A little help here guys ( Need a mid year!)

[bobmanx]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Glad to read that the "Project" hasn't gotten you down! Keep fixing the problems as you find them. Did You get any Vette parts for your birthday? Take your birthday off and enjoy it, you've earned it!

Have a beer on me! What the hell, make it more than one!!

Bob

 

[vigman]

5/18/03 Update

Not much to report.. the cars still in the shop getting bushings & ball joints...

The Mechanic's grandfather passed away last Thursday.. so He was out till Sat.

Then there was CONFUSION about the parts I supplied. We were short 4 bushings ( OOPS )

So late Sat I dropped them off.

So I thought I had a coseter weekend planned

WRONGO..

On the way into work Friday the timing belt tore in the Honda...

So I had to replace that.. and I got Lucky

The valve did not meet Mr piston, even though Honda CLAIMS it's an Interference fit motor.. so 4 hours on the timing belt...and then I replace 1 10mm screw about 1/8 inch to long ( CRACK ) the top tank of the radiator get's a crack....


So 150.00 later and 2 hours..new radiator.

So New timing belt & bearing, new water pump, new hoses, cooling system flush, radiator & radiator cap... detail engine compartment.

So NO VETTE WORK DONE AT ALL THIS WEEKEND....

WAHHHHHHH


Vig~

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

The Honda wants a wing and fart-can exhaust plus some decals. Go ahead and do it, it’ll save you money. You could wear dark glasses when you drive it.:L

The ricers were not good to us this weekend. In the Super Nissan’s we had 2 DNFs, a podium and a 5th. Place.ad

The F3s did no better producing only one podium.:confused

This is tough to handle due to the team winning almost every race last year. This will not be a good week to hang around the garage.

 

[vigman]

Today

I drove the car for the first time in 10 days..

New Ball joints
New rubber bushings
4 wheel alignment
Hi speed balance ( all 4 )
$245.00 I supplied parts.. that's just labor.

IT'S A DIFFERENT CAR...

What a nice difference.. no pulling no shake
and drove it RIGHT to the muffler shop. Up in the air she goes again!

New 2.5" pipes from the headers back.. turbo mufflers and chrome tips...

About $250.00

Will pick up tomorrow

( Today I did wrench.. but on new patio furniture... kinda lost some focus here.. DOH!)

I have a PILE of boxes in the garage with new goodies.. just WAITING to get installed.

In other news....

I bought an engine hoist..

So I call this guy out of the local paper.. he has a NEW in box never used 2.5 ton Harbor Freight hoist & load leveler

$140.00

I state I'll take it IF he delivers, he agrees.

He shows 2 hrs later in a beater 68 El Camino with a slip & slide in it ( powerglide)

and over shoots my house..


He hang's a U turn and you can just hear the bands & clutches BEGGING for mercy.

We talk a bit about his car.. and I mention the tranny problem.

His brother told him last week it 's living on borrowed time ( and lots of additives)

We start unloading.. and he notices my TURBO 400

I got the deal of the week

90.00 & my tranny.

TADA

One less thing to worry about or rent!

Since I now have an engine hoist.. my motors will NEVER blow!


Vig~

 

[Mikey1]

Does the motor of the Honda fit onto that as well ??

 

[vigman]

Sunday

Fixed the electric fan.. a magnet came unglued internal to the housing... and that was the GRINDING noise.. not to much dammage..was able to get a replacement motor assy.

Put in a cool fan controller so till the car gets up to 170.. the fan is off.. and past that the fan comes on when needed.

New Optima battery going in today...

New pipes& mufflers installed Friday.. but I have 4 " of chrome tip hanging out the back

( matches headlights!)

It's going back next week for an adjustment.

More misc electrical work on the plate today.

Going to try to take it EASY today...

