Shelby stocker

[Nightmist66]

Love the color, Mike! Looking forward to seeing it finished.

[hbstang]

a video about your car from santini and the car and paint looks spectacular so NO DECALS  on the painted surfaces lol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNzS5QAaW-4

[mike7570]

a video about your car from santini and the car and paint looks spectacular so NO DECALS  on the painted surfaces lol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNzS5QAaW-4

Thanks for that link. I knew it was being filmed but I thought it had to do with a detailing product. Turns out it looks like a shop promotion video. I changed the door handles to brand new one because Pete was mad that I would re-use the old ones that I thought were good enough for a race car.  He said it was ruining his paint work LOL, It probably took me twice as long as it should have because I’m so nervous working around the new paint. Finished up the tail light panel and installed it and now I’m getting the engine compartment ready and fussing with installing the interior.

[Rory428]

Car is looking fantastic Mike, hoping to have it out for this season at all? I have only ever had a few cars repainted, and yes, the paranoia while working around fresh paint is very real, especially when it comes to installing the bumpers, trim, and lighting. Makes one wonder how the factories prevented damage during assembly, especially on full frame cars during the body drop onto the frame, or installing the front "nose" as a 1 piece unit. Let alone stuff like the fake wood grain trim on Country Squires, side stripes on cars like Boss 302s or 71 Torino GTs, and how did they install the cloth or vinyl headliners, or vinyl and convertible tops in a minute or so?

[machyoung]

Looking Fantastic Mike!

[mike7570]

Rory, I was hoping to make the Bakersfield double in October. I have a lot to do and I won’t have time to put the engine on a dyno but I hope to be able to make a few test passes at Irwindale 1/8 mile. I may be a bit optimistic because life has a habit of getting in the way and everything seems to take much longer than planned.
For the guys not familiar to be NHRA compliant as a stocker all of the original interior and trim needs to be on the car except the rear seats. I can’t bring myself to put a worn out interior back in so it’s refurbished or new parts which can create lots of new problems with off shore reproduction pieces.

[mike7570]

Got most of the interior finished, it’s a bit difficult and frustrating working on a car that the interior must have been removed and reinstalled numerous times. The combination of stripped holes and repo parts that don’t fit will give you headaches. I did install my first headliner which came out pretty good but I couldn’t use the deluxe door panels because the molded arm rest won’t clear the door bar. No back seat needed in stock eliminator so just a carpeted light weight shelf.

[mike7570]

Glass back in and engine sitting between the fenders.

[mike7570]

Some dash work - getting closer

[mike7570]

Some difficult headers to install. Large tube headers are much more difficult than the normal street header sizes.

[TomP]

I've always found the large tube easier because they come apart in sections. No need to jack the engine, pull starter, motor mounts or clutch linkage.

 Car looks great but I think i'm spotting the curse of the long term project... rule changes. Now the D/SA cars have run 9's (Teuton's 09 Challenger as I recall) can you fit the car in any classes that won't need a full cage?

[mike7570]

Your correct on not needing to jack and tilt the engine (it would still help) the starter did have to come out because of that. I went further and separated each tube but when you put them in if you don’t do it in the right order you’re pulling it apart again. I also have this issue of putting a bolt in every hole. It would be easier doing top and bottom but I put 14 out of 16 in each side.

Cage isn’t required until 9.99 or quicker. The B/SA index is 11.25 so a 9.99 is 1.26 under which gets you added hp when they review the combos (now at the end of the year.) A 9 sec. Run is a stout number for any stocker including AA so most guys to avoid the added hp penalty try to stay between .600 - .800 under. There are other concerns once your in the 9’s as far as safety items and a license upgrade.
I don’t know if I will be able to run that far under but I would prefer to keep it in the 10’s.

[Jb427]

Car looks great Mike I really like that colour

[mike7570]

Fired up the motor for break in and was able to back it into the garage. No more pushing for this old guy. Lol
Still need seats and belts and swap out the break in springs. After those items a good alignment and bleed the brakes and it will be ready for some test passes.

[XR7]

Looking good! Well better than good... it looks great everywhere. I bet you are excited to make the first hit and many more. Where and when do you think you will race your first divisional? Any thought to the 10K to win Stock/Super-stock combo in Vegas in March?