rytherwr Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Murphy is at it again....I busted my butt to get long-tube headers on the hotrod and was quite pleased with the result...it was so good that I was leery of running the quarter with the powerglide (I am running a 10:1 street motor with 4.86 gears and don't want to spin it where it would go with the powerglide). I again, busted my butt (and a few other choice parts) to take the PG out and re-install my rebuilt 4L80E so I would have the gears. Can't make it work right...spent 2 hours on the phone with Compushift in CA (that is the controller I am using) and that part of the system is working fine. Shifts fine through 1, 2, and 3 but when I hit 4th, it locks the wheels. Now I have to find a trailer to get this thing down to Moultri GA to the guy who built it and see if he can get it right before SEZ8. Man, I sure hope so!!! I will be there anyway, even without a hotrod, but it sure won't be the same...wish me luck..... Wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Whew, I'm not alone after all. I thought only "I" had that kind of luck. I'm still fighting with making rear crossmember mounts on mine. Hopefully, I have enough time between work & family stuff to get the interior out, weld in the brackets and put it all back together. Oh, did I mention that I still haven't built the transmission? You're not the only one short on time.. Welcome to the club...my membership number is 130013. Good luck with it. Warren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rytherwr Posted March 13, 2007 Author Share Posted March 13, 2007 Has anybody mentioned you are a sick man, Warren? ) Best of luck with yours also...I remember scrambling to get the car finished (at least driveable and safe) right up until I left to come up Sat afternoon last year. If you need it, I've got a 700r4 built with all the Gil Younger mods, kolene steels, kevlar bands, banks super-servo, etc, etc, as well as a 3K stall converter. I can't remember where you are from in GA, but I am here in Albany.....let me know if you need to use it. Wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnjdragracing Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Hey guys, both of you Wayne and Warren...... Get the cars ready, It would not be the same with out the cars. I wish both of you the best. I worked on ours some tonight, flushing the anti-freeze out and putting in water. Sill have a lot to do, but just minor stuff.. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Wayne, Thanks for the offer. I'm determined that I'm gonna put this damn 2004R that I've got so much in into the car and drive it there. I'm running short on time, but not determination. I'll get there, one way or the other. John, Thanks for reminding me. My heater valve (water cock) is leaking...that means I get to remove the dash again too "while I'm at it"... It never ends, does it? Warren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deja Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Man, and I thought I had problems. Good luck to all of you guys. It won't be the same without the small block beast of yours Wayne and I want to see Warren make a real run this year. I of course am not even trying to get my car ready for SEZ8, way too much to do yet, but I'll be there anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbhsbZ Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 AH, finally a thread for guys like us. I just got my block back from the machine shop after 4 months....they got me most of the rotating assembly too. Parts kept getting more expensive, then they overbored the virgin block that I brought them, so that the $900 pistons that I had made wouldn't work. Then they found another block, prepped that, and I picked everything up on Friday. Just got around to putting the crank in tonight and it doesn't turn when you torque down the rear main. I dykemed the rear main bearing and thrust surface and muscled the crank around twice, took it off, did some measuring, and the thrust surface/bearing surface on the rear main cap is off by about .008"...Dammit. Time to find a new machine shop....and a new block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesd Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 That hurts. I'm in LA too, and will need a machine shop soon. Who should I stay away from, if you don't mind saying? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillZ260 Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 CAREFULL w/ that tranny!!!! I had a TH-350 that was doing the same thing, locking up in drive, and it ended up tossing a Con Rod through the pan after a couple days of driving it like that...not fun. ( Wanna talk about bad luck, I called the transmission shop for a free tow due to the above, they said, try to baby it in here and on the way to the shop i tossed the rod! ) That was a long time ago, was too young and stupid to get anything done by the shop. Today would be a different story... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbhsbZ Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 That hurts. I'm in LA too, and will need a machine shop soon. Who should I stay away from, if you don't mind saying? Stay away from TGs on Prarie, they are the cause of my current drinking. In the past, Vellios has been the cause of my drinking. I'm trying to get ahold of an old friend of my father's, that used to build big horsepower drag motors. I met with him a couple times, and recall that he went through every machine shop in the area before he found one in orange county that did good work. I also hear that Cosworth down in Torrance is doing job shop machine work now, though at this point, without bringing them a dummy block to prove themselves with, I'm not ready to pay anybody a dime. I tried not to be cheap this time, and buy the top shelf parts and pay for top shelf service, but it all bit me in the ass. I'm at a point now where I'm almost ready to crush the car, throw all the parts on ebay, and cut bait. Too much bad