Best Christmas EVER!
SO a sneek peeek of Big Dog in the back ground.
as of 12/31/2021

Everyday is Saturday!

I retired from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard with:
40 years, 6 months, 13 days (Service Credit of 41 years 8 months)
DoD -Navy Fed Civilian

Plenty of Time to wrench now!

More Red car photos to come.

Yours in Motors; James

'

Big Congrats on your well deserved retirement also best of luck w/ your new career!:flag:
:beers:
~ Pete

.

Awesome. Congratulations

Very cool. Looks like you got to work on some cool stuff that I could only ever see from the road outside the gates. Did you work on Fast Attack Boats?

Yes; A Few LoL;

USS Hawkbill (SSN666), USS Drum (SSN677), USS Barb (SSN596), USS Puffer (SSN652), USS Tautog (SSN639), USS Pogy (SSN647), USS William H. Bates (SSN680), USS Columbus (SSN762), USS Pasadena (SSN752).

Many Many Many others (SSN21cl & SSN688cl & SSN774cl SSBN726cl) "OFF HULL" in the Heavy Depot Back shops (Electrical).

I prefer "Boats" [Hunters] that submerge to "Ships" [Targets] that float.

GO NAVY!

Very cool.

That is so cool Jim.

I've always had an attraction to the history of naval war and the various types of U-Boats. The hunter killers are fascinating, and the boomers are also very intriguing. Would love to tour one of the Los Angeles Class boats if I ever get to see one up close. Maybe when one is decommissioned and setup as a floating museum somewhere in PNW.

If ever in the PNW here are two options: Friendly Opportunities.
https://navalunderseamuseum.org/
&
https://omsi.edu/submarine

Decom Nuc Boats are cut up as "razor blades" (aka Recycled) and the Reactors responsibly processed & stored.

688cl Calif tours but you gotta know someone
https://www.csp.navy.mil/css11/Tours/

I saw the USS Blueback (SS-581) moored in Oregon and have driven over that a couple of times. Never took the time to stop and tour the boat but have said I'd do that some day. Toured USS Pampanito (SS-383) in SF years ago. That was fun to check out.

Anyways...back to the red car? Can you save the original block or was it lunched? Tell us more about the new motor being built?

The Summer 2020 "walk of Shame" first time since I bought it in 83'

I am "assuming" the Factory installed Orig Block will be usable (It Starts w/Lower Knock and Upper rattle), but just set aside while I run the L78 for a few years

Going to run the 840 iron heads (dtd L-7-7 & L-11-7)
The Alum 12363410 GMPP's were just for mock up fun, going to liquidate those for beer cans fodder.

CE850154 Block 323 dtd Unit is over at Cope Machine for Refurb.

It will mate with the "CX" trans in the car I have the "CC" trans tucked away safe and sound.

That's going to be a pile of fun now.

I assume you're going to have the new stuff in there over the winter months? Oh yeah...that's mostly a bunch of rain for you guys on the coast right? :naughty:

Hi Jim,


Congrats on the retirement! Looking forward to following along on your rebuild!!


:biggthumpup:

Orig Motor Removal
 

The Shop Foreman "Ringo The Cat" Cracking the whip. Engine is removed and stuffed in a corner for future autopsy. Cope Machine still working on L78 (CE850154) 3915323 Hope to get it back this summer and installed. Minor Fluff of some components and eng comp. Note the "CX" 1969 L78 Chevelle Trans (Orig TH400 w/ VIN in a corner safe and sound).

Waiting for the call to help stab the new bullet into the engine bay.:3gears:

Was hoping you had the new motor ready to go in? I'm dying to hear the new one running in there.

Hello Jim. Knowing you have all that (retirement) time on your hands now, I was looking in to see if there's an update on your 68.

How are things progressing my friend?

L35 Has broken Rocker and Down Low Knock; Bagged and Put into Laid up for future repairs.

The L78 is in Mid Build at Cope Machine In Tacoma Wa.
They are checking Piston to Valve clearances and ordering additional parts then Off to Dyno for Cam break-in and Tuning.

I expect to take delivery in July.

In the mean time I have been working on a Friends 1966 GTO (Fred)

&

We took the 69 Pace car to the Shelton Ridge Raceway for the West Coast Trans Am race and got to Do 6 Parade Laps at lunch time.

