ZMotorsports Shop Projects 2.0

[ajohno]

The Camaro V8 will be racing next year in the Australian V8 supercars series.

They will be racing against the Ford Mustang.

These are the only 2 manufacturers cars in the series.

Castrol is a Mustang.
Penrite is a Camaro.

 

[bugnut]

Mike, sweet ride, enjoy!

 

[zmotorsports]

Thanks for all of the comments and kind words everyone. I appreciate them.

Last night I got home late and wanted to play with it for a bit so I goofed around with the MyLink radio a bit, then decided to check the tire pressures and wheel torque and of course, neither were correct. Wheels were well over-torqued and the tire pressures were low, but not too awfully far off.

I then popped the hood to double check fluids until next week when I can rack the car and begin to zero it out with all fluids and filters being replaced. I stopped by my local NAPA on the way home yesterday and picked up all of the fluids and filters less the transmission filter which had to be ordered and should be here today.

While the hood was up I took some Final Inspection and ran it over the engine bay and engine cover to brighten it up a bit. Turned out pretty decent for a quick shine.


After closing the hood I grabbed some glass cleaner and went to town cleaning the interior glass as it was terribly filthy. As I was finishing up the wife arrived home from work so we hopped in the car and went for a short ride and grabbed a drink. She LOVES the car which makes me feel good. I tried to get her to drive it but she declined for the time being. We decided that seeing as how I have a couple jobs to do in the shop on Saturday that we would go for a nice drive on Sunday and see the leaves changing up in the mountains over one of our favorite mountain passes.

 

[Bob Heine]

Mike, much as I love Corvettes, the Camaro is a great compromise and I suspect a lot easier to get in and out. I think your decision to transition from two to four-wheel cruising was an excellent one and with the roof and all the windows open the Camaro will get close to the fresh air feel of the bike. On the plus side, the Camaro will also let you cruise year-round.

 

[rattle_snake]

Not quite the same color but an idea of possible tire/wheel choice.

May have some negative handling in rutted highways and a bit more tire noise than stock.

 

[LXCam]

That's what I'm saying Justin.

Go big, or don't leave the house.

 

[zmotorsports]

Mike, much as I love Corvettes, the Camaro is a great compromise and I suspect a lot easier to get in and out. I think your decision to transition from two to four-wheel cruising was an excellent one and with the roof and all the windows open the Camaro will get close to the fresh air feel of the bike. On the plus side, the Camaro will also let you cruise year-round.

I'm sorry Bob. WHAT? Compromise?????

Just funnin' with ya Bob. I know what you mean.

To be honest, the way people have been driving around here over the past couple of years I have been less and less prone to even want to get on the bike. For what used to be a stress reliever for me, the last couple of times I rode the bike, it was not. Now when I first started riding about 20 years ago and when my son purchased his first bike right out of High School about 12 years ago I was inundated with comments about how I could possibly get on a bike. I replied with comments like you can't let fear run your life and you can't live in fear but you need to be respectful of the equipment. People who didn't ride didn't understand but at least I tried to explain my point of view. However, my opinions lately have been altered slightly about riding on two wheels.

As you may know, my entire career has been in the Industrial Maintenance Field and secondary in the automotive and motorsports arena. During much of my career I have worked hand in hand with our Safety/Compliance department to ensure we provide a safe working environment as well as trying to engineer out the idiotic tendencies of our associates. Unfortunately, as we idiot proof something, the next day there's another idiot born so it is a never ending battle.

That being said, as I have ridden motorcycles and as I have taught and instructed my son I have focused heavily on safety and a HUGE part of that is risk avoidance. Riding motorcycles in itself comes with risk, however, a person can minimize that risk by doing specific things and just being cognitive in what they are doing or being actively engaged as I like to say, not just hop on a bike and go. There are specific intersections at certain times of the day that I refuse to ride through and I will go a street or two out of the way. Certain times of the day I will not make left hand turns from a certain corner or area and things like that. Another thing I taught my son was when a car is pulling out of a parking lot for example and you are approaching from the side, the most common comment I hear is make eye contact. That doesn't necessarily mean anything, people can look right at you and not see you. I instructed my son to watch the tires. If a person it turning out of a driveway or parking lot the last thing most do as they remove their foot from the brake is give a little input to the steering wheel in the direction they are intending to go. This is an indicator they are about to enter the street from the parking lot. Behaviors such as those are what I tried to instill in my son to ensure he was as safe as possible while on two wheels, plus I feel it makes a better driver on four wheels as well.

