Yeah, now they're going to think more about smaller engines and turbochargers. It has always been more of a different philosophy rather than a lack of awareness.
As someone who once had a 68 Camaro with 5 of these things (rear disc, turn down exhaust, flex fan, locked rear, 4:56 gear) I can tell you this is all very good advice.
100% agree. If you need better brakes on road car just get front discs. I am not sure on GM but on Mopars you can use kits using factory front disks from late 70s and for Mustangs there is reproduction Kelsey Hayes brake kit used on GT350. Both work well in my experience and also fit under 15" wheels.
My 68 396 Camaro 12:1 L88 cam, 40lb flywheel, M20, 12 bolt with Summers Brothers spool and axles and 5.13 Eaton pro gears, equaled the quickest street car in town, never got beat.
We're just getting our channel going in a meaningful way, even though we've technically had it for years. Been too busy running a resto shop. Appreciate the support. More content to come!
@@gearheadgarageinc I agree straight to the point. No need for a spool or locked rear end on the street. Fast way to crash if you get rain. Also get too much attention from police with the tire noise turning corners.
This is what all YT videos should be- no b.s., and based on experience and knowledge. One of the best videos I’ve seen in years. This could have been titled “21 Mistakes A 16yo In 1980 Dreamed Of Adding To His Car.” Save the money, just put Thrush, Hooker and Hurst stickers on the windows and a CalCustom air cleaner.
Your advice about buying the right car is golden, so many people buy with their hearts, instead of their brains, then end up chasing their tail trying to fix all the ‘enhancements’ they spent big bucks on. Spend a year or so going to car shows, talking to vintage car owners, and researching on line, if you’re very lucky you may find some folks who will share the ups and downs of vintage car ownership. My efforts led me to a 68 -L79 Vette and I’ve been thrilled ever since, plenty of go for this old man, haven’t had to add any ‘hop up’ parts etc because it came with everything I needed….
@@CJColvinWhy do people always put aftermarket rims,on classic cars,when factory ones look so much better in my eyes.Put the money in new springs,sway bars,bushings and ball joints along with new control arms if you should so choose,and don't forget the shocks,or struts.
Good advice. I am 65 years old and have been a muscle car guy since 15 years old. My first car was a 72 bright orange Duster that started my car enthusiast life. I have owned my 70 Challenger since 79 and my 70 GTX since 81. The facts you stated took me many Hot Rod magazines and years to learn. My cars are stock appearing with upgrades that enhance performance but with out suffering the maladies you have described. Mini starters, high energy ignitions, quality tires, better brake pads and shoes. I look forward to driving my 70s cars and know that the ride will be 70s quality. That is the experience of owning these classics. Improvement but still the 70s feel. Thanks for the video.
Except for the gears and the exhaust, he pretty much reflects what we have been saying since the late 90s...when all this modern stuff appeared. Nothing like the sound of a muscle car with dumps, converter and short gears. Its all nostalgia...remember the crappy times in the 70s when lots of people went stink bug stance and sidepipes. Yuk!.
My father had a classic car restoration business/Speed Shop and every point is spot on. Customers often think if a little is good, then more is better. In reality they often end up with a car that performs worse and are not happy with the end result.
You nailed it on all of these points! How many times do you see a beater with rims and a stereo worth way more than the entire vehicle that needs a ton of work to be safe or just run properly. Great vid.
Lucky you! I don't have the best luck with anything that has a ratcheting caliper e-brake....they feel firm, bunt don't seem to hold all that well. Wilwoods have been my favorite thus far
Wilwood dyna on the rear of my falcon. I was surprised the E-brake shoes were like real drum shoes whereas a lot of modern rear-disk e brakes are a more simplified mono-shoe without all the extra springs and such. Whatever, it works and I think the shoes are bigger than the stock falcon 9” rear shoes also.
I'm all for getting a car up to date with some modern upgrades and improvements. Yet, I often wonder what people were thinking when they did certain changes.....and, understandably, most people aren't necessarily in the know.
All good common sense upgrades. I always liked my rear drum brakes with the emergency system that never fails. Back in the day we used to swap them out for 12" truck drum brakes.
Excellent upgrade! Larger drums have increased stopping power. Most people don't realize that drums actually have more stopping power. Rear disc brakes look cool, and they do cool down faster. Done right, they're a great upgrade, but rear drums get the job done. I love discs up front so my car stops STRAIGHT!
I'm hoping part 2 includes putting in too much of a cam. A lot of people want that lope, but now have a car that does not have any low end, and no vacuum for their brakes.
There are exceptions to that. I have a 355 LT4 in a ‘97 Camaro SS that has a COMP XFI 292 cam. I built everything to match and play well together, and it is very streetable, has power everywhere, and has a radical idle. I did have to add a vacuum pump for brakes, but I have no regrets at all.
The bigger wheels totally ruin the look of the vehicle and as you said the ride also. The only thing worse is the huge front tire on HD motorcycles. Thank You for a great video.
Also, chrome or shiny parts on the engine. They're usually chinesium that looks bad in a few months, they're not well made, valve covers will leak, oil pans will leak, stuff wont align. Take a few hours to make you stock parts look good, it's cheap and looks good, or pay for proper quality parts that will be an actual upgrade beyond just looks.
I always chuckle when I look under a car to see why the oil pan is leaking, and see there's a chrome pan under there!!! Ooh, so shiny.......cuz its covered in oil!! People need to learn to prep those surfaces, and to use good washers in an attempt to get a positive seal!!
@@independentears He's not wrong in a way. If you leave the stock front and just upgrade the rears to disc, it won't be a huge increase...but it will limit or minimize brake fade if you have to jam on the brakes multiple times within a short amount of time. If you upgrade the fronts to a good 2 pot caliper or more with the appropriate master cylinder and brake booster, it is absolutely a worth while upgrade. These old cars brake and handle like an elephant on roller skates. Good front an rear brakes are highly under rated when it comes to modifications.
