May I Digress

so I KNOW this has nothing to do with cars. but let me wax political for a moment. I just want to note how ironic it is that all the liberal blogs criticize the democratic party for not challenging the republican candidates on the issues. This from those promoting a candidate who is one of the most gifted men I have ever seen at saying absolutely NOTHING...and saying it so beautifully. Perhaps it hasn't occurred to them that perhaps the reason they don't want to get into the issues...is cause they don't have any answers either.

Second, I would like to get one thing straight.

This is MY GIRL...and I love her. :-)

















isn't she gorgeous?

As promised, here are a few pics...

My engine as it currently stands.

































Automatic Tranny removed and flywheel/pilot bearing installed for manual:


















The hole where used to be the shifter:

















I'm working on inlaying carbon fiber on all the trim. So far it's worked really well:

I suck at blogging (apparently)

So when I started, I had this lofty goal of blogging on at least a weekly basis about the progress I make on my car.  Well, so far I count 8 blogs in 10 months...that puts me at less than one a months.  well...I can't be good at everything.  

updates:  Aluminum heads are installed, which involved a fun part where I cut into the top of my pistons with a dremel.  but they seem to be working well.  The engine is running pretty well but needs some work on the carb, and possibly a collapsed lifter replaced.  

Body work continues (slowly)  I think for the time being I am going to go with a dark gray primer with a seal coat over it.  the final effect is something of a matte black.  I can live with it.  

I used Por 15 and some fiber glass to fix my rusted floor pans.  the stuff is INTENSE.  I highly recommend it.  a bit of a pain to work with, but when it hardens it's hardness is second only to diamond.  ;-)  ok, so maybe not quite THAT hard, but it is hard...and yes, that is a good thing.  

The tranny conversion is scheduled to begin this weekend (hopefully).  I still don't have my flywheel, but I think I'm gonna start either way.  I'm gonna try to pull out the old tranny w/out removing the engine.  not sure if I can do it cause of the full length headers I am running, but it's worth a shot.  Beats pulling all the crap off of the front of the engine and pulling the engine out.  tranny is getting a new flywheel, clutch, flexplate, clutch cable, and bearing retainer.  should work well.  

Pictures...oh they are far overdue, and I know it.  I'll try to get some pictures soon.  

The interior is completely pulled out right now, and is in the process of being painted black.  won't look perfect (never does) but it'll look pretty sweet.  I'm also adding carbon fiber accents to a few key areas courtesy of Rich's Custom Carbon Fiber Products.  They really make great stuff, and I have a lot of respect for their skill and prefessionalism.  

hopefully a piture post will be coming tom...

Back to Life

As amazing as it seems...it's been 6 months since I posted last. wow! guess that's what happens when you get busy with school. well, don't have time to go into a LOT of detail about all the stuff I've done. but suffice it to say, the engine in the car turned out to be junk. in the months of december and January I replaced it with a late model roller 302. good stuff. I stuck with the carbed set up, and by the middle of Feb, I had the engine up and running. A test run followed in during which there was a fair amount of burnt rubber and run times. Engine runs well except for a vacuum leak around the break power booster. Since then I haven't had time to work on it too much, but it has not gone by the wayside. I have redone the brakes on all corners, and have started on the body work. And now that I am about done with school, I am planning a major project.

Cause I'm a glutton for punishment, I have decided to switch out the C4 Tranny for a five speed manual. More fun to drive, plus it has overdrive. also, I'm going to go ahead and put the edelbrock aluminum heads on there that came with the car when I got it. And further more, I found a cheap set of Hooker Headers (used) to finish off the set up. Add in some hardened push rods and roller rockers, and it'll be a sweet running engine. while i'm at it though, i'm gonna give the suspension a little tlc as well. The rear I'm gonna rework the leafs and see if I can salvage them, and add new KYB shocks. The front I'm gonna knock the springs off about an inch for the time being. eventually I want to put in stiffer front springs to help w/ cornering. i'll be cleaning and painting as I go to make it all look pretty and make it last. :-)

Exams finish up week after next, so at that point, I'll start posting regularly including pics and all of the progress. I can't wait to get my hands greasy again. my goal is to have the car on the road around the beginning of july. it'll be tight, but I think it can be done.