Unfortunately, I don't see people paying as close attention to driving as they once did and I have seen more than my share of accidents and near misses lately so when my son decided to sell his bike in favor of trying to start a family, on one hand I was saddened but after that thought left my head I was actually quite relieved. When discussing with my wife a couple of months ago she was feeling much the same way so us selling out bike was looking like a better and better idea but we both wanted to replace a toy with a toy. Hence the Camaro, even though it is a "compromise".

The car will definitely also improve our options to drive it during the colder months on nice days whereas we were less inclined to ride the bike so I am looking forward to having a toy again that is less seasonal.

 

[zmotorsports]

Not quite the same color but an idea of possible tire/wheel choice.

May have some negative handling in rutted highways and a bit more tire noise than stock.

I even like the color....

 

[MadeByMiller]

Congratulations Mike! My folks pre ordered the 2010 model when I was in highschool, RS/SS package as yours is, but black on black. I always thought it was a cool car as well, and the next gen I feel isn't quite as aggressive or Camaro-ish. I can verify for you that the car has a nice planted, controlled feel all the way up to 130 on a four lane asphalt hwy. Those speeds are completely necessary for a post wash dry, you see...

I'm really liking that deep red, suits the car well. Thank you for detailing your selection process when it came to finding the right one. I'm really looking forward to the process of accepting a new vehicle to your pristine stable.

Lastly, I just wanted to make a point to let you know how much I appreciate reading about the relationship you have with your son. It's really a wholesome and beautiful thing, and I hope to cultivate such a bond with my sons as they mature.

 

[Boosted1]

Congrats on the Camaro. Looks like it's in great / like new condition.

 

[mercracing]

That’s a beautiful car Mike. If I’m in a position to get a fun vehicle, I think that would be on the short list. Can’t wait to see what you do with it.

As far as motorcycle riding and watching tires… That’s a handy piece of advice for any driving. I’m always watching rims of cars 90° to my side whether pulling out of a driveway, side road, or parking lot. As soon as their foot leaves the brake, that rim is moving telling me they’re probably pulling out in front of me.

 

[zmotorsports]

Congratulations Mike! My folks pre ordered the 2010 model when I was in highschool, RS/SS package as yours is, but black on black. I always thought it was a cool car as well, and the next gen I feel isn't quite as aggressive or Camaro-ish. I can verify for you that the car has a nice planted, controlled feel all the way up to 130 on a four lane asphalt hwy. Those speeds are completely necessary for a post wash dry, you see...

I'm really liking that deep red, suits the car well. Thank you for detailing your selection process when it came to finding the right one. I'm really looking forward to the process of accepting a new vehicle to your pristine stable.

Lastly, I just wanted to make a point to let you know how much I appreciate reading about the relationship you have with your son. It's really a wholesome and beautiful thing, and I hope to cultivate such a bond with my sons as they mature.

Thank you very much for the comments. I'll have to try that drying method.

Also thank you for the comments about the relationship with my son. I have to admit I was scared shitless to be a father as I had not been around children much growing up, even though I had a lot of nephews and a few nieces. Kids were not even on my radar when my wife and I were first married as I was pretty self centered and only cared about advancing myself and my wife in our fiscal and acquisitional aspect of life. When my wife started having problems with the pregnancy all I could see was the dollars bleeding from the bank account that we had worked so hard to build. I started pushing myself harder and harder to try to stop the bleeding by working some overtime at work and then taking on every side job I could get my hands on for extra money while my wife was on bed restrictions the last few months of the pregnancy.

