Story ideas for PHR.. input wanted

[BonzoHansen]

See if you could walk into a swap meet/ car show with say $5k and walk out with all the parts for a running car.
Buy a shell over here, a motor over there, throw in a tranny, some cheap swap meet wheels and drive it home!

Sounds too car-craftish for me.

[Damn True]

I say yuck to trucks. CHP started running truck stories a year or two ago. Wasted pages IMO.

[element180]

I say yuck to trucks. CHP started running truck stories a year or two ago. Wasted pages IMO.

I say to people who say 'yuck to trucks'

[Dan Sherwood]

I have not read all the pages, so if I duplicate, my apoligies.

After 3 car builds there are certainly some things I'd do different, and I'm sure several folks have had similar issues.

I think outlining how to buy your resto project was already covered, but I think maybe showing an outline on how to plan your resto would be helpful, especially so you don't duplicate something twice.

Givng some pointers on picking shops (if you're not doing it yourself) would be helpful, along with what might be reasonable costs and timeframes for the particular work the shop is doing.

One of my biggest downfalls was not having a specific game plan in mind, which helps with duplicating costs. I'm talking about setting out your performance goals, your asthetic goals and a reasonable budget for those.

I started with the idea of a decent rebuild for mostly street and worked into more performance oreinted stuff quickly, then more creature comforts, then upscale show quality, and back to more performance (suspension-brakes-horsepower), which then means you end up with parts from the first session being replaced by better parts that may well have been adequate for a street cruiser, but not a track warrior also. I've ended up with cars that do go down the dragstrip, make sessions on the road course and can drive on the street and cross country trips, although I'm sure there are some compromizes in there somewhere. Giving some info on how to narrow down selections for what type of build would sure save some $ up front. Example-4 piston wilwood dynalites may work fine for lighter cars or modest street duty, but don't expect them to cut it for multile sessions on a road course with a heavier car. A manual trans may be the shiznit for better mpg and "cool" in the latest trends, but at the dragstrip it will cost the typical driver some et, not to mention putting over 500hp in the car will usually result in substantial downtime (if pressed on a regular basis) for clutch or rearend repairs unless you spend some serious $ upfront for them. Giving the average Joe some info on lessons learned over time to save some dinero upfront should interest alot of folks. Kinda like telling them to go to this site and review all the posts. Helps alot!

I also like the idea of parts comparo a to b and the results. Thx!

[Colvindesign]

Dan,

I've always looked at PHR as not so much the High Dollar builders mag, as more the DIYers mag. Granted, DIYers usually can't do it all, so helping find a shop is a good tip.

You have interesting points, but like you stated in your post, it comes down to proper planning. It sounds like you planned it one way (and bought the parts) then changed your mind. That can even happen if you do have it planned out in advance, and then somethig else catches your eye and you really want it, instead of what you already have.

Maybe next time, you should work with a Designer, and get going in the direction you want right from the start (hint hint).

[DarkBuddha]

Funny... I was just doing a google search on something and this thread popped up. I'd totally forgotten about it since it's been nearly 4 years since it was started, but I think it deserves bump for discussion sake...

[Steve1968LS2]

Wow.. this place just became the history channel! lol

I'm always open to story ideas though.. I need to get all these engine stories done so I can get back to some of the ideas I've been working on.

like fire systems.. tire tech.. roll center theory.. the sad part is I have more ideas then time.

[David Pozzi]

the sad part is I have more ideas than time.

I can vouch for that!

A tire comparison or test would be nice.
Or test the effect of wider tires and wheels on a car.
How about just lowering a car and test for handling improvement?
Bumpsteer issues should be covered.
Roll centers is a good subject, but not something most guys would change on their cars. It is something they should understand though.

I'm liking the EzEFI system, it can also be used on a dual quad setup if you add another throttle body, I wonder how it would work on a Z/28 type cross ram?
Inglese also uses EzEFI on a weber carb looking setup with 8 injectors, this one would be nice!

[Gitter Dun]

I'd like to see a control arm comparison, shock comparison, Bolt on rack and pinion comparison, sub frame comparison, etc.....etc.... anything suspension comparison.

[pro-touringAK]

What about coming up to Juneau Alaska where there are no roads out and only about 50 miles of road from end to end. Then see what the car culture ie hot rods and mucle cars are like

[pro-touringAK]

Oh I'm sure some fishing would be in order as well

[Gitter Dun]

Pro Touring 4x4?

[Takid455]

what about vintage speed/ suspension parts vs new stuff.

herb adams / HO racing F body items vs current items (pro touring f body, hatchkins, bmr, global west, dse, ect).

probably have an advertising war if their stuff gets beat. I think it would neat though.


I will say you are getting better providing articles on cars that dont have bowties or blue ovals or one of the 321,115 ways to build a 350 sbc.

what about a comparison on the EFI systems? big stuff 3, xfi, accel, megasquirt, ect. same engine/ vehicle, just switch systems. big task, but it would answer lots of questions.

[Gitter Dun]

Who wouldn',t want to read about a DSE built car against a Global West car. Level the playing field with spec. motor, spec. shocks, spec. tires, spec. steering(box or rack). Drag the duel out with first starting out with the build of the cars, hell I'd volunteer my car as a mule so long as I could drive it in the duel, Then once the suspension components like control arms and subframes, etc. have been compared you could use the same cars to test tires, shocks, bolt on racks, springs, etc.

[Samckitt]

What about a Cheap Big Brakes article and lets see just how good/bad a scratchbuilt big brake combo works on a real world car, for example c4 rotors on 1st gen drum spindles with an aftermarket disc caliper bracket with ls1 or corvette calipers. This will appeal to the gass roots type of hotrodder, like me. The 60's Trans Am Camaros, Firebirds and Mustangs are just begging to be written about in detail for the original modifications that were done for racing. I mean detail, too. Not just a cursory glance but a series of articles that explore the cars in depth.

