Hello from Summerland

Discussion in 'The Welcome Wagon' started by StriperSS, Sep 22, 2008.

  1. StriperSS

    StriperSS Well-Known Member

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    Hello, my name is John, and I enjoy station wagons. My current car is a 1995 Caprice wagon. I'll show a couple of photos shortly.
    I've been in the car business since I was in high school. My first outside job was in a gas station in 1969 in Vancouver. I've been in Ford and GM parts, and then in the mid 70's started striping. Eventually had an accessories store and a couple of sign and graphic shops. Now I'm installing vehicle wraps here in western Canada.
    My wagon has been modified in the 4 years since I've had it. I bought it in Niagara Falls, and then drove home via Chicago and Kansas City.
    It has stainless steel headers, a cat-back system, a cold air induction system, Bilstein shocks, Hotchkiss sway bars and lower control arms, and I installed Pontiac Bonneville bucket seats.
    People ask why I haven't striped it, but I love the look that it has now, nice and clean.
    Anyway, that's my story, the Readers Digest version, and now I can browse the forum.
    John
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    Last edited: Sep 22, 2008
  2. $arge

    $arge New Member

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    nice model wagon! another canada guy! welcome to the forums!
     
  3. Senri

    Senri Well-Known Member

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    :Welcome: John. Nice wagon! Very nice looking CAI you have there. Is that custom made?
     
  4. cammerjeff

    cammerjeff Longroofs Rule!

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    John,

    Very nice looking CC Wagon!!! I bet it is great to drive with the suspension mods. I am looking into what mods from the 91-96 cars will work on my 78 Impala Wagon. I have a 1 1/4" front bar to install, but am having trouble finding a Rear bar to fit the Wagons. I will have to visit the Hotchkiss sit to see their options.

    Welcome to the site!!!
     
  5. Stormin' Norman

    Stormin' Norman Well-Known Member

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    You don't have any friends in Victoria do you, John. I love those Summerland Peaches. We can't get any here in Manitoba - Interprovincial Trade barriers. Like we're gonna grow Peaches here. :(

    Great looking machine, John. :Welcome:
     
  6. $arge

    $arge New Member

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    interprovincial trade barriers? jigga wha? in the same country? hows that work jefe?
     
  7. StriperSS

    StriperSS Well-Known Member

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    They are made for the Impala SS, but A Caprice is the same. Thanks for the welcome!
     
  8. StriperSS

    StriperSS Well-Known Member

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    Thanks. You are fortunate as the rear in your wagon is the same width as the sedan rear, so any rear bar from a Buick/Olds/Pontiac/Chev from that year spread will fit. Make sure to get the lower control arms from the donor car too, or reinforce yours.
    The rear on a 91-96 wagon is 1 1/2 inch wider than the sedans, so we have to rely on the aftermarket.
     
  9. StriperSS

    StriperSS Well-Known Member

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    That's crazy. I couldn't eat or give away peaches fast enough. But most of the orchardists here are ripping out the trees to plant vineyards, as Washington Peaches are cheaper to buy here than our own.
     
  10. Stormin' Norman

    Stormin' Norman Well-Known Member

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    In the US, you have a Republic. We have a Confederation. Each Province is a government of its own, that chooses to remain a part of the country. Now you do have certain US states that remain Sovereign States, like California, Delaware and I think, Nevada. In their hopes for future growth, some Provinces made it non-competitive to sell or promote products from another province.

    For instance:

    In Manitoba, where I am, I can't buy Canadian Peaches or Nectarines (Kelowna and Summerland, BC, or Cheese from Quebec. They aren't sold here, even through the national grocery chains. I can't find one distributor outside of Quebec to sell me a Rooftop wind generator for my home, Made in Alberta, or another from Quebec, because the Provincial version of the Building or Electrical code provides limits on them.

