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Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
What a great story...felt like I was right there with ya!
Bashton MCACN Managing Member |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
Cool story Ken. It's fun meeting up with friends from the past no matter how you get back in touch.
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Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
That story is so reminiscent of why we are all hear on this site today.[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif[/img]
Bitter/sweet tear in my eye too.. |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
Ken, I was sitting there with you when you drove home from the dealership (I'm sure it was the long way home) you put goose bumps on me with your writing ability. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img] THANKS
Dicky [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img] |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
The Best Story since since... "Gone with the Wind"
Well Done! Dan |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
It's always good to hear a Kwhizz story from back in the day... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]
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Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
"""So, the next winter (while Paulette was pregnant)"""
How did you have time for that if you were always working on the car..?? wilma [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img] |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
Tom- Thats pretty easy to understand. He had to plug in at night to keep warm during those cold Chicago nights.
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Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WILMASBOYL78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">"""So, the next winter (while Paulette was pregnant)"""
How did you have time for that if you were always working on the car..?? wilma [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img] </div></div> [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
Are we going to be sticking to Hot Rod stories...or "hot rod" stories? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]
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Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
AAHHHHH!!!........Yeah!!..........I think I remember those days............I Think!!......
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Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
It's all true. The last time I saw Ken he was making that great engine change.to the big block. What was he thinking. I think that even I thought it was a great idea, after all if it did'nt work out we could just trade it and get another car. I started with a couple of Mr Norm's street rams ..A 64 and then the next year a 65. Fast but of course not fast enough. One of our friends had just bought a 66 Chevelle 396 - 375 hp. Within a couple of months he had racked up a slew of tickets. His father said get rid of it. A good friend of mine said lets take over the payments and race the car. So we raided our piggy banks and became street racers. When the summer was over we pulled the engine and delivered it to E & R and had as much engine work done as we could afford. Mario and I put the motor together in my dining room..In the following summer we raced wherever and whatever. Low 12,s not bad for a newbee. Then we sold the Chevelle to a guy named al frieman ,payments of course which lasted a few months then the car was stolen so hence no more payments. So ended my racing career. Moved to southern california for about 10 years Brouht back a 73 novaSS 350 turbo which I got new. Drove around a few years then parked it for several years.Chevrolet came out with all the nice crate motors so I spent the whole winter rehabbing the car. Turned out real nice except people would follow me around to see where I Parked the car.Sold it for a lot of money in about 99. In about 2002 I found the world of restored classics, 72 chevelle matching 350 4-speed for a few years now a pretty nice 70 ls6 clone . Not perfect but what I can afford in retirement. Car shows well and I,ve met bunches of nice guya at the shows . Can't wait for warmer weather to "get her out" Well thats my story and I'm sticking to see yall at the show in Nov
ed |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
In the Drag Racing part of the cars history....when the Nova was first put together for racing....I had a Edelbrock Crossram on the car .......we had some issues with the car when we first started running it......It seemed as if i couldn't shift the car at RPM........we always thought it was the trans.....so....we had a local guy in the neighborhood by the name of Howie......you would place a order on Thursday and Friday you would have a trans sitting outside the garage door.....Humm!!....I wonder if he worked at a trans shop...LOL....anyhow he charged $100 for a trans, and I sold the one from the week before for the same amount....so , we just swapped out transmissions thinking that was the problem......No Luck.....When I got the Engine assy back from E&R I also bought one of their inhouse specialties called a "Rubber Drive" clutch assy.......basically what they did was to remove the springs from the Clutch "Disc" and replace them with blocks of rubber....after chasing the shifting issues for a couple of weeks ( and transmissions)....I pulled the Rubber drive out and put a regular disc in and all the shifting issues went away.....Imagine That!!
But......what I then did was to learn how to dis-assemble the trans and groundevery other syncro tooth off and I started running the car with a "Crash" Box in it......Now shifting was a non issue.....we got the car in this configuration to run a best of 11.73........But.......The next "Big" problem was that we had to run against Tony Christian ......The Nova would run 11.80's all day long.....but Tony (who was running his 57) was running 11.50's..........So.........We ended up taking the crossram off and we put a single Holley 3 Barrel and a Z-28 high rise.....with that set-up the car ran 12.10-12.15 all day long.......but....once you go fast(for the time), it wasn't much fun running slower.....but we ran a class called Top Stock and we won frequently.........But....Making $2.00 an hour and trying to race just quite didn't go together........But....It was fun for a year.........But....Like Eddie said.....Good Times..... Ken |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
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Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kwhizz</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Tony's first 57.........
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...Cars/TonyC.jpg </div></div> Cool pic (and stories!). Used to score parts from Tony at Grand. |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
Tony's other 57........Still my favorite Drag Car of all time...(next to "No Big Thing")..
