Magazine Rant

[abodyjoe]

he knows..  there was two pages in the first issure of people basically saying that they are sick of what the other guys are doing...  like i said, its only been out for two issues. they have to get into their groove and make their own identity. its just gonna take time i think...

[67 dartgts]

Helllo:
  Well you got to be a little crazy to love Mopars... thats why Chevy and Ford guys fear us, the sane you can deal with----the Crazy in a ?
Hold on to your ass.

Interestering observeration the replies to this post breakout    GODS  8    SR.MEMBER 2 (including myself)  FULL MEMBER 4   JR MEMBER 1
(someone dbl check me  i confuse easy)

How about you guys that are new on no opinion?
 
   Maynard

[cu440da]

I still get alot of mags, but only out of habit because like jet-taz said, there was a day when finding a Mopar mag or one in any mag was rare. My biggest problem with them is that I've grown away from their target audience. I'm bored with stock anything.   I'm burnt out on factory this and that. I don't give a rats ass if the author feels the need to prove his point for the 50th time that the negative cable was attached to the motor and painted at the same time. Add to that the fact that alot of tech articles seem to be popping up in multiple mags (a specialty mag like Mopar Muscle will have the same basic article in a more generic mag like Hot Rod) the same month as well as the previously mentioned repeat feature cars and I'm starting to tune out. As far as the SEMA cars go, I like them just because they need to be different and cutting edge. I drool over that stuff. Give me a tech article where they've scrounged parts, done some backyard engineering and I'm in Heaven. Show me pics and list the instructions on someones big-buck replacement brake kit and I'm gone. Unfotunately there seems to be too much of that lately. There used to be a time when my wife saw a new mag in the mail she knew I'd be gone until I read it cover to cover at least a few times. Now I have a pile on the floor I've barely looked through.

[67Dart383]

My 2 cts, What makes me look like this  , when our Mopar mags find some old forgotten , ancient  one of kind, car or truck, then they do  a 4 page article on it. Then you find the page that shows those awsome rides on the front cover and they just give general specs on them! 

[dusterdarryl]

I quit buying mags when I found BigBlockDart.
You want pretty cars, we got em.
Technical advice from people who know there what talking about, got it.
Examples of how to do things the right way, right here.
Decades of experiance doing all of this, look no further.
 

totaly

[73swinger]

While I agree that the advertising and mega buck trailer queens are outta control, I find it difficult to surf the internet while I'm having a shit. For that reason I still buy a couple mags. I like Hot Rod for instance because of their pump gas drags coverage and because I like to see what the brand X guys are doing without having to buy one of their specific mags or surf one of their sites.

[abodyjoe]

oh man you need a lap top...   shit and surf baby.... lmao.

[thebankerstoy]

oh man you need a lap top...   shit and surf baby.... lmao.

Wireless GOOD 
Paperless BAD   

Richard

[abodyjoe]

.

[Bakaruda]

That was not a good image.

[b569rr]

By the way; what the heck is a "nail head"?

Pre '67 Buick V-8, example 465 Wildcat 

[automan63]

oh man you need a lap top...   shit and surf baby.... lmao.

In a pinch you can wipe your ass with a page from a magazine, like I did with Ehrenberg's article, but try that with the corner of a laptop.. LMAO !!!!!!!

Seriously, I'd like to see some real world garage guys building a car with his teenage son layed out for a page or two over the course of the build for however long it takes. I think the low budget crowd is a lot more prevelent than the glitz and glamor, hundred thousand dollar, multiple sponsor, paid for by everybody else but the guy building it crowd. Sure, there's a place for all, but in this world of "reality shows" and all that crap, maybe the current mags could feature some "reality" for the rest of us. just my 2 Jeff

[Dart67]

meanmaxx,

Again, magazine cars are trailer bitches period!

I've got news for You my friend.

I have had my Dart featured as a centerfold in MOPAR ACTION in October 2006 as stated above.

