Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Bob Heine's Auto Emporium

[ODIS]

Uncle Willie, most of the zero turn mowers would mean another "hire the handicapped, we're fun to watch" moment from me. My lawn mowing pattern would be, at best, concentric circles with twice-weekly gate repairs to add to the hilarity.

Bob always knows how to bring a smile to my face. When he used that line “Hire the handicapped” years ago, made me laught then as well.

Thank you Bob for the years of enjoyment reading your thread!

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Welcome to Bob's mechanical ballet. Watch your toes, and don't remove your safety glasses until the performance is over.

 

[Jeepster04]

Goodness, one thing that really gets me upset is thinking about dealerships. Never have I had a good experience with a dealership. Honestly I've never had a good experience with anything shop/vehicle related.

 

[pi_guy]

Goodness, one thing that really gets me upset is thinking about dealerships. Never have I had a good experience with a dealership. Honestly I've never had a good experience with anything shop/vehicle related.

I was at the Ball in NYC for the US Ski Team. At the time Chevrolet was a team sponsor. I was having an issue with my Tahoe. I caught one of the executives in the next urinal. And unloaded about the dealer and the issue. The next working day I had a call from dealership and the issue was resolved shortly after.

One of my past drivers owns a dealership he will have the tow vehicle serviced at dealership, but race cars and trailers are done by the race mechanics.

 

[xtremek]

Always busy. I think that's the secret to a long life.

 

[Bob Heine]

Bob perhaps you could do a YouTube video. A Rhapsody on grass number that would emulate a figure skater imbibed by his lone waltz while gracefully making figure eights around exotic plants while the warden looks on; her eyes locked in a controlled wince. You could name it Heine's Mechanical Botanical Sonata on the Sod.

Bobby, you have me seriously considering visiting a mower dealership to take a test drive. Something tells me they'll have an 'insurance' issue right off the bat. Having shown my Duct Tape Bob kayak excursion, duct tape would obviously be involved but I would really want a cowboy hat to swing around on a selfie stick.

Bob, I think you were to soon to send the Vaseline to Don.. It sounds like you needed it after dealing with the dealership...

***** about the rain, nice job laying the sod down. I been down that road laying sod down one handed myself and it is not much fun at all.

I am in the same boat with the chargers as well, I have not figured out out what to do with them quite yet. I have space under my workbench I think I am going to build a pull out for them like I have seen other member's have, free up the work bench. I also surfer from flat surface syndrome.

John, I request red Mobil 1 grease to hide the blood when I visit a dealership.

Laying sod is a mindless activity for me so I don't mind doing it. I knew I was out of shape when my bicep started cramping up when I lifted my fork at dinner.

I wish I were more ruthless about culling the tools. I can't toss the old ones when the batteries still hold a charge. I need to do something more attractive with the chargers and locate them with the tools.

hahahahahahaha

Uncle Willie, I can tell you are tired. That's a couple more ha's than usual.

Where do we buy tickets? I haven’t seen a good Sonata in awhile.


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Stewart, private performances will be live on Zoom for my generous friends.

Isn't that a Hyundai?

Marc, maybe I can get a wrecked Sonata. With the steering wheel removed, a mower deck hanging off the back and a couple of emergency brake handles in the trunk for Korean zero turn mowing.

Bob always knows how to bring a smile to my face. When he used that line “Hire the handicapped” years ago, made me laught then as well.

Thank you Bob for the years of enjoyment reading your thread!

Ody, you are very kind. I have missed you while you took a break from GJ. You are my hero for driving all your cars. I only have three on the road and like having a choice -- not a museum level choice but a choice nonetheless.

Welcome to Bob's mechanical ballet. Watch your toes, and don't remove your safety glasses until the performance is over.

Uncle Willie, my performances have always required extended social distancing. Watching from another county is a good start but the next state is safer.

Goodness, one thing that really gets me upset is thinking about dealerships. Never have I had a good experience with a dealership. Honestly I've never had a good experience with anything shop/vehicle related.

