SOLID TIMES

Transcription

SOLID TIMES
SOLID TIMES
Volume 1, Issue 3
(http://sssacc.org)
August 2010
TREMEC 5-SPEED/OVERDRIVE UPGRADE FOR A 1961
CORVETTE
By Frank Dreano
I own an all-original, number matching, 270HP dual quad 1961 Corvette with a solid lifter
283 small block motor that I drive quite a bit on Florida’s turnpike.The only thing preventing
complete enjoyment at interstate speedsare the high engine revolutions – typically, 2800
RPM at 60 MPH. And, folks will run you over even at 75 MPH around Orlando. So, after
agonizing over the decision about replacing my original Borg-Warner T-10 4 speed with a Tremec TKO-600 5 speed
overdrive for about a year I decided to do it. I got tired of hearing that little solid lifter small block so wound up at
Interstate speeds and to be honest, the low endcould certainly use some more “punch.” After consulting with some
technical experts and describing my car to them with its 3.70 rear end, I decided to go with theTKO-600 (.64)
overdrive transmission. This would result in slightly lower RPMs than I thought was optimal at turn pike speeds,
which the TKO-500 (.68) would provide, but the TKO-500 would result in a first gear so low as to be useless. Keisler
has a Speed Analyzer on their web site to compute various RPM vs speed results depending on the product selected
and other parameters (rear gear, tire size, etc.): www.keislerauto.com
I set aside funds for the purchase and finally pulled the trigger as a 2009 Chr
istmas present to myself. I bought the
entire C1 kit from Keisler which included the driveshaft, clutch kit and reproduction C1 shifter. I went with the 10
1/2” clutch just to have a little more ‘grab’ than original and, unlike upgrading to an 11inch, no other components
have to be changed out. I had checked out two other vendors who offered similar kits but neither of them offer a
reproduction C1 shifter handle like Keisler’s nor did they have the same amount of experience that Keisler has for this
product line.
I also separately bought a new clutch fork (with the spring already attached), clutch fork boot and he
t pivot ball stud
that sits behind the fork. NOTE: You HAVE to at least use a new clutch disk with the tranny swap because the kit
employs a different spline count from the original ’61 equipment (a disk is included in the kit).
All of the items inside the two red areas were
replaced (except for the original flywheel which was
reconditioned and re-ringed) in the swap in addition
to the transmission, driveshaft, shifter, speedometer
cable and other kit components.
It’s highly
recommended that anyone considering this upgrade
follow what I have done in purchasing new clutch
components and reconditioning the flywheel.
I toyed with the idea of installing the transmission
kit myself or camping out at one or another of my
Corvette buddies’ garages who have a lift and
getting them to help me; but, the more I considered
it the more I thought I’d better farm it out to
someone who was already familiar with the swap.
After checking out Corvette Masters in Maitland,
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 1
Florida and negotiating a price, I took the car and all the components for the swap to their shop. Robbie (the shop
owner) and Chris really treated the car like it was their own. I got daily pictures emailed to me on progress and a
status phone call every single night that the car was in the shop. If any part of the original car had to be touched I got
another phone call to discuss the options and make a decision. They carefully preser
ved and repackaged the original
transmission, shifter/linkage and driveshaft for safekeeping.
The trusty, original, aluminum case Borg Warner T-10, driveshaft and old clutch assembly were snatched out quickly
with no problem. Then the fun started. Theoriginal flywheel needed resurfaced and the ring gear around the flywheel
was worn and had been ‘flipped’ once already. So, the flywheel was removed and sent out to another shop to be
reworked and re-ringed. Waiting on that work added a couple of days tothe job. This is an extra cost that almost
every installation will require; putting all
new components in without freshening up the
flywheel is asking for trouble.
The
reconditioned flywheel was bolted up and the
ashtray pocket removed in preparation for the
TKO-600 install.
The vendor states that some C1s will require
no modifications even to the ashtray. I don’t
see how that’s possible….you will almost
certainly have to trim off the bottom of the
fiberglass ashtray pocket and cut down the
chrome ashtray insert for appearance sake.
The kit instructions say to cut the ashtray
pocket off near the very bottom just as the
corners curve up and then attach that bottom
piece back to the body. As shown in the
picture below, Corvette Masters prefers to
cut off the ashtray pocket up higher so you
have a decent hunk of the pocket to glass back to the existing tranny hump if the car is taken back to original some
day. They fabricate their own custom piece to epoxy up to the ashtray pocket and gave me the origi
nal cut off ashtray
pocket for safekeeping. The modified ashtray is, of course, essentially useless after this transmission swap but who
smokes in a classic C1 anyway?
Be sure to Check out page 11 for NEW SSSACC events!!!!
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 2
It is imperative to determine the bell- housing
“run-out” before the final install so all the
clutch components and bell- housing are test
fitted and a dial gauge used to determine the
“run-out.” Keisler’s instructions cover this in
depth. If the run-out is out of spec, offset
mounting dowels will be needed for
mounting the bell- housing; my car did not
require these and was well within the
specified requirement.
Corvette Masters has enough experience with
these swaps that they were comfortable doing
it with the engine in the car. By loosening
the exhaust manifolds, motor mounts and
removing the top ignition shield and
distributor cap they were able to tilt the
motor back the required 9 degrees to allow
the new components to bolt up. In some
cases the engine fan might have to be
removed to avoid the shroud when tilting the motor; however, we didn’t need to do this on my car as it turned out.
