Yeah RacerRoy3, looking for 10.99 but probably will never see it. The snow is almost all gone so a friend came over and helped be dig the frame out of the back garage. I spray bombed some thin spots in the paint. Yellow doesn't cover very well. I managed to put the narrowed rear end with Dutchman axles in even though my hips are not working. I get injections in a week and a half. Maybe then I'll have less pain. Tomorrow the front axle. It should be ready to run in a couple weeks. I'll get the friend who helped me today to drive the thing until I heal.
Looking good. It's too late now but when spraying yellows or orange, use white primer or a light coat of white first. The paints these days are more opaque due to not using yellow or red ochre as they contain lead. Mind you, that could've been the paint bloke spinning me a yarn but it makes sense to me.
It's hell to get old Bob, but you have a lot of company in the aches and pains department. I really like the yellow. Keep us supplied with photos as it goes back together. I can't wait to see how she looks with the narrow hips!
Hi Bob. The frame looks great. This is Jerry from Grubers. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Got the front end cleaned and painted. Installed the master cylinder and brake pedal. Tried to put my new high stall converter on and button up the engine and Powerglide. The bolt pattern on the converter is too large for the flexplate. In fact, the bolt lugs hang up on the starter ring gear. As most of you know it is a 300 Ford 6 connected to a Powerglide, using a JW bell housing and flex plate. I called the converter builder and they are going to contact JW and get it sorted out. Thanks for the tip, spanners. I'll know to prime with a light color next time. Howdy Jerry. How would you like to be an official pit crew member?
I determined the two bolt patterns on my JW flexplate are 10 1/2" and 10 3/4". The converter bolt pattern is 11 1/2". Freakshow said they would send the correct converter and a return box for the one I have. Good deal. I'm scheduled to get injections in both hips next week. Hopefully I'll be able to walk normally, bend over, kneel, sleep, etc. Now my shoulder is hurting so I suppose I'll get a shot in that too. If this doesn't work I don't know how I'll get anything together.
After a while you just try to treat pain like your wife....you do your best to ignore it and continue doing what makes you happy.
Still waiting for the replacement converter. Got rid of the hokey steel wheels with round holes in them and had the slicks mounted on Ansen Sprints that I've had for 30 years. Got the Cortizone shots in both inner hips yesterday and one in the shoulder the day before. Doc says the hips should be good for quite a few more miles before replacement. Haven't been this pain free in many years. Hope it lasts. Racer Roy3, do you think if my wife got steroid shots my pain would lessen? Hoping...
Bob, I read your post to my wife and she immediately went into the fetal position and told me that she hoped that your wife didn't follow this thread. She was really hoping that you would live long enough for us to get together.
Got a call from the converter guy. He can't get parts so I had to send the wrong converter back to be modified. In the meantime, I went to a swap meet Sunday and got a cramp in my calf. Turned out to be a big blood clot. Ended up in ER but the good news is the Docs think it can be treated with meds. I had two good pain free days, now the clot. Yes, I too hope the little woman doesn't read this thread, Racer Roy.
I filled the rear end and bled the brakes. It's a roller now. Still waiting for the converter. At a standstill til I get it. Here's look at it with the narrow rear end and the Ansen Sprints.
Any progress photos of the 'bullet? I see on the Meltdown Drags site that they turned away over 400 applicants for this years event because they were maxed out. Were you aware of the new rule concerning oil retention devices? It won't affect you this year but might in the future if you hit your 10.99 goal. It can't help but speed the program up and allow for more passes.
Spanners, I haven't built anything yet. There are some companies that make custom diapers at a reasonable cost. I might use one of them. If not, I will build an aluminum pan about 1 1/2" deep and put "Pig Mat" absorbent pads in it. Hold them down with expanded metal. I'm gradually getting the dragster together as time and my worn out body permit.
Finally managed to find this post. Ya, I would love to be on your crew. Just give me a call. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Roy, I got my converter back and it is too "thick". Probably made for a set up with a mid plate, which I don't have. I put the original converter back in because of time constraints and I don't know if the builder will make it right to fit this application. Waiting for converter bolts and 3" wheel studs. Dumb me, I ordered 2" studs with the Dutchman axles then changed the rear wheels from steel to aluminum. Don't have quite enough stud length to keep the techs happy. It's 99% complete except for those two things. I also got the lower half of an EFI intake from Tom (old28) in California. Very generous of him. Thank you, Tom. Will make a plenum and put two Autolite carbs on it. I'll be using information that Tom got from The Frenchtown Flyer to build it. Thank you FTF. I'll probably get the two carb intake on it later this year but won't put the high stall converter til the season ends. Physically, I'm working at quarter speed these days. It's tough getting old.
I hear you Bob. As we get older life seems to be all about degree of difficulty. It's good to know that you are making progress on the rebuild. I look forward to seeing how the changes improve the E.T. at Byron. I hope that it isn't 99 degrees with 85% humidity like it is now.
I put 3" wheel studs on the axles to pass tech. Received this EFI lower manifold from old28 in California. Thank you, Tom. Started building a plenum on it to mount two Autolite two barrels.
It's all buttoned up except for fluids and body panels. Almost ready for some driveway action. The intake is coming along too.
It's all together and it runs. Just need to top off the Powerglide then the cowl top can be put on it. On the dual intake I'm building I made a couple carb spacers out of walnut an welded a slantie strip in the plenum to eliminate the low trough where raw gas could pool.
Mr. Mac, I sure would like to get there some day. Right now the car at the Meltdown Drags in Byron, Illinois and I'm home. Wanted to go Friday morning but it looks like a wet weekend and my body is hurting. Dave will do a good job driving it but it might go a bit slower as he is a full size person. FTF, I'll start with 1.08 carbs as I have 3 of them and only one 1.14.
The car made it to the Meltdown Drags but I didn't. Feeling rotten and the forecast of rain kept me from going. Dave & Tom had he car tec'd Thursday. Friday, after siting in staging for a few hours Dave made it to the water box where he was shut down because of a leak. The floor mounted master cylinder cover came off and fluid was dripping. Saturday was 1/8 mile only because water was coming up through the track farther down. Dave lined up and built some RPM against the brake. It pushed through the beam and he red lit. Waited several tenths and then took off. Lousy e.t. but 95 mph, which is quite good. I received the high stall converter and it looks good. Going to have shoulder surgery today so it'll be a while before the converter is installed. Curently rebuilding two carbs for the home made manifold. That might be on the car for the end of August Fun Race.
Shoulder surgery went well today. Tore up a lot more shit in there than was expected. Will be down for a while. Arm has no feeling at all from nerve blocker, for now. Pain at 11:00.
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