Author Topic: My Tenth Anniv. (Read 82076 times)

tajoe · « **Reply #200 on:** August 03, 2022, 02:25:16 PM »

Almost "2"! years for a rebuild? Insane. If he doesn't finish in a week or 2, let me know. I'll have my friend "Guido Knuckles" pay him a visit.

kentucky yeti · « **Reply #201 on:** August 11, 2022, 05:46:18 AM »

One week down!

Quote from: roadking77 on August 03, 2022, 05:53:42 AM

His reply was an apology, and that 'a needed part came in last Friday, now he can get things buttoned up'. Said he should be finished in a couple of weeks.

Its in writing here, so that makes it official

roadking77 · « **Reply #202 on:** August 12, 2022, 07:22:39 AM »

Trust me Mike, I am counting

tajoe · « **Reply #203 on:** September 18, 2022, 08:12:58 PM »

And the count has passed. What's the excuse for the engine now? Or have you got it?

roadking77 · « **Reply #204 on:** September 23, 2022, 06:04:51 AM »

No engine yet

I have been working out of town, busier than ever and little time to do much. I have kind of been giving him the benefit of the doubt, but I know the real answer will be something like 'its getting close' or 'will be finished any day now'. I should have some free time this afternoon may give him a call. I am sure the reality is that he either hasnt touched it yet or just started on it last month when I brough the subject up.

« **Reply #204 on:** September 23, 2022, 06:04:51 AM »

5th T/A · « **Reply #205 on:** September 23, 2022, 09:12:04 AM »

Bummer!

Lots of us share your frustration with this. I guess it’s a good thing you are busy with work.

roadking77 · « **Reply #206 on:** September 23, 2022, 07:15:11 PM »

OK, so I reached out today. The latest is that its almost finished but he is waiting on push rods. 'The last 2 sets came in wrong' and he is waiting on the correct parts at this point.

Yes, Larry, as much as I want to get this project back on track realistically I have zero time right now to do any work on it. A blessing and a curse, LOL.

I did get new visors for my 77 installed

One of the few things that had been left unfinished.

Jack · « **Reply #207 on:** October 02, 2022, 06:23:37 AM »

Agree... but you'll find the time if you have the engine.

tajoe · « **Reply #208 on:** October 02, 2022, 06:52:04 AM »

Maybe you'll have the motor as an early Christmas present.

roadking77 · « **Reply #209 on:** October 02, 2022, 08:03:56 AM »

At this point I will be glad to have it AS a Christmas present

I cant remember the time line now but it was Aug or Sept, when he told me a couple of weeks. I thought, OH Crap, I better get manifolds ordered. So I called Ram Air and ordered a set. They said it would be Oct before they were ready to ship. At the time that sounded like an eternity!! I need to start checking back with them now

Yes, Jack you are correct. If I had the motor ready to install I def. could squeeze in a few hours a week to make things happen.

5th T/A · « **Reply #210 on:** October 02, 2022, 03:45:44 PM »

Kerry, seems like you were hoping to have your engine done by last Christmas. This time it sounds like it could happen.

RamblerRacer · « **Reply #211 on:** October 02, 2022, 05:21:44 PM »

I've been lurking and seeing your motor woes over the past year.
I hate to see it for you Kerry, but hopefully it all turns out OK.
JT

roadking77 · « **Reply #212 on:** October 03, 2022, 07:18:56 AM »

Maybe Christmas 2023!
I have set my sites back to next summer though, that is hoping my motor shows up within the next 4 or 5 months!! There really isnt that much to do other than getting the motor installed and final hookups. I know with myself doing that it will take several months though. I guess I should name this car COVID! The timeline is about the same as my son said when that dreaded flu came out. March of 2020 when it really started to hit us stateside I made a comment to my son that I thought by the fall (2020) it would be behind us. He laughed and said if its gone by 2023 we will be lucky! I think he was right on that one.

roadking77 · « **Reply #213 on:** October 17, 2022, 06:39:59 AM »

I had a face to face with the builder on Friday. Same story nothing new to tell. He is still waiting on push rods. He did 'assure' me that once they come in he can be finished in a couple of days. I am planning on doing the install myself so once it does get back it may take me all winter to get things put together. Dale did say he would be more than happy to stop by on a weekend or evening and help me with the install. I was hoping Minn. Bob may loan me one of his motors in the meantime

MNBob · « **Reply #214 on:** October 17, 2022, 03:48:38 PM »

Ha Ha! I have one and spare and I am keeping them.

