A chat about car theft, fears related to classic cars and their vulnerabilities, how to prevent theft and how to recover your car if it does get stolen.
I've an old Military Blazer I'll be using as a daily driver soon. These 1986 Military Blazers all use the same ignition keys! The Military's solution was to weld a large heavy tow-chain to the seat frame and then lock it around the steering wheel with a padlock! For myself I plan to also use a hidden switch to disable the 24VDC Starter circuit. Great advice in this video, thank you.
Yeah, it's a lot harder to protect an old diesel. Since the injection pump and injectors are totally mechanical, it limits your options. Good luck with the project!
Hah! I thought it was hilarious and I had to get it. I’ll be posting a bunch more videos on things, but to be honest, I’m just trying to share a little experience and help folks. Not sure I’d ever want to be a youtuber 😅 lol
I keep an Airtag in my car for tracking purposes. Likely nowhere near as good as Lojack but then again it's $30 (if you have an iPhone) instead of $1,000
Would love to see some more details on that hood latch lock that was installed by your uncle. Kinda hard to make out in the dark footage. I've been trying to come up with something that does exactly that, but I would love some additional inspiration!
So after two failed attempts to steal my 1989 Mustang GT I started using a Club steering wheel lock. This seemed to discourage any additional attempted thefts. Both for my GT and later my Nissan 300zx Turbo. The real problem was the hassle of the damage the theives would do. The first attempt they smashed the window while I was at work and mangled the ignition to the point I had to call a lock smith to come fix it so I could drive it home in the freezing cold with no drivers window. Then at home cover the window with tape and trash bags because I had no garage at my apt. The second attempt I cought them in the act as I exited the local shopping mall. The guy jump out and in the car with his buddies and took off. Got the license number, but cops didn't do anything. Luckily they only broke the plastic steering column cover. Few bucks for a replacement I installed myself. Not sure how they got into the car that time. Not sure how effective it might be here in 2021, but I'd use a bright orange Club steering lock again on any classic I had. Gives a nice visual deterrent.
Thieves suck. The only "break in" I've ever had was the year 1999 on a Ford Escort GT I had. Parked on a suburban street, door unlocked. It was late, I remembered I left it unlocked for whatever reason, but decided it wasn't worth it to move it into the driveway and lock it. A reminder, even in a "safe" neighborhood, unlocked = asking for it. The club is a nice visual. So is a flashing LED which looks like a car alarm or a LOJACK sticker, etc. Luckily, I can say I parked my '69 Mustang in a driveway or carport for years, even in the San Francisco Bay area. Never had a problem, even when I left it for months while traveling for business.
@@randomologist77 My Nissan had both. An alarm with a blinking LED and I used a Club. But here in 2021 I'd also have a GPS tracker in a classic car. They're getting cheap enough.
@@melisssa7777 They used to shoot horse theives, why not car theives? But no, these days you can't even shoot somebody in self defense and not be charged with murder. Even when the self defense is clearly cought on camera. You'll still end up in jail.
The 69 Mach1 is a Very desirable classic Mustang to own. Driving this car is like being a rock star, it's thumbs up every where you go ! Something to consider, both your Mach and mine are worth a bloody fortune just in parts ! A total pro thief can re title the car and sell it. My car sees lots of car shows and cruse nights and some times I cant always be close to keep an eye on the car. There are stories of collector cars disappearing even at car shows. I do have an easy anti theft system in place. A simple barrel key on off switch mounted on the inside of the driver door opening right next to my shoulder. A quick turn of the key as I'm getting out and the Fuel injection will not power up. So if somebody REALLY wants the car it will have to be towed. Which is not impossible if your car is parked in the street or a mall parking lot. This is just one of many reasons why my car is Not a daily driver.
Classic car shows are probably the riskiest place to bring a classic, unfortunately. The community is both a boon and a burden in that way. If somebody wants to find a classic car to steal, they know where to look. I’m not too worried about theft. Real pro classic car thieves often show up with a flat bed. That said, as much as you or I might think my car is cool, it’s far from original and in the state of a driver rather than a show car. Helps a little. Honestly, locking the doors, taking the keys and not leaving stuff in plain sight reduces most car theft risk dramatically.
@Shawn Stafford Simple stuff goes a long ways. Tough to say what will happen in every scenario. From where you park daily to how many people know you and your car exist in the first place. Thieves really make the world suck sometimes.
