And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
only one kid in the neighborhood successfully built one from a cut-down bike frame. an older kid showed him what it should look like. it involved welding, a definite deal-breaker to a thirteen year old, but he prevailed. cetrifugal clutch, aligator belt, pillow blocks, horizontal shafted Briggs&Stratton. his name was Gary, and it still is. a year younger than I, I saw him two years ago when we were (+/-) 69 years old.
I have a copy of that magazine in a box somewhere (in addition to 50 years of Popular Mechanics and somewhat less of Mechanix Illustrated). I used to enjoy reading Tom McCahill's reviews in MI. For those too young to know, he was like a fatter version of Jay Leno crossed with Jeremy Clarkson who actually knew some technical automotive engineering.
I found a link to one of his reviews, an interesting one:
The interest in the 1955 Chevy was likely as much about the new Chevy Small Block V-8 as the cars themselves. The was Genesis for the ubiquitous engine that to this day still powers the hotrod community.
Sad state of affairs that we used to freely dispense such knowledge....now we have to have a warning label on everything and tell people not to eat laundry detergent.
The 265 v8 that was the spawn of the Chevy/GM small blocks of the future....283 327... 350...Ford had a 272-292 which evolved into the 312...at the time Chrysler had a 273...
My sister had a 55 Chevy, it was big and heavy compared to todays all-the-same offerings. Lots of room and built solid with steel. Probably saved my life when I hit a deer in a rain storm.
Greenies complain about the size of medium SUV's, park one next to a mid 50's car, about the same, sit upright, step in and out not fall into and climb out, comfortable. People just know what they want!
the stuff dreams were made of.
ReplyDeleteonly one kid in the neighborhood successfully built one from a cut-down bike frame. an older kid showed him what it should look like. it involved welding, a definite deal-breaker to a thirteen year old, but he prevailed. cetrifugal clutch, aligator belt, pillow blocks, horizontal shafted Briggs&Stratton. his name was Gary, and it still is. a year younger than I, I saw him two years ago when we were (+/-) 69 years old.
Rupp mini bike. A first ride/first wipe out for many a boy.
ReplyDeleteMF
4 stroke, IIRC
DeleteI have a copy of that magazine in a box somewhere (in addition to 50 years of Popular Mechanics and somewhat less of Mechanix Illustrated). I used to enjoy reading Tom McCahill's reviews in MI. For those too young to know, he was like a fatter version of Jay Leno crossed with Jeremy Clarkson who actually knew some technical automotive engineering.
ReplyDeleteI found a link to one of his reviews, an interesting one:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/vintage-reviews/vintage-mechanix-illustrated-review-tom-mccahill-tests-the-1953-studillac-effortless-125mph-top-speed/
a pal's older uncle bequeathed him three years of MAD magazines and we died laughing over them for close to a decade.
DeleteMust have been harmless, your still alive! Alfred E Newman for president! Who Me Worry?
DeleteI wonder what the success rate was, arising out of that 'House Rewiring' article. I'm thinking, Ralph and Norton.
ReplyDelete"build your own swimming pool" was another.
DeleteThe interest in the 1955 Chevy was likely as much about the new Chevy Small Block V-8 as the cars themselves. The was Genesis for the ubiquitous engine that to this day still powers the hotrod community.
ReplyDeleteSad state of affairs that we used to freely dispense such knowledge....now we have to have a warning label on everything and tell people not to eat laundry detergent.
ReplyDeleteOr use a blow dryer in the shower.
DeleteThe 265 v8 that was the spawn of the Chevy/GM small blocks of the future....283 327... 350...Ford had a 272-292 which evolved into the 312...at the time Chrysler had a 273...
ReplyDeleteMy sister had a 55 Chevy, it was big and heavy compared to todays all-the-same offerings. Lots of room and built solid with steel. Probably saved my life when I hit a deer in a rain storm.
ReplyDeleteGreenies complain about the size of medium SUV's, park one next to a mid 50's car, about the same, sit upright, step in and out not fall into and climb out, comfortable. People just know what they want!
ReplyDelete