...and now no weekly update. something is up

What's up is that I am progressing at a snails pace!

I installed a new repop trunk lock(remember the lost key incident) and carefully readjusted the trunklid to eliminate the pesky problem it developed of grabbing the rear window gasket. Afterwards I checked carefully to make sure the latch lined up with the lock. Satisfied, I slammed the trunklid shut and stepped back to admire my handy work. It was at this time, I reminded myself that I had left the keys for the new repop lock in the trunk for safekeeping! Luckily the repop trunk lock was not nearly as robust as the factory original, and it only took a screw driver and three smacks with a 2lb sledge to render it useless. I may never have a trunk lock in the car again!

The wiring is finally complete. The button at the back of the shifter is the trans brake. The smaller one mounted to the side of it goes to a toggle switch that allows it to be used for the horn or the line lock. The button on the shifter itself is for the nitrous, and is wired through the accessory 2 on my switch panel, which can only be activated when the ignition is on. The dome light works, and is activated by either door switch, as installed at the factory 52 years ago. I hooked the factory dash lights into accessory 1 with my gauges, and every single bulb lit up on cue ( The two Drag Week trips previously in this car, I had the tack light and oil pressure, that was it) The dash is completely assembled, including a new repop glove box liner.

The engine still hasn't been fired in the car, this dang Race Demon carb is kicking my butt. I rebuilt it, and now I can't get the floats or needle and seats to work, every time I turn on the fuel pump, it shoots fuel out of the vents.

I wanted to swap the seats from side to side, as the passenger one has more hip room, but apparently the six bolt helicoil pattern on the bottom of plastic race seats is not universal...didn't see that coming until I had all the brackets removed.

Boone Had a hall effect switch failure in the Barnyard Viper's distributor.

Dale still hasn't replaced the alternator on the Gremlin that failed about 4 months ago.

Darren just ordered 3800$ worth of parts for the Dakota. All of which will still need to be installed when I get to Oklahoma.

Looking good Billy! See you in a few weeks.

Right on schedule!

The keys in the trunk trick never gets old.

2.76s out 3.55s in. Should make consistent 11.50-11.60 passes a little easier for Rachael, and possibly allow me to take a little N20 jet away from her as well.

Boone is changing the cam and lifters on the Barnyard Viper, he's starting on it today, since he was afraid we were going into "Thrash Week" with too many cars assembled and ready to go.

ROFL! So which one(s) is going to be still working on in the tech line?

Billy, getting stingy with the updates, LOL.

I was wondering what has been happening. Glad to see in all these years of hearing your stories and getting ready that nothing has changed. Panic right until the end!

Sorry I haven't been more forthcoming, just get frustrated on occasion.

The Belvedere.
It's sitting behind the trailer, ready to load. Once I get back to Oklahoma, I'll finish wiring up the new gauges, but mechanically I feel pretty confident. After Rachael's DNF after the first day last year, I wanted to make sure this year was better.

The Valiant.
Put Darryl's 950 HP on tonight, fuel leaking out of both accelerator pumps. Did fire it up but not for very long. When my son gets home from work in the morning we'll get the hood on it, so I can load it. Would like to head out around noon tomorrow, we will see.

The brothers aren't sending me any pictures, and are being very vague with where they are. I'm fairly Confident that the Gremlin, in all it's lexan window, 5 gallon fuel cell glory, will be ready, as will the Barnyard. Darren's Dakota however...not a chance. It was back at the chassis shop today, then goes back to the paint shop for 3 days. So we will get it Tuesday, and we are supposed to put new gauges in, interior, wiring, and convert it to E-85...I promise I'll take pictures!!

Billy, you have been doing this long enough to know you can't trust a body shop timeline lol.

See you soon!

Heading for Oklahoma as soon as the Grandson gets home from first grade, got to tell him bye or he will be upset!

Think I've got everything loaded...

Have a Great Time .

See you at Thunder Valley!

Have a safe trip, and good luck on Drag Week!!,

one day I'll get to do this.

hmmm.... no updates. I'm thinking Billy's interest is waning at this point. Maybe Drag Week is been put on the "been there, done that" list. Wonder what's next for the boy..... Silver State Challenge comes to mind

Billy's at his brothers house in Tulsa, getting both cars ready to do some testing this Friday and Saturday night.
As far as I can tell he has put about 10 miles on the new motor in the Valiant.
He sez the new motor pulls real good and spins to 6500 very fast, he is looking forward to getting it to the track.

I wanted to go to test and tune Friday but I will be yanking the motor to fix a pan leak. Last weekend I yanked the motor to fix the thrust bearing and went with a different brand of gasket and it is biting me. All this for a race with zero prize money LOL.

I heard on the first trip around town it got up to 250 degrees so they were going to have to address that this week.

Forget to fill the radiator? LOL.Me bad.The " Clan" better all be there on Sunday.See you clowns then.Crack the whip Billy.