After the initial purchase, one of the first tasks was to get the engine that came with the car running and see what kind of condition it was in. Once I got the engine fired up, I discovered it had extremely low oil pressure. As mentioned, I had prior experience successfully building 3 high performance engines, but this low oil pressure problem had me stumped. I felt like I was wasting time with the first thing I tried to do on this project, and I had a long list of action items still ahead. Feeling frustrated and a bit like I was taken advantage of by the seller, I needed to get past this issue and make some progress. I located a low mileage 350 cubic inch small block truck motor (with four-bolt mains and a forged crank) for a reasonable price. Finally I could check off the engine, and move on to the next task.
For the next several months, more parts were sourced; some new, mostly used, and work steadily progressed. A switch panel from a Chrysler, a tilt and telescopic steering column from a Cadillac, tail lights and door handles from a Gremlin, a new Corvair windshield, and a new Momo steering wheel, just to name a few.
Keep in mind, funds were tight at the time. One of the first big purchases was a set of Appliance Plating aluminum wheels that were styled after the legendary BBS wheels frequently seen on Porsches and BMWs. Of course the AP wheels were a fraction of the price, but what a transformation they made! 7 x 15 for the front, 8 x 15 for the rear.
For tires, I went with used Dunlop 205/70-15 tires from my Dad’s Jaguar XJ6 for the front, and I purchased H70-15’s (similar to 235/70-15) for the back. Remember, this was before the introduction of the extremely wide and low profile Pirelli P7 tires that would soon appear on the Lamborghini Countach.
Next: It Drives!
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