Calling John Eastman...
Carlisle is still a long ways off but if you decide to take I-95 West, and arn't familiar with routing to pick up Gordon's caravan, I can give you easy explicite directions and timing...One exit off 95 in Orange puts you directly onto the Merritt...An exit off the Merritt leads directly to The Global gas station at exit 8
Thanks Carl. It seems to make a lot more sense for me to meet you in Orange rather than driving to Southington. If Don Moretti comes, however, we may be leaving from his house in Western Cranston. If that is the case it would probably make sense to drive West on Route 44 to get to Southington. I'll let you know but thanks for the tip.
John, I wouldn't be latching onto Gordon at Southington, but rather drinking coffee and waiting for him at the I-84 exit 8 Global station (4 miles from my home)
Carl, the only reason I mentioned Southington was that Peter Venuti told me the caravan picks up the Gallos and Lenny C. there.
Hi....
I set the stops last year to be convenient to the people who were coming. I expect to do the same thing this year, so as we get closer and know who's coming with us I can better suggest stops or simply ask people what would be more convenient for them. Once we get a better idea of joiners, we can start talking about stops. We've still got four months to plan this - usually I plan it out a month in advance!! John, as we get closer, you tell us what might be more convenient for a meeting spot and we'll see what can be done.
I take the I-84 to I-81 route simply to avoid New Jersey, NYC, the cross-Bronx expressway, the George Washington Bridge and either of the major NJ arteries. I've done those routes - no fun at all, whereas 84/81 glides along through lots of farmland, more or less gentle hills and decent gas/food stops. I much prefer rolling along listening to the stereo, rather than being terrified by the traffic on the Garden State or I-78. Been there, no thanks!
I could also entertain leaving a bit earlier to get us to Mechanicsburg around 3pm, rather than 4-5 pm.
I'll get a separate Northeast Caravan thread going sometime late March to solidify all of this for us, and then get emails going for final coordination, cell phone numbers and all that Jazz. We're gonna have a blast!
Jeez, only four months?
I don't think that's enough time for me to tinker up my VS so it's as quick as Danny P's 550...as smooth as Peter's subie roadster, and as photogenic as Shapiro's Ruby
Sounds good to me Gordon. I'm a newbie so I'm amenable to any suggestions anyone has. I would sure like to avoid NYC if at all possible. Not fun any day of the week.
RSVPs received from Paul Holden and Glenn McCoy of Maryland and Chris Schofield of Massachusetts - thanks guys! Keep 'em coming!
Received an RSVP from Jim (Musbjim) Ignacio. He's coming all the way from California, flying to Arkansas and right-seating to Carlisle with Iron Butt Jack Crosby. Thanks, Jim!
Bruce, I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again this year. Not sure which days or events I will be attending. Will let you know as the event gets closer.....Steve
Steve,
Okay, just let me know as soon as you can. Thanks.
Received an RSVP from Syl Mathis - Virginia. Thanks Syl!!
Received an RSVP from Alan Hais - Maryland. Thanks, Alan!
That's 36 cars and 56 peoeple so far...keep 'em coming guys!
I will be attending as well, bringing the infamous Bill Re SAS Cab.
All my registrations are submitted, hotel reservations at the Marriott in Mechanicsburg confirmed!
Looking forward to seeing everyone there!
Don Moretti
Received an RSVP from Don Moretti - Rhode Island. Thanks, Don!
That should be an interesting caravan coming from the northeast.
That's going to be a GREAT CARAVAN rolling in from the northeast!!!
Thumbs up all the way!!!
Better hurry up and get that Soob unpacked, Carl...
Yeah......you got the old VW engine out yet?
David, Gordon,
Good grief...don't rush me!
I've got to gather all the bits and pieces for this conversion first. Then I've got to bone up on how to go about it before I 'confidently' start wrenching away and bruising my knuckles.
Don't panic, Carl. Gordon has just told me that between the two of us, we'll walk you through the conversion. I'll do the first part and Gordon does the secont part. Ok, Carl....there's four bolts holding the VW engine on right now. Disconnect the clutch cable and the four bolts holding the engine on. Disconnect throttle and fuel supply. Ok Gordo, finish it off...........:-)
Carl, pm sent
Right wit ya there, Dave......
OK, so I'll bring my Craftsman motorcycle jack down and we just slip that baby under there, jack'er up to get the tension off the bolts and slip'er on out a bit. Gallo should be there by then and he (he's this big, rugged dude, see?) he can lift up the whole back of the car while we tilt that engine and wheel'er right out.
By that time, Dave, remember Dave? He's been over on the side sippin his Molsen and watchin us pull the old engine.... Well, Dave has also, between sips, been getting that very familiar Sooby engine reeady to go in there - new clutch, throw-out bearing, KEP adapter plate all bolted on.....get the picture? Why, he's even used Maquire's polish on the timing belt covers and they look bettah than new!