I'm a disc brake fan, on all corners! I just see so many people do a poor install. Throughout the comments, I share that I usually run Wilwoods - they're phenomenal. Large drum brakes ACTUALLY have more stopping power.....but I can't remember the last time i personally installed larger drums instead of discs. But many do, with great satisfaction. Thanks for the comments y'all
That's true. Quality counts! Check out the comment below, as I don't hate flex fans, but I've lost some skin doing maintenance repairs over the years.....and many horror stories in the comments!
As an old fart that has built several hot rods since the late 70's I have learned my lesson the hard way that every one of your recommendations is correct. The other thing I do not like on classic muscle cars is 100" diameter homo rims with rubber band tires that have a they/them pronoun.
Homo rims and they/them (zim/zer, anyone...?) rubber band tyres - LOVE the expression! Can I use it elsewhere, please? Agreed on your assessment - they look retarded, and ruin the car.
Thank you for this video I completely agree with everything you’ve shared. I have been running my commercial business for 30 years in march. Educating people about their choices without insulting them upon their choices is where we become head shrinks at times to guide customers to success outside pre written contracts and invoices.
Great info. I changed the rear gear in my 66 Mustang from 3:1 to 3.23 to one. Perfect amount of snap with 200 hp (gets a little scratch in 2nd easily), and does well on the freeway.
My dad taught me that upgrading the suspension and brakes FIRST. Makes for a much faster driver. There is no point on more power if you cant steer, turn predictably and handle wallowing stutter bumps when braking. So with just suspension and brakes I can now pass you in any turn, out brake you everywhere and out handle you in the rough. And I still have just a basic lower block crank, rods, and drivetrain. No power adders yet, just smoothed out power delivery a bit. Annnnd I won again...C'YA!
If only I could find a checklist or buyers guide or something to help me when buying on old car, like an Old Classic Car Purchase Inspection Checklist and Buying Guide somewhere. Holy Smokes my Man, WE GET IT! You have a checklist.
I see so many people buy cars without knowing what they're getting into....... Just hoping to share a little advice, help people enjoy the process better
Wow, this was an impressive video with excellent expert advice. You identified the errors, explained them succinctly and offered excellent alternatives. Really well done.
I'm keeping my '69 AMX as is. Much of it is still original save for upgraded pistons in its 390 (it feels as though it may have a mild cam), an Offenhouser intake manifold, Edelbrock 1405 carb and Flowmaster mufflers. A previous owner put in a fancy car stereo with rear speakers (and used the oil light feed to power it - not too smart), but by the time I got it, they'd put back the factory AM radio and left the rear speakers in. I tapped off the Radio post on the fuse panel to power the radio and reconnected the oil light (and scored an original Rally-pac gauge set on ebay).
Wow,glad I came across your video. You are direct and address the particular items in a common sense manner. I kiddingly refer to my shop as shoestring garage because that's how I build them, don't need all those high dollar BS improvements . Just a little above "stock" is my old school appeal.
This list started out describing my 69 Mustang. When I swapped out the drums on the front the improvement was huge, so naturally I thought rear discs would make a similar difference - almost no noticeable difference.
Great video I was thinking about making one of those videos because I've made every one of those mistakes LOL. Well not really everyone but it was a great video and I liked and subscribed
Totally agree on the rear disk brakes. WHY? I have an old 86 Olds 442, 68 350 Olds, runs 12.60s with slicks and the rear drums have stopped it just fine for the past 30 years. Brake shoes last forever and yeah, the parking brake is nice. MSD box? Never understood the point of one of those on a 12-13 sec street/ strip car. Carb? For low end torque, I'm happy with a 650 DP and a stock AC delco mechanical fuel pump. Stereo? The stock Delco ...with cassette...and some aftermarket 6x9 speakers, sounds just fine. Very practical , no nonsense video.
Great info any gearhead or potential gearhead needs to know. Some of us grew up being taught these things, but I have a lot of friends that are just now getting into cars in their late forties and have never been taught the basics.
solid advice. i agree 100%. i even made the msd box mistake on my first restomod. simplicity and reliability should always be at the top of the list. only do things that have a PURPOSE to your build.
This randomly popped up on my feed. Great recommendations. I am not an old school hot rodder, but I study automotive culture and everything you mentioned are things I notice. Oldest cart I built was a 96 grand marquis with everything built before adding a turbo and then adding built motor. I did suspension first, then brakes, then transmission and drive train, moderate sound system. Then did wheels and tires and proper hub centric H&R spacers. Anyway, I have seen so many builds and you put so much into context that I wondered about, like the carburetors and the air ride. Well done! Only advice is to buy a wireless mic, they sell them on amazon for 30 or get a semi pro one like a rode wireless 2go and you will sound a full pro TH-camr
Sounds like built yours in the proper order! ....and, yeah - I had purchased a wireless mic and it sounded even worse!! Definitely could use some better sound quality, as my shop is noisy!
If I've got a healthy engine, a high-stall or a manual trans, I'm not scared of a big carb. Mut MOST cars respond well to a slightly conservative carb selection. Seems like all the carb CFM calculators you find online always push you to a smaller carb anymore.
Something I learned from ChrisFix is the adding of a 2nd set of brake calipers. Normally this is done to cause drifting, but the solution in replacing rear drum brakes where the parking brakes are you would replace with a 2nd brake caliper to act as the parking brakes.
