Down to the wire HAMBdrags, my touring, final Assembly

[Tman]

Crunch time, it is getting close. The drags that is. I posted pics the other day of the touring, I am hammering EVERY day on the car and still dont know if I will make it. I have enough time to make it fire IF things dont conspire against me! Little shit is piling up, things that I could have done last winter!

Opened the motor up last night and it is all good (previous known runner) I scored some of the little things I needed for it. Got my 425/409 solid lifter cam tonight. But I getting worried.......time is running out. The blasphemous word trailor even entered my brain the other night. Regardless, I WILL be at the drags, I am the chef and that is my focus. the 54 might just have to suffice? I dunno, thanks for listening.

[Tinbender]

Keep at it man. Your making great progress.

[Tman]

Thanks man, BTW, your new shop looks great! I just dont want to rush shit now, I am really pleased with how it is turning out and I guess I will live with another moth of building it if I have to. Gunna give it a shot though!

[fab32]

You've teased us long enough. Do you have any idea how much you can acomplish by not sleeping. Every hour in bed is a wasted hour. Think positive and get that thing on the road. BTW, consider the trailer a "no go" as an option, it has to roll under power to the drags, with the cookware in the back seat. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Frank

[flamedabone]

Tman. If your touring does not drive to the Drags, you are a PUSSY.




That being said...it doesnt look lilke the Henry J will make it. Gotta drive the Model A.

Hey, I didn't just call you a pussy, did I?

Sorry, -Abone.

[Tman]

Abone, yer a pussy as well....not really that A looks rather hot and noisy!

[fab32]

Did you notice that your last post was no. 8700? Anyone who can do that can get a silly car on the road. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Frank

[SamIyam]

Get off the computer and back out into the garage...
Sam.

[Cadillacin Marcus]

Dont rush the job to make a deadline,,thats never a good thing..I know from experience...

[Rocky]

You lissen to me, you little shit..... you WILL drive thet sumbitch to the HAMB drags even if you gotta work 'till midnight every night to get it road worthy. Forget turn signals, mufflers, glass and any other frivalous bullshit. Do like I just did....make it work first, then come back for the gingerbread stuff IF you have time to address it. You might hafta drive down there with no windshield wipers or a toggle switch to operate the stop lights. [both of which I've done] but you gotta drive it.
I just blew in from the local wed. nite cruise. I drove my 41 pontiac coupe...gotta find the bugs in it before I take off on my trip, you know. I'm golden. the car is awesome. I will certainly drive my Poncho to the drags and I'll bet you do too...

[choprods]

I could loan you a broken RADIUS ROD to pull it with if it breaks down on you on the road! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Tman]

Nail is in the coffin.........this so called known runner is fucked! Two mains were repaired at some time in the past SOOOOOOOOOOOO nicely you cant see the brass, yes brass or bronze. One main cap was shimmed on one side with something like the thickness of a soda can. all of the rod bearings(which felt good) look like shit. The crank will prob need to be ground.Rod bolts fell out upon dis-assembly! Hate to say it but I wont be driving it after all at the drags. Despite what I posted above, I really had hope to have it at MOKAN.

[Rocky]

Oh man! I hate to hear it. If it makes you feel any better, I blew a lower radiator hose or bottom tank or something while I was waiting for a train to pass. The old 41 was sitting at idle, happy as a clam while I was reading the graffiti on the train cars. Saw a wisp of steam coming out from underneath my car just as the crossing arms went up so I hauled ass for home----about 6 blocks. Got it home ok and pulled the hood release cable...came out of it's housing in my hand! DOH! Lotsa steam blowing straight down onto the ground.... I'll figure it out tomorrow.
Really sorry to hear your block is junk..damn, can you get your money back? Does he have another better block?

[Tman]

Rocky, block is OK, only needs a hone...my pal Art has lots of extra parts......he hooked me up last night with those parts I needed already. I got arrogant thinking my luck was better than it is after the mill in the 54. I KNEW this motor was solid...............silly me. Only thing I will be out is $600-1000 to build it right. Might even stroke the bitch http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[fatabone]

How about swapping the motor from the 54? Would love to see the car at the drags.

[Unkl Ian]

Sorry to hear that Tman. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

IF the block was remachined to the correct size,a little brazing wouldn't bother me.
But it sounds more serious than just that.

Any chance another motor will fit those mounts ?

[Tman]

Yeahm thought abot the 350 outta the 54. I hate to rape one car to help another, in my bike experience, it never works out and the raped car willl languish.

I would feel better driving the 54 if I had to, I have a solid year+ rain sleet and snow in it, it makes me feel confident.

[choprods]

Bring the 54 out Trent we wanna see a neat car under our HOGMIESTER......'Sides...... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif ya can race what ya brung!!

[whodaky]

Tman , it is not the end of the world if you don't make it to that perseved goal. I say finish right the first time.
It will be one stunning tub going by the in progress shot syou have posted in the past! Geoff aka Whodaky

[beatnik]

I'm really sorry to hear that Tman, I want to see the touring as much as anyone, it's been coming out great, but there ain't no reason to rush and screw something up now, so bring the 54 to the Drags.

[AnimalAin]

I think most of us on this board have had something similar happen, but it doesn't make it suck any less.....

Take deep breaths, and remember that having it right is more important than having it now. I have seen too many cars boogered up in the final stages when the time pressure to get it rolling whispers in your ear "it will be OK, it's good enough." Your hot rod is too bitch'n to slap together in the final stage.

Just a friendly reminder; from the observed level of workmanship from you, I doubt you would fall prey to this phenomenon.

[Zeke]

Hey bro this is just fate. The Touring needs to be done right and now that the pressure is off you can take the time to finish it up instead of rushing it just to make the drags.

[Tman]

Man, you guys sound like a suicide watch! Its only a friggen motor. I will build it and build it right. Machine work always takes more time than you like, thats cool, I dont feel like spending 800-1000 at the moment anyway! This will indeed give me the extra time to do the Touring RIGHT, like I want it.

The next Lonestar Roundup is in............................ April, right? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Tman]

Will take it to the Machine shop next week, was doing some cleaning and found that it is already 60 over. Bores look good, as far as I can measure, the taper is minimal. It looks to me like someone had the motor rebuilt years ago, fucked it up and didnt want to spend the coin a second time around. So they patched it up and it ran pretty good for a few years. I scored some extra main caps today, line boring should run around $175..........we will see. I feel better about this motor, now that I KNOW it will be done right.

[flamedabone]

PUUSSSSYYYYYY!!!!!!!



If it makes you feel better, the Henry J is definately not going. Needs a thrash to get her totally done and I can't afford a thrash...

I'll be takin the Model A. Maybe I can park next to your 54.....

Fellow pussy, -Abone.