However, the day my son was born and seeing that 2 pound little boy that was fighting for every breath it hit me like a freight train. The problems he endured from birth made me look at each day as a blessing and the next day more of a blessing than than the previous. As I watched my son slowly grow from 2 pounds at birth up to the 4 pounds we were told he needed to be before we could take him home he and my wife were my ONLY priority. In that 72 days he spent in newborn ICU I feel like I grew exponentially as a person. Even being in that incubator we were told by the doctors that our touch and voices could be heard and felt by him and we were encourage to touch and talk to him in a normal manner to ensure him we were there and to build a bond. I feel that those early days in the hospital really created a tight bond with him and we've been close his entire life. I remember adjusting my work schedule around so I could be the one picking him up from school every day and I never missed a baseball or soccer practice even though I had a shop full of work. I would take a break from the shop, wash up and take him to his practices then come back home after practice was over and head back to the shop until bed time when he would ask me to read to him before he could go to sleep.

I was joking with my DIL the other night telling her when he was young how he would run to his closet and grab a book that he wanted read and many times it would turn in to "one more" and then "one more" before we would have to insist he go to sleep. When he was older and walking to and from school I was fortunate to be home working in the shop so he wouldn't come home to an empty house. He would come home and find me in the shop working then after he would change from his school clothes to "play" clothes he was out in the shop with me every night until dinner time. We were together a LOT and has been his whole life up until he purchased his home several years ago just before getting married. I had a real struggle when he moved out several years ago, that was a rough few months until I adjusted. I had a much harder time emotionally with him moving out than I think my wife did. She struggled as well, but by the time he moved out I think she was looking forward to it being just us again and being empty nesters. Nowadays I try to enjoy the small amount of time we are together and cherish it as much as possible and even at times I must admit, I miss the days when he was younger and needed me on a daily basis.

There were times I was quit hard on him as I saw his friends and other neighbor kids and the way they acted and insisted he would NOT act in that manner. I know I asked a lot of him growing up but to see him now, how he dotes on his wife, how he cares for her every need and how quick-witted he is and funny I just sit back and smile to myself.

Funny you bring that up today as he is turning 31 years old in a few days and I've been reflecting back a little already. My wife and I had the opportunity to sit with him and our DIL last night at a family wedding and at the reception afterwards I just had to sit back and smile to myself watching and listening to him interact with his wife, cousins, aunts, uncles and family friends. I think of him as an old soul because he has always been so much more mature than his peers. I see how fast he has moved up in his career and how responsible he is, mature, how well spoken he is and how knowledgeable and I just swell with pride. I am so proud of the man he has turned in to, although sometimes I wonder if I really had all that much to do with it because most of the time I think he came pre-programmed. I think the good Lord knew what he was doing when he blessed our home with his tender and caring soul. I thank God each and every day that our small 2 pound baby didn't end up with life long health or developmental struggles that I know are all too common amongst premature babies.

I don't know if my advice is worth anything but if I could give one piece of advice it would be to just be there for your sons and be actively engaged in their lives. Let them know up front that you love them and what you expect from them and most importantly, enjoy them. Don't wish their lives away wishing they were older, enjoy every phase and age of their lives.

Thanks again for following along and letting me ramble. Maybe I needed that this morning.

 

[zmotorsports]

Congrats on the Camaro. Looks like it's in great / like new condition.

Thank you. It really is in pretty good condition for a ten year old car. I'm thankful to have been able to find exactly what we were looking for.

That’s a beautiful car Mike. If I’m in a position to get a fun vehicle, I think that would be on the short list. Can’t wait to see what you do with it.

As far as motorcycle riding and watching tires… That’s a handy piece of advice for any driving. I’m always watching rims of cars 90° to my side whether pulling out of a driveway, side road, or parking lot. As soon as their foot leaves the brake, that rim is moving telling me they’re probably pulling out in front of me.

Thank you and thanks for following alone. Watching the tires seems to be a good indicator but from listening to friends who ride, it seems to not be a very common practice. Most still think making eye contact is most important but hell, I've sat across from people in meetings and they look right at me and don't see me, let alone in a car.

