On a side note.... Are those Wheel Vintiques Pontiac Rallye 2 wheels?

No offense, but there are only so many ways to skin a cat. I don't see how you can get all uppity like you were original in your idea to clone a Yenko with a twist, something that has already been done so many times I can see it multiple times in one small car show. The idea isn't original, new, or innovative, and hasn't been since much longer than I've been alive.



I have it on good authority that Cris had "the stig" out at a little private test and tune this morning. Blu Balz was looking good :thumbsup:

would like to thank chris and many other garage or pro shops out there that contribute to this site by way of pictures , conversations , instructions etc and for the people that think they're idea is so original and completely ground braking don't post or talk about it. build your car and take it to your grave. unless you have figured or found a new source of endless energy or cure for cancer if its not either you can keep that s%@*

So, how is she doing at MATS? I cant wait to hear the results!

I have been insane busy, but here are the rest of the pics from the conversion / install!

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...ar-end-one.jpg

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...sleeve-one.jpg

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...sleeve-two.jpg

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...earing-one.jpg

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...ock-washer.jpg

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...earing-nut.jpg

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...ocket-tool.jpg

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...b-in-place.jpg

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...e-with-GT1.jpg

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...tall-axles.jpg

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...e-plateone.jpg

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...-plate-one.jpg

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...mbly-three.jpg

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...er-car-one.jpg

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...nstall-one.jpg

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...stall-four.jpg

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...stall-five.jpg

http://thegmr.com/wp-content/uploads...ide-of-car.jpg


Jason

For about the last three months now I've been reading about everybody and their brother and sister getting to hammer on Blu Balz, while she was getting dialed in, which was something that would have taken me more like three years to do.:lol: Well this past weekend at the MATS/Hotchkis autox event in Las Vegas, it was finally my turn, and she didn't disappoint! The track was tight. 1st gear tight. John Hotchkis said the cones were hard and to treat them like land mines. And, I had a pretty new car, that had 495 rwhp (150 more than my Mustang), that I had only driven once for 15 minutes in a straight line 5 months earlier.
So not wanting to dent up BB on my first drive, I asked Brian Hobaugh to take the first lap with me riding shotgun to see the line. He says no problem, and away we go. The car felt like the videos of Mike Maiers driving the Frank Stagnaro '66 Mustang. Anyway, Brian takes off, killer acceleration, having to make constant steering corrections, the brake problems are gone, thank goodness, and after about 28 seconds we come sliding across the finish line. :wow: Thanks Brian!!!:faint:
This was my 1st ride-along with someone FAST!
So now I'm up, and I've never ran a 1st gear autox. 1st gear is what you use to get to the starting line. Oh yeah, Cris tells me he's swapped out the 373 gear with a 410 for little more punch. O K
So after 5 minutes of getting acquainted with the harnesses, I roll up to the line, without stalling, and wait for the start. The starter gives me the go sign. I feed it some gas and let out the clutch. DAMN thing is fast! I slow down for the 1st corner, get back on the gas, and weee I'm drifting! I'm getting some push in the corners, driver error. Every time I get on the gas, I'm breaking loose, driver error. But so far no cones and slowly I start getting used to the power. Brian gives me some more pointers, and my times are coming down, low 29s high 28s second range. Meanwhile Brian and I are switching out about every 3 or 4 runs, and he and Mary Pozzi are locked in a battle in the high 27s. Every time Brian knocks off a tenth, Mary responds by cutting a tenth off her time. They ended Friday in the mid-27s with Mary holding a tenth lead, and my best was a 28.2. Serious action! We ran the crap out BB all day, and although she sprung a leak and got hot on my last run, all in all I'd say I couldn't be happier.:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Now for some vids. Excuse the talk in the 1st vid. A guy asked me when I first considered a LS7 engine.
The 1st video is the Brian and Mary battle. Then Brian driving. The last one is me.



I don't know where the sound went on the in car. I think next time I'll put the camera inside, so you can see how busy your hands are on the autox.

Very nice!

Geez Karl! Maybe the next time I get to ride with you - you might scare me!



:unibrow: :lol:


Glad to hear you FINALLY got some wheel time!




I though maybe this was going to be Cris's shop car.....

Yeah Greg, you should have seen the look on Cris's face when I was sliding around the 1st few laps. He reminded me of my mom, when I was in the hospital. :lol:

I might be able to scare you with a fast car in a small parking lot surrounded by concrete barriers, but after having you riding shotgun with me in Texas, I don't think you scare easy. :captain:

The car did turn out awesome though! Cris and his team did a heck of a job with the build, and getting the experts like the Pozzi's, Brian Hobaugh, and Guy the Guru to shake out the problems and dial the car in before delivery, really speaks to the level of professionalism that Cris has provided on this build.


As far as getting the car back from Cris, I think that's why he's already started on a replacement shop car, otherwise I'd probably have to hire a lawyer and a repo-assault team to get the car back.

Wow BluBalz is a beauty you have a winner there! :thumbsup:

Karl- Good to finally get you some seat time in your car.. It took you one morning to get the feel for the car & by the afternoon your times were getting better.. Since Brian had the most seat time in the car it was good for us that he attened the the event so that he could give you the best guidance on the first runs in the car..

I got my list to finish up the car & get her ready to ship home... I have had a blast with this car but now it is time for you to enjoy the car.. plus I need to focus my attention on Nick's car.. Again.. As I have I have said to you.. Thank you for the opportunity to build this car for you! look forward to attending race events with it & give you support that the car needs..


I also want to thank Brian Hobaugh, Mike Maiers, Guy Ankeny, Casey Corrin, & David/Mary Pozzi for getting this car tuned.. These people have taught me so much in the last 8 weeks on what it takes to get a suspension to work..

