Car Clinic

[Rick]

How agressive do you wrench crankers want to be at the car clinic? I've got a new rear main seal that needs replacing. I've got the Viton seal....I just don't have the knowledge.

[THOR]

Anybody really good at pulling the motor out fast and putting the seal in and re-installing the motor?

[LFSADRG]

I have the same problem on mine. If you are unable to pull the motor at the car clinic in a few weeks. Feel free to hit-me-up at my place to replace it. I will be pulling my transmission for a rebuild this week then the motor next week for the seal.

[67DropTop455]

LFSA, Where in Federal Way are you? I only know of a couple Poncho fans in the imediate area, and I'm always wanting to find more!

Brett - 67 Drop Top 455!

[Survivor]

I'm thinking about replacing the carpet in my "almost all" original 64 GTO at the car clinic. I have had new carpet for about 4 years, but not sure if I should leave the original in or replace it. The original is in pretty good condtion considering it has been in there for over 40 years, but shows some wear and tear and is pulled away from one edge in the rear. The car was concourse judged 5 or 6 years ago at a GTO National and the only point deduction for the interior was due to the carpet. Where do you draw the line?? Anyone have any thoughts?

[LFSADRG]

LFSA, Where in Federal Way are you? I only know of a couple Poncho fans in the imediate area, and I'm always wanting to find more!

Brett - 67 Drop Top 455!

Right on. I just moved to the South FW 356th area down by Illahee; nice quiet area. Was going to go to the last meet but that was my moving day. Have some work to do on my LeMans since it sat in storage for the last 10 months. Will be wrenching this weekend so if you want to swing by feel free. One of my good friends has a 69 Firebird and I can see if he will bring it on over as well.

[theJUDGE]

Rick,
I don't think we would have time to pull your motor at the car clinic. Those hot dogs on Denny's grill would be ice cold by the time we're done.
In fact the crows would've long got them, the only thing we'd hear around us would be crickets.
It's really a weekend project if you don't want to chip paint & bust knuckes in a hurry. Your gorgeous 65 Rag deserves to be wrenched on in a delicate, timely fashion.

Ted,
Sorry to hear they deducted you on the carpet. One can only be original once.
As these cars continue to age & get more rare, originality in terms of factory applied parts & equipment is nearly non-existent. I think people are more impressed with an original piece, even if it is slightly weathered. That is more impressive than calling Year One with Visa in hand.
Your call, but I say screw those judges & stay original if it is respectable.

[Rick]

Thanks all. Mark, you're right of course. Just thought I'd throw it out there.

[Rick]

I think I'll just show up and do the see and learn thing......oh, and a hot dog wouldn't be bad either.

[THOR]

Hey all, I was reading a few month old issue of HPP about a new air/fuel ratio meter-tool. It works with a tailpipe sniffer or via probes in bungs on your headers or exhaust manifolds. This thing seems to be a very neat tool for determining your A/F ratio, at idle, various operating RPMs, etc. The obvious benefit is for adjusting our carbs precisely for optimum fuel efficiency and performance.

The article on it was written by Rocky Rotella, a noted Poncho tuning guru and he used an example of tuning the Qjet on a nice firebird. They discovered that they could really dial in the A/F ratio at idle, partial throttle, and full throttle, again for better fuel efficiency and performance. Short of dyno tuning, this thing sounds like a godsend. They cost about $350. The article stated that although a bit expensive for some folks, perhaps car clubs could purchase them. I say, if possible, let's consider a club purchase of one of these things. What do you all think ?

[G6T8O]

That would be awsume to have ...

Bill P.

[Icelander]

Wonder if we could build one... I know that you can get wide-band heated O2 sensors in the neighborhood of $100. The meter is probably about $30. The only part I'm unsure of is the calibration.

On second thought, Rocky is one helluva smart guy. If he's shelling out $350 for one, then it's probably not worth re-engineering.

If I ever get a paycheck that doesn't go straight towards a pending bill, I'd be glad to chip in. As it is, I'll be doing a poor-man's tune-up on my car this weekend.

P.S. I'll be bringing a co-worker with me, he may be bringing his '66 GTO in on a trailer. Needs air in the tires and a brake cylinder if I recall. I guess his fiancee's family used to show the car but let it sit for a while now. (of course, I'm writing all this from my seive-like memory, so I could be all wrong about the facts.)

Looking forward to Saturday.