OK, so Dave will spring back into action, fueled, in part, but all that Molsen, and he picks up that whole Sooby motor, BY HISSELF (cuz he's one rugged Canuck, you know, eh?) pops it onto the jack and, before you can say "I'm way cooler than Boydd Coddington" that puppy is in there, started and already idling.
Man! Are we GOOD!
What'll we do the rest of the day?
You'll pull the engine and throw it in the trash 'cuz you wrecked it running it without water. Y'all fergot to put in the radiator!
I sense that we need to create a build thread for Carl's engine conversion?
If we didn't have to mess with the FI, I bet we could do it at Carlisle....
Screw FI--fix him up with a single Dellorto and get 'er done!
This would be a sensational thing to watch at Carlisle!
I think Bruce is correct it’s time for a new thread for Carl’s build. I want to see pictures of the engine and harness please.
But until that happens I have to say that the FI piece of the equation should be simpler than the plumbing and radiator retrofit. Once the wiring harness is cut down it’s like 8-12 wires to make her run including connections to the gauges.
Yeah, that's what I'm getting from Chris' Sooby tuner friends - a dozen wires, keep most of the original sensors, put new chips in the ECU, map it off-line with a laptop (some of them use old Palm 5's) and fire it up. Putting the plumbing in is the tougher part.
It would be an absolute shame to go to all of the trouble of putting a thoroughly modern, 21'st century engine in there and then revert back to a 1950's "semi-random-atomization" induction system. (Or you could go Jack's way and get a Holly/Autolite 2500 for it and at least have something easy to tune).
OK, so "Suby Carl"! Get another thread going So it doesn't mess up East Coast Bruce's thread here. Call it "Suby Carl's Conversion to the Dark Side" or something cool like that. Start with the basics: engine size/type, tranny planned, mods for engine mounts, plans for an adequate cooling system and what you'll be using for induction - carb 
or EFI 
Open it up to comments from those who've done the conversion and start to refine your approach. Chris and I were going to lean heavily on his tuner friends when we were planning this same conversion, simply because there weren't any sources to go to on the SOC back then. That has changed, a few people on here can help and I think a LOT of people will be interested in your approach and finished product. We might even be able to get a few DSM and Suby tuners to pay a visit and help out with the EFI for ya.
Looks like it'll be a busy Spring, huh? I'll plan on descending on your place to help out as needed, so long as there is enough space for two people in your under-the-deck "Franken-shop". Get enough advance planning on here and you might have several people turn up to help. (some of us might even know what to do!)
I think the EFI headache is in getting a fuel tank plumbed up righteous.
I want to dampen this Carlisle wrenching idea before it takes on a 'romanticized' life of its own. I endorse Gordons sensible (and logical) suggestion that there be a Thread to post questions/answers, experienced advice and tips on Suby conversions and required fabrications...not pertaining to me exclusively...but for anyone contemplating, or involved in a water pumper conversion.
I've jumped into water over my head, but I took the leap knowing that there's a wealth of advice at SOC (available for the asking) that will keep me from drowning!!
Gordon, my 'under the deck Franken-Shop won't be completed until late spring/summer... maybe... (never, never tell a contractor/friend that there's no particular urgency)...so this Suby project will be on hold until the fall at least. I'm in no hurry. It's important to me that I put this together from A to Z so I can say "Yeah, I've been there, I've done that...ask me how I know"
On your own time, Carl....that's a good approach. Check out Peter Venuti's excellent adaptation at Carlisle. That's probably the best example you could clone. Nice and tidy and modern EFI to boot.
Sorry Bruce for the thread drift. I'll move this to a new thread titled simply "Suby conversion Ques/Ans &tips"
Two quick thoughts: 1.) the gas tank plumbing is super-simple - just use a suby in-the-tank fuel pump - it has output and return right on the pump top and mounts similarly to the VW gauge sender. 2.) When I bought my kit, I spent 6 months adding a third bay "shop" onto my garage to build it in. We've all been there, somehow....
Sorry Bruce! I'm gone!
Bruce, We are in. I made reservations at hotel a few weeks ago but was afraid to post anything because we have been going through some medical stuff and had a pretty big scare. Got some good news this afternoon and we are excited to say that we are coming back to Carlisle.
Joe the party is on. 
Y'know Marty, that look would be kinda scary on most folk, but somehow it fits you.
See y'all in Carlisle.
I hear it was passed down to Marty from when Blagojevich ran Illinois!
You're a brave man to post this, Marty. Too bad you cropped off the gloves :-)
You do have special gloves for this ensemble, right?
I know that I won't be tying my shoes in front of Mr. Marty !
Marty - Great to hear you and Sandy are joining us again this year! Always good to have health scares behind you. BTW - looks like you're living the good life...nice outfit, can't imagine what Sandy's looks like. 