« **Reply #214 on:** October 17, 2022, 03:48:38 PM »

Jack · « **Reply #215 on:** November 06, 2022, 04:47:13 AM »

Came here to see some good news but I guess some (dare I say good news) is better than no news.

roadking77 · « **Reply #216 on:** November 07, 2022, 09:27:16 AM »

Not much going on Jack. I was really hoping to have this car out of the shop by winter so I can get a start on my next project, but things didnt work out. I talked to the motor guy a month or so ago and am still waiting. Between the vacation I just took and my tax bill it was a bit of a blessing the motor wasnt ready last month!, LOL.

roadking77 · « **Reply #217 on:** December 20, 2022, 07:41:08 AM »

Uneventful update to keep me on the front page. I had a long conversation with the builder a week and half ago. I simply asked him to be upfront and honest with me. If he has time to finish the motor in the VERY near future and if not I will gather the pieces and look elsewhere. As I have said before this is kinda cutting my nose off to spite my face being I know the guys work and it is fantastic. But enough is enough. For the past couple of months he was waiting on push rods. He got a couple of sets in that were wrong, so I was told. After our conversation he said he had the motor together and needed the carb (which because of it being worth its weight in gold has been on my workbench for the last 2 years), distributor and water pump. I told him to pick up the dizzy, and I ordered a water pump from Summit. It was supposed to be here on Sat, last tracking said package is delayed. I also ordered the plate and mounting hardware, gaskets from Ames and have yet to get any of that. I get most of my stuff from Ames and it usually takes 4 or 5 days, but this time is a bit longer. I guess its holiday traffic. So, with all that said I am hoping my next post will have pics of a freshly rebuilt motor

FormTA · « **Reply #218 on:** December 20, 2022, 07:03:30 PM »

Great update! I hope you get your Christmas wish!

formula46two · « **Reply #219 on:** December 20, 2022, 08:58:49 PM »

This is so much like my odyssey except mine has been going on since I think 1999. But like you I am seeing the light!

Jack · « **Reply #220 on:** December 21, 2022, 06:59:37 AM »

Sounds promising hopefully all goes well.

roadking77 · « **Reply #221 on:** December 21, 2022, 07:01:20 AM »

Yikes, 23 years is even too much for me, LOL.
All the parts came in yesterday, so off to the shop this morning

5th T/A · « **Reply #222 on:** December 21, 2022, 07:54:27 AM »

Kerry, it seems like you have been waiting for you engine almost as long as I have been a member of TAC. It sounds like it’s really close to being done. Many of us are hoping you get your Christmas miracle! Or close to it.

roadking77 · « **Reply #223 on:** December 22, 2022, 07:07:45 AM »

I know I said next post would have a pic

, but I dropped off what I hope were the last of the missing parts yesterday. I was able to talk to the builder as he was on site (he has 3 busy shops and its hard to pin him down to one place). He said everything was together and went on to tell me how happy he was with the final result, being my block was nothing but rust when he started. Being this weekend is Christmas, I asked him if he though he would have it done within the next month. He ASSURED me it was all but finished and ready to roll. One thing I dropped off was the carb, and he said that is the weak point right now. He needs to clean and rebuild that. Also asked if I had ex. manifolds

, he needs them in place to run the motor on the dyno

I might have a set of stock he can use, if not he thinks he has a set of headers for the time being.

Jack · « **Reply #224 on:** December 22, 2022, 07:24:18 AM »

All sounds positive. I wish I was near you, I have a W72 carb that I got from tajoe all ready to go but never installed in my 71 that has the matching engine, I could have let you run it until yours was done.

