So after the trip from the Bay Area to the LA Roadsters show -- and then up California Hiway 1... we dropped the roadster off at Brizio's with a punch list of "to do's". This is perfectly normal for a brand new build - and the car now had over 1000 miles on it.
The first thing to fix was the steering box -- it was just too stiff and didn't return to center. Coming up the coast hiway was a lot of work as it took far too much effort to turn the car. We had discussed this issue before I left and Roy wanted to replace the Vega box but I said to just wait and see if this one would loosen up. It didn't.
The new original Vega box was sent out for a complete rebuild - painted and installed and the steering is now 100% perfect.
The top needed some adjusting -- and the owners of American Speed came over during the show (LA) and discussed with Sid Chavers and Roy exactly where to tweak what... the top now fits 100% perfect.
A complete new seat was built... which is wonderful and now fits Gwen really well. I had Sid make a pad that looks like the upholstery to go behind my back when I want to drive. Perfect!
The BEST ADDITION OF ALL.... new RideTech shocks on the front and CoilOvers on the rear (all polished and gleaming!). I can't tell you how much better the car rides!! Thank you BRET!! You are THE MAN! The car was a bit "harsh" before with the usual "hot rod" shocks on it. Now - it's like silk. Harshness is all gone and it rides like a really nice hot rod should. It's "firm" but compliant and smooth... hard to describe - but here's the tell. GWEN said - "it rides better" the first time she drove it --- and she knew nothing about the shock change. BINGO!! XOXO buddy!
There was hot air coming in from the motor/trans from the console area... a simple "oops" because the way the console sits on the floor it wasn't sealing out the air even though the boot was proper. A simple fix was to put a boot on the floor/shift lever... and then install the nice console with it's pretty leather boot. Another home run BINGO.
The speedo was "sticky" -- turns out the hole in the dash was a smidge too tight... FIXED and another BINGO...
The PCV was leaking just a couple drops of oil... I HATE OIL LEAKS... fixed! The fix was to install a catch can and K&N filter... ALL FIXED.
After paint - the windows were installed so that they disappeared down in the door too far... that caused an ugly sound when shutting the doors with the windows down. The fix was just to re-adjust them so that the top of the window is held with the weatherstrip... Trust me when I tell you -- these doors open and close better than a Rolls Royce. Every time I use them - I'm amazed. It's a tactile feel and sound that just says HOLY CRAP THIS THING IS A BEAUTY.
We raised the nose of the car an inch and a half. You can not tell this from looking at it... but it will keep us from having to be so careful going over small humps and bumps. This is no show car -- this is a driver.... we just want to be able to use it comfortably.
The car runs like a swiss watch... a little too perfect for me - but it's Gwen's car and she's happy as hell with it. It drives great - runs flawlessly - is smooth... yet sounds like a hot rod.... and now the seat fits her! It's all good.
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