427Hotrod

Things are coming around....


My roll bar guy did a fantastic job making a new rollbar for me right on schedule like we planned! To get it low enough to install the hardtop, it was easier to make a new bar itself (it bolts on to stubs welded to frame). Cutting it all apart was going to get weird angles. I can sell the old one to someone and they can just make their stubs a little lower and it will be perfect. His powdercoater finished it Friday morning and I picked it up on Friday afternoon. Since I live in Ft Worth...and he is in Santa Fe Tx south of Houston...it was a Loooonnnggg Day! It's 350 miles one way! Bad part was hard rain kicked in before I got out of Houston and I swear everyone must have bugged out for Spring Break. Pure gridlock. Even the interstate stopped! Left at 8am and got home at 12:30 AM.


Today I did some quick engine checks to make sure all still looked good after the 1/4 mile running...all was good. Next I swapped the wheels and tires over to the TX Mile combo. Just using 8"/7" Rally's...so definitely low tech looking!


Took a test drive to make sure things worked OK....ran it up to 110 MPH or so. I'll say it's going to be fun because these rear tires don't hook anywhere near as well as the drag radials do....so good thing I've got a long way to get it up to speed!!


Next...I pulled the trans. I've ordered the gears necessary to make it an O/D for this event.. They'll get here next week and I can put it all together next Saturday.


Got a lot of little things to do tomorrow...but nothing too bad.


Here's some pics of the Drag Look and the TX Mile Look.


JIM

TCracingCA

Good looking car!!!!!

More of us need to get back to having fun with them! Thanks for being a great role model!

oldpainter

Looks good with the hard top..Good Luck

71scgc

Just.
Badass.

How about some pics of the new rollbar setup?

Carter

ChattanoogaJSB

I'm excited for you!

shocking amount of meat on an 8" rally!

jrs 427

I am not a 3-7 convertible fan BUT....... your machine could certainly change my view. From the wheels, hardtop and body colors, stance, and overall killer survey ..... I have to give it a ten. Best of luck. If it runs as well as it looks you have a top three position locked up before the event. Stunning.

Sky65

Love to see some pics!
Does the bar interfere with your seat backs? My car had a bar in it when I got it but the main hoop hit the seat backs and cracked them. I had to take it out. I would like to install another one if it clears the seats.

Thanks
Tom

MarkC

I would love to be there just to watch the C6 and C7 owners getting there doors blown off.

bbxlr8

Looking good with the HT - REALLY enjoy following your efforts & liked the Quick 30 video up on the main page!

427Hotrod

I keep forgetting to get new pics. Here's some old ones...new bar is the same just a hair shorter. I had to notch the deck. I've since had the upholstery strip sectioned and made into 3 pieces. I kept the cut out pieces with a plan of making them as little plugs to stick in there...but never did.

I've got removable swing out arms...and that's the tricky part...making them clear the door opening with the top up..but it can be done. These clear perfectly.

There's not much room between the deck and the seat...so yes..they will touch if you lean back hard.

If you need a bar...let me know...I'll be selling this one. To make it work with either top like I have now, you'd just have to lower the stubs on the frame when welding them in place. It mounts with 4 bolts at each point on cloverleaf looking mounts. It was easier to have him make me a new bar than go back and reweld everything on the frame. Not sure if it was cheaper though!!

JIM

427Hotrod

Thanks..hopefully next time will be even better!

JIM

Sky65

Thanks! Looks great. I like that it fits under the soft and and tops. I have a new interior and I don't want to damage the seat backs. Do you have any concerns regarding head impact with the hoop or supports driving on the street? Obviously you will have a helmet on while racing.

Tom

LouieM

Your car looks terrific, Jim. Hardtops always add "butch" look (in a good way). And Benton's right, that's a lotta meat on an 8" rally.

Lou

Daren67

good luck Jim

car looks good. Texas mile is on my bucket list with someone else's car

427Hotrod

I've had it in there for years and have taken some pretty wild rides.....my head has never touched it....yet.

There's just not much room between the seat and the deck. I suppose you could slightly notch the deck at the outer hoop also and scoot it back a little away from the seats. That would work. I already had it made out chrome-moly...which in addition to being lighter lets you use a smaller diameter tubing.


JIM

427Hotrod

I think you ought to go in YOUR car. No reason not to have fun with it!! Plus it would help add a little class to the event!!


JIM

427Hotrod

Well.....I'm away on business today...but my wife called and the new wheels and new tires (yet another set!!) have arrived today. So being the great wife she is....she's already loaded them up in the pickup and taken them to the Goodyear store to be mounted and balanced, And they've already called me to double ck on what valve stems to install. Had to call wife to go pick up some metal/screw in type and drop off.

Now if they fit....I'll be in business!!

Now if the trans gears show up by tomorrow...I'll be able to reassemble the trans and put it back in.

Busy busy busy........


JIM

karkrafter

1000% awesome car! But I'd really rethink running it with the hood open...scatter something under the hood and it's gonna be all over the windshield lickity split at 120 MPH.

427Hotrod

Update....picked up tires/wheels this afternoon when I got back in town. Came home to screw them on and see if they fit. Guess what? They shipped the rears with the wrong bolt pattern!! 114mm instead of 120mm. But hey...the fronts fit great!!

Luckily they were still there tonight when I called. They're going to get the right ones coming...and hopefully get them in time to mount up next week. Heck....at this point I can't even tell if they fit yet!

But the trans gears arrived from G-Force today...so I can hopefully get trans together!!

I need to be on the road first thing Friday morning to get there. No time to play...and I have to fly out on Sunday this weekend for work for a couple of days.

This is the hardest I've ever worked for 25 seconds of fun!

JIM

Sky65

You are a determined man Jim. Lots of stuff has fallen in your path but you just push it aside and keep on truckin'. My hat is off to you! I'm gonna say "Good luck" but I don't think you need it.

Tom