The 69 Adventure
Chapter 10 – A Change of Plans
The rest of November proceeded merrily along with lousy weather or blinding headaches, meaning not much got done on the car. I spent Thanksgiving in California (2 more weekends of nothing done). I was replacing the front window and my dad was coming up for the holidays. The plan still centered around Jester flying up here towards the end of January and driving the 69 back to Florida with me. Then I would fly down every 3 weeks or so and catch up on what he was going. The wiring still wasn't done and I felt like I was running out of time.
On December 14, Jester suggested coming up here and doing the car here. We ran through all the problems with that - the first being the weather. Then there was the fact I have a packing gravel driveway. I started to look into paving it, but it was already too cold to do so. We decided we could use plywood for the winter. I didn't have the tools and equipment we'd need; Jester would have to bring them and that meant he would need to convince his mom to bring her truck up here. I was worried about Bruiser, Jase's Great Dane. His mom had enough to worry about with taking care of her mother, 2 Pugs, a cat and not having Jase around. By the time we had worked out all the details, I was determined that Bruiser was coming North too. There wasn't anything I could do about the weather and I worried that Jase & Bruiser would feel the cold, but figured we'd deal with that when it happened.. My other concern was that Jase might feel homesick. This wasn't going to be done in a week. We agreed the minute either of us decided this wasn't fun, we'd stop. Jase was concerned I wouldn't think all the work and money were worth it, half way through. He reminded me there might be times I'd get discouraged - I promised I'd try not to.
We went over "the plan" and I dragged out the Summit catalog Jase had marked up in September with all the stuff he was going to need. We looked at the Eastwood powdercoating kit and I started to hunt up an electric oven.
As of New Year's Eve, this was the plan:
"ZZ4 shortblock, AFR 190s, milled to 58cc
w 7/16 studs, guidplates, and whatever springs needed.
Comp roller cam. Still need the right PN, but similar to the XR282HR or XR288HR.
230ish intake..high 23x/low 24x exhaust, 110 or 112 LSA
Comp 1.5 RR's and other valvetrain hardware.
Wieand X-celerator single plane.
Demon 750cfm double pumper.
Hooker 1 3/4" long tubes, Jet hot coated.
2.5" true dual w/ crossover..not picky about the brand.
Coan TH400, no brake, w/ coan 3200ish converter.
16gal fuel cell in the trunk, Holley mechanical pump, -8 AN line.
The rearend is still a big ? mark...but a 9" and all aftermarket suspention is a good
bet. Open to suggestions.
15x10 draglites rear with DR's, 15x6s up front with whatever cheap street
tire".
On January 1st, Jase ordered the transmission. The TH-400 was to be built by an ICON member.
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The 2nd was the first time I remember referring to the car as a bastard. We also discussed hoods and hood pins. I didn't like the idea of a cowl hood since I wouldn't be able to see over it. We started looking at rims; and Jase took this picture of the latest CHP article. We discussed PK's engine project and I decided my driving teacher would be my first race. Jase & I also had our first discussion about hood pins, safety requirements and NHRA rules. |
I stopped all work on the car - not that I had a chance to do anything else, but there was no need to get it ready to go anywhere. Kat and Jase ICQ'd ideas back and forth. Dad left here the morning of January 8th to head back to Florida; Jase left Florida at 3pm that afternoon and got here on the 9th, while I was at work. He and Sam unpacked all his stuff before I even got home.
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The first order of business was re-arranging the garage and creating a driveway. The garage was done when I was at work. After dinner, Jase & I headed to Home Depot for lumber. Sam lent a hand and Bruiser supervised. When the driveway was built, Sam added a final, personalized touch.
We had finally started! |
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