It was built by myself in my home shop over a period of 9 years. That is a lot of Blood, Sweat, and Tears to have someone call it a "Trailer Bitch"

Ask anyone that knows me.

You WILL find out that THIS MAGAZINE CAR IS NOT A TRAILER BITCH.

I drive it like I Stoled it, Period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Herb

[abodyjoe]

meanmaxx,

Again, magazine cars are trailer bitches period!

I've got news for You my friend.

I have had my Dart featured as a centerfold in MOPAR ACTION in October 2006 as stated above.

It was built by myself in my home shop over a period of 9 years. That is a lot of Blood, Sweat, and Tears to have someone call it a "Trailer Bitch"

Ask anyone that knows me.

You WILL find out that THIS MAGAZINE CAR IS NOT A TRAILER BITCH.

I drive it like I Stoled it, Period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Herb

  there is a few exceptions to every rule...

[67 dartgts]

Hello:
Having known Herb for quite some time I will attest to the fact that he drives that car like he stole it.  Those of you that have traveled  Brice Road to the Red Roof at the Nats. in Columbus have probaly seen him in action.
Now my GTS is a certified trailer bitch, however we plan on running her at the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drags this coming year.  So if you want to see the bitch run thats where I will be.

      Maynard

[sr71mopar]

By the way; what the heck is a "nail head"?

Pre '67 Buick V-8, example 465 Wildcat 

The rockers are backwards and the valve covers sit flat.

[DavidBrenner]

From my first hand experience Mopar Muscle rejected  my car which I thought they would pick just because its so different. A 67 Cuda with a fast Slant6 that get more attention at car show than any Hemi car. (well may not a 70-71 hemi cuda) I thought I was a shoe in, but no just the same old crap again and again.

[67 dartgts]

Hello: David
  Well I know how you feel.  I was approached by Mopar Collector's Mr. Wolfe several years ago to do a spread on my GTS.  This was at a show in Belvedire, Il.  He personally took many photos of the car after the show. Assuring me that someone on his staff would be in touch with me for the details on the car.
  When no one callled me I meet him at another show when I asked about putting my car in his mag.  He explained how they had a long lead time and it would happen.  Well it never did happen, even though i asked about it several more times.  Finally I just gave up on the whole thing.
  Perhaps he decided that my car was not up to his standards.  Given the direction his publication has taken it's just as well my car was rejected by them.   Now don't get me wrong this is not sour grapes on my part its just what happened.
   (For you that don't know,  my car is an orginial 1967 GTS, orginial owner, 98.5 point car, that has never failed to place in any show entered.)
David you can park next to me any day.  Your car is what I'd like to see in the mags.  A quality car that is different, one that stands out from the rest.  After all that is what Hot Rodding is about, thats where its roots are. 
 
    Maynard

[DJVCuda]

Anyone read the new Mopar Enthusiast?

383Man and his son are in it... a return of the old high performance mopar shootouts! - with a twist!

My car's a feature - NO TRAILER BITCH HERE! and ABJ's girlfriend took the lead shot.. not some snob who never got back to you about information

I think it's the one with the most potential out there right now - you email Greg, ( a member here ) and let him know what you like and dont and he will make the necessary adjustments...

so far the cars they are featuring are mostly guy's like us... yes it bugs me that there are no time slips for a race car too....

As far as tech - hell abodyjoe and I made him a fan shroud in the last issue and that was made out of scrap in my garage, with just him and I doing it... dont get more backyard then that guys.

ALso did a brake conversion, BUT added changes to the kit that you would run into, AND included a before and after test, ( 4 wheel discs stop almost 2x faster then 4 wheel drums!)

grass roots? - They covered a bunch of local mopar shows acrost the country... including Berlin Chrysler Mopar show  - it had 80 cars - no trailer queens, just your average cars there on a saturday afternoon.


