Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025

Well, my YouTube channel continues to slowly grow. I posted my critique of the Tri-Five Nationals — and I wasn’t too tough on them. I was critical of their lack of a decent map (for newbies to the Nationals like my wife and I), the lack of a shuttle service to get around the grounds, and the fact there were four times as many golf carts at the show as their were tri-five Chevies.

I complained too about how people were hogging parking spots, not just for their car, but also for their friends and neighbors.

I think I had 8 or 9 responses to that video, all of whom agreed with my critiques. Next year, I’ll either have a rental for a golf cart or my own mobility scooter.

4-HOLER GAUGE BEZEL??

I have been very unhappy with the fact I have an AutoMeter vacuum gauge but haven’t gotten it installed in the Chevy yet.

My original plan was to take out the 12 v voltmeter from the three-gauge unit, but I’ve come to see that the voltmeter actually does offer some valuable data on the vehicle performance. Unfortunately, there’s no vendor who is making a 4-gauge bezel in chrome like AutoMeter does.

I found a vendor on eBay who offers 4, 5 and 6 hole bezels. The bezels are engine-turned aluminum panels. They look more attractive in person than on eBay. My four-gauge bezel arrived yesterday and I was pleased with the look.

Unfortunately, like the 3-hole AutoMeter bezel, the mounting holes on this one also require you to mount the bezel without any gauges mounted in the bezel. That’s not a huge issue, with the exception of the water temp gauge. I’m going to have to remove the mechanical sending unit from the engine block, pull it and the capillary tube back inside the car, then run the tube through the bezel mounting hole for the gauge, then back into the engine compartment and back in the block. Its going to look fine, just a little aggravation in the process.

I tried mounting the vacuum gauge under the left side of the dash, but it didn’t look good there. The gauge works just great, it just needs a good place to call home. The new bezel will take care of that, I believe.

There’s some car cruises and shows coming up, and I expect to take part. I’m planning on getting the door panels crafted and installed soon. I need carpet too.

55 WAGON WINDOW SCREENS??

Oh yeah baby! There was an ebay listing for an aftermarket option for wagons with fixed side windows — screens that could replace the fixed window glass. The seller has had them listed for months at $300 for the set (used, not NOS). Last week I shot him a low-ball offer — $100. Well damned if he didn’t accept!

Tomorrow, my aftermarket screens should arrive. Of course, with Fall arriving soon, I won’t install the screens until next spring. I’m not sure but I think they’ll require the use of the same rubber window gasket as the fixed side window uses.

I posted a YouTube update for my Chinese Eldebrock knock-off carb recently …. what could I say but that the carb is doing great? Nary a hiccup driving to the Tri-Five Nationals or back. Runs much MUCH better than the original carb ever did — though I have a rebuild kit for it. My plan is to run it on the 56 Plymouth 277 poly engine. We’ll see.

With my wife’s help we put a new starter on the old Dodge truck, but there’s a problem. Looks like the rear half o the starter isn’t tight — you can watch it move when you hit the key. There’s a problem there somewhere.

On the flip side, my Massey-Ferguson 135 tractor is back up and running well. Fixed the fuel starvation, then the battery up and died. $200 later the tractor is running fine.

I’m pretty disgusted by it now, so I’m not in a damn hurry … we’ll have to remove the starter and see what the hell is going on.

That’s all this trip. More to come!