GMTruckGuy74

More to follow...

More to follow...

More to follow...

Here's my first batch, more to follow...

Thanks, I'll include some in the next post. Just FYI, you need to fix the name of the truck in the headline - it's spelled F U T U R L I N E R (only one 'E', not two <get rid of the first>). But I know you're a smart guy and maybe you wanted it to be with two 'E's anyway

Thanks Oldsmoboi! I saw the '70s Mack COE (Magnum), the old '16 (or was it a '21?) Mack Paddy Wagon (police truck) and the pair of '27 Mack touring buses last weekend at the Gerhart's All-Mack show in Lititz (near Lancaster), PA. Pretty awesome stuff! Do you have video of the '64 Mack B-series 'Republic Services' garbage dumpster truck? That was an awesome Mack truck I haven't seen before and was drawing a big crowd. So, should I go ahead and post pictures here then?

Is this the official place to post AACA Fall Meet (aka Hershey) show pictures? If yes, then I'll add some of mine later. I saw the Futurliner earlier in the day when it was still cloudy out (no rain at all, got there around 8:00 AM and it rained before that though; was cloudy until about 10:30 AM). My pictures of it didn't come out too great because of the cloudiness. But I think it's funny that both Drew and I took similar pictures of the gold "GM" letters (mine's attached below).

Good for you! Sometimes to get what you want you really have to work at it. And now I'm sure that you're not the only person in the country that wants a civilian version Caprice. And I'm sure the General is 'listening' to the public right now; I'd bet that the Caprice PPV concept car will make the major auto show rounds in 2010 to gauge public opinion on a civilian version. So in the end you may not have to go that route, but you're better off to be safe than sorry and do as much planning until it becomes easier for you. Last night I attended my local fire dept's annual fire prevention open house. My local PD has just received two new 2010 Dodge Chargers. One is a Hemi V8-powered unmarked <black> car, while the other is a V6-powered marked (but no roof lights) marked car. The officer standing near it said that NJ has a contract with Dodge right now, so many PD's will be ordering those this year. But he also said that 2010 will allow Ford and they have something special on the books ordered (if it comes). I asked if it's a Mustang (which we have no use for), and he said no, so I'm stumped on what this 'special' Ford could be? Anyway, he also mentioned the new Chevy Caprice PPV and said that his chief is impressed with that so far and the department really miss their old Chevy Caprices the most. I can see my township ordering as many Caprice PPVs as they can starting in 2010 or 2011.

Thanks for all the positive replies so far. I'm glad to see there's an interest in this event. I will go forward with the planning stage, and hopefully more posters will consider joining as the months go by.

Thanks for the product suggestion AAS, that seems to be exactly what I'm looking for in leather cleaning and conditioning products (Lexol). I have an Advance Auto parts store near my house to check out (so their website says), and if not a Pep Boys store isn't too far away either. z28luvr01 - I definitely stay away from Amor-All on the leather seats. I've been using Meguiar's dash protectant in my vehicles since I bought the Saturn SKY in 2006. I like the natural look it gives compared to the "used car look" of high gloss Amor-All. I appreciate you sharing your dislike of Meguiar's leather products and recommending Mothers instead. I think I will go for the Lexol products since this poor Caddy is in need of something a little more healing.

Thanks for the reply & info PONTIAC06. When leaving the baking soda in the car, do I buy one of those fridge boxes that opens on the sides and just place it in the car? And you're saying to leave it in the car at all times, just like with the fridge boxes? I too like Meguiar's products, and I use the leather cleaner/conditioner foam on my wife's '08 Pontiac G6 seats, but the Caddy's seats need something more involved with the process. I think the Mothers product uses Aloe as an ingredient, and I'm thinking that would be a good thing to make the leather softer and more like-new in appearance.

And here's another on-going display to entice the C&G fans...

Yesterday I did some online research and it seems that the best thing to use for dry leather is warm water to wipe down the seats, then a good automotive leather cleaner and follow up with a leather conditioner. I see both Meguiars and Mothers offer leather cleaning & conditioning products - anyone personally use either brand? I'd like input on which works better. Since I'm going to the AACA Fall Meet in Hershey Saturday, if I see either vendor there I'd like to buy the products directly from them. Thanks!

