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 Nutz & Boltz For October

Reminders

1) Bobcaygeon Fair is the first weekend in October with truck and tractor pulls, demo derby and a midway.

2) Markham Fair is also the first weekend in October. Thy will have live entertainment, demo derby and truck and tractor pulls.

3) Rosneath Fair is October 3 and 4.  There is a car and truck show, midway, lawnmower races and horse jumping and penning demos. Lots of livestock shows and antique tractor pull.

4) Norwood Fair is the 10-12. It has one of the biggest car and truck shows in Ontario.  Lots to see and do with a midway, hockey game, livstock and antique tractors.

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A Trip Into The Past

  Xtreme Truckz.com recently toured the Oshawa Automotive Museum on Simcoe St in Downtown Oshawa, Ont.  It was only $5.00 to get in and they showcase a lot of early vehicles as well as some very unique ones. They also have some antique motorcycles. We were in search of some trucks.  There were a few but the museum focused heavilly on cars.  It certainly makes for a cheap family outing which is rare these days.  There is lots to see and learn from the early pioneer vehicles and motorcycles to auto parts and toys.

 We were a little disappointed in the up keep of the building as there were ceiling tiles missing and it just looked a little run down.  They could probably get away with charging a little more and put it towards maintenance.  Another sore spot was that they would pack the cars in so tightly that you couldn't get a good look at some of them as they were too close or another car was parked right in front of them blocking them entirley.They also didn't have any cool muscle cars or very few trucks and vehicles past the 50s.  I know its a museum but they could of had some cool stuff from the 60s and 70s as thats where car and truck history really got interesting.  There was only one or two vehicles showcasing racing heritage which was also disappointing.

 The museum does have some good qualities though. Like the cheap entry price.  They also had a lot of plaques with good information for education purposes.  They had a great selection of very early cars and trucks.  They also had an amphibious car in mint shape on display as well as a 1918 Cheverolet truck converted to tracks and skis for the winter.  They had a 1925 tanker truck in mint condition as well.   Another cool peice was the 1926 Bugatti race car with a 1500 cc single overhead cam 4 speed.  And of course the cool old toys were really interesting to see.

 All in all an okay trip.  If you are in Oshawa with some time to kill it is a great place to see and the price is right.  If you are from out of town and made a specific trip to the museum, you may be a little disappointed as its not worth an hour trip.

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Nutz & Boltz For September

 Reminders

*Lots going on in Sept. Check our Calender for full details*

1) Orono Fair runs from Sept 10 - 13. The truck and tractor pulls are Saturday at 7:30pm.  The demo derby is Sunday at 2pm. There is also ATV pulls and antique tractors. More info on our Calender.

2) Warkworth Fair is Sept 10 - 13.  The truck and tractor pull is Sunday the 13 and start at 11:30am.  The car and truck show is also Sunday at noon.

3) Marmora Fair runs Sept 5-7 .  The car and truck show is Sunday from 10am to 4pm.  Registration is $5 per vehicle. Vehicles 1985 and older are eligible.

Websites

1) www.billstruckshop.com is your one stop shopping site for Chevy/Gm truck parts for any year, any model.  Bill offers parts, service, new, used, repo, buy, sell, trade services. He is based in Courtice, Ontario so you will get good Cdn prices and quick service.

2) www.karbelt.com is a Cdn speed and performance shop. They have stores in Oshawa and Pickering.  They have a huge list of vendors and tons of performance parts.  They are Cdn so you don't have to worry about the exchange rate and you get quick delivery.

3) www.performanceworldcarshow.com Performance World is an annual car and truck show in Toronto and they visit other car and truck shows throughout the year and this is their site. This is a great site to keep on top of car and truck shows and cruise nights in Ontario.  You can also get show coverage and heads up on prizes at upcoming shows. 

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Responsible Land Use

Responsible land use is always a hot topic of debate.  One person's idea of responsible use may be totally different from someone else.  The reason I bring this up is that a few mud racing and offroad racing events are being cancelled this year due to complaints and land use issues. People are complaining to the municipalities and they in turn are putting extreme pressure on land owners.