 

[customh]

I gotta go change the filters in the HVAC.... there's dust in my eyes or something.

 

[zmotorsports]

Last night I only had about an hour before we had to go to a family wedding so I pulled the Jeep into the shop to replace the battery that I had warrantied yesterday.

I snapped this picture of my two LS powered vehicles of ours now and how both are similar yet different and I hope the car brings my wife and I as much fun as the Jeep has.


Also have all of the fluids and filters are at the ready for the new car once I get the couple of jobs completed in the shop this weekend.

Thanks for looking.

 

[LXCam]

That was heartwarming Mike and brought back a flood of distant memories. Our first born, the girl child was two months premature and under 3lbs. Like you it was 60 days of hell In the hospital till she got to the required weight. Then 6 more months on a apnea monitor. Every time a lead would come loose our hearts skipped a beat. And like yourself, I’d read multiple books to her until she feel asleep.

Now 33, she’s gifted us with three beautiful grandkids while maintaining her professional career. The kids a rockstar.

 

[zmotorsports]

That was heartwarming Mike and brought back a flood of distant memories. Our first born, the girl child was two months premature and under 3lbs. Like you it was 60 days of hell In the hospital till she got to the required weight. Then 6 more months on a apnea monitor. Every time a lead would come loose our hearts skipped a beat. And like yourself, I’d read multiple books to her until she feel asleep.

Now 33, she’s gifted us with three beautiful grandkids while maintaining her professional career. The kids a rockstar.

Thanks for sharing that Cam. Good for you and I'm glad to hear she's doing and done well. Don't even get me started on the monitors and oxygen that we had to deal with for the first year at home. Those created a whole other level of stress and worry, which usually was caused by a lead coming off like you mentioned.

 

[LXCam]

Thanks for sharing that Cam. Good for you and I'm glad to hear she's doing and done well. Don't even get me started on the monitors and oxygen that we had to deal with for the first year at home. Those created a whole other level of stress and worry, which usually was caused by a lead coming off like you mentioned.

Ya I am painfully aware.

 

[mercracing]

And now I’m looking at Camaros online. Thanks Mike

 

[Trapps]

Great parenting philosophy, Mike.

I also like your bike safety approach. I ride with the assumption that every other vehicle on the road is out to get me. I'm constantly looking for the escape path, if idiot 1 does 'X,' I do 'Y' - it is all about anticipation of the expected and the unexpected. While we cant remove risk from riding, we can stack risk factors in our favor. I also have some non negotiable rules:

Bad Attitude - If I am mentally tuned up or hot, I'll avoid the bike.
Alcohol - I don't imbibe if the bike is in the picture.
Rain - not by choice at least. When it happens, I take it slow and methodical.
Night - Bike are seemingly invisible in the daylight; moreso at night. Even with auxiliary lighting.

There are other things I do as well, but these primary triggers mean the bike stays in the 'barn' so to speak. With the proliferation of distracted driving, when I ride, it's a beeline to get out of town where there are fewer cars, and therefore fewer unaware idiots.

 

[gearhead1960]

I agree with all the driving strategies. I always drive with the expectation that the other driver will do something unpredictible and like @Trapps always try to have a plan to avoid said *****......

 

[MadeByMiller]

You're a great man! My oldest gave us a scare when he was born, fortunately it only resulted in a very short period of turmoil and questioning, followed by a couple of extra days in the NICU for monitoring. While we were in the NICU, we were surrounded with many other families that were in a worse situation, similar to what you and your family faced. I can only imagine the distress and the strength required to respond in the manner in which you did. Thank you for sharing what you endured and how it shaped the relationship between you and your son. I can certainly draw some parallels, I had to chuckle to myself about the bedtime books and stories, as that's an every night occurrence in our home as well.