I like that idea. Mainly because I went that route. Instead of Wilwood, Baer, etc. I went the GM route. C5 calipers & rotors on S10 Blazer spindles with a custom bracket in an 86 Monte SS.

Or how about a How-to on frame notching a G body rear for some wider tires? Something other than Camaro this, Camaro that. I know you guys use other cars besides just Camaros like alot of other mags. I plan on doing the frame notch one of these days. Got a good idea of what I am going to do, just need some time.

[DarkBuddha]

I re-read my earlier post, and I think I was right on. It's still accurate, still all the stuff I really want to see done, and perhaps more appropriate than ever considering the economy now versus 4 years ago...

I subscribe to 10 magazines, and often buy 2 or 3 more a month, including a couple british titles. Not one of 'em consistently does the stuff I'm going to mention here (maybe Practical Classic is closest). So here are some ideas...

1) Do a proper budget build, starting with a realistic $2500 starter car and do as much as you can for another $7500-$10K. My reasoning for this is that this is what young starter guys need, which is what the hobby needs to keep going. Be honest about prices, be honest about the labor, be honest about what most folks will have to pay to have done, be honest about starting performance, projected performance, and the actual peformance reality. Use budget parts, OEM wheels, u-pull-it parts, and imagination. Show folks how much reliable fun can be had for $10k driver.

1a) or do a build based on a realistic schedule and monthly budget. Maybe like something like $500 per month, plus or minus, over 2 years. I loved Project G28, but you guys pulled that off in less than a year. That kind of thing is inspirational, but not durational. How many projects lose heart because they can't be the "now"?

2) Do some real budget tech articles, including u-pull-it part sourced stuff, like high amp alternator conversions, brake conversions, powersteering conversions, seat conversions, turbo conversions, etc. Put DIY labor type stuff ahead of buy-and-bolt-on stuff. Get folks back to being practical, creative, innovative, and having coin in their pocket for gas.

3) No "armchair mechanic" tech articles... I've rarely seen an article in the last 10 years in any magazine that was worthy of getting greasy finger prints on it while doing a project. Remember when a suspension article actually gave you enough info to use it as an actual reference while torquing the upper arms?

4) Build something alternative to a GM product. I've got nothing against GM products, but they're a bit privileged in terms of support, expense, resources, etc. (heck, look at the number of BOPs running Chevy motors). Try building a '70s Mopar or AMC or FLM product. Or even a cool 4 door friend hauler.

5) Do tech articles about attention to detail and straight up labor. Detailing, rattle-can resto, interior rehab, etc.

6) Gone racing, gone roadtripping, gone cruising stories... more stuff about guys actually out enjoying their cars rather than just building 'em. Become the magazine for drivers, not just builders.

7) Do an article about budget but fun daily drivers and how to build 'em a bit for more fun and style. I know lots of younger guys can't afford payments on a new truck and the requisite insurance, in addition to the coin needed to build a p-t project. You've gotta have a way to get your fix while the project just isn't there yet. Like I bought a 60K mile Merkur XR4Ti for $1200 to tide me over while my Mach is on blocks. Show some fun, cheap, reliable options for a dd/beater/parts chaser. '70s-'80s pickups, used pre '88 V8 Mustangs and F-bodies, turbo Dodges, ex-cop car sedans. Keep it domestic, but be cool about which wheels push or pull the car.



I guess you can see a trend in my suggestions. Younger guys wanna be involved, build cars, and have fun driving 'em, but they get lost in the "keeping up with the check writers" syndrome and lose heart or perspective when they can't make drag week, Power Tour, or a Year One bash. And with home prices skyrocketting, insurance costs outta sight, wages stagnant, gas prices climbing, etc., "young guy" now includes folks well into their 30's, not just folks between 18-25. And lets face it, as boomers start to retire, their income is dropping as well, so they can appreciate the budget fun articles too. And get back to driving the cars... get 'em out on the streets and to the track. Drag, auto-x, road race, standing mile, open road, cruises, roadtrips, hill climbs, etc. Damn, that sounds fun!

Thanks for listening.

[Bjkadron]

I re-read my earlier post, and I think I was right on. It's still accurate, still all the stuff I really want to see done, and perhaps more appropriate than ever considering the economy now versus 4 years ago...

That man right there is a genius!

[Taman]

More Pro Touring cars! Everyone does drag racing and street rods.

[Johnny Blaze]

I would like to see a how to article on saftey wire.

[79-TA]

I can vouch for that!

A tire comparison or test would be nice.
Or test the effect of wider tires and wheels on a car.
How about just lowering a car and test for handling improvement?
Bumpsteer issues should be covered.
Roll centers is a good subject, but not something most guys would change on their cars. It is something they should understand though.

I'm liking the EzEFI system, it can also be used on a dual quad setup if you add another throttle body, I wonder how it would work on a Z/28 type cross ram?
Inglese also uses EzEFI on a weber carb looking setup with 8 injectors, this one would be nice!

Tests with isolated variables would be great! I'm tired of magazines throwing entire packages onto cars and then just doing a simple before and after comparison . . . suure the suspension components are great, but is it fair to test on completely different tires?


A simple tire test could be a great article, but I don't know how much you'd have to worry about appeasing magazine advertisers like Nitto.

Perhaps a good test of the available 200ish treadwear tires available in muscle car sizes could be done. IE 265 to 275 40 17. Car and Driver recently did a similar test, but some tires like the NT05 weren't available yet.

I'd suggest including:
Nitto NT05
Michelin PS2
BFG KDW2
Dunlop Direzza Z1 Sport Star Spec
Kumho Ecsta XS
Sumitomo HTRZ III
Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3