Vig~

 

[markiemyster]

mufflers $%^&

Hey Vig,
I finally got my engine/tranny installed this long weekend after a winter of rebuilds and I had a couple of glitches.
You said you put your exhaust in. Was that at a local Muffler shop or a package you purchased from Zip or someone?
My exhaust seems screwed up. The passengers side pipe has a couple of slight bends between the pipe that connects to the manifold and the muffler. The drivers side doesn't have the same bends. so the muffler is alot closer to the spare tire tub on the drivers side. I bought the exhaust / muffler system from Zip and it looks like a quality heavy duty (2 1/2" ) set but I have a feeling that maybe the drivers side should be symetrical (same bends)with the passengers side and it isn't. Does anyone out there know.
My next glitch was the valance that I purchased in Carlisle last year that I'm finally getting around to installing is screwed up also. It doesn't mate with the bumper brackets on one side. Hopefully I can find the bussiness card of the company I bought it from so I can call him. :bash
I know you ended up buying one. Did it fit OK and where did you buy it. I guess I'll need to scrap this one and buy a new one.

Hopefully I'll get back on the road before the first snow $%^

Happy wrenching,
Mark

 

[vigman]

Memorial Day report ( and questions)

Was that at a local Muffler shop

Yes

Did it fit OK and where did you buy it

Ecklers
And .. it needed some adjustment:bang

Today

Before all this madness started.. the foward frame X member ( below crank pulley) that has the 3 holes in the top & bottom..

When I was getting the bushings done.. every time the mechanic would pound on the car with something.. a little dirt would fall out of there.. and then I would see a dirt clod sitting 1/2 out one of the holes.. this got me mad....Somebody beached this poor car at one point!

Today, I hosed that Area down for 20 MINUTES.. and dirt, weeds, bolts, nuts,rocks, chunks of ... YEECH came floating out.. I kept flushing till it was CLEAR draining out.

After it was all done.. I backed the car out.. and my driveway looked like a dried river bed!

New work completed

New Optima battery in
New batt clamp hardware
Fixed frame to block ground
Fixed intermittant charge problem
( you really dont want to know...)
Radiator factory overflow tank in ( with custom mods)
New water pump ( painted too!)
New custom lower hose manufactured & installed
New front pulley ( you don't want to see the evil that they did HOGGING out the bolt holes)
Painted some of the engine compartment & fwd frame.
Removed out board voltage regulator
(was kludged in).
Soldered some IFFY wiring at a firewall tie strip.
Flushed cooling system.


Next

Brake shoes
Inspection cover
Reverse light switch on tranny
rattle patrol
leak patrol
Front seat(s) tighten up & lube

 

[vigman]

Project set back!

So here's the deal...

And Bob.. thanks for the KIND WORDS in your cleaning post!!!

The 64's in the muffler shop to have the length of the chrome tips reduced.

Now here's that problem..

The tips were hanging out about 5 inches from the rear valence..

The pictures I've seen.. the pipe tips DO hang out from 3 to 4 inches

But I'm setting them about 1 inch out from the bezel..

I should get the car back today....No charge...

BUT now the BAD NEWS

the HONDA STRIKES AGAIN..

I blew a heater hose yesterday and caught it to late to save the engine

It still runs ( but like on 3 holes) and it makes a GREAT FOG GENERATOR off the tail pipe.. so that will chew some time & $$$$ from the 64 project.

The good news is K Watanabee is a japaneese engine importer local to my area.

A full long block $250.00 such a deal...

So I'll get the 64 back today and the NEW radiator should be here friday.

Next will be the engine swap in the Honda ( in about 10 days)

The X moves out on the 8th

Work ramps up to FULL THROTTLE in 3 weeks...

CAN HE GET ALL THESE THINGS DONE IN TIME

So stay tuned for the next cliff hanging episode of VIG......MANNNNNNNN!

 

[JohnZ]

We have faith, Vig - may the force be with you

 

[bobmanx]

Hey Vig,

I'm not sure that's what Tom meant by "Burn the Honda as a sacrafice to the Corvette God" especially after your explanation of how it would mess up your karma with the kids! (now arent you glad you got a deal on that engine hoist?)

Better get the Honda back on the road and reliable so the kids dont want you to drive them every where in the Vette!

