Motoring in Manila

It's been over 15 since I last visited this place.  At the time the family didn't have a car so the only mode of transportation was taking public transportation, which consisted hopping on jeepneys, triccyles and buses.  Times have changed the second time around.

WRC driver Miko Hirvonnen doing test runs with his Ford Focus.  Though the end was very cool.  I wonder if he made it?

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Tired Joints

As old red gets old, things are bound to get loose.  So it's no surprise that the ball joints have finally decided to let go.  Actually they've been gone for a few months i've just been putting it off for a while.  I was hoping to get the shop to do the work, cause i'm too lazy to lift a wrench.  But such is not the case, since they were busy all day.  So i'm had to spend my labor day doing the job myself.  Well if you want something done, gotta do it yourself.  At least I know it'll done right.  And if I screw up it's all me.  Damn, I need someone too blame if something goes wrong.

 In order to be successful I needed to remove the lower control arm.  Didn't have a ball joint press which would have cut the necessity of removing the lower control arm.

 But I do have a hydraulic press in the back, it's very convenient to remove and install the ball joints.

It sucks I always gotta scrounge around for adapters to make it work.  The first one wasn't so hot.

  But the next one was a success.

After about an hour of hard labor and busted knuckles old red is feeling better and much more solid.  Look ma no more steering wheel shake.

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Let the rumble begin.

Being the motorsports spectator that I claim to be. The season of motorsports is in it's early blossom and I must head out to the smell of race gas and burning rubber.  I love the rumble of the V8 with cars tidy paint jobs.  But thanks to Steve C. for the ticket, I am able to fulfill my motoring passion.

one fitty

Headed out to Fontana over the weekend to preview the 2011 Ford F150. I'm not really in the market for a new rig, at least not yet. But offering real performance test drives, not some drive around a neighborhood, how could I pass it up.

Trying out the different powertrains that were available, the Ecoboost engine was a real eye opener. The engine is a twin turbo V6 with direct injection, and you know I love my turbo! Using trailer weighing ~6600lb. felt like it was towing a set of Seadoos.  Coupled with the 6 speed transmission, was very smooth. I'm already falling in love with this combo.

 

At the make shift drag strip, the Ecoboost engine once again amazes me. It definitely has more juice than the 5.0 that was offered in the line up. Didn't try the 6.2, but I'm sure it'll put the smack down on the Ecoboost. But then again I don't think the 6.2 can pull off +20mpg.

 

Afterwards I came out looking at my own '01 thinking it maybe time for an upgrade.

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21st Route 66 Rendevous: The Stragglers

The day after Sevenstock 13, I headed out to San Bernadino for the annual Route 66 Rendevous.  A 4 day event bringing vehicles of all types, mainly big bad early american domestics.  You may see a sprinkle of europeans here and there.  The asian imports were locked in the bathroom never to be seen.

Since it was the last day of the event, I was treated to just the stragglers of the event.  Usually the streets are packed with cars either parked or cruising up and down the street.  But there was enough for me to enjoy and snap a couple of pictures of the event.

Next time i'll make an earlier trek to really see what Route 66 Rendevous is all about.  For more info on the event click here.

And for the rest of the pics follow this link

 

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Sidetracking

I was planning to have drop the motor in the Force Ube Corolla.  But as usual I get preoccupied with other things.  Needed to change out the brakes on the Big Red F150.  Since the brakes on this thing suck.  I went with an upgraded brake pad.  This time using a ceramic compound that's supposed to be good with heat.  We shall see how it goes.

While i'm at it, why not repack the bearings.

It's nice not to have pack these things by hand.

All nice and tidy and ready to rock!


This weekend was also time to visit a few shows

 Something just isn't right

Sevenstock 13 in Irvine Ca.

 

mmm.  beer

Route 66 Rendevous in San Bernadino.

Mustang too

The morning commute is usually full of nothing. But for some reason I was drawn to this Ford Mustang during the morning rush. A mid seventies Mustang 2, a car built to compete with the invasion of gas sippin' japanese imports. Since the gas crunch at the time had made buying big american v8 muscle cars a no no. This fine malaise era example is in pretty good shape for it's age. I would guess it was repainted since the paint just looks too good. It's got the 6 digit california plates, so it's probably been a california car all it's life. Almost 35 years later it's nice to see the old car still on the road.

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