I love this video! Right on dude! And as far as rear diffs: ditch the old limited slip AND the locker. Do yoursellf a favor and replace whatever you have with an Eaton Tru Trac. Its a gear type torque sensing limited slip, requires no friction oil additive. You can get a a drop in version on many different ford/gm etc. cars. It’s wonderful!
my experience has taught me to avoid the "kits" when doing modifications to a car classic or new. If you want to add something use a stock part from another vehicle and retrofit it. Is more work, requires some fabrication. But the result is just so much better. Since your doing it yourself to your car it will fit your car. Your in control of the quality. Your skills will increase dramatically. Will give you a truly unique ride. You'll save yourself some money.
Great vid! Lotsa info, quickly. Good advise for making cars enjoyable to drive, which most people will be happier about than simply having impressive-sounding parts.
@ I don’t know if you’ve covered this in your other videos, but I think an interesting and controversial topic would be regretting having too much power. Like motors that are expensive to build, tend to overpower the handling and braking, and aren’t that much fun to drive. To me, balancing horsepower and handling/braking is best for long-term enjoyment and driving.
@@jonmustang So true! I jut Dyno'd a '69 Camaro that put 750hp to the rear last week. Such a wicked, supercharged LS 427......but now it can't get close to hooking up at 1/2 throttle. Exhilirating, but useless!!!!
Great advice, especially with the flex fans. I was at a car meet a guy revved his engine, loud bang and the car stalled. He looked around didn't notice anything wrong. He asked me for a jump, I went to hook up the cables and one of the cables was cut completely. A blade from the fan flew off and cut the cable.
Once after washing my car we were checking the timings curve, and at 3000 rpm the air flow / vibration pulled a towel off the bumper and into the fan. It exploded, luckily nobody got hurt.
This is a nice video. It really makes sense. I'm a fan of factory stock so any upgrade really needs to be more than justified, especially if it can be seen.
I agree with all you said and showed except for the flex fan I have always had great experiences with them . I have an olds that had a problem over heating when stopped in traffic ,I like channel and solid advice 👍🏻👍🏻
@gearheadgarageinc I had a couple of friends who had a blade come off and go through their hood when I was a kid, but I inspect everything I purchase and have a particular style that has never failed me, I take it to 7 thousand rpms too.
All solid advice based upon my 40 years working on my own cars. I bought a 70 442 in 1987 from a guy who had put high jacker air shocks on the rear end. He had so much pressure in them to accommodate the huge rear tires and wheels that he broke the frame by the gas tank and sent it through the trunk floor inches from the tank. Bad idea.
Well done. And as I think about it, most of us are not on the track or driving power touring style: we just like to whack the throttle once in a while with confidence... and enjoy the heart warmimg rumble of a v8. To that end, drum brakes are just fine. For daily drivers, I think they make more sense: reduces unsprung weight [think pothole management], withstands sitting around better [think grandmas car], and for snow country the design itself helps shield from the elements & road salt. They might need more frequent inspections - I can not only live with that, I wish cars went back to all drums. New isn't always an upgrade.
good advice on all points, should have done some drivability upgrades on my 72 challenger when I was putting it back together, it sits in garage most of the time because it's such a bear to drive
That's a bummer, as they can be so AMAZING to drive! I've had a number people comment thinking i'm against upgrades......I'm all for upgrades, done sensibly. Especially if they make the car safer, more reliable and more enjoyable. Sounds like a cool car!
When upgrading wheels my rule of thumb is keep the overall tire diameter and center line the same. Do those two things and the alignment shop will be able to align it properly avoiding any handling problems. How wide you can go is a factor or how much clearance you have.
Finally, someone else who looks at the downside of air suspension. Also, about 70% of the braking power is on the front brakes, so I see little reason to sink a bunch of money into changing the rear braking system.
I have been building custom cars for 40 years for me and my friends and you are absolutely right, but those wide blade flex fans do work really well put it in the shroud and keep your hands out of there.
Wasn't aware of the lack of an e-brake on rear disc brakes; thanks. 😁 MSD worked great in my mildly modified 302 in a '71 Ranchero, which was admittedly slightly overcarbureted.
i have a foxbody with with high flow heads, cam and supercharger. i just put a over sized fuel pump and 42 lbs injectors and it runs fine, but its not tuned yet. should i be worried about leaning out the engine?
Absolutely YES. Although it sounds like the fuel system is adequate, you'll need to have the fuel mapping done. The last thing you wanna do is lean out an engine under boost - that can be catastrophic. If it runs ok, drive it easily, and make sure all systems are working fine. Once confident, I'd definitely advise you sync up with a good tuner that can plug & play with their laptop to dial in fuel trims, timing, detonation, etc. Sounds FAST, and fun! Good luck!
The reason why I like to keep my 200 C4 66 stang stock. I did get some mods just in case I ever wanted to install them such as front disk brakes, double M/C with optional booster, 1 inch sway bar, head rests.
I agree with everything he said about classic muscle. I had a 69 camaro. I did some of those things . Now I know my car could have been a better car without some of the upgrades. I was 16 and learning about muscle cars at the time.
Thanks. Enjoy the Camaro!! I had the same model for a short time when I was young. Handled so much better than the '67 I had at the same time and kept forever
Some good points here. About cooling...a clutch driven fan does not turn at more rpm than a flex fan. A fan clutch will slip in most driving situations to minimize drag. A fan clutch will lock in warm weather and/or in traffic so the fan turns at waterpump speed. However a flexfan will always turn at waterpump speed because there is a solid connection (no clutch) with the waterpump pulley. A flexfan usually gives better cooling, but you may not like the wind noise, and they are not fuel efficient either. But both a flexfan and a clutch driven fan should be surrounded by a shroud for better cooling and safety.
A fan clutchbworks off heat. When it get hot from engine heat it locks up, no matter the rpm. Also a fixed blade clutch fan will cool mich better than a flex fan, especially at higher RPM. A flex fan flattens out as RPM increases and stops pulling air. In fact it turns into a wall behind the radiator BLOCKING airflow. Also a flex fan is more than likely to Crack and fly apart at higher RPM. And the shroud is a very important part to making sure the radiator cools. It makes the fan pull more air across the core.
With a clutch fan the _engine_ can turn more easily at high RPM, because the clutch disengages. A fan that always turns at water pump speed wastes a lot of energy. When a fan clutch disengages it could be worth 5% more power, or fuel savings.
@@WVXL64 Correct, a shroud should be used for better cooling. I mentioned safety because he talked about hurting his hand being near the fan with the engine idling. I have seen a factory flex fan loosing a blade, but not on an aftermarket flex fan. But possible I guess. I have experimented with flex fans in the past on a few classic cars. In both cases they ran much cooler, both in city traffic and on the highway. Unless the temp gauges in both cars were lying to me...
@@MrZdvy Thamks for commenting. Flex fans do move quite a bit of air, surely more than a stock 4-blade seen on many early classics. A good shroud is always such a key complement to any fan. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Lincoln locker on the front axle of a 4wd with lock out hubs isn't the worse thing. You unlock the short axle side and leave the long side locked. Then you can lock the shorts side hub for a fully locked front on difficult obstacles. Steering can disappear but that happens with nearly any locked front. A clutch type LSD usually gets smoked in front applications and steering sucks with twitcy wheel kickback.
Well that killed 90 percent of the advertisements in Hot Rod / Muscle car magazines....
cheers for STOCK cooling, With a Fan shroud.....!
Not really. You just have to be intelligent enough to know if it's what fits your intended goal, a problem that plagues 50% of the planet.
Yeah, now they're going to think more about smaller engines and turbochargers. It has always been more of a different philosophy rather than a lack of awareness.
@@OxBlitzkriegxO There's a sucker born every minute.....No magazine is going out of business anytime soon.
😂😂😂
As someone who once had a 68 Camaro with 5 of these things (rear disc, turn down exhaust, flex fan, locked rear, 4:56 gear) I can tell you this is all very good advice.
Thank you!
I think I used to have that same car!!
I'm speaking from experience here :)
100% agree. If you need better brakes on road car just get front discs. I am not sure on GM but on Mopars you can use kits using factory front disks from late 70s and for Mustangs there is reproduction Kelsey Hayes brake kit used on GT350. Both work well in my experience and also fit under 15" wheels.
My 68 396 Camaro 12:1 L88 cam, 40lb flywheel, M20, 12 bolt with Summers Brothers spool and axles and 5.13 Eaton pro gears, equaled the quickest street car in town, never got beat.
@@davidkeeton6716you’ve seen a Sasquatch too I’m sure……
I expected a crap video because I wasn’t familiar with the channel. The reality is that this is super solid info that I totally support.
We're just getting our channel going in a meaningful way, even though we've technically had it for years. Been too busy running a resto shop. Appreciate the support. More content to come!
@@gearheadgarageinc I agree straight to the point. No need for a spool or locked rear end on the street. Fast way to crash if you get rain. Also get too much attention from police with the tire noise turning corners.
This is what all YT videos should be- no b.s., and based on experience and knowledge. One of the best videos I’ve seen in years. This could have been titled “21 Mistakes A 16yo In 1980 Dreamed Of Adding To His Car.” Save the money, just put Thrush, Hooker and Hurst stickers on the windows and a CalCustom air cleaner.
Thanks for the response!
I forgot to add the decals to the list!!!!
The old joke us parts/speed equipment guys always told was based around Holley floormats and some chrome exhaust tips make it so much quicker.
I like the way you got straight to the point 👍🏾❤️
Thank you!
Your advice about buying the right car is golden, so many people buy with their hearts, instead of their brains, then end up chasing their tail trying to fix all the ‘enhancements’ they spent big bucks on.
Spend a year or so going to car shows, talking to vintage car owners, and researching on line, if you’re very lucky you may find some folks who will share the ups and downs of vintage car ownership.
My efforts led me to a 68 -L79 Vette and I’ve been thrilled ever since, plenty of go for this old man, haven’t had to add any ‘hop up’ parts etc because it came with everything I needed….
Buy the most car you can "afford".
But be smart about it!
Big rims on classic cars will always make you puke 🤢🤮
This ⏫️
@@CJColvinWhy do people always put aftermarket rims,on classic cars,when factory ones look so much better in my eyes.Put the money in new springs,sway bars,bushings and ball joints along with new control arms if you should so choose,and don't forget the shocks,or struts.
@@patrickmcgoldrick8234 Totally agree 100%
I thought People like to Puke On The Donk's as they walk by.
Not me
Good advice. I am 65 years old and have been a muscle car guy since 15 years old. My first car was a 72 bright orange Duster that started my car enthusiast life. I have owned my 70 Challenger since 79 and my 70 GTX since 81. The facts you stated took me many Hot Rod magazines and years to learn. My cars are stock appearing with upgrades that enhance performance but with out suffering the maladies you have described. Mini starters, high energy ignitions, quality tires, better brake pads and shoes. I look forward to driving my 70s cars and know that the ride will be 70s quality. That is the experience of owning these classics. Improvement but still the 70s feel. Thanks for the video.
Except for the gears and the exhaust, he pretty much reflects what we have been saying since the late 90s...when all this modern stuff appeared. Nothing like the sound of a muscle car with dumps, converter and short gears. Its all nostalgia...remember the crappy times in the 70s when lots of people went stink bug stance and sidepipes. Yuk!.
Thanks for watching & commenting!
