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| 03-Jul-06 |
Leaks and Bugs |
Shown before it’s time
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I knew the last article would ruffle a couple feathers – and it did. I was even accused of faking being a "Street Rodder", and told that this whole site is a sham, because I said I don't really live to drive them and like building much better. I think I'm in the minority.
I'll throw this out for debate however; who's the better "Street Rodder"? The guy who builds his own car, sells it and builds another (and hardly leaves his garage) or the guy who buys the car the other guy built and drives it to every event, gets tired of it and buys the guy's next creation?
I love going to car shows – as a spectator. Whenever I take our car, I leave it as soon as I can and go look at all the other cars (ask anyone who's tried to find me). Sitting by my car all day is not my idea of fun. I know if everyone felt this way we wouldn't have car shows, but that's just me. There's so much to look at and having a car there feels like a ball and chain. I want to see what everyone else built!
Even when I'm by my car talking with someone, my thoughts shift when a nice car passes by. A blown Willy's will rumble by and I'll be soaking in the all the sights, sounds and smells until it fades into the distance and the person talking to me fades back in. Then I realize I don't have a clue what they were just saying :)
I thought I should point out that I'd rather drive than trailer my car anytime. Trailering the car to the Back to the 50's was necessary because the car isn't ready for a trip like that. The car is being show before its ready and I still have several "bugs" to work out – mostly fluid leaks. I posted "the rest of the story" on the forum, but for those of you who missed it... here's that post – slightly edited with photos added:
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 The car wasn't ready for a trip like that, but I promised PPG it would be in their booth on Sunday. The transmission main seal leaks so bad that I place an absorbent pads (with duct tape) to the bottom of the inspection cover because when I drive it the splatter goes everywhere under the car and it's a pain to clean up. I'm trying Stop Leak first but so far it's not looking hopeful. |
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 Not sure what the pads are intended for, but there was a full box under the sink ;)
I could add a comment about it acting temperamental every 28 days or so, but I won't.
The wheels haven't been balanced and I've yet to find an alignment rack it will fit on to have a professional alignment.
Raw gas spits from the side pipes because it's running so rich, but Joey says he's done about all he can. Craig from BDS says he can tune it over the internet if I can get it on a dyno with high speed connection, but we have to find the place and time to set it up. Norm Fey told me about a guy in Watertown that he's used that should be able to tune it if I can get it up there, so I may try that first.
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 The transmission pan also leaks around the gasket and I've tried new gaskets and re-torqued it but no luck, so I bought a new thick aluminum pan at the show.
The stall is still too low and the trans temp reached a melt-down point of 333 degrees while idling through the fairgrounds with my foot on the brake holding it back. The engine only reached 220 degrees (temps are usually 180/190 engine and 100/150 trans). In the crowds, there was no place to pull over or stop and cool down. I imagine the trans fluid is shot now. Looks like I may have to pull the trans AGAIN but this time I'm going for a 3000 stall converter. Of course I wouldn't have this problem if the engine didn't fluxuate in idle between 1000 and 1400 RPM all the time.
The engine front main seal has a slight leak (enough to sling oil all over the engine compartment) but it seems to be getting better as I drive it. The differential and steering box both weep fluid and I'm told there's not much I can do about them. At least my master cylinder doesn't leak any more!
So, not knowing if the car would make it and the great chance it would be totally pitted out (especially underneath) and knowing that it had to be top notch for the PPG booth... trailering was my only real option. I guess it would be different if I felt I could trust it. We never trailered our last car and put over 5000 miles on it in the 3 years we drove it (a lot for us considering we usually put less than 7000 on our daily driver each year).
I wrote that last article in the heat of the moment. The trip was very stressful. Too much traffic for this South Dakota boy and way too much to worry about - like the jerk that laid on my trunk with his backpack full of zippers to take a picture of the `36 Packard replica parked behind us. When I yelled at him he tried to justify his actions - that made me even angrier. There is NO reason in the world to lie on someone's car, let alone try to justify it. Get me outta here!
Staying home would have been much less stressful and I found myself questioning (the day I wrote the article) whether I'd ever want to do it again. I enjoy small shows with less traffic and shorter distances to get there. I consider a 250 mile trip, a long one. Maybe it's because I've lived where I work for so many years. Sometimes I go weeks without leaving home or driving anywhere.
Just because I don't put driving at the top of my list of things to do (driving anything) doesn't mean I don't want the car to be a nice driver. People who live to drive, like my friend Jerry with the `32 roadster, can't fathom how anyone could not enjoy driving. I'm always thinking "are we there yet?" The real reward for me is in the creation.
Anyway, my trailering days are over. If the car isn't ready or an event is too far away, I just won't go. I'm tired of stress and deadlines. A hobby is supposed to be fun and bring enjoyment. Life is much too short.
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| By the way, I posted photos from the recent shows in the July, 2006 Progress Editorial and I promise the next article will actually be a build article! :) |
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