A what would you do question

Trans Maro cool once I get it over here the first thing I will be doing is figuring out the size of the engine lol.

Any suggestions for a transmission? I want to go manual in this rig, thinking a 5 spd of some type.

Anyway I had a short conversation with her tonight. She still needs time, she said that it wouldn't be so hard if she and her current boy friend had not already made so many plans. However she is still thinking about it. I also told her that I honestly think if she gives me a chance she will not regret it. So we will see.

rebelgtp wrote: Trans Maro cool once I get it over here the first thing I will be doing is figuring out the size of the engine lol. Any suggestions for a transmission? I want to go manual in this rig, thinking a 5 spd of some type.

Well, a Super T-10 or Saginaw would give you a decent 4-speed that bolts right up (with a Poncho bellhousing).

The 1981 Z-28 ST-10 is the one you want. I've got one in my Turbo T/A and it has a 3.42:1 first gear. With a deep first like that it pulls like there's 4:10 gears in the diff even though I've got the stock 3.08s. Second is 2.28 (same as first in a Muncie Rockcrusher).

Fourth is 1:1 but if you've got econo-gears in the diff, you'll cruise down the highway under 2000 rpm anyway.

Remember O.D. transmissions came out to allow manufacturers to put low gears in the rear end to gain back the lost low-end grunt of the 70's and 80's smogger motors.

You can bolt up a 5-speed if you use mega-buck adapter plates or a scattershield for a Pontiac bellhousing.

Considering your car probably has 3.08 or worse econo-gears inthe rear, the ST-10 is probably the best bang for the buck.

M-22's and 5/6 speed swaps tend to be big $$$.

If you've got a 301, it's externally balanced and you will need a 301 flywheel. These are hard to find. Look on eBay. They came in 1977 - 1979 4-speed Firebirds.

Shawn

rebelgtp wrote: Anyway I had a short conversation with her tonight. She still needs time, she said that it wouldn't be so hard if she and her current boy friend had not already made so many plans. However she is still thinking about it. I also told her that I honestly think if she gives me a chance she will not regret it. So we will see.

Just leave her be for awhile. Go do something else. The car is good. You did everything you could do. She has to come to you now. If she doesn't, you have a good project car going. Fnd a cheaper later-model big-block Chevy and Megasquirt that puppy for better gas mileage. That'll keep you busy.

Weird thing is this morning I woke up feeling quite good, better than I have in quite awhile actually. Heck I must have something going for me if she has to think about things even though they had all of their plans . I did send her a text this morning saying good morning. I also just remembered I keep forgetting to bring her surprise I had picked up for her the other day in to give her lol.

We had been talking while I was driving across the mountain and they mentioned on the radio someone had wolf hybrid puppies for sale. I know she really wants one so I told her about the ad and she was all "Oh I want one!" sadly she can't have one where she lives right now. Anyway so while I was running some of my errands I had to go in this drug store to pick up some of my Mom's meds (this was while she was still in the hospital). Well on my way back out of the store what do I see staring at me from a shelf but a little 4 inch tall stuffed wolf. So I had to buy it for her lol.

Hmmm tomorrow is her first day working in the lab maybe I'll just set it in the lab and see how long it takes her to notice it.

Anyway back to the car. I need to figure out some swap parts for the rear brakes so that I can get rear disks on the thing. I've heard ~80 something Firebird disks can be swapped onto the G body rear end. There is a Wilwood kit but its around $600 for the rears alone. Then to upgrade the fronts is $900, granted it maybe well worth it.

I would say a free car should be a junkyard dog. I know drags aren't your thing, I but I have seen a ton of the Cutlass's on the 1/4.

They can also be done quite nice, unless you're married to the Mad Max look. That whole bit about the $50 roll on Krylon/Tremex paint job is a very Zen way to spend time with a car, but messy. I took this appraoch with my track bike, and was pretty happy with it. Its the blue one. The green one has a very well done booth job over expensive race plastic.

The new cheap paint is the boat stuff, and I guess that can be found as well. Get a decent color, and then remove alll the trim bits. Spend some quality time with a can of black spray paint and you have a decent looking fun car.

You pull its are a great time kill as well. You can get the GM Rally wheels for the Olds, buckets seats were availible for those cars (if you can find them) but I think the Transmaro seats should fit as well, or even S-10 with some seat rail mods. If you can get a center console out of a simiiar Buick, Poncho or another Olds, you'll be on your way.

If the carpet is shot, the auto parts folks have cheap generic carpet availible in an y clor you need. I actually spent a weekend with this, and some interior paint on an old Chevy pickup I had and it really did do a nice job. Prep work is key. The outside was still crap, but the inside became a much nicer place to be.