BB turned out really sweet. I don't know how you did it. Sitting back waiting and watching everyone else having fun beating ( uhh I meant tuning) your car.

In the end that is the way to get a sorted ready to run machine.

Karl, It was great how quickly you got going really well in BB! :thumbsup:
David

Thank you Al, 805Z, and FETotrino. Ben Hermance really set the direction of the build with his awesome rendering. I pretty much knew what I wanted with the suspension and drive train. And, Cris had the skills and the vision to make it all a reality. It sounds easy, but there are always issues that have to be resolved, and that takes patience and good communication. Cris and I always seemed to be on the same page throughout the build, and anytime we'd stray off course, we'd just go back to the rendering.

I really like driving at these events. So it has been hard not being there when everyone was "tuning" BB, especially at the Marina and RTTC. I would have loved to have been at those two events. Cris was good about calling me when he'd get back home, and letting me know how the car was progressing. That helped keep me from climbing the walls. Having Mary and David Pozzi, Brian Hobaugh, Mike Maiers, Guy Ankeny, and Casey Corrin do test and tunes, and hammer on the car at events have really gotten it dialed in, and exposed its weaknesses, while Cris could still make the fixes. I just wish I could have been there to help and learn.

Thanks David. The car was great! After I got used to the power, it was easy to drive. I wished you would have driven it at the Hotchkis autox. I'm sure it was handling better than the last time you drove it. I would have liked your opinion.

Blu Balz made its first TV Debut... Hot Rod TV on Speed channel!

When??? Which episode?

Tonight.. The DSE feature...

We made some changes to the engine bay... The compromise was the A/C for the time being... We added a vacuum pump because we kept getting oil from the valley into the intake... It seems like it works just fine... We also changed the valve covers...

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_2412.jpg


Today I was at RPM doing some dyno tuning.. seems like we found a few ponies still hidden in the tune....

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...tion/001-1.jpg




Instead of changing to JRI shocks we changed the tires.. Pilot Super Sports… 345 in the back & for the time being 285 on 18x10.5 in the front… The car seems to grip better.. We will find out tomorrow while we do some more testing…

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_2420.jpg


The car will finally go home this week… It is time for Karl to enjoy the car!

Loving that torque curve....:thumbsup:

Just watched the episode. BB looked awesome. And now I have a face to put with with your name :lol:

Congrats on a great build!

Wow ... Damn thats sexy
If you cant drive with that try golf

Cris,

The car looks awesome. I'm sure the owner is going to have a blast with a well sorted car.

A question, what hoes and fittings did you use under the hood. I really like the look. I apologize if you posted that earlier, I looked but didn't see it. Thanks!

:thumbsup:

Thanks Chad! The car is pretty dialed in & it should be able to be a competitive car.. :_paranoid

We use all XRP fittings & hoses with a few custom things my machine shop whips up for me... If you need any info... just let me know..

Hah, let's just say if you can't drive this car fast, you probably shouldn't be driving a golf cart. It is pretty sorted. :thumbsup:

Matt

Blu Balz's is going home!
 

This week we have been finishing all the little details to get the car home so that Karl can finally start enjoying the car himself... We also took the car in for one last test & tune on the new Pilot Super Sports.. They work! Car is much better on the grip side... Tomorrow BB starts it journey on its way home to Mid-West!

Here is are some pics of the last test & tune!

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...n/DSC_0723.jpg

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...n/DSC_0731.jpg

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...n/DSC_0791.jpg

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...n/DSC_0783.jpg

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...n/DSC_0762.jpg


SO I have been driving this car daily for the last four months.. & yesterday I get pulled over for speeding.. I will not disclose how fast I was going.. Got a ticket for speeding... but the officer did not notice that my pass side tail light was not working.. getting it fixed this morning... His partner was nice enough to take a pic of the incident!

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...n/DSC00094.jpg

Priceless!!!! And I bet you were hauling ass. :_paranoid

Please say it's a 3 digit speeding ticket!

Does he know who he's messing with?

Some of you might of wondered when I was going to hand over the car to Karl.. Last night somewhere in New Mexico.. I finally delivered Blu Balz to Karl..

Karl- Thank you for the opportunity to build you a 68 Camaro… looking forward to the other builds we will have for the future!


http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_2440.jpg

What are you going to use as your daily driver now that BB is gone? :rofl:

That's why he has to build his own car now (Shop Test Car) :lol:

Cris was it hard to hand it over?

Toyota Pirus! It will keep me from getting anymore speeding tickets!



It was hard for me to see BB go home! When I hit CA in the daylight in the morning.. It finally hit me that it was on its way home when I did not see it in back of my trailer… Then when I arrived @ the shop.. no car to unload & no blue Camaro .. but Karl let me keep a spare set of keys for when it comes back in November ..

I am heading to Tennessee on Thursday to get Karl familiar with the maintenance of the car.. Plus we are doing the Mid West Muscle Car Challenge this weekend! It is going to be loads for fun watching Karl drive his car down the track.. We have a few events that we will be attending the rest of the year & I will be there with Karl to support BB..

There are always cops on 126! Got my last ticket there too. Car looks great!

Dave

May I suggest a VW TDI wagon. Plenty of room for surfboards or 9" housings and suspension parts an 44mpg. The cops never seem to notice it even at 80+mph :rofl:

Its easy to see why this car is such a heart breaker!

Driving back to Memphis from the Mid West Muscle Car Challenge! Karl got 1st place on the road course & 2nd place the auto-x .. congratulations Karl! First time driving his car @ a event..