H-Town MEET April 3

[Still Crusin]

Hope that isn't too short of notice, but looks like first weekend in April will work best for me to host.

I just need an idea of how many coming and how many that need a place to stay overnight.

If you plan on coming Fri, Apr 2, that's ok. I'll just need a time.

For those that have no clue where I live, I'm in Dickinson, TX

about half way between Houston and Galveston, about 8 miles east of I-45.

[forcefed95sc]

I am ther Rick. Mind if I sleep out in the car, so I don't have to drive all the way back to Conroe? Would like to show up Friday if some o the guys are gonna show up.

[tripntx]

The first weekend of every month is drill. If work doesn't keep us to late, then I'd like to come by for a couple of hours on Saturday evening.

[FearThis SC]

I should be able to make that. I have to get with the Warden first........I should be due some Yard Time around then!

If I can make it, I will be that Friday around 8pm! I don't want to put you out Rick, if need be, I can get a cheapo room as some local dive!

Calvin

[Still Crusin]

I can accomodate a few that need to stay over. Obviously, Calvin and Stephen you get first dibs.

[Steve Ruhl]

Hey guys, how you been? Vernon turned me on to this link. I’ll be in Iowa working for a couple of weeks until Easter weekend so I’ll end up missing this one too. Haven’t done much SC’in for the last year. The 93 is STILL on jacks in the garage waiting on me to put her engine in! Gotta get it done when I get back from Iowa cause were planning on selling our house pretty quick like and moving to Magnolia.
One of these days I’ll quit coming up with excuses and get to show up for a change. Thanks Vernon for keeping me in mind. Glad to see all the gang is still together. You all have a good time.

[J57ltr]

I'll be in Florida the 31st through the 7th, so we won't be making it.

Jeff

[tripntx]

Might not make it. Changed CPSensor and Dampener/Pulley last weekend. Drove it 200 miles this week. Going home yesterday, she developed a horrible grinding sound. Immediately turned engine off and coasted to shoulder. Tow truck to the house. Removed all belts, cranked it up, doesn't sound like a rod "knocking", but more like metal to metal grinding. I previous owner, who built the engine, will come by tonight to listen to it. I really hope the entire engine doesn't have to be pulled.

Thoughts, throw-out bearing, main bearing, heads/cam.

[FearThis SC]

Maybe we should re-think those dates for a H-Town Meet?

Whatcha think fellas?

Calvin

[Vernon]

I talked to my local SCer friend David today at at traffic light (I was turning left so we didn't get to run 'em - lol) and he said he's considering going. But at this rate we might as well consider a different date. If so that doesn't mean you get out of hosting Rick! But at least 40% of the expected turnout has canceled at this point. If the rest still want to do it I'll surely be there.

Jeff's a wuss! Even worse he drives an El Diablo and wants to restore the Devil hood graphics.

It's starting to look like SC country in Magnolia, once Steve gets out here with his two there will be about 8 local and several more close by. It's a good idea since that's where the SC mechanic is.

Calvin are you going to the Ford Bastards Spring Run? I saw you on the tentative list. I would but the '91' s a short range car and the '94 is still down due to hub damage. And no I haven't started on the '95 tranny swap. I did fix the RX-7 up and put it back into service and have obtained a replacement '94 Cobra rim and lugs. So I'm not being a total loser like um...Jeff. LOL

Vernon

[J57ltr]

Least I got enough skills to know that new rims have to be retorqued after time. Lol

Hey I still have a lot going on over here so cut a brotha some slack.

Jeff

[Doug Franklin]

Would love to come down, but I have folks in from my company all week before the 3rd. Hmmm..

Vernon I may not be in a SC in Austin, April 17. Van again? I did take my lame 95 to the Hooters meet outside Dallas. Actually drove it for a week which was soo good as van blew the tranny. But unless I have a 89 or 90 running.... RX7 is fine. Every MSR meet someone brings a Vet or something because the Ford is down.

I wish you guys would come up. Of course the biggy I think will be June 11-13 at MSR and now the Kennedale strip (Ennis is closed June 13) We are about to announce that up here and invite all I think. I asked that we get Calvin in the loop on all our plans. Guess we have ignored in the past. Trying though.

Anyway if I go April 17 to Austin I will bring wife. So we won't do the Run but do some site seeing, The Oasis and walk 6th I guess. Maybe a SC but it would be one I am sort of embarresed about showing and leaks ATF pretty good.

PS: tripntx, I have a 91 that I bet sounds the same. Pretty sure not throw out. Underhood and believe a main or cam bearing. But I have had mains knock like a rod. With 162K looks like a differnt engine.