The “tilt” actually went quite easily and exactly as the instructions that come with the kit described.
I should say at this point that I have a very
straight, very original car so once the new
tranny was in it lined up exactly with the
predrilled holes in the new crossmember
provided in the kit. Now it was it was time
to install the new driveshaft/yoke. That
also slid in easily but with the transmission
bolted to the crossmember via the predrilled holes the large driveshaft yolk
banged the driver’s side of the tranny
tunnel pretty solidly. This is apparent on
the left side of this picture which was
taken from the rear of the car.
Of course, the kit instructions tell you to
‘slot’ the crossmember holes to get the
driveshaft centered in the tunnel with no
less than 1/8” on each side. In actuality,
the holes for my car had to be slotted
nearly ¾” of an inch which gave me about
¼” clearance on each side of the driveshaft. I think a little more engineering time spent by Keisler on the
driveshaft/yoke design could save kit owners some grief in this area. There should be a way to reduce the size of the
components at the front of the driveshaft in the tight area where they have to fit.
Neither Robbie nor I were crazy about the slotting approach and possible movement of the transmission at some point
in time. Robbie decided to replace the kit crossmember rubbe
r mount with a urethane version he prefers and then
fabricated and welded a bracket to the crossmember that essentially closed up the open part of the slotted holes
surrounding the mounting bolts. This will prevent any movement in the future and was an ex
tra item that Corvette
Masters did on their own which I thought was great.
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 3
This small rectangular piece can be clearly
seen in the pictureto the right.
Finally, with the issues were worked out,
the transmission was filled with the GM
SynchoMesh fluid and the car started with
no weight on the wheels (up on the lift) and
the transmission repeatedly exercised
through the gears for about 15 minutes as
Keiser recommends. The next step was a
test drive by Robbie of Corvette Masters for
a couple of miles to make sure all was well.
I picked the car up after it had been in the
shop for a week and what follows are my
initial impressions of the new upgrade.
First off, shifting with the original linkagebased transmission with those long metal
rods definitely has some ‘slop’ in the
mechanism that a rail-based transmission
does not have. Hence, the ‘notchy’ feel
described by Tremec owners – this is indeed the case. However, I like the shorter, more precise throw and by all
accounts it gets much smoother after about 1500 miles.
The TKO-600 with the 3.70 rear now provides a first gear that is a delight. Pulling away from a stoplight when facing
uphill no longer provides the drama of“slipping” the clutch enough to get the car moving without stalling and NOT
slipping back into the car behind you! The 5th overdrive gear was a bit tricky to use at first and the tendency to use it
at too low an RPM resulted in the car bogging on acceleration or when encountering hills. I found that the very
minimum RPM to engage the overdrive was at 1,600 RPM or higher. This is where my Duntov 097 cam starts to
“come on” and the car behaves well at those revolutions….and you can cruise all day at Interstate speeds and low
RPMs. 1,800 – 2,000 RPM puts me well into Florida turnpike speeds at 70-75MPH effortlessly.
Long trips are now a lot less stressful on the engine AND the driver. Cost ? I knew you’d ask; about $3,500 for the
entire C1 kit including upgraded pressure plate and throwout bearing. Then there was the flywheel reconditioning, the
tranny installation and other sundry items…so I think $4,200 is a good starting figure to work from if you are
considering this upgrade.
However, Keisler now has a new 5-speed, overdrive offering for C1s (still in prototype) that is supposed to be $800
$1,000 less, fits more easily, shifts better and is lighter, but the bugs are still being worked out. It doesn’t handle the
same maximum horsepower as the Tremec TKO series though (there is always some kind of trade off)! The Kiesler
web site has information on all their products: www.keislerauto.com
FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT
By President Mike Russo
Greetings SSSACC members. I know some of you
attended the SACC national convention in Kentucky
and others of you were at the NCRS national
convention in North Carolina. Hope all of you had a
great time.
been to the show, but if you have never been there, I
know you would absolutely love it. SACC has a tent
and parking for all members’ corvettes at Gate 3.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Even though Karen & I are in PA during the summer
months, I’m told I should come to Florida to get cool.
It’s been so hot that we haven’t done much in the way
of driving Corvettes.
Corvettes At Carlisle is coming soon; August 26-29 in
Carlisle, PA. I know that many of you have already
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 4
I know Brad Bean and his committees will have a lot
of info in this newsletter about the upcoming SACC
national convention our chapter is hosting in
Kissimmee, Jan. 30th – Feb. 1st, 2011. Please support
Brad & company and plan to attend.
Finally, I’d like to thank a few members who have
joined the Florida chapter, but live many many miles
away. These members joined really to support the
club. You know who you are, and I thank you.
for both the Convention and the Corvette Home
Coming.
About 75 participants (members and significant others)
attended the convention which was held in the Holiday
Inn Express in Bowling Green – perhaps 6 miles from
the Plant and Museum. Very nice hotel, it has a 7
Stay cool!
