G. David Felt

Very Cool update, the backup camera thing while nice does not have the demand by the public and even the gov has asked for a delay. The Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act would have required 10 percent of all cars to have backup cameras by 2012 and all cars to have them by September 2014. This is now delayed a year to allow the gov to review public comments and company comments. The public is not liking that this will add about $1000 to the cost of auto's. Regardless of the safety it is supposed to supply, people need to raise their kids to not play behind a auto. Not to play under an auto and to walk the perimeter of the auto before getting in and driving off. Take self responsibility and not expect someone else to be the adult.

In that a top-shelf engine always has the boy racer trappings as a mandatory vs. a base model, I agree. It was pretty damned cool when you could tic off the big block option on a stripper car. Option bundling killed that off. That is a lovely car. I always forget about my sleeper Suburban. 1994 GMC LTE Suburban that I changed the suspension on, went to a 410 posi lock diff and took the 350 and bored it out to a 402 with proper performance internals and it now run's 505hp 515lbs of torque according to the dyno. Have a Jet Custom chip. Course it requires premium but boy does it shock the mustangs, camero's, etc. Just about anyone that has thought they could get around me and beat me have been surprised to see my beast move. It does only get 9 miles per gallon full or empty of people, but it moves and is a freakin blast to drive.

That is FREAKIN HOT! You better keep it in the family. I would love to have that ride. My 2008 Trailblazer SS I consider to be a bit of a sleeper as people seem to ignore the SS on the front doors and back rear door. I think because they see the SUV body they think it cannot go.

Don't know if its superior to the MINI, but it is one heck of a car. Would love to see a small Buick coupe with some style on a Opel platform. If GM could build a small coupe with the style of the Verano, they would be cookin with GAS! I think an AWD and FWD version of the Adam would be a big hit here. I would love to have the Adam CNG version here in the US.

What you do not like the Monopoly approach to having choice? I agree I would always take NAPA over Pep Boys. Pep Boys is like AMX, you can leave home with out it and not bother ever using it.

I don't think that was a problem - this place was always busy. You can see three independent repair shops while standing in the store. I think it was a consolidation, same guy owns the NAPA franchise that's in a better building a few towns away. That's going to be a pain for the repair shops... I'm lucky in my area--the independent shop that I frequent has an O'Reilly next door.. OUCH, you know before they were O'Reilly's they are known as Shucks. Shucks I got the wrong part, Shucks I should have bought from Napa or OEM. I have not had good experiences with that chain unless I could pick out the product myself. They were Checkers before here... Yea same chain of muck, I know they have some good stuff, but then it boils down to how good is the manager and their training of the employees.

There is a difference between crate engines or race engines and production engines covered by a 5yr/100,000 mile warranty expected to endure the drudgery and neglect of mundane automobiles. Production also has to have a wide and tractable power band whereas motorsport engines only have to perform within a relatively 2000~3000 rpm range and it is the job of the racer to not allow rpms to fall out of the prescribed range. The problem with reving any engine that high is that you end up using a lot of valve lift, duration and overlap to get the engine to breath with good volumetric efficiency high up. Cams like that generally don't idle well at 600 rpm, most do not idle at all that low. VVT mitigates that somewhat by allowing you to dial out the overlap but it still results in a rather soft lower rpm response. Besides, the high valve spring rates needed to prevent valve float at such rpms causes increased wear and reduced fuel economy. With Pushrod engines in the 45~50 cu-in per cylinder bracket, we know that we can get to about 6600 rpm without using exotic materials. Throw in titanium valves and the like and you can push it to about 7000 with no reliability or durability issues. With DOHC 4-valve designs, you can get to about 8200 rpm using the "normal" stuff, about 9000 if you really try. For most production cars though, these are all more than adequate rpm capability. I have to think that if Katech can build engines that people use in the abusive world of racing that this V4 can handle the drudgery and neglect of mundane auto drivers.

I don't think that was a problem - this place was always busy. You can see three independent repair shops while standing in the store. I think it was a consolidation, same guy owns the NAPA franchise that's in a better building a few towns away. That's going to be a pain for the repair shops... I'm lucky in my area--the independent shop that I frequent has an O'Reilly next door.. OUCH, you know before they were O'Reilly's they are known as Shucks. Shucks I got the wrong part, Shucks I should have bought from Napa or OEM. I have not had good experiences with that chain unless I could pick out the product myself.

BUMMER, Napa gone is not good, they are the best auto parts store around. Where do you live that it seems like a hillbilly step from society. I can understand that in a low population town, it is hard to keep doors open. Still sucks that they cannot seem to find a way to keep basic needs like this open.

BUT BUT BUT you left me hanging with what really happened to him? From a character development stand point, I would love to know how he got to where he is currently and how did the 54 bafoons know about him and was it only for theft of the family or more devious reasons for why they were doing what they were planning to do.

