I joined this forum when I was close to taking my car off the road for my 5.0 swap (Nov 2009). I would've taken it off before then, but wanted to keep driving it until I could sell the drivetrain. I got lucky. I had done some of the work before Nov. I got it running in Aug, '10 and drivable in September. My goal was to drive it before my birthday-I did. I became friends with Tony Laboy and Rob Nash. Then I met with Manchester Mark, Gary Ippolito and Frank Mowry and finally Jason McCulley. All great guys and friends! I found other friends that I haven't shaken hands with yet, but look forward to doing so like Leebo. The closest we had to a get together was at Cecil County one evening. I had my car there as well as Rob and Mark. Tony would have been there, but had a small problem prevented his appearance that night. Mark got to run his car, but Rob and I didn't bcause it was too late. A great night anyway!

My car has a 306, Stealth intake, Holley 4bbl, B303 cam, roller rockers and dual/single/dual exhaust. It's a DIY. I modified the front subframe for maximum exhaust clearance, used a 7" Miata Torsen II rear with 3.90 gears and the PPF. The clutch is a King Cobra and it has a Hurst shifter. The trans is a T5 with 2.95 first. I normally use second gear to start out. It has stock ground clearance and rides like stock. I upgraded the suspension (springs/AGX)and brakes to later Miata stuff. It has a Nissan Altima radiator and fans and the engine has Explorer front dress on it(PS pump,brackets and alternator). Like Tony, I drive it almost daily. Nobody wants to race it because of the old guy driving it. It sounds good and runs great.It also has a little vibration around 80mph or so. I can drive through it though, so I don't worry about it. I haven't raced it yet because of wheelhop. Traction bars will eventually cure that. Then I'll give it a go. Probably just another low 13 second car. We'll see. Glad to be here! It's like old home week. Cheers.

Jim D.

 

Good to see you here Jim! I can't wait to get mine back on the road, maybe next week if the temps really get up to 50 or so...

Looks good!

-Jason

 

Wow. It's cold here, but fairly dry (roads). I had mine out all afternoon. Put about 50 miles on it. The roads are pretty rough shape-as usual at the end of winter. Your car looked really good at the Pagoda run. That was fun.

Jim D.