Ahcckkgg the suspense! I came expecting to see the new look but am leaving more excited
Ahcckkgg the suspense! I came expecting to see the new look but am leaving more excited
Spent my time getting the engine put in and everything hooked back up. Had to build new spacers for the alternator and power steering pump to accommodate the added pulley for the dry sump.
Once that was sorted I had to rethink some drysump lines. Most notably I forgot the oil filter the first time around. Then put in some time to make sure no lines will end up rubbing and get cut or touching a header.
Moved a lower radiator mount to fit. It has been doing much since the ducting got tweaked last year.
While rebuilding the transmission with new bearings for the first time I discovered broken pads on the 3/4 shift fork. Luckily I had spares and I was prepared for the toasted 3rd gear synchro too. Problem came when torquing the case bolts back up. They've been iffy before but now they're breaking. I ordered some 10.9 grade for an upgrade.
Livery Reveal: tomorrow morning at 8AM
My folks' '85 was that color! You almost want a set of wire hubcaps and whitewalls to use as transit tires so when you unload people really freak!
In reply to GCrites80s :
I saved this car from 14" wire wheels when I bought it...
Ok, here's the beauty shots with full aero!
Yes! Gorgeous. Looks amazing. I love the old school vibe.
agreed - good call On the cowl stripe, and bringing the black onto the front section above the grills.
a few unsolicited thoughts: do something with that front valance!!! Have them wrap it gold or at least paint it like you did the grills - it really stands out against the rest of that beauty!
I love the wheels and the color - I have the same - but since yours is a track car, maybe red to tie in the pin stripe and to stand out??? I admit that this thought comes from me considering red wheels on my car after I painted a set light gold and love the look.
lastly, wrt putting your hood on, if it were me, I'd attach a little suction cup to the fastener tool and suction cup it in the middle of the windshield so I don't forget to tighten the hood before driving off. And then just stick it inside the rear side window when done so it's close and ready.
But nice job! Must feel good to have a car look so good after running the dark blue for so long
In reply to jfryjfry :
Plan is the bumper section getting replaced....or at minimum it needs plenty of repair work as it is cracked and broken in places. I do like the grey carbon though. Which is in a few other places on the car too. There's a different bumper section I can get that holds the blinkers correctly too. I think the blinkers should be amber as well.
With the wheels you thinking like a red line or a single spoke? Either might be neat. Once I get the Forgelines freshend up they have the polished lip so that'll tie in with the chrome trim again.
I haven't had a problem with forgetting to lock the hood down. I can see if the quarter turn fasteners are up from the drivers seat and I keep the in the center consol or put it on the drivers seat so if I sit on it thats my reminder too.
I am very excited to have new look after the dark blue for the last 5 years...well....nearly 20 years if we count my other dark blue cutlass too.
Came out fantastic, now go get'em!
In reply to preach (dudeist priest) :
I can't wait to. It's going to be a long month and a half before the first event unless the weather gets nice around here and I can get street miles and some testing in.
Speaking of which:
Event Schedule for this year
3/18-19 Motorhead Madness Duluth, MN
4/28-30 GridLife @ Walkins Glen, NY
5/6 Black River Motorsports Park (BRMP) Autocross 1.0 Superior, WI
5/20-21 GridLife Rev Up @ Gingerman
6/2-11 THE BIG WEEK: GridLife Midwest Fest -> Summit Racing Autocross Week -> MAP Proving Grounds. (Gingerman, Pittrace, UMI, Dragway 41, Pittrace, Brainerd International Raceway). Time Attack, Autocross, and even Drag racing. 12 days from when we leave home to getting back. 9 of which will be competition days. Over 3K miles and I expect that 800-1K will be in the car.
6/17 BRMP Autocross 2.0
6/24-25 GridLife @ Autobahn Country Club
7/22 BRMP Autocross 3.0
7/28-30 GridLife Special @ Road America w/NASCAR (pending selection) or Optima (also there) as backup plan
8/12 BRMP Autocross 4.0
8/24-26 UMI King Of The Mountian 5.0 (offically invited and money paid) Clearfield, PA
9/8-10 MAP Proving Grounds part 2 at Brainerd International Raceway
9/22-23 Waumandee Vintage Hill Climb (now open to cars 20 years or older, spots still open) Waumandee, WI
9/30 Pending date for Morgan's Motorplex Autocross in St. Cloud, MN
Bummed I only overlap with 1 guaranteed event with you at Autobahn.
