Da Spudro

I'm pretty **** about who touches my car.....A Couple of people... mostly myself but if I can't do it then I take it to Global Transmission, Sarge, or Bob (his best friend is Scott, who is the owner of Vettes Unlimited).

I live down the road from this place, and really close to the owner of this shop. Scott has always been a nice guy to me, but I have heard mixed reviews on his work. In fairness though, I've never had any personal business experience with him. I stopped by one day for a paint quote for my vert and was told it was 6K just for his basic paint, and that was only for a mask and spray, no jambs, and no real polishing. If I wanted polished, jambs done, etc it was going to be more like 12K and I couldn't justify crying after the first rock chip hit and wasting 12K, for a car I drive daily. From then on he just seemed a little over priced to me. But the example of his polished finished paint work he showed me did look nice.

His friend Bob (I used to work with him), has offered to help when no one else would, has been very knowledgeable, and has been there and offered to do alot for me. He was working in Scott's shop for a while when he was between jobs, and still frequents there. He is even reprogramming my ECU Chip to eliminate the EGR, and smog. If Scott is anything like Bob I would say he is a stand up guy.

I usually do a flush on my system every two years. I usually drain the coolant off, pull the radiator hoses, the thermostat and housing off, then work one side at a time. I start off with the radiator and stick the hose in it and let it run full blast for about 10 minutes, then stick the hose in the thermostat hole, and let it run wide open for 10 min. That usually eliminates any kid of debris I may have. Replace hoses and t-stat if needed put it all back together with some 50/50 low-tox stuff and water wetter, bleed the system and off I run.

KMK454

Yeah, I flushed my system twice but it comes back. I think I need to flush it by the coolant drain plugs and flush it out that way really good. There's most likely a bunch of small bits of rust sediment in the cooling system that will take a full flush to get out. Basic coolant changes are doable but garage space is tight right now...

88gtman

31 more days til the Destin meet!

Da Spudro

ok.... FINALLY got my car back.... gear combo did work (15/42) but went through three VSS's before one finally worked. so assuming nothing goes wrong between now and the meets i should be there. needs to be cleaned bad though....

weberflorida

iTrader: (2)

Right on brother.

Dmans85

Another committal for the Patty's day meet on 17th. Orig owner of a '88 ragtop IROC. Numbers are growing

Da Spudro

ok recap and to put all these in one place......

March 10th: Time: ???? - ???? Unconfirmed
Hooters in Crestview
180 Cracker Barrel Road
Crestview, FL 32536
(Is this one even still happening, as I've not heard any more talk about this one)

March 17th: 1:30PM - ???? Confirmed
Hub Stacey's Downtown
312 E. Government St.
Pensacola, FL 32501

March 31st: 1:00PM - ???? Confirmed
Johnny O'Quigley's
34940 Emerald Coast Parkway
Destin, FL 32541

ZZ3Astro

I'm hoping to make all of these. It would be cool to cruise over to Crestview on the 10th. There is a slight chance my work will go into that Saturday but pretty unlikely. I won't know till Friday afternoon if I get stuck on Saturday. So anyone else thinking about going?

StevenB L98/LS1

Im definitely going to the st patties day meet, dont know about destin yet, depends when i start my new job.

Da Spudro

i plan to be at the St. Patty's Day one and the Destin Meet-ups. the only one questionable is hooters. it's right down the road, but not much else has been said, no time has been posted, and no else else seems to have jumped into that one. if there's a handful of joiners i'll be there, if not then i'm calling that one a wash and may do a bike ride that day instead.

Da Spudro

ok..... so doing a Google street view of this address in preparation for next weekends activities..... i don't see any mass parking were we're all parking together.... so where are all the f-body's supposed to park?

StevenB L98/LS1

there is bayfront parking lot next street over from hub stacys

KMK454

I'll be on a business trip through Saturday night so the 17th's a miss for me.

89RS_82Z

iTrader: (2)

I think parking in the bay front lot is best

Da Spudro

well i'm out.... might still make the Destin meet.... Got under the car yesterday to install my new Wonderbar and discovered the inside of the tire is rubbed to the chords. The outside is fine, but the inside is done for - Obviously a camber issue, so it will need an alignment. Don't have the money to buy two new tires right now or get the alignment and if i can't afford tires i shouldn't be joy riding the bike.... so i'll be out. hopefully i'll make the Destin meet.