    I can't buy and drive a Toronto, Ontario built electric car, because our speed limits on city streets, not crosstown freeways (we don't have any, anyway) don't allow for vehicles travelling at 20 MPH, except in school zones.

    A friend of mine in Alberta runs a tropical tree nursery, north of Calgary. His company grows palm trees, and are often asked to try to grow seeds from the many archeological digs done around the world. They've grown fruits and vegetables and bushes that haven't been around for over 50,000 years. Here in Manitoba, we can't plant certain types of Citronella that BC can grow. Citronella is a natural mosquito repellant. Kind of looks like an Aloe Vera plant. You break off a tip and rub it on your skin and no mosquitoes. No, no. We have to spray on DEET (Deep Woods OFF).

    Its a long list, and every year the Premiers meet, have a wine-and-dine, and do nothing. So we get our fruit from California, Florida, and once in a blue moon or a California Drought, we get Avocados or Tomatoes or Tomatillos, or Oranges from Mexico.

    We do get BC Apples and Pears and Strawberries, but we grow them here, too. It makes no sense, except that the Governments are like territorial dogs and make it tough to really enjoy the wealth of variety and quality of stuff we produce across this monstrous country.

    I guess we just don't have leaders with the cajones or vision to see how great it is.
     
  11. Stormin' Norman

    Stormin' Norman Well-Known Member

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    I lived in Guadalajara, MX for almost 5 years. My neighbour had an Orange tree in his backyard. You've never eaten an Orange until you've had a Mexican one. We lived in an upper-middle class Mexican neighbourhood, Atemejac, and you'd walk to the corner store, reaching just above your head and pluck off a pomegranate or a guayava from the tree. When we went to Florida in the early 70's, it was a $100 fine to take an orange off a street tree. In Mexico, its considered a national right and a healthy alternative to food banks.

    Have you been to the Alberta Ranchman's Hotel, where they have all the awards for their beef? Longhorn cattle are originally from Mexico, and let me tell you, Alberta would be a pork packer if it wasn't for the herds that came up through Montana. Why they ever bought from Britain during the post BSE crisis in the UK, is beyond me.

    My wife comes from Mexico's northern Cattle country, and they know their beef. nummers. And goat dishes! I went to our best friends' (he and she were our compadres down there) wedding, and her dad roasted two goats on an old Mexican open spit rotissery with his sons turning them manually, melts in your mouth.

    They may look like they don't have much, but they're just really good at keeping their secrets.

    You go to an open market (hundreds in any smaller city) and you can buy fruits and veggies from any part of Mexico. The only thing that the Mexican States don't interchange between them is their local beer (You can't buy Carta Blanca (Nuevo Leon) in Guadalajara.

    My wife would take me to those markets, and she did not know the names of many of the veggies and fruits we saw. Some were so ugly to look at, but oh man were they yummie.

    Oh, and you wouldn't find foreign fruit or veggies in those markets either. The big food chains (Gigante and Carrefour) carried them for foreigners.
     
  12. Stormin' Norman

    Stormin' Norman Well-Known Member

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    Stripper, sorry I hi-jacked your intro. Its an evolutionary defect. :biglaugh: :evilsmile:

    I've been across Canada, by car, 5 times, by train, twice. and through the US by car, twice and down the Wet Coast by train, once. We've got beautiful countries, and great people, and both of us have ugly backroom boys in our governments parties. I come by my handle 'Stormin Norman' honestly. I'll be gooder, until the next time. :D
     
  13. StriperSS

    StriperSS Well-Known Member

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    No problem. :D
     
  14. tbirdsps

    tbirdsps New Member Charter Member

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    I know, I'm perpetuating the stolen thread but I've got some Australian oranges that are simply delicious.

    I thought the US grew more oranges than all the rest of the world together and yet I buy Australian oranges at the market. Go figure....:D
     
  15. $arge

    $arge New Member

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    wow, thats like me not being able to get georgia peaches! man o man
    gracias por la esplicacion jefe, que raro??!?
     

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