G. David Felt

Very cool Old truck updated with modern electric motor hidden in a hollowed out V8. Very cool story on the 1936 electric truck here: https://www.thedrive.com/tech/33258/hot-rodders-hybrid-1936-pickup-hides-an-electric-motor-inside-a-chevy-small-block-v8

RIP - John Mooney, the man behind Catalytic converters dies at 90. https://www.autonews.com/executives/john-mooney-force-behind-catalytic-converters-dies-90 Interesting law suite by GM against FCA about corruption in the UAW. Seems FCA has some big problems ahead of themselves. GM is accusing FCA of bribing the UAW leadership putting GM at a disadvantage in labor negotiations. https://www.autonews.com/executives/us-appeals-court-stays-order-requiring-gm-fca-ceos-meet Seems if you have an Extra $420,000 you can be the owner of the Holy Trinity of Chargers 1969 style. https://www.thedrive.com/news/34492/the-holy-trinity-of-1969-dodge-chargers-is-up-for-sale-but-youll-have-to-buy-all-three Seems this week Dodge will show off their 2021 SRT Lineup with a total of 8,950 Horsepower. July 2nd https://www.thedrive.com/news/34472/dodge-will-unveil-the-new-2021-srt-lineup-this-week-with-8950-horsepower More fun comes in the upcoming 2021 Ram TRX Hellcat powered truck and the poke at the Ford Raptor with a storage compartment that has a T-Rex chasing a Raptor. LOL, very funny and cool. https://www.thedrive.com/news/33582/hellcat-powered-2021-ram-trx-easter-egg-pokes-fun-at-ford-raptor

Nissan seems to know their stockholders are pissed. So Monday the Nissan CEO at the annual shareholder meeting covered their turn around plan starting with their first all new auto. The Nissan Ariya Crossover EV. Nissan says this goes to where the buyers are, CUVs with Tesla fighting performance, battery range and Nissan ProPilot Hands-off automated driving system. Electrification and Autonomy at a reasonable price. What that price is, we do not know yet, but further details to come at the reveal of the auto set for July 15th online. Have to say that while 2,500 attended last years shareholder meeting, only a few hundred attended this year. Yet they had lots to say. Quotes: one shareholder criticized the board’s decision not to cut the compensation of outside, non-operational directors. Another shareholder slammed French partner Renault, which owns 43.4 percent of Nissan, as deadweight in the alliance because French people “excel at art” but are “weak” in technology. Another said that Nissan’s recovery from slumping sales and plunging profits has been too slow because the new management is fragmented, indecisive and uninspiring. One said Nissan still suffers from a credibility problem, more than a year after the arrest and ouster of Ghosn for alleged financial misconduct, because of the way the scandal was handled. Uchida insisted that the midterm plan he unveiled in May plots a path to achievable recovering within four years. The plan calls for restoring operating profit margin to 5 percent and increasing global sales about 9 percent to 5.38 million vehicles for a 6 percent world market share. https://www.autonews.com/automakers-suppliers/nissan-ariya-electric-crossover-debut-july-15 So a 4yr plan to turn the company around with new product, sales growth for a 6% share of the global market. I have to question if they can do that due to the Pandemic and the competition coming from various other new auto startups that plan to have new auto's out from 2020 to 2021. It would seem that Nissan is still not realizing how fast they need to move. Hopefully they have other new auto's to come out both EV and ICE over the next 12 months as I fear they could end up as Road Kill in the global market place.

Big Block Crate Motors now from Ford. Godzilla 7.3L V8 Crate 435hp / 475 lb-ft of torque. Some simple modes push it over 600HP https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-6007-73

@trinacriabob @Robert Hall The English interpretation are always funny too.

@trinacriabob @Robert Hall So true about crazy English on Asians. Sometimes I just cracked up walking around back in college in Japan or as I traveled the Asian rim during college breaks and even in the last 10 years for work. So funny that they have no clue what is on their t-shirt, just cool as it is English.

So true, my concern was it would be a Ricer type that has been used by Cadillac in past versions while testing on the Nuremburg ring. This does look like it is better incorporated here. In the report, the strain has mutated to have stronger protein spikes that make it 10 times stronger on hooking in the lungs and to blood and causing problems. The hooks are what make this strain/variant even worse.

Agree, for a new company, while they have been grey with specifics on how many people have pre-ordered the Truck and SUV, at least they have Amazon and Ford production to get them into the black. He is a smart cookie that RJ, CEO of Rivian. So true about the different strokes for different folks. Also that V8 block is not name brand that is desired by badge fans. I am sure someone will buy the overpriced block from Jaguar. People like SMK who are all about the badge. Wonder if AMG is stamped on the blocks of the AMG auto's or is it just Mercedes-Benz?