[FearThis SC]

Originally posted by Vernon
Calvin are you going to the Ford Bastards Spring Run? I saw you on the tentative list. I would but the '91' s a short range car and the '94 is still down due to hub damage. And no I haven't started on the '95 tranny swap. I did fix the RX-7 up and put it back into service and have obtained a replacement '94 Cobra rim and lugs. So I'm not being a total loser like um...Jeff. LOL

Vernon
I haven't rule out going up to Austin for that weekend, the only thing actually holding me back is the 10hr drive for a Day of SC'n.....

Calvin

[Vernon]

Doug, Calvin, I got my calander mixed up last night and thought the Spring Run was tomorrow. I was a month ahead of myself. I was wondering how it snuck up on me when I was thinking about making it earlyer.

In any case I will have the 94 SC repaired by then. If things are on the up and up financially around here next month I will go to the Austin run.

Hey Doug, I know were you can pick up a decent '91 SHO for $1500. It's a customers extra car they stopped using a while back. It needs tires and AC but the clutch is fresh and it runs good, they've got a good mechanic. :D Then you could run with your buddies of all makes. LOL

Vernon

[FearThis SC]

Originally posted by Vernon
Jeff's a wuss! Even worse he drives an El Diablo and wants to restore the Devil hood graphics.
Vernon
Let's not even get started with the El Diablo.........we should be asking WHEN will he actually have an SC that moves under it's own power!!! LOL

So Jeff, what is the the status with you and your SC love triangle?

Calvin

[FearThis SC]

Originally posted by Vernon
Doug, Calvin, I got my calander mixed up last night and thought the Spring Run was tomorrow. I was a month ahead of myself. I was wondering how it snuck up on me when I was thinking about making it earlyer.
Vernon
LOL!!!

Calvin

[FearThis SC]

Originally posted by Steve Ruhl
Hey guys, how you been? Vernon turned me on to this link. I’ll be in Iowa working for a couple of weeks until Easter weekend so I’ll end up missing this one too. Haven’t done much SC’in for the last year. The 93 is STILL on jacks in the garage waiting on me to put her engine in! Gotta get it done when I get back from Iowa cause were planning on selling our house pretty quick like and moving to Magnolia.
One of these days I’ll quit coming up with excuses and get to show up for a change. Thanks Vernon for keeping me in mind. Glad to see all the gang is still together. You all have a good time.
Hey Steve, Glad to see your still SC'n! Maybe we could do a meet to help with the install of the engine.......would be a great learning experience for me and I'm sure for a few others.

When will you be back in H-Town again? And for how long? I believe we may have to re-think those dates, so the turn out would be better.....

Calvin

[Still Crusin]

I'll agree to host another weekend. But it more than likely won't be till May. As soon as I come up with another date, I'll pass it on.

[Doug Franklin]

Originally posted by Vernon
Hey Doug, I know were you can pick up a decent '91 SHO for $1500. It's a customers extra car they stopped using a while back. It needs tires and AC but the clutch is fresh and it runs good, they've got a good mechanic. :D Then you could run with your buddies of all makes. LOL
Vernon

"Oh Vern, How could you!" JK :D

Naw that would make me look like I am admiting the SHO is better than an SC to them. I COULD have had a company SHO instead of an SC back when we got the 95. So maybe I will totally isolate myself and dare I stick a V8 in an SC? :D Maybe a couple of V8 SCs to go along with my 3.8SCs. :D

Vernon, seriously I have thought about it but I just don't want one when it comes down to it. Don't have the money either with fixing up these birds. Maybe the man should join fordbastards on yahoo group (free) and let them know.

[FearThis SC]

Originally posted by Doug Franklin
Vernon, seriously I have thought about it but I just don't want one when it comes down to it.
I know that feeling when it comes right down to it, hard walking into a SHO after being exposed to the SC.

I looked at a bright yellow SHO for a commute beater, I believe an 89, did a walk around and notice that the center console and some of the interior was missing. So the guys walks up and tells me that it was a project car from the previous owner. Anyways, he tells me all the interior parts were in the trunk and he wanted 2k. It was a pretty rough car, but had a nice pretty banana yellow paint job.

I will say that I do like the late 90's model SHO, would be a good car for the wifey!