Jeepster04, I have poor long term memory when it comes to dealerships. In 1987 I visited a Pontiac dealership, thinking I could by two new silver cars for our 25th anniversary. I had saved up enough to buy a Fiero GT and Sunbird GT convertible. All I wanted was a best cash price for the two. The salesman refused to give me a price unless I brought my wife in. I explained it was a surprise for our anniversary but he was adamant. Got up and walked out. Drove 10 miles down the road and bought the silver 1979 BMW 733i and silver 1996 Dodge 600 turbo convertible at a used car lot. Guy was happy to make a deal for cash.

I was at the Ball in NYC for the US Ski Team. At the time Chevrolet was a team sponsor. I was having an issue with my Tahoe. I caught one of the executives in the next urinal. And unloaded about the dealer and the issue. The next working day I had a call from dealership and the issue was resolved shortly after.

One of my past drivers owns a dealership he will have the tow vehicle serviced at dealership, but race cars and trailers are done by the race mechanics.

Michael, from the note on the invoice I gather than dealerships worry about customer complaints making it to the company executives. If I gave a **** about the Cadillac dealership I would make a stink but it isn't worth my time. I guess the folks who buy or lease new cars depend on the warranty work being done by the dealership. They are happy as long as they don't have to pay for repairs. GE "serviced" our GeoSpring water heater more than a dozen times but never fixed the problem. When a new failure code popped up, they walked away. I see the ads for the add-on car warranties and suspect they are spend more money on lawyers' fine print exception clauses (and small claims defense) than actual repairs.

Always busy. I think that's the secret to a long life.

Kirk, I agree and have nightmares about the retired friends who park in a recliner and wait for the end.

 

[drivesitfar]

Bob: good to see you are still getting outside and taking care of that park like yard you own.

have you tried the gyro yet? when I discovered the gyro I used it to fix/repair/strengthen my 2 sprained wrists and it actually helped my tennis/golfer's elbow and generally all of my arm. I haven't taken Advil for arm or back pain since getting my gryo and inversion table. feel free to ask me for help if you need any cause it did take me a while to get the hang of spinning it up to top speeds and holding on. my dad can't do it at all and he's got a great grip and my mom who's arthritis is got her hands all crumpled up can do it fine.

hope to hear you get the cadillac dealer's guys fired that did that work OR more like non work and abuse on your Caddy.

have a great weekend.

 

[shopnut]

I watered the sod the day I laid it and the next day. That was two weeks ago and it hasn't stopped raining since. I'm saving money on city water but the gray days are not good for me. My get-up-and-go has got up and gone.

//snip//

It looks like a bunch more rain coming my, and perhaps your, way... I hope that sod doesn't float away!

I was just roaming around the Gallery and thought I would stop in and say HI. I hope all is well with you and yours Bob.

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Bob? Paging Bob. Please pick up the white courtesy phone.

You OK buddy?

 

[don long]

Bob
I sure hope the storm is being kind to you .

 

[Bob Heine]

Bob: good to see you are still getting outside and taking care of that park like yard you own.

have you tried the gyro yet? when I discovered the gyro I used it to fix/repair/strengthen my 2 sprained wrists and it actually helped my tennis/golfer's elbow and generally all of my arm. I haven't taken Advil for arm or back pain since getting my gryo and inversion table. feel free to ask me for help if you need any cause it did take me a while to get the hang of spinning it up to top speeds and holding on. my dad can't do it at all and he's got a great grip and my mom who's arthritis is got her hands all crumpled up can do it fine.

hope to hear you get the cadillac dealer's guys fired that did that work OR more like non work and abuse on your Caddy.

have a great weekend.

Drives, we have had Seattle weather for the past few weeks so the outside work has been limited to short spells in the dry moments.

I have used the gyro a few times but haven't turned it into a regular routine.

I don't expect anyone at the dealership to be fired but I also don't expect to be going back.

It looks like a bunch more rain coming my, and perhaps your, way... I hope that sod doesn't float away!