The CEO is far better educated than Musk and seems to have his shit together as he was unwilling to sign with GM for $1 billion to an exclusive contract for his technology platform. Ford signed and Amazon. As such, we will see where this goes. I honestly right now am really liking their truck and suv and if I can fit with someone my size behind me inside the auto, am leaning towards their product. I think they will last as Amazon has a long term contract for inner city and suburban delivery vans from them and has an open agreement to buy more once deliveries start. Amazon has stated they would like to use the vans globally.

Godzilla

Seems the new CT4 V Blackwing is out stretching it's legs. That is a huge freakin wing on the rear deck lid. https://www.motor1.com/news/431431/cadillac-ct4-v-blackwing-spied/

Covid-19 Update Everyone, we have a newer deadly strain 10 times stronger and Florida is our Ground Zero for it. Please be careful. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8471421/Mutated-version-coronavirus-stronger-spike-proteins.html Scientist report on it is found here: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.12.148726v1.full.pdf

2020 Auto shows are Dead, now is seems according to this story that the 2021 auto show calendar could end up dead as Geneva has already canceled the show due to Covid-19. https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/06/were-cancelling-2021-auto-shows-now/ So the big question out to everyone here. IS THE AUTOSHOWS DEAD FOR EVER? WILL THEY BE BACK AFTER A CURE IS FOUND FOR COVID-19? Thoughts?

Very cool updated videos of Rivian truck off road.

Wanting an organic spray to keep the Mosquitos away, Garlic Spray works. https://www.hunker.com/13405906/garlic-spray-in-the-yard-for-mosquitoes I have to imagine one does have to like the smell of Garlic. Grilled Bananas sure sound yummy! https://www.food.com/recipe/grilled-banana-splits-160575#activity-feed

Carrot

But they say you can use that engine block for a fancy table. You also get a 12 months warranty on the block.

They said it was delayed, not dead yet. Once the Camaro was dead too. Yes, some people do crazy things when they live in the 1% club. For me and you, much like other auto enthusiasts, we work over time on our projects to make them happen. Still spend money just decide how and when we spend on our project.

Yea, I understand that, but his art does nothing for me, so paint away I say. To each their own, that is why options are the best. I would take a sexy Jaguar E-Type conversion that they are doing. This sexy body on a modern electric powertrain zipping along.

The USA #2 largest Natural Gas producer has filed for Bankruptcy protection from creditors. Chesapeake Energy Corporation filed for protection due to their high debt load and the ill timed move into Oil production just before the pandemic hit. Low Oil and Gas prices with high debt load made it impossible to repay the loans and as such forced the company into Chapter 11. https://electrek.co/2020/06/29/egeb-natural-gas-bankruptcy-chesapeake-energy-corporation-dutch-wind-farm/

India Tata motors has brought to market an $18,000 EV. 194 miles of range for the FWD EV. https://electrek.co/2020/06/29/indias-18000-tata-nexon-ev-points-to-global-ev-affordability/ Peugeot reveals their electric commercial van. Two battery options for a choice of 143 miles or 205 miles of range. https://chargedevs.com/newswire/peugeot-reveals-e-expert-electric-commercial-van/ Personal choice and CHOICE is the key here. I have no problem with you having your ICE auto. There should also as is finally happening choices to go EV on older auto's for those that do not want to build their own project. I AM an Automotive Enthusiast and I AM worth it and still I like the sound and way EVs drive and work.

How is that any different than someone that takes that same 85 Mustang LX and puts in a role over cage, new suspension and a powerful ICE power train so they can race. People make changes all the time to low cost old auto's. Just now we have the options of doing it with electric power train. Crate motors exist now that can change out the ICE engine with an Electric motor connected to the Transmission and you just add battery pack and controller. Options, that is what we are getting more of.

I can respect that, I loved the sound of the custom built 402 in my suburban, yet also as I have gotten older, I do not care for the loud sound any more. I would rather have the quiet with the space and room. As to why my 1994 GMC SLE suburban is my project auto that will eventually have the ICE power train ripped out and electric put in. Just like @Drew Dowdell loves his old car, some of us would rather have an old auto that is quiet as an EV. I would expect more older auto's to end up getting converted to EV than to modern ICE.

I understand what you are saying, but Tesla is so butt ugly. Those old classics are far better looking than any Tesla. Take your favorite auto you have fond memories of and think if it was your personal auto with electrical power train. Giving you more room and quiet.

couch potato