Thanks for the input... I was beginning to think I was crazy for suggesting this I know this is pretty far off - 3 months - for some to make plans, but for those of us in cold weather months the only way to see a group of classic iron comfortably is to visit car museums. I thought this would be a good idea for a bunch of classic car-starved enthusiasts to meet and see a great collection of classic automobilia. There is another museum in Allentown, PA - America On Wheels, but IMHO the AACA Museum has that place beat. Plus it's in Hershey - Chocolate Town USA! For those that never visited Hershey, they have a great Visitor's Center with a Chocolate-making Tour (ride), a 3-D Show (extra cost), shopping & restaurants. And there's the Trolley Tour I mentioned earlier too. I will be going to Hershey Saturday and planned to stop by the museum before heading home. I will try to speak to someone about this type of group meeting & tour and see what information they can give me. Hopefully more C&Gers will respond yes - I'd like at least 15 people so we could get a tour guide for the museum (and possibly the permission to sit inside of the Futurliner :AH-HA_wink: ).

Well I did say Saturday in the poll, but if a Sunday would work better I'm game for either day on a weekend. What a better way to meet (or catch up) with fellow GM enthusiasts than to hang out at a really cool automobile museum? With it being winter, seeing some classic iron in the comfort of a heated building can't be beat. If there's enough of us maybe we could have lunch there in the museum (see the link I provided). And if we have 15-20 guys we can get a tour guide to take us through the museum. And did I mention that the GM Futurliner will be there on display? Of course being winter it will be cold outside, but think of all our GM vehicles assembled outside in the parking lot - I'm sure the museum will allow us to park in front for a large group photo. And like I said earlier, I'm planning on re-lighting the plans for a more warm-weather C&G meet at the 2010 All-GM Nationals show in Carlisle, PA in June, so this would be a good segway from this winter meeting. I see like 30 people have read this post, but only two other people besides me voted. I understand that this is a small area for C&G members, leaving out the west coasters, southerners, and maybe those too far up north, but it would be a totally cool way to get together in the winter. And Hershey is a hotel capital, offering the big name places as well as small, independently owned bed & breakfast places - so those wanting to make a weekend of it can do so (road trip!). I know costs need to be factored in - museum admission, lunch costs, if we want to take a tour of the area (Hershey offers a "trolley tour" of the town that is very historical and fun to do), so maybe that's holding some back. But think of the memories this will make, and maybe it can become an annual thing if it's a success? Please let me know if I'm here too...

Well I definitely want to submit the '96 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, but it won't be ready for pictures for a couple of weeks (I will be spending some time with it towards the end of October giving it TLC). I will also submit the G6, likely soon, and if it gets passed over so be it.

An overview shot of this huge show from 2007 (they don't have 2008 listed on the website).

And here is where I got the idea... http://www.aacamuseum.org/visit/tour.aspx

Camino and I floated the idea of a C&G-sponsored meet at the All-GM Nationals show in Carlisle, PA a couple of years ago that never got out of the planning stages. That idea, at least with me, is still on the back burner and I may try to do something for the 2010 show. But moving on... The AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania is a great place to visit and the GM Futurliner will be on display there starting mid-October and lasting until early Spring. Seeing as how the winter weather in the northeast prohibits car shows from happening, maybe a C&G meet at the AACA Museum would be a good way for some C&G members to meet, take a tour of the museum, have lunch somewhere, and maybe even do a tourist-y attraction in the area. Anyone interested? Depending on the amount of people that say yes to a Saturday meet in January, I'd be willing to put this together. Post your thoughts too after voting.

Cruise Back to the Future -- The GM Futurliner Comes to the AACA Museum Date: 10/11/2009 - 4/30/2010 Time: All Day Location: Museum's Lower Level Concourse See link for the rest of the article: http://www.aacamuseum.org/events/event.aspx?id=245

The Fleetwood is not making the trip out to Hershey, plenty of time for that in the future. The AURA will be my mode of transportation, especially since I have approximately 2,500 miles to use up before it goes back to GMAC on November 17 (lease end). Of course if I was planning to buy a lot of parts and stuff, the Fleetwood would be a better vehicle to use - thankfully I am not in need of anything at this time The weather looks so-so for this year's show... the NOAA National Weather Service is calling for rain Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (mostly evening or over-night showers, 20-50% ratings), and Saturday is suppose to be cool and cloudy. Thankfully 75% of the show in Hershey nowadays is on asphalt, compared to the past where "Hershey mud" was not a fun thing to deal with. However, the showcar/judging area is on the grassy fields of the old Hershey golf course, so rain prior to Saturday will not make the fields a nice place to walk around on Saturday. Good news about the Futurliner... it will be staying in Hershey for the winter. Part of the arrangement made with NATMUS (the owners of the Futurliner) is that the AACA Museum in Hershey will play host to the Futurliner as part of it's winter display. So even though I'm dragging the little guy to see it on Saturday (and more importantly climb into it), I will drag the wife and children again in January to see it at the museum (probably not likely to sit in it then though). So for those wanting to see the Futurliner, you will have some additional time this year to see it in Hershey beyond the annual fall meet. The highlight of this week for me is going to Hershey on Saturday... and there's a ton of work that needs to be done at my job before the end of the week. I will definitely enjoy the break this weekend after the all my workl oad is gone.

Okay, I've had the '96 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham for a little over a month now and other than giving it a quick washing it once, I haven't done much to it - though it needs some TLC and soon. The black sierra grain leather is in pretty good shape for it's age, though it is dry and hard. I know it needs a good cleaning and then conditioning, and hopefully that will make it more appealing to the eye and maybe more supple. Anyone have some product suggestions and/or methods I should use to clean and condition the leather? I'm use to dealing with leather in new cars - so the methods & products I have I don't think will give me the results I want. Also, the car was owned by two non-smoking owners, but has a distinct smell (the wife and step-son call it "old man" odor ). I remember a post awhile ago where someone (maybe ocnblu?) said to leave a bowl of coffee inside for a day or two and it will help rid the smell. Is that the best method for giving the car a more pleasant odor? What kind of coffee do I buy (I'm not a coffee drinker, FYI)? I know once I've cleaned the leather, work on cleaning the carpeting, and clean and condition the dash will help give it a better smell, but I'd like to go one extra step if it will mean a more pleasing overall aroma in the car. As always, your insight/advice/opinion will be greatly appreciated!!

So, who's headed out to Hershey, PA this week for the annual AACA Fall Meet? The GM Futurliner will be there again - second time now (October '07 was its first visit to the show), and you are allowed to climb the stairs and sit int he driver's cockpit. This is a milestone year for me - my dad took me 20 years ago (1989) as a young and naive 14 year old first-timer, and I've been hooked ever since. And to celebrate this milestone I am taking my 4 year old son Justin with me this year - my 20th will be his 1st, and hopefully we can make this a father-son tradition for many, many years to come. I can't wait to take him into the Futurliner, and we've been looking at my 1/64th scale diecast (Norev) model of it so he knows what to look for at the show. So, post here if you're headed out sometime this week, and I'll be there on Saturday (if work didn't have stupid rules about personal days around holidays <we're closed for Columbus Day Monday>, I'd make it a two-day event and sleep in the car if I had too )

My dad was born March 6, 1947 - my uncle (mom's bro) was born March 6, 1943. My uncle's son was born December 23, 1973 - I was born December 23, 1974. My dad is into sports, like my cousin. My uncle was into cars, like me. Strange, isn't it???

Last Ocotber I posted a picture of a trailer that puzzled me when I saw it at a truck show and asked here if anyone knew what it was used for. Here's the picture from last year: Of course no one had figured it out, and online research didn't help (we were thinking military/tank hauling, but couldn't figure out how things "got on"). Fast forward to yesterday... I went back to the annual All-Mack show there again yesterday with hopes that the trailer would be on display (it was!). The owner wasn't in sight, but after waitintg a bit I did find a guy that knew the owner and what the trailer was used for - hauling large and heavy cranes. The guy went on to explain that this trailer isn't a traditional gooseneck and that the rear wheels detach and roll off the back of the trailer. The crane is then walked up the rails, the rear of the trailer is jacked up, the wheels are rolled back on and the pins are reinserted and the trailer is ready for transport. Picture detail: TRAILER REAR - Look in the center to see the pins, (you can also see here the end rails where they jacked the trailer up to put the wheels back on) SIDE-VIEW (here you can see the pin <rounded end, smashed from years of use) and the wedge that holds the pin in place) The guy said it was a lot of work to do, but before the more modern day gooseneck became available, this trailer is what was used to haul the large, heavy cranes from site to site. Not sure if anyone else cared, but thought I'd share my finding!!