After 8 years, I took my first drive...and got yelled at.
 

For the first time since 2002, I drove my camaro today! Of course, there were a few bumps along the way. I was going to head out for the maiden voyage on Saturday, but the normal Florida afternoon rain started so I pushed it back in the garage...then the rain quit so I pulled it out...then it started again...back into the garage...rain quit again...etc, etc.

During my driveway shuffle I noticed that the brakes...well, sucked. Hmm, what's wrong? No leaks...decent pedal...hmmm. Ahhh, I never hooked up the booster! So I made a quick trip to the store, grabbed some vacuum line, plugged everything in...and now the car won't start. Now what? I spent the rest of Saturday and Sunday morning resetting the timing, checking for loose hoses and wires, reset the efi tps, yadda yadda yadda.

Anyone guessed the problem yet? Of course...outta gas!!!!! Why should I check the obvious? :rolleyes: Threw five gallons in the tank, turned the key and bam...fired right up.

So I take the first "lap" through my neighborhood and everything feels pretty good, but the power steering is squealing really bad. I head back to the house, dump some more fluid in it and head out again.

I made it about two blocks and a little old lady stops me to ask if I won't drive by her house again because my car "is very disturbing". Trying to be a good neighbor, I say fine and pull around in the cul de sac, after which she stops me again to tell me I don't have a tag. :lol: I can hardly wait for the inevitable letter from my home owners association. (By the way, I already have exhaust on it with Borla XR1s dumping in front of the axle...on my iphone decible meter, it said 89db at idle which I don't think is too bad) Oh well, I got enough thumbs up from other folks that I don't feel too bad.

Anyway, nothing fell off...I didn't hit anything...and nothing caught fire...a total success in my book! I put in full frame rails and built my own triangulated four bar for this car, so I've been really nervous on how it would track...I know a 30mph neighborhood cruise isn't the best indicator, but so far it feels good.

Thanks to all the members of Lateral G.net, Pro-Touring.com, Team Camaro.net and Prodigy Customs for the killer paint...today was a big day! :woot: :cheers:
Jason

As purchased in 1991...
http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u...2-14at1236.jpg

Major rebuild started in 2002...
http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u...o/DSC00296.jpg

Tonight in the garage with one mile on the odometer...
http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u...o/IMG_0019.jpg

Car looks awesome. Funny story too! I hate HOA so hopefully they dont give you a hard time. I can only imagine what mine will say....

Congrats Man. It's a long road, a big moment and I can't wait to do the same thing! Your car looks great....

Great story!! Looks good way to go....:cheers:

That's awesome---as if it's not gut tightening enough to take the car out for it's first spin, you got granny on your six to boot. Typical first car shakedown--something bizarre always seems to happen--LOL. Congrats----that is a huge accomplishment---more pics of the car would be great---looks awesome from the one pic.

Doug

Car looks great do you have any more pics?

A great story and a great car. Hopefully "grandma" doesn't cause any grief.

Nice, I remember my first open header run up through my old neighborhood. The crotchity old guy tried to wave me over and I just kept going. :rofl:

That's a great first drive! After all, it made it back home!! Congrats on sticking with it and getting to the point you are at now! And it looks great!! :thumbsup:

just another example of how a love of cars can open a conversation with a stranger that you would never have talked to. :D

That's awesome you got to enjoy it! :cheers: The neighbors, not so much! lol They'll get over it!! :lol:
Have fun man and congrats.

Congrats! Looks great. Your story reminds me of when I took my 69 out for the first major drive. I was at a stoplight and the carb was jetted slightly richer on purpose and I look in my rearview mirror and a lady was waving her hand back and forth in front of her nose and mouthing adamantly at me. So, what did I do? The only responsible thing a car enthusiast should do.... I reved the motor several times so she could breath in that 100+ octane and enjoy it even more.:rofl:

The car looks great. Pretty good for a first drive.

Congrats, car looks good!

My HOA (when i had it) didn't say a thing about the open headers and burnouts I produced on the "associations pavement" :D

Although the cops wanted to have a chat about the open headers at 2am :lol:

Thanks everyone!