Calvin

[FearThis SC]

Originally posted by Still Crusin
I'll agree to host another weekend. But it more than likely won't be till May. As soon as I come up with another date, I'll pass it on.
Great, glad to see that you are in favor of just postponing for a few weeks or so.........although the weather is better now, for ideal track conditions rather in mid May, but if it take us to postpone for a few more weeks, so be it, I like crowd's~

I would like a bunch of us to get together and do a track day, if for nothing else, shiet's and giggles. I personally, have Never made a pass in any car I've own, seems the time has arrived to see if I make a decent run.......And since I have a friendly showdown with a certain 35th from Tejas......bring it! LOL

Is there a local track in Houston, rather than making the trek to Houston Raceway Park in Baytown? Surely, their has to be another local track in a state that claims everything is BIGGER and BETTER!!

Cheers,
Calvin

[forcefed95sc]

Originally posted by FearThis SC
I personally, have Never made a pass in any car I've own, seems the time has arrived to see if I make a decent run.......And since I have a friendly showdown with a certain 35th from Tejas......bring it! LOL

Is there a local track in Houston, rather than making the trek to Houston Raceway Park in Baytown? Surely, their has to be another local track in a state that claims everything is BIGGER and BETTER!!

Cheers,
Calvin

I ave never either, I have never even owned a car cool enough to. postponing is good for me, damn now I have to tell the hot date I was bringing...damn! But its ok, gives me more time to get the rest of the bolt ons on the car.

I was told there was one in Conroe near me, but I think it is an 1/8 mile. Not for sure. I belive they are going to open one up in Huntsville, about 30 minutes north of me. I will try to find out.

[Vernon]

Originally posted by FearThis SC

Is there a local track in Houston, rather than making the trek to Houston Raceway Park in Baytown? Surely, their has to be another local track in a state that claims everything is BIGGER and BETTER!!

Baytown is the local Houston Track, that's why they named it Houston Raceway Park. Believe me I wish there were drag strips and road corses scattered about like Movie Theators but it's anything but. Noise limit statutes, real estate values, urban sprawl, and a get sued for everything legal system have rendered the local drag strip in large citys a small piece of American history.

As for bigger and better in Texas, well it is a big track and the fastest in the country. It's just that we don't have many of them anymore. Ironically the demand is higher than ever yet the supply is as low as it ever has been. I know that anybody who has been driving for more than 10 years has noticed that roads are exceding intended capacity. And then in that same 10 years cars have doubled thier average power ratings. So we have a situation were cars are faster than they ever have been with less room to use it than there ever has been. I wish some more big money types would wake up to the potential profit in building motorsport parks like the one Doug lives by. Texas is bigger and better in a lot of ways than most places but it's a two edged sword, sometimes it's too big, everything is here but can easily be too far away to be worth the trouble getting there.

There is another drag track that is actually easier for me to reach in Sealy Texas but it is only an eighth mile track. To me that's like taking a shower with your raincoat on. LOL I've heard that a track just opened near Lake Houston, again closer to me, but I've heard conflicting reports about its length and have yet to investigate it.

Vernon

[Steve Ruhl]

Originally posted by FearThis SC
Hey Steve, Glad to see your still SC'n! Maybe we could do a meet to help with the install of the engine.......would be a great learning experience for me and I'm sure for a few others.

When will you be back in H-Town again? And for how long? I believe we may have to re-think those dates, so the turn out would be better.....

Calvin


Hey Big Easy, hows it hangin? I’m back in on Easter weekend up until probably the 26th, then probably gone for another couple of weeks after that again. Engine install would be cool……think I could bribe Vernon to do it for beer? ;) Sorry to see the meets canceled, but maybe now I’ll get to make the new date. Hopefully I'll have the car running by then. Just picked up some of Wynn's gorgeous exhaust manifolds at his shop today. Need get the block over to the machine shop next week before I leave town.
Rick, maybe we should think about co-hosting since we’re in reasonably close proximity? Just throwing out ideas. I can make room for a couple of people to stay overnight also if they don’t mind getting woke up by crying babies!

[Vernon]

Originally posted by Doug Franklin
"Oh Vern, How could you!" JK :D

Naw that would make me look like I am admitting the SHO is better than an SC to them.

Then they must be "SHO blind ". lol I've owned both, I had a 90 SHO for several years but lost it in a divorce. I loved that car. It truly is a Super Sedan but I like Coupes :D The Taurus SHO is one of my favorite cars of all times but as for which one of the Super Fords is best, the T-bird is all around a better performance vehicle. When you have a Super Coupe and SHO in your driveway you're always getting a late start due to time spent trying to decide which car to take. Let's see, rain today? How about any passengers? Do I feel like RPM or torque?