Dont rely upon cops to help you out for anything as even if you tell them your vehicle is stolen, filed a police report and you know where it is they still will not help you get your car back. The police are only concerned about making money through tickets and fines and the only property they are concerned about is their own.
Sounds like a pretty nasty experience you've had. Sorry about that. I think police often get told what they're going to care about or rather, have their priorities set for them by the chief, who takes his orders from the mayor and city council. I think things are often a lot more complicated and it sure does make things more difficult on all of us sometimes. I hope you got your car back!
@Shawn Stafford LOL, truth is, they're the ones who are going to get utterly chewed out and written up if something goes wrong. They're probably told specifically not to do it by the city and given the excuse it will damage their electrical stuff if they try. There are some unique ways some cars need the battery connected for jump starting. I've seen it first hand. That said, probably just the city doing a CYA thing to protect them from lawsuits. Too many people out there looking to rip each other off and not enough who'll help even when there is a little risk involved.
Back when my family lived in Mexico, my dad left his Lincoln Navigator out in the street instead of parking it in the garage, just for about 30 minutes. Within that time people had broken into the car, stole some stuff he left in the front seat, and stole the radio. Luckily, they did not steal the green binder that was sitting in the backseat, the binder that literally contained our entire families birth certificates, social security cards and other important documents. Lol that being said, just park smart?
Yikes , this is very wrong , sorry . If I want that mustang its gone in under a minute , and if I want that mustang I dont just want A car . I want THAT car. People that steal classic cars steal classic cars for a specific reason . They arent just looking for a ride. Did you read that on the internet ? Do you realize how much easier it is for someone to retitle and sell that car off ? Your 69 with the non locking column makes it a bit easier I will say but the lock on a 70 can be broken with a quick twist... These cars were stolen by the thousands back when they were new because they are so easy to steal. I wouldnt bother trying to unlock your locked car I would simply take an automatic center punch and blow the quarter glass out and unlock it. The best thing to do ? GREAT INSURANCE and never leave the car unattended . I know folks that have had them stolen off the side of the road because they broke down and walked to get help. Came back , no need for help any longer , shes gone..... You will not stop people that know these cars from stealing that car in any of the ways you mention... Power is the key my friend.... NO power , then there is no power to redirect to make it fire . Of course with a regular points distributor you are done for anyway , everything you need is right under the hood . The same tactics work on all ford cars and trucks up into the 90s..... Insurance insurance insurance... They pay out good and its not that expensive...Of course with my mustangs that I built from the ground up . It would be a cold day in hell if they sat anywhere without an eye on them including when they are fast asleep in the garage......
Most thefts are not from professional car thieves targeting specific cars. It happens, but it's very rare. Most car thieves are just opportunists. Like I stated in the video, if a professional thief wants "your car" they're taking it. Period. It doesn't matter if it's a 1969 Mustang or a 2021 Mustang. My Mustang has sat outside of a garage for weeks or months at a time in the Minneapolis and San Francisco metro areas over the past 6 years. It's been parked at huge day long events and at the grocery store as a true daily driver. It's never been stolen. It's never been broken into. I may be just one guy, but I also I know people who've daily driven classics for years and years and years. There are some things I wanted to mention in the video, but it's 50/50 helping owners of classics and giving thieves more ideas so I omitted it.
@@randomologist77 This is again very wrong . Remember you are speaking from your perspective to a broad audience and you are speaking on car theft in general , not classic car theft.. This audience includes R code owners , K code owners MACH owners Shelby owners . Professional car thieves steal cars PROFESSIONALY for just that MONEY . From your perspective you have a regular old vanilla 69 and it looks nice but again , a PROFESSIONAL thief knows what its worth and its not worth what a 69 R code is worth or a 66 K code fastback , etc etc.... People that might watch this like myself have cars worth in excess of 100K and some of them have more money than sense to be honest. "Man if I lock my doors on this GT500 like that guy on youtube said I will be fine to leave it all day here". Take a good look at the setup that some folks have even if they trailer their classic . Everything up to including how and where they park it at hotels is thought out because they know . These cars get stolen !! Trailer and all !!! Open , enclosed , it doesnt matter... Its big money especially when you ship them off shore.. They will steal the damn tow rig and all if its easier to just get that started . At one point Montreal was the car theft capitol of the world . These folks werent looking for a ride they werent random thefts , they were stealing very specific cars and trucks to ship off shore . I would go so far as to say that the very observant and very astute classic car thieves might troll around on social media and youtube to find little nuggets like yours pretty much telling them what they need to do to drive away in your car....They can locate it , know what you may have done that they have to prepare for , and know what kind of attention it does or doesnt have on it.... Ya get me ?????