I'm fighting a huge desire to blow off work and go for a cruise...:D

Man did that story bring back many many memories of similar "test rides"! Thanks for sharing it with us! Those first fire ups bring in so many great emotions - giddy with excitement but filled with terror - and then when things go right (mostly) jubilation and relief. :cheers: :woot:

Now get out and get those tabs -- so you can terrorize the old lady whenever you want! :rofl:


BTW -- My neighbor came over the other day -- when I had the Nomad half in and half out of the shed... Okay - it had been running for maybe 15/20 minutes like that and yeah - it's kinda loud... and yeah - I was messin' with the stacks... and he DRIVES OVER. He gets out of his car and I can see his mouth movin' but it's too loud for me to hear... :D Which (since I know why he's come) I promptly point out with a "huh?... Can't hear you -- it's too loud!" (yes I can be a real ass). My wife is laying up by the pool and can hear everything and she says she was laughing so hard and trying to keep quiet - she spilled her drink.... So Dr. Bob starts telling me about how I'd fired off the other day at 5:30 AM (there were EIGHT CARS HERE to gather for a show) and about the 6:30 AM fire off last week (another show)... I listen to this (I'm busy) and tell him -- hey -- "once in awhile I go to a car show - get over it".... followed by a "get the F out of here.... and pausing and in a sweet blonde kind of way I add... "and have a nice day". He's just an angry old man -- wouldn't make any difference what was going on - he's not happy. I'm a VERY GOOD neighbor and am really really aware of the noise and about the time which I do stuff - and keeping the shed doors closed etc. He should be so lucky to have me as a neighbor. :cheers:

Good story. In the excitement, it's easy to overlook the obvious and make mistakes. FWIW, I was so excited on my last major rebuild that I didn't take time to throw the driver's seat in. I sat on a milk crate! Hey, what's a quick shakedown gonna hurt?!?

lol, I can imagine! Congrats on bringing her back to life. That has to feel like a huge load off your shoulders. :thumbsup:

The best thing for a neighbor like that is to bring a buddy over that has a blown alcohol dragster with zoomies. It would be the last time he step foot in your driveway. After thats running for a few minuted in the driveway he wont hear your nomad ever again.

Thanks again everybody.

I had to take some pics today for insurance, so I rolled a little video.
It's a 489 with 3inch exhaust and Borla XR-1s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0209V_8CgbI

I should get my plates tomorrow, but I've still got a glitchy brake light that I have to fix before heading out on the "real" road.

http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u...o/IMG_0026.jpg
http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u...o/IMG_0025.jpg
http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u...o/IMG_0031.jpg

Looks great! :thumbsup:

Great looking car! I would love to see the car in person. I am considering Prodigy for my paint and bodywork as well and am also interested in some type of red for my Chevy II. I saw the post a while back when your car was delivered and thought the car looked good.

I feel the pain with the weather, but at least you got it out long enough to meet a new neighbor:unibrow: . Take her for a ride and maybe she will bake you some cookies!

What fuel injection are you using? There are a couple of dynos here in town, but I don't know if they tune the aftermarket injections.

Todd

Beautiful car bro---that paint looks amazing!! You have to be stoked! It sounds nasty----great job!!

Doug

Hey Todd,

I you ever want to take a look, you're more than welcome. Just shoot me a pm...

I've pieced together the efi over the years...Accel intake and rails, MSD throttle body, Holley injectors and pump...but the ECU is the new Holley HP.

I had a Commander 950 that i started the engine with, but with the new self learning features of the HP, I thought the new system was worth it.

Thanks! Being able to get in and actually "drive" it out of the garage today was almost surreal... :lol:

Great looking car man! She sounds good too!:thumbsup:
Enjoy it!:cheers:

Car sounds great and looks killer congrats for gettting her back on the road.

Engine sounds killer, I'd be doing a nice 489 cu in burnout in front of grannys house :lol:

:bow: Congrats!!The car is gorgeous and you had an EPIC first drive-life is good!

HA HA!!:cheers: