Son of Godzilla update - 5/15/07

Keep up the faith and the steam mister. You got a lot of people counting on you now! We got faith your going to make it happen.

 

Unbearable pressure - mounting - building - bursting point near - must find release - speech abreviated - typing spaced o u t - darkness overwhelming - only sound is grinder Mom? Is that you?!
AAAAAaaaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
glyxlpoidzerkswichski?nonononoNOOOOOO!!!!!!! splxzlp$#*+!!!......................

 

More baby steps. Fabbed up a dandy tow bar, so this weekend I can tow the carcass out to Dr. Lockjaws place - let the spark shower begin!
Also, the headers that Turboroadster coated have returned home and man, do they look good! Kind of a sparkly aluminized look ( to be honest, I wasn't sure about it at first - then I held one in place and stood back: Yeow! They really pop against the flat black and they match the look of all the satin aluminum on the engine).
Things are happening at the machine shop - the big news today was I've spent a lot more than I thought! So some of my dream parts are flying off into the distance...Still no cam and lifters though - aaarrrgghh!!! I know - patience...
Wish me luck, flat towing that thing 30 miles to the Docs shop! I'm gonna try to sneak it out EARLY in the morning...
Until next time,
Scotty

 

Thanks again, Nate! Man - this guy just pops in, post some pix, then disappears into the tire smoke! Amazing.....
So yeah - as advertised, pix of the "new look" headers and the tow bar (which is now resplendent in a twin coat of Blitz Black, to match the car). Janglegirl and i towed the Morris around the neighborhood today, for a test drive. I dunno...it's doing the "push-pull" thing and I don't know why. Anyone on here know anything about towing? Anyway, we're going for it on Sunday morning - towing out to Dr. Lockjaws House of Sparks. Wish us luck...
Seriously, anybody know if this "push-pull" feeling is a bad warning sign? Or just a sign that I need to go faster???

 

"push-pull" as in left-right or fore-aft?

 

Fore and aft. It just occured to me that I might have too small of ball on the hitch! That would cause it, huh? Allow me to go take a quick measurement...

 

Nope. Hitch calls for a 2" ball and mine has a "2" stamped on it. Hmmm...

 

Well, I made it. Towed out to Dr.Lockjaws place, without any drama. Upon arrival, the Doc and I discussed it and decided: the "push-pull" action is normal slop built into the hitch to allow for smooth turning - I have the right size ball for that hitch. I'm getting some tire chatter around tight corners (I'm towing with the steering locked), but what else can I expect with a spool rearend? It tows smooth and tight on the open highway, until I hit a bump, which sets off another round of the "push-pull" stuff for a few seconds. Seems to be working as well as can be expected. Hey, anyone know if saftey chains are required with a tow bar? Good idea, or no?
Anyway, the car is up on the rack at Docs tonight. I'm off work on Tuesday and will be out there then. I clicked some pix today of the good doctors funhouse - will try to get 'em posted asap. Things are coming together!
Scotty

 

cool beans, glad ya like the headers.
fyi:
I always flat towed with the steering unlocked (jeeps)

 

Turbo - No, I DON'T like the headers - I love 'em! Wanna marry 'em! These headers kick large ass. Your secret coating covered up all my welding scars and now I'm rehearsing my Riddler Award acceptance speech. Can't wait to see how they hold up to a week of salt spray. Bwahahahaha!!!!! (God, I love torturing parts)

Next time out with the tow bar, I'll try it with the steering unlocked. Last time I tried that (with a different tow bar), the front wheels went all whacky on me and mangled the fenders - had to lock 'em up. Maybe it'll work better now that the car is dialed in better...

 

I don't know it they are required or not but they are a good idea. You might check with one of the motor home shops in your area. There are commercially available tow bars for OE vehicles that come with safety cables. they are coiled so you can wrap them around the tow bar so they don't drag. Thought that might be a concern with all the extra ground clearance you've got.

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner on the push pull thing. I have been sick and among-st the cold medicine I must have forgot somehow. Sounds like you have it well sorted now though.

 

Thanks Nex. Hope you get to feeling better.
My question about safety chains/cables is just - if the car being towed gets loose from the tow vehicle, would I rather have it swinging around on the end of a chain, or going away from me? Which way is safer and/or responsible? I can't decide...But if chains/cables are required by law, then that makes up my mind for me. I know you need the chains on a trailer, but not sure about tow bars. Please don't make me actually go to the DOT 'site and look it up, when I could be lounging around here instead (much better atmosphere here)...

 

Id rather have some damage and the car swinging around behind me rather than it disappear into oncoming traffic and killing someone.
Call me crazy but thats just me!

 

Thanks Doc. Hmmm...I wonder what Paris Hilton would do?

 

Blame it all on Tinkerbell?

 

No, that's the old Paris. The new improved Paris would probably send a staff member to DOT or DMV to research tow chain laws. Maybe I'll give her a call and get her on that, right away...

Stopped by the machine shop today to find my block getting bored (not "reading Teen Magazine bored", but getting the cylinders enlarged) - finally! It's happening. Also, it turns out that Isky lost the cam(!), so they cut me a new one and are overnighting it! Pieces are coming together, bit by bit...
In the morning, it's back out to Dr. Lockjaws, to clean up some stuff under the car I couldn't reach on jackstands, then get started on the new fuel tank, etc...I'm excited as a little girl, but alas, I'm getting more crispy by the day - I'm officially getting too old for The Thrash. I just hope I get some time to recover before hitting the road to B-ville. But it looks like it'll be a sweaty thrash, right up to departure time. Groan.....sigh...

