Hong Norrth $2009 build

Oh come on just bring it...I'm sick of you guys bringing "done" cars. I wanted to bring a "done car" too this year...no way that is going to happen in the next three weeks!

The only "done" car we've ever brought is the turd, and even it isn't truly "done." I can't afford gas to tow a car down and back this year, or to get the paperwork done to get the car registered. Just paying for the hotel, gas, and banquet fee is not fiscally responsible at this point, but I'd hitch-hike down there if I had to!

poopshovel wrote:

16vCorey wrote: At least you guys can make it. The $1,500 I just dropped on my grille (not the one on my Rabbit, the one on my face) pretty much depleted the fun stuff fund. Stupid teeth.

At least tell me there was platinum and diamonds that read "P-I-M-P" involved....and tell me you're paying your $50 for a meal ticket and finding a way down so we can get hammered in the hot tub. Floor space/rollaway available in our room.

I wish, but there was a lot of grinding, cutting, prying, and pulling involved! I'm still working on the logistics of getting down there. I haven't given up hope yet, but my band is supposed to play a show that weekend, and I'm kinda broke. I'm currently trying to remedy both of those problems. I'll let you know how that works out.

poopshovel wrote: Just paying for the hotel, gas, and banquet fee is not fiscally responsible at this point, but I'd hitch-hike down there if I had to!

I feel your pain. I've even entertained the idea of trying to drive my beater Escort, that has a minor rod knock, just because it gets much better mileage than the BMW. As stupid as that sounds, Colleen drove it to Richmond Va. and back a couple years ago, and the rod was knocking then. It is starting to get louder though.

16vCorey wrote: I feel your pain. I've even entertained the idea of trying to drive my beater Escort, that has a minor rod knock, just because it gets much better mileage than the BMW. As stupid as that sounds, Colleen drove it to Richmond Va. and back a couple years ago, and the rod was knocking then. It is starting to get louder though.

20w-50 and STP.

I've got 20w-50 and Lucas in it now!

Imagine what it would sound like with a crankcase full of 5w-30.

It actually only clatters at start up and in one tiny sweet spot around 3k rpms. I think I'm just going to slap a $4 rod bearing in it and see if it holds. Hopefully the crank isn't too scored and the rod isn't too deformed. We'll see!

Good luck dude. I'm be really bummed if you(s?) can't make it. Fo' real. Wish I could contribute to the gas fund.

poopshovel wrote: Just paying for the hotel, gas, and banquet fee is not fiscally responsible at this point, but I'd hitch-hike down there if I had to!

don't forget about me, broseph! I'm planning to skate out of work early on thursday for the drive down, and we can carpool or i can kick in gas money if we take your ride or i can just pay for all the gas since i totally freeloaded off you guys a couple years ago. i'm also in for sharing the hotel cost.

I'm sorry to hear that...I was looking forward to seeing the Rusteeva!

At least there will be booze flowing. See you down there.

Jerry From LA wrote:

16vCorey wrote: I feel your pain. I've even entertained the idea of trying to drive my beater Escort, that has a minor rod knock, just because it gets much better mileage than the BMW. As stupid as that sounds, Colleen drove it to Richmond Va. and back a couple years ago, and the rod was knocking then. It is starting to get louder though.

20w-50 and STP.

Castrol sells 25W-60. That's pretty much what's acting as piston rings and valve stem seals in my AE92

I just hope the motor is back in my car by the time we have to drive down to FLA from MA. Is anyone planning on bringing an engine hoist to the Challenge? :)

miatame2 wrote: I just hope the motor is back in my car by the time we have to drive down to FLA from MA. Is anyone planning on bringing an engine hoist to the Challenge? :)

Within about 3 miles, yep!

Wish I could make it this year. The only thing more fun than a competative Hong ride is a non-competeitve Hong ride (i.e. the Boss Hong).

The bummer is I could almost do it this year, not with a car but to spectate again, but I have a trip I hafta make that weekend. Given I am returning to a high deployment schedule, if I am not in Asskrackastan next Oct I am there.

Asskrackastan

I love you.

poopshovel wrote: Good news: We'll be at the Challenge. But if Andy Nelson asks, tell him we're bringing a 9-second monster with show quality paint and body work.

Ya..ah..good luck with that. Umm..send pictures anytime.

So holy crap. I guess it's been 7 or 8 months since I've done any work on this damned thing. "Life" has gotten in the way and all that. Anyway, had to go to court for a ticket yesterday, and mamma was kind enough to give me the rest of the day off.

I've got about 100 pics. of the paint stripping process, which I won't bore you with. While I'm a sucker for following a horrible idea through to the bitter end, I'd finally had enough of coming home every night, rolling the car out, laying on some "environmentally friendly stripper" stuff, scraping, rinsing, cleaning up, rolling the car back into the garage, repeat, repeat, repeat.

So I broke down and grabbed a 30 something dollar DA sander from HF, and Wayne gave me a stack of 80 grit pads. The results are looking good. I nailed the 'stripped' hatch good and proper yesterday, and while the 'stripped' look was actually pretty badass (the primer gets all tie-dye-ey and embedded in the metal,) the 'polished' look is pretty tough too, and will be (I think) nicely accented by some well-placed rust details.

Oh, and Tommy and I finally picked up a 323 GT from the trailer park. Sadly, it's un-title-able, otherwise I'd slap a tag on it and do berkeleying smokeshows all the way to work and back. Promise I'll post more pics later, but for now, just know that "Eeet makes many boooosts. And has a knob wheeech jew turn to make moar booosts."

Oh boy, can't wait to get beat by this in October :)

I want those wheels on the 323 really bad for some reason.

Holy hell that 323 is awesome.

By the way, still got any of those EGT parts left? I want the grill and the windshield base thingymajigger.

eastsidemav wrote: Oh boy, can't wait to get beat by this in October :)

wow, i cant wait to BEAT this in oct, with a big-ole V8...

16vCorey wrote: I wish, but there was a lot of grinding, cutting, prying, and pulling involved! I'm still working on the logistics of getting down there. I haven't given up hope yet, but my band is supposed to play a show that weekend, and I'm kinda broke. I'm currently trying to remedy both of those problems. I'll let you know how that works out.

hey dude, get to knoxville, and i will tow it the rest of the way...

jhaas wrote:

eastsidemav wrote: Oh boy, can't wait to get beat by this in October :)

wow, i cant wait to BEAT this in oct, with a big-ole V8...

Drag or autox, though?

I'm hoping to skullberkeley the 323 down the dragstrip, but i'll get boned hard in the autocross.

jhaas wrote:

16vCorey wrote: I wish, but there was a lot of grinding, cutting, prying, and pulling involved! I'm still working on the logistics of getting down there. I haven't given up hope yet, but my band is supposed to play a show that weekend, and I'm kinda broke. I'm currently trying to remedy both of those problems. I'll let you know how that works out.

hey dude, get to knoxville, and i will tow it the rest of the way...

berkeley that. make corey do a solo acoustic set of sarah mclachlan and indigo girls songs at FSYC, and pay him for the set with a tow from knoxville to the challenge and back to knoxville.

93celicaGT2 wrote: Holy hell that 323 is awesome. By the way, still got any of those EGT parts left? I want the grill and the windshield base thingymajigger.

Sure do. Pretty sure I've got the grille, not sure about the cowl (I guess that's the thingymajigger you're referring to?) pm me and I'll send pics.