Today was a big day for me

[parsonsj]

I am now the proud owner of actual tags for II Much. I can legally drive the car on the street!

The car was last tagged in 1985, and the title was last transferred in 1990. So, in a way, I've raised this car from the dead. It hasn't been on the street in 21 years!

Err ... now I need a 4 pt harness so I can click it and avoid a ticket.

jp

ps. Many thanks to Lisa Serafine of GP SuperStore for her help guiding me through the Florida registration system. Boy am I glad I'm not in Maryland any more.

[BonzoHansen]

Yippe!

[Rick Dorion]

Way to go John. A milestone!

[F70t/a]

How about some pics?:jump:

[Jim Nilsen]

Congratulations John:jump: It has to be a real great feeling of accomplishment to have finally gotten to paying for the actual part of being able to drive. All of the money to build a car seems to go on forever and then you find you get to pay to drive. It will be a lot more fun I bet now spending the $$$$$ on your car for gas ,entry fees,oil changes,spark plugs,and all of the things you got to miss while building it.

It has been a long road to get to streets and now you are in sunny Florida where you can enjoy your car practically year round. I hope you feel proud and enjoy what is coming your way.

Jim Nilsen

[ProdigyCustoms]

And tomorrow should be even a bigger day when we go do some burnouts and a little shakedown run. I am bringing my video camera, if Joh will let me,

[colt zantop]

Pics! Pics! Pics! :)

[zbugger]

Congrats John!!! Your car has gone through a small transformation to be what it is today. Nothing but bolt-ons is a great approach. Oh, man... Don't you wish it was that easy? You've gone through hell and back with the car. I can't wait to see it.

[steemin]

congratulations.
I have followed your build, and I am sure you will find it was worth the wait.
Enjoy! :cheers:

Scott

[WS6]

Awsome news! Do take pics and share them if you can please.

[andrewb70]

And tomorrow should be even a bigger day when we go do some burnouts and a little shakedown run. I am bringing my video camera, if Joh will let me,

Be nice to the clutch!

Andrew

[parsonsj]

Camera, check. Easy on clutch, check. Making sure the rear window doesn't separate from the car like a solid rocket booster, check.

Maiden voyage tomorrow. Can't wait.

jp

[Damn True]

BITCHIN!

Very cool JP!

[67LS1T56]

Congrats, you are true craftsman i love the way you build that car. Good luck.

[Jims78elky]

John,

Its come along way!

Enjoy the ride...

[novanutcase]

ALLRIGHT!!!!!!!!Now you can come over and help me with my ride!:bananna2:

[TonyL]

Congrats. It's funny how the "Little things" make bringing a car back *official*.

Im so looking forward to seeing your car in action.

[Steve68]

That's it I going to hang out in Winter Springs today!! with Camara in hand!

[Jim Nilsen]

Steve68, That will be like getting spy photos. Something even the car mags look forward to but we might get them first,right? Goodluck finding them and getting a few, I can't wait. Just be sure they don't take your camera away and break it,LOL. It's been top secret for a long time!

Jim Nilsen

[vanzuuk1]

Well?

[Steve68]

Winter Springs isn't that big, but I wouldn't do that to JP, and since I have a free day, no G/F, no kids, and I just sold some Ferd parts, and a camper shell, and the Lawn Tractor I rebuilt, I get a little time to work on the Camaro and BMW which is ready to be sold so I can buy more parts I think I'm going crazy hehehehhaahahah...........

[trapin]

John...congrats on the milestone. I can't wait to get there myself someday. If I can get on the road by '08, that'll be 15 years since my car last saw the street.

[Kenova]

Way to go JP :twothumbs . So, what are you building next? :naughty:
Ken

[Beegs]

Can't wait to hear details of the maiden voyage. Good luck!:cool:

[datsbad]

waiting to hear about it .

[Damn True]

Can you update that lexan window mounting thread now?

[ProdigyCustoms]

I rode in II Much, I rode in II Much, I rode in II Much, nana nana boo boo

[muthstryker]

way to act your age frank! :hammer:

[andrewb70]

I rode in II Much, I rode in II Much, I rode in II Much, nana nana boo boo

:getout:

Andrew

[kmcanally]

So how was it? This has got to be one of the most anticipated build finishes in a long time! Hmmm...I wonder when a full feature will show up in PHR?

[nancejd]

Congratulations John. Have you scared your wife and kids yet?

