Each year on the Route 66 Fun Run we are unable to stop at Hackberry General Store because the Starliner is too low ad the store is too crowded with no level parking available. So last Sunday, was a nice sunny day and we had just traded in 4 vehicles for a new F-250 Ford diesel truck and a Lincoln MKX SUV Crossover and decided to take the MKX out for a cruise. We traveled over Hackberry Rd (15 miles of dirt) from I 40 to Route 66 then west to Hackberry General Store that is a step back in item. We were the only visitors so we Had a chance to visit with the owner and his dog who talks to you when prompted. The store is full of memorabilia, photos, antiques, and lots of stuff. The owners corvette is parked in front with other old cars, trucks and equipment scattered around the old buildings. The garage in back has old engines, test equipment, parts books, old tools, jacks and other items (too many to list). There is a picnic area next to a fish pond, tree swing and benches under shade tr...

Last weekend Kingman Arizona held its annual street drags in old town on Historic Route 66. Beale Street was barricaded off, grand stands set-up and a timing system with christmas tree lights set-up at the starting line. The event is sponsored by Napa Racing, Snap-on Tools and many local businesses and the City of Kingman. The Mayor, Sheriff of Mohave County and the Chief of Police all raced. Major drove an altered coupe with a blown big block in it and the Sheriff and Chief of Police drag raced each other in new Hemi Powered Chryslers prepared by the local dealer. Two Kingman Motorcycle Cops raced their police bikes with lights and sirens going. I had my picture taken with "Miss Wings and Wheels" Queen Kimmie. Route 66 Wings and Wheels Inc. puts on this event and other fund raising events with the goal of building a multi-faceted motor sports facility in Kingman. All types of vehicles were run in different classes, truck, sport compact, pure street, hot rod, pro street, moto...

Took the Starliner out for a Rod Run to Prescott Watson Lake Car Show and Swap Meet August 2nd. Last year it rained before the event making the grass parking area soggy and I couldn't not take the car off the paved vendor area. This year it was dry before the show, but rained (real hard) at 2:30 that afternoon and I barely got the car off the grass. Then had 2" of water on the roadway in a down pour with no windshield wipers and hydroplaning going on. It stopped raining (hard) by the time I got to Chino Valley, where I got gas, then had only showers to contend with on the 100 mi. plus trip home. Other than the thunder storm and 1 full day of car cleaning it was a good show with a lot of nice cars and swap meet vendors to visit. The 51 4 door chassis is coming along with the front clip, C-notch, triangulation 4 link, rear end and new rear cross member in place. The body was put back on the frame with the doors, fenders and hood to make sure everything still fit after welding on...

After taking the engine and all the parts for the 51 to L.A. we decided to upgrade the suspension to Air Ride and took the body off the frame to make it easier to make the modifications. We had two options: 1. To just put Air Ride with 4-link in the back and bags to replace the coil springs in the front, and remount the shocks. 2. To take the car down another 4" so the frame would be at 1" off the ground at shows. We went with the "the Slammed Look" that requires "C" notch in the frame at the rear axle. New rear cross members to allow the rear air bags to go up through the floor and one to connect the front of the new long 4 link bar that had to be custom fabricated. The floor pan was cut out from the tail shaft of the transmission to the trunk and a new one will be fabricated with a deep drive line tunnel and taller wheel tubs. The 9" Currie rear end has the 4 link and "shock wave" air bag brackets welded on, a custom aluminium center cover...

Took the Starliner to a Car show in Kingman on May 17th. The show was a fund raiser for the All Starz Tumbling and Dance Kidz. The Girls did all the judging by giving points on a scale from 1 to 10 for each car. The Starliner got a 2nd place trophy in the modified class and we had a good time. On the way home that afternoon the car ran hot, about 220 degrees, and we could not run the A/C. The next day I replaced the 190 degrees thermostat with a 160 degrees and check the antifreeze to water ration then drove into town and it still ran hot. I was in Kingman at a Custom Aluminum radiator shop to talk to them about the Kaiser radiator and discussion lead to talking about The Starliner running hot. The owner told me he could make a radiator with the proper "puller' style electric fan on it to clear the serpentine belt drive system. I pulled the existing copper core radiator and the 3 electric fans out, moved the condenser as far forward as possible and remounted it separately from...