Projects Mid Life Crisis 62 Vette

Jim, I've never met you or know you except through here, but I doubt this is going to get a powerglide to make it easier and for an old man, you sure know how to build cars!

 

yeah, way too fun to drive on the street this way!

 

My old '54 panel was like that on the p/s side. It was easier for me to make a 90 from a piece of 304 stainless tube and put it where the belt was rubbing then to redesign the brackets (had a friend do the welding).

 

I ordered a 2 groove alternator pulley, I think it will solve the problem....although it might be smaller diameter, and I'll need to get a shorter belt.

On another note (or two), I got some new horns and got them installed and working! now I need to put the hood back on....I had to remove it to make room...

one of the really annoying Drag Week rules is that you need a working horn.

 

I feel it is very important when the guy in the next lane is show boating down the track doing a bouncing wheelie and you never know which direction the idiot is going to go.
You need that horn because a 9mm would be illegal

 

I think it has more to do with driving in traffic

 

I thought that was what finger gestures were for?

 

Yeah, but you'd have to text the gesture to 'em or they'll never see it.

 

So I was looking at the rear tires, it has a clearance issue, when loaded up with all the racing goodies in the trunk. And will be worse with my son in the car. I need to change tires or wheels, to gain a quarter inch or so between tire and fender lip.

I could buy some 205 tires to replace the 225s. I'd lose some diameter, too.

or

I could clean up a pair of stock steel wheels, and put the 225s on them, they have enough different offset that it should clear both at the fender lip, and still clear the leaf spring.

And....found a new leak! the new pinion seal I installed when I put the posi in, drips while sitting. I guess I'll pull the yoke off and see what I can see. I saved the other new seal I had installed, which never leaked a drop. Maybe I'll put it back on? what fun.

 

I pulled one of the tires off the Cragar wheel and mounted it on the stock wheel...plenty of room that way. I'll go ahead and do the other side. And start working on the seal in the morning, when I have some ambition again.

 

Weird seeing you in a red car going that slow !

 

I found the source of the leak in the rear....I had knocked off the garter spring when I installed the pinion seal, and it was trapped between the yoke and the bearing. Yikes.

 

If all the leaky cars at the track were that easy to fix...

 

No scarring on the yoke? If it was me, I’d have messed it up proper and had to sleeve it or replace it.
I generally mess this up real good

 

It was not leaking a drop after I replaced the gears (and the seal and gaskets and wheel bearings), but when I installed the posi, I messed up.

And it only seemed to leak after I parked after a long drive, it dripped out right behind the yoke. Didn't sling oil while driving, like the old seal had.

 

" Hold still dam it, while I find out where this leak is coming from "

 

I've found that there is something about stock wheels that allows you to put the widest tire you can in the hole.

 

I think it's because stock wheels are so narrow, that the overall width of the tire is less. As well as that negative offset that stock wheels have.

 

Pie crust slicks and Traction Masters.......yeh, that's the ticket!

 

I think the other part is that they center the wheel/tire in the hole.

 

I guess I'm done working on the car for now....

My son and I are planning to head east Thursday morning. All there is left to do is a little pre trip maintenance, I'd like to change the oil again and lube the chassis, and tighten all the bolts under there. And I've been playing with how everything fits in the trunk. This is how it looks with everything except Steven's clothes, and some more water bottles (to keep us alive).


I'll start another thread about the trip when it's time to go.

 

A trunk full of adventure! Safe travels!

 

Exactly 4 months since this thread started. From that to this in 4 months. Way to go @squirrel. Quite the accomplishment. Good luck on your travels. I will be following along!

 

Looking forward to the story, Jim. You da man!

 

Very cool and I will be following along on your thread about Drag Week. One of these days I hope to do something similar and appreciate you doing it with this car demonstrating that we don't necessarily have to have a 10-second or faster car to have fun. I keep trying to convince my teenage son of that fact...

 

So cool. I always love a good Jim thread.

 

Kool. Will be fun to follow along. We are leaving the AZ Rim country this weekend. Time to head home to old phartsville.

 

Don't forget to pick up a couple cans of this tried and true fuel additive, when you are competing in
Drag Week !
Be sure and check the "Best if used by date" on the bottom of the can.
Your results may vary !

 

“What a line of crap”

 

I thought of Squirrel's car the other day when I went to pick my kid up from marching band practice and found this Vette parked in the school's parking garage. It looked like lots of fun!