I was just roaming around the Gallery and thought I would stop in and say HI. I hope all is well with you and yours Bob.

Mark, like everyone in Florida my yard is sand with a hint of swamp muck on top. A 10-inch downpour disappears in a few minutes.

We're all doing fine and getting used to lock-down. Eventually I'll have to have material delivered after I use up all the scraps.

Bob? Paging Bob. Please pick up the white courtesy phone.

You OK buddy?

Uncle Willie, I think I'm OK.

Bob
I sure hope the storm is being kind to you .

Don, it's just the usual wet weather we learn to live with in the reclaimed swamp called Florida.


Guys, thanks for stopping by. I was feeling lousy last week, with aches all over and running a slight fever. We've been careful so I didn't think much of it. Called the doctor and he said I should get a test for COVID-19 (nobody knows what the exact symptoms are). Drove to his office the next afternoon and at exactly 2:30, when two nurses in full PPE came out with a cart. One of the nurses took a swab of both nostrils (tickled) and told me they'd have results in 48 hours (Monday). No word yet but I'm sure I'm negative. The canary watcher in my house is keeping socially distant.

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Good to hear from you. Batten down the hatches, matey.

 

[shortykorte]

Bob’s got cooties.


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[xtremek]

Bob’s got cooties.


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[bj383ss]

Bob I hope you are feeling better.

This line had me laughing. "The canary watcher in my house is keeping socially distant."

Bret

 

[Bob Heine]

Good to hear from you. Batten down the hatches, matey.

Thanks Uncle Willie! Good to see you sharing your heartbeat with your baby girl. I think it helps them get over being thrust into this world.

Bob’s got cooties.


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Stewart, you're right about the cooties but it turns out I don't have COVID-19.

Bob I hope you are feeling better.

This line had me laughing. "The canary watcher in my house is keeping socially distant."

Bret

Bret, I'm feeling like my OLD self again. At least it hasn't progressed from canary watching:

Doctor's office called and my COVID-19 test was negative. As I suspected it wasn't anything serious.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Glad to hear you're Covid free!

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Thanks Uncle Willie! Good to see you sharing your heartbeat with your baby girl. I think it helps them get over being thrust into this world.

Victoria is #5. I Have always been a "hands on" father. I have friends that have never even changed a diaper. I wouldn't trade anything for these next few months when she can literally do nothing for herself. Every night she has to lay on my chest and rest up a bit for that final meal before bedtime. I love it.

 

[Bob Heine]

Glad to hear you're Covid free!

Thanks Marc, I'm going to try to stay that way!

Victoria is #5. I Have always been a "hands on" father. I have friends that have never even changed a diaper. I wouldn't trade anything for these next few months when she can literally do nothing for herself. Every night she has to lay on my chest and rest up a bit for that final meal before bedtime. I love it.

Uncle Willie, we had our two children before our second anniversary and I worked two or three jobs to support them. When I got up in the early morning hours I took both of them out of their cribs and after changing their diapers, gave them breakfast (or a bath and then breakfast). I returned home after they were asleep but every few weeks I got a day off and spent that very special time with them. When I got down to one job, it was night school two nights a week and OT the other three. Weekends were family time so we found things to do during the day and I did home upgrades, repairs and auto maintenance at night. I don't feel like I was that busy but time sure flew by. Enjoy Victoria while she still thinks you're OK. By the way, I like her name - it was my mother's middle name, in honor of the Queen my grandmother admired most.

 

[Bob Heine]

I don't know why I started this project. It just seemed like a good idea because I hadn't paid much attention to the '87 Corvette lately. I've done the exhaust and replaced the valve seals, springs and rocker arms so I thought there might be something I could do with the intake side of things.

I didn't want to spend thousands on a new fuel injection system but I recalled a few companies made larger throttle bodies for the Tuned Port Induction system so I did a little searching. BBK Performance two models, a 52mm and a 58mm dual throttle body that bolts on. They even sell "remanufactured" units for $240, a $100 or so discount. These are mostly display models returned by speed shops (mine appears to have been built in 2004).