@@kylevantassel7259 I'm not sure what point you're trying to make is except to scare people into selling their cars before they all get stolen because you can assure people, their car will be stolen. There are high end professional car thieves out there like you describe. If they want a specific car, that car will be gone. Preparing for that kind of thief is largely an exercise in futility because that kind of thief has done their homework and prepared. The only hope then is good insurance or maybe Lojack and other tracking methods with movement notification to get it back fast. This video isn't about thwarting high end professional classic car thieves, it's about the general risks of auto theft and preventing the vast majority of them. The facts are the facts. 90% of car thefts are when the vehicle is left unlocked. The vast majority of thieves who would steal a car are not interested in any specific car. In fact, they often aren't really interested in the car at all. They're interested in the $20 of stuff they see inside the car or your identity. If somebody leaves the keys inside, well, that's how the car gets stolen. Most thieves are not high end pros and they're looking for an easy and fast getaway. A car with the hood locked and with the doors locked is not the easy getaway. These types of thieves literally walk down streets and parking lots checking doors. Car to car to car. If the car is locked, they move on. Sometimes they carry a flashlight to look inside. It's not my experience. It's the experience of millions of people. Maybe I should do a video on thwarting professional classic car thieves in specific, but the reality is going to be a bit grim.
@@randomologist77 I see that maybe the light bulb is turning on. General car theft is not the same topic as classic car theft. You are mixing the two . Just about everything you say is the internet information's exact descriptions of how to lower your chances of car theft for regular ole cars. The point is that if your classic is targeted its targeted for a reason . Saying that its more than likely fine of you do these three things is simply not true . Its not for a ride somewhere because it was easy . Most kids cannot even get a car with a carb started or keep it running.... If your someone that just bought a regular ole classic car and you want to use it as a daily thats why I stressed getting classic car insurance from one of the really good companies out there . The car has no specific relevance to you , you just want to cover yourself in case it does get popped. If your someone that has a rare classic then of course other tactics must be used as well as having the best classic car insurance on it that you can get. Im sure you dont understand because its clear you didnt build your car . My cars are "Rare" cars that I built from the ground up myself . Body restoration , paint engine interior , everything. They are rare cars and they have value of course but no value can be assigned for the connection I have with them. Therefore they will never be sitting anywhere on any street unattended , ever. As far as all your deterrents go , just put a valve somewhere in the fuel system . No fuel , no run . Almost anything electrical gets bypassed by the jump under the hood... No one is ever going to even figure out that its not getting fuel in a limited amount of time .... Pro tip.......
@@kylevantassel7259 You're assuming the video was specifically and only about classic car professional thieves. It's not. The video is about car theft, their classic car and the likelihood it will be stolen. It's hard to make perfect CZcams titles with the space you've got to work with so I apologize you took my video the wrong way. I can appreciate you worked your butt off on your cars and how much they mean to you, personally. When a car is precious and irreplacable to the owner, even little risks become intolerable and I know owners who feel that way exactly. I do have good insurance for many reasons and I've talked about that in multiple videos. In regard to what I personally did to my car, I did quite a bit. I didn't buy a car which was going to win shows because I wanted to drive it. It's a 20/20 car which looks way too good in photos, but anybody can see it's a driver in person. I'm sharing my experience with products and vendors because I've done the work and I bought the parts. There's a lot I wish I knew about the vendors and products before I purchased them, but information is limited out there. For every person giving it to you straight, there are 10 who pretend they do or have sold out for free stuff. Often info is from 10 or 20 years ago on old message forums leaving you to wonder, is it still accurate? From fitting an older FE into a Mustang to vaccum and hydroboost brakes, power rack and pinion conversion, cooling systems, serpentine conversions, full replacement harnesses, A/C HVAC conversion, converting to overdrive, rear end replacement and more. It's coming on the channel. Just because I don't wear a shop shirt doesn't mean I don't crank wrenches. :)
I've an old Military Blazer I'll be using as a daily driver soon. These 1986 Military Blazers all use the same ignition keys!
The Military's solution was to weld a large heavy tow-chain to the seat frame and then lock it around the steering wheel with a padlock!
For myself I plan to also use a hidden switch to disable the 24VDC Starter circuit.
Great advice in this video, thank you.
Yeah, it's a lot harder to protect an old diesel. Since the injection pump and injectors are totally mechanical, it limits your options. Good luck with the project!
You a natural and should really keep up the videos. I’m subscribing !
Also love the Space Force shirt!
Hah! I thought it was hilarious and I had to get it. I’ll be posting a bunch more videos on things, but to be honest, I’m just trying to share a little experience and help folks. Not sure I’d ever want to be a youtuber 😅 lol
I keep an Airtag in my car for tracking purposes. Likely nowhere near as good as Lojack but then again it's $30 (if you have an iPhone) instead of $1,000
Needed some pointers on this much appreciated. Got a restoration on one in the works, a Fastback even.
Would love to see some more details on that hood latch lock that was installed by your uncle. Kinda hard to make out in the dark footage. I've been trying to come up with something that does exactly that, but I would love some additional inspiration!
A couple things would be a column lock, disabler, etc... even removing the coil wire could help
So after two failed attempts to steal my 1989 Mustang GT I started using a Club steering wheel lock. This seemed to discourage any additional attempted thefts. Both for my GT and later my Nissan 300zx Turbo.
The real problem was the hassle of the damage the theives would do. The first attempt they smashed the window while I was at work and mangled the ignition to the point I had to call a lock smith to come fix it so I could drive it home in the freezing cold with no drivers window. Then at home cover the window with tape and trash bags because I had no garage at my apt.
The second attempt I cought them in the act as I exited the local shopping mall. The guy jump out and in the car with his buddies and took off. Got the license number, but cops didn't do anything. Luckily they only broke the plastic steering column cover. Few bucks for a replacement I installed myself. Not sure how they got into the car that time.
Not sure how effective it might be here in 2021, but I'd use a bright orange Club steering lock again on any classic I had. Gives a nice visual deterrent.
Thieves suck. The only "break in" I've ever had was the year 1999 on a Ford Escort GT I had. Parked on a suburban street, door unlocked. It was late, I remembered I left it unlocked for whatever reason, but decided it wasn't worth it to move it into the driveway and lock it. A reminder, even in a "safe" neighborhood, unlocked = asking for it.
The club is a nice visual. So is a flashing LED which looks like a car alarm or a LOJACK sticker, etc. Luckily, I can say I parked my '69 Mustang in a driveway or carport for years, even in the San Francisco Bay area. Never had a problem, even when I left it for months while traveling for business.
@@randomologist77
My Nissan had both. An alarm with a blinking LED and I used a Club.
But here in 2021 I'd also have a GPS tracker in a classic car. They're getting cheap enough.
@@melisssa7777
They used to shoot horse theives, why not car theives? But no, these days you can't even shoot somebody in self defense and not be charged with murder. Even when the self defense is clearly cought on camera. You'll still end up in jail.
@Shawn Stafford
I do. But that requires a determined thief. Most aren't that ambitious.
I always took the coil lead off my 72 mach 1 in my pocket. Takes 30 secs to do
The 69 Mach1 is a Very desirable classic Mustang to own. Driving this car is like being a rock star, it's thumbs up every where you go ! Something to consider, both your Mach and mine are worth a bloody fortune just in parts ! A total pro thief can re title the car and sell it. My car sees lots of car shows and cruse nights and some times I cant always be close to keep an eye on the car. There are stories of collector cars disappearing even at car shows. I do have an easy anti theft system in place. A simple barrel key on off switch mounted on the inside of the driver door opening right next to my shoulder. A quick turn of the key as I'm getting out and the Fuel injection will not power up. So if somebody REALLY wants the car it will have to be towed. Which is not impossible if your car is parked in the street or a mall parking lot. This is just one of many reasons why my car is Not a daily driver.
Classic car shows are probably the riskiest place to bring a classic, unfortunately. The community is both a boon and a burden in that way. If somebody wants to find a classic car to steal, they know where to look. I’m not too worried about theft. Real pro classic car thieves often show up with a flat bed. That said, as much as you or I might think my car is cool, it’s far from original and in the state of a driver rather than a show car. Helps a little. Honestly, locking the doors, taking the keys and not leaving stuff in plain sight reduces most car theft risk dramatically.
@Shawn Stafford Simple stuff goes a long ways. Tough to say what will happen in every scenario. From where you park daily to how many people know you and your car exist in the first place. Thieves really make the world suck sometimes.