I used to take this short cut through a neighborhood working in Houston. There was this woman with a nice '86 Mustang 5.0 who I would catch leaving her driveway about half the time. The first day I took the short cut I was in the SHO, for some reason she saw me rushing and tried to smoke me on the boulevard, I wound out the Yamaha and turned her into mirror dressing. Then the next day I was in the SC and she recognized me and then the whole race played out again with the same results. Then about 2 days later I'm in the old yeller brick '80 T-bird work car, which with rebuilt 302, AOD, and my own tuning was no slouch. She looked over at the light and had a "Is that the same guy and how many cars does he have?" look on her face. I put it and neutral and revved the engine a bit, she smiled real big and shook her head "no" while holding up both hands like "I give up, I don't want THAT P.O.S. to spank MY car." We both laughed our assess off and drove away without further ado.

I tried to buy this SHO a couple of months back we he had first expressed interest in selling it but he had to get the title from his adult son and it took a while. While I was waiting we found the '94 5-speed SC and that was the end of it. I wish I had a grand and not so much other stuff at the moment as I would get the car. Anybody want a '81 RX-7 for $500?

Vernon

[Doug Franklin]

VERNON,
You know I would not mind one if all the suspension mods and engine and structural supports, etc letc were done for a track and it was a steal at 1K or something. But with 8 birds sitting around I don't dare drag another car home for Mama to see, if I have to mod it. Also I have so much work to do on the birds.

Now I LOVE the high revving engines. I prefer the high revving engines over this plug 3.8. But Ford did make the SC engine so diferent it earned my respect. Originally I loathed the 3.8. So how about a SC 3.2 SHO engine in an SC? Naw! Well if I ever build a little open wheel car I may go get me a N/A SHO motor. Good on the track.

Besides I love the looks of the bird. From the moment I saw my first one in summer of 88 when they came out. Then I was forced to drive a regular 89 Taurus for 2-3 yrs. Sorta like being on probation or something. It would be hard for me to buy a SHO now, though I admire them. So now I am surrounded by SCs.:cool:

[Doug Franklin]

Maybe a better way to put it is I would not mind a SHO if I had my SCs where I want them.

New company car list is a Chevy Impala (I HATE chvy's) or Ford Taurus. So now I have to find a way to get an allowance so I can buy my own. Either a used Marauder, or a Hemi RWD somthing. It would have to be fairly new for them.

PS: If you guys have a drag event you may think about inviting the other clubs to join in at the strip anyway. Just a thought. There are a couple of Hot SHOs in Houston and I saw some good birds at the TCCoA Texas meet. Surprised me actually.

[Doug Franklin]

Originally posted by Vernon
Doug, Calvin, I got my calander mixed up last night and thought the Spring Run was tomorrow. I was a month ahead of myself. I was wondering how it snuck up on me when I was thinking about making it earlyer.
Vernon

Actually somewhere Fordbastards announced a club day for March 21 with the Dallas Fort Worth SVT club at Motorsport Ranch MSR. They invited others like ourselves to join them for the raod race training and open session on the track for 95/head.

Since on Sunday I can't make it. But they sound a little more our type rather than the TX SVT chapter which like to polish and shine their cars and keep in the garage. Don and Murph from fordbastards went to their meeting tonight to gauge what kind of folks they are.

I guess the problem up here in DFW is we cannot quit get enough of any one car to make a good event unless we combine with others. At MSR we need 20-32 cars.

[J57ltr]

There isa 1/8th mile track in Navasota and I am pretty sure they opened up a track closer to Houston but it's 1/8th also. I think it's at Battle ground.

Jeff

[PearlBird]

How about all you guys come chill in silsbee??? we got like two hotel in town, with real cheap rooms, and they arent nasty, plus the evadale dragstrip which is a 1/4 mile, for 15$ you get all teh passes you can make. Silsbee is like 15 minutes from beaumont incase you didnt know. I don't know if I could have people at my house, but I could host it, per say, make sure everything runs smoothly and making sure we got stuff to eat and drink =). ;)

*edit* evadale is only 10 minutes away too*edit*

[Vernon]

Hey PearlBird (name?), welcome aboard. Stephen (Forcefed95SC) and I know Silsbee. We are step-brothers and we are both from Beamont and lived in Lumberton for a long time. We might take you up on the offer sometime this year, I knew Evadale had a track but I didn't know much about it. Wynn (Tbird88) lives in Beamont and has been out there before.

Do you think you could make our meet in May? We are re-planning to get together down in the Dickenson area. It sure is nice to see more Texas SC owners around here.

Vernon

[PearlBird]

Hi vernon, my name is Ross. The reason I would like to have a meet in silsbee/evadale is that I'm only 17 and my parents probably think ya'll are all 60yr old date rapists..... :p So if the meet was more thank like 30-45 mins away, I wouldn't be able to attend :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :D

Ohh and I just got back from the evadale drag races tonight, they had a supercharged alcohol dragster that ran a 6.34 at 180 something. The drag strip is real nice, and its only 15$ for unlimited passes.