It's a pretty easy swap, with the air cleaner mass airflow sensor and accordian intake tube removed in a couple of minutes.

Things slow down quickly once the throttle body is on the bench. I think the size difference is obvious. The original on the left has a casting on the bottom and a throttle position sensor that needs to be swapped onto the new throttle body.

The 7 torx screws holding that coolant passage casting have been there undisturbed for 34 years. Three of the screws decided to remain with the old throttle body and their corroded studs worked just fine holding the casting in place. Additional applications of PB Blaster and a small prybar coaxed the casting off.

The good news is the much larger throttle body should flow more air. The bad news is the openings in the manifold are exactly the same 48mm as the original throttle body. Fortunately the C4 series are the red-headed stepchildren of the Corvette world so I found what looks like a decent used one for around $50. I can port that one at my leisure and swap it into the system on the car. If it needs it, I can even do a little port matching on the inlet runner openings. I have an extra gasket to use as a guide.

Before I can button this thing up to do an initial road test, I had to set the throttle position sensor with a multimeter. With the throttle in the closed position and the ignition on the voltage between the A and B pins needs to be 0.54vdc +0.075vdc.

All that's left is to re-install the air intake plumbing and I'm good to go. NOT SO FAST! The new throttle body opening is larger than the stock throttle body by too much to force the old accordian tube in place.

Looks like I have to wait for a larger tube to be delivered, currently scheduled for next Tuesday. The intake is supposed to arrive Saturday so maybe I can start the porting....

 

[ODIS]

Interesting work there, Bob. Hope you will post your efforts in porting/polishing and will be watching for the performance difference once you have it all back together. Was happy to read you are CV free and trust you will continue to do all the right activities so that you can remain healthy.

My best to you.

Ody.

 

[mybigwarwagon]

I found that any time you have a steel bolt in an aluminium piece if you give it a few good taps with a hammer you have better luck removing them. Not 100% effective, but about 93%.

 

[bolensboneyard]

Brings back memories Bob, frozen bolts and lots of leaning under the hood. Not so sure a shovel and a hammer are any easier on the back but I need what little sun I have been getting. Keep up the good work.

 

[xtremek]

Looking forward to seeing what you think of the performance once you get it running.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Bob, the TPI engines were the best looking powerplant to come out of Detroit.

I miss popping the hood on my Z28 and seeing my L98, but the LS giving me a powerband far past 4500rpm makes me forget. Back in 2001-2002ish I ported the plenum on mine. There is a ridge just inside the bore openings that needs to be ground down as well. One of these days I'm going to build a 400+ cubic inch TPI engine, I just need something to put it in, a C4 Corvette would kill 2 birds with one stone...hmmm...just need to find a '91 that is white on red!

 

[shortykorte]

No air intake tube required



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[Bob Heine]

Interesting work there, Bob. Hope you will post your efforts in porting/polishing and will be watching for the performance difference once you have it all back together. Was happy to read you are CV free and trust you will continue to do all the right activities so that you can remain healthy.

My best to you.

Ody.

Ody, thanks for stopping by. It is probably going to be a slow process but I will be posting progress as it happens. I don't think anyone really knows much about this disease but my grandma told me an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure and she sure seemed to know what she was talking about.

I found that any time you have a steel bolt in an aluminium piece if you give it a few good taps with a hammer you have better luck removing them. Not 100% effective, but about 93%.

Uncle Willie, I always give a stuck bolt a couple of whacks to let it know who's boss. The three that sheared off were frozen to the unthreaded portion of the casting. It appeared a bit of coolant leaked into the space and corroded both the aluminum (pot metal?) and steel and expanded to fill the space really well. I expect to be able to get the broken pieces out (someday).

Brings back memories Bob, frozen bolts and lots of leaning under the hood. Not so sure a shovel and a hammer are any easier on the back but I need what little sun I have been getting. Keep up the good work.

