Addressing the IssueIn your Feb. '06 issue, on page 36 of your "Power Adders Guide," you ran an item on exhaust pipes from a company called Pypes. I am very interested in their '55-57 exhaust, but you did not list where to reach the company-no address or Web listing. I looked at the listing on page 38 in sources, but saw nothing to help me. Can you tell me how to reach them? I would really appreciate it. Don SpragueMarshfield, ME
We're happy to help, Don. A little detective work revealed that "Pypes" is also known as Performance Years Pontiac, which is how the info was listed in our source box. Snail mail can be sent to them at 2880 Bergey Rd., Unit O, Dept. CHP, Hatfield, PA 19440; phone calls go to (215) 712-7400; and you can find 'em on the Web at www.performanceyears.com. We apologize for the confusion.
Premium Seating I'm interested in the company that put the interior in the featured vehicle in the article "'Bu By The Book" (Feb. '06). I've brought up Corbeau seats the Web site but could not locate the type of seat that is in that vehicle. Thanks for the help and the great material in the magazine. Mark KamphuisVia e-mail
We'll help as much as we can, Mark. The interior decorator for Bryan Freeman's sano '64 Malibu SS was Scott's Auto Upholstery of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, (479) 846-3685. As for the seats, if you read closely, you'll see we noted that Corbeau buckets were the structure for a set of one-off seats, so we're not surprised you didn't see anything like this online. However, a close look at www.corbeau.com leads us to guess that Sport Seats, sans headrests, were the starting point for Freeman's custom buckets. Good luck.
You're Forgiven, SonI'm writing this letter because I feel like I have to confess something. I'm getting a brand-new car tomorrow, and it's not going to be a Chevy, not a GM, not even domestic. I'll be driving home in a Toyota Corolla and I'm actually excited about it. I am only 26 and have owned a '71 Malibu, a '79 Malibu and a '91 Silverado. There is nothing like the combo of a small-block and a Turbo-Hydromatic.
The truth is that I am now at a point in my life where I just can't afford to pay to play. I love my Chevys more than anything, but they are a handful. Practicality has lead me to change my ways. I still have my '71. You'd have to pry the wheel from my cold, dead hands. She's sitting right now, but with only 68,000 miles she's still got her whole life ahead. We count on CHP for inspiration and information when we are back on the road. Thanks for listening.Christopher GardnerWalnut Creek, CA
Believe us when we say, Chris, that the CHP staff knows where you're coming from. You'd be surprised at what some of us drive in the name of practicality. Like you, however, we also have our various examples of Chevy muscle, and those rides-not our daily mileage eaters-get our hearts pumping. We do what we have to do so we can do what we have to do.
You Know What Happens When You Assume...I'm writing in response to Mike Ricci's letter in the Jan. '06 issue. First, I have been reading CHP since it was first introduced, and REO Speedwagon does rock. Growing up in my Dad's shop, working in other shops, and owning my own shop, I've machined and balanced over 2,000 rotating assemblies and assembled at least 25 percent of those into blocks. So I am definitely grounded in the grass roots of "blue collardom." I'm 45 now, and after earning a Masters (now working on a second), I have a different perspective than Mike does. However, when I was his age, I would have written the same thing. I haven't changed all that much. I still look for the easy reads that cut to the chase with phrases that include 12:1 compression ratio, headers, roller cam, 0.0025 clearance, and 4.56 gears.