My father had a classic car restoration business/Speed Shop and every point is spot on. Customers often think if a little is good, then more is better. In reality they often end up with a car that performs worse and are not happy with the end result.
Well said.
There's usually a recipe that works, otherwise you end up with a bit of a Frankenstein,
You nailed it on all of these points! How many times do you see a beater with rims and a stereo worth way more than the entire vehicle that needs a ton of work to be safe or just run properly.
Great vid.
It's so true!
Every rear disc conversion I’ve performed has the e-brake cable kit installed. No problem.
Lucky you!
I don't have the best luck with anything that has a ratcheting caliper e-brake....they feel firm, bunt don't seem to hold all that well.
Wilwoods have been my favorite thus far
Wilwood dyna on the rear of my falcon. I was surprised the E-brake shoes were like real drum shoes whereas a lot of modern rear-disk e brakes are a more simplified mono-shoe without all the extra springs and such. Whatever, it works and I think the shoes are bigger than the stock falcon 9” rear shoes also.
That was really an excellent explanation of what not to do to your car. What people think is cool is not always a wise application. I concur
I'm all for getting a car up to date with some modern upgrades and improvements. Yet, I often wonder what people were thinking when they did certain changes.....and, understandably, most people aren't necessarily in the know.
One thing that he forgot to mention about oversized wheels is THEY'RE UGLY AS FK
All good common sense upgrades. I always liked my rear drum brakes with the emergency system that never fails. Back in the day we used to swap them out for 12" truck drum brakes.
Excellent upgrade! Larger drums have increased stopping power. Most people don't realize that drums actually have more stopping power. Rear disc brakes look cool, and they do cool down faster. Done right, they're a great upgrade, but rear drums get the job done. I love discs up front so my car stops STRAIGHT!
I'm hoping part 2 includes putting in too much of a cam. A lot of people want that lope, but now have a car that does not have any low end, and no vacuum for their brakes.
Good suggestion! And you'll have to stay tuned!
There are exceptions to that. I have a 355 LT4 in a ‘97 Camaro SS that has a COMP XFI 292 cam. I built everything to match and play well together, and it is very streetable, has power everywhere, and has a radical idle. I did have to add a vacuum pump for brakes, but I have no regrets at all.
The bigger wheels totally ruin the look of the vehicle and as you said the ride also. The only thing worse is the huge front tire on HD motorcycles. Thank You for a great video.
Agree. Those huge newer style wheels look awful on an older car like that Chevelle…..or pretty much any other car for that matter.
I thought that i was the only one who felt thus way, i would add slamming the car too. Slammed cars looked ridiculous IMO
in your opinion. and thats it.
Wagon wheels!
Also, chrome or shiny parts on the engine. They're usually chinesium that looks bad in a few months, they're not well made, valve covers will leak, oil pans will leak, stuff wont align.
Take a few hours to make you stock parts look good, it's cheap and looks good, or pay for proper quality parts that will be an actual upgrade beyond just looks.
I always chuckle when I look under a car to see why the oil pan is leaking, and see there's a chrome pan under there!!! Ooh, so shiny.......cuz its covered in oil!!
People need to learn to prep those surfaces, and to use good washers in an attempt to get a positive seal!!
All worthy suggestions. I'm watching pt2
Great, thank you!
As someone that had drums in the rear, upgrading the fronts and rears to disc was one of the best decisions I made.
Hes not that smart if he thinks drums will stop an old heavy car better than disk
@@independentears He's not wrong in a way. If you leave the stock front and just upgrade the rears to disc, it won't be a huge increase...but it will limit or minimize brake fade if you have to jam on the brakes multiple times within a short amount of time. If you upgrade the fronts to a good 2 pot caliper or more with the appropriate master cylinder and brake booster, it is absolutely a worth while upgrade. These old cars brake and handle like an elephant on roller skates. Good front an rear brakes are highly under rated when it comes to modifications.
You misheard him.
I'm a disc brake fan, on all corners!
I just see so many people do a poor install.
Throughout the comments, I share that I usually run Wilwoods - they're phenomenal.
Large drum brakes ACTUALLY have more stopping power.....but I can't remember the last time i personally installed larger drums instead of discs.
But many do, with great satisfaction.
Thanks for the comments y'all
That's true. Quality counts!
Check out the comment below, as I don't hate flex fans, but I've lost some skin doing maintenance repairs over the years.....and many horror stories in the comments!
Good stuff man. Keep the lean vids coming. Helping the others out here is a good deed.
Happy Holidays.
Thank you and happy holidays to you as well!
As an old fart that has built several hot rods since the late 70's I have learned my lesson the hard way that every one of your recommendations is correct. The other thing I do not like on classic muscle cars is 100" diameter homo rims with rubber band tires that have a they/them pronoun.
Seems like the best remembered lessons are learned the hard way - been there, done that.....
More than I'd like to admit!
Homo rims and they/them (zim/zer, anyone...?) rubber band tyres - LOVE the expression! Can I use it elsewhere, please?
Agreed on your assessment - they look retarded, and ruin the car.
Thanks Jason. You answered a question for me before I even asked. Outstanding info for all of us.
Glad to help!
I've never seen your channel before, but this is great info. I agree 100%.
Thank you for this video I completely agree with everything you’ve shared. I have been running my commercial business for 30 years in march. Educating people about their choices without insulting them upon their choices is where we become head shrinks at times to guide customers to success outside pre written contracts and invoices.
Congrats on your many years in business!
It's hard to teach people and share info WITHOUT offending anyone.....
Great info. I changed the rear gear in my 66 Mustang from 3:1 to 3.23 to one. Perfect amount of snap with 200 hp (gets a little scratch in 2nd easily), and does well on the freeway.
From another shop owner I 100% agree!
Much obliged!
