Thread: First ride in 11 years!!!!!
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11-06-2010 02:20 AM #1
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! 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????????
Don
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11-06-2010 03:06 AM #2
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.
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11-06-2010 05:37 AM #3
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 PermaGrinLast edited by rspears; 11-06-2010 at 05:40 AM.
Roger
Enjoy the little things in life, and you may look back one day and realize that they were really the BIG things.
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11-06-2010 05:42 AM #4
Congratulations sir ........... I'll bet you were thrilled ........... be very proud of your accomplishment ........ 11 years is a long time
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11-06-2010 06:27 AM #5
That's very cool....Your Uncle Bob, Senior Geezer Curmudgeon
It's much easier to promise someone a "free" ride on the wagon than to urge them to pull it.
Luck occurs when preparation and opportunity converge.
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11-06-2010 06:48 AM #6
Way to go Don!!!! Saw the thread title and really hoped it was about your car!!!Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, Live for Today!
Carroll Shelby
Learning must be difficult for those who already know it all!!!!
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11-06-2010 08:35 AM #7
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. 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.
I think Dan got a little kick in the tail to get his finished up now after driving mine. He is soooooooo close.
Don
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11-06-2010 08:42 AM #8
That's great! Soooo what's next?
Ken
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11-06-2010 08:53 AM #9
I'm going fishing! 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. Dan and I learned how out of shape we both are during that pushing session.
Don
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11-06-2010 08:56 AM #10
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11-06-2010 09:03 AM #11
I know what you mean!
That is funny, if you are anything like me, the first thought's are the most extreme but usually it's something simple like that. Sure freaks you out for a little while.
Ken
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11-06-2010 10:42 AM #12
Great ride Don congratulations
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11-06-2010 11:13 AM #13
sell it to me for 3K..................lolSome days it's not even worth chewing thru the restraints !
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11-06-2010 11:22 AM #14
great ride. congratulations.BARB
LET THE FUN BEGIN
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11-06-2010 02:52 PM #15
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.I maybe a little crazy but it stops me going insane.
Isaiah 48: 17,18.
Mark.
Thank you Roger. .
Another little bird