Long Time - No Corvette
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 163
Likes: 1
From: Wichita Kansas
Long Time - No Corvette
I am a high school science teacher and the son of an airline mechanic. My late father was a hot-rodding pioneer who scavenged Model A Fords and whatever else he could find for parts to build "Desert Buggys." With the chasis turned upside down and nothing but a seat and motor bolted on top (or would that be the bottom?) he would take his buddies and girl friends for drives through the Arizona desert, flipping over a time or two I'm told. This man also taught me the basics of shade tree hot-rodding on the 1970 GTO I bought in high school. After two years, I traded the '70 GTO for an underpowered, three-on-the-floor, shaker-scooped, tin can, 1974 GTO. Trading a '70 for a '74 seems like a stupid thing to do now, but back in those days it meant cutting my rising gasoline bills in half. Soon, the '74 was replaced by an even more efficient "family car" leaving the pretty little white car with red, white, and blue stripes down the sides without a function. After it took up space in my garage for a couple more years, I bought a 455 ci junkyard motor and a pair of high output heads from a 400 to transplant into it. We built a beast. That thing pulled like it was weightless, but like most cars of it's day it didn't corner too well. That's how I learned to handle horsepower and also what I need from my Corvette.
After my father died, I was lucky enough to find a father-in-law that could help me grow a little more at my car hobby. You see, my father-in-law collected Corvettes, most of which he bought damaged and fixed up himself. Now, I never thought I would ever be able to afford a nice 'Vette, but I got the family discount when my truely beloved father-in-law passed on unexpectedly. One of the few in his collection that had never been damaged was a beautifully preserved black over yellow 2001 LS1 convertible with less than 45,000 miles on the odometer and now it's mine. The only modifications it had when I bought it were a K & N cold air induction system, that needs an actual cold air box around it to be effective, and a nice Corsa exhaust.
Anyway Hi Y'all
After my father died, I was lucky enough to find a father-in-law that could help me grow a little more at my car hobby. You see, my father-in-law collected Corvettes, most of which he bought damaged and fixed up himself. Now, I never thought I would ever be able to afford a nice 'Vette, but I got the family discount when my truely beloved father-in-law passed on unexpectedly. One of the few in his collection that had never been damaged was a beautifully preserved black over yellow 2001 LS1 convertible with less than 45,000 miles on the odometer and now it's mine. The only modifications it had when I bought it were a K & N cold air induction system, that needs an actual cold air box around it to be effective, and a nice Corsa exhaust.
Anyway Hi Y'all
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 15,996
Likes: 823
I am a high school science teacher and the son of an airline mechanic. My late father was a hot-rodding pioneer who scavenged Model A Fords and whatever else he could find for parts to build "Desert Buggys." With the chasis turned upside down and nothing but a seat and motor bolted on top (or would that be the bottom?) he would take his buddies and girl friends for drives through the Arizona desert, flipping over a time or two I'm told. This man also taught me the basics of shade tree hot-rodding on the 1970 GTO I bought in high school. After two years, I traded the '70 GTO for an underpowered, three-on-the-floor, shaker-scooped, tin can, 1974 GTO. Trading a '70 for a '74 seems like a stupid thing to do now, but back in those days it meant cutting my rising gasoline bills in half. Soon, the '74 was replaced by an even more efficient "family car" leaving the pretty little white car with red, white, and blue stripes down the sides without a function. After it took up space in my garage for a couple more years, I bought a 455 ci junkyard motor and a pair of high output heads from a 400 to transplant into it. We built a beast. That thing pulled like it was weightless, but like most cars of it's day it didn't corner too well. That's how I learned to handle horsepower and also what I need from my Corvette.
After my father died, I was lucky enough to find a father-in-law that could help me grow a little more at my car hobby. You see, my father-in-law collected Corvettes, most of which he bought damaged and fixed up himself. Now, I never thought I would ever be able to afford a nice 'Vette, but I got the family discount when my truely beloved father-in-law passed on unexpectedly. One of the few in his collection that had never been damaged was a beautifully preserved black over yellow 2001 LS1 convertible with less than 45,000 miles on the odometer and now it's mine. The only modifications it had when I bought it were a K & N cold air induction system, that needs an actual cold air box around it to be effective, and a nice Corsa exhaust.
Anyway Hi Y'all
After my father died, I was lucky enough to find a father-in-law that could help me grow a little more at my car hobby. You see, my father-in-law collected Corvettes, most of which he bought damaged and fixed up himself. Now, I never thought I would ever be able to afford a nice 'Vette, but I got the family discount when my truely beloved father-in-law passed on unexpectedly. One of the few in his collection that had never been damaged was a beautifully preserved black over yellow 2001 LS1 convertible with less than 45,000 miles on the odometer and now it's mine. The only modifications it had when I bought it were a K & N cold air induction system, that needs an actual cold air box around it to be effective, and a nice Corsa exhaust.
Anyway Hi Y'all
Welcome to the forum! Our condolences are extended to you about your father. Congrats on your 'Vette. How does it feel to own one?
William R.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 163
Likes: 1
From: Wichita Kansas
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 163
Likes: 1
From: Wichita Kansas