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...vy_bel_air.jpg |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
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Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]
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Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
So cool....
Thanks Ken!! |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
Yep, Thanks Ken [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] We old guys who have been into cool cars since the beginning hold memories better than the cars themselves. Your stories remind me of the antics I got into with my '62. Memories I'll never forget, just like yours.
Verne [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img] |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Don_Lightfoot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We've never met Ken, nor do I recall us ever communicating in the past. However, stuff like this makes others get to know you a little better. I can just imagine the grin on your face when you saw those pictures. Life doesn't get much better than experiencing moments such as these. Thanks for sharing. </div></div>
Don, if you EVER have the opportunity to meet Ken, be sure to make it happen. Great stories; ... full of Life (and other stuff!), ...... and he TRULY <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-size: 14pt">Gets It!</span></span></span></span> Thanks for sharing your life-stories Ken. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img] |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
The "Mighty High" 66 L78 looks very similar to my friend's father's 66 L78. The car was raced at the US 30 Drag strip in Gary, Indiana. It was also raced at Oswego. Based on the trophies, it looks to have won its share of races. The car was bought new in Chicago near Hinsdale, IL. It was traded for a 440 Dart in 1969 per my friend John. Hopefully John will chime in. It would be very cool if its the same car
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...30Dragstrp.jpg http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...sial66L782.jpg http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...esian66L78.jpg |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
Thanks for pointing me this thread Orlando! The pictures posted directly above are of My Fathers 66 L78, who ordered the car new in the spring of 66. I'd be very interested to find out when Eddie purchased his L78, since as stated above, my Dad traded the chevelle in for a new 69 440 Dart. How many identical artesian turquoise L78 Chevelles could there have been in Chicago back then. The car was pretty much stock when my Dad had it, with the exception of headers, an electronic ignition and maybe gears and a shifter. The best he ever ran with it was very high twelves. It was his daily driver. It was an original bench seat car and would have been missing the horn button when he got rid of it. (I've got it on my 66 Chevelle now) This would be amazing if it was the same car. I can't wait to show my Dad this picture. Thanks for posting them Eddie. John. |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
Tibor for Presdident in 2012...!!!
A chicken in every pot...and an L-89 in every garage [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img] wilma [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img] |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
John.................Duplicate Cars, but not the same......the Mighty High Chevelle was purchased new by Joe Lazaro who lived on the "Nort" side of Chicago......Joe bought the car and kept it for a short time......he then sold it to Eddie MacNeil........Eddie had the car for about a year then sold it to Al Freeman........And was supposedly "stolen" while Al owned it........But, in my opinion.....Al probably either squirreled the car away or stripped it so he wouldn't have to finish paying Eddie for it..........(No Insurance) and Eddie Mac ended up paying for it.........Yep!!....We were quite the group back then.......
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Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
Kenny .what a memory..I don't think you have forgotten anything you ever saw or read...........and yes i'm still paying for that car lol
I love this site ed |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
Ya...what a memory [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]
The only thing he can't remember is his golf scores [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif[/img] |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
"NU YAWK" [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
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Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
And John.......Eddies car was a Bench seat SS car also...
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Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
The similarities are almost beyond belief. Identical cars from Chicagoland and raced at the same track (US 30 Dragstrip)
What are the odds? What was that Chevelle's VIN? KWhizz, do you remember a Marina Blue 66 L78 Chevelle convertible in the chicagoland area? Also raced at Oswego. White convertible top, black interior? |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 66 L78 ragtop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The similarities are almost beyond belief. Identical cars from Chicagoland and raced at the same track (US 30 Dragstrip)
What are the odds? What was that Chevelle's VIN? KWhizz, do you remember a Marina Blue 66 L78 Chevelle convertible in the chicagoland area? Also raced at Oswego. White convertible top, black interior? </div></div> Yep!! When those Pic's of the Chevelle were first posted a while back....I had to do a double take and thought is was an early pic of Mighty High.... Vin #.....LOL......The day after I got my L-79 all the paper work was in the garbage....nobody was concerned or cared about that stuff back then......I'm sure Eddie wouldn't know either Don't remember the convert....As I remember I was only at Oswego once.... |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
Here is the 66 L78 Convertible. It was a barn find originally from Chicago. Last registered in 1977.
