Thread: Don's T back on the road

Tweet

A few weeks ago we received the replacement C4 transmission and a brand new torque converter from TCI for my Son's T bucket. As much as I complained about them, I guess they did step up to the plate as much as could be expected, as we were well beyond the 90 day warranty. I think part of the reason they stood behind it is because they knew of similar problems they were having.........but whatever, they did take care of it.

Anyway, Don and I decided while the engine and tranny were out we would do some other little things that we rushed when we built the car. We took care of his dragging front brakes and fixed his electronic speedometer so it would work. He also went back to a front sump oil pan because of the way we installed the engine mount and that necessitated putting a new front timing cover on the engine so he could have a dipstick up there.

He works 5 days a week at his regular job and plays 6 nights a week, so he never has the time to work on it, so Dan and I pitched in and got the timing cover painted blue to match his engine, and we put the whole motor back together late last week. He thought he was coming to the shop today to put the motor together but was thrilled to find it ready to install. All we had to do today was drop it in and hook up all the disconnected stuff and fire it up.

We got it running about 7 tonight after Dan finished reconnecting all the wires we had to cut to the headlights and other stuff up front. We got to drive it probably 15 miles and the new transmission seems to work fine. Car idles at 180 and when he nails it no more death wobble. I think (I pray) we have solved that one for him. He's really happy to have it running again. This car has been plaqued with so many problems since we got it running in November. Hopefully that is all behind us now and he can start to enjoy it. It seems to handle fine now and he can one hand it going down the highway.

Now we just have to get Dans car done and we can take a little breather for a while. Here are some pictures from tonight.

Don

good to hear

Glad you got it back together. Hope it all works better. It sure is a good looking car.

Did you get your wobble problem fixed?

Mike

Thanks guys. Yeah Mike, I feel pretty good about the handling problems being gone. We really went back to square one and remeasured and realigned everything on the car. The new Wilwood brakes seem to have helped too, being as light as they are, lots less rotating mass.

But I rode with him half way tonight, and then followed them home in Dans car while Dan rode with him, and it still scared me when he speeds up. I keep expecting the front end to start dancing around at any minute. I guess the confidence will come a little more each time he drives it if he has no more problems.

Don

Don, you and your son's make it sound so easy, and the pictures speak for them self.

Richard

Congrats Dons(pleural). Car looks great as ever. It must be hard for him, being so busy and having a few toys to choose from! I imagine the corvette was a nice distraction, but nothing like a roadster to go on a family run for the weekend. You guys now can gang up on Dan to get his done!

Now there better be 3 cars from the DDD (Don, Don, & Dan)Hotrod garage for me to see at the Turkey Run.
BradC

Thanks guys.

Richard, I have to keep reminding ourselves that this is the hobby we have chosen, so when things go wrong it is just part of the game. I do occasionally apologize to the guys for not being a golfer-Dad though.

Steve, yeah Don really has very little time to himself, but he seems to like the hectic work schedule. Dan and I don't know how he keeps up the pace, and he keeps saying he is going to cut down pretty soon. Been hearing that for 2 years now.

Brad, I can tell you even if one or two of the cars have to be on the end of a towrope, there will be three there this year. It is really sneaking up on us though, only 6 months to go and so much work to do on Dans car.

Don

I keep expecting the front end to start dancing around at any minute. I guess the confidence will come a little more each time he drives it if he has no more problems.

Don,

I know where you're coming from. The first time my partner put a full pass on our Super Comp altered (8.80/173), I'm thinking . . . hey! I built that chassis. What did I forget? Did I tighten all the bolts? Lug nuts? What about the locks on the U-joints?

I'm still a little goosy about driving my 34 too hard or too fast. It's not that I don't have confidence in what I do. I just realize that anyone can forget something, and that little something can have real consequenses.

Looks like you've got it handled, though.

"......I have to keep reminding ourselves that this is the hobby we have chosen, so when things go wrong it is just part of the game....."

".....I'm still a little goosy about driving my 34 too hard or too fast....."

I think everyone who has built one or more knows the feeling. Once you have done a few you realise just how much there is that can go wrong.

Originally Posted by Mike P

I think everyone who has built one or more knows the feeling. Once you have done a few you realise just how much there is that can go wrong.

How true! I usually "sneak up" on higher and higher speeds after I first put a car on the road. When you think about it though, do you trust yourself as much as the guy on the assembly line who may be hung over from a wild weekend? We think nothing of jumping in a factory-built ride and hitting the interstate at 80 mph. Makes ya stop & think now, doesn't it?

Part of it is that, at our age, we've finally realized we're not bulletproof . . . like we were when we were 20 . . .

i dont bounce as good as i use to .

You guys called it right. Another thing is that we have seen a rash of hot rods getting bent up recently, more than I can remember in a long time. Some of the accidents were caused by the rod or the rodder driving it, and some were caused by normal passenger cars crashing into them. A few of these accidents have resulted in the driver dying. It makes you think.

I had a hard time relaxing on the way to Billetproof or back home because I kept seeing trailer trucks and other vehicles whizzing by my side a few feet from my head, and in most cases their tires were taller than my car. It has made me come to the conclusion that my T is great for around town driving but I really need to get the pickup done for long distance travel.......more steel around me.

We just get smarter as we get older, I guess. There was a time in my life where I was bulletproof, but I've learned a few times that isn't necessarily true.

Don

The T is looking good Don, I hope that it gives your boy alot of pleasure from here on out, someone who works that hard deserves it.

I am the same way, I still haven't ran my 48 flat out, not really interested in how fast she'll go. I am more interested in seeing how long she will last! I enjoy it tremendously the way it is.