It's always good to hear from other shop owners
My dad taught me that upgrading the suspension and brakes FIRST. Makes for a much faster driver. There is no point on more power if you cant steer, turn predictably and handle wallowing stutter bumps when braking. So with just suspension and brakes I can now pass you in any turn, out brake you everywhere and out handle you in the rough. And I still have just a basic lower block crank, rods, and drivetrain. No power adders yet, just smoothed out power delivery a bit. Annnnd I won again...C'YA!
I couldn't agree more with your breakdown, I have seen all these issues through the years... nice job!
Thanks for understanding what I'm getting at!
Great advice. Thank you. I was planning on a turn down exhaust just to save money. I’m gonna run them to the rear now for sure
YOu won't regret it.
Plus, it's cheaper done right the FIRST time!
If only I could find a checklist or buyers guide or something to help me when buying on old car, like an Old Classic Car Purchase Inspection Checklist and Buying Guide somewhere.
Holy Smokes my Man, WE GET IT! You have a checklist.
I see so many people buy cars without knowing what they're getting into.......
Just hoping to share a little advice, help people enjoy the process better
You’re so assume and very helpful. Mine 1979 Dodge Li’l Red Express. Thanks
All super-solid advice. The makings of a great channel here.
Appreciate the kind words, glad you liked the video!
Wow, this was an impressive video with excellent expert advice. You identified the errors, explained them succinctly and offered excellent alternatives. Really well done.
Thanks!
I'm keeping my '69 AMX as is. Much of it is still original save for upgraded pistons in its 390 (it feels as though it may have a mild cam), an Offenhouser intake manifold, Edelbrock 1405 carb and Flowmaster mufflers. A previous owner put in a fancy car stereo with rear speakers (and used the oil light feed to power it - not too smart), but by the time I got it, they'd put back the factory AM radio and left the rear speakers in. I tapped off the Radio post on the fuse panel to power the radio and reconnected the oil light (and scored an original Rally-pac gauge set on ebay).
Sounds like you’ve done a great job bringing it back to its roots
All excellent advice. Especially the rear disc brakes.
Thanks for watching!
Wow,glad I came across your video. You are direct and address the particular items in a common sense manner. I kiddingly refer to my shop as shoestring garage because that's how I build them, don't need all those high dollar BS improvements . Just a little above "stock" is my old school appeal.
I love the "shoestring" Garage comment!
So true
This list started out describing my 69 Mustang. When I swapped out the drums on the front the improvement was huge, so naturally I thought rear discs would make a similar difference - almost no noticeable difference.
I'm still a rear disc fan - but they don't ever seem to make a night & day difference like the fronts!
Great video I was thinking about making one of those videos because I've made every one of those mistakes LOL. Well not really everyone but it was a great video and I liked and subscribed
Thanks for subscribing!
Nice informative video, thanks for taking the time to do it.
All good points! I wanted to add that an adjustable porportioning valve is usually necessary for those rear disc brake conversions as well.
Good point!!!
All true. Glad to see some of my pet peeves called out! (especially 3/4 exhaust)
Thanks for watching!
Totally agree on the rear disk brakes. WHY? I have an old 86 Olds 442, 68 350 Olds, runs 12.60s with slicks and the rear drums have stopped it just fine for the past 30 years. Brake shoes last forever and yeah, the parking brake is nice. MSD box? Never understood the point of one of those on a 12-13 sec street/ strip car. Carb? For low end torque, I'm happy with a 650 DP and a stock AC delco mechanical fuel pump. Stereo? The stock Delco ...with cassette...and some aftermarket 6x9 speakers, sounds just fine. Very practical , no nonsense video.
Sounds like a fun car!!
Thanks for your input
Because on a GM a rear disc brake conversion is a “free” c-clip axle eliminator👍🏻
Great info any gearhead or potential gearhead needs to know. Some of us grew up being taught these things, but I have a lot of friends that are just now getting into cars in their late forties and have never been taught the basics.
Thanks.
That's exactly what I'm trying to do - share some seemingly obvious but LEGIT info with those that may not be in the know!
Thanks for the list and the reasons why.
Absolutely!
Trying to share relevant info that people can use
Great video! Preaching a lot of the things I always have! Especially gearing and brakes!
Thanks!
TRying to help the average Joe gain a little perspective!
solid advice. i agree 100%. i even made the msd box mistake on my first restomod. simplicity and reliability should always be at the top of the list. only do things that have a PURPOSE to your build.
Nailed it - well said!
This randomly popped up on my feed. Great recommendations. I am not an old school hot rodder, but I study automotive culture and everything you mentioned are things I notice. Oldest cart I built was a 96 grand marquis with everything built before adding a turbo and then adding built motor. I did suspension first, then brakes, then transmission and drive train, moderate sound system. Then did wheels and tires and proper hub centric H&R spacers. Anyway, I have seen so many builds and you put so much into context that I wondered about, like the carburetors and the air ride. Well done! Only advice is to buy a wireless mic, they sell them on amazon for 30 or get a semi pro one like a rode wireless 2go and you will sound a full pro TH-camr
Sounds like built yours in the proper order!
....and, yeah - I had purchased a wireless mic and it sounded even worse!!
Definitely could use some better sound quality, as my shop is noisy!
These are all very solid bits of advice. Well done.
Thanks!
These are some really good tips.
Nice vid man.
Thanks!
I have an 850 double pumper with no choke,,,,Always ran great,,,changing the carb to a 750 WITH a choke
If I've got a healthy engine, a high-stall or a manual trans, I'm not scared of a big carb. Mut MOST cars respond well to a slightly conservative carb selection. Seems like all the carb CFM calculators you find online always push you to a smaller carb anymore.
solid, useful and to the point - great work.
Thank!