@Shawn Stafford I haven't noticed that, but I certainly have noticed some crazy driving haha
The CLUB works well too
Dont rely upon cops to help you out for anything as even if you tell them your vehicle is stolen, filed a police report and you know where it is they still will not help you get your car back. The police are only concerned about making money through tickets and fines and the only property they are concerned about is their own.
Sounds like a pretty nasty experience you've had. Sorry about that. I think police often get told what they're going to care about or rather, have their priorities set for them by the chief, who takes his orders from the mayor and city council. I think things are often a lot more complicated and it sure does make things more difficult on all of us sometimes. I hope you got your car back!
Side note, that's one of the reasons I think Lojack type services are valuable. There's money on the line so they push for vehicle recovery success.
@Shawn Stafford LOL, truth is, they're the ones who are going to get utterly chewed out and written up if something goes wrong. They're probably told specifically not to do it by the city and given the excuse it will damage their electrical stuff if they try. There are some unique ways some cars need the battery connected for jump starting. I've seen it first hand. That said, probably just the city doing a CYA thing to protect them from lawsuits. Too many people out there looking to rip each other off and not enough who'll help even when there is a little risk involved.
Back when my family lived in Mexico, my dad left his Lincoln Navigator out in the street instead of parking it in the garage, just for about 30 minutes. Within that time people had broken into the car, stole some stuff he left in the front seat, and stole the radio. Luckily, they did not steal the green binder that was sitting in the backseat, the binder that literally contained our entire families birth certificates, social security cards and other important documents. Lol that being said, just park smart?
LoJack is excellent for classics, classic car's have no anti theft systems or alarms at all. They are very easy to steal for car thefts
A chocolate stick is good.
Yikes , this is very wrong , sorry . If I want that mustang its gone in under a minute , and if I want that mustang I dont just want A car . I want THAT car. People that steal classic cars steal classic cars for a specific reason . They arent just looking for a ride. Did you read that on the internet ? Do you realize how much easier it is for someone to retitle and sell that car off ?
Your 69 with the non locking column makes it a bit easier I will say but the lock on a 70 can be broken with a quick twist... These cars were stolen by the thousands back when they were new because they are so easy to steal. I wouldnt bother trying to unlock your locked car I would simply take an automatic center punch and blow the quarter glass out and unlock it.
The best thing to do ? GREAT INSURANCE and never leave the car unattended . I know folks that have had them stolen off the side of the road because they broke down and walked to get help. Came back , no need for help any longer , shes gone.....
You will not stop people that know these cars from stealing that car in any of the ways you mention... Power is the key my friend.... NO power , then there is no power to redirect to make it fire . Of course with a regular points distributor you are done for anyway , everything you need is right under the hood . The same tactics work on all ford cars and trucks up into the 90s.....
Insurance insurance insurance... They pay out good and its not that expensive...Of course with my mustangs that I built from the ground up . It would be a cold day in hell if they sat anywhere without an eye on them including when they are fast asleep in the garage......
Most thefts are not from professional car thieves targeting specific cars. It happens, but it's very rare. Most car thieves are just opportunists. Like I stated in the video, if a professional thief wants "your car" they're taking it. Period. It doesn't matter if it's a 1969 Mustang or a 2021 Mustang. My Mustang has sat outside of a garage for weeks or months at a time in the Minneapolis and San Francisco metro areas over the past 6 years. It's been parked at huge day long events and at the grocery store as a true daily driver. It's never been stolen. It's never been broken into. I may be just one guy, but I also I know people who've daily driven classics for years and years and years. There are some things I wanted to mention in the video, but it's 50/50 helping owners of classics and giving thieves more ideas so I omitted it.
@@randomologist77 This is again very wrong . Remember you are speaking from your perspective to a broad audience and you are speaking on car theft in general , not classic car theft.. This audience includes R code owners , K code owners MACH owners Shelby owners . Professional car thieves steal cars PROFESSIONALY for just that MONEY . From your perspective you have a regular old vanilla 69 and it looks nice but again , a PROFESSIONAL thief knows what its worth and its not worth what a 69 R code is worth or a 66 K code fastback , etc etc....
People that might watch this like myself have cars worth in excess of 100K and some of them have more money than sense to be honest. "Man if I lock my doors on this GT500 like that guy on youtube said I will be fine to leave it all day here".
Take a good look at the setup that some folks have even if they trailer their classic . Everything up to including how and where they park it at hotels is thought out because they know . These cars get stolen !! Trailer and all !!! Open , enclosed , it doesnt matter... Its big money especially when you ship them off shore.. They will steal the damn tow rig and all if its easier to just get that started .