That's awesome. I'll bet that was fun to do those laps in the pace car.

You guys are lucky to have that and other race tracks right n your backyard like that.

The "CE" L78 Lives and Screams, Well maybe whimpers a bit.

That's great Jim. So how well did it pull?

I forgot to get the Dyno Sheets and have asked for a copy.
Did not make much power 375/380 in the five thousand+ rpms.
I did not have them spin it up much, basic break in & adjust.
(Hair Lines, Waist Lines and HP claims) You know LoL
I think using some "facts" & poor assumptions of the build and Diamond Pistons Comp calc, we might be around 10.75:1 at Best. I just hope it is peppier than the #'s L35 which I broke. The Numbers matching drivetrain is tucked away & will be rebuilt for future.

This Motor should work wonders with the 69 Chevelle "CX" TH400 that is in the car. I can tell you the L35 & the CX were NOT a happy marriage.

More Soon.

JIM

Motor installed and mated to a Chevelle (Kansas VIN) TH400 "CX" auto.
Working on the various misc systems and attachments next.
Should Lite off in Dec (*I know I am Old and Slow) LoL!

Cool shop!

Garage addition
 

I added 30' to my existing garage as a Bday gift to myself when I turned 50 to assure, I have a Warm Safe place to play in retirement. 2x6, Insulated, Gas Heated, Sheetrocked, Painted, A/V Screens, Classic LP Tunes, Air in wall, Various machines, Solvent tank, Lots of Delco themed wall hangers & Benches and Storage for stuff on wheels, Polished floor, Etc Attached Final sizing 24' x 54'
Best of ALL if the Boss Hollars, flip the lights and back on station.


LoL I ordered my 1985 S10 in Aug 1984, Still running strong,,,,Like a Kiddy Truck.

Looking great!

You’ll never go wrong adding garage space.

Almost There

cLEAN!

Looks great, Jim!!:biggthumpup:

Counted Cross Stitch
 

Here is an interesting one. Years Ago, My wife made this for me. Using a Pattern and Cross Stitching in the scheme of the Red Camaro. I was so impressed with her efforts I had it Triple mat and framed. Looking around we can not find the Source or mfr or vendor whom offered this was done in the 1990-ish. I thought I would post it in the Owners 'thread' for the Car.
Related, just not a bolt on part LoL

I think Stoney Creek offers some patterns but not this 67/68 side profile pattern.

* & Yes, I used to have some Weird "Midas Exhaust" prior to the Advent of the Installed correct Gardner versions, Please excuse the Cars Tips,,,,,

Jim

Jim asked me to share the engine start up for his Camaro. Sounds great! :headbang:

Engine Swap Trials
 

The Motor seems to be running reliably and it is time To Button up the Hood and Further Test -n- Tune.
Thanks Bruce for Posting the Vid. I still do not have a Camera on a Phone & used a Vintage Sony Camera for Vid Shooting. I will get a Driving Vid using a Friends phone (LoL)

I have owned the Car since 1983 & It has NEVER pulled like it now does. The Original factory installed L35 will get repaired and stored for a few years while I enjoy the L78 experience.

Will post some More Interesting 'related' photos soon.

Jim

(*PS I should get it out to our Local 1/8 mile track for a (Spring) Friday test n tune evening for a little excitement (Safely) [aka Bremerton Raceway]

https://www.bremertonraceway.com/

Looks and sounds great! Enjoy....:3gears::burnout:

Thats one clean 68.

Nothing like the sound of solids:headbang:

One of my favorites, nice ride

The Red Dog gets on the Scales
 

4 corner scaled.
just for fun

Full tank, show chair and junk in trunk (No driver) #

Red Dog and Friends
 

Posting a Few Car & Car drive shots with Friends rides also.

Friday, ‎July ‎1, ‎2016
Port of Bremerton Airport, Diner.

w/ Scottys 1967 GS400

Looks great Jim!

Red Dog and Friends
 

Posting a Few Car & Car drive shots with Friends rides also.

Friday, ‎May 6, ‎2016
Port of Bremerton; Bremerton Raceway.

w/ Bobby D's 1969 L34 SS Nova