I stopped my subscription to MM last year - I have always kept my old high performance mopar, chrysler power and early Mopar muscle mags.. they are my favorites... your right with most loosing touch with the "regular guy"

so far in 3 issues its still defining itself, but people need to get back to them and let 'em know what they think!

From my point of view, its made by people like me, for people like me...

They have some heavy hitters contributing also... remember Ted Wagner? who stuffed a 340 in a conquest TSI for HPM?  he's in there, Badalson, Matthews, Stephens, Zazarine to name a few.. top notch guy's


I'd recommend giving it at least a good once over

[67 dartgts]

176   General Category / Off-Topic / Re: Give your opinion on Mopar Enthusiast Magazine  on: October 10, 2007, 12:20:59 PM 
I think it's a little early and maybe unfair to judge the magazine on it's first issue, lets give it six months and see where it is going.  It seems to me that selecting the content for ther first issue would be a daunting task.  One would want to include something for the do it yourself guy, and something for the new car fan.  Then the selection of daily driven cars, and the racers as well.   Some tech articles and maybe somrthing for the show car bunch. etc.etc.  (I don't know about anyone else but i'm glad that they didn't have a long lost survivor "HEMI VALIANT 4 DOOR SEDAN MOSSY GREEN" with 13 actual miles.)

As far as ads go unless we want to pay $25.00 per issue we have to have ads.  Besisdes if you don't have ads how you gonna know whats new?

I think they did a pretty good job on the first issue, now the real test is where it goes now. 

    Maynard

   It's up to them where it goes.
   Maynard

[DJVCuda]

well I can say without a doubt - that it's NOT up to "them"  - it's up to the people who want to get involved and let the editor know what they want in their magazine.

What better time then at the start of a new magazine then to have something geared more to your tastes?

[daniel_depetro]

I hope I do not offend anyone here or make people think I am a jerk...

True Chargers//Roadrunners and 'Cudas/Challengers are way over played in the past years.

Even most of the cars on here are out of the average enthusiasts range.

Honestly I'd like to see more driver quality cars.

Show me some nice driver quality cars powered with the slant six/273/318/360 & 400's. These rarely get any love from the magazines. Show me some more 60's chrysler 300s, Furys, and mid 70's cars...

I remember reading a story about a certain HEMI or six-pack restored E-body. It was awesome, and obviously far better than it was new. The thing I do not get is why people make their cars better than new? I view my cars as a tribute to the way they were built. Maybe I am just odd (?, probably the case) and want to enjoy the cars for what they are. Anyways this E-body was rolled outside to photograph and they had many precauions before it moved. Some type of "booties" went over the NOS tires so they didn't get dirty/wore. That pretty much put me off of show cars... Makes me sick to think of the car that was built for kickin @ss on the drag strip and streets of America, will never get driven again. Kinda of sad to me.

When I see a restored big money car sitting at a show I always think to myself, "I wonder if he even knows the cars little quirks of how it drives/goes down the road" & "I wonder if they ever banged through the gears" what good is owning a muscle car if you are gonna drive it like a Cadillac?

Maybe I am just jelous.

My cars might not be show cars or even fully restored drivers, but at least I drive them everyday (except when the salt is on the roads)...

[abodyjoe]

well I can say without a doubt - that it's NOT up to "them"  - it's up to the people who want to get involved and let the editor know what they want in their magazine.

  that i totally agree with....  in the first issue of mopar enthusiast and it was also posted here. to write in and let it be known what you want to see in the magazine...   how else are they suposed to know what the readers want??  sure greg checks in here from time to time but you have to speak up for any action to be taken.... so fire off an e-mail to the magazine and let them know what you want to see...