[Doug Franklin]

I think a good idea. Seems 1/4 milers are scarce. I will TRY to make what ever y'all come up with.

:( :mad: :) :p :cool: :rolleyes: ;) :D :confused: :eek: :o
Hey how 'bout all this new junk to play with?

[tbird88]

I say we get Jeffro fulla Coronas and then we all meet at PearlBird's house, do some target practice at the squirrels in PearlBird's backyard just to show his parents we're all a buncha runnathemill good ol' boys and then head to the track for a SC SHOOTOUT!

Vern, ya gonna trailer yer Mazda?
I got a snowcone sez it cain't whup Lola...

'bird

http://www.datarecall.net/~tbird88/index/lola/lola3866.jpg

[PearlBird]

I squirrel hunt behind my house all the time! We live about 1/4 of a mile...no pun intended, from village creek. So there are literally like endless amounts of land to hunt on....hehe, It just sucks when you shoot one and they fall in the water :mad:. We also have a 3 car brick garage, with just about any tool you would need, and by the time we get this thing together me and my dag should be ready to run our 460 85 tbird tc at the track......so lets do it.

[forcefed95sc]

Yeah...I used to date a girl from Silsbee way back in high school. Good friend decided he wanted her and talked her into breaking up with me. So much for a good friend. Silsbee meet does sound good to me. Would be nice to see how that town has grown over the last 15 years.

Tbird88...what happened to that sc? That is not yours I hope?

[PearlBird]

Yeah, I noticed that picture did look just like Wynn's car :eek:

Hopefully he just photoshopped a wrecked front end on it :D

[tbird88]

Sorry to say but yeah, that's Lola. Pulled out've the same store the same way I've done 10,000 times, headin' South, had the lane blocked, featherin' the clutch waitin' to merge and was just fixin' to roll when some young girl in a Mitsu goin' Northbound decides to cross the yellow line into the center lane (turn lane) to try and get around me. She didn't make it.

I'm pleadin' not guilty, main reason being she crossed the yellow line to get around me.

Been workin' on her here & there during the week but took her off the road Saturday mornin, she slept at Koko's last night and is spendin' tonight again, hope to put her all back together tomorrow. Elvira is there with her, I took her Eibachs & lower control arms I recently rebuilt and swapped them with the ones on Lola. Elvira is back down on all fours at stock height but Lola is still up on stands.

So far, I've swapped the above parts and pulled her driveshaft and replaced the u-joints. Manifolds are off for porting, I'll do those tomorrow and then install a set of 2.25 downtubes along with a custom resonator I built (dual 2.25 in/single 3 out). I have a 70mm BBK that I can do the linkage swap on but I might wait until she's back on the ground. Got some rear swaybar endlinks I refurbished that I'll install too, the old ones were rattlin' pretty bad. Last thing to do under the hood is remove the oil cooler (cooler, yeah right) it's fixin' to be history. The differential is out for the u-joint job, tryin' to resist the temptation to swap a 3.27 in place of the 2.73.... :confused:

suggestions?

'bird

[tbird88]

Sorry to get off the subject, meant to ask when is the next meet? C'mon Fear, let's hear it, make a proclamation or sumthin'.

'bird

[FearThis SC]

Sorry to get off the subject, meant to ask when is the next meet? C'mon Fear, let's hear it, make a proclamation or sumthin'.

'bird
Good to see that your OK and Sorry to hear about Lola!!

So, what date is good for everyone to have a meet in H-Town? Suggestions?

Side note, Welcome aboard Ross!!

Cheers,
Calvin

[FearThis SC]

The differential is out for the u-joint job, tryin' to resist the temptation to swap a 3.27 in place of the 2.73.... :confused:

suggestions?

'bird
Depends what type of driving you would be doing. I have 3.27's in Lil Red, but since I do 35 mile commute everyday, I will be switching to 3.08's.

I would swap it out, and see if you like them......I really believe that it's a personal preference.......

Calvin

[forcefed95sc]

I have got the 3.27's in mine. I love it. I like the feeling of just sitting inside the power band (2500rpm's) in 5th gear and giving a little gas to pass someone. No needing to down shift.

[Doug Franklin]

tryin' to resist the temptation to swap a 3.27 in place of the 2.73.... :confused:

suggestions?

'bird

PUT THAT 3.27 IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I may be in H-town area next week with family. Any chance of some down tubes? Actually I need to pay you for a second set as I now need early and late model and with the fitting for sensors. Want to get exhaust built for 95 now before I pull engine.