The junkyard can also yeild all kinds of fun engine combos, not to mention the aformentioned trans as well as the rear end you are looking for. Of course a digital camera, tape meaure and a few good message board are you friend (case in piont). Even if you have no interest in making this inot a drag strip terror, those guys know all kindas of ways to make it quick, as well as the circle track folks.

Depending on your tow vehicle, get a set of decent rear tires and you can get a car dolly from U-Haul for less than $40. Pick the dolly up late the afternoon prior, zip out there and grab it and roll over to Bros house 1st thing in the AM, and have the dolly back at the U-haul before the 24 hours is up (depending on the distance).

I was actually thinking of doing the roll on paint for the car, though in a black of course.

Sadly no U pull it around here where I live. Need to go make nice with my local junk yard so I can go rummage about. I think the Transmaro seats base bracket is to narrow for a direct bolt into the G body but I should be able to modify that. Had not thought about the center console but yeah I should be able to find something to put in there to give it a bit more "finished" look.

My uncle is actually was the mechanic for his brothers old Monte race car so I figure I will be asking him quite a few questions about setups lol.

I have my truck (Dodge 1500) however I will wait to borrow my Moms truck (Chevy 2500) its about 45 miles to haul and the road has a steep hill up and down and her truck is better set for towing.

I pulled heavier with an unmodified Ford F 150, it won't be happy about it, but I bet the Dodge could do it. Of course, I am sure Momma won't mind since you are running an bunch of errands for her anyway.

Black is awesome, but if that body isn't perfect it will look bad. I read on the roll on paint site to stay away from darker colors. The car that started it all was an Orange Dodge Charger. The website I used the guy did a white Corvair, that I swore I saw at Lemons in 07. ...Linky here

Then a lesser magazine did it to an old Falcon in white as well with sptay painted scallops. It looked pretty good.

Buuuuttt, thats a perfect excuse to teach yourself conventional paint application

Ward you pulled heavier with a Hyundai as well... how'd that go?

Mental yeah but my trans is starting to slip in the Dodge as well and my tires are crap at the moment lol...

Mom won't mind me using her truck next time she is over so no worries there and my Uncle said he would help go get it. That will be nice getting it on the trailer and all lol.

Hmmm if the roll on does not work with the darker colors maybe I'll just rattle can it. Though I swear I remember seeing a black 70's corvette in black done that way.

rebelgtp wrote: I need to find something to get my mind off of her for a few days I think. This weekend I might get the Cutlass hauled over but I'm not sure. Any other suggestions?

This doesn't work for everyone but...2 cars (or more), 2 friends (or more), one big field, and enough helmets (or not) to encapsulate all the friends and...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39LE-sJENiA

Turn down the sound! I haven't figured that part out yet...

Sorry it's crappy, but I loaded it up just for your distractional use! Go get more free cars!

Clem

4-wheel disc is ok (I own 2 1980 T/As with and one without) but it doesn't really give you much more stop than the drums that are already there. You do get less fade if you plan on taking it to the track.

1979 - 1981 T/A with WS6 will yield the bits you need. Or just buy all the goodies off rockauto.

I can show you how to mod the existing drums so they stop -almost- as well as the disc brake cars. It's out of Herb Adams bag-o-tricks.

Also, if you swap to disc you will need the master cylinder and prop valve as well.

Shawn

Clem thanks for the vid that was great lol.

Trans Maro well I am thinking eventually tossing the beast around an autocross track for giggles even though I know it would be way outclassed it would still be fun. I just remember what crap the rear drums on my old 78 Camaro were lol.

You will run out of front brakes long before rears, the rear discs can be pretty far down the list. Check this thread for some low buck upgrades that Curtis and Dav made to their cars that will work on the olds chassis. http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/el-camino/8206/page2/

I was on my way to school this morning and drove by this small mechanics shop and there was this old clapped out subbie sitting out front rotting away.
Anyway this is the first time I got a clear look at the front bumper and it had an old tubular center push bar coming up in the middle of the bumper (similar to what you would see on an older cop car or 4x4 rig). I could not help but picture what it might look like on the front of the olds lol.

Who know maybe I'll go ask them if they scrap the subbie if I can yank that off there first.

I would say if today was an indication the answer is going to be no. She was suppose to start working in the lab with me today and never showed. I sent her a text message asking if she was going to come work in the lab and never got a reply. So unless something happened then its not looking good.

On the plus side I should be getting the Cutty over here next weekend.

It is not looking good... I had not heard from her yesterday or today which is very odd for us (we racked up 1600+ text messages in a 3 week period before). I sent her a text asking is something was wrong. She replied back said yes and no and asked me not to text her again for awhile and basically only talk to her at school. Either she is very confused about where to take things or I'm screwed.