I'm HOPEFUL I get into GL Midwest.. but the lottery decides.
In reply to nocones :
I hope you get into Midwest Fest too. You certainly have a unique enough car for it.
Here's just some of the mad dash to put the car back together in time for the motorhead madnesses show. Overall not too many issues if you ignore me installing the transmission and as I tightened up the last crossmember bolt I realized I left the clutch fork on the bench....
Ready to get testing now, if the snow will melt.... otherwise it'll be figuring it out at Watkins Glen at the end of the month.
Finally got some testing in!!!
Huge Thank You to Brian and Black River Motorsports Park for accommodating me on very short notice and a week day. Why short notice you ask? Well the plan was test last weekend but we received 7+ inches of snow up here during the week and everything was either flooding or covered in snow, mud or both. My yard included, which required winching the car onto the trailer and then getting an extra truck to pull mine and the trailer w/car out of the yard.
ON that note...I hate this yard, its all slanted, clay/mud and huge PITA in the spring. But my job is worse....well was....I quit last week because I spend every day bored out of my mind, its a waste of my abilities, and in the last year its been made very clear by the new owners and their management that there will be zero opportunities to move up. After nearly 8 years I've had it. Few weeks ago I did 5 interviews in 4 days and found a way more interesting and challenging job with continued opportunities in the future. My last day at work was Friday, headed to GridLife and Watkins Glen tomorrow, start the new job Tuesday after I get back, Sell house on the 8th, buy house on the 12th. Been busy packing up house and shop stuff the last few days and will hopefully have everything moved the same weekend I buy the new place and get the shop set up again before the end of next month so I can be ready for a very busy June of events.
Enjoyed the videos on the 3 link. Very useful reference
In reply to amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) :
Glad to hear it!
Some stuff went down at Watkins Glen International with GridLife....
Then I had my best finish yet!!!
HAPPY BDAY BRO!!!! this OLDS kicks ARSE......regardless of er uh ......be safe
I'm so impressed with this car, all you have done with it, and how well you drove it in those conditions.
I finally have a calm minute to reflect on the last 5 days and wonder what the next 7 will bring. I tried my absolute best to be as prepared as possible for this trip/undertaking. Spent most of the long weekend working on repairing Watkins Glen crash damage and taking car of everything from tires to a working 12v port. Day one still saw me (rather frantically) hammering out and in new lower ball joints immediately before leaving. If you asked me then I would have said that the car would be rock solid reliable for Gridlife festival. Then day 2 first session the fuel pump gives out. I miss two sessions before having a new fuel pump only to have the 3rd link bracket break off in T11 and seem fine during the front strait run to T1. Then as soon as I touch the brakes there are very loud and violent broken suspension noises that had me panicking that the diff or trans just exploded and I drove the car into the grass while still trying to stop/park somewhere safe. This failure was a design flaw on my part (since I made the thing) and clearly needs some tweaking. But wow.... there's a LOT of force going through the suspension in a race car.
The welding shop next door to the track had nothing going on and was able to immediately get to work fixing it. Also ...first time I've ever let someone else work on my car. It took a lot of restraint not to hover on my part.
Once fixed up again I think overall I was just underwhelm with how slow the conditions were. I couldn't even get close to the time I ran just two weeks ago at Rev Up. My car doesn't like the heat and neither do I. At least I played with the setup a little for the feel I wanted and just worked on my driving. Eventually ran a little fast Sunday morning than at rev up but still not a PB by .3 sec. I want my aero back!
While I organized the trunk and loaded up for Autocross Week Brian Johnson installed the rugged radios intercom that will make out transits much more enjoyable (I hope). Two people working on my car in a weekend....this might be turning a new leaf for me, lol.
Soon we'll be at Pitt Race at get registered. Car is all set so it'll be a laid back day. Probably a good thing after the crazy of Midwest Fest.
I'll be doing my own video with my perspective... probably a long one but greenlightfilming is along for the ride too.
Brian's perspective on the week so far:
Oh no, she was looking so good, then the crash! 
At least it seems to be a minor one and you're back out there.
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