71JCode
Well-known member
The resto project on my 71 J-Code began in earnest today with our trailering it from my home to our shop. I have owned this car since 1973, having bought it from the original owner (another high schooler) as my first car at the ripe young age of 16. For the next few years I had a lot of fun beating a lot of Chevies and anyone else and basically being a dumbass kid building it into a 'race car'. But I kept it sane. No tubbing. Kept almost every single thing we pulled out of it for the strip. Biggest regret at this point would be porting the exhaust on the DOOE's and going .030 over on the block and being forced to pay for a NOS ram air air cleaner (ouch). Well, WTF did I know?
It has sat largely untouched for around 30 years, interrupted every few years by confirmation that yes, it still runs, drives, etc. Odometer says, 25,000 or so, though that is slightly light because it did not function much while I was towing it out to Forest Lane or the track. How many extra miles can you put on a 1/4 at a time?
Wife saw the blue one ring up $60k+ at B-J on Speed the other day and said, "Get it done.". So I am. I've been collecting parts for the past 15 years or so, so we're pretty well set with the hard to find stuff. Have two complete long blocks including the original 4-bolt (that's on the stand in the pics). Have the Marti and Eminger, etc.
No huge problems discovered so far except for the obvious interior rot (see the pics) and the cowl and subsequent passenger floorpan problem. Trunk extensions and tail light panel (maybe). Hood's not great (underneath; damned twist locks leak H2O), but I have another solid one. Have a donor for the floor. Probably hack up a new repop for its base and top hat for the cowl. Repop patch the trunk. Rest is drivetrain (do it in my sleep) and interior. Won't be concours; I plan to drive it. A lot.
Probably just HAVE to clean it up and fire it up for a spin around the block or two just for fun before the tear down begins in earnest.
Welcome all comments and advice. It'll be fun. Pics will be posted to:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71jcode/
There's already some up there. Today's move into the surgical suite and some shots from Green Valley Raceway back in, oh, probably '78 or so.
Yeehaw!
It has sat largely untouched for around 30 years, interrupted every few years by confirmation that yes, it still runs, drives, etc. Odometer says, 25,000 or so, though that is slightly light because it did not function much while I was towing it out to Forest Lane or the track. How many extra miles can you put on a 1/4 at a time?
Wife saw the blue one ring up $60k+ at B-J on Speed the other day and said, "Get it done.". So I am. I've been collecting parts for the past 15 years or so, so we're pretty well set with the hard to find stuff. Have two complete long blocks including the original 4-bolt (that's on the stand in the pics). Have the Marti and Eminger, etc.
No huge problems discovered so far except for the obvious interior rot (see the pics) and the cowl and subsequent passenger floorpan problem. Trunk extensions and tail light panel (maybe). Hood's not great (underneath; damned twist locks leak H2O), but I have another solid one. Have a donor for the floor. Probably hack up a new repop for its base and top hat for the cowl. Repop patch the trunk. Rest is drivetrain (do it in my sleep) and interior. Won't be concours; I plan to drive it. A lot.
Probably just HAVE to clean it up and fire it up for a spin around the block or two just for fun before the tear down begins in earnest.
Welcome all comments and advice. It'll be fun. Pics will be posted to:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71jcode/
There's already some up there. Today's move into the surgical suite and some shots from Green Valley Raceway back in, oh, probably '78 or so.
Yeehaw!