I feel so fortunate with my self employment to structure my schedule in a way that allows my family to take precedent over all else. I see a lot of myself in my older son, and my younger son being only two is developing a personality that I'm really excited to explore. The older is extremely detail oriented, cautious, analytical, and drawn to mechanics; the younger is brave, sweet, fun-loving, and quick-thinking. I like to say that my older son will be the pit crew and my younger son will be the daring driver. My wife is everything a man could ever hope for, and our relationship is such that I consider her a part of me, an inseparable unit. I know that we will always put our family first, and therefore I have confidence in the future for our children. I'm very grateful for our present, and I do not take it for granted, but I look towards the future with optimism that I will share a true deep bond with each of my children and raise them to acknowledge and develop their individual strengths, and help them build the happiness I've been so fortunate to experience every day.

Who knew a Camaro purchase would bring out a philosophical discussion about family on a garage message board?? Thank you as always Mike for sharing your broad wisdom and honesty.

 

[zmotorsports]

Great parenting philosophy, Mike.

I also like your bike safety approach. I ride with the assumption that every other vehicle on the road is out to get me. I'm constantly looking for the escape path, if idiot 1 does 'X,' I do 'Y' - it is all about anticipation of the expected and the unexpected. While we cant remove risk from riding, we can stack risk factors in our favor. I also have some non negotiable rules:

Bad Attitude - If I am mentally tuned up or hot, I'll avoid the bike.
Alcohol - I don't imbibe if the bike is in the picture.
Rain - not by choice at least. When it happens, I take it slow and methodical.
Night - Bike are seemingly invisible in the daylight; moreso at night. Even with auxiliary lighting.

There are other things I do as well, but these primary triggers mean the bike stays in the 'barn' so to speak. With the proliferation of distracted driving, when I ride, it's a beeline to get out of town where there are fewer cars, and therefore fewer unaware idiots.

Thank you.

I completely agree with your riding approach. Rather than just saying being a defensive driver, I like to look at it as risk avoidance and to further extend, have a "plan B" or "exit strategy" when riding through various situations. At first it is consciously training your mind to think in terms of "if driver at intersection does ***, then I will do YYY." After a while it becomes a habit and you begin doing it subconsciously as it has become second nature.

Along the same lines, I feel very fortunate that in all my years of riding I have never had an accident on a bike nor even had to make an emergency maneuver or even a "close call." I was talking with a co-worker a couple of months ago when I first put my bike up for sale and he didn't believe me when I told him that. He was explaining about how many close calls he's had and had to lay it down a couple of times and he had only been riding about ten years.

I shared with him one thing I told my son's friend back in high school when my son purchased his first bike, a Buell, was that if you have had multiple accidents in a car or tickets maybe a bike is not the best next step. Also, like @Trapps philosophy about never getting on the bike mad or upset. The bike used to be a stress reliever for me, however, if I came home from work pissed off on in a foul mood, the bike was NOT an option until I cooled off a bit and had a clearer head on my shoulders. Some people may think it's macho or cool to ride aggressively in that manner but not when you're trying not to end up in a body bag as you are just rolling the dice. I also don't like to ride at night or in the rain if I can at all avoid it. Granted there are times when it is completely unavoidable but only as a last resort.

In the summer months when it is hot and a storm rolls in quickly I have been known to pull off under an overpass for a 15-20 minute break to either let the rain stop or at bare minimum let the oil slick that seems to form at the onset of a thunderstorm on hot asphalt to clean itself off somewhat before continuing.

As for alcohol, I don't drink and haven't had a drink since my son was born so that isn't a hard one for me but I strongly agree with it for those who do partake of adult beverages.

