Summernats 2012

 

Been in the US since the week after the Summernats for work but will fit in a few car related side trips where I can.

Went to Bob's Big Boy Dinner last Friday night and saw some great cars.



Have a few parts I have picked up as well but nothing amazing.

Will be going to the Grand National Roadster Show next week and hope to drop past Foose's workshop to see what projects are on the go.

I will take photos of anything interesting.

 

Went to the Imperial Palace Auto collection today while my wife went shopping.

Nice collection of cars....

These were my favorites....

 

Went to Chip Foose's workshop today.

 

Back to Bob's Big Boy Dinner tonight for another feast of great cars.

Including this original 427 Cobra.

 

Went to the Grand National Roadster show today.

This was my favorite Vette

 

Back home yesterday and started to think about what I want to do next.

I got this just before I went away so need to think about putting it in.

 

Picked up a few things in the US.

Rear suspension struts to give me more adjustment now car is lower.



Also Decided to have a go at replacing my existing seats with new foams and leather.

Cant be that hard and Corvette America have some great videos on how to.

Got all the tools needed to do that as well as hog rings etc.



Also stocked up on car care stuff and some other tools , touch up paint, weatherstrip adhesive. Some of which cant be mailed here because of stupid security rules..

 

We are looking to do some revisions to the thematic fan controller my friend has built.

Did lots of testing at Summernats, heavy slow traffic etc and cant fault the basic, it operated perfectly keeping the vette cool.

In fact it rarely needed the second fan and if I turned it on manually I could drop the temp heaps.

All this controlled from the normal temperature sender wire with no new sensors etc.

Turns on fans at the points I have set and turns them off when its cooler, can set on point as well as how far to drop before it goes off for each fan.

We will do another revision of the firmware to get the temp setting, drop period, light brightness etc controls perfect but now we are looking at the panel itself for the next build.

We have separated the lights that tell you a fan is on or off from the override and control buttons and used lenses similar in size and function to the vettes fiber optic parts to keep it looking similar.

The new panel will look something like this and sits hidden in the ash tray.



Here are a few designs we have had done up and am looking to pick a few to have laser cut.

Any opinions would be appreciated.



In the smaller images you cant see the buttons as well below the fan lenses but they are there.

 

Have always had a bit of wander with the vette due to the large tires.

Did some testing this morning and added an extra rear shim to the rear of the upper a-arms.





Dialed 90% of it out.

Just needed more caster to compensate.

We only did a quick alignment on it for Summernats as I wanted new rear struts etc.

Will be interested to see what it now is when on the aligner.

 

I have had a few questions around clearance with my wheels etc so i thought I would post some sots to show how much there is.

I have not had any scrapping - Yet

Coy's C5
18" rims
4" backspace
Front 245/45/18
Rear 255/45/18

Front











Rear

 

I have picked up a set of AMTops.

They will need a fair bit of work to get them finished as it looks like they were white, but sprayed a dark blue with vinyl paint at some stage in their lives. (unless thats how AMTop did it)

These ones are for a later style T-Tops with the pin fitting at the rear.

My vette is a 71 so has the early style T-Tops with the triangle locator.

Have posted on the Corvette forum to see if I can get fittings or there is a work around.

If I cant find a work around I may sell them to someone with a later Vette









They fold in half and take up minimal storage so a good option if you want some protection but dont want to cart the main tops.

 

Had been looking for a cup holder for the vette and had purchased one that sits along the side of the console.



Worked ok but did not like the look.

had also looked at the ones on the brake handle but thought that would get in the way.

 

So I started thinking about where I could mount one and how to make it easily removable etc.

I ended up deciding to use the T-Top bracket between the seats as a mount point.



Am going to use one of the strap clips attached to a cheap cup holder I got on ebay.

 

So I mocked it up to see how it would fit and look.

Once I mount the spring steel clip, sand it down, remove the chrome, paint it with blue and black vinyl paint I hope it will blend in and work well.

 

Have been taking a bit of a break from anything major on the vette recently but have wanted to sort out the ipod connectivity and a few audio issues.

The ipod had a tendency to sometimes overdrive the input of the deck that had a 3.5" input.

Was fine if you used the headphone jack on the ipod but if you used the base connector it over drove on some songs. (causes distortion and crackling)

Given I wanted to use a base connector to charge as well I came up with the fix which was to place an adjustable preamp between the ipod and the deck and adjust the line level signal down a bit.

The ipod also has an issue with induced hum when it charges at the same time as playing but its made worse in the vette for some reason so I have used a ground loop isolator to cut that out.

So I ended up with more gear to mount and I decided the best place to hide it was out of sight in the storage compartments.

First I needed some better power distribution back there as i will add an amp and sub at some stage.

Simple power block direct connected to battery but I wanted to be able to remove it to add things easily but have it in a spot that is out of the way.



So I added an aluminum bracket that it slides into then mounted the bracket to the rear wall behind the center storage compartment.







This will then power the constant lead of the deck, an amp and a set of outlets that are turned on by a relay from the stereos amp trigger wire.



Powering up the preamp and the ipod charge point.



They will be attacked to the rear separator behind the seat and hidden by the storage compartment tray.

Am also moving the ipod connector out of the ashtray where it mounted to a lead that comes up from behind the rear armrest.

 

The other project I have at the moment is some engine work planning.

I want to keep my matching numbers block but spice it up a little.

Am getting my set of double hump 186 heads rebuilt and then we will pull the block for a freshen up. :-)

Current plan is a Scat stroker kit and a few other goodies but keeping it all fairly period looking.

 

I want mine to look relatively stock so I am limited in some areas.

Manifold will stay 2101 performer so no high rise.

Carb will stay 750 quadrajet.

Heads period iron with standard markings so Fuelie type heads.

Valve covers stock tin so probably only roller tip rockers.

Inside however we can stroke it out so more cubes will always help

However cant go the bigger sizes as its a waste without other external changes.

Should still be a good improvement.

Getting it done with Terry at QIM in Queanbeyan. He is president of local Corvette club so knows what I am after fairly well.

 

Busy day finishing off some plaster and paint in the house but got some time after 5 to clean the car for the Shannons Wheels show tomorrow in Canberra.

Quick wash and wipe down and we are both ready.

 

March 2012

Hi Jethro

The Ute is my sons project car.

I am calling it my parts chaser - :-)

We picked it up in Melbourne a week ago.

Its a great car in amazing condition.

I imagine it will take up some of my time.... as all his great ideas will need help.

Took it to the Wheels show here in Canberra yesterday

He didn't park it near the vettes but came and sat with us.