Over the years I’ve put a lot of time and effort into restoration and I need to do a lot more. Below I’ve listed some of the technical details and fun upgrades I’ve done to it over the years. I stuck with the inline 6 cylinder 250 engine it had when I bought it and think it’s fun to try to make 6=8.

- C10 LWB (long wheel base) stepside painted blue with chrome American Racing wheels and Cooper Cobra tires (size 245/60-15)

- Inline 6 cylinder 250 c.i. engine

- Clifford Performance 4 bbl. water-heated, aluminum intake manifold

- Carter Competition Series AFB 500 cfm carburetor with integral electric choke

- Summit Racing 4-hole square bore 1″ phenolic carb spacer (SUM-G1404). [Made from a special insulating phenolic resin, this spacer insulates the carb from excessive engine heat which can cause the fuel in the bowls to boil creating vapor lock. Four-hole spacers also enhance low-RPM torque & throttle response and dampen reversion effects.]

- Lokar 36″ stainless steel Hi-Tech throttle cable (LOK-TC-1000HT36). [Has a Teflon inner liner & a stainless steel outer covering along with an aluminum Clevis end to provide smooth, no-bind cable operation.] & Lokar carburetor bracket with throttle return springs (LOK-SRK-4000)

- Edelbrock 14″ x 3″ chrome air cleaner

- Stovebolt cast iron split exhaust headers [These are great -- no leaks!]

- Custom dual exhaust with X pipe made by Larry’s Muffler & Auto Repair in Starkville, Mississippi (2.25″ pipes to dual Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers and 2″ pipes after mufflers; straight out the back with stainless steel exhaust tips)

- Flex-A-Lite 12″ dual plastic puller-style electric fans with adjustable thermostat and A/C relay

- Derale six-pass copper engine oil cooler (17″ x 7.5″ x .75″) [had to use a shorter oil filter to fit between the engine and the frame (WIX 57099 or equivalent)]

- Late 1970s GM HEI distributor with Borg Warner cap and rotor. Coil is not integrated into the cap.

- Newer and higher output GM alternator with built-in voltage regulator

- R134a A/C system (mostly original-styled new parts under hood joined to an older Chrysler under-dash unit)

- Custom 1 piece driveshaft made by Jackson Powertrain in Flowood, Mississippi

- Cyprus bed wood with stainless steel bed strips

- 3-speed manual transmission with Indy 3-speed floor shifter for trucks

- Clifford Performance slotted aluminum side (lifter) covers

- Antique Mississippi license plate

- Very soon: Slotted cast aluminum marine valve cover and power steering; may replace GM compressor with a smaller Vintage Air or Old Air Products unit with new brackets to better fit above the HEI distributor

- Coming later: Paint & body work (new rocker panels & maybe door skins, bedsides & floor patch panels); tonneau cover; black carpet & dash pad; aluminum headlight bezels & grill; split bench seat with fold down console from late ’90s Chevy pickup (electric adjustment would be nice); retractable shoulder harness seat belts; stainless steel door sill plates; and Rhino Linings sprayed-on polyurethane truck bedliner or equivalent

- Even later: Tach dash instrument cluster with vacuum guage, .442″ lift marine cam; 5 speed manual or 4 speed automatic transmission (700R4 or 2004R); new stereo (don’t want to cut dash); front & rear sway bars; power brakes

- Dreaming: Cruise control; all-wheel disk brakes; alloy wheels; nitrous (just jokin’), and more chrome & engine dress-up

Over the past decade I’ve had various things posted at MikeAllen.com. It’s been an on and off, hit or miss process. At times it has even been a “parked domain” page. Past websites, though, have included family photos, writings about my efforts in restoring and upgrading a 1967 Chevy pickup, and links to various work and other, mainly political interests.

In short, though, I didn’t feel that these uses were best for MikeAllen.com. When I restarted MikeAllen.com in 2008 as a personal blog I soon regretted that move. Instead, I felt I should be reserving it for something more substantial. So when the .me extensions became available a few weeks ago I grabbed MikeAllen.me and later moved some of my previous content to this location. Now I can save MikeAllen.com for something better and still have a personal blog with my name. Ah, the best of both worlds it seems.

What I anticipate for MikeAllen.me is to use it as a place for updates on my life as I live it. I plan to maintain links to professional activities and efforts, list speaking engagements and other appearances, and provide updates on family activities and maybe some photos. I may occasionally talk about hobbies and interests in my life. MikeAllen.me may also prove to be a great place for archiving and sharing useful wisdom and knowledge I’ve picked up over the years and want to be sure to remember.

Whatever I end up doing here, I welcome you to MikeAllen.me and thank you for visiting. Please check out some of my projects and social connections.