[parsonsj]

Thanks everyone. It really means a lot to me. I've been working on this car for more than 5 years, and while it's still not finished, I finally took it for a long drive.

With a whole lot of help from Frank, Michael, and Andrew, we got the windows in temporarily, fixed the alternator, and put the license plate on. The damn license plate took more time than anything since it is affixed with titanium fasteners (I'm not kidding), and has to be "altered" to fit. It will take a lot more than a kid with a dime to take my plates, lol.

Frank hooked up his laptop to the ECU, and off we went. First we put gas in the tank -- a good idea since the car ran out of gas twice on the dyno. We did some light cruising, high speed cruising, part throttle acceleration, full boogie ass-hauls, and Frank chipped away on my fuel map. He reports the car stays within O2 wideband range of the ECU now, and he cleared up several fat conditions and some lean places.

First impressions:
It's fast. It stays flat around corners, and stops easily. Steering is fast and light, but not twitchy.

It's loud. There isn't any carpet or sound deadening in the car at all (yet), so every single noise is felt and heard. That's cool now (exhilarating, even), but will be tiresome later, I bet. Sound deadener and carpet is definitely in the future. Cell phone calls are impossible.

It's clunky. The Locker and heim joints clue you in that the rear end is back there and working for you. I was digging that, since it wasn't harsh ... it was just there.

It rides smoothly. No harsh feel in undulations or bumps, etc.

It was hot. The floor gets hot near the exhaust tubes, and the shifter ball heats up too. It wasn't dripping wet, wear you out hot, but I only drove it for an hour or so. See above about sound deadeners ... heat absorption is a must too.

The suspension and steering both seem to work. I can make U-turns, pull into gas station driveways, park in the grass, go over speed-bumps, and drive through parking lots.

Problems noted: The brakes feel awesome, but are biased too much rearward. Some balance-bar tuning will correct that. The clutch pedal is too high. A simple adjustment should take care of that. The steering wheel center indicator is off. A 4 wheel alignment is needed to get all that sorted out.

But ... it's a car now. I can drive it anywhere, and plan to.

What a ride!

jp

ps. James, yes I scared my daughter. She wasn't sure what to expect, but did manage to wave to her friends as we went by.

pss. True, more to come on the flush mount idea. I'll post in that thread how it all turned out.

[67Sally]

Fantastic!

[ProdigyCustoms]

I am honored to have been the first passenger in the car. The car is fricken awesome. The maiden voyage went as well as by best maidens. I can only be a parrot and repeat John's observations. Carpet will make a world of difference.

No doubt a SMOTY canidate, and a real driver too.

Mike Norris (Next Level), same guy that was tuning Prodigy at RTH2, is doing some real tuning on II Much and letting me look over his shoulder. Mike had it very close. All I really did was watch the screen and tweak the fuel map little bits to trim O2 compensation. Mike will get it for a couple hours to tidy up a couple tiny things at it will be perfect.

Congratulation John, you should be very proud! I for one am impressed!

[tracar91]

:postpics:

So here is some pics!

:wrc: :3gears:
:lmao:
Can't wait to see pics and video!

[speedster]

Camera, check. Easy on clutch, check. Making sure the rear window doesn't separate from the car like a solid rocket booster, check.

Maiden voyage tomorrow. Can't wait.

jp


John -
It was nice meeting you and your other half yesterday. The workmanship you did on the car is absolutely incredible and needs to be seen in person to be appreciated. And man, when that thing starts up, it sounds like a ProMod. Wow!

Anyway, hope you had fun driving it around yesterday. If you need a couple of extra spy photos, I have a few.

Take Care and hope to see you around.

[Bill Howell]

Congratulations John, I am sure it is a relief to finally make a lap in the car. I have to think the event "inspired" you to finish the car up? lol
I can not wait til next time to watch you pilot your car around the track. Pictures and video........soon.............please........!!

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Congrats on the maiden voyage!

[parsonsj]

I have to think the [Pigeon Forge] event "inspired" you to finish the car upBill, you're right: but not in the way you're thinking. I was trying to get the car to PF this year ... but missed. The headliner/window/alternator/insurance/tags/fix small stuff work of the past month was all to get there.

You bet I'm planning on being there next year. I may have to take my front spoiler off though, lol.

jp

[Bill Howell]

I told more than one person last weekend that I hoped you showed up in the car and "surprised" everyone.
Next year is right, gotta be ready then.

[Roger Poirier]

way to act your age frank! :hammer:


LMAO

R.P.