Bobby, these C4 Corvettes have one redeeming feature: the hood and fender tops are a one-piece affair. It's a bit heavy to open up but once open I can climb over the front tire and work on the whole top of the engine compartment. If I do it right I can even sit on the tire and work.

Looking forward to seeing what you think of the performance once you get it running.

Kirk, BBK claims 7-12 rwhp gains. I assume 7 horsepower is just bolting the throttle body on to the stock manifold and 12 horsepower is with a modified air filter box. I'm hoping for maybe a 15 horsepower gain with the opened-up intake. From what I've read, the intake runner from the radiator to the Mass Airflow Sensor is the limiting factor.

Bob, the TPI engines were the best looking powerplant to come out of Detroit.

I miss popping the hood on my Z28 and seeing my L98, but the LS giving me a powerband far past 4500rpm makes me forget. Back in 2001-2002ish I ported the plenum on mine. There is a ridge just inside the bore openings that needs to be ground down as well. One of these days I'm going to build a 400+ cubic inch TPI engine, I just need something to put it in, a C4 Corvette would kill 2 birds with one stone...hmmm...just need to find a '91 that is white on red!

Marc, I agree those are real nice looking engines and I'm a fan of polished aluminum. I'm going to spend some time making the outside of the one I just bought look like the one it's replacing.

I also agree on the LS -- the LSA in the Cadillac is part of what's driving me to do a little upgrading on the L98. I know it will never come close but I'm OK with the low horsepower but decent torque. Your desire to get a C4 made me do a quick search. Found a few '91 white on red Corvettes but this convertible for less than $10K looked pretty good (less than 60K miles):

https://www.carsforsale.com/vehicle/details/63623944

No air intake tube required



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Stewart, I was thinking of one of these. It's called a Big and Ugly Blower Hat. I realize now that my lack of a milling machine is going to make this really difficult to install.

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Ody,
Bobby, these C4 Corvettes have one redeeming feature: the hood and fender tops are a one-piece affair. It's a bit heavy to open up but once open I can climb over the front tire and work on the whole top of the engine compartment. If I do it right I can even sit on the tire and work.

I had a guy call me to pick up a c4 for scrap a few years back ( prior to back surgery). He said he pulled some parts and it had just been sitting for a few years. The next day Steph went shopping, and I went out to see what was actually left in the car. I opened the hood, and bent over to see if the engine was locked up, and my back spasmed and locked up. I wound up laying on top of the engine and couldn't get up or down. And my phone was in the house. I finally got to my hands and knees and spent the next 30 minutes crawling the 20 yards to the house. I got managed to get up on the couch and get my phone to call her. She took me to the ER where they gave me a shot of what I am pretty sure was napalm. I was honestly waiting for my right **** cheek to melt off. After 15 minutes I walked out of the ER. Cured me of wanting a C4 ever again.

 

[Bob Heine]

Waiting for the intake manifold meant I had time to address the air filter setup. The Mass Airflow Sensor attaches to the filter assembly, which has a rather odd setup. This is looking from the MAS end through to the flat filter housing.

This is the view from the other side of the filter housing. According to multiple sources this setup is supposed to be good for 500cfm.

The cover for the rectangular filter is quite restrictive, with only a dozen louvers allowing air to get to the filter. A popular modification that boosts the air flow up to about 550cfm is to cut the top off the cover, leaving enough meat around the sides so it isn't flopping around.

The intake arrived late Friday evening so I was able to do a little inspection on Saturday. It appears to have no damage and should be just what I need.

I had the foresight to order an extra set of gaskets for the BBK throttle body. Applied a little machinist blue and put the original bolts in the holes to align the gasket and marked the intake.

In the above photo you can see the protrusions behind the throttle body opening. The one on the bottom seems to be a dam to divert fuel or more likely oil from the PVC system into one of two holes in the floor of the intake. It was getting late but I wanted to see if I had the right burrs for the die grinder. I chucked them in a drill and with a dip in some grinding grease (wax?). The shiny one on the right is specifically designed for aluminum.

It was slow going but it looks like it will work fine in a high speed die grinder. I'm not sure I can control that long burr in a die grinder so I may stick with the short ones.

