tricky fuel injection, no impossible-to-find electric window motors - no technology at all come to think of it. Hit the gas twice, turn the key, and off with you... Can't ask for more than that! [2]

[1] Ok, I do understand that 35 years from now, people younger than me will be ogling the cars outside my window today as the “great era” for cars! "Look at that Ford Fusion! -- And that Scion!" (That’s just how it is!)

[2] OK, here’s the short list: the first Honda Civic model, ’73 – ’79 -- you know, the car that threw the first body blow to Detroit; any of the older Alfa Romeo sedans; the BMW 633/635 series; the last edition of Buick Riviera along with some Regals and Skylarks; the Chrysler LeBaron Convertible; the Jaguar XJS Coupe… and that’s just the beginning! Even that old doormat to the sportscar world, the MGB, is looking cool! Nice old cars, cheap -- and they’re all over the place!!

(Tom you make a great point.. sometimes there’s more fun in quantity than investment quality!.) Pete

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RICH’S TECH TIPS

By Rich Fiore

AUTOMOTIVE BATTERIES - PART 2

Ok, in Part 1 we talked about battery basics and the different types currently being offered out there. In this part lets look at Ratings, Maintenance, Testing and Buying.

Ratings - CCA is cold Cranking Amps. It's the number of amps a battery can deliver at 0 degrees for 30 seconds and not drop below 7.2 volts. CA is simply Cranking Amps, and is the number of amps measured at 32 degree's. AH is the Amp Hours found on deep cycle batteries ( golf carts/marine ). If rated at 100 amp hours it should deliver 5 amps for 20 hours ( 5 x 20 ) or vice versa. RC is Reserve Capacity. This is the number of minutes that a fully charged battery at 80 degree's will discharge 25 amps until the battery drops below 10.5 volts.

Maintenance - Batteries should be regularly cleaned using a few tablespoons of baking soda to a pint of water. Cable connections must be clean and tight on both ends. Use only mineral-free water ( distilled ) to fill if low. Do not overfill ( usually about 1/4 " over plates ). Too much in warm weather will discharge from the battery and either burn or remove the paint ... trust me I know first-hand.

For corrosion, use a bead of silicone at the very base of the terminal and put those colored felt battery washers over it. You can coat the washer with a little grease or Vaseline. Install terminal to battery and coat lightly with grease or use the proper terminal spray. It’s the gases from the battery that condense on the terminals and cause the corrosion.

Testing - The most popular methods of testing are the measuring of specific gravity , volt meter readings, and load testing. Load testing is the only real way with sealed batteries. Testing the specific gravity is performed using a hydrometer. It simply measures the ratio of water and sulfuric acid. A volt meter is a quick test for measuring battery voltage and alternator/generator charging voltage. There will always be a difference between standing and running voltage. Standing is usually around 12V while running can be around 13.5 - 14 Volts.

When performing a load test you would usually put a load equal to half of the battery’s CCA rating and then observe the voltage. You would also observe the specific gravity when applicable. Remember - all of this varies based on ambient temperature.

Buying - The first and most obvious thing is the physical size.... it must fit and have the correct terminal type. Always buy the highest CCA or reserve as possible. You may want to step up to a Gel Cell or Absorbed Glass Mat ( AGM ) if you live in a harsh environment or the battery is not going to receive regular maintenance. They are very pricey ( $150 - $200 ) but some have a four year free replacement included with their warranty.

Battery Life - Only 30% of batteries today reach the 48 month mark. 80% die due to sulfation build - up. Again this is when sulphur in the electrolyte coats the battery's lead plates. This can happen for many reasons like:

a. Battery sits too long between charges... more so in hot weather.

b. Battery is stored without energy input ( maintainer ).

c. Wrong application (Deep cycling an automobile battery )

d. Not fully charging a battery.

e. Excess heat ( 100+ degrees )

f. Low Electrolyte - Plates exposed to air will sulfate

g. Wrong charging levels

h. Excessively cold temperatures - batteries can freeze below zero.

I. Parasitic drain

So that's basically it with regard to automotive batteries. The bottom line is to buy the correct battery based on your application. Take care of it with occasional cleaning and maintenance and it should take care of you. Got it Sparky ???

Quick and Dirty : When was the last time you pulled the battery for cleaning and inspected and cleaned the battery tray ? A Battery Pad is not a bad idea for collector cars.

(Part Two was chock full of info! Wow – got a lot to remember! Thanks Rich!.) Pete

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My Car Story

Johnny Sepulveda: 1978 Chevrolet Camaro

This is my ride, it’s a 1978 Camaro that I bought from a friend of mine named Dave about three years ago. It changed hands several times since the early 90’s and was a track car. It didn’t have glass or doors panels or many other items. This was a quarter mile car that was not street legal when I first got it. My intention was just to keep it a racecar, but then I decided to turn it into a ProStreet. I did a lot of work ... rebuilt the motor, tranny and the rear end. I added glass and what ever it needed to pass inspection. The car has a 454 block that was done .030 over, a Turbo 400 tranny, and out back it runs a Ford 9 inch with 5:14 gears and a spool. I also fixed up the interior – the door panels that were missing were added in, I redid the gauges, and put in the passenger seat, carpeting and spruced everything up. I also redid the electronics inside and under the hood. The car has dual fuel pumps and filters out back.

It used to have a 3500 stall converter, but that went out when I blew the engine at Englishtown in 2009. The block was salvageable and I beefed up the whole bottom end with four-bolt mains, forged rods, and a steel crank. It is now bulletproof. I also had the heads shaved, ported, polished, and everything set up right! It is running an Edelbrock Tunnel Ram and two 600 cfm Edlebrock carburetors. The cam is an Isky unit with .600 lift. The car runs on pump gas and compression ratio is now somewhere in the range of about 10:1.

The new converter is a bit milder.. about 2800-3000 stall and the car runs cooler and is more manageable on the street.

The car has been tubbed and also uses ladder bars with 33 x 21.5 x 15 Sportsman Pro tires. It is running “Pencil Points” up front on Weld wheels. I am part of Streetz Shakerz, a car club we had when we were kids in the Bronx. We hung on Tremont and University Avenues. Until this day, I think there are only three original Streetz Shakerz members around. I decided to formally legalize and register the car club and bring it back to life. We have a great core group of guys and we are open to new members – good folks who have Race, ProStreet, or Muscle Cars. 1989 and down vehicles of all makes & models.

I race the car, drive it to car shows, and drop my laundry of too with the car! Ha! I’m from Morris Park and Willamsbridge in the Bronx and I’ve built a lot of cars, but this is the one I decided to give my heart to. Sometimes my wife hates the car because I keep reminding her that the “Beast” is my wife and she’s the mistress! She really gets upset when I tell her that they could take the house the kids and the wife, but don’t touch my car. Ha! (editor’s note – Johnny and his wife just had a baby this past weekend so he has to watch what he says now!)

The last time I raced my car at the track it turned times in the high 11’s. But I’m looking forward to getting it back into the mid-10s where it used to run with a shot of Nitrous this year. The previous engine was powerful and with that high-stall converter the times were great on all motor. I think I can get back there again pretty soon.

I am looking forward to attending many local shows and meeting up with folks from LI again. If there is anything my club can do for people, just ask…

(Wicked street machine there Johnny! How do you run it on those busy Bronx streets?!) Pete

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The

Watch out road! I’m hungry!!!!

Pete Giordano

Editor

Long Island Classic Cars.com

Watch out road! I’m hungry!!!!

Pete Giordano

www.liclassiccars.com