[BLACKJACK]

HI, DOUG,

I SHOT A BLANK ON THE SUPERCHARGER. I WANTED TO INSTALL A KENNE-BELL 9 PSI BLOWER. IT FIT ONTO THE ENGINE JUST FINE BUT WE COULD NOT CLOSE THE HOOD. AT CONTACT THE HOOD WAS OFF THE BODY BY 4 INCHES AT THE REAR. EVEN IF WE HAD INSTALLED THE 351W ENGINE MOUNTS AND GAINED ANOTHER 3/4 INCH IT STILL WOULD NOT HAVE WORKED. I EVEN CONSIDERED CUTTING THE HOOD ( ABOUT 4" X 4 ") TO ACCOMODATE THE FRONT PULLY/SHAFT AND WE STILL WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 2 INCHES OFF THE BODY. AN ENTIRELY NEW CUSTOM HOOD WOULD BE THE ONLY WAY TO GO BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO SCREW-UP THE GREAT LINES OF THE EXCALIBUR WITH SOME ABOMINATION.

GAME PLAN RIGHT NOW IS TO GET THE GT-40 RUNNING PROPERLY. I THINK I MIGHT HAVE THE COOLING PROBLEMS FIXED. FINAL BLEED AND TEST RUN AT HIGH RPM TODAY (96 DEGREES AND 75% HUMIDITY - A GOOD TEST. IF THAT WORKS THEN THE ERA COBRA COMES OFF THE LIFT IN THE OLD BURNED OUT GARAGE - GOES INTO THE SHOP TO HAVE THE FLYWHEEL REPLACED AND A NEW STARTER AND A TUNE-UP / CLEAN-UP. THEN IT GETTS DRIVEN TO THE UPHOLSTERY SHOP TO HAVE THE NEW TOP AND SIDE WINDOWS AND TONEAU COVER FITTED AND INSTALLED. NEXT STOP IS THE PAINT SHOP. IT HAS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PAINT DAMAGE OF THE THREE. AT THAT POINT I WILL HAVE "ONE CAR" COMPLETELY DONE AND ON THE ROAD.

NEXT STEP IS TO GET THE GT-40 INTO THE PAINT SHOP AND DETAILED. TWO DOWN - ONE TO GO.

LASTLY - BACK TO THE EXCALIBUR - I'M GOING TO INSTALL A SET OF TRICK-FLOW ALUMINUM HEADS, AN IMPROVED INTAKE SYSTEM, AND A SLIGHTLY HOTTER CAM AND BIGGER INJECTORS. I SHOULD BE ABLE TO ADD A RELIABLE 100 HP USING THE ENGINE ONLY AND JUST A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS OVER WHAT THE KENNE-BELL WOULD HAVE COST.
LAST STOP IS TO GET THE EXCALIBUR INTO THE PAINT SHOP FOR A COMPLETE RE-PAINT.

BY THE TIME ALL OF THAT IS DONE I SHOULD HAVE THE NEW HOUSE WELL UNDER WAY AND THE NEW GARAGE / SHOP FINISHED.

I REALLY WANTED THAT KENNE-BELL BUT THAT'S RATHER LIKE ICE WATER IN HELL. SOMETIMES WE JUST DON'T GET WHAT WE WANT. I BELIEVE THAT I'LL BE JUST AS HAPPY - MAYBE MORESO WITH THE ENGINE MODS INSTEAD.

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY,

BLACKJACK