ZZ3Astro

What about a used tire somewhere... usually about $20 around here installed.

So what is our head count looking like for Saturday? I'm planning on going over from PC.

Da Spudro

yeah most used tire places here don't sell my size (245/35/ZR20). additionally that doesn't fix my alignment issue.

if i get my tires in and can get the alignment and everything done by the meetup i'll join otherwise i'm out.

ZZ3Astro

Oh boy.. 20's LOL> No wonder you're sweating that purchase. Well I hope you get it sorted and make it to the meet. If not, hopefully I'll catch you at Destin.

gatorcola

PENSACOLA GCTG MEET THIS SATURDAY 3/17/12

We have reserved a parking lot for us in Fountain Park which is bordered by Seville Square on the north and Bayfront Parkway on the south. It is in the center of the historic district and is surrounded by food, drink, entertainment, and visitor establishments. Signage and caution tape will be placed at the entrances Saturday morning.

For GPS directions input 400 Bayfront Parkway Pensacola, FL 32502 which is the address of a bed & breakfast directly across Alcaniz Street from the park.

StevenB L98/LS1

Tomorrow im going to make some phone calls to see who was still attending, looking for a good turn out.

ZZ3Astro

Weather looks great.. glad I got AC though! LOL

89RS_82Z

iTrader: (2)

West!!!!!!!

92firebird 305

ill be there got new rims 2001 camaro z28 5 spoke rims with tires for 175 had to order front spacers tho. Glad i have t-tops to.

rob2000gt

iTrader: (1)

im going to request a day off march 31 for the destin meet.

92firebird 305

Good deal rob and then we can race and see who's car is faster.Based on our dyno numbers i should win sicne i got 202 hp at 4417 rpm and you got 193 at 4200 and my tq is 268 at 3673 rpm and your is 272 at 3300 i think you might get me off the line but well see what do any of yall think ?

StevenB L98/LS1

I fixed some of the damaged exhaust on my car today from an accident a few weeks ago, well actually trying to avoid an accident happening in front of me when i hit the curb. And replaced my o2 sensor for the first time in 4 years, and the car just felt alive again now, idle is smoother, still not sure if that helped the rich issue i was having, but all i need to do is wash the car and its ready for tomorrow. I think i got a 2 car convoy tomorrow maybe 1 more.

ZZ3Astro

I am bringing mine in full track trim tomorrow... that is to say there is rubber and vht on my lower rear quarters! I didn't have time to wash it after the track visit LOL

Da Spudro

my tires never came in, so no joy for me this time. definitely going to try for the Destin meet though..... providing nothing else goes wrong with my car....

rob2000gt

iTrader: (1)

I notices my car is not as quick in mid rpms after the tranny rebuild but I still think I will get you Brian.

Da Spudro

based on the numbers, i would pick rob. brians is a T-top car which is traditionally between 200-500 pounds heavier that an FRC (Fixed Roof Coupe). robs torque band is more powerful at a lower range (but not by much).... i think the gearing in brians car will recoup some of the loss by the torque/HP difference, but the gearing and power differences aren't enough to provide that much more of a boost due to the added weight. i think it would be very close, but i still see rob winning.

any one who uses the Horsepower of these cars to win races will lose (unless they rebuilt their motors or have replaced them with a different motor with better HP numbers). the true racing potential for these cars comes from the torque band as it is traditionally higher. 280 ft lb of torque can seem like 280 HP if it is used properly, just need to stay low in RPMs to stay in your power band, which even with my gearing is easy to do at 80MPH.....just got to know your strengths and weaknesses.

ZZ3Astro

Wow that was a rough trip. I went 153 miles to get to the park and it took me over 3 hours. Straight down the coast on hwy 98 is only 101 miles and the crow does it in 96 miles. Next time I'll fight the slow traffic and go 100 miles. I put 340 miles on the Iroc today.

Good seeing you guys again. Wish I wasn't 2 hrs late due to traffic jams!!

KMK454

Sorry I missed it, hope you guys had a good time. I got in at about midnight last night from a business trip... good way to spend St. Patrick's day!

89RS_82Z

iTrader: (2)

Well friends my starter arrived at my house at 3PM saturday

But I hope to make the haul out to Destin, who all is up for that one as of now??

