Resurrecting the Rambler

[Ed Fernandez]

That shelf behind the rear seat is a perfect place for weight. When I had the gremlin I had a 150# bar there secured by two 9/16" studs. BTW they have to be tack welded on both ends.

[Pinballer]

Originally Posted by Ed Fernandez

That shelf behind the rear seat is a perfect place for weight. When I had the gremlin I had a 150# bar there secured by two 9/16" studs. BTW they have to be tack welded on both ends.

Appreciate the tip Ed, thanks. Trying to visualize this---are you saying once the weighted bar is set in place behind the rear seat that I need to tack weld the stud heads that would be underneath the car directly to the floor pan and then tack weld the top side stud/nut assembly directly to the bar after bolting it down? That would make it difficult to change.
I guess I need to go back and review the rulebook on 'weight and how to attach'...didn't think I'd be spending much time there.

[Carguy49]

I just read through the entire thread and find this build amazing. I love odd ball combos for Stock Eliminator. In case you haven't already done it, pick the brain of Jim Mantle. His Pacer is amazing to watch. Jim is a very knowledgeable guy, is easy to talk to and his car flies for a 6 cylinder car.

[Eric Merryfield]

Originally Posted by Ed Fernandez

That shelf behind the rear seat is a perfect place for weight. When I had the gremlin I had a 150# bar there secured by two 9/16" studs. BTW they have to be tack welded on both ends.

Its still there Ed, Tom added a hook to it to use a engine hoist to get it out though. Now that its back at 150, spare tire will go back in I guess.

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by Eric Merryfield

Its still there Ed, Tom added a hook to it to use a engine hoist to get it out though. Now that its back at 150, spare tire will go back in I guess.

Who knocked it back to 150? Was it the pacer?

[Pinballer]

Originally Posted by Ed Fernandez

Who knocked it back to 150? Was it the pacer?

Must have been. Last I checked Jim had made runs and qualified with some -.8's and a -.9 or two out in the Northwest at a couple events, but not sure how altitude or a mineshaft condition might have been factored into that whole scene.

[IDRAMBLER]

Brian....just read your entire thread....love your car...

I have a 81 Spirit with a 87 258 and Clifford intake..long tube header and a holly 390 4bl carb...needs work thurst bearing gone in engine...
Jim

[Pinballer]

Car was just plain too fast, wasn't it? Fix it up and try again! It's what we all do.

Hey, sorry for no Stocker updates for a while, I have "old house" problems to cure first and then I'll be back at it. Thought I had those handled already but guess not. Stay tuned.

[Pinballer]

Finally, after some house grief it's back into action on the car. About one week ago, I applied the door decals and earlier this week started experimenting with the hood art layout. I didn't care for the factory offering, so I got some yellow pinstripe tape and started laying out my own pattern on some flames around a "homemade" AMX decal. Not sure I like it, but the pinstriping is easily ripped back off if needed. The AMX decal will stay on the hood though, that one is fairly permanent.

Now, the big news: September 3, 2016... very close to one full year after I started on this whole adventure, I filled up all the fluids, gave everything a final look-over, tug, and re-check, and started the car up after 23.5 years of sitting. Vroom! Oil pressure came up, and nothing melted or caught on fire. Topped everything off after a short run period and then drove it up and down the country road where I live, albeit slowly, (the tires are rotted and horrible), and it shifts into all the gears.
THE CAR LIVES!!!

Let the refinement process begin.