I went out for a Pint of milk, Came back with 10 CB750 Engines

It’s a funny old world, I mean, I initially went out to get a pint of milk and on the way there I came across a stash of SOHC Motors that a buddy of mine needed to off load as he was clearing his place out for renovations etc, what better way of getting rid of them then to let me have them.  And, as I have a Long bed Pick up truck, I thought to myself I should be able to get all 10 engines in the back of the F250.

Lucky for me, it’s only 4 miles from my place, and as my old beast only does 6 Miles to the Gallon, it was well worth taking the turck to go and get these SOHC in line Four Motors, they had been sat outside in the Californian sun for many many years but I can use some of the parts even if some of the motors are locked up etc.

It was no easy task carrying 10 CB750 Motors from a back yard and loading them onto my truck, at 230 pounds each, every one became heavier and heavier, by the time I had dragged the 10th Engine out and up and onto my bed of the F250, i was feeling as weak as watered down beer. But I got them all on and then thought about it, man- That’s just over One Ton of Engines, and the F250 is a 3/4 Ton.

I know I will have use for these, even for parts alone, I have a small collection now that for now I shall place in my barn and wait until later on when I have some free time to see what is what.

These towed home no problem in my pick up and that hardest part was unloading a Ton of engines, as it was only 3 miles from my place and I was already tired from throwing tem up onto the pick up bed, but, not as far to move to the barn.  I sure felt it afterwards as thats 2 ton moved in less than 2 hours.

I have stored them away now in the Barn, but I am still working on New doors for the outside, so will just have to tip toe around for a bit until I am ready to hang the doors up.

Glad to have got them and I know I will be turning to a few when I create some more machines for the tarmac, nice to have spares at your finger tips though.

I have another Motor in a frame you can see and one more on a dolly in the shop that I need to move over, always something to do at my New location, it will take a little time to get it how I want but then it will be icing on the cake as working from Home is always the easiest and more enjoyable way of working i think.

I have a lot of work to try and catch up on since our European visit but refreshed and ready to take on another chapter in the life of Custom Motorcycle creation, I have a few ideas for more exhausts, Handle bars and other parts, so stay tuned to the site if you can.

Oil leaks whilst i was away need to be cleaned and gaskets fitted, Doors painted and hung, and then organise the bikes and where the parts will go is something that is not to be rushed but everyday there is something to mess about with and I enjoy so much.

Thanks for reading my posts, I like to share what I have been up to and its great hearing from you too and seeing what you are building at home, if I can help I always will be it via email carpy@carpyscaferacers.com or call / text at 714-598-8392 as its a pleasure having a chin wag where ever you are in the globe.

 

 

Finally had the website cleaned out, too many software issues.

 

Wow, what a crazy time I have just had the last 4 days, the website needed a lot of maintenance and my guy had quite the task of getting it back up to speed, Shipping manager was causing problems so forgive me if you had a tough time ordering the last few days but, we are now back up to speed.

So, with Christmas Season in full bore, I have had many orders to fill and get off in the post, I have managed to keep up as my Webmaster who built the site has really jumped in the deep end for me to get the bugs squashed and I’m back up to speed, but a few more updates to do and can get things going faster in the New year.

Just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for all the phone calls, emails and texts about parts and how I can help with your Motorcycle etc., I love what I do and thank you all for supporting me, you can email me anytime at carpy@carpyscaferacers.com or Text me on 714-598-8392 and I will always reply.

 

I started doing this here 19 years ago today.

Wow- Time does indeed fly by, on February 15th 2000 I started doing this and 19 years today I am still enjoying what I create and sell to you lovely lot.

Hard to believe that this 140 pound guy from North London, would be living his dream and doing what I always wanted to do, Motorcycles have been my life since a kid, I always look back and think how lucky I am to be doing what I do.

I have lost count of the amount of Motorcycles I have built since 1975, but I have never lost the passion for these 2 wheeled machines and dont think I ever will.

My T100 Triumph Daytona was such a fun bike but- it needed constant servicing, but that was the fun of it, getting to know your Motorcycle and how things work. I used to be a Dispatch Rider in the City of London and also up in Birmingham, riding thousands of miles all over the country and loved it, I worked for many companies delivering things everywhere, and knew there was nothing like being your own Boss and having Motorcycles.

I do sometimes miss that job as I got to see so many places, in the UK and in Europe but, the Danger was outrageous at times but that is why the money was so good, as we took big risks in what we do, and in all weathers, some Rain, some crazy winds and plenty of Snow and Ice. A major decision that I made moving here was because the weather was so nice and no more cold Knees and hand riding Motorcycles.

50 pounds lighter and more hair LOL- Loved that old bike too, it was a 1953 Sunbeam S7, I sure loved that bike and it looked along the lines of a Harley but was British.

I was self taught in Mechanics and loved taking snotty parts and transforming them into something very cool and different and I was hooked from day 1.

I hit the ground running in 2000 here in Southern California and built a well known Motorcycle out of the CB750 Honda Four, many people used to stop me in the street and ask.

“What is that bike” And I would reply its a Cafe bike, I got ask so many times that I painted on the tank the word  Cafe  in Old English, with Gold Model paint, using a modeling paint brush, then I guess I got noticed all over the place and started getting magazine coverage.

Roll on to modern times and I am still creating affordable parts to complete builds and want to than you all for being my Customers and look forward to speaking to you soon.