[parsonsj]

I took this late this afternoon.

jp

[F70t/a]

:smoke: :smoke: :smoke: :smoke: :smoke: :smoke: ...... more big daddy!!!

[TonyHuntimer]

Congrats John,

I bet your wife never thought the car would be in its current state. :) The car looks awesome! It has come a long way.

Tony~

[David Pozzi]

Wow! Congratulations John!!!

[Beegs]

Man that car looks tuff! John, do you have a higher res picture?:naughty:

[slenning]

Congratulations John, awesome car. Can't wait to see it!

[preston]

Yeah maiden voyages are always exciting and disappointing at the same time. It always takes me a LONG time from initital drive to being happy and "semi" finished.

Do not underestimate what it will take to to quiet the car down - There is a huge difference between bare metal and a little carpet, but the next level after that (race car acceptable to street enjoyable) is really tough IMO. I've put thousands of dollars and 100 lbs of dynamat in my cars with only minimal improvements in the past - I htink the key is to really get every inch covered with that stuff and use the thicker extermliner on the trans tunnel and firewall and wheelhouses. Its really disappointing to add all that weight though. A fully welded and corrugated floor and rear like you have probably helps though, mylast project had riveted aluminum panels.

also even tiny holes transmit a ton of sound - In my oem 5.0 just having the passenger seat out leaving 4 5/16 diameter holes in the floor was horrendous.

Cool man have fun but remember that for the next several weeks you are on shakedown - have a planned route to back home, have a plan for towing the car home, don't take it too far away, and watch constantly for leaks and loosening bolts. I like to drive mine for an hour, then put it on stands for a week and fix things, and then go back out. But eventually they all become as reliable as anything.

I love the tough paint scheme and "tough sedan" stance.

[Roger Poirier]

I took this late this afternoon.

jp

I guess it's sooner than later that were going to see this thing for real.
Is that not the first pic shown to pro-touring's web-site? Very nice JP. There should be a book about this car along with photos.

I'm serious. It would help offset some of you lifes labor cost.

R.P.

[parsonsj]

Thanks all. I value your opinions.

Preston, I'm listening. I've got a big hole where the shifter comes through that I'll plug up. I don't want to put hundreds of pounds in via dynamat, so we'll see.

Roger, thanks! Yes, that's the only full car pic I've released.

My wife has been telling me all along to write a book. I think I'm too lazy to do that ...

jp

[awr68]

VERY, VERY, VERY COOL!!! This truely inspires me to keep banging away at my 'project'...thanks for the update!!! :)

[trapin]

My wife has been telling me all along to write a book. I think I'm too lazy to do that ...
Tony Huntimer might want to do it.

[AAW]

Amazing car, John.
Congratulations...
I'm happy for you!
~T

[stealth71]

I want to come check it out. Let me know. Did Steve make it over? Maybe we can come together.

[rockdogz]

Awesome John, congrats!
Looks killer!!

:worship:

[slow4dr]

I took this late this afternoon.

jp


Congrats! She looks absolutey stunning.

[Damn True]

I took this late this afternoon.

jp

Nasty JP, Hot & Nasty.

[Steve68]

If your talking about me, I don't show up unless I'm invited, so I ain't seen nothing,

I did go to W/S on sat, but it was to see a friend, Steve

[parsonsj]

Local boys (Steve/Stealth) drop me a PM. I'd love to show it off to you guys. I'm out of town this weekend and next week, but I'm usually around otherwise.

jp

[Steve68]

Thanks JP, I'd love to see it and go for a ride, hell theres some Fundays coming up at the track, you could do a little test runs, I send you a PM,

[MrQuick]

yummy,


looks great John, congrates. You gotta leave that hood black brother! Looks nasty with a capital "F".

[Steve1968LS2]

I rode in II Much, I rode in II Much, I rode in II Much, nana nana boo boo

You suck!!!

Congrats John.. that is gonna be one bad mama-jamma when done.. must be nice after so many years..

[parsonsj]

Vince: Oh yeah, the hood stays black. David and the boys at Road Killer Kustoms came up with that satin black for the hood, door handles, mirrors, etc.

It matches the anodized aluminum parts very nicely.

Hey Steve, do you still have those ARP header studs?

jp

[Steve1968LS2]

Vince: Oh yeah, the hood stays black. David and the boys at Road Killer Kustoms came up with that satin black for the hood, door handles, mirrors, etc.

It matches the anodized aluminum parts very nicely.