 

[Bob Heine]

I had a guy call me to pick up a c4 for scrap a few years back ( prior to back surgery). He said he pulled some parts and it had just been sitting for a few years. The next day Steph went shopping, and I went out to see what was actually left in the car. I opened the hood, and bent over to see if the engine was locked up, and my back spasmed and locked up. I wound up laying on top of the engine and couldn't get up or down. And my phone was in the house. I finally got to my hands and knees and spent the next 30 minutes crawling the 20 yards to the house. I got managed to get up on the couch and get my phone to call her. She took me to the ER where they gave me a shot of what I am pretty sure was napalm. I was honestly waiting for my right **** cheek to melt off. After 15 minutes I walked out of the ER. Cured me of wanting a C4 ever again.

Uncle Willie, I'm sorry you were treated so badly by a C4. I have been fortunate to avoid the whole spine catastrophe. I do recall crawling to the bathroom on hands and knees after hernia surgery. I didn't wake Liane because I know she would have hurt herself laughing.

I think I had a shot of that napalm. One of my fingers was locked up and the doctor said he was injecting Cortisone into the joint. He claimed there was pain killer mixed in with the Cortisone but I believe, as you pointed out, it was napalm.

 

[Bob Heine]

To be able to use a pneumatic die grinder in the shed, I connect a 100-foot air hose to a quick connect on the outside of the garage with the compressor pumping away on the other side of the wall in the air-conditioned garage. For years I have been opening the door on the shed a crack so I can have compressed air inside the shed. By 11:00am Saturday the thermometer and Alexa said it was 90*F and I wasn't looking forward to having the shed door open even a crack. I looked through my stash of galvanized pipe and found a 6-inch long 3/8" ******, which would be too short for the 2"x6" shed wall. I found an 8-inch 3/8" ****** but the threads were buggered on both ends. Time to use my new SWAG Portaband table. I've had the cheapest Version 1 table for years and planned on making legs for it but I decided life is short and Father's Day was near.

A big shout out to Mike (Zmotorsports) for the special pliers he introduced me to. Holding a pipe while cutting it with the Portaband is a pleasure.

A few minutes with a 3/8" NPT die and the 8-inch ****** was just the right length to go through the wall, with a male high-flow fitting on the outside...

...and a female quick coupler inside.

I found a cap for the male fitting but it's too loose. Somewhere I have the perfect cap but rather than look for it I'm going to wait until it bites me.

 

[Guster]

Looking forward to your porting Bob. I know they say the coarser burs are better for aluminium but I find the finer ones have a bit more control where the coarser ones like to walk around on the job a lot more. Provided you have a wax, soap or even just kerosene or WD40 to keep the aluminium from galling up the bur they'll be fine. Those new hessian cones and felt cones do a great job doing the final finish and polish too.

Those are very interesting pliers. What are they called?

You could probably put an elbow on and have the coupling pointing down so you wont need a cap or worry about gouging a thigh or **** cheek if you happen to brush the wall. Better for the coupling and hose to hang down too. The high flow ones are even easier to break off when you step on dangling hose.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Bob, it seems like most of the GM intake stuff for the TPI engines was a tad undersized. I suppose they don't require tons of flow at 4500-4800rpm @ 85% efficiency?

Thank you for sharing this project, I'm looking forward to the progress.

P.S. you sent me down quite a rabbit hole the other night looking for a C4!

 

[Bob Heine]

Looking forward to your porting Bob. I know they say the coarser burs are better for aluminium but I find the finer ones have a bit more control where the coarser ones like to walk around on the job a lot more. Provided you have a wax, soap or even just kerosene or WD40 to keep the aluminium from galling up the bur they'll be fine. Those new hessian cones and felt cones do a great job doing the final finish and polish too.

Those are very interesting pliers. What are they called?

You could probably put an elbow on and have the coupling pointing down so you wont need a cap or worry about gouging a thigh or **** cheek if you happen to brush the wall. Better for the coupling and hose to hang down too. The high flow ones are even easier to break off when you step on dangling hose.

