Story ideas for PHR, Input wanted..
 

Working on story ideas for the next 6-months for the magazine. Figure more minds are better than one so what do you guys think would be cool?

We are going to start doing more smaller install and install/test stories. You know, 4 pages or so where we install something like DSE Subframe connectors.

Thoughts? Budjet builds? Sway bar testing? dino vs synth oil comparison?

Open to all ideas :)

Budget builds are always fun... fun/affordable cruising vehicles... dyno tests are always a big hit! :D

I'm in the process of gathering parts for a T56 conversion, want to make that into a story so i can follow along? :D

How about a big fat article about designers!!!LOL :D Locating a designer, hiring one, the process, have a contest and a documented build of the winner's design to auction for charity!

I really don't want to speak for the rest of the artists but maybe that would be of some interest to people....i dunno...

Might not be bad.. generally those storys are where we have a bunch of guys render "alternative cars" of something with a sidebar on finding a good artist.



Looking for more specific ideas.. we have have a cool "440hp for $3500" story.. what sort of other ones?

Yea, what you need for a T56 conversion from say an auto tranny.. and from a muncie or something..

i realize this is more along the lines of a car craft article....but i think a story explaining why the mailman has to eat his tuna fish sandwich while reading your new copy. eventually he gets tired of slopping his lunch between the pages, and delivers it a couple weeks later....just in time for the next issue.


on a serious note, i think people occationally like to read about the dream builds, no budget, double throw down cool cars built by big names. while not being able to directly relate to the build...its good for people to see the details in every aspect of a bazillion dollar car, it gives people something to work towards with their own cars, instead of the typical hack job that looks good on the outside. a couple pages each month with updates and lots of pics, kinda like the threads on the sn65 car, and martys syborg. it makes people feel like they are part of the build team...and everytime they see the car after its finished they think back to when they saw it as a pile of parts...and how it progressed to the finished product.

oh yeah.... and more neckid women :D i mean afterall....carcraft has the fashion section in the back every month

and if your looking for a nice build, i say a couple of mags need to go heads up, set a parts budget, vehicle cost budget, and put 2 cars together with nothing more than bolt ons...then take em to the track's drag race them, roadrace them, auto-x, high speed police chases on channel 4...etc

i wanna see a mustang and a camaro/trans-am built, no freebie media deals, built in garages.... no rules other than money spent...and all upgrades must be "bolt-on" items.... no custom 1 off trick stuff.

What about a performance test of disc brake rotors: slotted vs solid vs crossdrilled & slotted? Use the same car and one manufacture: Baer, Wilwood, ?? so there will be no winners/losers. Check stopping distance, rotor temp, etc....

Steve,

I would like to see:

Lateral D 3-link install - OK maybe that would be more of a feature

1st Gen solid body mount install - driveway style like some of us will need to do

DSE subframe connector install

DSE cage install

Budget front end - G-mod, solid bushings. This could be cool as a mini-feature with before/after testing so see how much gain for so little cash. I'm not going this route but I am still curious.

Battery relocation to trunk. Easy but still cool.

Proportioning valve install and adjustment tips.

Electric fan manual overide switch - 'cause the stock setting is too damn hot.

Seat bracket fabrication - "safety first" how-to for aftermarket/swap seats.

Headlight upgrade - DSE or AAW w/ relays. Metrics for before/after would be cool. Got lumens?

Lizardskin, Dynamat, etc. Quick application tips then metrics. Got decibels?


That's all I can think of right off the bat. I plan on doing most of these projects over the next couple of years, so what does it take to be a pro-bono contributor for PHR?

-----------------------

Eric

69 Camaro - LT1 w/ 700R4, DSE springs, swaybar and Konis.

DSE UCAs and body mounts, ATS spindles, & c-5 brakes waiting for wheels and time to install. Steering box upgrade is next.

Yeah, I remember the issue with the 2nd Gen Firebird. There were some great entries. And the "alternative cars you must build" Kris did was also great.

I was thinking it was more about process this time around, it's sort of a "skimmed through" chapter in the total build most of the time. Mags will usually have a feature on a particular car, with a captioned rendering or two. I mean, we're not really looking for more credit that we are already lucky enough to get, but it might be interesting to see the story unfold...kind of a "prequel" to the build. I can't speak for the other artists but I would say, most projects I spend more time listening to the builder or owner, taking notes, thinking, looking the car over in person (if I can), offering my thoughts, and skribbling down sketches. Then the final rendering is done. Most people only see the score of the game, without watching it. I find that a lot of the great people I have worked with in the past came to me not knowing what to expect or how to budget this into the build. (Maybe that stuff is more exciting to designers than everyone else....I really don't know)

Other than that, a friendly competition is always cool to follow along with! As long as 69 Camaros are off limits...Ha Ha :D ! Motor Trend has being doing it for years successfully so......