Furyians are awesome!!!

So why is this in direct contrast to what the media is publishing on how GM and Chrysler had great month of gains and low incentives and Ford has spent crazy on incentives but flat sales in comparison to last year.

YES YES YES, Way to go GM, keep executing and controlling cost to drive profits. This is a win win for everyone.

Due to rising demand, Katech designed and manufactured an innovative, highly efficient, high power density, compact and configurable V4 engine to power your auto-sport, aviation, marine, ATV and industrial applications. The V4 draws on the legendary architecture of the Corvette LS series V8. The engine is very light and because of its’ compact design can be retro-fitted into almost any application.</p> KV4 Street Specs Displacement: 1.6L (100 CID) Power: 160bhp @6,600 rpm Torque: 127 lb-ft @5800rpm Redline: 7,800 rpm Dry Weight: 140 lbs Induction: Naturally aspirated Intake System: Individual runner or plenum Oiling System: Wet Sump Fuel System: Port Fuel injection KV4-R Motorsport Spec Displacement: 2.0L (122 CID) Power: 280bhp @9,500rpm Torque: 180 ft-lbs @7,200rpm Redline: 9,500rpm Dry Weight: 138 lbs Induction: Naturally Aspirated Intake System: Individual runner or plenum Oiling System: Wet sump/Dry sump Fuel System: Port fuel injection KV4-RR Motorsport Spec Displacement: 2.4L (147 CID) Power: 462bhp @7,200rpm Torque: 360lb-ft @3800rpm Redline: 8,000 Dry Weight: 162 lbs Induction: Forced Induction Intake System: Individual runner or plenum Oiling System: Dry sump Fuel System: Port fuel injection/ Direct injection http://www.katecheng...tech-v4/</a><br /> This company rocks, the new KV4-RR is a freakin amazing engine and only 162lbs of weight. I see no reason why GM could not use this style of design for a V8.

Why not just import the Opel Adam, far superior car to a Mini or Smart.

Yep... Actually I can totally understand the reason for not selling it here, most people like their comfort you find in a CUV over a wagon and the marketing has built a market segment that generates millions of dollars in profits. The cost alone will not justify the tooling to build this auto.

T-Rex

We'll written, I really enjoyed it and look forward to the next chapter.

Sweet looking ride, way to go, I think the only thing I would want done on this car is Tinted windows. Just seems they should be black out and then the look is perfect.

How about a write up of how you would change a specific auto to be best in class. Example: Contest competitors, use the Chevy Cruze and do a write up on how you would change this car to be best in class. Be specific on what you would change out and why. That would be a fun competition.

WOW, I cannot believe someone would want to buy this rusted out bucket of bolts. Sad as from a distance it is a sharp looking truck.

Ok, let me try to explain it a bit better... (1) A SOHC I4 with 2-valves per cylinder has all the frictional benefits over a Pushrod I4 with 2-valves per cylinders. In fact, it has two additional benefits -- the valves can more easily be made opposed as opposed to side-by-side and the absence of pushrods makes the sprung mass lower allowing slightly higher revs although this is probably not useful. (2) The SOHC head is taller than the pushrod head. However, it is not any wider unlike a DOHC head. The additional height is traditionally handled by slanting the I4 to one side in RWD applications or reclining it in FWD applications. This allows the engine to be no taller than a Pushrod I4 while the addition in width is also essentially zero because the exhaust manifold would have projected sideways by approximately the same amount had the engine been upright anyway. To put some numbers into the discussion, if GM ditched the 1.4 litter turbocharged DOHC-16v Inline-4 for a 2.3 liter SOHC-6v line-3 running on an Atkinson intake cam, the Cruze would have have superior MPG numbers while delivering approximately the same output of 140 hp. Specific output should not matter. That 2.3 liter engine would only make 140 hp should not be embarrassing, if one understands that it weighs about the same as the 1.4 turbo (with its forced induction hardware), while delivering better fuel economy and a similar output. Have you checked out the Katech V4? This engine puts the SOHC or DOHC to shame in a very tiny package with awesome power outputs. I think this engine shows that you do not need the complexity of the SOHC or DOHC to get the Mileage or power out of an engine.

Wonder if we would ever see anything like this incorporated in a modern take on a Chevy or Buick since Pontiac is a dead line. How would people respond to it?

Beautiful restored Model A Ford at the local car group meeting this morning on my way to the park and ride. Always love it when they get together for breakfast at the local Denny's and you have a who's who of American Steel. A couple of old Chevy Belairs in various stages of restoration, a very hot 69 Corvette. A lovingly cared for mint El Camino and Ranchero side by side. You could tell the owners clearly loved their car/truck auto.

:sign0072: :sign0072: Have an AWESOME DAY!!!