And so it begins...

 Parts are being removed!
The car is to be towed to my house (about 25 miles from where it is now).  Because of the headers and exhaust that were replaced way back when, we had about a 3" clearance between car and road surface.  This was going to make towing this car a bitch! 
It was already on the agenda to remove the headers and exhaust, so this past Sunday, we all met at Steph's to get the car ready to tow. 
Dan came with his grinder, to just cut the headers off, to avoid having to do any major work in such a time squeeze (he's busy...I have the in-laws visiting).  After some debate about the best way to do it, we agreed that going underneath, and just cutting the exhaust off, for now, would be the most logical. 

In theory, it would be quick and easy.  But nothing ever is!

The last pipe he had to cut through was in a position that made it tricky to cut without damaging other parts.  So I got to help by trying to bend it out of the way.  We ended up cutting the passenger side exhaust off, before going back in to get to that last pipe.

 District 9!!

 (this is when Dan simply rolled his eyes at me.)

 

During our cleaning session, I removed the air filter, so that we could shut the hood.  This last visit, I actually got to use my new tools and remove the old carburetor!  Seems real, now.

 

Also used my tools, and Dan's (mine is the little girlie set next to me) to take the collector from the exhaust pipe.  Yep, that's the other Purple Hornet glass pack.  Dan says we should use them...they mean nothing to me, yet.

 

So that's where we're at.  Ready to move the car, but not sure the best way to do it.  Well, we will probably rotate the back tires to the front, if we tow with Dan's truck.  Possibly not bother if we can afford a 25 mile flatbed tow.  I hope I am still able to drive when this thing is done!

 

Just a side note: all pics here were taken with Steph's phone, because I forgot to bring my camera!!



Project Detour

Everyone is onboard with the new plan to move the 'Cuda here, to my house.
Now, we just have to iron out details...I haven't spoken to my brother (the one moving the car, or getting his friend to do it) since I told him it was a 'go'.
I haven't talked to Steph since then, either.
My in-laws are in town...nothing is getting done for at least two weeks now.
New post as soon as things get moving again...and boy, do I hope it's soon!! 
Of course, once the car is moved, the money starts moving out of my bank account too...maybe I can wait just a little longer for that to start!

Can't hide the frustration

First of all...this post is going to sound a little bitchy.  For that, if you actually read to the end, I apologize.  If you're not up for the ramblings of a frustrated girl who feels utterly alone in a project she was to be a PART of...you may want to stop after I show you the new and improved 'after' shot of the seat cleaning.
So, in case you don't remember how bad the mildew was on our white interior...

Keep in mind, that I (Jen) was unaware of the fact that the window seals (luckily just the doors, not the windshield or rear window) were crap.  As we sprayed the dust off several weeks ago, the water just slipped right in.  Hence the magical amount of mildew our seats were collecting.  While I am in love with the white interior (!), I have to say that cleaning a black or navy interior would have been much easier.  Of course, while the white is not exactly white yet, I did get more gratification knowing just how much cleaner I did get the vinyl after just one scrubbing...

It's still more grey than white at the really dirty parts, but I am happy that a good cleaning is all we will need...no tears or loose stitching to deal with.

WARNING:  Now for the rant.

A quick re-cap of the history of this car:  my father bought it as a bonding project or a 'thanks for all your help' or something for my sister (Steph...the other half of this blog).  Soon after purchase, our older brother (Dan) had knee surgery and started spending time off with dad...and, making adjustments to the car per dad's instruction.  Dad, being legally blind and (at the time, temporarily, but eventually permanently) in a wheelchair; but, also a former hobby drag racer, decided to soup up the engine.
I don't know if it was smart thinking on Dan's part, or shear dumb luck due to our family's need to keep everything, but for each new part they put in, the original parts were put in dad's shed.
Anyway, the reason we are in the situation (a car with a too big engine) is not because of Dan (as Steph had suspected), but because our father thought he could make this unassuming coupe/sedan into a race car.

So, what's the big deal?  Now's my chance to learn about cars.  Not only that, but having never spent time on cars with my dad, I have the luxury of having a brother who wants to show me the things he has learned from dad.
Well, the problem is the drawn-out process of merely getting started!  How long is it going to take to actually get some work done on this car!!??
It sits there, at Steph's house...20 miles away from the only person who actually has time to work on it.  Here's the real kicker, the longer we go not working on it, the more obvious it is that we're not all at the same level of excitement anymore. 
And, financially speaking, I am likely the ONLY source of dough.  I have less faith that this will ever get done, each time I try to get things moving.

Here's an upside to the whole breakdown I'm having...Dan, bless his heart, still wants to help.  Maybe it's his desire to have a relationship with his sisters; or, perhaps he just wants to be in on any end results (such as a little cash, should we decide to sell the finished product).  But, whatever his motives, he's helping.  It looks like we will be able to move the car to my house at some point.  And Steph is okay with that.  She is more emotionally attached to the car, but she has admitted that I am clearly the major supporter of this project (especially since I'm the only one who hasn't spent my measly inheritance!).

What, then, is our next step?  Dan will either get his friend to tow the car here, from Steph's ('for just the price of gas'); or, he's considering it a possibility to simply tow the car with his new super truck.  Whatever happens, I'm guessing the car will be in my driveway by the end of September.  If it takes much longer than that to get this particular ball rolling, I may have to just give it up altogether, because I don't know how much more 'standing around' I can take.

Sorry for the ranting...I promise the next post to be actual car related information!