After a manic Monday, I'm ready to head in tomorrow and give it a go. I found the Texas Motor Vehicle Title Manual on the TXDOT site
http://ftp.txdmv.gov/pub/txdot-info/...l_book_451.pdf and have printed out the relevant ASVE and Replica pages for possible back up.
Reading all this I think the potential problem might be that I have a new SVO block which is unstamped (as all over the counter blocks are). No pencil tracing for the motor seems like it might be a potential red flag.
I guess my options are to either 1) stamp the pad on the block (pretty easy in a GT40) and trace that as the starting point for title (I do have the original receipt from the build plus the bill of sale to me) or 2) go with the 68-A which kicks an Assigned Number need or 3) go to the title office with my receipts and if asked explain its a new block with no motor number. There is a casting number of course but that's largely untraceable plus not a real motor number.
Chuck
Note 1 - Funny to me that Texas would get comfortable having the legal authorities say no motor number is present on a 68-A and then say that's okay after assigning a number to the chassis. You'd think they would want to assign a number to the motor instead. That's what makes me think that perhaps I should stamp my block and just move forward.
Note 2 - Did about 75 miles yesterday with my 14 y.o. son looking at new cars for him on I10 West. He's pretty mileage conscious and we're using a formula of purchase price plus 100,000 miles at $4/gallon for average fuel economy. It's amazing the array of way different cars get to the $34k-$36k mark. Good father son stuff. I worry he's seen me work on stuff so much over the years he's not interested in an older car. Of course its difficult to transfer the satisfaction I get from working with my hands after a day pushing paper.
I pointed out a sweet rust free 2002tii on Bring a Trailer which at $12k he could get his money back on after 100,000 miles of driving. Right about then when I started the GT, heat soak locked the starter solenoid on and I had to run to the back and turn the battery quick disconnect so as to save the starter/battery. As I was taking pride in my quick response and knowledge what to do so as to avoid being stranded, he correctly pointed out that would never happen in a Mini or Scion. I pointed out that girls dig sporty cars with style (had to try it). He said not so much any more, now they just dig $.
Made me feel old until the solenoid cooled off and we pulled out to a nice roar. He looked at me and then (I believe) understood what pride of ownership of something different and difficult means. It's not "I have it and you don't" like buying a Gallardo (which I do dig). It's about enjoying physical things that represent a different path. A less easy path for sure. And our path has a certain historical bent that makes it all the richer. It doesn't matter whether people slow down or take pictures or ask how fast it'll go.
I took him to school in it this morning. He walked in and said you could hear me pulling away in assembly. It really lugs at 20 MPH!