First ride in 11 years!!!!!

Tonight was a big night, I got to drive my 27 roadster for the first time since I tore it down 11 years ago..........and I still have a grin on my face! :D Dan and I went to the shop today and got all the little things finished up and about midnight we let the clutch out and got to see it actually move under it's own power.

It drives exactly like I remember, right down the road and a real pleasure to drive, except for one thing............this new motor is a WHOLE lot more powerful than the last one. First gear is pretty useless if you punch it, the tires just go up in smoke, and most of second gear is the same way. It feels like you are on ice. I worried that the 4:30 gears might be too deep, but they are just right.

Dan is a bad influence, he talked me into tossing in a moving blanket to sit on and taking it for a late night bite to eat. I let him drive it coming home, and he couldn't believe the torque the 331 stroker makes. It really felt good to have my old hot rod back on the road again. Next step is to take it to the upholstery shop on Monday, then drive it to Daytona for Turkey Run.

Did I mention that I am reallly stoked???????? :LOL:

Don

Don that is great. Congratulations on your acheivment to being back on the road again. All that hard work has paid off. Now drive the piss out it as the DA34GUY would say.

Congratulations, Don! It looks great, and I totally know your feeling and the lasting smile. Mike52 says they call it "Perma-Smile" around the Harley shop, but I'm partial to PermaGrin :D

Congratulations sir ........... I'll bet you were thrilled ........... be very proud of your accomplishment ........ 11 years is a long time :cool::cool:

That's very cool....

Way to go Don!!!! Saw the thread title and really hoped it was about your car!!!

Thanks guys. Now that I look back on it, I wonder why I just let it sit for so many years without working on it. Life just kinda got in the way, then there was that other little 23 I played around with for a while. :D It dropped down to 49 degrees last night but Dan and I didn't mind the cold at all, we were having a blast. Can't wait until the seat is done so I don't have to sit on a moving blanket. :LOL:

I think Dan got a little kick in the tail to get his finished up now after driving mine. He is soooooooo close.

Don

That's great! Soooo what's next? :D
Ken

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ken Thurm

That's great! Soooo what's next? :D
Ken

---

I'm going fishing! :LOL: Thanks Ken. I think I need a break from cars for a while, but maybe after the new year I am either going to start fooling around with the 46 or the 29 rpu. I'm really leaning toward the rpu because I want to build that one on the somewhat rough side........brush painted body, etc. Just make it like something I would have been able to build in high school.

Funny story. Last night as Dan and I were motoring around in 49 degree temperatures I made a U turn and the engine died. We had to push it about a half block to a parking lot. We got out and were trying to figure out what happened and Dan said "You didn't turn off your kill switch, did you?" ( I hid a toggle switch under the dash as an anti theft device, to kill the ignition signal) We checked and yep, my foot had hit it as I left up on the clutch. Flipped it on and the car fired right back up. I hit it inadvertently a couple more times during our ride, so today a butt connector will replace that switch. :LOL: Dan and I learned how out of shape we both are during that pushing session.

Don

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by buzz4041

Don that is great. Congratulations on your acheivment to being back on the road again. All that hard work has paid off. Now drive the piss out it as the DA34GUY would say.

---

Ahhh Buzz, ya beat me to it.
Oh well.

Don, after the upholstery ----- DTPOOI !!!!!:eek:

I know what you mean!
That is funny, if you are anything like me, the first thought's are the most extreme :eek: but usually it's something simple like that. Sure freaks you out for a little while.
Ken

Great ride Don congratulations

sell it to me for 3K..................lol

great ride. congratulations.

Congratulations Don and heck 11 years is a long time. I'm complaining about the 2 years mine has been in bits and heck mine is still almost complete. That windscreen looks fantastic straight across at the top.
And 49 degrees isn't cold for some of us fella's, you need to toughen up lad.:3dSMILE: