Eric Christie's Vettepage

Lets Roll !!

Finally, the car is done. Everything is ready. I need to break in the rear-end, which means I have to run it for short distances a couple times, then take it out for a longer highway spin. Once it is insured and legal, I know I won’t be able to wait for a long ride, so I surreptitiously begin breaking in the rear-end at night with the plate of my Subaru. Kids: Don’t try this at home. It is stupid, but cars can do this to me. Things go well, no one is arrested.

Next day: I have ran around like a madman this morning, acquiring insurance, getting a plate and such, and now we are ready to roll. I go to pick up Aaron, and we hit the highway for some lunch. The car is great. 460 horsepower, deep Flowmaster exhaust, Hurst 4 speed. I break into song spontaneously! Aaron winces.

We get some Chinese food and then turn around and head back down the road. Aaron drives while I stare gleefully around, numbed by the fact that the car actually runs under it’s own power. We zip along, occasionally exceeding the posted speed limit and arrive home safely, with nary an oil drip. We are set.

I should do more? 

It has been five weeks and I still love driving the car. It is quick, loud, cool, and a CORVETTE! But something has come up. My friend Ed wants my Vortec heads to put on a giveaway motor his car club is raffling off. I like Ed, but I feel the car will run poorly without cylinder heads. We need a solution, and it arrives in the form of a pair of rebuilt aluminum racing heads! GMPP heads with fresh valves and all the tricks. VERY sexy. What can I say? Do I or don’t I? Ha, of course I do! The price was right, Ed did the labor, and we estimate 40 more horsepower. And he threw in the sweet manifold. I can’t put that on, because it won’t fit under the hood (major foreshadowing), but maybe later.

New heads make more torque; story at 11

 The new heads went on, and I went out and wailed on the car. It was great. More power, more speed, more fun. Then disaster struck. Paint began to flake off the hood?!? What is this you say. Well let me tell you. Apparently the torque broke the drivers side motor mount and sent the carb stud into the hood like an eight penny nail out of  a nail gun. Bummer. So much for my pristine paint job. Oh well, off to the store for a new mount and I better try to make the decision for either solid mounts or some sort of a torque strap.

Decision made. 

I replaced the factory mount with another factory mount. It lasted 15 minutes of abuse, then it too, let loose, sending more under hood components into the air. This time the alternator bracket nearly rips through the hood. A quick call to Summit gets me a set of solid mounts and the promise of some minor vibration. We’ll fix the hood over the winter. Time to drive!

 I continue to wail on the vette all summer. I buy 2 new tires to replace the ancient no names on the back. I notice the interior gets a little warm on most trips lasting more than 4 minutes. I check out the corvette forum and find out this is a common occurance. I am trying to contact a company called Koolmat, as I hear they have good lightweight stuff. Until then, I dress light.

During the first winter, I store the vette and do very little to it. As spring approaches, I begin to look for 93-96 corvette sawblade style wheels for it. I have always loved the look of those on c3s and find a set  on the net. This too however has it’s difficulties, as 3 of the wheels look good and the fourth looks like crap. Four months later, I get the situation remedied and with the help of Vette Brakes wheel adapters I install them and go.

 The difference isn’t quite as big as I had hoped, but it does help out a lot with handling, and the look is great.  

Next is a new hood for a couple of reasons. One, there is a hole in my factory hood, and two, I need space for the high rise manifold that came with my heads! Ecklers gets the call and sends me a higher scooped hood with a somewhat factory look. I was impressed with their fit and finish. The hood fit pretty well with only minor adjusting.