time to finish up the cross member

make the e-brake work
https://i.imgur.com/6ulL9Jd.jpg
weld some braces too
https://i.imgur.com/PpuOidH.jpg
then paint
https://i.imgur.com/owpJlau.jpg
and done
https://i.imgur.com/ZWzv9ci.jpg
then little stuff like - will an 18" wheel fit on the back - yes
https://i.imgur.com/6n2n2yK.jpg
and rubbing issue.... such a temptation to just grind that 1/4" off
https://i.imgur.com/JmThET3.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/G1kQ8RF.jpg
then fix the clutch linkage
https://i.imgur.com/OwpXAJf.jpg
the car was a 4 speed car and those rods were likely there since new.... the pivot was half worn through - so it was time to make it a bit better

ugh, when a company doesn't call back when you call them to ask shipping status.... that means it's on its way, right?



right?


:secret:

:action-smiley-027:


thankfully there is a 'get by' solution but ugh, again.

Oh boy. FedUp strikes again. I live near Seattle... according to FedUp it will be on my doorstep between 9:45 and 3:30. Today. Right. At least the good news is it was sent last week...

Scheduled delivery:
Tuesday, 10/26/2021
Estimated between: 9:45 am - 3:30 pm
IN TRANSIT
Departed FedEx location
BILLINGS, MT

I'll be lucky if it arrives before I have to leave for SEMA on Sunday... place your bets now, folks. Thankfully the car doesn't have to be there....

would you just look at that
https://i.imgur.com/LPg4Jz2h.jpg
winking...
https://i.imgur.com/ovG3dl5h.jpg
not winking
https://i.imgur.com/9vSw9hDh.jpg
things get a bit crowded when I need to use the lift for the daily
https://i.imgur.com/KBnbd92h.jpg
wiring the speedo
https://i.imgur.com/5UM50Z9h.jpg
imagine taking the interior apart to pull the old 3 wire cable out and putting in the 2 wire..
https://i.imgur.com/sxa0THMh.jpg

and lastly, I'll try to save the fenders by cranking up the coils
https://i.imgur.com/PFiGZunh.jpg
Not a lot happening because I'm waiting for key parts
so... driveshaft and shifter should be here Thursday... hoping to get it in before I leave on Sunday.... we will see. I could move it if the driveshaft arrives...

any 'bad' weather, any package that weighs more then 40#, anything that is sent ground.... I wish I was kidding, but I've not used vendors who insist on FedUp. Corbeau was the latest, they insisted - which there isn't another 'bolt in' option - so I put it on them if it didn't arrive. It didn't, BUT, they gave me a nice discount for my trouble - but had I had my choice I wish they'd have taken a couple dollars (not joking, I offered - that's how bad they are) more to use someone else. but still - I'm very appreciative of how hard they worked to make it right.

one day late, but it's here
https://i.imgur.com/s7Eg1vNh.jpg
I need to check American Power train's tape measure... that isn't a 3" offset... it's a nice piece, for certain, but I need a real 3"
https://i.imgur.com/8IVuLjPh.jpg
I'm not against it coming up from the center, but it is a bit annoying
https://i.imgur.com/Nv3B2u2h.jpg
seems my shifter isn't going to work either... maybe if I put a skull on it?
https://i.imgur.com/vrSc6oIh.jpg

driveshaft tomorrow.

apparently "shorten" means "put in a new, larger tube".... I'm not upset about it because I could make it work.... but goodness, why?
https://i.imgur.com/nfT5Z2Bh.jpg
I'll have to make tabs to weld the rear crossmember back in but I think I'll finally get to the cross bracing I intended before, so it will be like this until after SEMA
​​​​​​​https://i.imgur.com/68qKZMqh.jpg
and yes, I used a body sledge hammer to create space

Coming along nicely. Sweet daily by the way!

welll... I'm back. SEMA was an absolute blast, however I did come back with a cold so not all is great on the home front.... ah well.

In news that relates to this. Talked to OUSCA (Optima challenge) about schedule - and there isn't a schedule yet. I got a feeling that there may not be a west-coast version. That would suck - ah well, the Wilwood Corvette Challenge is game as is the Silver State Challenge. I drove the route from Ely - I could see doing that.
​​​​​​​I also.... this is my OPINION and in no way judging - the current crop of Optima cars aren't street cars anymore, and building a race car doesn't interest me. Sure, I'll make it faster but it's not what I am interested in building.
Anyway, where I left off
Talked to American Powertrain (who sold me the shifter). They'll send me the right offset after I call them on Monday (love SEMA - had a great talk with FiTech (I still don't think it was their fault - except they didn't call back - we talked, we're good), American Powertrain, Aldan American, and all sorts of other suppliers.
time to put the brace back in place
https://i.imgur.com/SUZfjq0.jpg
fits
https://i.imgur.com/WVYfwrq.jpg
paint is drying
https://i.imgur.com/MDr56Jg.jpg
Oh look, and not even a little stock C3 suspension.
https://i.imgur.com/PsTkl0b.jpg
and I'm thinking about doing a PF3.... ZL1 rear, C7 front, 632 motor.... though this time, I'd have Art Morrison just bend me some new rails based off the dimensions of what I've built now
Next is a new fuel tank similar to what I built for PF1.... need more capacity, might also change out the lifters to get my idle oil pressure back.... next up is aero with a belly pan and 'stupid' wings.
When I went to SEMA in 2018, I was glad my car wasn't there. This year, mine would have fit right in - takes twice as long to build but it's 4x a better build.