This is in order by date. The newest update is at the top. If you want to start at the oldest post, scroll to the bottom and read your way up.
November 13, 2006
The Elky got some more attention on the 11th. We pulled the motor and trans. We also removed the front clip so I could clean up the underhood area. One of the soldiers from my platoon came over and gave me a hand. Here are some pics>
October 29, 2006
Well, I sold the heads and intake. I have been wanting to upgrade for a while anyway. When I got it all apart it appears the valve seals have been leaking pretty bad. The only cylinder that wasn't coated in oil was #2. Given the current issue and the fact it won't be back together untill next spring I am comtemplating pulling it out and going through it again. This time with a forged crank. Here are some pics>
July 9, 2006
One more. 3,000rpm stall from a fellow MalibuRacing.com member.
June 28, 2006
One more
This is the manual brake conversion kit from Steel Concepts Fabrication. Since my engine does not make enough vacumn to support power brakes this will fix the problem. Manual brakes do not have to be hard to operate. If the master cylinder and the brake pedal are set up right it will stop like it should.
June 24, 2006
Some more pictures of those parts:
This is the 10 lb. residual valve for the line going to the rear brakes once I put the manual master cylinder kit in.
Drive shaft safety loop.
June 15, 2006
I got some more parts. I only have a picture of one right now so here it is.
This will replace the Holley Annihilator system I have now. There�s nothing really wrong with the Holly. This is just something easier to add to. I can use a two-step rev limiter with it or whatever.
I'll come back and add the others when I get pictures. I am getting excited about going home. I get to spend time with my family for a while and I get to play with the Elky.
June 6, 2006
Got some parts. Here's a list:
* Manual brake conversion kit from Steel Concepts
* Driveshaft loop from FastMonteSS.com
* 10 pound redidual valve from Summit Racing (Necessary because of the rear drum brakes.)
I know, short list. I am still working on a few things so we'll see what happens.
February 23, 2006
I leave to go back to Iraq tommorow. I have had a good time on leave. Time seemed to pass slower this time. I have been busy with the Elky too.
I put in the rear end I bought. Here are some photos:
This is the 7.5 and the 8.5 next to each other.
Here it is ready to bolt in.
Here is my little helper Jake.
And here it is all bolted in and ready to go.
My work area isn't ideal.
Here is a picture of the new crossmemeber next to the one I modified.
I also bought a truck while I was home. It is a '81 GMC 3/4 ton with a 454 and a TH400. So now I actually have something to tow with.
Here are some burn out photos:
January 1, 2006
I got some pictures of the rear end I bought by email. Here it is>
December 13, 2005
Well I thought I would give a quick update.
Today is my wedding anniversary!
We did buy that house in the picture below and I am trying to save up enough money to build a shop. I bought an 8.5 10-bolt out of a Grand National to put in the Elky. I am still in Iraq. i don't know how to express how much calmer it seems over here now. Last year was.....different. From my point of view we have made an amazing amount of progress over here since I first came over here last year. SSG Barks out!
September 11, 2005
I have slacked on this site quite a bit but it is only because I am now in Iraq. It will be a year or so before I put any more work into The Elky. I am going to continue aquiring parts but all work has come to a stand still for now.
I got promoted too so all hell is about to break loose. It's SSG Barks now. I don't know what they were thinking but I'll take the money and run. LOL
July 17, 2005
Well it's been a while since I updated in here. We've been a a little busy with the house thing.
I got my manual steering box and the radiator support bushings in today. The box isn't as dirty as it looks. I need to spend a few hours with a pressure washer and this car.
July 2, 2005
Went to the track tonight. Watched some "Outlaw Fuel Altereds" or what ever they call them. That was cool but I got to meet some of the guys from Centex Hotrods. Centex Hotrods is a local racing forum down here. That was cooler. Seem like a good bunch of guys. Going down there, meeting those guys, and watching the races is just motivation to get this thing done. I get tired of watching the races. I want to get out there damnit!
