Nick's PitStop

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Nick's PitStop At Nick's Pitstop, we offer premium vehicle storage with climate control, 24/7 security, key card access, and customizable services.

Enjoy a lounge, workspaces, and community for car enthusiasts. Perfect for those who want worry-free car care and storage.

Some of you may not know that three of my classics—Hope, Big Shirley, and my first classic ever, Ruby—are daily drivers....
10/11/2026

Some of you may not know that three of my classics—Hope, Big Shirley, and my first classic ever, Ruby—are daily drivers. 😎

Ruby, my ’86 F-150, came to me from a rancher in Colorado. These days, she’s a regular at Home Depot and the hardware stores. She’s never retired, and at 40 years old, she’s still a workhorse. Today she hauled a ton of gravel for a drainage project at Nick’s PitStop, plus a load of railroad ties. Apparently, her retirement paperwork keeps getting lost. 😂

The bonus is that whenever I’m in or around Ruby, she reminds me of my Pops and makes me smile. His ’86 is the truck featured on the Nick’s PitStop logo. Different truck, but a familiar feeling that means a lot to me. ❤️

Walking into the shop to clean up today, I did that classic car owner “look back”… and this was my view.

Still working. Still making memories. That’s our Ruby. 🛻

10/11/2026

Now THAT is some carburetor eye candy! 😍🔧

This Holley list 4778-5, 700 CFM Model 4150 Double Pumper just received the FULL restoration treatment—not just a rebuild. Everything returned to factory specifications, parts replated, worn or damaged components replaced, and screws and threaded holes that were out of tolerance corrected. The details matter, even the ones you won’t see once the air cleaner goes back on!

Our trusted carb guru, John Viviano, came through for Nick’s PitStop as usual. Thanks, John, for putting the care and craftsmanship into bringing this beauty back! 👏

Next stop: back on PitCrew member “Angel,” our ’68 Ford Torino. She’s getting her appetite back… and we suspect she’ll still prefer premium dining over fuel economy. 😂⛽

Almost a shame to cover it with an air cleaner. Almost. 😎

10/11/2026

🚨 NEW PITCREW MEMBER ALERT… well, almost. She still needs a name.

Meet the newest yet-to-be-named member of the Nick's PitStop PitCrew — a 1977 Mercury Monarch Ghia 2-Door, owned by my brother.

And this isn’t just another old ’70s cruiser. This old girl has 58,000 original miles, has been garage kept, and is probably 95% original. We’ll be helping my brother go through her, clean up a few things, handle some mechanical details, and get her properly up to PitCrew standards.

According to the Marti Report, she was ordered February 2, 1977, built February 22, 1977, and sold new on March 8, 1977 through Burton-Moore Ford in Caro, Michigan.

She left the factory wearing 8J Medium Tan Glamour Metallic, a Brown Odense Landau vinyl roof, and a tan cloth Flight Bench interior. Under the hood is the original-style 302 2-barrel V8, backed by a C4 automatic and a highway-friendly 2.47 rear axle.

Factory equipment included power steering, power disc brakes, rear-window defroster, AM radio, Convenience Group, Visibility Group, Appearance Protection Group, whitewall radials and wire wheel covers.

And here's where it gets interesting...

According to Marti, of all the 1977 Monarch Ghia 2-door sedans produced:

Only 278 were built with this paint code.
Only 68 had this exact paint and interior trim combination.

So she may not be a Boss 429 or a Shelby hiding in a barn, but she's definitely something you don't see pulling into every cruise night. 😎

Now, for those of us hovering somewhere within 5–10 years on either side of 50, there's a pretty good chance you either drove a Granada or Monarch to school... or rode to school with a buddy who did. 😂 They were everywhere.

Unless, of course, your family was on the other side of the Ford dealership looking at a Maverick or Comet... which were also basically the same car as each other. LOL. Ford really knew how to stretch a platform back then.

The Monarch and Granada were Ford and Mercury's slightly more upscale answer to the changing mid-'70s market — comfortable, simple, rear-wheel-drive cars that were everywhere back in the day and have now almost completely disappeared.

That's part of what makes this one fun.

She's not a restored showpiece pretending to be 1977 again. She actually survived 1977.

Now we get to preserve what makes her original, fix what 49 years has worn out, clean up a few things, and get her ready to officially earn her spot in the PitCrew.

Welcome to the family, old girl.

#1977

10/07/2026

🌳🪚 Tree Removal — Day 2 at Nick’s PitStop… job complete!

The eviction is official—both giants are gone! 😂 No more looming over the property plotting unwanted “custom bodywork” for our customers’ prized possessions. 🚗😬

A huge thank-you to Merritt Tree Service! The crew was a great group of guys—professional, knowledgeable, and great to work with. Add in fair, competitive pricing, and we’re glad we called them! 👏

Check out the video of the work wrapping up! We’re dedicated to making Nick’s PitStop better, from our services to our building and property. Making things safer and more welcoming is all part of that commitment.

