[Joker45]

Well I made it back all in one piece! It was quite the road trip. I got up at 3:30 in the morning and left my house and picked up my buddy that was going to drive my truck and parts back. We were on the freeway by about 4:30 am after getting the truck filled up with gas and something to snack on. Fog, damn I hate FOG! It was very foggy for the first 100 miles of the trip. So foggy that CHP was pacing cars on the freeway at about 50 MPH. So we finally cleared the fog and after 430 miles and a few stops for food, gas and the mandatory bathroom break, made our way out to the front of SAI at around 10:30 am. Bud was out front and directed me to Adrienne's office. I then met Adrienne and she was great! Because of our later then planned arrival due to weather she gave us our own tour of the shop and museum.

Now mind you, my buddy that went with me is in no way considered a car nut. He was amazed at the production facility and the museum. I actually got a real kick from just watching him. Well then it was off to do some paperwork and write that big check, back to reality! Signed my life away and handed over a check to Adrienne Even as much as she wanted me too, I just forgot to make it payable to her!

She continued to beat it into my head about the needed break in period for the rear end gears. I think she probably thought I might forget about it or that maybe it was important information or something.

As we were waiting for my car to be brought our she had all of my take off parts brought out so that we could load them into the truck. After some creative re boxing of the hood, we got it all in and secured with the help of Bud and another man that I never got his name.

Then I saw it coming out of a building for the first time

[Joker45]

WOW was about all I could say. It looked so much different then the last time I saw it. It really does make an impression on you when you see it as your car for the first time.



Well after going over the car and checking several things out and getting it beat into my head about the break in I was ready for the final inspection. I also met Donnie and he was great. He tried his hardest to convince me to do the break in while in Vegas and then take it to the 1/4 mile track that night and run it! But I thought that I might be living in the car if I didn't return home and spent the night in Vegas without my wife it could get really ugly!

So I completed the final inspection and met crawco2, another forum member who was dropping his car off for his conversion.

[Joker45]

Then we took a fair well picture and I headed out on my maiden voyage for 25 miles and then back to the Shelby Cafe for some lunch and the 1 hour cool down. For the life of me a can't remember the guys name on the left in this picture. He was one of the guys that did alot of the work on my car. He was great and even though he didn't want to take a picture, he obliged my buddy.



Well driving this car for the first time was alittle weird. It had been 10 weeks to the day since I had driven it and boy did it feel different then I remembered it!

Put real close to 25 miles on it and went to the Speedway for another photo op!









I also grabbed a couple shots of the road course while I was there. Sorry if they aren't great pics but that's the best I could do.





Then we went to the Shelby Cafe, some more pictures and some really good food!

[Joker45]

As we were eating lunch, Donnie was leaving and graciously volunteered to take my car for another 25 mile break in drive.

It was pretty cool place to eat lunch and the food was really good. I even saw someone out in the parking lot taking pictures of my car.

We then finished lunch and got my truck with all the parts in it and headed out. We stopped for gas and then at the casino just outside of Vegas for the second stop and cool down period. My buddy was amazed how good the car looks going down the road and changes that were done to it. After letting it cool down for another hour I gave my buddy the keys and he about pooped himself!







So another stop down the road and let it cool down for about an hour and 15 minutes and then drove the rest of the way home with only normal stops. Man was it hard not to get in to the boost at all! But I was a good boy and wanted to do it right. After a total of 885 miles and 20 hours we finally made it back home just after midnight. Fog was bad again for about 100 miles and more CHP pacing at 40 MPH this time in sections.

Here's some more pics.







So I tucked it in and around 1pm this afternoon, I kicked the tires and lit the fires again! It was time to break in my home town with the SS

OMG! what a difference!

After driving it home and then today I have come to these conclusions.

The TVS and gearing change has WAY more power then a stage 1 JLT CAI and Tune! First and second gear is an even bigger problem then before. Unless you are on warm tires, dry road and above 50 MPH you will spin them easily and without effort or intention. The torque is very nice and alot lower in the RPM range then before. Comes out of the corners with authority, even in a higher gear then you should be in.

I got the Shelby/Eibach suspension. Yes it is firmer then stock and can be rough over bad roads ie. almost any road in California! It is not harsh or really uncomfortable but it reminds you that you are not in a stock car or luxury vehicle. But it handles way better then stock. Lateral grip is very impressive so far and body roll is almost non-existent compared to stock. Front end dive is very minimal under hard breaking and the brakes work well. No idea about track use but under semi-normal street driving they are great.