The wife and I were going over Mirror Lake Highway (Highway 150) between Wyoming and Utah a few months ago and for those who have not driven this, I highly recommend it as it is freakin' gorgeous. Goes up over the Uinta Mountains with mountain lakes such as Mirror Lake, Trial Lake, Lilly Lake and a multitude of other small kettle lakes and this time of year in particular with the leaves changing it is breathtaking. We like to stop in Kamas, UT which is a little hole in the wall town at the bottom of the Mirror Lake Highway and have pizza at Summit Pizza, which is fantastic pizza. We used to like this ride on the bike but the past couple of years we've just taken the truck or Jeep on this road. Anyways, we were on the highway a few months ago and four motorcycles (looked liked BMW touring bikes) zipped past us at a relatively high rate of speed and as they cut back in front of us in the Jeep a deer ran across the road and went between riders 3 and 4. Rider # 4 locked up the brakes and skid across onto the oncoming lane, which luckily no one was occupying but to his credit he kept the bike upright and didn't hit the deer. How? I have no idea but my wife and I both thought it was over for him and couldn't figure out how he missed the deer. At that point I am certain his heart was pounding and yet he continued on. Personally, in a situation like that I probably would have pulled over and regained my composure to ensure my mind was right before continuing on but they didn't seem to slow down one bit. They were a spec in the distance in no time.

 

[zmotorsports]

I salute you myself. Some may think of this as old or outdated way of thinking but I feel people like us just know it is as normal thinking. We have core values and stand by them regardless of what society is shouting or saying in the distance. We need to continue to raise morally and ethically strong children to be able to continue the trend for future generations.

I continually say that my son, and hopefully grandchildren someday, are my gift to society as that is about all I will be able to contribute and all that will mark that I was ever here.

I appreciate you sharing your experiences and thoughts and I agree, who'd a thunk that a discussion starting about buying a Camaro would ever morph into such a philosophical discussion. But what a great group of people to discuss such things with.

 

[MadeByMiller]

I salute you myself. Some may think of this as old or outdated way of thinking but I feel people like us just know it is as normal thinking. We have core values and stand by them regardless of what society is shouting or saying in the distance. We need to continue to raise morally and ethically strong children to be able to continue the trend for future generations.

I continually say that my son, and hopefully grandchildren someday, are my gift to society as that is about all I will be able to contribute and all that will mark that I was ever here.

I appreciate you sharing your experiences and thoughts and I agree, who'd a thunk that a discussion starting about buying a Camaro would ever morph into such a philosophical discussion. But what a great group of people to discuss such things with.

You really said a lot in that concise reply, and it's as if we're sharing a brain. We can go out and build our personal masterpiece in the shop with our hands, but the legacy we leave behind in our offspring is everlasting.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Mike, my wife's cousin is very much like you in that he likes to keep things stealth and the mods pretty mild. He had a change of heart; 699HP/675FtLbs to the wheels on E85. 2013 with 5,600 miles. I can't get him to burn the Michelin Pilot Sports off of it......

 

[Finallygotit]

Not bad Mike, even if it is a Chevy.



Seriously, CONGRATULATIONS!

 

[zmotorsports]

Not bad Mike, even if it is a Chevy.



Seriously, CONGRATULATIONS!

Thank you Dan. I appreciate that.

 

[sanddan]

Cool Camaro. I had a 13 for a few years, pretty fast for its size.

 

[PhantomEB]

I rather have the newer Camaro more than most of the sports/muscle cars on the road. Especially in a 6.2L 10.5w version.

 

[zmotorsports]

Thanks for the comments guys. Been wanting one for quite a while now and it's nice to finally have one.

Wife and I put about 250-miles on it yesterday as we went for a drive up into Southern Idaho then over to Garden City, UT (Bear Lake Recreation Area) and back down through a couple of mountain passes checking out the fall colors. Great day and really enjoyed the car.


Funny story, on Saturday morning the wife and I were sitting on the deck enjoying our coffee and I had the shop doors open while waiting for my son. As I was sitting there sipping my coffee and the car in the shop I said "ain't she sweet", a repeated line from Gran Torino with Clint Eastwood, one of my favorite shows. My wife chuckled then said "I may take it to get my hair done today". I said "sure", not knowing if she was serious or not.

When my son arrived he pulled his truck into the open shop and we went to work on it. As we were racking it my wife came out with purse and key in hand. Oh ****! She was serious.

I gave her a crash course in the controls and reiterated about the nasty blind spots of the C-pillars and off she went.


She was gone for over 3 hours and I know that entire time wasn't spent getting her hair done. Oh well, we bought the car for both of us to enjoy so I am glad she likes it.