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...gekrate044.jpg http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...gekrate059.jpg http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...gekrate065.jpg |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
I grew up around Clybourn and Fullerton, "And"back then you had the "SUNDAY" radio ads about US 30 Dragstrip....LOL......that was cool...But.....some of the finest Drag Racing on Friday nights was right at the intersection of Racine and Clybourn......Man.....the racing would take place on Clybourn going north to the train tracks....at the time it was an Industrial area and was pretty much empty at night....but, Friday nights the crowds would show up and line the street....the crazy part was that this was just North from the Cabrini-Green housing projects.....now....lets be kind and say that you really didn't want to be in that area......(if you know what I mean)......But...On Friday & Saturday nights it didn't matter, we were all there to watch, or Race and there was never a problem.........I remember one of the Black guy's that was unbeatable down there....his name was "Big Ernie" and he had a dark blue 55 Chevy with a 327-375 hp fuel injected Corvette engine..(probably a store bought crate engine......Right!!)
This was in 66 and Ernie had no fear of any car or anyone....I remember that car when it was running had that Hissing sound...crazy,but I can still hear that thing....he never opened the hood so I assumed the air cleaner set-up was not on it....he later sold the car to the son of the guy I worked for at night at a gas station....he had the car one day and wrapped it around a telephone pole.....(Never got to see the engine)........Everything was "Crazy" down there.....cars would just line up and go with all the money stuff figured out ahead of time...... It seemed the Police would leave us alone till the crowds really started spilling into the street and then they would come and open up the Fire Hydrants to flood and wet the street down... In all that "Stupidity"...I don't have any recollection of any major accidents of people getting hurt...... To drive down in that area now, it has been "Condoized" and nobody that lives there now would ever Imagine the Mayhem that took place there........Good Times and we were Lucky to make it thru them........ |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 66 L78 ragtop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Here is the 66 L78 Convertible. It was a barn find originally from Chicago. Last registered in 1977.
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...gekrate044.jpg http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...gekrate059.jpg http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...gekrate065.jpg </div></div> Do you have that car???Whats the story behind it.....How did you find it?? Here's my Convert I just sold last year....Always loved those cars http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...DSC00063-1.jpg http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...DSC00062-1.jpg Ken |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 66 L78 ragtop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The similarities are almost beyond belief. Identical cars from Chicagoland and raced at the same track (US 30 Dragstrip)
What are the odds?</div></div> I was sure it was the same car. Pretty unbelievable there were two of them, both in the same area. Still makes for a cool story. John. |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
Wow, that '66 L-78 Convertible is a really rare car! Anyway, Ken . . . . . . thanks for taking the time to type out the history of your '66 L-79 "Shivvy 2"! That was a great read! Anyway, those were neat cars that were a big deal when they came out and I actually know of several fellows here in STL that bought them brand new and those cars didn't survive either past 4 or 5 years. They were referred to as the "350-horse Shivvy 2" or "the little Nova with the Corvette engine" in it. They were built with a purpose that they fulfilled in spades and created their own legend. It's the cars and owners (like you) that made those L-79's legendary! Keep those stories comin'!
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Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
Long story short, I found the car in Arizona. It had IL plates from 1977. The owner was originally from Chicago and found the car in a Chicago newspaper in 1968. I went to the Herald Washington Library in downtown Chicago and searched all the newspapers and found the advertisement. See below. I did a reverse directory search on the listed phone number and found the second owners, the family that listed the car in the Chicago Tribune. The original owner was drafted after the car was purchased and unfortunately died. The second owner, Arnie Borreson was also drafted. His father Edger Borreson listed the car in the tribune per Arnie's request. They lived in Lincoln Wood, just 10 miles from my house. Arnie is still alive and well. He is a pilot based in Idaho. He was best friends with the original owner and knows the cars history since day 1
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...ertisement.jpg |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
Ken
I'm sure you remember this...... how about south on Clybourn at Diversey. Joe Catalano's street ram Coronet with Mario driving.His car is shown in the original link (black) mine was a light green matching Coronet.....Southbound on Clybourn using both lanes.Mario in the wrong lane and me in the(correct) lane. Fourth gear and a cop decides to pull out and block us from getting by. Mario see's a t-bone comming and swings left to graze a parked car to help slow down and avoid the head on. He held on to the wheel and opened the door as the car spun around. He wound up hitting the cop car mostly with the rear of Joes car. I squeezed by with two wheels on the curb. As I passed by all I saw was smoke and dust in the rear view mirror. My garage was only 2 blocks away. I put the car away and ran back to see if Mario was all right. Much to my surprise Mario was nowhere to be found. As soon as the car stopped moving he jumpped out and ran over the rairoad tracks.Upon impact Joe called the police and reported the car stolen.Later we cruised the hood only to find Mario limping around with a bruised leg.I think we were very lucky no one was realy hurt ed |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
how about those prices!!!
ed |
Re: Growing up in Chicago in the 60's
Orlando.....What's the status on the convert today?? Cool story......Did anyone notice the 60 Vette in the ad with the Hemi engine?? and the Hemi Coronet.......And.....LOL
Eddie, I forgot all about that incident....Yep!!....That could have been a bad one....... Ken |
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