72 "Lucy" 4-Speed Resto
 

As was posted earlier this summer, I purchased Greg's 72 Lucerne Blue, 4-Speed TA and will be finishing up what he started. This was an amazing car to begin with and together with the piles of NOS parts that Greg had collected really makes this a great candidate for restoration!

I've never bought a car that was spread around the midwest like this one is, so I was a little nervous. Most of the car was in Lincoln, NE and the engine was in Abiline, TX! However, the work that Greg had done to document and start restoring this car, as well as the amazing work that Steve Schappaugh and Jim Robertson had done also helped to close the deal.

After several months of waiting to get back into the production line at Steve's shop, things are again progressing.

I'll post up some of build pictures, but here is one of the car as it sat when Greg purchased it, and another of how it looked when I bought it.

OK, I guess I don't know how to make the pictures bigger! Can someone help me with that?

Cheers...

sure..
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...2&d=1382809529
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...3&d=1382809625

I have the shaker....http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n.../shaker010.jpg

Up until a week ago the gauge cluster was in Virgina with Gentry at Auto Instruments. I heard the gauges were delivered last week so things are definitely starting to migrate to Nebraska just in time for winter where there's nothing else to do but work on early second gen TA's.... Right Steve???

Good luck with the balance of the restoration and keep the pictures coming. It's pretty nice having Lucy and Adrian in the same shop.

I'm not sure the shaker in Norwoods post is Lucy's. I think it's one he finished 4 years ago.

I have this nightmare there will be two cars at next years TA Nat's with holes in the hood. But they will have pretty hood latches so maybe no one will notice the missing shaker :)

Its all packed up and awaiting shipment on Monday to Nebraska.....Have faith Greg.......

Awesome... Thanks Craig! I let Steve know to keep an eye out for it. I'm looking forward to getting all the parts in one state ;-)

Never fear when Craig is in the case,,,,, not to mention that nice little shaker in the pic is still sitting on a warm shelf in my basement and always available to Craig any time should life happen to get in the way of production schedules..

He's not only the best at what he does,,, but has quit a few people who'd back him if he happen to stumble from outside influences of day to day life......

Craig is a master of TA stuff, for sure... and generally a decent guy! ;-) I had a great time hanging with Craig, Uncle Judge and Brewster last year at the TA Nats. Only wish I could have made it back this summer! If all continues on schedule for "Lucy", I'll bring her out to the POCI and the TA Nats next summer...

Here are some pictures that Steve sent this week. Looks good with the red oxide and the blackout on the dash and firewall!

Formulabruce, how do I make the pics bigger? Must be something I'm doing wrong when I upload em!

Your pics are big enough.
What you're probably wanting is to make them inline and not just as an attachment.

After you do the uploading of the pics, look on the main page by the Manage Attachments button.
It will now show the links for the pics you uploaded.
I open the links in a separate tabs and copy the link.
Then in the reply window, put the cursor where you want the pic and click on the little icon next to the 'Quote' icon, looks like a picture with mnt and sun.
Then paste the link there.
It'll come up with the pic.
Then do each other one like that.

:)

Here's one of yours:

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...0&d=1382891743

:)

Here's a pic of posting pictures in the main body of a post:

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1383242415

:)

Thanks John, I needed to change my message editing preference in my profile to be able to find these icons!

Now I can look like I know what I am doing! :D

Here is the engine beauty shot as it sits down at Jim's place. Tomorrow is the big day... break in on the dyno! I'm lookin' forward to some pics and video. Hopefully all goes well and I can get it on the way up to Lincoln.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1383228751

I'll be there also to record the momentous event with my new Go Pro. I have to be the film director to try and keep from getting my hands dirty :)

Had fun today on the Dyno at Winger Maching Shop in San Angelo TX tugging on Red Goat's 455HO WD for Lucy.

Jim Robertson (from these forums) built motor.
Stock appearing.
Standard bore!
Factory exhaust manifolds.

Final pull:
466HP at 5,200rpm and still rising
536Ft. Lbs torque at 3,800 rpm

Congratulations Jim Robertson for a great engine build and Congratulations Tim for the results.

what C/R? am assuming ported 7F6's...

Congratulations!

That some good numbers and should work great on the street.
(especially with stock HO manifolds)

:)

Scoop arrived safe and sound. When unpacked I told my guys to be careful with it, it's NOS. No one doubted it either. It looks awesome.

165th, "nothing else to do but work on early second gen TAs"? Of course that's true but we'll keep that between us as I think Beckie would have something contradictory to say about it. Actually, it looks like there will be a neat 455HO A body in the mix this winter. Still a "Lucy" car though.