[theJUDGE]

Perhaps Thor was referring to the club purchasing it from our general account.
That way it would be the property of the club & for use by it's members. I know the Goat Herd buys group tools, but it might be a mess too.
Who's gonna be the guy who "breaks the new tool" & then gets everybody pissed at him. - Not me.

But I would buy the tool used in the article rather than McGiver one outta Radio Shack parts & aluminum foil & expect to performance tune the car.

Just add a Flux Capacitor, turn the date back to 1985 & save the clock tower by midnight.

[Rick]

I think I have an old spare Flux Capacitor rolling around in my trunk.....it still has the burn't smell....but was working when used last.

[LonnieS]

I've go this year's model, which is 25% stronger than the original 1.21 gigawatts. It's a nitrous flux capacitor. I don't need it any longer since I have an '05 ;)

[THOR]

LMAO........OK, you jokers, you owe me a cold one now !!!!!!
See ya at the wrenchfest ;-)

[Rick]

oh...I thought you meant Reflux......never mind.

[THOR]

oh...I thought you meant Reflux......never mind.
Rick, see thread in Genl Mechanical about frame dipping

[Mitch67htp]

Guys guys guys.The flux capacitor went out when the" Mr. Fusion "came in.
I think Thor has a good idea with the air /fuel sensor, how much would it cost to have a shop do it.$80.00-$100.00? there's no other way to do it,and it's very useful tuning information.
Mitch

[Goatnut]

Well, Cheryl and I made it to the car clinic today. Definately a wet commute in the morning but the afternoon drive home was pretty nice for cruising in the Goat. I wanted to thank Denny for making the Sasco facility available again. The lunch hit the spot as well.

A very special thank you to Wally Santella for all the help installing my new boxed control arms and rear sway bar. Thanks again Wally!

I was able to tear the passenger door apart and replace the window weatherstrip too. Now both doors are done. What a PITA! After doing the drivers side door a few weeks ago I though about procrastinating for ever! The event offered me the incentive to finally dive it and get these projects completed

It was a great time!

Scott

[LonnieS]

Here's some pics that Amber and I took with our cameras... thanks again Amber for your share.

Here's Bruce... supervising.

[LonnieS]

Scott Holten's rear suspension project...

[LonnieS]

Amber's '66.

[LonnieS]

Walley helping Erik with his '72.

[LonnieS]

Line 'em up!

[LonnieS]

Lonnie & Mark's 2005's - drying their new polish.

[1PROGTO]

Nice write-up Lonnie. Another fun time at the Car Clinic. Thanks to all who helped make this happen. Too bad the weather was bad early on or the place would have been filled.

It was quite a sight: Lonnie, Pietro & The REV under Lonnie's '05 GTO....& working on it. Lonnie locking Tom Willette in his '05.....nice one! Denny using up the remainder of his BFG's out in the parking lot. Mark using a whole can of wax on one fender. Pietro giving us all a masters degree in the application of wax. He has it down to a science. Roof, fender, door, fender, hood,......then bumpers, then rockers, or was it rockers then bumpers? By all means stay off the emblems.......The REV had to take this course twice before passing Pietro's stringent requirements.

Thanks dudes, great time!

[ambere]

It was fun, I got lot's of little stuff done and found out I need a new water pump and my carb rebuilt...fun!

I had one request of the picture taker that got me while I was in the trunk...can I see that pic before it gets posted anywhere....please... :)

I also wanted to post a couple pics that I liked...

Here's Lonnie & Mark's '05s from my perspective...

[ambere]

..........also, Pietro managed the whole process from the wash to the wax! I learned a thing or two...I also heard a mention (promise) of Lonnie getting some pretty special soap that actually deflects dirt inbetween washings and draws the dirt in while you're washing...........WOW!!!

[theJUDGE]

Thanks again Denny, that was a great afternoon.

[Rick]

Another great clinic.....Thank you Denny. I'm sorry I wasn't able to help with anything but I've got a bum back and I can hardly tie my shoe laces......

Lonnie and Mark, your 05's are awsome.

[THOR]

Great time, Thanks Denny for providing us with the space and resources
Thanks Lonnie for the cruise in your awesome '05. I promise to take it easy next time.

[REED_RACING]

I want to see some burnout pics or the video Bill P. took in Lonnie's car.

[G6T8O]

I was'nt smart enough to take any video...

Bill P.