November of 1995 right around the corner from the house in a driving rain storm the steering shaft broke in half at the universal. It was one of dozens of things wrong with the car I should have caught at purchase but didn't but it turned out ok anyway as you read if you read my "Ironic" story of last week. Today..........4:53 this afternoon, April 19th 2016, after Jim and I reinstalled the windshield, he installedand reworked a new drake windshield wiper motor, arm and blade, I installed the divers bucket seat, we took it down off the jack stands. We checked it over for a final time before firing it up,..........hit the starter, (its been a runner for a couple of years), I got in and for the first time in 20 years and change it moved forward under its own power. Pulled it out into the wonderful Washington warm sunshine, (it has been in the low 80's the last few days, very unusual for April), Jim opened the gate, he got in on his haunches and we took a ride. Wow, wondered at times if this day would ever come, and for it to happen on my birthday, double, double thrill. So some observations. Remember no interior yet and not much insulation either yet so it is LOUD!!!!! Gas spoon pedal is light on the touch. Could get in trouble fast if I wasn't watching it. Will need to get used to going from throttle to brakes. Brakes work pretty good after much worrying about will Jag brakes work with after market under floor vacuum/master cylinder . (Yes) Dropped the front shocks a bunch to get the stance will ride be ok? Will have to tweak some. Need to drive it more so will mount license plate and get registration on board. Still lots of work like window channels, trans/driveshaft tunnel to install, glove box and door to install, trunk floor, sides, front panel, new handle and prop to install, total floor insulation to install, console to fab/install, interior to buy, and paint it. But I can say after 20 years, The 34 is finally a driver. Oh and note to self) Mount passenger side seat, Jim looked damned uncomfortable squatting and being thrown around when I stabbed the Hemi in Low.
Congratulations, I had the truck out also this weekend then again today to get my wife her hanging flower baskets. Next week it's to Flower World, she spends more time gardening that I do with the pickup and golfing. Hope to see your '34 around this summer.
Congrats on the progress, and yes, the weather was awesome. Turns out I was working on my '34 also... So much to do at this time of the year, especially with the weather.
Congrats!!!! Happy Birthday,(It's my late dads 86th today as well). What a way to spend the day, I was looking at mine while I was machining some Cad Flat Heads and thought "Why the hell aren't I driving my 34 3W? Because its has a bad wheel cylinder,needs a set of shoes and has 5 dead players to move out of its way, But reading how your birthday went is inspiring. What a great day for you!
Congrats on getting that car back under its own power- it is satisfying somehow to know you are past that hurdle- also happy birthday - same day as me- it's great to keep having birthdays!
Congrats on the ride and drive again. You say you will have to get used to going from the gas to the brake pedal, is the brake pedal on the left side of the steering column?
Nothing better feeling than when you take your car out on the road for its first run. Like others have said, let's see some pics Larry!
Nice to wake a car out of a long siesta. Mine was sitting for 20+ years, been 2x around the block so far with it. Debugging things one by one. Lots of fun.
Jim took just one pic, no video as he was in the car. Wife and daughter watched (are inept at doing anything with a camera), and neighbor guy watched also. broken spoke, I don't offend easily but your statement gets to me as I do not lie for any reason, but then just by your statement I don't believe you probably give a rats ass about how I feel, thanks for the bring down. My camera is not working, like I said Jim was along for the ride and we didn't plan on doing any pictures of video. I feel there are enough pictures on this board now for proof of the car. One thing I did omit accidently is that when backing it back into the garage it blew off the lower radiator hose. My fault, the outlet is to damned short and the clamp didn't' catch it. What a mess as it blew coolant allover the wall clear to the rafters as there are no side panels on it. Got it pretty cleaned up but need more. Will weld a 1-1/2 extension on to the outlet, (why some idiot cut it that short I'll never know)
Larry, I don't think Brokenspoke meant any disrespect. What he said is just a standard line on this site to prompt folks to post pics of their projects. I agree, there are a lot of brash people on this site (I think it has something to do with the age of the majority of the members) but again I don't think that was Brokes intentions.
Congrats on the ride. I remember taking my car out for the first time 4 years ago. Lots of worries and lots of little problems to fix. I have done something on it every year since and it is just now nice to drive. It gets better every time you drive it.
I'm sure he meant no disrespect,the saying has been repeated thousands of times and you should know by now the membership has always been photo oriented. HRP
Sounds like one heck of a nice day for you, congrats! First rides are supposed to have many parts not installed yet. Kudos!
The first ride is always exciting - doing it on your birthday is icing on the (birthday) cake . Congrats !
Yes it is on the left side its just, well I don't know for sure. I drive a Silverado or the Buick Enclave I bought my wife and they are pretty similar as far as what we are talking of here. Of course on the 34 that space is pretty cramped, smaller than any thing I have driven ever, so maybe that's it.
OK maybe I was a little quick on the trigger. (that's my best effort at apologizing). Will do my best to get some video on the next trip after I get the fitting on the water pump modified and the hose reconnected. Its just that I really dislike folks that out and out are dishonest, fabricate stories, or stretch the truth. Gave up a life long friendship over these issues. At one time in my life I was a semi-celebrity Steelhead sports fisherman here in the NW, and I always told the truth about what I caught, how many, and how large they were. If I was skunked, then I was skunked. If I caught my limit or released a dozen in day then that's what I told. If they were 3lbs or 20lbs, then that is what I said. Still the same today on everything I say How ever, my biggest fear is when I'm called to the big rod run where ever that is, I'm afraid my wife will be selling my stuff, (hand tools, shop tools, 34 and all), for what I told her I paid for them. LOL, just a joke I heard)
34LARRY, Don't worry about the small stuff and they are all correct about the photos saying. I think 3 window Larry started it years back. I am sure it happened,,,,,, and I am also sure it was a time that you will relive many times over and over in you mind....Nothing like the first time out driving a build after working on it for years no matter what condition it is at when you rolled it out under it's own power. So many things going through a guys mind at that time. Is it going to shift gears correctly, is the rear end going to work like it should. Hell will I even have enough brakes to stop if I need to in a hurry..... So many things, but the big ass grin on your face as you make the first turn and give it a little gas it responds as you hope. At that time all your pre-run worries have left your mind and it is just the cool sound of the motor bouncing off all the metal around you as you still don't have any interior in it. But you don't give a shit as you are driving it for the first time in 20 years....How cool is that.
Interesting. I often wonder what it is about this "site" that brings out the "brashness" that you refer to. I agree that in this case Brokenspoke didn't mean any disrespect, but there are many, many examples of people who do mean disrespect. This forum is FULL of examples. Age you say? Maybe. But to what age are you referring? Old? Young? I wonder... I'm an old hot rodder. At least I'm old in my mind (55). I know there are much older and much younger on this forum. I don't think age explains the "brashness". I wish I could understand what does explain it. Maybe we could fix it if it was explainable. I rarely post on this forum. It's a shame really. There are some incredibly talented people on this board. There are some folks, lot's of them really, that have vast amounts of knowledge. Yet many times simple lack of manners and impolite attitudes ruin, what IMO is the best hot rod site on the net. I do not remember it being this way back in the 60's and 70's. I wish I could figure it out....
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