Trying to keep it short, sensible & simple
Love the channel...new subscriber.
Where ya'll from? Heard you say "hella"...serious Bay Area lingonright there.
Great vids. Thanks!
Glad you like it and thanks for the sub. We're in Sacramento - originally from San Francisco - so you are correct!
@gearheadgarageinc Awesome man, from Oakland, so I caught the language immediately 😃🤙
Thanks for the great videos.
Something I learned from ChrisFix is the adding of a 2nd set of brake calipers. Normally this is done to cause drifting, but the solution in replacing rear drum brakes where the parking brakes are you would replace with a 2nd brake caliper to act as the parking brakes.
You're right, there are a number of secondary caliper kits designed to provide an e-brake!
Great comments. The filming is good too!
Thanks for watching!
I love this video! Right on dude! And as far as rear diffs: ditch the old limited slip AND the locker. Do yoursellf a favor and replace whatever you have with an Eaton Tru Trac. Its a gear type torque sensing limited slip, requires no friction oil additive. You can get a a drop in version on many different ford/gm etc. cars. It’s wonderful!
Thanks for the good word!
I definitely agree with you on the Eaton
my experience has taught me to avoid the "kits" when doing modifications to a car classic or new. If you want to add something use a stock part from another vehicle and retrofit it. Is more work, requires some fabrication. But the result is just so much better.
Since your doing it yourself to your car it will fit your car. Your in control of the quality. Your skills will increase dramatically. Will give you a truly unique ride. You'll save yourself some money.
Good info!
Brilliant car critical thinking thank you so much for sharing this with us and we really appreciate it see you on the next one ..........
Thanks for being receptive!
Trying to share some experience.......even if y'all disagree on one point or another.
Great vid! Lotsa info, quickly. Good advise for making cars enjoyable to drive, which most people will be happier about than simply having impressive-sounding parts.
That's exactly what I was aiming for, thanks!
@ I don’t know if you’ve covered this in your other videos, but I think an interesting and controversial topic would be regretting having too much power. Like motors that are expensive to build, tend to overpower the handling and braking, and aren’t that much fun to drive. To me, balancing horsepower and handling/braking is best for long-term enjoyment and driving.
@@jonmustang So true!
I jut Dyno'd a '69 Camaro that put 750hp to the rear last week.
Such a wicked, supercharged LS 427......but now it can't get close to hooking up at 1/2 throttle. Exhilirating, but useless!!!!
Nice video, to the point and honest 👍
Great advice, especially with the flex fans. I was at a car meet a guy revved his engine, loud bang and the car stalled. He looked around didn't notice anything wrong. He asked me for a jump, I went to hook up the cables and one of the cables was cut completely. A blade from the fan flew off and cut the cable.
Once after washing my car we were checking the timings curve, and at 3000 rpm the air flow / vibration pulled a towel off the bumper and into the fan. It exploded, luckily nobody got hurt.
Holy smack!!!!!!
Great information! Keep up the good work! Watching from Texas.
Thank you! And we love TX!
This is a nice video. It really makes sense. I'm a fan of factory stock so any upgrade really needs to be more than justified, especially if it can be seen.
Thanks for chiming in.
I love hearing what people have to share!
Excellent advice, thanks for sharing
My pleasure, thanks!
I appreciate the quick but effective pace and the wisdom of the recommendations. Thanks
Thanks!
Trying to share relevant info without droning on and on......
Great points..especialy the exhaust..Great video
I agree with all you said and showed except for the flex fan I have always had great experiences with them . I have an olds that had a problem over heating when stopped in traffic ,I like channel and solid advice 👍🏻👍🏻
Flex fans can work well, just seen & heard so many horror stories!
Thanks for watching, and for sharing
@gearheadgarageinc I had a couple of friends who had a blade come off and go through their hood when I was a kid, but I inspect everything I purchase and have a particular style that has never failed me, I take it to 7 thousand rpms too.
Subbed! You just nailed some of my pet peeves when it comes to classic car mods.
Thanks for the add!
all excellent advice - I agrre with everything he says. I have made many of the msitakes he brings up.
Me too!!!!
Great video
Thanks!
All solid advice based upon my 40 years working on my own cars. I bought a 70 442 in 1987 from a guy who had put high jacker air shocks on the rear end. He had so much pressure in them to accommodate the huge rear tires and wheels that he broke the frame by the gas tank and sent it through the trunk floor inches from the tank. Bad idea.
Well done. And as I think about it, most of us are not on the track or driving power touring style: we just like to whack the throttle once in a while with confidence... and enjoy the heart warmimg rumble of a v8. To that end, drum brakes are just fine. For daily drivers, I think they make more sense: reduces unsprung weight [think pothole management], withstands sitting around better [think grandmas car], and for snow country the design itself helps shield from the elements & road salt. They might need more frequent inspections - I can not only live with that, I wish cars went back to all drums. New isn't always an upgrade.
Great Video!!! Subscribed.
Thanks!
good advice on all points, should have done some drivability upgrades on my 72 challenger when I was putting it back together, it sits in garage most of the time because it's such a bear to drive
That's a bummer, as they can be so AMAZING to drive!
I've had a number people comment thinking i'm against upgrades......I'm all for upgrades, done sensibly.
Especially if they make the car safer, more reliable and more enjoyable.
Sounds like a cool car!
Your logic is awesome!!
You are 100% spot on. Experience prevails.
Thanks!
Very nice video
When I was 16 I had a 67chevelle (plain Jane) put a power pack top end on it and that was good. Changed the slushomat to a rockcrusher - higher et.
When upgrading wheels my rule of thumb is keep the overall tire diameter and center line the same. Do those two things and the alignment shop will be able to align it properly avoiding any handling problems. How wide you can go is a factor or how much clearance you have.