Eugene, thanks for the advice on the burrs. I actually ordered some small 1/8" shaft burrs in both coarse and double flutes. I didn't notice a huge change using that long shaft coarse burr but it was certainly harder to control. I bought a tube of grinding grease back when I was porting the manifold on the '72 Corvette and actually remembered I had it and where it was. There is hope for me.

I am very reluctant to expose this rabbit hole but that is a Grip-On locking pliers. I bought mine on sale for $27.30 (very close to my plier splurge limit). There's more than one style so it's possible to really go overboard on these Spanish-made tools.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SOU5V2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The elbow idea is good, especially if I add say a 4" length of pipe so I can mount the down leg solidly to the siding. I took another photo to put the fitting in context. It's four feet off the ground and behind the shed door so I'd probably bump into that outlet cover before I hit the air fitting (likely I'm going to bash my stump on both of them in one day).

Bob, it seems like most of the GM intake stuff for the TPI engines was a tad undersized. I suppose they don't require tons of flow at 4500-4800rpm @ 85% efficiency?

Thank you for sharing this project, I'm looking forward to the progress.

P.S. you sent me down quite a rabbit hole the other night looking for a C4!

Marc, you're right about the undersize intake stuff. When I bought this Vette I was used to my big block C3 Corvette and the power was not impressive. On the other hand the ease of starting, handling and ride comfort was a big improvement as was the fuel mileage (almost 30mpg on a trip!!!). When I see a ratty but running C4 Corvette selling for $3,000 or $4,000 it hurts. I mean, the cars have forged aluminum suspension parts worth more than that. To replace the stamped steel upper and lower control arms on my C3 Corvette with aluminum ones, SpeedDirect charges more than $3,400.

I really appreciate your encouragement.

P.P.S. Sorry about that. You can spend $10,000 on a beat up C2 or C3 and put another $30,000 into it to make it decent or buy a 'low mileage - needs no work' C4 for $10,000 and start enjoying it right away. However, I do see the prices creeping up on the nice ones.

 

[Bob Heine]

Managed three small steps today. Sprayed a coat of black primer on the filter housing. It will get a finish coat of Underhood Black tomorrow.

Continued grinding away at the first port on the intake. The Dremel-size carbide double-cut burrs arrived today so I gave them a workout. Surprisingly quick aluminum removal so I'll get after the other side next. Then its some rough sanding with those cones and a final pass with some fine grit. Good thing I don't get paid for this.

Late this afternoon the mailperson delivered the connector sleeve that goes between the Mass Airflow Sensor and throttle body. The filter and its cover will hopefully go in tomorrow and I can give the Corvette a test drive.

For Steve and my other OCD friends, I apologize for the alignment of the worm clamps. Once I calm down I'll see if I can make it better.

 

[mybigwarwagon]

So are we close to a burnout video?

 

[casmurbax]

Bob, did you buy the L hook or the J hook pliers? When I saw them on Mike's thread and you asked him about them, I went searching. I now see they are the lowest for either of them on Amazon for almost year according to CCC.

I ordered both, shh I didn't tell the wife.

 

[Bob Heine]

So are we close to a burnout video?

Uncle Willie, I don't know why anyone would want to see a video of me at the end of a long day digging ditches. Once I'm burned out there isn't much action to see.

Bob, did you buy the L hook or the J hook pliers? When I saw them on Mike's thread and you asked him about them, I went searching. I now see they are the lowest for either of them on Amazon for almost year according to CCC.

I ordered both, shh I didn't tell the wife.

John, I bought the L hook. I was thinking it would be useful holding a bolt while cutting it. I know the day will come when I'll wish I had the J hook.

Are you worried your wife will take them for her toolbox?

 

[shortykorte]

Porting job definitely opened things up Bob.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[casmurbax]

With it just sitting in a drawer hard to understand why I purchased it, she thinks it is just another screwdriver(waste). I need her around when I use it. Now I need to get a band-saw!