First off as land users, mud racers, offroad racers, trail riders etc, it is up to us to ensure that we are using the land in a responsible manner.  We must take every effort to make sure we are not destroying property or creating a bad image or reputation.  There are tree huggers out there who would love to ban all motorized use of our forest trails and even events held on private property. If we are behaving responsibly it gives these people little amunition to use against us.

Our view is if it's your property and you are doing what you can to protect the environment and taking the necessary precautions to ensure safety and that everything is done in a professional manner, you should be able to do as you please.  People raise the concern that the land gets ripped up and causes environmental problems like errosion. Well farmers dig and plough up their fields on a regular basis with no problems.  If enough horses and hikers use a trail it gets tore up as well. That may seem like a stretch but it is true. If you were to walk on a farmer or horse farm's land you would see the wore down trails made by the animals themselves. A lot of sanctioned events are put back to the way they were after the event is complete so the environmental impact is limited.

Another issue is noise polution.  To us, this is a joke.  Again, farmers use heavy equipment to work their fields, trains are surprisingly loud in communities that are near tracks. Heavy equipment that repairs roads, dump trucks, transports are all noisy. Motorsports are loud but they last a day or two and are done.  People get a lot of enjoyment out of competing and watching these events. It shouldn't be a problem to set aside one weekend a year for an event.

The bottomline is that many people enjoy watching and competing in these events.  The events last at most, 2 days and if they are over by 7pm they don't create excessive noise out of the ordinary.  They also bring in money to the local economy from gas, lodging, food etc.  I think everyone needs to get along here and realize that especialy our trail systems, are for everyone to enjoy. All users must respect the many different variety of users and tread lightly and be responsible to the environment and users.  We shouldn't allow a few uptight or people with differing opinions spoil events that bring so much enjoyment and money into local communities.XT

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Nutz & Boltz For August

Reminders

1)Embro Truck & Tractor Pulls are Sunday Aug 2. Details on our calender.

2) Campbellford Fair is Aug 7-9. They will be having a 4x4 Challenge. Details on our calender.

3) OMRO Lombardy Mud Drags are on Aug 15 & 16. Again, details on our calender.

4) Shannonville Fair runs Aug 28-30. They have tractor pulls, ATV pulls and a demo derby. More on the calender.

Websites

www.monstertrucksales.com - Blackstock Ford in Orangeville, Ontario will sell you a brand new custom lifted and outfitted truck.  Bigger tires like 35" and 37" and custom rims, fender flares, custom paint graphics and more are included. Prices for these custom packages are around $7k-9k depending on what you want. They will also customize your existing truck.

www.mysticsigndesign.ca - Kevin makes custom signs, graphics, banners and apparel. Kevin is a great guy and if you can dream it he can make it. Very reasonable prices and quick service.

www.fergustruckshow.com - We were just there, it is every year on the third weekend in July.  They have an insane amount of big rigs, truck and tractor pulls.  The pickup show needs to be improved but a great time. Awesome country and rock and roll music. This year was Terrie Clark, Trooper, Loverboy, Doc Walker, George Canyon, Adam Gregory and more.

Cool Products

Flekspaint is one of the hottest new products to hit the automotive market.  With it you can add a custom looking paint job to your ride in a few hours at a fraction of the cost and time of a professional paint shop.  The secret is in the formula they use. The product is actualy a painted decal or graphic that is chemically bonded to a special film. You apply it to your vehicle like a decal.  You can order from their designs or send in your design and they will build it for you and ship it back. It is way better than normal decals or graphics because they use high quality paint like House of Kolor, Dupont or PPG. You can't even tell it's a graphic unless you really eyeball it up close. Check it out at http://www.flekspaint.com/.

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Banning Dark Paint For Vehicles?

The state of California is looking into banning auto makers from applying dark paint to vehicles that will be sold in the state of California.  The theory is that dark colours attract the sun's rays at a much higher rate than lighter colours.  So these darker vehicles absorb so much heat that when the vehicle is started, it has to work harder to cool the occupants and vehicle down thus producing more greenhouse gases. Anyone living in a warm climate will agree that this is accurate.  California already has legislation similar to this the focuses on buildings and skyscrapers.  This project has proven successful at reducing emissions from these buildings so this is no joke. 