There is never a day thats the same for me in this industry and i love that aspect, there are always things to make, draw, build or repair and as long as there are second hand motorcycles out there, then I am good.

Where do I see this industry going? Well of course I have now seen the electric designs and although they look cool, they have no sound, I dont think I would like a dead quet machine, I like the roar of an internal combustion engine, I also believe in loud pipes save lives as if a pedestrian steps out in the street and an electric Motorcycle is belting along-Well theres a catastrophic accident waiting to happen.

I have manufactured thousands of exhaust systems for these old bikes and am gearing up to design more affordable styles and all made here right in California not oversea’s where the majority of systems are made by people not even into Motorcycles.

So, thank you, from the Bottom of my heart for ALL your support, you are helping my continue to live my dream and I hope I can help you, even if its just problem solving over the phone,

Thanks for reading my little Blog, right now I am building a Brat style Custom motorcycle and hope to get it completed for the OG show here in LA, but the weather is against us right now but we shall plug on. I love All motorcycles and glad that you enjoy what I do.

 

Thanks again for 19 years, the 20th year anniversary will have to be a bike created I think to celebrate an awesome milestone in business here.

Until next time, have a super weekend ahead of you and hope to hear from you soon.

CHEERS!

Vic Edelbrock Jr Passes away.

 

Vic Edelbrock Jr. passed away Friday, June 9, at the age of 80 after complications from a cold.

“It’s with deep sadness that we announce the untimely death of our visionary and leader Vic Edelbrock Jr.,” the company website read. “Vic passed away this evening from complications following a recent cold. His passing was peaceful and in the company of his closest friends and family. The Edelbrock Fun Team sends their deepest condolences to his family and will always hold him in our hearts.”

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Vic Edelbrock Jr. took over the aftermarket performance parts company that bears his name after the untimely passing of his father, Vic Edelbrock Sr. Vic Jr. was just 26 when his father died in 1962. With a small but dedicated band of 10 employees, Vic Jr. not only kept the company growing but made it into one of the largest performance parts entities in the world.

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It’s a long story that starts in 1933 when Vic Sr. opened an automotive repair shop on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Soon after, Edelbrock cars were racing on the circle tracks and dry lakes of Southern California during the golden age of hot rodding. In 1938, Vic Sr. bought a ’32 Ford and used it to test new speed parts, more or less inventing the marketing tool that would later be known as “the project car.” The first big seller from an Edelbrock project car was the Slingshot manifold, used by Vic Sr. on the dry lakes to clock a prewar time of 121.42 mph in the ’32.

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Business wasn’t the only thing growing for the Edelbrock name. Vic Jr. was born in 1936 and started working summers in his dad’s shop at age 12.

“I was making $2 a day and I thought I was really living,” he told us when we spoke to him for a 2002 story.

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The towering Vic Jr. went to the University of Southern California on a football scholarship, graduated with a degree in business in 1959 and went to work full time for his dad’s business. Just three years later, Vic Sr. was diagnosed with inoperable cancer.

“He had no chance,” said Vic Jr. “Four months later he left us.”

Not only did Vic Jr. have to deal with the death of his father and mentor, but he suddenly found himself at the helm of a fully funded company with 10 employees and $200,000 in the bank.

Many an heir would have blown it all in a couple of years, and some expected Vic Jr. to  do just that. But one thing the father had taught the son was the value of good people. Among the 10 Edelbrock employees were Don Towle, Bobby Meeks and Bob Bradford.

“They stuck with me,” said Vic Jr.

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In 1965 Bob Joehnck, who had been a close friend of Vic Sr., called Vic Jr. with a suggestion.

“He said, ‘Make a manifold for the small-block Chevy,’” remembers Jr. “I said, ‘They already make one.’ He said, ‘Trust me, make one.’ So we made one.”

Did they ever. The Edelbrock manifold for the small-block Chevy became the foundation from which the company springboarded into legend. That manifold led to a relationship with Holley to mate Holley carbs to it, which eventually led to more parts for more cars.

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We drove an excellent example of the Total Performance Package back then in 2002 in the streets around Edelbrock’s Torrance, California headquarters — Vic Edelbrock’s own 1967 SS 396 Chevelle. With an Edelbrock intake, cams, heads, carbs and water and fuel pumps, the 468- cubic-inch big-block Chevrolet made 540 hp and 539 lb-ft of torque (those are gross figures, not today’s legal SAE net measurements). In keeping with the Total Performance Package philosophy, the car also came with Edelbrock springs, shocks, trailing arms and wheels. All we needed was a cigarette behind one ear.

The big-block started with a screech, reminding us how much internal friction these big, meaty engines have. The gauges jumped to life as the car body torqued in the direction opposite crank rotation. Steering through the big, skinny wheel was heavy, the way things were in 1967, and we cruised the streets waiting for the engine temps to warm up. In a few minutes we had enough heat to open it up a little and suddenly it all made sense. Why would a working guy spend a month’s salary on parts? Because of the way this magnificent old beast opened up when you floored the throttle. Suddenly the big-block roared in one long, uninterrupted wail, the exhaust note went to a higher-pitched whaaaaaaaa as the engine neared its 6000-rpm power peak and the ’67 SS leapt forward, scaring the hell out of a number of sensible midsized sedans nearby. Telephone poles, indeed, looked like a picket fence.

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Goodbye, Vic Jr. Say hello to Senior for us.

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The Name will Live on in the Automotive World and always there will be a part of the Edelbrock family on an engine if you are a performance fan.

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