« **Reply #224 on:** December 22, 2022, 07:24:18 AM »

rkellerjr · « **Reply #225 on:** December 22, 2022, 10:02:06 AM »

Whew, your a patient man Kerry. On the bright side, it is winter now. Get the car buttoned up and ready for the spring car scene! We also want video's, not just pics.

roadking77 · « **Reply #226 on:** December 25, 2022, 07:44:12 AM »

2022-12-23_07-32-42 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

At least I got a picture on Christmas Eve! I am starting to get a bit excited now. Needs a colour correction but other than that I am happy. Cant wait to see and hear it running.

5th T/A · « **Reply #227 on:** December 25, 2022, 07:57:22 AM »

Wow, It looks great. Now the fun begins. For me it’s very satisfying assembling shiny new parts.

Merry Christmas!

Jack · « **Reply #228 on:** December 25, 2022, 02:57:37 PM »

That's a huge step forward, congrats Kerry.

wheels78ta · « **Reply #229 on:** December 25, 2022, 07:42:30 PM »

That's a picture worth framing.

What color correction?

MNBob · « **Reply #230 on:** December 26, 2022, 08:36:48 AM »

Wow, that looks nice. Can't wait til you get it back. Definitely worth the wait!

roadking77 · « **Reply #231 on:** December 26, 2022, 09:39:19 AM »

To the best of my knowledge it should be a solid colour medium blue, not the metallic that he painted it. The worst part is I had already finished the oil pan and gave him the can of paint I used

I will give him a call in the morning.

roadking77 · « **Reply #232 on:** December 26, 2022, 09:45:36 AM »

2020-12-10_12-45-25 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

2020-12-10_12-45-11 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
This is what the pile of *&*(* looked like when I delivered a couple of years ago. All components that the car left the factory with. The block looked like it had been stored under water for quite a few years. My biggest fear was that it would not be serviceable. He said they had to go over it a few times but it all worked out in the end. Original intake was cracked so I had to go with an aluminum aftermarket.

FormTA · « **Reply #233 on:** December 26, 2022, 08:19:56 PM »

Wow! It does exist!! I was worried you were just getting lip service and the engine was scrapped or sold. Now I'm excited to see this project rolling!

Jack · « **Reply #234 on:** December 28, 2022, 05:58:25 AM »

As you may have guessed I like the early year Pontiac engine color and would recommend to leave it alone.

5th T/A · « **Reply #235 on:** December 28, 2022, 06:30:00 AM »

Kerry, I completely understand where you are coming from wanting to keep the car as original as possible. Having the correct engine color is part of that. Many cars get modified and finding one completely original is getting harder all the time. Since you left your builder a paint can with the correct color, he should have taken the hint!

My engine also came painted the classic Pontiac blue used on earlier cars. The builder did a nice job painting it and I liked the color, so I did not repaint it. But my new engine was incorrect for a 1980 TA anyway.

kentucky yeti · « **Reply #236 on:** December 28, 2022, 07:16:39 AM »

Yay on an assembled engine. I know you have to be excited, heck- we all are!

formula46two · « **Reply #237 on:** December 28, 2022, 08:57:15 PM »

Congrats on getting the heart!

roadking77 · « **Reply #238 on:** December 29, 2022, 08:21:35 AM »

I plan on showing in the AACA so correctness is very important. I have been trying to stay numbers right, and high quality parts along the way. I dropped off a minor part yesterday (pvc rubber) and told him about the colour. He was cool with it. He thought the light blue was an early Pontiac colour and that the metallic was for the newer cars. No biggie. My 77 has the original motor and there were no signs of it being messed with when I bought the car. It has a very early build date (sep 76) and the motor was originally the light metallic, same as he painted this one. He gave me a couple of small parts he is needing so I am hunting right now. I am pretty sure another call to Ames will solve the problem.

Johnny ace · « **Reply #239 on:** December 29, 2022, 12:37:35 PM »

The color you need is called corporate blue,which has no metallic.Pontiac had a metallic blue from 1966 thru 1972,and another metallic thru 1976.My 1969 GP SJ is painted the blue your engine is painted.

« **Reply #239 on:** December 29, 2022, 12:37:35 PM »

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Author Topic: My Tenth Anniv. (Read 82076 times)