1st driver under own power

Howard Jones · 03-25-03, 11:53 PM

It all works! After starting the motor a couple of weeks ago I have finally got it going under it's own power!
Sunday I rolled it out into the street to give it a try and after a uneventful startup rolled out in what I thought was 1st gear. Turned out to be 3rd. Back into the garage to fool around with the linkage. I should say that I have a GTD with a renaut R21T and cable linkage. Rolled it back out and now 1st gear was where it belongs. I then drove around the block up to 5th and back down at very slow speed. It this point I don't have most of the body fitting done so it has no doors, nostril cover, lights, very bad alinement(eyeball job) so I wanted to take it easy, NOT!! You know I had to give it a little boot so coming back onto my street I hit in 1st gear at about 10mph. BIG BLACK 30ft TIRE MARK!! YA! Its got more power than I thought. The kids in the neightbohood just about shit. I think I am getting a little clutch slipage because you I can smell a little clutch in all that smoke so I'll take it easy for a while. Now on to final fit bodywork and hardware, get all the lights working, etc. I should say that this forum has realy come thru a couple of times so far when I had a couple of headscratchers. Thanks guys!!

[ March 25, 2003: Message edited by: Howard Jones ]

03-26-03, 03:46 AM

When James Shaw was building his car many years ago, he used to take it to Goodwood before it had a body shell. This is back in the good old days when £50 got you a days testing! He used to pound the track body less which was quite a scary sight from the pictures I have seen.

But well done on getting to DRIVE your car at last.

Malcolm

Gordon Levy · 03-26-03, 09:48 AM

Congrats, I look forward to playing out on the track with you.

Iron Sheik · 03-26-03, 10:43 PM

Congrats. Come on finish it,,,,, Bud, you and I,,,,we need to do a "3 Amigo" shoot. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

40 Bud · 03-28-03, 11:00 PM

Hey Freddy Fender, you are right - we need to do a little GT40 caravan over to Denis, just to keep his enthusiasim lit! How about this Sat. or Sun. Do you need any help putting back the bits and pieces after your trip to the paint shop? Let me know what you want do and I will drive over in the bump steer improved beauty and bring my digital camera.

Howard Jones · 03-29-03, 12:03 AM

I'll be home all weekend come on by. Call me because I have to drop Gabbie off at her friends around the corner and I don't want to miss you.

Knighton · 04-16-03, 11:51 PM

What kind of horsepower are you making and what engine?

Howard Jones · 04-20-03, 03:57 AM

Well I'm not sure really. The motor is a SVO "345hp" 302. But I'm not sure what ford uses for induction and exaust etc. when they rate it. Mine has a eldenbrock RPM performer and a 750 manual holly on it along with a complete MSD, 6AL and bilet(I hate that word)non vac distributor. I am pretty sure that the guy who ordered it from ford got the X303 cam in it because it is very lumpy at idle. Much more so that other 302 SVO motors I know of. Sooooo I would guess somewhere in the range of 350-365hp? Buy the way this is plenty of power for one of these cars. Don't forget the real 289/302 GT40s raced at about 425hp. I think that without a very large investment in the gearbox and the remainder of the drivetrain 350hp is just about right. Any more money spent on "Go" would be best served in a LSD for the gearbox along with strenght upgrades for the internals.

[ April 20, 2003: Message edited by: Howard Jones ]