Well said.
I try to keep what looks cool in line with what drives well....there's some reasonable "center-line" there too!!
Finally, someone else who looks at the downside of air suspension. Also, about 70% of the braking power is on the front brakes, so I see little reason to sink a bunch of money into changing the rear braking system.
Right?
It's all good when done right.....but, it's not always done right.
And - you got my gyst, allocate funds where they make most sense!
I have been building custom cars for 40 years for me and my friends and you are absolutely right, but those wide blade flex fans do work really well put it in the shroud and keep your hands out of there.
They do move a lot of air.
Just invest in the "Caution - FAN" sticker, lol!!
Absolutely great advice ❤
THanks!
Wasn't aware of the lack of an e-brake on rear disc brakes; thanks. 😁 MSD worked great in my mildly modified 302 in a '71 Ranchero, which was admittedly slightly overcarbureted.
Many kits have an e-brake, few have a good e-brake.
Thanks for chiming in!
You make so much sense! Please send me your checklist. Thanks
Sure! go to www.ClassicCarSecrets.com for the checklist
i have a foxbody with with high flow heads, cam and supercharger. i just put a over sized fuel pump and 42 lbs injectors and it runs fine, but its not tuned yet. should i be worried about leaning out the engine?
Absolutely YES. Although it sounds like the fuel system is adequate, you'll need to have the fuel mapping done. The last thing you wanna do is lean out an engine under boost - that can be catastrophic. If it runs ok, drive it easily, and make sure all systems are working fine. Once confident, I'd definitely advise you sync up with a good tuner that can plug & play with their laptop to dial in fuel trims, timing, detonation, etc.
Sounds FAST, and fun! Good luck!
The reason why I like to keep my 200 C4 66 stang stock. I did get some mods just in case I ever wanted to install them such as front disk brakes, double M/C with optional booster, 1 inch sway bar, head rests.
I agree with everything he said about classic muscle. I had a 69 camaro. I did some of those things . Now I know my car could have been a better car without some of the upgrades. I was 16 and learning about muscle cars at the time.
I own and maintain 5 classic cars and agree with all of your suggestions.
Glad to hear it!
Great video! I agree with everything! My ride. 1978 Camaro Z-28 4-speed.
Thanks.
Enjoy the Camaro!! I had the same model for a short time when I was young.
Handled so much better than the '67 I had at the same time and kept forever
0:51 THIS! I have been telling people NOT to use truncated, underbody exit exhausts seemingly forever. BAD idea! Thanks for covering it!
Thanks for watching, and for chiming in!
Some good points here. About cooling...a clutch driven fan does not turn at more rpm than a flex fan. A fan clutch will slip in most driving situations to minimize drag. A fan clutch will lock in warm weather and/or in traffic so the fan turns at waterpump speed. However a flexfan will always turn at waterpump speed because there is a solid connection (no clutch) with the waterpump pulley. A flexfan usually gives better cooling, but you may not like the wind noise, and they are not fuel efficient either. But both a flexfan and a clutch driven fan should be surrounded by a shroud for better cooling and safety.
A fan clutchbworks off heat. When it get hot from engine heat it locks up, no matter the rpm. Also a fixed blade clutch fan will cool mich better than a flex fan, especially at higher RPM. A flex fan flattens out as RPM increases and stops pulling air. In fact it turns into a wall behind the radiator BLOCKING airflow. Also a flex fan is more than likely to Crack and fly apart at higher RPM. And the shroud is a very important part to making sure the radiator cools. It makes the fan pull more air across the core.
With a clutch fan the _engine_ can turn more easily at high RPM, because the clutch disengages. A fan that always turns at water pump speed wastes a lot of energy. When a fan clutch disengages it could be worth 5% more power, or fuel savings.
@@WVXL64 Correct, a shroud should be used for better cooling. I mentioned safety because he talked about hurting his hand being near the fan with the engine idling. I have seen a factory flex fan loosing a blade, but not on an aftermarket flex fan. But possible I guess. I have experimented with flex fans in the past on a few classic cars. In both cases they ran much cooler, both in city traffic and on the highway. Unless the temp gauges in both cars were lying to me...
@@MrZdvy Thamks for commenting.
Flex fans do move quite a bit of air, surely more than a stock 4-blade seen on many early classics.
A good shroud is always such a key complement to any fan.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thank you,good common sense,and keep the value of your car,I am glad I caught your video,these are things I have preached against for years.
Right?! Glad it resonated with you.
Solid,practical info.
Thanks!
Seems like you know your stuff, sub'd!
Thanks for subscribing!
Great video. Thanks
Really good tips man!
Appreciate it!
Are these his customers cars he's talking smack about? 😂😂. I love it. Subscribing.
I was really expecting a bullshit video.. but you 100% nailed it. There is a right way to do a lot of these things.. but most people dont do it..
Lincoln locker on the front axle of a 4wd with lock out hubs isn't the worse thing. You unlock the short axle side and leave the long side locked. Then you can lock the shorts side hub for a fully locked front on difficult obstacles. Steering can disappear but that happens with nearly any locked front. A clutch type LSD usually gets smoked in front applications and steering sucks with twitcy wheel kickback.
Indeed. There's always a place for a locker, they're stout as you can get.
I'm just not a fan of them in traditional street driven 2wd applications.
Excellent tips for any car enthusiast
Appreciate the comment!
In other words, the factory engineers did a great job of designing a car that handled, stopped, performed and gave you great driving pleasure.
agreed
For the era. They did the best they could.
couldnt be any more wrong. People who say that are too cheap to do the upgrades.
Yes exactly what you said except engineers build it to the standers of the time.
You think classic cars stop and handle great? Have you ever driven one?
This guy nails it
Thanks!