Caravan to Chrysler Country - Is the Museum Really Closing?

On Friday, June 7, we (My sons and I) took off to Michigan to see what was going on up at the Chrysler Museum. We heard that Saturday, June 8th was going to be the last day the museum was open to the public. Why would this happen? You can see photos and videos of the trip here or watch the slideshow.

 

The Central Ohio LX Club, invited us to follow them to Auburn Hills. They were participating in a car show that was also on Saturday. We met up with them in Columbus.

Everyone from the club was so friendly. We all rode up together and stopped a couple times to stretch. We met up with a more members each time we stopped along the way.

We met the group and got the game plan. Loree, one of the members shared some thoughts about her Challenger and the trip to Auburn Hills

When we got on the road, the cars really stood out because their were so many of them together.

We stopped at a rest stop and had a couple more Challengers Join us.

The Toxic Orange Challenger belongs to a traveler who saw the caravan and stopped with us to find out where we were going. We got a video:

On our way we stopped at Famous Dave's for dinner. We shared the brownie sundae!

After Dinner, Rod talked to us about is Challenger and shared his thoughts about the museum.

We got back on the road and headed to Chrysler Country!

My son's Tradd and Dayne were my production crew on the trip. This video is a conversation we had about the Jeep Grand Caravan and the benefits of Cruise Control. Dayne contends that cruise control can make a driver lax about driving. He says he won't have it on his car when he drives.
We got some great video as we approached Chrysler. We were able to speak with some volunteers and feel the vibe of the car show. There were around 300 cars on the grounds.

 

This is probably my favorite of all the videos. When I watched it, I felt like I was there, so I hope everyone watching can feel the vibe and the car show and the enthusiasm of all the people who love these vehicles and the technology and history they encompass!

It was so amazing to see old and new cars together in one museum, and to see the transformation.

 Whenever we went to war, car companies participating in the war effort. The Jeep is an American Icon with roots in military function.

 

This video shows the basement. Some of the engines on display were donated by well-known racing teams.

 This cafe in the basement is named after the Viper, for obvious reasons.

I've never seen so many cars from so many eras all on one place.

Engines have more features for fuel economy, peformance and safety

What do all the three letter abbreviations mean? VVT, MDS, HEMI?

What is the difference between a 3.6L and a 5.7L?

Here's your crash course:

What is the Cam? The cam is the device that holds and operates the valves. It makes the valves move.
What does a spark plug do? The spark plug lights the fuel.

What does VVT stand for? Variable Valve Timing - If your engine has this feature your valves will rotate in use, improving the fuel efficiency and wear and tear on the motor. The valves are for intake and exhaust. They let fuel and air in and out.

The pistons compress fuel and air. They are held by the cylinders

MDS: Multi-Displacement System: with larger engines, this technology allows the engine to use less cylinders when all cylinders are not needed. This systems increases the life of engine and allows it to be more efficient.



1.4L, 3.6L, 6.1L
What does the "L" stand for?  The L behind the number designation is for Liters which is the measurement of inches cubed. So it means that this engine has 3.6 Liters of available space, when the pistons, are down for air and fuel (combustion). There are many sizes of motors. Here is a list of current motor sizes for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles:






1.4 Liter Dodge Dart
2.0 Liter Dodge Dart, Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot
2.4 Liter Dodge Dart, Dodge Journey, Chrysler 200, Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot
3.6 Liter V6 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 200, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Charger, Dodge Journey, Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan
3.6 Liter V6 Ram 1500, Dodge Durango, Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300
4.7 Liter Flex Fuel V8 Ram 1500, Chrysler 300
5.7 Liter V8 (HEMI) Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Ram 1500 - 3500, Dodge Durango, Chrysler 300
6.1 Liter V8 (HEMI) is still in some vehicles but is no longer built. It has been replaced with the 6.4L
6.4 Liter V8 (HEMI) SRT Jeep Grand Cherokee, SRT Dodge Challenger, SRT Dodge Charger, and SRT Chrysler 300
6.7 Liter Cummins Diesel - Ram 4500-5500

We will get into Horsepower more but just so you know the basics: horsepower is the amount of weight that can be pulled and how far it can be pulled in a certain amount of time. One horsepower equates to being able to 330 pounds of material 100 feet in 1 minute.

