The crew here at Cool McCool’s Garage has had a VERY busy October, but we haven’t gotten anything done on either the Riviera or the T’bird. Instead, we’ve been camping, soaking up art in Grand Rapids at “Art Prize”, and took a trip to Las Vegas to visit our son Craig and his family. He and Kathleen recently got engaged, and we are excited to have our family grow!
While we were with Craig and his family, we drove to Burbank California, and visited our niece Meghan and her husband Ron, and got to meet their daughter Maren. She’s beautiful, and we got to hold a baby! As luck would have it, their home is only a mile from two great hot rod shops, “Hollywood Hot Rods”, and “Old Crow Speed”, so Craig and I took a few minutes and got great tours at both shops. Sadly, for me anyway, the ’59 T’bird under construction at Hollywood Hot Rods, inspired by the same artwork by Eric Black that got me to chop the top and cut up the quarter panels on mine, was out for paint, so I didn’t get to see that.
We’re back home, and today got some long overdue fall household maintenance chores taken care of, and I fired up the motor home chassis, pulled it around to the garage and stripped it of some wiring and am going to (finally) pull the 454 and Turbo 400 tomorrow at the shop at my dad’s place. It’ll be good to have that thing gone, I’m planning scrapping the chassis to help generate some cash to replenish the Hot Rod Fund, which was depleted with the purchase of the 5.3 LS motor and 4L60E trans we just picked up for the ’63 Riviera.
There are plenty of warm sunny days ahead (I hope) this fall before snow flies and the woodshed is full, so we’re ready now to get back at the T’bird, get started on the Riviera, and keep busy during the winter months. It’s gonna be a busy winter!
Stay tuned!
On the road to Milford and the Tin Can Tourists Fall Gathering, late in September.
Joe Dirt meets Dog the Bounty Hunter.
I picked up this hot chick!
My favorite from “Art Prize”
Bellagio in LV, where we got a private VIP tour to the cupola!
Hot Rod heaven.
Of course, we found a brewpub, this one in Boulder City, a favorite of ours when we’re out there.
Old Crow belly tanker. These guys have the coolest stuff…
Our beautiful great-niece, Maren.
Craig and Kathleen, at Getty’s Center in Hollywood.
The Rivera’s new power plant! 5.3 LS and 4L60.
The Riviera, patiently waiting for its new heart.
Cool McCool's Garage 
Burbank? Dang, Brian, you could have come out to the west end of the Valley and helped me get rid of all this beer! Maybe next time…
We had too many friends to visit, and too little time! Next time for sure, I’ll hit you up when we get back out.