Build thread - Resurrection of an old Contemporary

aks801 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-24-2009, 12:35 PM

Doug, have you been able to get any more work done on it?

767Jockey · #2 (**permalink**) 02-24-2009, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aks801

Doug, have you been able to get any more work done on it?

Not much, I've been all over the country to doctors, I'll dive back in on Monday. Hey, you're from Katy - I was just down your way yesterday at MD Anderson, quite an impressive place.

Work on the car proceeds on Monday with front and rear swaybar installation. After that I bend up brake lines and fuel line, and the chassis is basically complete.

aks801 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-27-2009, 09:37 AM

If you were at the new facility there in Katy (as opposed to the Houston med center), then Yes, that is quite new and dedicated to battling the Big C. It's right next to our church, and I live about 3 minutes from there. Hope you enjoyed our balmy weather!

Keep after it....

snowshoe427 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-27-2009, 01:04 PM

I believe I drove your car back in 1983 at a Contemporary dealer in Muncy Pa. The car was for sale then- probably the fall of 1983. I took it for a good drive and it went down the road well. If my memory serves me correctly it was built by an individual rather than the dealer.

767Jockey · #5 (**permalink**) 02-28-2009, 12:52 PM

It could be the car you drove, I really don't know anything at all about the car, as the man I bought it from knew absolutely nothing as well.

I guess this is as good as any for an update on the build. I had a tough week with the Cobra last week. I won't get into all the details as I'm still sorting through the problem with the engine builder, but the bottom line is I refused the engine. Geez, this ones going to be a killer time-wise and also money-wise. I was using a Ford sideoiler block, and now it's toast. Some decisions were made without my knowledge regarding overbore and structural reinforcement that was required due to the larger than expected overbore, and once I found out about these decisions that were made they were already done. I reluctantly refused to accept the engine. The engine builder I am using is an excellent guy, there was no fraudulent behavior here, just a honest difference of opinion, and he's being great about rectifying the situation. He has told me that he'll do whatever it takes to make me happy. Now the short block has to be torn down and I have to buy a brand new Pond or Genesis block. Does anyone have any preferences on either? I would like to do aluminum but that probably isn't in the financial cards, it'll probably be a cast iron sideoiler block. The Shelby aluminum block just can't be done financially, that's just out of the question. This whole engine situation really hurts! Hopefully I can get the engine side of the project moving along again while I complete the sway bar installation front and rear, the brake and fuel lines, and start the electrical work. I'm talking to two other guys doing builds similar to mine about a group purchase on all original Lucas switches and indicator lights for the dashboard.

I went out of town for a few days to regroup and I'll be digging back into he car with a vengeance starting Wednesday. That's about it for now, more to come. Hopefully I can have the chassis finished or darn near it by the end of next week.

patrickt · #6 (**permalink**) 02-28-2009, 01:04 PM

Does NY have anything on the books that would give an advantage, emissions-wise, to an older block?

767Jockey · #7 (**permalink**) 02-28-2009, 01:41 PM

Patrick, That's a VERY good question. Here is what I found on the NY State website:

These motor vehicles are exempt from emissions inspection for gas-powered vehicles:

* Vehicles that are less than two model years old, or more than 25 model years old.
* Diesel-powered vehicles 8500 lbs. or less and Diesel-powered vehicles 8501 lbs. and more registered in the NYCMA area that are required to have the emissions inspection for diesel-powered vehicles.
* Electric-powered vehicles.
* Motorcycles.
* Vehicles that are registered as farm equipment or that have historical plates.
* Homemade vehicles or custom vehicles that are registered in the Upstate Area.

Apparently, since I am registered as a 1984 homebuilt, I just squeezed into the exempt from emissions testing under the 25 years or older part of the staute. I am not registered in the upstate area, so I don't qualify for exemption under the homebuilt in the upstate area part of the law but I believe that the 25 year old car section applies to me. You raise an excellent point that I hadn't thought about, I'll have to look into it further - thanks!