A simple definition of torque is what keeps an engine going. So horsepower is what powers take off and torque is what powers continued motion. Check back for a blog post on Torque also.

If you would like to see a blog about a particular engine-related topic submit a comment by clicking the “no comments” link below.

You can check out all of our engine options on our website : http://www.gollingsarenadodge.net 

Also comment if I missed anything...and enjoy the engine photos!

True Chrysler Stories #1

This is John Peterson. he worked for Chrysler for 30 years. He graciously answered some questions for the blog:

What did you do for Chrysler?
John was a welder for Chrysler in Dayton, Ohio. His specialty was metal arc welding. Metal Arc Welders are known for their precision. 

Chrysler called on John to trouble-shoot. His welding and problem-solving skills saved Chrysler over $800,000 in just one project!

Did you always work in the same department? 
No. As a new employee, John worked in the defense department. He welded as a part of a team that built vehicles for the US Military. He was always a welder, but worked on many different teams. 

He has many friends at Chrysler and attends the monthly retiree meeting to stay in touch with them.

When did you start purchasing Ram Trucks instead of traditional Chrysler vehicles? 
John bought his first Truck in 1994. He purchased a new truck every 2 years, until 2006 when he waited three years because he wanted a better deal. In 2009 he purchased his least favorite Ram truck. John experienced a problem with that truck's acceleration. There were times when the truck would be very difficult to control (this model was recalled). He quickly decided he needed to upgrade and came to Golling's to get the 2011 pictured here. 

What's your favorite feature on your RAM? 
Overwhelmingly, John's favorite feature is the navigation system. He expressed how nice it is to get around so easily. He also likes how the HEMI gives him better gas mileage than trucks he has had in the past. 

To view our current Ram Inventory, click here.
 

Thank you for visiting Golling's, John! We are honored to serve you!

Do you know anyone who worked at Chrysler. Please share your story. Just click the "No comments" link to get started.

What is a HEMI, Anyway?

HEMI Nation

HEMI is the short name given to engines built with a Hemispherical Combustion Chamber. The HEMI was invented by Chrysler in 1951. There have been 3 major designs.

All hemis have 8 valves but what makes them different is that each cylinder has two spark plugs. The increased cross air flow improves the efficiency of the engine.

HEMI engines have either 5.7, 6.1 or 6.4 liters (one customized Charger was built with a 7.0L engine). They deliver better gas mileage, increased torque and more horsepower than there non-hemispherical counterparts.

The HEMI isn't exclusive to trucks and sports cars. It is also available in Jeep models, and Chrysler 300s. We have a nice variety on the lot.

To comment on this blog post, click the "no comments" link.

Video Blog: Dodge Grand Caravan: Inside, Outside, On the Road

The Dodge Grand Caravan SXT has some nice extras that make your day more productive!  Check out this silent video and see how it works, then stop in to Golling's and experience it for yourself.

Would you like to see other Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Ram vehicles on the road. Click the "no comments" link to submit your request. Check out some still shots, too.

2014 Jeep Surprises - Can you find them?

Sponsored by Golling's Arena Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram 

 The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the 2014 Jeep Compass have some very obvious upgrades and features, but they also have some tributes to the 73 years of the Jeep Brand that are not as obvious, but just as fun...take a look:

This is the right headlight and turning signal of the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Notice the Jeep image place in the center of the turning signal

The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee has the inaugural year on the steering wheel

 The year is engraved into the steering wheel at the very bottom

 The right headlight also give tribute to the first year of Jeep

The 2014 Jeep Compass has some of it's own surprises like the jeep image on the back turning signal. 

You have to look really close to see it, but it's there. The Jeep is on a slight incline.

The headlight has the front-grill branding in the center

Some other models also have this detail

The Jeep grill is also on the shift control inside the Jeep Compass

Did you find it?

Do you know of any other hidden details? Click "comment" to share yours!

If you want more information about the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee or the 2014 Jeep Compass, click any of the photos to view our inventory.