Dude sorry, something to try is when you're at school let her know there's no pressure. Make sure she understands that you didn't expect her to drop everything at the drop of a hat. Plus let her know she's evil for sending mixed signals (no don't do that).

rebelgtp wrote: It is not looking good... I had not heard from her yesterday or today which is very odd for us (we racked up 1600+ text messages in a 3 week period before). I sent her a text asking is something was wrong. She replied back said yes and no and asked me not to text her again for awhile and basically only talk to her at school. Either she is very confused about where to take things or I'm screwed.

You sir, need a drink.

And somebody to hide your phone!

1,600! Jesus!

But yeah, you must read this. "Ladder Construction" is your page.

rebelgtp wrote: It is not looking good... I had not heard from her yesterday or today which is very odd for us (we racked up 1600+ text messages in a 3 week period before). I sent her a text asking is something was wrong. She replied back said yes and no and asked me not to text her again for awhile and basically only talk to her at school. Either she is very confused about where to take things or I'm screwed.

Well I am not the love doctor, but I think that things may not be as bad as you think. Women are very complicated creatures by nature,and seldom know what they realy want, and IIRC you said that she was pretty young too, so her confusion is not to surprising. She probably hasn't yet discovered that life is what happens when your plans aren't working out, you did mention that she said that she had "so many plans" with the official BF, or something similar to that. In those plans she probably has a lot emotional energy and hopes invested in those plans and isn't prepared to just walk away from them, even if the official BF isn't really the better match for her. Young people, men included, make a lot of bad judgments about relationships due to lack of experience, and holding on to false hopes and misguided expectations. So considering this, its understandable that she may be confused and overwhelmed. You might be too, and since you are the only one in this relationship that knows exactly what you are thinking, and how you feel, take this time away from her to get your head in clear order, so that when the time comes you can express yourself clearly and honestly. As I mentioned in my previous post, It could end in a firey crash, but if it does, you will sleep better knowing that you gave it your best shot, and you won't have to live with the regret of not having tried at all.

That having been said, I don't think that the firey crash is a certainty yet, play it cool, give her some space for at least a week (don't intentionally avoid her, but don't go out of your way to contact her either). You still need a lab partner right? Ask her politely if you should find another partner, or if she still would like to work with you. If she seems receptive to that conversation it might be a good time to offer a simple apology for causing this mess, but don't try to justify yourself unless she demands it (a mistake I have often made). If the firey crash comes, you will survive, even if it hurts for a bit. Take it as an opportunity to learn from both of your mistakes, and move on in peace. Remember too that there are lots of fish in the sea, none of them are perfect, but there are a lot of good keepers to be had.

Got the drink covered nice big glass of bourbon sitting next to me at the moment. Hmmm looking a little empty time for more me thinks.

I will say I am feeling a bit better and not stressing really at all because, well the bourbon helps, also what will be will be. I also just got off the phone with some of my best friends in the world from back in Portland, just talking to them makes me feel better.

Well I'm boned. I can't get to sleep no matter what I try. This is going to be one long weekend. Not really sure why this is effecting me like it is, not the norm for me at all. Got an empty pit in my stomach and I just can't turn off my brain it seems.

I don't think it's as bad as it sounds. You have to follow your heart and do what you are comfortable with. I don't think it would be a bad thing to text her and say:

> It's eating at you that you may have strained the friendship by telling her how you felt but you thought you were not being completely honest with her by NOT telling her how you felt.

> You want to maintain the friendship first and foremost, but you couldn't spend the rest of your life saying, "What if?"

> You are completely OK with her decision and you want her to be as honest with you as you were with her, even if it's not the answer you want to hear.

If I were in her shoes I would want to hear these things. To me, this means honesty and respect. While not everyone knows what they want, we all want those things. Let her know she is still welcome in your life without the pressure to take it to the next level by inviting her to participate in the same things you guys were doing before. Meet in public places instead of at home to take the akwardness out of being alone together for a while.

But most of all, relax and be yourself.

ECM good suggestions already told her those things. I had tried giving her a call, she didn't answer so I left a voice mail basically telling her the things you mentioned also saying that one of the reasons I told her is before I had promised I would always be honest with her.

So sadly I think sending those again in texts maybe pushing things and get me in even more hot water than I already am in.

Looks like it maybe a decent day here weather wise so maybe I can go try and find something to do somewhere.

I agree. If you have already said it it does not bear repeating. Go forth and do something fun.

Just got back from about a 4 hour or so drive trying to keep my mind offa things. Found an old two lane country road and just followed it, never been on it before. Ended up driving through Hells Canyon and all the way up past Joseph.

Not a great idea when I've only had about 2 hours sleep if that.

Still didn't work but at least I burned up a good portion of the day.