Hey Steve, do you still have those ARP header studs?

jp

Damn.. forgot all about that.. yea.. shoot me your addy again to [email protected]

will rush them to ya..

It's been crazy busy here.. i have SO MUCH to do..

[swey00]

i was never a big fan of the chevy II/nova's but that car....is amazing

[David Sloan]

Very nice! JP
I hope to see it again, The end of November. I guess PRI is a go!!

[parsonsj]

Thanks again all.

David, PRI cars are decided by committee. I've submitted some pictures (via Al Noe at Stainless Works), so we'll see. We're supposed to know by late October.

I'm finishing up details (roof rail weatherstripping is now done), and the wife has approved the Turkey Run weekend. You coming down for that?

jp

[F70t/a]

John,


Is the stain black on your hood and other areas easy to clean? Does it scratch or fade easy? I really dig it big time:yum:

[Steve1968LS2]

John,


Is the stain black on your hood and other areas easy to clean? Does it scratch or fade easy? I really dig it big time:yum:

Yea, I would like to know this too.. I was toying with the idea of doing this on Penny, but am afraid that it won't hold up.

[gEtyOpAPiOn]

oooo weee ...that nova is so clean ....waited a long time to see it *almost* done hehe ,congrats!!!

[parsonsj]

The paint used is PPG single stage black, with modified hardener instructions. Beyond that, we need to ask David Sloan at Road Killer Kustoms. It's not primer, which does have lots of problems. No doubt that 2 stage and modern clear coats will be more durable, but this should hold up just fine.

I used Zaino polish on it this past weekend with no ill effects. Some of the black you see is anodized aluminum, which is also durable though not very UV resistant.

jp

[Tiger]

John,
first of all congratulations, I guess five years of sweat, blood and tears are all forgotten now huh?

but hey man, let us see the pics!

[JohnUlaszek]

Paul Ruggles was in town last year and gave John a hand on brake line routing, he is an artist at this, and I figured I might as well do something useful, so I pushed the shutter release. Not sure if I have posted this before, but if I did, it would have been black and white. Now that the color is out of the bag....
Sure has come a long way from a pile of metal to a car.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2006/09/255318365_b5530053ab_o-1.jpg

[F70t/a]

Damn that satin black really looks good john

[Van B]

I have to say that the car is every bit as incredible as I expected it to be. :twothumbs

Congratulations on a beautiful build and thanks for your hospitality.

Did you get your IAT issue worked out?

[parsonsj]

Thanks guys. Yeah, Paul Ruggles is a genuine artist doing hardlines. He not only came over and did my ps lines, but he showed me some tricks to use my tube benders so I could do my own later.

Jeff, It turns out Mike Norris at NextLevel "sees" the sensors just fine. I'm thinking I've got a software problem. Perhaps my laptop software is downlevel or something. Mike tells me he has it idling at 850 rpm, and it just snaps off that when you hit the throttle pedal. Plus the cold start thing is fixed ... it starts with a turn of the key.

The only known issue now is that battery voltage drops at idle, and that causes problems in city traffic. Since I live in the city ... I need a bigger crank pulley, or a smaller alternator pulley. I've got a call into the boys at Wegner to see what options I've got.

jp

[Damn True]

Can't wait to see the whole thing laid out in print. I'd prefer to see it in my driveway, but one can't have it all.

JP, check your Lat-G.com PM's

[Van B]

The only known issue now is that battery voltage drops at idle, and that causes problems in city traffic. Since I live in the city ... I need a bigger crank pulley, or a smaller alternator pulley. I've got a call into the boys at Wegner to see what options I've got.

jp

I wonder if the alternator "likes" high RPM better since it is a race piece, or the regulator is calibrated differently. I may be showing my ignorance here...

Let me know what you find out, since I have the same alternator.

[David Sloan]

Thanks again all.

David, PRI cars are decided by committee. I've submitted some pictures (via Al Noe at Stainless Works), so we'll see. We're supposed to know by late October.

I'm finishing up details (roof rail weatherstripping is now done), and the wife has approved the Turkey Run weekend. You coming down for that?

jp


JP
Not sure if we can get away for both. We were planing on the PRI if that comes about.
I will have to talk to the Boss. LOL!! She is so good to me!!!

[BADVELLE]

As for the flat black, check out the DuPont Hot Rod Black. This is a single stage, specially mixed with a hardner, cleans and does not spot, just like a regular base/clear.

[Conekiller13]

Your car is what mine dreams of at night...........mine hasnt been tagged since 12/02 or together for that matter.