CRUNCH TIME!

Yep. We are within a month of Race Day(s). There is still a TON to do, but not because of lack of effort. John and Tom put in a marathon session recently to get the car to rolling status. Unfortunately, all parts of the car still need work.

http://picasaweb.google.com/112114431924661854258/ChevetteBuildSeptember#

As you can see from the above photo link, a full fridge of beer was reduced to a skeleton in one weekend. Blood, sweat, and beers.

Any and all help at this point is appreciated. Contact any of the four of us that you know and come turn a wrench, or just lend moral support.

Dewey Decimator

Long time, no post

Ok ok ok. We have not put anything up here in ages. Sue us.

New pics from this past weekend.

June weekend work

Look! An engine!

New post

Finally, after what seems like a million years, an update.

Lots of work done on the car this past weekend. Rob was not in town and unable to help [gone fishin'].

Roll cage is in. Measurments for the transmission, drive shaft, and engine placement were taken.

Check out the pics.

http://picasaweb.google.com/112114431924661854258/ChevetteCageInstall?feat=email#

Donor Car

You have probably all been wondering if this is going to be a "Fred Flinstone" car based on the fact that we never showed an engine or transmission. We didn't have one and that was the fall back plan until the 28th. We didn't have the money in the budget for all of the shoes that it would take for a 14 hour race and we weren't sure it that would fit the bill of tire and wheel expenses. So we we're looking for a reasonable donor car. Hopefully, with a V6, RWD, and above all cheap. On browsing craigslist I struck upon this S10. After calling him up at 11 am I headed out to go see the truck. About 90 minutes later, after driving, listening to it, and checking compression, it became the newest addition to our Frankenstein. That night with my dad driving and me playing "The Bandit" we got her home from North Prairie and tucked into the back yard. Before they become one, they are resting near to eachother getting acquainted.

I can't say enough good about it. It was everything we wanted 4.3L V6, 5 speed manual, and a stronger rear end. Fit into the hull of our 'vette this thing is going to scream.

For more photos see the web album that Google, formerly Topeka is hosting for us here: http://picasaweb.google.com/johnsimons963/S10New#

Slideshow

A little slideshow from Tom showing where we are at.

Our work so far

Webcast!

If you are interested in how the race will look, it seems that many of the races have a webcast. Head over to the parent site for a look.

http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/

Weekend result

Lots of work got done on the car this weekend. Basically, everything that can come off a car without a blow torch or a grinder was removed. The only thing left is the rear view mirror.

Tom was in town for the weekend, which was great. He will be attempting to come back to Wisconsin as often as he can to work on the car. Oh, and to see friends and family also.

Still looking for an engine and a transmission. It would be best if we could find a complete donor car/truck, as we would then be able to use an existing wiring harness. Otherwise we would have to cobble one together.

Some pictures from Josh.

Not much left on the car.

Engine bay

All the interior is out

Rear hatch is off

All the glass is out

Front suspension almost completely removed

It seems that John will be looking at an S10 pickup this coming weekend. Possible donor for the engine and tranny.

Next working weekend will be March 19th - 21st.

First working weekend

Well, we have a car. The first hurdle is jumped.

Friday we will be meeting in Oconomowoc face-to-face and brainstorming what our plans will be for the weekend. Of course, our first meeting will be in a bar. How could it be otherwise.

Not sure what our plan of attack will be on Saturday. Probably a lot of talk and deliberate wrenching.

We are looking at ways to document this experience. Video is obviously an option. If anyone has any experience in this, please feel free to contact us with insight @ 24hoursoflemonsteam@gmail.com

Any and all input would be appreciated.

First Inspection

Upon arriving at home I was giddy to get a better look at the car as well as the goodies that were left in there for us by Jesse. He stripped the car's interior saving us quite a bit of time, but planning to get it back on he road again he left us one great find.


Intact catalytic converter
---
Sorry Environment, we might plant a tree, but we are going to be selling this for scrap. The mighty dollar dictates!


Jesse was kind enough to strip the interior for us.


By far the best feature

For more photos check out this web album: http://picasaweb.google.com/johnsimons963/FirstLemonInspection#

Picking up the Chevette

Today, Josh and I left to check out the Chevette. We had all conversed and decided that for such an American classic there would be very little that could deter us from bringing this sweet baby home. We made good time getting up to Eden despite a short delay turning around in a slippery driveway. Shortly, after arriving we scoped the place out and quickly decided that this farm was a man's paradise. Having on site about 12 heated garage spaces and 30 or 40 cars being stored I was wishing that we had enough time to lift the skirts on those ladies. Of course lifting the skirt on another man's girl just might get you shot (especially in Eden, WI), so we decided against it.

Jesse and his brother were kind enough to tow the car out from its resting place between two of the pole sheds. Clearly, this project was not worthy of a heated or covered space in their eyes. Poor neglected Chevette. It needed a good home. They kindly offered us a hand loading it on the trailer. A few chains and we were ready to hit the road back for O-Town.


Check out the racing stripes!

I added a comment below, only because I didn't know how to post a new entry. Maybe I know now, maybe not. We will see when I hit publish what happens.

So yeah, 1982 Chevette. A deal is in the works, hopefully she will be hauled down to our speed shop within the week and we can start hackin' at her.

I think we will get instant respect when we roll that ugly thing into the paddock.

Still slow going on the car acquisiton. We have been sending possibilities to each other, but have yet to find something that collectively speaks to us.

Tom will be coming to Wisconsin in the near future. It would be nice to have something to work on while he is here. At least we should be able to all get together for brainstorming.

Things have been moving slowly for us. We all have been searching daily for a car. Each of us has posted possible cars to each other, but no one has found one that we all agree we have to get. It is not a lack of trying, nor disagreements. We are just waiting for lightning to strike.

Pacer Update

So it seems the individual with the Pacer is looking for more money than we are willing to spend on it. John has seen the car, and by previous agreement amongst team members, we were willing to offer $200. The current owner has been offered $250 by someone that wants to chop the car apart and display part of it on the wall as a trophy. John made the case that by selling the car to us, it would still be a living entity, driving and racing. No go.

We continue to search for a vehicle. We have 9 months.

Cars

There are two vehicles we are looking at currently.

1985 Mustang GT modified with a 351W. The interesting bit on this car is the Toploader 4-speed transmission. This is not a stock transmission. The seller has had individuals asking to buy the car just to get the transmission.

1979 Pacer. Currently this vehicle does not run. This choice would possibly necessitate a donor vehicle with a working engine.


John is on point as far as looking at the Mustang and contacting the Pacer.

As the race is not until October, the immediacy of finding a vehicle is not high. However, it would be unfortunate to let a killer road race vehicle go without due consideration. So, any news that you may have on a sporty car, whatever the condition, information would be appreciated.

1-26-2010

Welcome.

Recently my friend Tom King sent me a link to a race series.

http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/

I asked him if he wanted to attend one of these races. He declined, saying that he would rather RACE in the series.

Of course, I could only agree.

What follows is our attempts to participate in the Rod Blagojevich Never-Say-Die 5oo race.

http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/chicago10/

At this point, we have two other members in the team. Josh Beer and John Simons have agreed to join us in purchasing, building/modifying, and racing an automobile.

Three members of out team are in Wisconsin. One is in California. Three of us are engineers. We all have little to no race track experience. What we do have is a love of racing. Watch and see!