As far as the kind words, you are the one that is bustin ass on the project and deserve our support. We are just in the stands with the cheerleaders! Go Vig Go! Maybe we did get the better end of the deal! LOL

Bob

 

[vettedoc]

Say Vig-

Are you going to bring the beast back east for Carlisle? I think we would like to see it.

Doc

 

[vigman]

Nope.. she aint moving right now

Well.. here's the update..

X wife GONE....

Garage cleaning/ re sorting

Cherry picker up & running

Got new Honda engine out of back of Bronco
( K Watanabee)

So it will be a FEW weeks till I can get back to the 64.

Heck I fired up the 88 for the first time in 2 weeks ( came right up ) and went to snag some smokes.. and she was HAPPY!

But she is DIRTY... ( gotta get car cover for the 88 this weekend )

So still doing house stuff...

"I'll be back"

Vig~

 

[vigman]

So Honda 101

I still am driving the Honda..
( existing engine )
With a MINOR head gasket...issue.
$17.00 per week for gas vs $59.00 is really growing on me.. but I do have to supress the Vette wave instinct.

Still waiting on TIME to get back to "NORMAL"

Since the X left.. the priorities have been pots & pans vs Cam lift & valves.

So far...

New Cookware
New Microwave
New Silverware
New Plates
New Glasses
New Vacuume
New Patio furniture
Some new linnens
( I pick up the new BBQ tommorow)
Painting my younger son's room
( scoring some new furniture tomorrow for him)

Steam cleaning carpets
shelf linning paper
re stocking food, cleaning supplies

( And I thought the 64 was EXPENSIVE!)

So that's the deal...
Oh yeah
WORK HAS BEEN A TIME PIG AS WELL

Vig~

 

[vettedoc]

Yo Vig-

What gives here? Are you turning into a domestic Diva????


Doc

 

[vigman]

Yes....

I turned in my mechanics gloves for an apron..

( Just for a SHORT time)

So I did get the BIG parts of the garage sorted out and regrouped the 64 parts.. put tools away... and I'm re staging to do SOMETHING on the 64 for Fathers Day...

Maybe just a wash & detail.. but SOMETHING!

Oh yeah since the X is gone

I have TONS more space!

Vig~

 

[impala]

Vig,

Enjoy the extra space, knowing exactly what food is in the house and not having to explain where you're going and when you'll be back while you can. I read somewhere that in the US a divorced male is engaged for another go at wedded bliss in slightly over 12 months. I made it around 10 months before becoming engaged to wife #2 18 years ago. I told her once that wife #1 was for lust, wife #2 is for love but wife #3 will be for money. Wife #2 said she'd superglue a rather important to me body orifice shut if I ever said another word about any future wives - now that she and I have that clear understanding of checks and balances it's been great.

Eugene

 

[vigman]

This WAS #2

I have hard wired the circut that states.
< engage test mode 41>

" I DO "

<ERROR>
<Syntax ILLEGAL>
< Shutdown>
<REBOOT>

<Exit test mode>

SEE
Cool huh?

never more.......

Vig~

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

You can do it Vig. I made it 21 years between wives. Would have made it longer if it weren’t for European governments. Bouncing around like we do it was easier and less expensive to get all of the residences and work permits as one married instead of 2 single. Probably wouldn’t do it again.

In my adult life I have had 1 watch, 1 pocketknife, 1 flashlight, 2 wives, and 4 Corvettes. It’s just too bad that MagLight doesn’t build wives. I’ll live with GM, a Corvette as reliable as the Swiss Army Knife wouldn’t be the same.

This post coming to you live form Lemans, via PCAnywhere and Vodafone. The Corvettes are running 13 & 14 overall. 2nd and 3rd in class. No problems for the General so far. It is impossible to enjoy the race from here. The French timing and data link system is 8 min. behind real time??? The only good part of this trip is the partying.
:Silly :bar A liver x-plant is included with the entrance fee.

 

[vigman]

Well a LITTLE wrenching

I rebuilt the Holley 3310-2 yesterday

Ahhh the smell of carb cleaner...

It's not much...but it something.

Still sorting the garage out & re arranging


Vig~