By the way, I feel like I should clarify before someone asks why the heck we use different colors of red oxide for the interior, trunk and underside. It's all the same correct paint, I just have a heck of a time with lighting and the camera flash inside the shop.

Hey Greg, I'm glad you had fun today... wish I could have made it down to play with you guys! Glad things went so well.

FYI, this is the numbers matching drivetrain out of this car.

Steve, don't worry about those photography and camera lighting classes you are thinking about taking... just keep doing what you do best, building awesome cars!

Norwood, thanks for doing such a great job on the shaker! You are da man...

Cheers,
Tim

Good thing most of you guys are patient with me because I had that one for over a year.

When I die I feel sorry for the guys whos stuff I'm working on...My wife has no clue, she thinks its all my stuff........

Thanks so much Steve, Coming from a guy who works to the standard that you do that means something.


Funny thing is an actual NOS unit is next up,then Adrian.;)

I'm watching Bent Wheel Bob's engine paint experiment with great interest! Go Bob...:beerchug:

It was a great day at the dyno. Having an opportunity to rework a numbers matching HO when most engines in the shop are race engines was a distinct pleasure. Posts in other threads have given specifics about this one but know that we used most original parts. The only parts intended to upgrade performance were the cam and rocker arms. The cam is our version of the famed RAIV flat tappet hydraulic with about 230/240 degrees duration at .050" tappet lift. The rockers are a stamped steel replacement RAIV with 1.65:1 ratio. The rods are forged Eagle H beams with stock dimensions. Pistons are custom made by Diamond with ring lands moved down to stay away from the rust pits found at the top of two bores (see the story about this in the HO thread.) Valves are stainless steel from REV with very near stock dimensions. The heads are unported but have our highly refined three angle valve seats. They max flow 240 cfm but achieve that number very early in the lift cycle. Intake and exhaust manifolds are untouched. Compression calculates to just under 9:1. She's a keeper...

How did you get "up to" 9:1 ?? deck the block? shave heads? why not a roller tip stamped steel rocker at 1.5 ratio? new pushrods, or clearance for the old ones? just some thoughts I had...

Steve is making some progress... COLOR!

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1384819811
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1384819811

Progress, color....and a good shot of two of my guys looking pretty unproductive. I need to be more careful what pictures I'm sending out!

Looks like you took the picture when lunch was ending and they were getting back to work. Too light out for the end of day.

Steve:

For some strange reason when I opened your picture it came out like this. Is this correct? I know rwinkles and I like it better. What do you think?

Bob

Ya that's nice.....The color looks GREAT

Thanks Craig! It's called Maize and Blue.

You and Winkles can rest assured that I love it! Growing up, partying, etc, in the same town as the big red I've seen first hand what they're capable of off the field as well as on and I've developed a slight lack of respect for the almighty. Funny thing is the last two Saturdays have had my favorite teams being from MI.

My concern is the poster of the original picture and owner of the car. I'm not sure if he'll think the altering of his picture is an improvement or not. Those CO fans are a pretty passionate bunch.

Hey guys... I've been absent lately. Sadly, my dad's health has really deteriorated in the past two weeks. He is such an amazing guy, it's really heartbreaking to see him this way.

Sorry to hear

Hi Tim, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

Thanks, Greg. Hard to lose the good ones... but he is in a better place today, leaving behind his broken body. I learned everything I know about honor, hard work and taking care of your family and friends from my dad. As a Navy Vet, he will be laid to rest with honors. God bless:usa2:

Sorry for hear Tim

Yes, definitely sorry to hear about your dad. You and your family are in my prayers.

Hey Guys, checking back in with new progress pics from Steve. Last week he got the color on the rest of the body...

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1386395596

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1386395596

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1386395596

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1386395596

For anyone who has never met Steve or had any business dealings with him... he is as straight up a guy as you'll ever deal with! His shop is doing an amazing job on this car.

They spent this week polishing...

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1386396048

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1386396048

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1386396048

They are laying on the paint as follows:

3 coats color, wet-sanded with 800, followed by 2 coats 1/2 color/clear mix, wet-sanded with 800, followed by 3 coats clear, wet sanded with 800 and finally 2 more coats of clear.

oh boy that is the way to make that paint look alive!!

That car body looks great Tim, and Steve's shop is nailing that paint too! Those girls in your avatar buffing it too?

Wow,at this rate I hope to see it at the nats or better yet the Uprising!

Tim, No way am I letting you park that car next to mine. Mine will look like a total POS..;( I hope Steve has a supply of stripe kits.

WOW.

Note to Steve: after practicing on Lucy, please repeat on Adrian!

Tim, Sorry to hear about your dad. May he rest in peace.

The car looks great! Congrats to the team of expert craftsmen working their magic.