My first shakedown cruise!

Terry NJ

Terry NJ

Well-known member
I took the 30 coupe out today for it's longest ride so far. I live on top of a hill (Rock hill Twsp, Aptly named) and I had some concerns about getting back up once I was at the bottom. It was an experience! Top speed of 35 mph. It shook somewhat! It vibrated somewhat! The brakes pulled to the left! The ****** whined! There's about 4" of play/slop in the steering wheel and you're constantly correcting, It was a little hot from the engine. I found myself looking for side mirrors. I couldn't downshift without grinding. BUT I made it back up the hill without even shifting back to second from third. All in all It was great! Couldn't stop grinning all day!
Terry
 
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It's one of the greatest thrills - that only a car guy can understand
You almost need someone to ride with you to keep track of all the things you need to do whan you get back home, but nobody wants to go, because they're either afraid they'll have to walk back or PUSH !! :D
I know it took a whole day to get the smile off my face - I think it (the smile) had her a little nervous:eek:
 
Congratulations Terry! The first ride is really something, nothing like it. I had mine in January of this year. Never rode in an A until then.
No windows, no floor, no roof and a muffler with a hole the size of an orange pointing straight into the cab. One of the best rides of my life. Still chuckle when I think about it.
Dave
 
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Congratulations Terry!

The picture is of my first ride in our 30' coupe.

I think I still have that same silly grim on my face today!

Check out the interior, or lack of it. No top, no lights (at night), I didn't care. That first ride was great!

Chris
 
Shakedown after what? A complete rebuild or just getting it running for the first time since you bought it? Either way, as others have said, there's nothing like that first ride after having her apart for untold months... or years! Congratulations! The fun has just begun. I've been playing with these things for 51 years, and just rebuilt the trans and clutch on my coupe, and had that joy (and fear) of the test drive. Nothing like it.
 
Shake down after more than two years of sitting idle. The engine was just short of seized and had this awful vibration in it that is still not completely gone, but is vastly diminished. The clutch was chattering. I rebuilt the Trans. Balanced the tires, freed up some of the brakes. and lots of details. A complete rebuild? No not even close, but still a lot of work!
Terry




700rpm said:
Shakedown after what? A complete rebuild or just getting it running for the first time since you bought it? Either way, as others have said, there's nothing like that first ride after having her apart for untold months... or years! Congratulations! The fun has just begun. I've been playing with these things for 51 years, and just rebuilt the trans and clutch on my coupe, and had that joy (and fear) of the test drive. Nothing like it.
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Yeah, Mitch! Those SS bumpers are cleaning up with very mild cleaning compound and some elbow grease. I'm curious, what happened to them? Were they in a fire or was something spilled on them?
Terry


Mitch//pa said:
good job terry any of my parts on that car? its nice to get out on a shake down it gives you a feel of what you need to address. try and go to this show in two weeks you wont be dissapointed
http://www.buckinghamautoshow.org/
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Terry said:
Shake down after more than two years of sitting idle. The engine was just short of seized and had this awful vibration in it that is still not completely gone, but is vastly diminished. The clutch was chattering. I rebuilt the Trans. Balanced the tires, freed up some of the brakes. and lots of details. A complete rebuild? No not even close, but still a lot of work!
Terry
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Good on you, Terry! Now you can still get some driving in before winter sets in. :)
 
Terry said:
Yeah, Mitch! Those SS bumpers are cleaning up with very mild cleaning compound and some elbow grease. I'm curious, what happened to them? Were they in a fire or was something spilled on them?
Terry[/

Terry I'll explain it to you the next time I see ya..
stop by the show in 2 weeks
mitch
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Let me go further, if I may. After the ride you stared at the car in the driveway for about an half an hour for no particular reason? Yeah, you got it.
 
A fine memory: As myself & a friend around the corner were doing short hops in our A's to gain confidence in the A's & ourselves, Pat's dementia had progressed to a point where verbal communication wasn't much. All of a sudden Pat said, " Why don't you & the other Bill take a drive to the country, and take a tow chain?" what a BLESSED thing to remember!! Shortly after, Pat & I took an 87 mile round trip into the Sierra Nevada foothills, Minerva, my Black Phantom '30 Coupe performed flawlessly!! Bill W.
 
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