89RS_82Z

iTrader: (2)

Can I get a Mapquest to Johnny O'Quigley's

Or am I missing somwthing here

Da Spudro

I'm in for the Destin meet as of right now. just got my tires today, so depending on when i can get the alignment and installation..... and then there is my given track record since December to consider.... fix a really expensive problem, drive for one week, have another expensive problem pop up, spend 3 weeks and 3/4 of my bank account fixing it..... rinse and repeat....

Worst case I will make that one on my bike.

http://mapq.st/GzUmeY

Pin 1 is where O'Quiggly's is ACTUALLY located at, and Pin 2 is where the address says it's at.

http://mapq.st/GzMjfE

From Fairhope, AL to O'Quiggly's - this has you crossing a toll bridge $3 one way.

http://mapq.st/Gzxg5m

And once more if you decide you want to pass on the toll bridge....

89RS_82Z

iTrader: (2)

I still got a toll pass transponder thingy for the 293 and 281 bridge from when I was driving trucks over there, It still has like $30 or more on it

And now I know exactly where it is, its across from Bass Pro

92firebird 305

im in what time we gonna have this one there ?

Da Spudro

yeah i live here and have never gotten a transponder (which ui think they went away from and it's some RFID sticker now)..... i got mad and boycotted it when i asked how much to cross on my bike and they were going to charge me what a car cost.... sorry just seems fundamentally wrong... i'm a whiner i guess.

KMK454

That bridge should have been paid for with gasoline taxes... and the $3 tolls should have more than covered the cost to build the bridge.

I should be at this one as Johnny O's is a 3 minute drive away.

Da Spudro

When the bridge was first made the justification for the toll was to pay off the bridge, after it was paid off it was supposed to be released and the toll removed. They paid off the bridge in some ridiculously quick amount of time (8 months rings a bell). Since then they have continued to charge because people continue to pay as any business would. I think it was recently released to the state instead of being privately owned. I think I can remember paying $1.50 per way when I first started using it.

92firebird 305

so my wants a camaro or firebird well i found a 85 firebird transam t-tops auto 305 tpi with 151000 miles in perfect shape not a dent on it and its red her color and grey cloth inside . It sat for a year it needs a starter to we r geting it for 500 bucks some have seen the pics i sent rob and steve. i think its a steal of a deal

KMK454

"No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!" - Ronald Reagan

There are numerous examples of tolls that went in to pay for the project. However, that deal was never in legislation, and thus the toll never dies.

Anyhow, I've driven my thirdgen to work for the 3rd day this week and it seems whenever I drive my Camaro, I never see any other thirdgens on the road. But when I drive my truck, all I see are thirdgens...

Da Spudro

Mines been off the road waiting to get the tires installed and an alignment done. got this done today and supposedly all of my steering pieces are pretty much shot, so looks like that's the next thing i replace. But... i'll be back on the road with mine starting tomorrow... figures it's gonna rain.... atleast i won't be on the bike.

StevenB L98/LS1

you cant drive the 85 around?

Da Spudro

Was wondering how long it would be before this was mentioned. My. IROC is my baby, but she needs lots of love:

no insurance on her right now as she just sits in my garage.
back tires, don't hold air for more then a day.
no battery.
engine smokes like a mexican taxi cab (no offence intended to anyone).
it's about as fuel efficient as pouring a gallon of gas in to a bon fire.

i can resolve most things that would keep it from being road bound (or just don't care about the others), except the battery..... but i don't know how much i trust the back tires. thats why when i got my Vert up and running i parked her in the garage figuring she'd stay safely nestled there until i could afford to start getting her fixed. love that car.

StevenB L98/LS1

Ahh i see, well i can understand if its sentimental to you.

92firebird 305

well i went to milton today and goy my wife her 1986 trans am 305 tpi with 151,000 miles t-top they dont leave its inperfect shape not a dent or ding on it.It needs a start and a battery and tune up and so on its got a posi disk rearend to im thinking its a 9 bo.i think its a ws6 one

Dmans85

Congrats. Keep the details coming.

92firebird 305

Ill have pics tomorrow

StevenB L98/LS1

Dang perfect body, rear disc, another bird to your collection, but i believe your 92 would actually beat it easy unfortunately being an 86. Ditch the factory peanut cam for a better one to wake it up, and your wife will be knocking on the door.