Save the wave,
Mike (Snip) Russo
JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE WORLD…
By Ron Dill
In April, John Luther joined his local Corvette Club for
a Cruise to the end of the world – well, actually, not
really the end – but, close. John and his fellow
travelers ventured about 450 miles south to Key West
where this picture was taken at the Southernmost Point
in the Continental United States.
story Atrium complete with water fall. Very pleasant
place to sit and enjoy your “adult” beverage as you are
thinking about how hot it is outside.
As you enter the hotel, you are greeted by one of the
’57 Vette statues that you find at various locations
around town. This is to be part of a series for
“Corvette City” – they started with the ’57 and will
continue on with other models in the years to come.
The paint jobs on each statue are different– this one
shows that all roads lead to Corvette City and the
John says his bullet proof ’57 performed admirably – it
took the group 11 hours to get to Key West and
without the group to slow him down, John made the
return trip in 8 hours. Boy – 19 hours listening to
those side pipes buzzing in your ears – John, you be
the man!
CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS
By Ron Dill
statue at the Museum honors our military.
The 2010 SACC National Convention in Bowling
Green has come and gone – for those of you that
missed it – ya missed a good time. While we drove in
heavy rain for about 300 miles on the way into
Bowling Green, it had stopped by the time we got there
and we were treated to nice, although HOT, weather
The Convention opened with the traditional
registration and incoming reception. Here we got the
news that Noland wouldn’t be with us this year as he
was home in the hospital. He had, apparently, gotten a
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 5
chill when flying back from some appearance and that
had developed into either a case of Pneumonia or
Bronchitis. By the time the convention was over he
looked better on a C-1 – but, hey, ya do what can with
what
ya
got!!
Our
first
road
trip
was to the
plant. Lots
of changes
since
we
were there
in
2003.
The Cadillac
XLR is no longer produced and the plant that used to
have 1,300 employees is now down to about 500.
had been sent home and seemed to be well on his way
to being “mended.”
During the traditional Plant Tour and we were standing
there watching the final inspection point just before the
cars were started for the first time. From there, they
were to be driven to the next computer work station
where the brakes and engine are tested under load.
The hotel had reserved a spot for us to park our cars
right out front. It was nice to see those old cars in the
place of honor.
And, everyone attending the
convention knows that the Sunshine State Chapter was
well represented as we unfurled our banner right next
to the honored cars. I realize the banner would have
The guys had checked out a new ZR-1 and then it
would not start -- so 5 or 6 GM guys pushed it off to a
parking spot near the line so somebody else could
trouble shoot and get the car running. Our young tour
guide said he had been giving tours about 6 months
and that was the first time he ever sawa car that didn't
start right up. We all were a little surprised, but since
we were kinda used to our cars not starting – we
thought “No big deal, happens all the time.”
The very next car in line was being checked when one
of the guys noticed that the body panel line from the
front fascia to the hood was not quite right -- it wasn't
as smooth as it should be. So, a guy walks over and
picks up this padded 2x4 and a BAH (the technical
term for a Big #$# Hammer). He laid the 2x4 on the
part that stuck up a little and gave it a couple of
whacks with the BAH. That adjusted the alignment to
their satisfaction and they started the car and drove it
to the computer test station. We all watched this with
intense fascination – you could have heard a pin drop
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 6
for about 20 seconds after the implementation of the
BAH adjustment.
As
well
as
finding that our
Corvette
ship
model presented
in 2003 to the
From the plant it was on to the Museum, where we
parked in the circle in front of the entrance. We found
that there lots of nice changes to the museum since
2003 as well. Starting with a new gift shop and Café.
And, as you walk down the hall to the Café you find a
museum was enjoying a
very prominent location
in the museum displays.
And, without
much trouble I
able to locate
SACC Brick in
walk
outside
Museum.
nice collection of new cars awaiting their new owners- the Museum Delivery option cars. You could not
help but be envious as you made that walk…………
too
was
the
the
the
The next day, bright and early, we were off to
AutoMasters – a GM Repair shop just down the road
from the plant. Here we enjoyed a spirited discussion
about local Bowling Green Politics and the Plant. The
Some very nice displays in the Museum – several
which portrayed the C-1s.
Plant is nearing the end of their 30 year lease and
negotiations are underway on the next agreement. As
you might expect, both sides are posturing in an
attempt to get the best possible terms in the new lease.
And, it was nice to see Noland’s picture hanging in the
Hall of Fame.
From there we went to “Culvers” an OUTSTANDING
fast food restaurant. Perhaps not the high point of the
convention – but durn close – at least, in my
estimation.
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 7
SACC’s own “Doc” Hollada. Followed by an excellent
meal – I’ve been to about 5 conventions and thought
this meal was, without
question, the best one
yet.
After lunch, we visited “Quick Fuel,” a local
manufacturer of Holly style Carburetors. They make,
Following the meal we
were treated to a
musical interlude with
Moore and Moore, an
act imported especially
for the occasion from
Nashville.
The annual membership
meeting contained a couple of things of interest.
1. The Arizona Chapter will host the 2012 Convention
in Scottsdale, AZ. It will be held inJanuary 13-14-15
in conjunction with the Barrett Jackson Auction.
2. The new Carolinas Chapter received their chapter
SACC Banner. They have 21 or 22 members from N
and S Carolina; however, I believe the bulk of their
membership is based around Raleigh.
along with other more practical carbs, a huge 1450
CFM unit which
would certainly look
cool atop your 283!!
Very
interesting
tour.
They build
new and rebuild old
carbs – so if your
Holley needs a little
work,
give
the
Quick Fuel guys a
call. They test every carb before it is boxed on their
big block run up engine. And, by this time next year
will have a
small
block
test engine as
well.
Next on the
busy agenda
was
the
traditional
Banquet
–
“pre-game”
activity
included
music
by
3. Brad made a pitch about the 2011 Convention in
Kissimmee. He handed out registration forms and the
information hand out to everyone.
4. The Treasurer (Sebring Bill) briefed that we had
about $65,000 in the bank and that we were solvent.
While it is true that we have that money – it is not
necessarily available to be spent. $10 or $11,000 is
advance paid dues and not actually recognized as
income until it actually is earned – i.e., during the year
that the dues were due. In addition, about $35,000 of
the 65,000 goes to pay for the printing and distribution
of the On Solid Ground issues that are still due out this
year. Of the $20,000 left, part goes for our National
Insurance and part pays for someone to maintain the
SACC Membership Database. And, our bylaws
indicate that we are required to maintain a certain level
of money set aside for emergencies – such as losses
associated with a convention, etc.
5. Max had tried to recruit somebody (anybody) to
take over as National President as he wanted to step
down. Since he was unsuccessful in that effort and
rather than just quit and leave us in the lurch– he was
unanimously reelected SACC President. Now, I
expect that in 2 more years he will step down
regardless. So, if you would like to be a National
officer – now is the time to throw your hat in the ring.
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 8
6. Brad's Vice Presidential tour of duty is up next
year and he has indicated that he will not run for reelection. So, here is another opportunity to help steer
SACC into the next millennium. The line starts just in
front of me.
That was pretty much it for the SACC portion of the
week’s activities – we adjourned until the January
convention in Kissimmee.
Following the SACC Convention the National
Corvette Home Coming commenced. Many of our
the pink stuff you find in most auto parts stores. The marine
version is supposed to be good for 2 years as opposed to 8
months for the pink. And, in
addition, it is supposed to have
additional safeguards built in to
prevent Ethanol fuel related
problems.
The discussion then turned to
what gas should we be using in
our old cars to mitigate the effects of Ethanol. The
conclusion seemed to be that Sunoco 260 was the solution.
However, I found, after some search on the Internet, that 1)
260 wasn’t available everywhere, and 2) it was not clear
from my research that 260 did not contain Ethanol.
So, what are you going to do? It looks to me like we are
destined to find Ethanol in our gas until someone comes up
with a better solution – a solution that makes the lobbyist in
Washington more money than the Ethanol folks are paying.
For myself, I’m switching over to the green Sta-Bil – I really
don’t know that it really helps – but, I don’t expect that it
hurts any.
GOOD ADVICE!
By Ron Dill
members took advantage of the vendors, the displays
and had entered their cars in the shows. Part of the
Home Coming activity included a Cruise. Our own
Sebring Bill and his passenger Doc Hollada were in the
cruise in Bills ’57. It is my understanding that the
White C-6 following Bill out of the lot could not
“Keep Up!” A claim I believe – having seen that little
red ’57 operate on Warp Drive.
As I was wandering around Phil Barbaro’s garage
during the May Mid-Atlantic Tech session I happened
upon this poster on the wall. It was simply entitled the
“Corvette Owners Ten Commandments.” They made
sense to me, so I thought I’d share them with you.
The Corvette Owners Ten Commandments
1. Always stop and lend assistance to a fellow Corvette
owner.
A NOTE ON STA-BIL
2. Never take your Corvette out if there is a chance of
inclement weather for the next 24 hours.
By Ron Dill
Prior to one of the convention road trips, we had a spirited
discussion in the parking lot about the benefits of Ethanol
supplemented fuel. There were about 50 drivers there and it
was pretty clear that NO ONE liked the Ethanol gas in their
cars. There were many claims of white corrosion in gas
tanks, fuel bowls, and gas lines from people that have been
using the Ethanol gas.
In addition, Bob Pinkney, lost the diaphragm in his
pump on his ’61 on the way out to Bowling Green.
believed it to be an Ethanol related issue; however,
entirely possible that was an original pump and if so,
Ethanol can’t be blamed entirely for that failure.
fuel
He
it is
then
During the discussion the issue of the use of Sta-Bil fuel
additive came up. And, the basic opinion was that it was a
beneficial thing for our old cars. However, the thought was
that we should be using the green marine Sta-Bil instead of
3. Always clean and polish your Vette before any
Sunday ride, no matter how short it is.
4. Never let anyone eat, drink or smoke in your Vette.
5. Always make sure all occupants clean their shoes
and lift them over the door sill mouldings when
entering your Vette.
6. Never let any gas station attendant clean your
windows, check your oil, or put gas in your Vette.
7. Always park your Corvette away from any other cars
in the lot or take up at least two parking places.
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 9
To see the listing, go to
www.weichert.com/31081539/?ldview=ldsummary
8. Never let anyone else drive your Vette, even if it is to
move it a few feet.
SSSACC
Membership Stood at 41, on
29 July 2010
9. Always take your Corvette to a reputable shop to have
any work done or do it yourself if you can.
We’ve not signed up any new members since the
last issue of Solid Times.