[67 dartgts]

  Hello:
   Well, I certainly do not wish the magazine to go off track or worse yet to fail.  But being in business all my adult ife i realize that at the end of the day its how much money you put in the bank that counts.  If that money comes from big ad revenues that want certain items in the mag that is what will happen.  If you think Holley cares about my 67 Dart race car your kidding yourself.  Does Holley care about John Force's race car you bet they do.  Now there is a 3 page spred open who's car is gonna make it in the mag?
    I sincerly hope that your right about them listing to the little guy.  But rember their in business to make money.  It would be great if they make it using cars that belong to members of Big Block Dart.  I congruate all you that have been in the mag, great cars and you all deserve it.  My gripe is not with Mopar Enthusiast.  Instead its with the Magazine publishers in general.  Reread my orginal post and some of the replies.
   You guys at Mopar Enthusiast pay attention here this kind of feedback is priceless.

                      Maynard

[DJVCuda]

here is a PERFECT EXAMPLE.... a quote from another thread from here:

I got my issue a few weeks ago, and here is my opinion so far. Its a good start. I like the fact that they have real world cars, I would like to see much more in the way of technical restoration articles. I really didn't think that they should have any late model Mopar in it, like the Ram brake upgrade article. I prefer older car info. In fact I have some great ideas for some articles, stuf that has not been covered in other magazines yet. But I have not had anyone from the magazine knocking down my door to ask me my opions yet. 

KNOCK, KNOCK!

So far , sad to say, flyboy01 has yet to let anyone know what his idea's are - I can honestly say that if they are good idea's that benifit the readers of MoE they will be put in motion...

It's safe to say you have an opportunity here that hasn't come up sice I have been online - ever - a direct line to a magazine that WILL DELIVER - I know... I have given suggestions and they have been implemented... it's that simple.

I'm just trying to make you aware of the fact that instead of ranting - just do something about it!

[67 dartgts]

Hello:
  I belive my Ranting has accomplished something after all it's been viewed 596 times at this writing.  That means there are people that are concerned and, that now have more insight than before.

  You want paticular ideas, okay here is one build a shortblock any size and show how to correct everything that can go wrong. 
Go through block prepaeration cleaning, removing flashing, checking bore sizes, cleaning, Cam Bearings install.
Show us how to fix, main bearings that have wrong clearences, and do the same with the rods. How to fit piston rings to the cylinder bore and install them correctly on the piston.  How to tell which way the rod faces for proper oiling, just to make it interestering grind off the rod numbers, then install one piston on its rod backward. 
  You get the idea.  show the beginner what he is getting into, and how to fix it.  Follow it up with an article on assembly, and intake, and heads. 
Then put it in a car that is now running well and post some 1/4 mile times.
  Now thats a article anyone could follow relate to and use in building their own engine.  Maske it easy to do leave the high priced equiptment out
we are talking low budget beginner here.  This guy can't afford a $1,300 machine shop bill. A simple bore cleanup and cam bearing install should do.
   That work for you?
    MAynard

 

[daniel_depetro]

 



It works for me.


Like I stated above, this how I build my cars.
I can't afford to spend tons of money on exotic parts. I need what works well for little money. I wanna know what the best facotry pieces are, how to improve them for even more performance, and what results you guys get from that type of build.

$1,300.00 bill just for machining...I can't afford that for an entire engine...

Don't get me wrong I love reading an article or two here and there about a million dollar HEMI Cuda convert, but when month after month I read about HEMI converted 1968-69 Darts/Barracudas, Dodge Chargers, Plymouth Roadrunners, and the E-bodies I almost get tired of them. It seems EVERYONE has a HEMI car nowdays.

I want to read about real cars, that are actually driven. Real enthusiasts that build the 318 car because they love it, not the guys who slap in a crate HEMI so they can throw it on eBay after their car is featured in a magazine....

[DJVCuda]

Very valid points!

there are alot more " tips and tricks" that could be included in there as well..

  for the suggestion!

[NYrr496]

I agree with everything said here. As I said earlier, if you can pick up ONE good idea that you can apply to your own project, then reading the magazine was worth it. I spend three hours a day on the train ( 1 1/2 each way), so I read a lot of ma