This one has my vote!

A finishing build up on my car.......................lol

I'd love to do something like that.

For example, I am hopefully going to be designing a 200 mph car for someone and have to work in aerodynamics to a Design that is over 30 years old. All while being on a budget.

Doing an interview with an independent designer, you can have him do the same car in different steps, from mild to wild, say a mid 60's two door from either Ford or Chevy, or a nice mopar. There are a ton of cars that can be made into nice boulevard cruisers with a little work, or Silver State Classic competitors with a lot of work. Good designers are there to guide through what should be done to keep a car on track.

Then you can also show pictures of highly modified cars that were done by very gifted people, not under the influence of a designer. http://www.mike.vcn.com/tmp/ricer_civic_1.jpg
You can find just as many domestic examples. Ok, maybe not as many. But here's one, http://img178.exs.cx/img178/1455/ricer106qv.jpg

Edit, here is another idea as well. Early 80's Fox mustangs and 3rd Gen Camaros. I have been wanting to buy a low mileage 72-82 Mustang and swap in either a Stroked 351 or a 4 valve Mod motor converted to ITB's on the cheap (I'd show you how if you let me make the story, lol) plus some seats swapped in from a later model sports car re-upholstered to match the interior, an upgraded suspension, brakes, etc, it'd be a sweet ride. Especially with Air ride and 18 inch Bullets. I know a few other tricks for HP on those high HP engines that have been all the rage lately, somethings that have not been done on any street engines but are completely viable. Talk about a cheap G-machine. For the Camaro, I have been thinking of about a 82-85 Berlinetta, no molding, white paint, and 18 inch IROC replica wheels with a lowered stance, powered by a LS1 (with anough work to get 400hp) backed by a six speed . Minimal interior, with the paint showing, custom gauges and seats, and there is a light weight powerful sports car with up to date styling and reliability. Then when you are done building both, combine the total amount of money invested in them and compare them on the track to new cars. Considering these cars are up to 24 & 27 years old, are they old enough to be a project series in the mag? I think so. Plus, you guys have done the paint stuff to death, why not do a project where you start off with a 30k mile 4 banger 1980 Mustang Ghia and turn it into a real cruiser? Same for a V4 Camaro from 1983, I think it'd be a really cool series. Start off with the search, then the purchase of a rust free car with good paint and interior, and then the process of building up certain parts while keeping other parts vintage looking.

Brilliant idea, Ben!! There's lots of angles to do that story and I'd love to help brainstorm but our services are becoming more and more relevant and popular but people don't know how to reach us or how the process begins.
It's good for us as a promotion but helps people plan a better car and make their project be all it can be.

In addition to all the aftermarket kits, do a junkyard install with Camaro or Corvette stuff with a shopping list and see how it adds up to the big stuff.
Some sway bar/ drop springs/ shocks/ before and after install/tests like you did with the g/28 would be interesting too.
BTW, Thanks for asking, Steve!

More GM A-bodies :unibrow:

Rear suspension options
 

How about an article that addresses the pros and cons of several different rear suspension setups, such as: steel leaf, fiberglass leaf, 3 link, parallel 4 link, triangulated 4 link, IRS, etc.

You mean like this??? :rofl:

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tec...pension_guide/

1. I would like to see more pictures of what it take build some of the high end cars. Even if people can't afford some of the modifications it still may give you idea's.

2. Fairly Certain it was Drag Sport Magazine that was going to spend a year talking about Turbo Vodoo. They were going to try to explain everything there is to now about Turbo's. It lasted 2 months then ended but it was a great concept.

3. I know trucks rarley if ever get featured in PHR but i am hopnig that will change. For example look at the truck that IDA Automotive built. That truck was a beast and a hot rod that was built to be driven.

4. Renderings - maybe you can pic a car a month and have a few different artist show there concept every month. Gives people idea's.

5. Did i mention Renderings - Explain to people why they can be important tools. It's almost alway's cheaper to have a rendering drawn then it is to have a fab guy attempt to create whats in your head. You can hand them a drawing and show them exactly what your after and there is no communication breakdown.

6. okay that's enough

how about somthing new like g- body build ups. whats on the market now for these soon to be wanted cars ??? due to the pricing of the muscle cars threw the roof .

