Post by Jeff Troy on Aug 2, 2020 8:53:31 GMT -5
Hi, Everyone,
Once again, it's been quite a while since I've posted.
Long story not so short, in 2013 after 320,000 miles on engine #2 (345,000 on #1 and its rebuild), the valve seats in the heads were so badly melted that the engine would only stay running when it was nearly floored. Flipped the body, trashed the engine case and internals, and began GT rebuild #6.
By 2014 I had completed a new 1776 with a new case, jugs, heads, and internals, and most of my top-end parts: dual Kadron carburetors, oil sump, Pertronix Igniter electronic ignition and coil, Jet-Hot heat exchangers and Berg Dual Quiet Exhaust, newly painted genuine VW tins, air-co compressor, and plenty of polished Billet aluminum dress-ups.
In March of 2015, the car was maybe a week or two from road-ready. The body and chassis updates were finished and rejoined, and the engine was bench-tested by local air-cooled expert Gene Ulrich. The T-top was still unmounted and I was working on a new stereo head unit, when I fell on the ice and broke my hip. I couldn't maneuver inside the 'pit for the next two years. I was back on the Chubby Checker tour for 2017 and '18, and then I had a bout with throat cancer last year. Scratch 2019.
The cancer surgeries were entirely successful and I'm in good shape - and FINALLY able to work on the car after its being down for nearly seven years.
Two days short of state inspection, I was reinstalling the windshield, pressed down on a corner and broke it. Another delay, and a week's wait for a new Corvette coupe windshield from AutoCity in Minnesota on eBay (GREAT outfit: $149 + $85 shipping), while I took care of a few minor details.
The "Plastic Racer" was inspected on July 29th, and has been back on the road since then (like three days)! This thing is SO much fun to drive. After 645,000 miles, you'd think I would be sick of it, but I love it more every time I climb in. Total blast, and the new 1776 runs great with a little bit more pep than my 1641 #2.
Me and the "Boardwalk Ride with a License Plate" in 2008
Thunder Valley Casino, Lincoln California, in 2017 on the Chubby Checker tour
Thanks Gray Hammond for the image-attachment post, which I just used above. Now I'll just urge everyone who's been slow to finish their projects to get them done. The weather is great for GT drives with the lids off, so get your cars back on the road!
All the best, my friends...
Once again, it's been quite a while since I've posted.
Long story not so short, in 2013 after 320,000 miles on engine #2 (345,000 on #1 and its rebuild), the valve seats in the heads were so badly melted that the engine would only stay running when it was nearly floored. Flipped the body, trashed the engine case and internals, and began GT rebuild #6.
By 2014 I had completed a new 1776 with a new case, jugs, heads, and internals, and most of my top-end parts: dual Kadron carburetors, oil sump, Pertronix Igniter electronic ignition and coil, Jet-Hot heat exchangers and Berg Dual Quiet Exhaust, newly painted genuine VW tins, air-co compressor, and plenty of polished Billet aluminum dress-ups.
In March of 2015, the car was maybe a week or two from road-ready. The body and chassis updates were finished and rejoined, and the engine was bench-tested by local air-cooled expert Gene Ulrich. The T-top was still unmounted and I was working on a new stereo head unit, when I fell on the ice and broke my hip. I couldn't maneuver inside the 'pit for the next two years. I was back on the Chubby Checker tour for 2017 and '18, and then I had a bout with throat cancer last year. Scratch 2019.
The cancer surgeries were entirely successful and I'm in good shape - and FINALLY able to work on the car after its being down for nearly seven years.
Two days short of state inspection, I was reinstalling the windshield, pressed down on a corner and broke it. Another delay, and a week's wait for a new Corvette coupe windshield from AutoCity in Minnesota on eBay (GREAT outfit: $149 + $85 shipping), while I took care of a few minor details.
The "Plastic Racer" was inspected on July 29th, and has been back on the road since then (like three days)! This thing is SO much fun to drive. After 645,000 miles, you'd think I would be sick of it, but I love it more every time I climb in. Total blast, and the new 1776 runs great with a little bit more pep than my 1641 #2.
Me and the "Boardwalk Ride with a License Plate" in 2008
Thunder Valley Casino, Lincoln California, in 2017 on the Chubby Checker tour
Thanks Gray Hammond for the image-attachment post, which I just used above. Now I'll just urge everyone who's been slow to finish their projects to get them done. The weather is great for GT drives with the lids off, so get your cars back on the road!
All the best, my friends...