Took a Road Trip to Detroit the Other Day. A Few Observations...

[GG Allin]

A friend of mine got mixed up in a car title loan that went south. The car, a '72 Mach 1 got shipped here to Chicago a couple weeks ago. The guy who owned the car forgot to mention that the engine was down the block in the garage of a vacant house. Needless to say, we went to fetch the engine.

#1 95% percent of the cars on the road where we went were American. Makes sense, being Detroit.

#2 30% of the houses in the neighborhood we visited were vacant, some looked to be for a very long time. Odd thing though, the neighborhood didn't seem all that bad. I'd call it mixed race , working class. It's very strange though to see a real nice, well kept, large house on a block where a third of the other ones are crumbling.

#3 The trucks on the highways in Michigan have lots of axles, like 10+.

The neighborhood we were in is called East English Village according to Google maps. Here's what we drove 5 hours each way to pick up.

[pwd72s]

Without sending the woes of Detroit to PARF by commenting, Ill just say I hope the block is rebuildable.

[ckelly78z]

I am always welcomed to Detroit by going North bound on I75 over the big bridge, and smelling the refinery "smells like Detroit" is always mentioned. There are truly some nice areas in DET, but the bad ones out number the good ones.

Is that a 351 Cleveland, or Windsor block ?

[rattlsnak]

I go there a lot for work and was surprised by how many Asian cars I see on the road now. Definitely different than it was a few years ago..

[daepp]

I concur.

My daughter went to college about two hours west of Detroit. Flying into DTW, I would often stay the night near the airport and go into the city early the next morning. I am fascinated by the city and what befell it. I believe in the first half of the 20th Century it was one of the richest cities in the world. It's population has plummeted, and once beautiful neighborhoods - and grand old building - took a major turn for the worse. And walking around downtown, you'll never see more buildings with names on them of politicians who've gone to prison!

That said, I too saw many great residential neighborhoods full of vacant houses or even vacant lots where the blight was torn down. I saw neighborhood "mower brigades" working on the weekends, trimming others' lawns - and even maintaining public parks.

My opinion - it may have hit its bottom. Many who remain do so with a stubborn resiliency. And many have nowhere else to go. It is for them that I truly feel sorry - the various social experiments of the corrupt elite decimated their industrial base, while those with any wherewithal moved elsewhere.

I'm not too sure where Detroit is headed. I don't think there's any real reason left for major manufacturers to locate there geographically.

And I hear you about all the axles on the big rigs. But I guess that's why their roads are so perfect...

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by daepp

I concur.

. But I guess that's why their roads are so perfect...

This had to be said also. The roads are sheet., but as it turns out Southbound I75 will be closed/rebuilt/rerouted for the next year and a half.

[Chocaholic]

Don't remember his name, but the CEO of Quicken Loans (based in downtown Det) is investing heavily in the city. My perception from my most recent visit was one of early recovery. Greek Town appears stable and pockets of progress are there if you look.

I'd like to think that the worst is behind them. I even hear good things about the new mayor (that's a first). Time will tell.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/columnists/rochelle-riley/2017/06/01/detroit-mayor-offers-lesson-race/360397001/

[jcommin]

I like Detroit. It is changing. I have done urban exploring there. Like many other cities, young people are returning to the city. I, too, think the city is coming off bottom but it will be a slow climb up

other observations:

The "Michigan left hand turn" which is essentially 2 left turns and a right.
I'm from IL and I think IL drive fast but IMO, Michigan drivers go allot faster.
I agree about the percentage of American cars

[URY914]

And a movie is being released about the '67 riots. Who would go see this and what purpose does the movie serve?

I know, this is going right to PARF......

[DanielDudley]

I don't know why, but I'm thinking that is about the engine I would expect...

[GG Allin]

As far as the engine goes, not sure if it's a Windsor or a Cleveland. We were expecting an engine that had been removed in running condition and not touched. We were a bit disappointed. It is the matching numbers block so we had to go get it regardless. Still not sure where the other head is.

[Dansvan]

Cleveland

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Dansvan

Cleveland

Yep, Cleveland.

if it were a windsor it would say eh after it.

Winsdor heads would have valves allot smaller than that and they would be nearly in a straight line side by side. Clevelands are a little more canted



1972 engine options:

302 cu in (4.9 L) Windsor V8, 2-barrel Autolite 2100, F-Code 140 bhp (104 kW; 142 PS) @ 4,000 239 lb·ft (324 N·m) @ 2,000

351 cu in (5.8 L) Cleveland V8, 2-barrel Autolite 2100, H-Code 177 bhp (132 kW; 179 PS) @ 4,000 284 lb·ft (385 N·m) @ 2,000

351 cu in (5.8 L) Cleveland CJ V8, 4-barrel Autolite 4300D, Q-Code 266 bhp (198 kW; 270 PS) @ 5,400 301 lb·ft (408 N·m) @ 3,600

351 cu in (5.8 L) Cleveland H.O. V8, 4-barrel Autolite 4300D, R-Code 275 bhp (205 kW; 279 PS) @ 6,000 286 lb·ft (388 N·m) @ 3,800

[Crowbob]

I'm not positive but I think Michigan's load limits are per axle.

To move more freight on Michigan's roads just add more axles.

[GG Allin]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

I'm not positive but I think Michigan's load limits are per axle.

To move more freight on Michigan's roads just add more axles.

Yeah, I was reading that they allow a gross weight of up to 164,000 lbs. Sounds kind of nuts.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by GG Allin

#2 30% of the houses in the neighborhood we visited were vacant, some looked to be for a very long time. Odd thing though, the neighborhood didn't seem all that bad. I'd call it mixed race , working class. It's very strange though to see a real nice, well kept, large house on a block where a third of the other ones are crumbling.

There are areas like that, and it is a weird feeling driving on through.

I looked at the aerial near the academy and did not see what you describe, but the aerial is going to be very forgiving with all of those old trees lining the streets.

You survived, congratulations.

[legion]

Last time I flew through Detroit--7 years ago, I think--I recall seeing lots of city blocks near the airport where there were 2-5 houses and you could clearly see the outlines of old driveways and foundations in the brush for 5-8 houses that were no longer there.

[sammyg2]

google street view, Detroit style:

[LWJ]

Anyone local to Detroit? I would be interested in researching investment options. Seems like a city on the move in certain areas.

[manbridge 74]

I recall wanting to visit there as a kid mainly from watching Lions playing Cowboys at Thanksgiving.