At one point Montreal was the car theft capitol of the world . These folks werent looking for a ride they werent random thefts , they were stealing very specific cars and trucks to ship off shore . I would go so far as to say that the very observant and very astute classic car thieves might troll around on social media and youtube to find little nuggets like yours pretty much telling them what they need to do to drive away in your car....They can locate it , know what you may have done that they have to prepare for , and know what kind of attention it does or doesnt have on it.... Ya get me ?????
@@kylevantassel7259 I'm not sure what point you're trying to make is except to scare people into selling their cars before they all get stolen because you can assure people, their car will be stolen.
There are high end professional car thieves out there like you describe. If they want a specific car, that car will be gone. Preparing for that kind of thief is largely an exercise in futility because that kind of thief has done their homework and prepared. The only hope then is good insurance or maybe Lojack and other tracking methods with movement notification to get it back fast. This video isn't about thwarting high end professional classic car thieves, it's about the general risks of auto theft and preventing the vast majority of them.
The facts are the facts. 90% of car thefts are when the vehicle is left unlocked. The vast majority of thieves who would steal a car are not interested in any specific car. In fact, they often aren't really interested in the car at all. They're interested in the $20 of stuff they see inside the car or your identity. If somebody leaves the keys inside, well, that's how the car gets stolen. Most thieves are not high end pros and they're looking for an easy and fast getaway. A car with the hood locked and with the doors locked is not the easy getaway. These types of thieves literally walk down streets and parking lots checking doors. Car to car to car. If the car is locked, they move on. Sometimes they carry a flashlight to look inside. It's not my experience. It's the experience of millions of people.
Maybe I should do a video on thwarting professional classic car thieves in specific, but the reality is going to be a bit grim.
@@randomologist77 I see that maybe the light bulb is turning on. General car theft is not the same topic as classic car theft. You are mixing the two . Just about everything you say is the internet information's exact descriptions of how to lower your chances of car theft for regular ole cars.
The point is that if your classic is targeted its targeted for a reason . Saying that its more than likely fine of you do these three things is simply not true . Its not for a ride somewhere because it was easy . Most kids cannot even get a car with a carb started or keep it running....
If your someone that just bought a regular ole classic car and you want to use it as a daily thats why I stressed getting classic car insurance from one of the really good companies out there . The car has no specific relevance to you , you just want to cover yourself in case it does get popped. If your someone that has a rare classic then of course other tactics must be used as well as having the best classic car insurance on it that you can get.
Im sure you dont understand because its clear you didnt build your car . My cars are "Rare" cars that I built from the ground up myself . Body restoration , paint engine interior , everything. They are rare cars and they have value of course but no value can be assigned for the connection I have with them. Therefore they will never be sitting anywhere on any street unattended , ever.
As far as all your deterrents go , just put a valve somewhere in the fuel system . No fuel , no run . Almost anything electrical gets bypassed by the jump under the hood... No one is ever going to even figure out that its not getting fuel in a limited amount of time .... Pro tip.......
@@kylevantassel7259 You're assuming the video was specifically and only about classic car professional thieves. It's not. The video is about car theft, their classic car and the likelihood it will be stolen. It's hard to make perfect CZcams titles with the space you've got to work with so I apologize you took my video the wrong way.
I can appreciate you worked your butt off on your cars and how much they mean to you, personally. When a car is precious and irreplacable to the owner, even little risks become intolerable and I know owners who feel that way exactly. I do have good insurance for many reasons and I've talked about that in multiple videos.
In regard to what I personally did to my car, I did quite a bit. I didn't buy a car which was going to win shows because I wanted to drive it. It's a 20/20 car which looks way too good in photos, but anybody can see it's a driver in person. I'm sharing my experience with products and vendors because I've done the work and I bought the parts. There's a lot I wish I knew about the vendors and products before I purchased them, but information is limited out there. For every person giving it to you straight, there are 10 who pretend they do or have sold out for free stuff. Often info is from 10 or 20 years ago on old message forums leaving you to wonder, is it still accurate? From fitting an older FE into a Mustang to vaccum and hydroboost brakes, power rack and pinion conversion, cooling systems, serpentine conversions, full replacement harnesses, A/C HVAC conversion, converting to overdrive, rear end replacement and more. It's coming on the channel. Just because I don't wear a shop shirt doesn't mean I don't crank wrenches. :)