This genius thinking overlooks one glaring problem.  Would these darker vehicles not emit less pollutants than lighter painted ones in the winter. Using the same thinking, darker vehicles would absorb more heat and use less energy to heat up the occupants and vehicle.  I guess in California though, the winters are not quite as cold as Canadian winters but they do get snow from time to time.

With today's technology you would think that the paint companies could create a paint that would reflect the sun's rays.  The paint companies are trying but when they put the technology into black paint it comes out looking like mud puddle brown.  So they will keep trying and we will see if this craziness actualy comes to be law. XT

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Nutz & Boltz For July

Reminders

1) Powerwheels 4x4 Challenge is July 18 & 19. It is 2 days of mud drag racing, off road racing and a show and shine on Sunday.  Refreshements, entertainment, kid friendly, good country fun.

2) Lindsay Mudfest is July 4 & 5. OMRO sanctioned mud drags, ATV drags, and mud bogs. Concession stand on site, bring chairs and it supports Five Counties Children Centre.

3) Fergus Truck Show is July 23-26.  It is Canada's largest truck show with a show and shine with big rigs and 4x4s, truck and tractor pulls, concession stands and vendors as well as a country music concert.  

Websites 

http://www.novascotiajeepclub.ca/ is the perfect site for Jeep people in Nova Scotia.  They have forums to keep up to date on local Jeep issues and their forum is a great source of info on all things jeep.  They have photo albums and videos as well as links to other interesting Jeep and off road sites.

http://www.zookpower.ca/ these guys are your suzuki headquarters.  They know everything to do with zooks.  Again, like most good sites, they have a knowledgable forum, photo album and videos.

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Project : Black Jack

Part II

Ok so we have cool truck to work with. What to do first?  The best advice I ever got about doing up a truck is tires and rims. Tires and rims are the quickest and easiest way to change the appearance of your ride.  And this guy wasn't even a truck or car guy.  So lets get rid of these crappy basic rims and tires.  We will keep them around for winter tires for now.  This is a good way to save a little money.  The tires were beaten up a little anyway with some scarred sidewalls but still good enough to pass safety.

For now, I am choosing to go with BF Goodrich's new Mud Terrain TA KM2 tire. It is a tamer version of BFG's Krawler tire and the newest evolution of BFG's Mud Terrains.  I would have went for the deeper lugs of the Krawlers but I need a tire for a 17" rim and they don't make them in this size yet.  Right now I want a 33" tire which is a 305/65/R17.  They measure 32.8" high and 12.2" wide. I want to go bigger later, perhaps up to a 37" tall tire but for now this will do.  The goal is to get to 37s and move my 33s over to winter tires. But right now, I just need to get rid of the old ugly tires and rims and need something that will fit without a lift.  These tires look aggressive and perform well in mud, rocks and are surprisingly quiet on the highway.

The rims I chose are American Eagle Alloys type 197 black and polished, 17x9.  I will be reusing them on my future 37x13.5 tires.  They are a little different than what everyone else has and work well with the black and stainless theme.  They have a slight negative offset of -11 mm to allow the tires to stick out a little for an aggressive look.

Before I put the tires on I wanted to install brake dust shields in the front.  The brake dust can really add up and stain your rims.  If you wash them all the time, its not too bad. But if you go a while between washes, these can be a real help.  There are polishes out there that say they will remove the brake dust but most don't work to my satisfaction.  They are really simple to use, you just put them on the studs before the tire or glue them to the inside of the rim and put them on with the tire.  These are real easy and a real time and money saver.  They cost about $80 a pair.

To dress the truck up a little bit and stay with the stainless and black theme, I added some chrome fender trim which looks nice and does add a little protection from debris from the tires.  They are really easy to install with little metal tabs or you can screw them on.  They take about 5 minutes each to install.

