Fat Hack
10-04-2004, 08:59 PM
I declare that the War has been won...and the Chevy is DONE! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
(Uh, well...okay, so MAYBE it still needs a rear axle and brakes of some sort...not to mention an exhaust system of some kind...but who cares about such trivial incidentals?!)
Who knows where it will go next...possibly into storage somewhere, or it may sit where it is or have to be sold if the Powers That Be declare it must go, but I'm hoping that won't be necessary.
Got a guy at work who really is the best damn all-around mechanic I've ever met, and I'd kinda like to pay him to finish the car, but he's swamped and kinda strung out on personal issues at the moment. I know he needs the money, so hopefully he'll reconsider soon!
BIG, huge thanks to everyone who helped me get this car as far as it HAS come. The list starts with RocketJ2 and involves MANY others who've contributed parts, knowledge, encouragement, cookies, and funding to help make this Dream a reality....
Thanks to:
RocketJ2, for the car and the endless pep talks and even a new fuel pump!
Choprods, for going way out of your way to come up with a motor and trans for this thing! Your help, hospitality and friendship means alot!
DirtyT, for the Road Trips, drinking binges, and other assorted Good Times...not to mention the gnarly 80s aluminum wheels and fatso tires!!
Roadstar, for not laughing or anything when I brought you cardboard templates to make wild custom motor mounts for this oddball! Always a pleasure to watch a pro in action!
Hot Rod To Hell, for risking the ridicule of being seen in a V6 powered wrecked S10 to pull off the brake booster, pedals and master cylinder I needed to stuff into this car...I'm coming to Flint this week (or weekend) to buy ya lunch, Bro!
Hotrodladycrusr, you're always there and always willing to do anything to help out a buddy...and you host some really cool get-togethers that allow us GMBs to congregate and plan all kinds of mayhem!! And also...thanks for the Road Trip Care Package...yummy stuff!
Ray, the tranny mount was greatly appreciated, and may soon be put to good use on DirtyT's Chevy!
Rocky, for endless advice, jabs, wisecracks...and a one barrel carb...you ROCK!
Curious Rash and Hank Cash, thanks to you two clowns the car is in Full Judas Priest Mode ("We has electric, sparkin' power!")!!! You guys make it possible for me to fire that noisey cuss up and rattle the neighbor's windows!!
Gregg, man...thanks a billion for the Funky Fine 8-track player and all them groovy used 8-track tapes! I can sit in the car and jam out to all the best that the 70s had to offer!!!
4t64rd, for showing your sister how to build an R2-D2 outta Legos...so she could teach ME! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Oh wait...that was a few years ago...thanks for all the other stuff since then, too!!
Kustombuilder, for that stupid look you give me every time I see you...just like Fab32 does...makes me laugh and lets me know I'm on the right track!
Donzie, for snaking them exhaust manifolds for me and for the vintage Strat you said you'd give me! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Fab32, for being cool beyond words everytime I've ever talked to ya...and the way you shake your head as if to say "aie yi YI" while I just laugh!
Hatch, for that sneaky, secret reach-around when we posed in the fur coats. (Or was that Flathead Pete???) Thanks, either way!!
Scrapmetalart, thanks for the boat anchor...the old Chris Craft doesn't drift around the lake anymore! Ha Ha Ha...I'm totally kidding, Bro...meeting you and hanging at your crib was well worth the trouble of hauling a dead Vega engine across State lines to dispose of it here!!! Keep at the art stuff...ya got a real talent there!
Safariknut, you're always like a favorite Uncle that's never too tired or busy to spend a while talking to a friend! Thanks for lending your skilled brush and color to the air cleaner...everyone who sees it really digs it...gonna have to buy me a Vega to put it on now!!
Unkl Ian, for your Over-The-Top enthusiasm! Ha Ha Ha...your replies always slay me...keep 'em comming!
Scarliner, for showing us your Secret Stash of cars and parts...nothing beats good ol' Missouri Hospitality!
Jdubya, for sticking up for me when Steve said 2.8s weren't fit to sleep with pigs...you said they were! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I know I've left out several others...and I'll think of 'em the second I post this...but you all have my deepest gratitude...the efforts you put forth have not gone unappreciated...hope I can re-pay y'all someday!
This project really kind of amazes me when I look at it and really take in all that it has involved. A year ago, I walked into RocketJ2's garage to see the rusted hulk sitting there, and just KNEW I had to take a stab at breathing life back into it and making it roadwaorthy once more. I fell a bit short of that goal, but it has come a long ways!
Before this project started, I seriously doubted whether or not I was physically capable of building another car. With old injuries and a batterd, broken body working against me, I somehow managed to do all the labor involved myself in a bumpy, busted up driveway. Many times I had to crawl back into the house in serious pain after taxing myself too hard trying to get some heavy part into place, and I thought sure I lost a hand when the motor and trans fell on it and nobody was there to pull it off...but a little deft footwork got them raised up enough to free the wounded paw...which somehow came out of it okay!
It hasn't been easy...it's been long, tedious and painfull...but all in all very rewarding. I regret that the car won't be making any shows or cruises this year...and possibly not ever...but the experience has been an incredible journey, and I just wanted to take a few minutes to thank all those who had a part in making it happen.
