Category Archives: Overhaulit

Come along for the ride in this 100-part series as we take three class cars – a 1965 Ford Mustang, a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette and a 1970 Plymouth – and overhaul them into dream rides!

Overhaulit Part 31
Power up!

Overview

Don’t wait for stories to appear in the store when you can become a member of Wheelbase Media’s weekly news service and save more than 50 percent while gaining instant access to the new features as they’re produced. Click here to get started.

If you are not a member of the media, you can still check out a limited selection of our stories available on our Web site www.theoctanelounge.com

Description

Build for the purpose, not to get the really big number. It looks pretty, sounds tough and has hair-trigger throttle response. Although this is not the engine that eventually took up permanent residence in the Mustang – that’s left to our new 331 that really shows just how far engine technology has come – the next step was to dyno test it to verify our modifications. . .

Please contact us to order this feature.

Overhaulit Part 32
Boost?

Overview

If you are not a member of the media, you can still check out a limited selection of our stories available on our Web site www.theoctanelounge.com

Description

There are more reasons to go with supercharging or turbocharging than just the power. Should you? There’s the power, yes, but for a street engine, adding a supercharger is often a smarter and safer bet than going with a giant, fire-breathing engine that doesn’t have a supercharger. In case you’re wondering, a supercharger is a belt-driven air compressor that forces in extra air and fuel to make more power than the engine could on its own.

Please contact us to order this feature.

Overhaulit Part 33
Bad wiring

Overview

If you are not a member of the media, you can still check out a limited selection of our stories available on our Web site www.theoctanelounge.com

Description

Why do we think that rechroming bumpers takes priority over the safe and reliable operation of our vehicles? After all, chrome bumpers don’t catch fire, do they. You wouldn’t think that 12 measly volts would cause more than a spark. You’ve stuck your tongue to a nine-volt battery as a kid and no big deal, right? But to think that 12 volts can take down a whole car?

Please contact us to order this feature.

Overhaulit Part 34
Trans-fusion

Overview

If you are not a member of the media, you can still check out a limited selection of our stories available on our Web site www.theoctanelounge.com

Description

On the road, the “transfusion” made for a completely different car with the overdrive gear, and the low first gear helps the car launch easily without having to slip the clutch all that much. Shifts are crisp and the clutch pedal is smooth-smooth-smooth. But the T5 was designed for a 225-horsepower V8 from 20 years ago. Can it live behind our new 482-horsepower engine?

Please contact us to order this feature.

Overhaulit Part 35
It’s all in the tank

Overview

If you are not a member of the media, you can still check out a limited selection of our stories available on our Web site www.theoctanelounge.com

Description

Converting to fuel injection costs us double what we think it will. Bolting on new parts usually has a ripple effect. Make that more of a tsunami effect. Buying big brakes means that you might have to go wheel shopping and also install a new master cylinder and parking-brake hardware. Installing headers likely means installing new pipes and mufflers, too.

Please contact us to order this feature.

Overhaulit Part 36
Sand storm

Overview

If you are not a member of the media, you can still check out a limited selection of our stories available on our Web site www.theoctanelounge.com

Description

The most important part of any paint job has nothing to do with the paint; just everything else leading up to it.
Well, it also happens to be the most tedious operation and has nothing to do with painting at all, really.
It’s sanding. In fact the body-shop motto is “keep sanding.” And when you’re done, sand some more.

Please contact us to order this feature.

Overhaulit Part 37
More power!

Overview

If you are not a member of the media, you can still check out a limited selection of our stories available on our Web site www.theoctanelounge.com

Description

I could make it sound like building two completely different engines – the first one twice, even – was always in the cards as part of an, ooohhhh, let’s say, progressive educational experience for this series . . . or what have you. Rather, standing up in the news meeting to say that we were building yet another engine for the 1965 Mustang, the room fell silent as I came face to face with the question “why?”

Please contact us to order this feature.

Overhaulit Part 38
All’s well . . .

Overview

If you are not a member of the media, you can still check out a limited selection of our stories available on our Web site www.theoctanelounge.com

Description

People call them “G” Machines, Pro Touring cars or Restomods. It’s a type of vehicle that mixes classic looks with modern technology. To purists, the very idea of blending the two is utterly incomprehensible, like cats marrying dogs. To the hot rodder, making it the way you like it is what it’s all about. And visually, it’s all about the stance. Wide tires, big wheels and lowered ride height all help to provide more cornering grip, but the willingness to max it out – tastefully, mind you – seems to separate the pups from the big dogs.

Please contact us to order this feature.

Overhaulit Part 39
It’s all in the trim

Overview

If you are not a member of the media, you can still check out a limited selection of our stories available on our Web site www.theoctanelounge.com

Description

When someone wants to know whether a certain car they’ve found is a good candidate for restoration, I have just one question. How’s the trim? Is any of it missing? Is it pitted and rotted and rusting?
I guess that’s three questions, really, but you would be surprised by how many people think they’re money ahead buying a shell of a car for a few thousand less than a car with all its trim intact.

Please contact us to order this feature.

Overhaulit Part 40
Block party

Overview

If you are not a member of the media, you can still check out a limited selection of our stories available on our Web site www.theoctanelounge.com

Description

Our engine-building fun begins with . . . a cop car.
It’s doubtful that the engine from the ex-Ford cop car even saw it coming. But, what are we up to with it? You might recall that senior editor Malcolm Gunn was beating his forehead into the boardroom table over my expensive obsession with making things go faster and sound louder. But it looks like a killer piece, too, with its wide welded-sheetmetal valve covers, aluminum cylinder heads and no-nonsense black cylinder block. Add a carbon-fiber air box and suddenly senior editor Gunn is seeing the light instead of pounding his head on the desk.