deckofficer's POTD

[Bob Lemke]

This is Hog Wild in Hangtown, California. During cruising season a gathering place for the local hot rodders 1st and 3rd Mondays.

See how good you are, identify the blue car that a very small piece of it got into the bottom right hand corner of this picture.

[Keith Berry]

Corvette?

[Kevin Seward]

Corvair - possibly a convertible ??

HiTec

[Bob Lemke]

And we already have a winner. Your good Kevin.

[Bob Lemke]

Deb's Frosty in Diamond Springs, another gathering place for the local Sierra Foothills hot rodders.

[Kevin Seward]

And we already have a winner. Your good Kevin.

Thanks Bob, Just lucky with this one.

Hitec

[Bob Lemke]

And we already have a winner. Your good Kevin.


Thanks Bob, Just lucky with this one.

Hitec

Your too modest. You called it from a very small piece of the car in that picture. You know your 60's cars.

[Bob Lemke]

How sweet it is. No oil or coolant leaks, and proceeded to gain some more experience for my 3rd drive in the Track-T. Headed off to a girlfriend's home who lives at the edge of the valley downhill from me on 2 lane, smooth mountain roads, 100 miles round trip. Stopped for gas to see what my first mileage numbers were during what I will call "testing phase", of more full throttle romps than I can remember. Easy numbers I didn't need a calculator for, 82 miles on the first tank, pump clicked off at 10 gallons, so 8.2 MPG. I would have liked better, and I'm sure with more normal driving like I did today and the engine breaks in, it will be above 10 MPG. With my 15 gallon tank I'll now be filling up as often as most others and their 10 gallon tanks.

More driving impressions. First, and what really stands out is the handling with the new front tires. I knew rotating mass on our light cars, when changed to something different would be noticeable, but had no idea it would be this much with nothing more than 2" taller diameter, same thread width, but thread pattern now matching the rear tire, as they are both M/T Sportsman Radials. Steering is much less effort, both slow in a parking lot and at speed on the twisty mountain roads. One hand or one finger steering through turns is sweet. As to the skid plate, it gets used a lot but is built for it. The difference from 320 HP to 526 HP for passing is huge. If I can see 400' ahead, I can easily complete the pass even if a car appears at that distance as I just begin passing the rear of the slower car. It allows for most all of my mountain road driving to be done with no traffic in front of me, and be able to enjoy the turns at the speed I want. The only and major drawback is the area of the torque curve being 1600 rpm higher than the 383. As I'm geared so tall in 5th, about the slowest I can use 5th is 70 mph and the engine prefers at 70 in 5th that the road is a little downhill. 75 mph in 5th will be OK for level road cruising, but at 65 on the mountain roads the engine is happier at 2500 rpm in 4th than 1600 in 5th. Much happier, only if the downhill is steep will I be in 5th at 65 mph.

All in all, had I known the improvement in steering and handling my new tires give, I would have replaced them at the very beginning, not waiting for needing more ground clearance to go to a taller tire. The front tires I have been using and had plenty of thread were recommended by the Lotus Super 7 group, and since their front end is as light as mine, I went with their experience. The added power is still something that keeps my interest. I'm sure FatPat can identify with driving a mid 9 second street car, it is a great feeling for a gear head.

Old front tire.....


New tires.....

[Bob Lemke]

A bit smaller displacement that your average sbc.

[Kevin Seward]

A bit smaller displacement that your average sbc.

Hi Bob,

That is interesting, any idea of the particulars of the motor and set up?

Thanks,

Hitec