luck. I bought an autopower cage, but I didn't like the fitment, so I sold it. The buyer said nothing would fit so I have to refund his money (I don't believe in screwing people). I bought a bender and a new Miller 180 Mig welder to replace my Lincoln 135 to build my own cage. The Miller caught fire the first night I used it. It was like pulling teeth to get my money back. Then the engine came back all screwed up....on top of the seller of the car that I bought (owner of a reputable shop) lying through his teeth about the condition of the powertrain. Maybe I should cut my losses and throw it all in the trash, while I still have some money in the bank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rytherwr Posted March 13, 2007 Author Share Posted March 13, 2007 Hey IBHSBC, you sure know how to make a guy feel better....Sorry for your troubles and hope they work out....makes mine seem tame by comparison. Goes to show the view is all in how you look at the tea leaves, eh? Wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbhsbZ Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 Hey IBHSBC, you sure know how to make a guy feel better....Sorry for your troubles and hope they work out....makes mine seem tame by comparison. Goes to show the view is all in how you look at the tea leaves, eh? Wayne Glad I could help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8_DatZun Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 seems like the Ga boys cant get their act together huh wayne and warren? lol.. im in the same boat.. just got the shifter pretty close to installed... have to hit up the JY for some expensive parts that i dont have time to wait to be shipped... lol the list goes on and on... i may not have a dash in the car either..... IF i can even get the car ready in time.. and wayne if you need ANY help let me know.. you came to help me and ill return the favor if i can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rytherwr Posted March 14, 2007 Author Share Posted March 14, 2007 Many thanks, Shannan....offer appreciated but nothing to do...I trailered the hotrod to Moultrie yesterday so the folks who built the transmission can have at it. Begged, pleaded and offered bribes to get it back in time to do some needed work. We'll see what happens. Wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 OK, Progress report...the transmission crossmember brackets have been made and installed. Still need to stiffen up the interior side a bit, just as a precaution, as those suckers aren't going anywhere anyway, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. With any luck, I'll get the interior buttoned up again tomorrow and build the tranny. I finally got the 90 degree speedo cable adapter in. Who knows, I might get the car done in time afterall, and if not, it won't be for lack of trying. Warren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deja Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 OK, Progress report...the transmission crossmember brackets have been made and installed. Still need to stiffen up the interior side a bit, just as a precaution, as those suckers aren't going anywhere anyway, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. With any luck, I'll get the interior buttoned up again tomorrow and build the tranny. I finally got the 90 degree speedo cable adapter in. Who knows, I might get the car done in time afterall, and if not, it won't be for lack of trying. Warren That's some progress since we spoke yesterday, maybe there is light at the end of that tunnel after all. good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 OK, Progress report...the transmission crossmember brackets have been made and installed...Who knows, I might get the car done in time afterall, and if not, it won't be for lack of trying. Warren That's great to hear, Warren. Now I can stop drinking due to the depression I have been in from reading the thread Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnjdragracing Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Wayne good luck, hopefully the transmission shop will get you back up and running in time to finish up. Warren good luck to you also, hopefully all will go as planned.... As for us, checked the valve train all seems to be good, well started polishing.... I know doesn't make it faster, but looks better. Installed some roll bar padding, and just doing some good cleaning. May the Z-Car force be with all us......... John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rytherwr Posted March 15, 2007 Author Share Posted March 15, 2007 YEEEE-Hawwwwww, Warren...looks like you're kicking some butt! Best of luck.....Looks like Shannan is doing the same thing. Thanks John, my backup plan: If I suspect I can't get the car back with the 4L80E fixed by next Wed, I will go get the car and re-install the PG....I may not be able to make a full quarter mile, as I don't want to twist the engine past 6500, but at least I will be able to make some smoke, wear out some tires and get some 1/8th mile times, eh? Most importantly, I will get to impress the heck out of the troops with my custom hood prop....actually painted red this time....) Wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deja Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 YEEEE-Hawwwwww, Warren...looks like you're kicking some butt! Best of luck.....Looks like Shannan is doing the same thing. Thanks John, my backup plan: If I suspect I can't get the car back with the 4L80E fixed by next Wed, I will go get the car and re-install the PG....I may not be able to make a full quarter mile, as I don't want to twist the engine past 6500, but at least I will be able to make some smoke, wear out some tires and get some 1/8th mile times, eh? Most importantly, I will get to impress the heck out of the troops with my custom hood prop....actually painted red this time....) Wayne Good luck and I want to get the hood prop on video! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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