The Summer of '79

June 1979. I was 18. Just out of high school. Had my own car (a 63 Plymouth Savoy wagon) and a good job after moving to the west side of Cleveland for the summer. One evening a commercial for this new movie called ALIEN aired while I was watching TV with my grandparents and it was so creepy (that tagline, IN SPACE NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU SCREAM really nailed it). I just HAD to see this movie.

The following Friday evening after work I drove to Parma to their classic old movie theater (now gone) and caught the last show of the night. Myself and 1 other person were the only ones there. Now one thing to keep in mind is that back then I was a big Star Trek geek who really knew nothing about the horror genre so needless to say, I was NOT prepared for what I was about to see. To say that it blew me away would be an understatement and after the movie ended I drove all the way back home with one eye in the rear-view mirror looking into the back seat of the car in case something was sneaking up on me.

The impact and the entire experience is still fresh in my mind to this day and makes me smile whenever I recall it. It also turned into a big fan of Ridley Scott and the sci-fi horror genre.

Last week, after nearly fifty years, I finally broke down and grabbed an original 1979, Union made movie poster to frame and hang on the wall. Then we'll watch it again. After dark. With all the lights off.

Stay tuned!
-David

 

 

The View From Here

 Not much getting done at the moment. If you've been following along on social media (our YouTube channel) you already know that my spouse is terminally ill so I spend most of my time at home. But the shop's still there. Waiting. One last task to do before we roll her out the door for the first time is to re-locate the battery to the trunk and run a 16 foot positive cable up to the starter.

Progress:

• engine dialed in, starting and idling = 100%
  
• wiring = 75%
• floor patching/sealing = 100%
• new brakes, lines, fab master cylinder and pedal relocation = 100%

Stay tuned!
-David

The Funky T Episode 4 (finale)

The Funky T Episode 3

New Year Shop Update

 After double checking my work and fixing some leaky fittings I'm proud to say that after 3 decades in a barn, our Pontiac now has a functioning and upgraded brake system. All new from front to back except for the drums which really need turned. She's almost ready to pull out of the garage for a first test of the system. But first I had a transmission pan gasket that decided to start leaking and I need to address that and make sure the trans fluid level is good. After this the next job on my list is moving the battery to the trunk.

Stay tuned!
-David

The Funky T! Survior Hot Rods and friends helping friends Ep1

Trashcan Garage Midnight Mass

Spooky Season

 If I had to guess I'd say most ppl who wrench on old cars for fun grew up around them and had friends and family members who built their own rides; low riders, kustoms, traditional hotrods or muscle cars. But I was not one of those kids. My inspiration came later in life, long after I'd entered adulthood.

Happy Halloween from Trashcan Garage!

Trashcan Garage Midnight Mass

Never Forget Those Who Built Them

 

Tweedy Pie made it to LA Roadster Show!

Tweedy Pie Time-Lapse: The Birth of a Legend

Car That Ate My Brain Episode 23 The Final Push!

Heavy Metal

Car That Ate My Brain 2 Episode 22 Countdown to GNRS 2025!

California Dreamin'Good Guys Del Mar 2025 Car Show

Car That Ate My Brain 2 Episode 21

Car That Ate My Brain 2 Episode 20

Trashcan Garage Sunday Service

Thinking of warmer climates

...and I still loathe winter
(art by me)

Happy New Year!

Artwork by Ben "Drag Daddy" Mitchell for Trashcan Garage

Trader Vic's Returning to Southern California

Fans of 1950s Polynesian culture, rum and tiki statues will soon have reason to celebrate as the venerated Trader Vic's has recently announced plans to re-open later next year on Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood (via LA Times).

Car That Ate My Brain 2 Episode 19

 "Hate costs money, love is free"

Ford Brook Park, Ohio Engine Plant 1954 Promo Film

As a kid, we grew up in shadows of "The Ford Plant" in the 1960s and early 1970s and passed by it whenever we visited our grandparents in Brook Park. The site was massive and seemed to go on forever. Today the foundry/casting plant is gone (closed in 2010 after Ford's switch to aluminum) with only one engine plant remaining. Lately, the owners of the Cleveland Browns football team have revealed plans to build a new stadium on the property and move the team from Cleveland.

The map I've included below highlights the brownfields in red and the remaining Engine Plant No.1 in blue.