So now we have the tires and rims dealt with and some pieces that will provide a little preventative maintnance and protection.  I bought all this stuff new but you can easily find good deals on this stuff online at sites like http://www.kijiji.ca/ or Ebay.  Right now the truck looks great and runs great for a daily driver but we aspire to be more than that. To be continued.......XT

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Nutz & Boltz for June

Reminders

1) Brooklin Fair is June 6 & 7, includes truck and tractor pulls. More info on our calender.

2) Millbrook Fair is on June 11-14. This is one of the best fairs for truck pulls. Many classes with gas and diesel trucks. They run local trucks as well, which means that you can take your daily driver and pull against other daily drivers. Xtreme Truckz.com will be there taking pics and video. More info in our calender.

 Websites 

 http://www.mcxtreme.com/ , is a powersport outfitting shop. You can get all your bike, atv and snowmobile helmets, gloves and gear. You can also get parts. Mike who owns it, gives smokin deals and makes his money on a huge group of dedicated repeat customers and not by charging expensive prices. The site also has links to off road parks like Gopher Dunes where there is dirtbiking and mud bogging events. MC Xtreme is based in Port Hope, Ont.

http://www.thewindsorjeepclub.com/ , anyone in Western Ontario looking for a offroad Jeep club or someone to go riding with? Here is a good club that has lots of info for you. They have lots of members in the Windsor Ontario area.  They have links to all types of Jeep sites and offroad parks and trails.  A great site for Jeep and trail info.

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Full Pulls, Big Iron, Lots of Fun

The Great Lakes Truck & Tractor Pulling Association is an Ontario based pulling group that is made up of pulling enthusiasts that like to compete and have a good time testing themselves and their equipment all over Ontario.  You can see them at local fairs from Spring til Fall. 

 They run classic stock tractors, pro stock tractors, mini modifieds and multi engine tractors. They also run circuit trucks, super stock trucks, 2wd trucks, super 4x4 modifieds and diesels. At some of their events they allow locals to enter their own trucks in their own local class which helps people test out the sport before jumping into it.  At some events they even let big rigs get in on the action.

 This association was formed in 1979 with their first pull in Strathroy, Ontario in 1980.  They started with just tractors and as they gained popularity, trucks joined the mix. By 1981 they had 23 events lined up in Southern Ontario and Michigan.  

 The 2009 season will mark the 30th anniversary of the Great Lakes Truck and Tractor Puller's Association.  A quarter century of entertainment put on by the members of the club which couldn't be done without the loyal fan base they enjoy. 

 This year they kick off their season in Brooklin, Ontario at the Brooklin Fair on Friday June 5.  Xtreme Truckz.com hopes to be out at their Millbrook pull at the Millbrook Fair June 11-14. Make sure to check back for videos and pics in our galleries. They put on a great show and an awesome display of power.  Check out their site at http://www.greatlakespull.com/ . They have rules and regulations, photos, event schedule and a forum to post questions or just to chat. The Great Lakes Truck and Tractor Pulling Association is a great example of home grown motorsports that has stood the test of time and continues to grow in popularity. XT

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Nutz & Boltz for May

Reminders

1) The Ontario Offroad Racing series gets under way in Paris, Ontario on May 16 & 17. Details are on our Calender

2) The annual Roseneath Mud Bog is May 23 and 24.  A local farmer puts this show on every year and a lot of people come out to have fun in the mud. A lot of great trucks and local beaters. Its located off of County Rd 24 off of County road 45 just east of Roseneath, Ont. Contact Aaron Foreman of Foreman 4x4 of Roseneath for details. 905 352 3974

3) Apple Blossom Tyme Festival has it's annual Colborne Show & Shine Car and Truck Show in downtown Colborne from 9-3:30 on Sunday May 31. More info at www.appleblossomtyme.com

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Project : Black Jack

I used to drive a sweet 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 short box regular cab. What made the truck unique was the fact that I ordered it right from the factory with a 5 speed manual transmission.  It only had a 318 V8 but with the 5 speed and a custom 3" dual exhaust and an exhaust cut out, this truck sounded awesome. I could set off car alarms with it. It also had a set of American Racing Cannon wheels and 33x12.5 BFG Mud Terrains tires. It was a fun truck but it only carried two passengers including the driver. That was fine for a while.