 

Scotty--just got back on here and got you back up......Sorry to hear about your Mom....I remember talking to her a few times when you first moved back to beautiful downtown Medford......Also tell Jamie hi..I can`t believe the White Wizard drives a Race Car....Does that make you a Hobbit, Then? Actually...I seem to recall all modern thinking Hobbits drive Morris Minors....

 

C'mon guys! How about a HAMB thrash? Any Dry Lakes racers near by that can help out?? I would but you see, this whole other country thing is a problem................

 

Not close enough...but if that happens, Scotty, I`ll see if Uncle Miles and I could take a weekend Road Trip...

 

Ha! Thanks for even thinking about it guys, but I'm not gonna panic until late July - you can all expect phone calls then. Until then, I'll keep slogging through it...

 

Just got back from Dr. Lockjaws. I spent the day tidying up underneath the car - much better now! We did some head scratching over how to fit the new fuel tank AND the anti-roll bar into the same tiny space. Packaging challenges have been a way of life since starting this project 22 years ago - but this one has us both stumped - for the moment. Neither one of us is a givver-upper though - we'll figure something out...

Now it's time to slide into my Speed Racer jammies and rest up for work tomorrow - 2:30 AM rolls around pretty quick. Goodnight...

 

Jammies!!! Hell, all I got was the T Shirt....

 

Yeah, you're cryin'. The Speed Racer jammies go really nice with my girlfriends' Barbie Does Indy sheets and pillowcase set! And when she puts on her Gosson Bros shirt - instant jammies! Uh, is this too much information? Technically, I don't think it's traditional (Wanted: Flintstone jammies - size Medium).

 

Scotty...What are the leaf springs off of that's on the car.Did you custom fab those?I'm not going to touch that jammie post...lol

Frank

 

Hey Frank - The leaf springs out back are actually little utility trailer springs. While freshening the car this winter, I discovered one main leaf was broken in two! It was right under the spring perch on the rearend (drivers side), so I couldn't see it - until I pulled it out. When I went shopping for replacements, I found that these springs had become obsolete in the 22 years since I installed them. A local spring shop dug around in the dark corners of the building and found a good used set - cost me $30 (ten more than the set I bought new in '85). They de-arched 'em for free. I deburred 'em and slid 'em in. These are slightly thicker (and stiffer) than the old ones, so I'm curious to see how they ride.
Is that enough spring info? Need any more info on my jammies or sheets or anything?

 

I think that should just about do it...thanks. Carry on.

 

I've always dreamed of going to B-ville, so yeah, hook us up with some video and we can see it through your eyes! I'm buying a shirt and wishing you the best of luck.... wish I could be of more help, turn a wrench or something. Keep posting these amazing build -up (re-build? ) pics.
That little hot rod is a work of art!!!

 

Hey thanks Haywood (did you know you look just like Batman? It's amazing!). Buying a shirt helps just as much as twirling wrenches - besides, once you put that shirt on, you're one of the crew (says so, right on the shirt). Thanks so much.

And a XXXL THANK YOU to all who've bought shirts, cheered us on, or contributed to this thread. You're all heroes! FlatBlackIndustries and Turboroadster get Super Hero status for pitching in with their expertise, time, energy and money. For contributing at that level, they'll recieve a lovely PBS tote bag, full of Andre Previn DVDs! So stay tuned to see what fabulous prizes we'll be giving away next.....
Really, thank you, one and all...

 

So today I get a call from CC. He'll be co-piloting Lil Zilla to and from the salt and will make a pass or two in the 130 Club hisself. Anyway, he wanted a progress report and after hearing my tale of woe, he tells me to shut up and work harder/faster. He says we'll get there, one way or another. I like this guy. Let me tell you about him...

You don't know CC, because he's not a member here. He has no time for computers, so I'll tell you his story, according to me...
One day, when I was working at Bob Drakes, a new guy comes in to work in my department (die cast). We instantly got off on the wrong foot (due to making some snap judgements about each other) and on the second day, spent some time working things out. From that day on, we were friends. He was young and hungry and I was older and had some experience. Although his dad is a rodder, I kind of became a hot rod mentor to CC. Eventually, I taught him to drive the Morris (the only person besides myself to do so). A few years later, when I got a job offer at Steves Auto Restorations in Portland, CC moved up there with me. At a race at Woodburn one weekend, I turned him loose with Lil Zilla and he became the only person besides me to race it (did a nice job, too). Meanwhile, I was having some personal problems and things didn't work out too well for me at Steves (which really broke my heart) and I moved back south to work at some smaller shops. CC stayed on and flourished there, doing some particularly nice work on the Baron Von Kuhl (sp?) '37 German Ford. Now he's head of the Real Steel '33/34 body division there. A really good guy - no games, very honest, etc, with a nice girlfriend and a nasty VW habit on the side. He'd be a blast on the HAMB, but alas, has no time for it...

Eventually, I'll explain the rest of the cast of characters to you and post pix of them. I did show a shot of Dr. Lockjaw - he's the oldest (60something), then Chili Pepper George (also no time for the HAMB, at 50something), then me (I'm 50) and CC (who is 30). Fascinating, huh? Well, I just thought you should get to know these guys before we head out on this death march to the salt - you may never see any of us again.....