10. Never let another Vette pass without a wave of
acknowledgement, for you both know that you are
driving the most unique automobile ever built
anywhere.
MEMBER MAP
CLUB CARS
You may have noticed item 6 above – it has been
a while since anyone asked to check my oil at a
“Filling Station”
but I believe these
Commandments are certainly period correct for
our cars.
ITEM OF INTEREST FROM THE INTERNET
By Ron Dill
Corvette Castle For Sale:
Could it be the
ultimate Vette fan trinket?
Zora Arkus-Duntov's house in suburban Detroit is up for
sale. For devotees of the Chevrolet Corvette, what price can
you put on a unique piece of history? When we say unique,
we mean it.
There is only one house in which the undisputed godfather
of the Corvette, Zora Arkus-Duntov, and his modelbeautiful wife, Elfie, lived in the Detroit area. It's up for
sale in Grosse Pointe Woods, three blocks from Lake St.
Clair.
Since Duntov's passing in 1996 at age 86, Elfie lived in the
house on the corner whose road sign "Duntov Way" told
Corvette cognoscenti that this was Mecca. The 2,600square-foot, three-bedroom/1.5-bath home has, like the
owner himself, a unique style. Who knows what kind of
goodies could be squirreled away in this Corvette castle?
Asking price: $325,000.
Club owners have Corvettes of the following
years. As of 29 July 2010, our 41 members
owned 83 Corvettes (an average of just over 2
Corvettes per member). The numbers break out as
follows:
1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960
1961 1962 Total C1
C2 Models
Others
1 Car(s)
5
6
2
10
3
2
4
12
11
56
6
21
CARLISLE 2010
By Ron Dill
This year will be the 50th birthday bash at Carlisle for the
1960 Corvettes. I hope you all have planned to take your car
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 10
to Carlisle for the bash. If you are late, be advised there is
still time. Take a look at the Carlisle productions updated
web
site
for
2010,
(http://www.carsatcarlisle.com/ce/events/corvettes/),
scroll down to the 50th Anniversary Celebration area to be
able to download the application or, call their office at 717243-7855 for details. The man in charge of this effort is
Joseph V. Clemente, 610-212-9607 or e-mail at
MR35TH@aol.com.
2011 SACC CONVENTION
By Ron Dill
The planning and organizing for the January, 2011 SACC
National Convention are well under way. Please find that
we have included an event information flyer and registration
form towards the end of this newsletter. It is my
understanding that John Battista is open for business and he
is accepting event registrations now.
The convention will be held immediately following the
NCRS Winter Regional in Kissimmee. We will have a
SACC/SSSACC tent at the Regional and if you are
attending the regional, please stop by and say hello.
While we are on the subject of the convention, Brad Bean is
our Master “Convention Planner.” He is an experienced
planner – having done this twice before with the MidAtlantic SACC folks. And, as yo u might expect – he cannot
do this alone. He needs help in security, car parking, road
trip control, you name it. So, how about giving him a call at
(Cell) 850-499-4736 and drop him a line at
bean0507@cox.net and offer him some of your time.
*************************************************************
SSSACC CLUB EVENTS!!!!!!!!
By Ron Dill
In addition to the Convention and the Regional tent
mentioned above – we are making plans for two
additional events with SSSACC participation.
Event 1, this is a repeat of our first SSSACC event last
year where we went to Sebring for the Historical
Sportscar Racing. Attendees enjoyed the event and we
have the opportunity for an encore performance. See
the event flyer towards the end of this newsletter. The
actual HSR Race Schedule and Poster have not yet
been made available on their web site– as soon as that
information is out we will send an e-mail notice to the
chapter membership.
For those of you that have not been to the races at
Sebring – be sure to bring a fold up chair. The track is
3.7 miles long and there are very few bleachers or
grand stand seats. Generally, you find an observation
point on a knoll by a corner of your choice and set up
your chair and watch the racing.
The knolls are usually green ovals in the track picture.
I like to sit at turns 3 and 7; but the view from the
porch above the pit boxes is pretty good as well.
Engine noise is loud in the porch area so bringyour
hearing protection.
Please mail your registration to Karen by September
20. For additional details or information contact Russ
Sobczak at 850-383-8028, (Cell) 850-491-2158 or email at rbsobczak@comcast.net.
Event 2, in this case we plan to piggy back onto the
Marion County Corvette Club event at Silver Springs
on November 6, 2010. See the attached flyer and
registration form towards the end of this news letter.
Please send your registration and check for the fee
directly to the Marion County Corvette Club. You
will note that since this event is held on the grounds
of the Silver Springs Theme Park you must be
inside the park and your car parked by 10 AM.
Tom Blount has been working an effort to get the
SSSACC Cars parked together. So, if you plan to
attend – please let him know by October 25 that you
are coming and what you will be driving.
The Marion County Club has arraigned for a reduced
rate at the local Holiday Inn (see the attached flyer for
details) for those of you that wish to stay overnight. In
addition, should there be sufficient interest– SSACC
members can get together as a group for Dinner at a
local restaurant. Please contact Tom Blount at 863687-0264 or (cell) 863-409-0657 or e-mail at
blountte@msn.com for details.