We finally put in a bid on some property and we are doing inspections this next week. It is a different one but I can't wait to see whether or not we can close this deal. Here is a picture of the house>
It's 14.4 acres and I can't wait to get out there in the boonies again. I hate living with neighbors.
June 10, 2005
Got some parts in today:
June 6, 2005
Well interesting weakend. The big military party was at TED NUGENTS RANCH. That was cool. He was there and played some for us. Awesome time. I found some land with a double wide trailer down here I am thinking about buying. 11.2 acres. Definatly enough for my to build a shop! I am getting kind of excited. I figure if and when I get out of the army I can always get a job here on Fort Hood so why leave. Well that's all I got.
June 3, 2005
Not much happening with the elky this weekend. I am taking the family to Crawford for some big party for military and families. That will be all afternoon. Then on Sunday I have to go to austin and drop off this spare TH350 I have layin around. Guy on Maliburacing.com needed it and I have no use for it anymore. I said I would give it to him if he met me in Austin. Around July 1 I am going to make a trip to Waco to meet a guy from Ft. Worth and pick up that Furd 9" center section. So............I'm out.
May 29, 2005
I got the heater box out and the ignition in today. It all looks pretty good. See pictures below.
BEFORE
AFTER
May 27, 2005
The thrashing will continue this weekend. Today I worked on it a little more and got it moved up in the car port. I have a manual steering box on the way now. This weekend I hope to get the heat and a/c box removed and get the ignition wired and the starter solenoid mounted on the blockoff plate. If I can get that done quick enough I will try to get the tailhousing on the tranny changed and remove the power steering pump and lines. I am ordering my crossmember this weekend as well. We are getting there. I still need to:
*change the brakes to a manual set up
*get a rearend and some wheels/tires
*have a drive shaft made
*install a drive shaft loop
*change my body mounts
*get some adjustable upper control arms and some good lower ones
*put in a rear roll bar
*get my seats mounted correctly
*get my fuel system set up
That's a lot huh? Hope I can get it all done before the August 20th race.
May 21, 2005
Well I received the ignition system the other day and I can't wait to put it in. I finally put in the remote starter solenoid setup that I wanted. All the parts required to do the swap including a new GM solenoid for the starter was $35.00. I highly recommend this setup. Easy and cheap to do and makes it easier to bump the motor for adjusting valves and such. I have a lot on my plate right now. I have body bushings to put in and I have to finish the bucket seat mounts. I also have a panel to cover the gapping hole that will be left when I take out the heater-A/C box. When I get that in I will move the remote solenoid to that plate. That is where I plan on mounting the ignition system too. Plan on bypassing the power steering system probably next weekend so I can take the pump off. That will work until I get the manual steering box I want. I am going to order the crossmember I want next week and then I have to take the tailshaft off of the tranny. I think the bushing the yoke rides in is F'd up. I might try to change the speedo gear in the tranny to be compatible with 4.10s so I won't have to take it all apart again when I get my rear end. Oh, and I have to go to work 5 days a week too.
May 13, 2005
No real changes right now. I just got home from 2 weeks in the field. I enjoy watching the Chemical guys make smoke. When you get 40 or so smoke generators going it makes one heck of a cloud! Got to watch some artillery guys go to town too. I love artillery! Kinda feeling HOOAH right now. ILTA! (I Love The Army)
April 29, 2005
Well some progress in the parts department. I have managed to secure a Holly Annihilator ignition system. They don't make these anymore but this guy in MA bought one several years ago and never used it. It is all still new in the box and never run. Got it for $75 so I figure I can't go wrong. It isn't the latest, top of the line, edge of technology sort of thing but it should do the job until I can get something different. I also found a guy in Fort Worth with a center section ready to bolt in a ford 9" that is pretty much exactly what I have been looking for. He wants $150. I figure...SOLD! I have to put a fuel pump in my truck this paycheck so I will have to wait. The rear housing with axles and everything but the center section is $705. With the center section that is $855. Cool. Then a new drive shaft at about $400 and a crossmember for the tranny at about $189 and we are in business. After that I would like to put some nice adjustable control arms on the top and some good solid aftermarket ones on the bottom. We're getting there!
