Weblogic

So, after weeks of prepping the now-deceased Caddy and gutting the BMW for the V12 and wiring for the terminated Gingerman build, we switched gears two weeks ago and started trying to resurrect the rusty '63 Tbird. My help left town after assisting me in getting the roof off and the interior gutted. The engine idled, and the car resembled a Thunderbird, but we had all rotten brake lines, no unibody frame left in the key areas, and months of hard work to do in two short weeks. After burning the midnight oil day after day for two weeks, I'm pleased to report that we might actually make it to Gingerman with a serious IOE contender after all!

I used the beefy (rollcagecomponents.com 1.75 x .125 DOM ) steel cage from the Caddy, and lots more of the same tubing to tie the car together, along with lots of plates and scrap iron, 3 solid days of welding, a huge spool of wire, and a whole 3' tank of Co2/Argon shielding gas. When we jacked the car up by the rear diff, the rear leaf spring perches started coming through the rusty floorboards!!! Once the roof was chopped off to allow the cage to be dropped in, the car proved VERY flexible on the jackstands. A closer inspection revealed no frame left to speak of, and with no roof to reinforce the unibody chassis, the aforementioned welding was an absolute necessity. I don't know when the shed fell on this car during the 28 years it was abandoned in it, but it was either leaky, or it fell long ago.

We still don't know if it drives. We still don't know if it shifts. We still need brake hoses, a wheel cylinder, and some brake springs (picking up the missing stuff today) before we can even find out. We still don't know if all that tubing and plating will do the trick, but we do know this will be the strongest roll cage LeMons has ever seen. After the infamous Caddy incident, I'm not taking any chances. Cousin Dave (coughCaddywreckercough) made multiple weekend trips down from NJ to assist me, and I took several days off work, including today (hey, my head was pressurized when I woke up---that's what sick leave is for! I haven't been able to update you daily like I wanted, because honestly, I have been coming in very late at night and tired, after working on the car outside with halogen lamps. My beautiful bride is eagerly awaiting my return, once this weekend is over. She has been pretty understanding throughout.

We have a lot left do (paint/brakes/wiring/battery/tuneup/padding), but it appears doable before we leave Thursday night. If not, you'll see us scrambling all day Friday at the track. Deja Vu all over again, a la Nelson Ledges.