WANT ADS
By Ron Dill
FOR SALE:
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 11
1967 Vette, For Sale. Convertible w/Hard Top, tan leather
interior, 327/350 HP, 4 speed, side pipes. Bruce LeFebvre,
Off Restoration, All Original, numbers matching. The car is
1 of 1,325 made with a 375 HP in a coupe. Vin is
40837S103678. Engine L-84, 375 HP, M20 4 Speed,
Daytona Blue, Blue Leather Trim, 370 Positraction Axle,
Quick take-off wheels, 670X15 4 Ply BW, Vacuum Power
Brakes, PB AM/FM Radio, Tinted Glass, Tinted
Windshield, Window Sticker, Jack and a lot more. Joe
Connolly, MASACC # 195, e-mail wkender@gmail.com or
Cell at 973-703-5513.
‘53/’55 Door strikers For Sale. Sold only in pairs,
satisfaction guaranteed or just return them.
Bob
Traintafillos, MASACC # 205 , Call 203-888-8802.
SSSACC ON THE WEB
MASACC # 206, Phone 860-688-3185.
By Ron Dill
For Sale 1959 Corvette, 283/290 Fuel Injected
Black/Sateen Silver coves and Red Interior. All correct all
matching, nut & bolt NCRS Restoration completed in 2010.
The web address for SSSACC on the web is
http://www.sssacc.org. If you have not done so already,
please update your favorites or book marks.
Our web curator is Ron Dill, contact him if you have
questions or suggestions concerning the design and update
of the site.
Absolutely no expense spared on this restoration. Will be
Top Flight Judged this Spring. Serious inquiries only.
SSSACC # 17, Brian Whitehead, Cell 301-440-8400, or email bdperformance@comcast.net.
For Sale 1963 Corvette Grand Sport Convertible,
Penske Sunoco Racing Tribute. Blue/Black Interior. Fresh
Our web hosting service provides a mail system and we
have established e-mail addresses for the club officers. In
all cases, we will use the officer position followed by
sssacc.org – for example, sssacc-editor@sssacc.org and
sssacc-vice-president@sssacc.org. The new addresses are
listed after the officer’s names located after the new member
announcement near the end of the newsletter. Mail to the
new SSSACC.org address is automatically forwarded to the
officers Internet address of record. The advantage to this is
that when an officer changes their Internet address it just
takes one entry to correct rather than having t o notify
everyone in the SSSACC address book.
SSSACC MEMBER CARS WEB PAGE
By Ron Dill
350/450 HP w/Brodix heads & Intake. Fresh Tremec 5
Speed, Dana 44 Rear. A Stunning Auto based on a tube
Chassis with fresh C-4 brakes, running gear, Koni
Adjustible coil Overs. A perfect 10 to cruise or vintage race.
Serious inquiries only. Brian Whitehead, SSSACC # 17,
Cell 301-440-8400 or e-mail bdperformance@comcast.net.
Our member car page is gradually growing – someday we
hope to have a picture of every member’s car posted on the
site – currently, there are 32 cars pictured on the web site.
Check to see if your pride and joy is there. As you can see
when you visit the site, we identify the car by year and the
owner’s last name. In addition, we can say anything you
would like to say about the car (see the text below the
picture of my ‘61, as an example). If you would like to
participate in this, please send me (the editor and web
curator) a picture of the car, or you and the car (a paper
photo will work but we’d rather have a high resolution
digital image), and whatever you would like for the caption
to say.
1964 Corvette For Sale or trade for a C-1. The price was
recently lowered to $65,000 firm. It is a rare Fuelie, Frame
EDITOR COMMENTS
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 12
By Ron Dill
We hope that the newsletter continues to provide you with useful information. As we’ve indicated in the past, the basic format of this
document is flexible and, if we have information that is of interest to the SSSACC community, we’ll print it.
We will send the newsletter out early in November, February, May and August. Therefore, please send any items you may have for
publication to me by the 15th of the month preceding the issue in which you would like the item to appear.
In summary, this is the club newsletter – if there is something you would like to see here, please let me know.
THINGS TO DO
Where
Carlisle, PA
Flagstaff, AZ
Lakeland, FL
Sebring, FL
Ocala, FL
Sebring, FL
Kissimmee, FL
Kissimmee, FL
Kissimmee, FL
Sebring, FL
Novi, MI
San Diego, CA
Hampton, VA
When
Aug 27 - 29, 2010
Sep 22 - 26, 2010
Oct 15 -16, 2010
Oct 21 – 24, 2010
Nov 6, 2010
Dec 3 – 5, 2010
Jan 26 - 29, 2011
Jan 20 – Feb 2,
2011
Jan 28, 2011
Mar 16 – 19, 2011
July 17 - 22, 2011
Jun 29 - Jul 5, 2012
July 21 - 25, 2013
What
Corvettes @ Carlisle
Bloomington Gold Tour
Lake Mirror Concours d’Elagance
Historical Sportscar Racing
Silver Springs Corvette Show
Legends of Motorsports
NCRS, Winter Regional
SACC National Convention
SSSACC Annual Meeting
Historical Sports Car Racing
NCRS, National Convention
NCRS, National Convention
NCRS National Convention
Who
www.carsatcarlisle.com
www.Bloomingtongoldtours.com
www.lakemirrorclassic.com/content/
Russ Sobczak, 850-383-8028
Jerry Abrams (352) 625 -1133
http://sebringraceway.com/
Stay Tuned
See enclosed flyer or the web site at
www.sssacc.org
See Poster in SACC Tent for details
http://sebringraceway.com/
Stay Tuned
Stay Tuned
Stay Tuned
WEEKLEY CAR SHOWS/CRUISE -INS
There are entirely too many weekly car shows and cruise-ins scheduled throughout the yearin Florida to list them all here.