April 25, 2005
I got a quote on a F@#d 9" with 31 spline rear axle and a 3.89 gear with a steel spool. $1279.00 I think that is a go. It will take me a little while to get that together but sounds good to me. I don't have the tools or the experience to build a reliable rear end for this thing so I guess I will just pay for someone else to do that. That and the trans will be the only things I didn't do myself. Well I am going to install it. That counts for something doesn't it? Oh well. I even have the wife on board now. I can't wait to get this thing going. Ok I am just rambling now. No real point to what I am typing. This is taking up valuable server space somewhere that someone could be putting to good use on a car worthy of internet coverage. LOL
April 24, 2005
Well it looks like maybe I can stay in and just change jobs. I hope anyway. Plans for the elky are back on track. right now I am looking for a good 8.5 10bolt or a 12bolt to put in it. I am going to order the crossmember and the a/c delete panel I need on the next pay check. I am hoping to get it together sometime in the next few months so I can take it to the track. Some folks from MalibuRacing.com are talking about getting together at Temple Academy Raceway and I want to be able to go and run decent. So the thrashing has commenced. Stay posted.
April 16, 2005
Well I have had some interesting developments in my career over the past week. First of all I got back from Iraq at the end of January. Now I have orders to go to Korea for a year. That sucks but it is part of Army life. That will keep me away from my family and the Elky for another year. A few days later I got the results of the MRI I had done on my hip. I went back to the doctor and now he is talking about a P3 profile (which basically means I am broke for good) and possibly get medically discharged. That really sucks. This will keep me from going to Korea but might put a real cramp on the income flow. I have been a mechanic all my life and now I may not be able to do that anymore. I have been a mechanic for the Army for about 10 years. The Army will probably make me go back to school for another job. I will probably end up sitting behind a desk for the rest of my carreer. That is if they let me stay in. With all this going on I don't know what if any work I will be able to do on the elky. I am going to keep trying to work on it but I am not planning on spending alot of money because I might have to move back to Tennessee. If that happens I am going to need some money to travel on so I must start saving. If it's not one thing it's another. ILTA!
April 8, 2005
Had to change the plugs due to gas fouling. Got the jets changed and put the factory squirter back in. Finally got to drive it a little today. Still hauls a$$. Need to convert the brakes and the steering over to manual. Have ALOT of work to do. Still have to figure out where I am going to do it. This sucks. I want to do so much to this car but the only thing stopping me is the fact I live in housing. ARGGGGGGG!
April 7, 2005
Tried to start it again today and it wouldn't start. Said F it and left it alone. It flooded. God I hate trying to get that thing started. The gas in the tank is kinda old so that probably has something to do with it. Managed to find some jets for the carb to get it back to the baseline settings. The jets I threw in there were just kind of what I had. I have always been concerned it was running to lean. When I finally found the factory jet sizes I realized I was right. So.......I'll swap out the jets and be happy untill I can get it to the track and do some more tuning. The compression is like 10.45 with iron heads so the stock HEI might be having trouble lighting off the fire. Cam has very little over lap so cylinder pressure is pretty high. Need that Mallory magnetic pickup distributor and ign box. God I love having a good reason to buy goodies!
April 5, 2005
Well I got it started today. The battery was trashed from a year of sitting still. It took a few hours hooked to jumper cables but it came back to life. It developed a pretty bad tranny leak while I was gone so I sent my little parts runner (the wife) out for a battery and some cherry juice. I forgot how sweet a solid cam and high compression (well kinda high) sounds through 2 1/2 inch exhaust and 2 chamber flowmasters. I almost creamed my jeans. Well not really but it did sound good. So we are back on the road again for now. Until I rip out the heads, intake, tranny, and rear end. And the insanity continues.
Awesome quote I found on MalibuRacing.com:
"...a true hot-rodder wouldn't be content until he had created a car so violent, so hairy, so totally sick that the very act of dropping the hammer would result in instant death. Anything less results in the need to go faster." - Tony DeFeo
