Back on the White Earth Rez, I stayed to myself.
Once I got settled into the old shack, I looked for a way to make money. I noticed a lot of abandoned cars left in
the woods, most still owned by banks (I would find out when I tried to get the title). Minnesota requires the title
to “junk” a vehicle, unless you find a shady recycler. It's why yards are so full of “Bodies”.
Some of these cars were classics- mostly from the 40s, 50s, and a few from the 60s. Banged up station wagons,
which in a lot of cases, were around the pulp camps, used as “Hootches” to sleep in. Old Reggie Jackson knows
where to find a classic. He goes out on the Navajo Rez. He has restored a few.
As my Tao was working good, I found a '40 Ford Coupe, put wheels on it and dragged it back to my yard. The
body was all there, it wasn't all eaten up by salt! Soon as I pulled the hood, front fenders and grill, I realized how
heavy these cars were made.
Next I pulled the seats and rotten rubber floor covering. I found the previous owner's name. She was my
neighbor. I spent another $100 for her to sign the title. It was last licensed in 1963. The old flathead and
transmission were gone. Another $75 for license and title, it was now in my name. It needed a motor and
transmission, which I already had. The wagon didn't have a title, I didn't have the time or inclination to chase it
down, so it became a parts car.
With a Lincoln Arc Welder, I made motor and tranny mounts for the 40. The Chevy rear-end was cut to fit with a
lot of measuring after cutting and welding, sent out to the differential shop. The drive shaft was shortened and
balanced. '40 was now a runner, with the tires from the wagon and a pair of buckets from a Ford van.
I had contacted the local TVI in Detroit Lakes and been on a waiting list. They called. I took the Coupe into the
school. Vo-Tech kids were thrilled to be working on a classic hot rod! They filled all the holes using metal. Hours
of sanding later they had their best painter shoot it with the special mix I had brought along which my bud John
Kosmoski, of House Of Color, had mixed up.
I drove home with one of the most beautiful black paint jobs anywhere.Three weeks later I was offered $2000. I
told him I would think about it. I could see how he looked at it. I knew he would sweeten the deal. A week later
he came back and offered a 1967 c-10 Chevy pick up. It had a blown 307 cubic inch 2 barrel V-8. The deal was
done. I pulled the worst motor Chevy had ever made and went looking for some power.
I would find a '67 Chevelle Super Sport that had been totaled by my old cousin- actually his 16 year old had
wrapped it around a telephone pole. I bought the 325 Hp 396 cu. in. motor and 4 speed. He also told me of a
yard that specialized in 4x4s.
Now this was 1971-72 and the 4x4 craze hadn't started yet. They were used mostly by loggers and farmers.
Anyhoo this yard had a 1970 Chevy 3/4 ton frame transfer case hooked to a truck 4 speed along with front and
rear axles sitting on 8 lug 16” wheels, body had been burned.'67 to '72 Chevy pickups are mostly
interchangeable. After some wheelin' and dealin', we traded titles, so I'd have a 4x4 that was legal. The M-21
close ratio Car 4 speed out of the SS was highly sought after transmission They delivered the parts and, happily,
loaded up the '67 Impala Wagon body.
Now that was out of my yard.A few weeks later I had the frame axles and wheels looking like new with five coats
of industry black. I pulled the heads on the 396, had valves ground, new seats, heavy-duty valve springs with
new lifters and a kick ass crane cam. I had the crank turned, new bearings, after the block had been honed and
de-greased. I would spend $700 on everything!
Trading parts, I put the motor back together myself, which included replacing the timing chain with gears which
made my motor sound like it had a blower. These gears also kept your motor from firing when you shut it off
causing the engine to reverse direction. Old engines made before 1975 had points. If it was “Cammed,” it
reversed itself, damaging your valve setup. A rebuilt Rochester 4 Barrel and swap meet Hooker Headers, heavy
duty clutch, I put motor, clutch, four speed, transfer case, new brakes and brake lines in. Rebuilt the master
cylinder and radiator. Hooked hooker headers to exhaust using 3/1/2” pipe which was fit in frame rails with
cherry bomb mufflers.I spent a few weeks on the cab, put in new heater, glass all around. The 1967 has a small
rear window, I made it a slider. That window was the only thing '67 about it. I had all 1970 running gear, disk
brakes. The engine was now 400 HP. The interior I applied coat after coat of sound deadener. I put rubber over
that and Captain chairs that were being put in vans at the time, along with six speakers-Sony sound system- and
a CB radio, all overhead. I welded a roll bar to frame over the cab, put on a set of gnarly 10 x 16 32” rubber for
the Wheels 4-10 gears.I cruised at 60, no hills or mud could stop me.I was ahead of the 4x4 players,mine was for
work. Many asked, did you do that? I did a few modifications for others, keeping me in beer and Camels....
Later I put a winch on it, dragged junkers out of the woods. That is until the state paid the tribe to do it, then
they found out how crazy I was. The Tribe got a restraining order against me. They then published a notification
that any bank or loan company had 30 days to remove vehicles or they became tribal property. I was glad to see
them exercise their sovereignty.
I kept pullin' in junkers. They would send people to my yard to take these vehicles. That's when we had a
standoff! I carried a .357 revolver with 6” barrel, along with a Winchester model 94 lever action hung in my rear
window. I had a “Pulper” friend who crushed the bodies after they were stripped of engine, radiator, gas tank
and wheels, but eventually they stopped me after getting the County Sheriff to talk to me.
The “dudettes” the tribe had hired said I scared them. They lied, said I was a crazy Vietnam Vet and that I had
shot out their tires when they tried to pick up junkers around Ponsford! Well I HAVE OUTLIVED most of them. Or
they went to prison.Anyhoo the Sheriff got me a county license and would call me to pick up a car for him. So it
all went well until I moved off the Rez and got Married!...
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