However, you can find many of the events listed at these web sites:www.Flacarshows.com, www.carshownews.com, and
www.floridacarclubs.com .
CHAPTER DUES
Dues are $15 per year ($18 for Canadian members) and run from January through December. Please send all dues to the
Chapter Secretary, Karen Russo, at 2077 SW Heronwood Road, Palm City, FL 34990
ADDRESS CORRECTIONS
Please check your printed name and address on the back page of the newsletter. Send any corrections to thehapter
c
secretary, Karen Russo, at 2077 SW Heronwood Road, Palm City, FL 34990, or sssacc-secretary@sssacc.org. In
addition, Karen maintains a database of the cars owned and membership special interests that help us to focus club events.
So, if you have changes there or to your e-mail address, please let him know about those changes as well.
SSSACC OFFICERS
President
Mike Russo
2077 SW Heronwood Road
Palm City, FL 34990
(215) 514-2058
sssacc-president@sssacc.org
Vice President
Russ Sobczak
3215 Enterprise Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32312
(850) 383-8028
sssacc-vice-president@sssacc.org
Treasurer
Bob Locke
4248 Deste Court # 307
Lake Worth, FL 33467
(561) 963-2053
sssacc-treasurer@sssacc.org
Secretary
Karen Russo
2077 SW Heronwood Road
Palm City, FL 34990
(610) 331-1182
sssacc-secretary@sssacc.org
NEW MEMBER NOTICE
As indicated elsewhere in the newsletter, membership in the SSSACC is limited to members of the SACC. Please remember to send
your dues to the National Chapter and please provide your SACC membership number to the SSSACC Secretary, Karen Russo. The
SACC membership listing is in membership number sequence and it simplifies our crosschecking of the membership rolls when we
have that number to tie the two lists together.
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 13
The Second SSSACC Event!!
October 21-24, 2010
There are no fees associated with this event. This is pay as you go.
Tickets for the HSR Racing are available at the gate:
Daily Ticket $25
3 Day Ticket $45.
However, advance tickets are cheaper and available on line at
http://www.sebringhistoricraces.com/sebring-spring-classic-tickets.html.
Advance Daily Tickets are $20 and Advance 3 Day tickets are $35.
As long as you have a seat belt in your car – for $35 you can drive on the track
for a tour. Track tour times are noon on Saturday and Sunday.
The host hotel for the event is the
Kenilworth Lodge at 1610 Lakeview
Drive, Sebring, Florida 33870. Phone 863385-0111 or toll-free 1-800-423-5939 (US & Canada). Up to Oct 1, mention the
code SACC and get the $71.60 incl tax @ night rate for Friday and Saturday night.
Currently, we plan a Saturday Night Dinner at the Watering Hole Steak house– approximately 7 PM.
Either copy the following registration or cut at the dotted line, fill it out and mail it to Karen. See you all there.
------------------------------------------------------------------Send this registration formto Sunshine State SACC by September 20 to Karen Russo, Sunshine State SACC, 2077 SW
Heronwood Road, Palm City, FL 34990, (Cell) 610-331-1182
Name ______________________________________________________________________________
Name of 2nd person ___________________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________________________
City _______________________________________________________________________________
Phone ( )________________ Cell Phone ( )_________________ E-mail ____________________
_____ I am bringing a Corvette:
_____ I am bringing a trailer
Year ________
Color ________
I agree to insure my vehicle and property against loss, damage andliability. I agree to assume the risk of any and all
damages or injury to indemnify and hold harmless SACC, its officers, directors, agents, employees and chapters for any
acts or omissions which may result in the theft, damage or destruction of my proper
ty or injury to me or others during or
as a consequence of the event, wherever located.
_______________________________________________________ __________________________
Signed
Dated
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 14
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 15
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 16
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 17
2011 SACC National Convention Registration Form
January 30 – February 1, 2011
Kissimmee, FL
Name____________________________________
SACC Membership #________________________
Address __________________________________
State/Prov. ____________________Zip_________
Home Phone# (
) ________________________
Non-SACC Guest of Member__________________
Family Member(s)________________________
Chapter_________________________________
City_____________________________________
E-Mail___________________________________
Cell Phone# (
)_________________________
Arrival & Departure Dates__________________
Holiday Inn - Main Gate East, 5711 W. U.S. Hwy 192, Kissimmee, FL 34746 (407) 396-4222.
Make hotel reservations by calling 1-800-327-1128 and mention Solid Axle Corvette Club convention to receive our
rate of $65.00 per night. You will be able to keep the same rate for any additional nights, before or after the
convention (based on space availability).
Please indicate the functions you plan to attend and the number of people who will attend each.
Convention Registration Fee by 12/1/10 (Includes $20.00 discount for early registration)
Registers 1 SACC member & their immediate family (spouse & minor children)
To receive discount rate, completed registration form with payment must be received byDecember 1, 2010.