Last spring, I was told that I would be expecting a new addition to my family.  A two seater wouldn't cut it anymore. I was really torn because I loved that truck and had owned it since new.  This new situation had created an oportunity though, an opportunity to start a new project. 

 I accepted the fact that I now needed a quadcab. The idea never crossed my mind to get a mini van. I kept telling people that if I did that, not only my friends would kick my ass but so would I. I am a Dodge guy in a Dodge family. A dad and two brothers with a history of Dodge trucks starting with V8 gas guzzlers and evolving to the 5.9 Cummins for all 3 now.  I planned on getting a newer Hemi as I couldn't afford a Diesel.  This was when gas prices were well over $1.20 per L.  As I started my search I noticed that a used 2004-2005 Hemi with around 30,000-50,000 kms was around $22,000-$25,000.  I also noticed that you could get a 2004-2005 5.9 Cummins with 90,000-120,000 kms for about $2,000 to $4,000 more.  I figured that these parameters were comparable due to the long life of diesels and their comparative cost when they were new.

So after driving my brothers and father's Cummins, I decided that if I could find one for the right price I would jump on it. I would never really work it as I'm not a tradesman or anything but I figured with the price of gas and the better fuel mileage of diesels, I would save money as long as the sale price was close to a Hemi price. Also, I figured that a gas truck will give you about 300,000kms before big repair costs if you look after it and get a little luck.  My old 318 had 170,000 kms when I got rid of it with no real problems.  A diesel should give you about 800,000 kms plus before huge repair costs.  So due to fuel costs and longevity, I figured I would be better off in the long run and I would have a truck that would last me for the next 10-15 years.

I spent some time as I had 9 months to close the perfect deal.  After a few months I hit the jackpot.  I found a 2005 Dodge 5.9 Cummins, 4x4, quad cab.  The icing on the cake was that it was a Laramie pkg which means top of the line in Dodge world. Better yet, it had the high output 5.9 with the 6 speed manual transmission.  A very rare truck to find. The other tickler was the fact that it only had 70,000kms and was for sale for only $26,000.  At the time similar trucks were going for about $35,000-$38,000. The catch? It was a theft recovery. When I called, the insurance rep said that the whole front end was replaced. Obviously, that would scare a few people off. I wasn't giving up that easy as I thought this might be a real steal pardon the pun.  The guy sent me a fax of the repair bill and his idea of a new front end was simply replacing the front U joints, tie rods, wheel bearings and knuckles. Turns out the genius that stole it in January took it into the bush, got it buried in the snow and blew the front bearings and knuckles apart when the U joints went after getting it buried.  I wasn't too worried because ironicaly, I'm also a genius who got my old truck stuck in the snow and did a similar stupid thing and my truck was fine with the repairs. Plus they were selling it to me certified with no branding on it and clear title. I called my local dealership to see if the original waranty would still cover it as it didn't even have 100,000 kms yet. They said yes and even said they would give me $2000 more than what I paid for it if I were to trade it in on a new one.

So now I have a sweet Cummins, top of the line with leather and power everything and heated seats for a great price. It had a few dents and scratches, barely noticable and shitty tires and rims.  The perfect specimen for a project. So I drove it for a bit and on October 15th we welcomed a healthy boy into our family. We named him Jackson, Jack for short. I started thinkin more about doing up the truck and a proper name for my new project and the name Black Jack fit perfectly. I have an awesome boy named Jack and a black truck. This truck has a lot of chrome stock so I wanted to go with some black accessories like rims and nerf bars and more. Black Jack was perfect. 

Stay tuned as I will be documenting Black Jack as the build progresses. Up next will be some simple stuff to start. The end objective is to have a very useable truck that I can take to shows and is stuck between a monster truck and a daily driver.  Some thoughts include stacks, 37" tires to name a few. If you have any suggestions, send them to us via our Suggestion section in our Forum. To be continued...........

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