 

[zmotorsports]

Once my son's 2002 2500HD was on the lift we went to town replacing the front CV shafts and he wanted to swap over to his winter tires/wheels while it was on the lift.

After he removed the front tires I went to work replacing the front CV shafts. One had a torn boot and the other didn't look like it was far behind. Pretty easy job and didn't take long to have new shafts in the truck but had a great time hanging out with my son for a few hours.


New CV shaft at the ready.


The stubby 1/2" drive impact made short work of the six fasteners at the flange end. The center cap removed and the axle nut and then it slides right out.


Old shaft out and on the bench.


New shaft going back in and starting the fasteners around the perimeter of the inner flange.


After the six inner flange bolts were tightened we torqued the axle nut to spec. @ 177 ft/lbs. then applied a small amount of torque seal to the shaft and nut.


New shaft installation completed and ready to install center hub cap and tires/wheels.


Hub cap pressed into place.


Truck set back down on the winter tires/wheels and the wheels torqued in place.


Backing out as my son was heading home to grab his wife's car for a full service and tire rotation.



Thanks for looking.

 

[zmotorsports]

Before my son left I had him back up to the RV/storage bay door so I could load his birthday gift into his truck so he could take them home. Tomorrow is his birthday and a few months ago he had mentioned he would like to have a floor jack and a couple of jackstands at home for small jobs so that is what the wife and I got him.

We bought him a 3.5 ton floor jack and two sets of 7-ton floor jacks for his birthday. We then took him and his wife out to dinner Saturday night for his birthday dinner. It was pretty awesome to be able to spend the majority of the day with my son.


He returned with his wife's car as well as his wife. She hung out on the deck while we rotated the tires on her car and performed a service. Also tested the battery and charging system before going into the winter season.


When my wife arrived home she grabbed our daughter-in-law and said they were going for a "quick" drive in the car.



I think she's enjoying the car....

After being gone for about 45-minutes (yeah, it wasn't a quick drive) and they pulled back in, I noticed my DIL was driving. My son said "****, she got to drive it before I did". I was going to let my son take it for a spin after we got his wife's car done but my wife beat me to the punch.

Although, when they pulled back in my wife mentioned that something needed to be done to the exhaust because it sounds kind of "wimpy". I explained that I had already selected an exhaust system but was waiting to get a few side jobs done and recoup some funds but she mentioned that she would prefer I do it sooner. I just fell in love with her all over again.

 

[gearhead1960]

Mike, Gran Torino is also one of my favorites, but need I remind you that it has a "FORD" in it, not a GM product.....

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Sounds like a keeper to me, Mike!

Our wives are very similar in that aspect

 

[zmotorsports]

Mike, Gran Torino is also one of my favorites, but need I remind you that it has a "FORD" in it, not a GM product.....

Yeah Mark, that's the only problem with that show. Otherwise it would be believable.

 

[zmotorsports]

Sounds like a keeper to me, Mike!

Our wives are very similar in that aspect

She's definitely a keeper Marc. Besides, I just got her trained and don't want to start over now...

 

[Finallygotit]

Yeah Mark, that's the only problem with that show. Otherwise it would be believable.

Hey, hey...... easy there bunky!

 

[4 FN 27]

As we were racking it my wife came out with purse and key in hand. Oh ****! She was serious.

2 things keep my wife from driving the Z28:



This Roundabout is about 2.5 miles from the house. Just far enough the tires are close to temp on warmer days and the motor is warmed up enough...entering from the north I do the figure 8 to west or I do it 1 and 1/2 times to go east...this keeps her from wanting to ride in it.

And no AC or stereo...well it just kind of seals the deal.



If we go for a cruise she prefers the Corvette.

 

[Bob Heine]

Mike, it's funny how after a half-dozen decades together they can still surprise you. On the way home from a Thanksgiving get-together Liane told me to buy the Cadillac I was lusting after (CTS-V). When I came home without it, she asked why and my response that they wanted more than my $40K limit, she said "Just go buy it!"