George Brown I love ya man!

Fanstastic! GB- you 'da man.

Those are simply works of art! SO beautiful!!

Are you going to use the similar looking headlamp grills as well?

TC

What wonderful detail! You car is going to drip CLASS ! ! Take pics and post them, it's going to look sensational! If I could just narrow in on one thing I'd be SO jealous, but you've got too much cool in the works for me to focus.

Luck,

TC

TC:

How's you car coming along??

gn

TC:

How's you car coming along??

gn

T.C. You bet I am! That will make it stand out in a neat and unique way. (I hope)

TC,

Thanks, I am just having a lucky year and someone else is doing the focusing for me. This is the first time in my life I've had a car custom built at this level. I didn't have the dough, had kids in school, had a mortgage, had to focus on the job, all that stuff. So this is a real treat. I did all my former "fun" cars (mostly GM stuff) the old fashion way, I rebuilt them, with help from buddies with every detail focused on bottom line and DIY. If I wasn't transplanted I think I would have done the Coach route so I could have some fun doing the rest. Anyway, this is my one time in life to enjoy this type of a deal and so I am.

GB's donation helps a bunch!

Jim

I was looking for something similar to put over my fog lights, but with a mesh style instead. Those are terrific, but I need the mesh to match my headlight covers. Anyone know of anything??

Pictured below are a pair of forever cool Hellas that arrived at Intermeccanica from our fellow member and king of the speedster hill; George Brown. They were donated to the build of my Intermeccanica and I think they will fit nicely with the look of this Speedster.

George, I want to thank you here in public. You have a giving heart dude, and I will appreciate this gift some night while I am ripping through a two lane black top sweeper with your Hellas showing the way.

I will take good care of them, just like the fine jewelry they are.

George, I am just blown away!

Sincerely and With Deep Appreciation,

Jim Ward

Jim, are you planning to come up to Vancouver to pick up your car? I missed getting into Vancouver (I live about 70 miles east) when George came up to look at his beauty. I hope you'll make the trip, so I can meet you, and hook up with the other Ron.
Ron

Steve, I think there was a discussion on someone making mesh grills last summer. It seems to me if they could make them for headlights, they could do the same for fogs/drive lgts. I have seen a heavy screen for rally lights...

Anyway, you might look for that discussion and write the person who was making them?

Hope you are staying warm up there.

Jim

Ron, I have two trips to Vancouver planned. The first one is in late Feb/first of March. I will let you know. I am going up to see some details that Henry has in the werks and to meet everyone and get a hit of Speedster Crack.

The second one is about a week before Knotts. I think Henry will have it ready with a few break-in few miles already on it. I plan on getting familiar with it on runs up Whistler and out to Ricks. I also will go over the maint. details with Henry showing me the way and doing the first break in oil change and valves. I suppose I'll come on Friday or Saturday, and on Weds morning I am driving it south, hooking up with Scott Sloan and heading to Dale's. Next day it's LA for Knotts. I will go with Henry to FAT and do the second break in oil/valve, check for loose stuff thing there. By then it should have over 2,000 miles, and two oil changes/Valves adjusted. I will leave LA later in the week after hanging around with John Leader. Then it's a 1600 mile run to OKC via Rte 66 with my wife who will come to LA the second day of Knotts.

So, my new Speedster will have 3600-3800 miles on her by the time I get her home. Cool, eh? I will baby it though. Hope we hook up and have some fun!

Jim

TC, So how is your car coming along? Jim

Hi Jim,

Sort of slowly, mostly due to indecision on my part. I ran into some trouble with wheel width/off set and didn't want to alter the body shape. I decided to swap out the long swing axles for shorter (earlier) ones, but ended up buying new SAW axles and tubes. Then I had to decide on weather to swap out the trans while I was under there. I ordered up the trans from RANCHO with all of the drag goodies, plus the four spyder super diff, Gene Berg poor man's posi and a highway fourth out of a Type II.

The hangup right now is the rear brakes. Any aftermarket disk or Type III conversion is gonna push the wheels back out two or three inches and defeat the whole reason for the short axles. I having a pair of new/stockdrums drilled/vented and a set of shoes re-lined with harder track racing material. And I'm looking for a set of NOS asbestos lined shoes to try with the vented drums as well.

The body is nearly done, but only in guide coat . . . sort of, the front end is all done and just superb with all the best stuff, and the engine(s) are almost buttoned up. A stroked aluminum race case based mill with a drop in Demello stroker, 94's and all the rest, and an 1835 with a Demello, H-rods, FK8 and 4:1 rockers.

One mild . . . one wild. Try the both and decide.

Right now I still need to grab up some last bits and pieces for the interior and I'm all set.

THEN start the 914 . . . BIG and STUPID plans for that one . . .

TC

TC, your rear brake idea sounds like the way to go. Man, am I impressed with the amount of thought and detail you are putting into this. I'd like to hear a little more about that Stroked race engine.

I am ready to see some more pics. I was really blown away by your custom tin work and the air intake work.

Jim

Jim, you're welcome; having them on your IM beats having them gathering dust in my garage... enjoy!

George if there are any Okrasa parts or Hella or other that may be collecting dust. Let me offer by garage as a safe place to collect California dust.

George,

I sure do apprciate them. I think they fit the look and I am still amazed by this great gift. I look forward to meeting you.

Jim