1979 Electra Limited Road Trip Pics and Story

How does he deal with the NJ inspection requirement? I know you're not making annual pilgrimages to NJ inspection stations.

 

You notice there is no sitcker in the window, right?

The car is licensed and insured as a classic...no inspection required.

-Mike

 

I did notice that. I thought NJ antique registrations had QQ plates.

 

Don't know that. Plates have been on the car since 2004. Ben sends me a new registration and insurance card once a year. Car is only driven now and then to keep the fluids moving. It just went over 50K miles this summer. Had to replace the a/c compressor last spring, seals dried out.

Just a toy!

 

OK, Google knows all. There's a differentiation between Historic vehicle and a Collector vehicle in NJ:

 

If you make it happen, you gotta let me know how. I would love to buy a classic and be getting that kind of fuel economy.

 

Caprice Estate: Number one thing is to make sure the car is tuned to a nicety. I use Edelbrock Performer intakes, and on Fords, the square bore 1401 carburetor body. I always talk with the Edelbrock tech support team to decide which metering rods and jets to use for how the car will be driven. A highway car needs different ones from a city-driven car, and if you are towing, things change again. I also make up a cold air intake that takes advantage of ram air effect. Done right, this gives the same boost as a very low pressure turbo, about 2 psi boost, which is just enough to make a big difference. Next is the exhaust half of the equation. Nora is running long tube Hooker headers with 1 1/4 primaries into 3 inch collectors, tapering down to 2 1/4 inch pipes at the cats, followed by an X cross over, dual FlowMaster DeltaFlows, and 2 1/4 inch pipes out the back. That exhaust on Nora gained me about 7 miles to the gallon, and somewhere around 45 horsepower. The big jump will be adding a mechanical AOD from a late 80s F150. That will bring the mileage up into the 40s. Add that fuel economy to the inexpensive repairs, and driving my old trusty rusty daily becomes a very viable proposition, all for about half the price of a Prius.

 

Another cool thread. I did the Smart Car pic with my 78 Town Car, but not that many Smart Cars haha. Love that Buick and those wheels, gives it a nice look of luxury and performance. I wouldn't mind having a shovel nose Buick or 77-80 FWB or CDV.