I'd like to see a budget, yet high performance, g-machine build up. For a Camaro for example: the Guldstrand mod; C5 brakes pieced together, 3rd generation IROC stering box, decent sway bar, home made subframe connectors ala Carl Casonova, the Mark VIII fan and DC controls controller; a budget aluminum radiator, a budget T56 install using factory mechanical clutch linkage, etc., etc. The high end cars are great to see and inspiring, but most of us live in the real world. It would be nice to see all the budget tricks in one car and then see how it did on the track.

How about a comparision on ALL subframes made for 1st gen's.
Pricing
components
pro's and con's of each
options.

You get the point!

How about some generous company giving a makeover to an 18yr Air force member with a 67 Chevelle :_paranoid Kinda like a retirement present. I know just the individual willing to give up his car for a while too :willy:

Not bad.. but who will determin the pros and cons of each?

I though that a "buyers guide" would be good if done where it wasn't an advertisement. Show real world total price for each and standout features.

Proper aftermarket seat and restraint intstalls, with and without a roll cage.
Eco-tech powered cars built to autocross
Compare sound deadners and insulaton
transmissions

It's 0430 and I'm having trouble thinking staight

Yep, part lists, names, places to get it... little stuff you'll run into, super detailed photos are always nice.

Yeah, uh, thats it, do that. I mean, uh, wow that was quick. Penny, uh, yeah Penny is really cool. I like Penny a lot. :faint:

I guess my PHR subscription must have run out. Got another one? :)

How about some things in the power department!! Like the latest trend of turboing, ease of installation and power potential and mileage. Right now turbos are the only power adder that offers unlimited power and no decrease in mileage(besides nitrous). I know guy with a twin turbo Ls1 car that could offer all the insight in the world! :unibrow: Also, maybe more on fuel injection tuning to lessen the scare people have of these two things. :)

How about some articles on turbo LS1's (Cause everyone wants or has one) and how cheaply they can be built with entire parts breakdowns! Most people think it is ungodly expensive, I tell people otherwise.:yes: :unibrow:

A budget turbo story would be cool.. athough I agree the the words "turbo" and "budget" arn't really thought of together.. lol

I thought it could be a great idea. I have what most people consider to be a "wild" setup and I bought an LS1, built it, and fabricated the ENTIRE twin turbo setup that I have now for under $14k, and that was using all 321 stainless!.(Was cheaper but I bought some REAL pricey new turbos).

Ive seen crate motors cost more then that! A true complete twin turbo setup AND motor build would cost less then $10K for 800 hp! And the setup would get over 20 mpg! :unibrow:

Might be something to toss around.

Some issues I was most concerned about when I built my car were safety and maintenance. Articles on how to build in access to things like in-tank fuel pumps or senders, bleeding the T56 clutch, etc. would be good. How to properly bolt in roll bars, seats, belts or harnesses, etc. would also be quite useful if not necessary. Perhaps the best and safest way to ground a cars electrical system as well...

I'd also like to see an article on how to properly install and tune that Australian Harrop LS1 intake. That thing is sick cool.

There are some good ideas listed here, but how about something totally different....

Since we all spend some serious time in our shops, how about an area in the magazine each month that's dedicated to the shop. MIG/TIG comparison, 4 post lifts, air impact vs. electric impact, etc. Hell, you could even let us know what TV's would be the best. Maybe a story on available storage options such as overhead cabinets, upright closets, and more. Oh, how about pros and cons of floor epoxy at a mortal person's price point... different ideas for lighting... parts cleaner solution comparison... I could just keep going on and on. lol

The way I see it, most of us spend just as much time in the shop as we do in our cars, I think that there would be some genuine interest in this subject. To me, that is part of the 'car lifestyle' that we all live.

A topic that has been discussed on here a few time

Fuel Cell - Charcoal Canister
-- how to get rid of the smell fo fuel in your garage

I could not agree more! This would go a long way in solving issues between my wife and I about my smelly cars. Even with fuel injection, when the tank needs to breath, it breaths.....

How about installing a baffle and a sump into your own oem tank and cover how to EFI it or carb it.

I had no idea this was such a problem. What's the deal here?

yep - jump around on a couple different forumns and you'll see how popular this subject is. We are going to be using a charcoal canister from a s10 pick up to try to get rid of some of he stink.

Hmm, a matter of putting the canister in the vent line, or is there more to it?

Canister, Vent Line and Vaccumn line from the manifold.

But the point is that most people don't really think about it and it's to late and then they end up with a stinky car/garage.

Some people also add a vent on the filler neck similar to the OEM

I second the shop idea. Things like floor coatings, cabinets, work benches. Also the vent canister, I am going to be needing one soon.