Rev suggested I post this (from QAQ)
First trip: Woodsville
Time of journey: 4-1/2 hours to 5 hours (there and back)
This was Lucy's first
real outing, highway speeds, small towns, traffic on open roads etc.....
The resto guys took Lucy while I followed and viewed from behind (looks bloody awesome on the road)
they stopped a couple of times to check over the car for leaks, any noises they couldn't hear in the car and basically to thoroughly check the car out for any signs of strain, or potential trouble etc She cam up great! The resto guy Dave said she drives really really well and he was quite surprised at how well it handle saying it drove like a modern sports car, very responsive, not effected by wind or big trucks going past at speed etc. They kept keeping an eye on all gauges every minute or so and told me to do the same on my trip.
Then I had a turn at driving while Dave drove the Terrano behind. I drove from Mangatanoka(?) right outside the Tui factory until Featherson which is about an hour+ drive. Mostly all 100kph stuff and going through cities etc, I was happy and also very relieved to get some time behind the wheel.
Nervous at first but then that turn into excitement then when I got home more shock. lol Lots of looks and thumbs up, people coming over when we had the hood up having a good look and giving praise, some guy said, "Shlt, what a fcuken awesome engine bay!" lol
One guy following had one had on the wheel and one hand trying to take pxts or video of the car. lol That was quite hard-case.
The view from the car is great can see very easily behind for passing or to see what traffic is coming up which was quite a surprise.
The brakes are better than I thought, still not perfect for daily driving but still very good. It will take some getting use to.
Throttle response is fantastic, just need to touch it and she moves which is how I look it.
The brakes have too much performance for my basically stock 440, they bite at a certain point but played properly do not, just takes getting use to. I will be restoring the original booster next year when I take her in for her final polish and touch up at the paint shop.
Which is kind of cheeky as they will fix and repair any stone chips I get when I take her away for her 2000km or 1300 mile trip.
They have to address a few things. One being the fan belt, it twisted when they floored it and came off at one stage.
They found the reason, it wasn't perfectly aligned with the top & bottom pulley thing (lol) it has to be directly above and this was about2-5mm out, bugger all but enough to make the fan belt twist over time and eventually come off under load.
Another thing was kick-down linkage. That needs adjusting. Adam my mechanic fixed it down a side street when we pulled over but when they tested (to the floor) that's when the fan belt came off so they couldn't test it any more and we had to eventually just cruise home.
They are testing that today once the fan belt is fixed putting a spacer in to align it perfectly.
Another thing was the tyres/wheels weren't balanced properly from when I got them from Tony's tyre service.
Nothing major so they'll fix that today. The A/C guy is coming to charge the system up so it shoots fresh cold air.
So nothing major, tonight they give it a double check, gauges and leak tests etc.
Then they'll give it a real good polish and clean and vacuum and wipe down before it's finally ready for me!!!
They said the test was a
huge success and both were saying it has to be one of the best MoPars in New Zealand and possible Australasia.
That was quite a buzz to hear them say that, they built it so of course they might say that but they are genuine and believed what they said.
The test was well worth it, if anything was to majorly go wrong that 4-5 hour trip would have raised the problem.
Engine runs smooth and has no worries no over heating, idles well and sounds awesome as.
Transmission shifts crisp and smooth and the slap-stik shift with pistol grip bangs away hard and precise.
I'm one very excited boy!!!!!
Sorry lads, photos will have to wait until Friday (tomorrow).
