The abandoned project, back on the road
 

You know that guy that has a nice car in his garage that hasn't seen the road in years and you wonder why the owner doesn't just finish the project car?
My hotrod hasn't been driven since 2001, when I took it apart for paint.
By the time it got painted; I quit being a car mechanic for a living, lost interest in reassembling my car, so I garaged the rolling body and forgot about it.
The engine has been in the house most of the time, because the day after I put the freshly machined engine parts in the garage, a water pipe broke directly above them and flooded out the room. I moved the engine parts to the house so I could store them in a tub of ATF.

I finally got off my duff and put the car back together (mostly) and it's on the road again. It's not a cobra, just a 67 chevelle SS 396 (clone) that's mostly stock except the lower compression (9.2:1) TRW pistons. I have owned the car since I was 17, it was my daily driver until I took it apart, and I have kept it setup pretty much the same way the whole time. It needs upholstery, and that's about it; except I know it will never be "done" until I lose interest in driving it.

My girlfriend of the last 7 yrs had never seen it run, and has no classic American car experience. Currently she is not interested in riding in it; being as it's too noisy, everybody looks at it as it rumbles by, and she saw me do a huge burnout; so it's just too "scary". :LOL:

So that's where you been....
 

In retirement. Was wondering what happened to you.

Well, good on you for putting the old Chevy back together. Even tho she's scared of it that won't last - once she sees how much good attention you'll get in it, she'll suddenly find reason to be seen in it. Happens all the time ;) with wimmen.

I trust you've taken advantage of the tech that's come along in the past 30+ years or so and put some good parts into that rat motor.

Welcome back.

Good to have you back, Mr.Fixit! Folks have been wondering where you disappeared to.

Get a new girlfriend that likes the car.;):D

This sucks.
Between that last post and this one, I ventilated the block and ruined both heads.
The head snapped off an intake valve, mashed a hole in the bowl area of the chamber, then sent pieces through the intake to do something similar to the other side.

You're right,that sure does suck.

Welcome back ! I hope this set back doesn't keep you away another 2 years and 4 months.

Hey, what's eight years anyway??

:D :D

Boy, that would make anyone feel as if they had a curse on them. Hope that you can get it back on the road soon. And you should post more often and keep us informed as to how it is coming along. Heck, you seem to have the kind of luck I do.

Ron :(

Mr. Fixit is in da house!

Welcome back. I really enjoy reading your posts.

Please don’t take another 2 years off to rebuild that 396! :D

Welcome back Mr. Fixit.

Good luck putting that 396 back on the road.

Wayne

Your girlfriend has already expressed a dislike for "the other woman", which could be interpreted as jealousy. :LOL: What was her alibi regarding the engine failure? ;)

:)

Hey Fixit,

Have you been doing any work on the engine? If so, how about an update. We are all looking forward to you getting it back on the road soon.

Ron :)

Little late on the update, but I built a 496 with roller cam and some Dart heads before I ran out of money.
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/CAM00253.jpg
The old lady still has never been in the car.

That will be a great engine for the car and I for one am happy that you have gotten it back together and in running order. I hope that you can soon get the new engine completed and in the car and then post some pictures.

Ron :)

Engine has been the car for a while, more torque than traction. Now I need to re-do the th400 trans, it's slipping a bit under WOT in 3rd. http://s966.photobucket.com/user/els...s/CAM00665.jpg

You are making progress. Soon you will be driving it all the time and really enjoying it,

Ron :)