IT'S ALIVE!
08-09-2004, 11:50 AM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
IT'S ALIVE!
It's been four long months, but things are now coming to a close. The engine is back in and I got things buttoned up over the weekend. With exception to the exhaust -- forgot to order one gasket!!!!!
The suspense was killing me, so I decided to light the shark off with no exhaust. No cat, no nothing -- just open manifold flanges. One turn of the key and she fired right up. Needless to say I had an audience of neighbors shortly thereafter. Sounded like a Harley on steroids.
I didn't run her long since I couldn't check for any weird noises and other things one would want to observe after an engine project. It was too loud to do such a thing. So, I slept well that night and will have to be patient while my gasket is shipped. I feel worse than a five year old on Christmas eve.
The suspense was killing me, so I decided to light the shark off with no exhaust. No cat, no nothing -- just open manifold flanges. One turn of the key and she fired right up. Needless to say I had an audience of neighbors shortly thereafter. Sounded like a Harley on steroids.
I didn't run her long since I couldn't check for any weird noises and other things one would want to observe after an engine project. It was too loud to do such a thing. So, I slept well that night and will have to be patient while my gasket is shipped. I feel worse than a five year old on Christmas eve.
08-09-2004, 12:02 PM
#3
Range Master
Pepsie Lite
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Pepsie Lite
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Cool feeling man, i can relate. Gretch was in surgery for about 5 weeks last spring. I had a HUGE grin on my face and was jumping around like Balmer at an employee meeting when I finally heard her "speak" to me again.
08-13-2004, 05:18 PM
#4
Rennlist Member
How about 3 years! My car - 86.5 S - has been resesitated after a three year layoff. Back in 2001 I was a victim of the telecom bust and chose not to spend the money to get the tranny rebuilt until I found employment. Although I was okay financially, I was very careful to wait until I had steady employment before I undertook the work my baby needed. After a year on my new job, I was able to get it back on the road.
The toughest part was the waiting once I put it in the shop. But I wasn't out of the woods once I got it home - pun intended. During my 3rd week of re-learning how to drive it, I parked it in my driveway - first time in 3 years, and a branch from one of my trees feel on it and smashed the windshield. So, after another 2.5 weeks waiting for a windshield I got to drive it again.
The car was my daily driver for 12 years and have put most of the 215K miles on it. The odometer went out about 4 years ago. The car has proven to be everything anyone could ask for, and I often refer to driving it as the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
I have been reading Rennlist for the past couple of months in anticipation of getting back on the road, and I've gotta say, you folks have kept me going. I've got all kinds of stories I'll share over time - like best average speed between two cities - Petersberg, VA to South Hill VA - 58 miles in 27 minutes = 129mph. That was on a leg of a trip from Fairfax, VA to Durham, NC - 248 miles in 2.5 hours = 99mph. It was actually an uneventful trip - but isn't that why we have these cars? (I was running front and rear Escort RADAR Detectors!)
Most of my car's problems are due to age, except for the A/C. I have spent a small - no make that a LARGE fortune trying to get it working right. It still doesn't work all that well but my commute these days is a whopping 5 miles! Over the next couple of years I am going to completely re-do the whole car, inside and out. It doesn't leak (now that the trans has been replaced) and has never used oil between changes. Imortant things like the TB and water pump have been changed on schedule since '92.
I will make an effort to contribute whenever I can, share stories and any advice - especially about the 86.5.
The toughest part was the waiting once I put it in the shop. But I wasn't out of the woods once I got it home - pun intended. During my 3rd week of re-learning how to drive it, I parked it in my driveway - first time in 3 years, and a branch from one of my trees feel on it and smashed the windshield. So, after another 2.5 weeks waiting for a windshield I got to drive it again.
The car was my daily driver for 12 years and have put most of the 215K miles on it. The odometer went out about 4 years ago. The car has proven to be everything anyone could ask for, and I often refer to driving it as the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
I have been reading Rennlist for the past couple of months in anticipation of getting back on the road, and I've gotta say, you folks have kept me going. I've got all kinds of stories I'll share over time - like best average speed between two cities - Petersberg, VA to South Hill VA - 58 miles in 27 minutes = 129mph. That was on a leg of a trip from Fairfax, VA to Durham, NC - 248 miles in 2.5 hours = 99mph. It was actually an uneventful trip - but isn't that why we have these cars? (I was running front and rear Escort RADAR Detectors!)
Most of my car's problems are due to age, except for the A/C. I have spent a small - no make that a LARGE fortune trying to get it working right. It still doesn't work all that well but my commute these days is a whopping 5 miles! Over the next couple of years I am going to completely re-do the whole car, inside and out. It doesn't leak (now that the trans has been replaced) and has never used oil between changes. Imortant things like the TB and water pump have been changed on schedule since '92.
I will make an effort to contribute whenever I can, share stories and any advice - especially about the 86.5.