Registration after December 1, 2010………………………….…………Additional $30.00 .
Non-SACC Guest of Member additional fee………………………….. $30.00 each.
Sunday, 1/30 Reception dinner at hotel ………………. #_______ persons @ $15.00 each.
Monday, 1/31 Caravan to the Don Garlits Museum and luncheon…… #_____persons @$35.00 each.
Tuesday, 2/1 Lunch following tech sessions……#_______persons @ $10.00 each.
Tuesday, 2/1 Reception & Banquet……..# _______ persons @ $35.00 each.
Tee Shirts ____SM____MD____LRG____XLRG____XXLRG………… $20.00 each
Convention Tee shirts may be ordered for home delivery if unable to attend,
Add $5.00 for Shipping & Handling; tee shirts will be shipped after convention.
Payable in US Funds only Check or Money order.
$ 70.00
$______
$______
$______
$______
$______
$______
$______
$______
Total enclosed $______
No refunds will be made for cancellations occurring after 1/16/11.
Hold Harmless Agreement: I agree to insure my vehicle(s) and property against loss, damage and liability and to provide proof of
such insurance to SACC. I agree to assume the risk of any and all damages or acts or omissions which may result in the theft,
damage or destruction of my property or injury to me or to others occurring during or as a consequence of this convention
wherever located. Send or bring proof of insurance covering convention dates.
Year___________ Vin ___________________ License____________ State__________ Exterior color ____________
Interior color____________ Trailer: Yes _______ No __________
Insurance Company ______________________________ Policy # ________________ Expires __________________
Signature________________________________ Date____________
Mail completed form, proof of Insurance and check, made payable to SSSACC, to:
John Battista - SSSACC
10205 Burnt Store Road
#75
Punta Gorda, FL 32950-7932
Convention Contacts: John Battista (302) 381-9786 or Brad Bean (850) 424-5623
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 18
Sunshine State
Solid Axle Corvette Club
2010 Membership Application
Dues are $15 per year ($18 Canadian) . Membership year is January 1 to December 31,
2010. Please make all checks (US Funds) payable to “Sunshine State Solid Axle Corvette
Club”
(Last)
(First)
(MI)
NAME ______________________________________________ SPOUSE __________________________
ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________________________
CITY ____________________________________ STATE _____________ ZIP _______________
e-MAIL ___________________________________
PHONE (
)_________________________ CELL (
)_____________________
SACC # ________________ SSSACC # ______________
Do you own a solid axle Corvette? No _________
Yes _________ If so, what year(s) _____________
Do you own any other Corvettes?
Yes _________ If so, what year(s) _____________
No _________
Club Activities Preferred, please mark with an X
_____ Shows, _____ Tours (shops, museums, etc.), _____ Road Tours , _____ Solid Axle related
information seminars, _____ Social functions.
How far would you travel for a club sponsored weekend event? _____________ miles
General Comments:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
SSSACC leadership is contacted from time to time by Chapter members wishing to contact other members in their area or with the
same year car. Unless you specifically indicate below, we will be free to share your phone number, mailing address and e-mail
address with other members requesting that information.
I do not want the following personal information shared with other Chapter members_______________.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Mail the completed application to: Sunshine State SACC, 2077 SW Heronwood Road, Palm
City, FL 34990 Questions? Call Karen Russo at (Verizon Cell) 610-331-1182 or 215-5142058.
* Reminder – You MUST be a member of SACC to become a member of SSSACC. *
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 19
ROAD RULES
Solid Times is the quarterly newsletter for the
Sunshine State Chapter of the Solid Axle Corvette
Club and is published during the months of November,
February, May, and August. A copy is sent to each
member in good standing.
Membership in the Sunshine State Chapter is open
only to members of the parent organization, the
Solid Axle Corvette Club. The Solid Axle Corvette
Club is a non-profit organization serving members
with an interest in 1953 – 1962 model year Corvettes.
Ownership of a Solid Axle Corvette is not necessary to
become a member of the organization.
This newsletter provides a forum for members to
communicate with other members. As a result, the
newsletter will often contain member opinions. Those
opinions should not be construed as an endorsement by
SSSACC or the parent organization, SACC.
Direct SACC Membership questions to:
SACC Membership
PO Box 2288
North Highlands, CA 95660
916-991-7040
SSSACC membership inquiries and correctionsto
the address list should be directed to the club secretary:
Karen Russo
2077 SW Heronwood Road
Palm City, FL 34990
(610) 331-1182
sssacc-secretary@sssacc.org
Please submit articles for publication to the editor.
Generally, articles for publication should follow the
broad theme of “Anything of interest to the Solid Axle
Corvette community.” Suggested items for publication
would include how-to articles, parts information,
performance issues, scheduled events, restoration or
repair information, and personal stories.
The Solid Times editor can be reached (Year Round) at:
Ron Dill, Editor SSSACC
501 Yorktown Road
Yorktown, VA 23693-3101
(757) 880-5445
sssacc-editor@sssacc.org
Note: The e-mail address is a high speed, so don’t hesitate to send
pictures or large binary objects.
Sunshine State Solid Axle Corvette Club
501 Yorktown Road
Yorktown, VA 23693
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
SSSACC Newsletter – August 2010 20