The looks factor is off the charts! One of my friends saw me driving around town and was flashing his headlights at me. He said he could see me coming and knew it had to be me. He loved the looks of the car and said it was off the charts when he was driving next to me and I gave it some boost. Sick was the word he used to describe it. I had people staring at me all over town. Corvette owners were practically breaking their necks to look at it. Of course I had to make sure they knew there was a new boss in town! And no he didn't want any!

So all in all I love it! I have some other stuff planned and that should complete the total package, for me at least. For awhile at least

Now passengers in my car can really appreciate the meaning behind my warning sticker!

[MY500SS]

Great write up and pics Joker, thanks for posting. Congrats on the new SS. These cars are the most fun you can have outside the bedroom.
I look forward to the photo op we will have at the Shelby Bash.

Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Dan

[Joker45]

MY500SS, on Dec 13 2008, 07:17 PM, said:

Great write up and pics Joker, thanks for posting. Congrats on the new SS. These cars are the most fun you can have outside the bedroom.
I look forward to the photo op we will have at the Shelby Bash.

Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Dan

Thanks Dan! I thinlk that Vegas is going to be off the hook this year! I'm really looking forward to it.

Merry Xmas and happy New Years to you and yours as well!

Robert

[Grabber]

Wow Wow Wow Robert,

I can't wait to see it in Jan when we meet in LV. Great write up and the pic's look amazing. I'm glad that everything went well.

[mustang crazy]

MY500SS, on Dec 13 2008, 09:17 PM, said:

Great write up and pics Joker, thanks for posting. Congrats on the new SS. These cars are the most fun you can have outside the bedroom.
I look forward to the photo op we will have at the Shelby Bash.

Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Dan

Sounds like an awesome trip.Makes me want ss bad but just can't afford it.Very good looking car take care and have happy hoildays!!!

[cobrafan]

Joker,

Your car is a bute, congratulations. The story is priceless.

[tekheavy]

Very cool write-up and pics. The car is beautiful, bro. Good Luck.

[supersnake94]

Congrats on getting the Snake. You got some balls to drive that car.

[SHELBY#18]

I knew there would be a happy camper today!!!! I hope you treat her with as much respect as that avitar of yours...

[Joker45]

Thank you everyone! It was a great day today. It was supposed to rain but it held off and I was able to have some fun.

SHELBY#18, on Dec 13 2008, 08:29 PM, said:

I knew there would be a happy camper today!!!! I hope you treat her with as much respect as that avitar of yours...

It's funny as everyone at SAI knew me by my avatar!

[Landshark]

Congrats. That's one bad a$$ looking car ya got there!!!
Have fun and be safe

[ShelbyEra08]

Great story to read before heading to bed Awesome pics

I wish i could experience something like that


I love ur warning sign Where did u get it from?

This post has been edited by ShelbyEra08: 13 December 2008 - 09:00 PM

[Goats4ever]

Joker!

That is one awesome looking ride! Can't wait to hear the story when you run up against the Vette boys!

Congrats!

I should be getting the call in a few months from SAI to SS my Vista Blue coupe!

Goat

[Joker45]

ShelbyEra08, on Dec 13 2008, 09:00 PM, said:

Great story to read before heading to bed Awesome pics

I wish i could experience something like that


I love ur warning sign Where did u get it from?

I got it off of Ebay.

Goats4ever, on Dec 13 2008, 09:02 PM, said:

Joker!

That is one awesome looking ride! Can't wait to hear the story when you run up against the Vette boys!

Congrats!

I should be getting the call in a few months from SAI to SS my Vista Blue coupe!

Goat

Thanks. You will love yours when you get it back too!

Another thing I forgot to mention.

On the 430 mile trip home. I got 20.8 MPG!!

[Cali_KR]

Awesome pics and a great write up as well...makes me really hungry to SS my 'vert....can't wait to see if live in LA on Jan 7....

[Aussie Snake]

Fantastic write up Joker,

Love the colour.

Enjoy.

Now, please post the pics of your girlfriend in your avatar in your car !!! (then ill tell my mates that she was sitting in my car hahaha)

[hodger]

Great looking car, you,r going to love it, have fun