Because it’s more than a place to keep your car… it’s a whole vibe. 😎🏁 And that vibe now comes with a little more sunshine and a lot less tree anxiety! 😂

10/06/2026

Property Improvements!

🌳🪚 Tree Removal — Day 1 Tree 1 at Nick's PitStop

These two huge, menacing trees have officially received their eviction notices! 😂 They’ve provided plenty of shade, but we’d prefer they didn’t get any ideas about providing “custom bodywork” to our customers’ prized possessions. 🚗😬

Taking them down is another step toward making the property safer. We’re always working to improve our services, building, and grounds—because taking care of your ride starts with taking care of the place you trust to keep it.

A big thank-you to Merritt’s Tree Service (2366 Lorraine Dr, Cahokia, IL 62206 (618) 332-9661) for tackling these two giants and helping us make the property safer! 🌳🪚

Stay tuned as they turn these two troublemakers into a MULCH smaller problem. 😂🪵

10/03/2026

Part 3

🏆 Faith Brings Home Another One! 🏆

The Nick’s PitStop crew finally made it out to the Knights of Columbus 10th Annual Car Show in Columbia, Illinois after a few years of trying and just never being able to make the schedule work.

And Faith — our ’66 Mercury Comet Caliente — came home with 1st Place in the Stock 1960–1969 class! 🥇🔥

There were some absolutely beautiful cars and builds in attendance, so bringing home a 1st makes us especially proud of the old girl.

Everything about the day was top-notch: great weather, good food, good people, good music, and a very well-organized show. You could tell a lot of work went into making this event run as smoothly as it did.

Unfortunately, we were sad to hear that after a 10-year run, this was the final year for the show. Hopefully someone picks up the torch and keeps it going, because events like this are exactly what the car community is all about.

🎥 Check out these videos of some — definitely not all — of the beautiful cars that showed up. There was plenty of automotive eye candy to go around!

Thanks to everyone involved for putting on a great show and giving us one heck of a first—and hopefully not last—visit.

Congratulations, Faith! 🏆

10/03/2026

Part 2

🏆 Faith Brings Home Another One! 🏆

The Nick’s PitStop crew finally made it out to the Knights of Columbus 10th Annual Car Show in Columbia, Illinois after a few years of trying and just never being able to make the schedule work.

And Faith — our ’66 Mercury Comet Caliente — came home with 1st Place in the Stock 1960–1969 class! 🥇🔥

There were some absolutely beautiful cars and builds in attendance, so bringing home a 1st makes us especially proud of the old girl.

Everything about the day was top-notch: great weather, good food, good people, good music, and a very well-organized show. You could tell a lot of work went into making this event run as smoothly as it did.

Unfortunately, we were sad to hear that after a 10-year run, this was the final year for the show. Hopefully someone picks up the torch and keeps it going, because events like this are exactly what the car community is all about.

🎥 Check out these videos of some — definitely not all — of the beautiful cars that showed up. There was plenty of automotive eye candy to go around!

Thanks to everyone involved for putting on a great show and giving us one heck of a first—and hopefully not last—visit.

Congratulations, Faith! 🏆

10/03/2026

Part 1

🏆 Faith Brings Home Another One! 🏆

The Nick’s PitStop crew finally made it out to the Knights of Columbus 10th Annual Car Show in Columbia, Illinois after a few years of trying and just never being able to make the schedule work.

And Faith — our ’66 Mercury Comet Caliente 390 Tri-Power — came home with 1st Place in the Stock 1960–1969 class! 🥇🔥

There were some absolutely beautiful cars and builds in attendance, so bringing home a 1st makes us especially proud of the old girl.

Everything about the day was top-notch: great weather, good food, good people, good music, and a very well-organized show. You could tell a lot of work went into making this event run as smoothly as it did.

Unfortunately, we were sad to hear that after a 10-year run, this was the final year for the show. Hopefully someone picks up the torch and keeps it going, because events like this are exactly what the car community is all about.

🎥 Check out these videos of some — definitely not all — of the beautiful cars that showed up. There was plenty of automotive eye candy to go around!

Thanks to everyone involved for putting on a great show and giving us one heck of a first—and hopefully not last—visit.

Congratulations, Faith! 🏆

10/03/2026

There are only a few things that make a car guy happier than getting his hands on a true NOS/OE part. 😎🔧

What's the best NOS part you have picked up?

This radiator was only used for about three years back in the ’70s, so finding an original one today isn’t exactly an everyday occurrence.

Then comes the best part…

A buddy had one sitting on a shelf, still in the box, collecting dust. One of those parts he saved years ago because, “Somebody might need this someday.”

Well… someday finally showed up. 😂

This is exactly why I refuse to call it “parts hoarding.” It’s foresight. It’s preservation. It’s being prepared for future automotive emergencies.

And it is DEFINITELY not just collecting junk.

At least that’s what I’m telling myself. 🤣🤣

Another little win at Nick’s PitStop—and proof that sometimes the best parts store around is another car guy’s shelf.

Address

818 E. Washington Street
Belleville, IL
62220

Telephone

(618)6419027

Website

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