The Future isn't clear for me or the car right now...but the past year has been something special.
Thanks.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
(Uh, well...okay, so MAYBE it still needs a rear axle and brakes of some sort...not to mention an exhaust system of some kind...but who cares about such trivial incidentals?!)
Who knows where it will go next...possibly into storage somewhere, or it may sit where it is or have to be sold if the Powers That Be declare it must go, but I'm hoping that won't be necessary.
Got a guy at work who really is the best damn all-around mechanic I've ever met, and I'd kinda like to pay him to finish the car, but he's swamped and kinda strung out on personal issues at the moment. I know he needs the money, so hopefully he'll reconsider soon!
BIG, huge thanks to everyone who helped me get this car as far as it HAS come. The list starts with RocketJ2 and involves MANY others who've contributed parts, knowledge, encouragement, cookies, and funding to help make this Dream a reality....
Thanks to:
RocketJ2, for the car and the endless pep talks and even a new fuel pump!
Choprods, for going way out of your way to come up with a motor and trans for this thing! Your help, hospitality and friendship means alot!
DirtyT, for the Road Trips, drinking binges, and other assorted Good Times...not to mention the gnarly 80s aluminum wheels and fatso tires!!
Roadstar, for not laughing or anything when I brought you cardboard templates to make wild custom motor mounts for this oddball! Always a pleasure to watch a pro in action!
Hot Rod To Hell, for risking the ridicule of being seen in a V6 powered wrecked S10 to pull off the brake booster, pedals and master cylinder I needed to stuff into this car...I'm coming to Flint this week (or weekend) to buy ya lunch, Bro!
Hotrodladycrusr, you're always there and always willing to do anything to help out a buddy...and you host some really cool get-togethers that allow us GMBs to congregate and plan all kinds of mayhem!! And also...thanks for the Road Trip Care Package...yummy stuff!
Ray, the tranny mount was greatly appreciated, and may soon be put to good use on DirtyT's Chevy!
Rocky, for endless advice, jabs, wisecracks...and a one barrel carb...you ROCK!
Curious Rash and Hank Cash, thanks to you two clowns the car is in Full Judas Priest Mode ("We has electric, sparkin' power!")!!! You guys make it possible for me to fire that noisey cuss up and rattle the neighbor's windows!!
Gregg, man...thanks a billion for the Funky Fine 8-track player and all them groovy used 8-track tapes! I can sit in the car and jam out to all the best that the 70s had to offer!!!
4t64rd, for showing your sister how to build an R2-D2 outta Legos...so she could teach ME! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Oh wait...that was a few years ago...thanks for all the other stuff since then, too!!
Kustombuilder, for that stupid look you give me every time I see you...just like Fab32 does...makes me laugh and lets me know I'm on the right track!
Donzie, for snaking them exhaust manifolds for me and for the vintage Strat you said you'd give me! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Fab32, for being cool beyond words everytime I've ever talked to ya...and the way you shake your head as if to say "aie yi YI" while I just laugh!
Hatch, for that sneaky, secret reach-around when we posed in the fur coats. (Or was that Flathead Pete???) Thanks, either way!!
Scrapmetalart, thanks for the boat anchor...the old Chris Craft doesn't drift around the lake anymore! Ha Ha Ha...I'm totally kidding, Bro...meeting you and hanging at your crib was well worth the trouble of hauling a dead Vega engine across State lines to dispose of it here!!! Keep at the art stuff...ya got a real talent there!
Safariknut, you're always like a favorite Uncle that's never too tired or busy to spend a while talking to a friend! Thanks for lending your skilled brush and color to the air cleaner...everyone who sees it really digs it...gonna have to buy me a Vega to put it on now!!
Unkl Ian, for your Over-The-Top enthusiasm! Ha Ha Ha...your replies always slay me...keep 'em comming!
Scarliner, for showing us your Secret Stash of cars and parts...nothing beats good ol' Missouri Hospitality!
Jdubya, for sticking up for me when Steve said 2.8s weren't fit to sleep with pigs...you said they were! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I know I've left out several others...and I'll think of 'em the second I post this...but you all have my deepest gratitude...the efforts you put forth have not gone unappreciated...hope I can re-pay y'all someday!
This project really kind of amazes me when I look at it and really take in all that it has involved. A year ago, I walked into RocketJ2's garage to see the rusted hulk sitting there, and just KNEW I had to take a stab at breathing life back into it and making it roadwaorthy once more. I fell a bit short of that goal, but it has come a long ways!
Before this project started, I seriously doubted whether or not I was physically capable of building another car. With old injuries and a batterd, broken body working against me, I somehow managed to do all the labor involved myself in a bumpy, busted up driveway. Many times I had to crawl back into the house in serious pain after taxing myself too hard trying to get some heavy part into place, and I thought sure I lost a hand when the motor and trans fell on it and nobody was there to pull it off...but a little deft footwork got them raised up enough to free the wounded paw...which somehow came out of it okay!
It hasn't been easy...it's been long, tedious and painfull...but all in all very rewarding. I regret that the car won't be making any shows or cruises this year...and possibly not ever...but the experience has been an incredible journey, and I just wanted to take a few minutes to thank all those who had a part in making it happen.
The Future isn't clear for me or the car right now...but the past year has been something special.
Thanks.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif