Era & Communications ?????

[BLACKJACK]

WELL, I FINALLY HAVE THE GT-40 RUNNING AGAIN.

ABOUT AN HOURS MINOR WORK AND IT'S READY FOR A FULL TEST FLIGHT.

THIS WHOLE THING STARTED AS A RESULT OF THE EXPLOSION DAMAGE TO MY HOUSE LAST FALL. I DECIDED THAT WHILE I WAS REPAIRING THE GT-40 I WOULD UPGRADE THE RADIATOR TO THE NEWER ALUMINUM VERSION AND INSTALL THE IMPROVED COOLING FANS.

YOU ERA DRIVERS WILL APPRECIATE THAT IF YOUR GOING TO GET ANYTHING OUT OF ERA IT HELPS A LOT IF YOU'VE BEEN TO DENTAL SCHOOL. AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF CONVINCING THEM THAT I "REALLY" WANTED TO DO THIS I FINALLY RECEIVED THE PARTS. (ALL NEATLY AND SECURELY PACKAGED).

WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY TO UPGRADE THIS THING - - - GIVEN THAT I HAVE VERY LIMITED PHYSICAL RESOURCES AND NO ELECTRICAL POWER IN WHAT'S LEFT OF MY GARAGE - THE DISCUSSIONS WENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS:

*** BOB PUTNAM (THE ENGINEER) "HEY, NO PROBLEM, IT JUST DROPS RIGHT IN - A STRAIGHT BOLT-ON INSTALLATION".

*** PETER PORTANTE (THE RETIRED STATE DEPT. DIPLOMAT) "YEAH -PRETTY MUCH SO - IT'LL PROBABLY BOLT IN THERE".

*** BRIAN (THE SHOP GUY - AS IS IN 'TIM THE TOOL MAN') "WELL, YOU'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO RE-DRILL A FEW HOLES, FABRICATE A COUPLE OF BRACKETS AND MOVE A FEW FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONANTS AROUND BUT IT MIGHT WORK".

*** TED (THE GUY WHO PUTS ALL THIS STUFF TOGETHER IN ERA'S SHOP - - WHO I SPOKE TO "AFTER" I RECEIVED THE PARTS.) "NO KIDDING - YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO TRY TO DO THIS BY YOURSELF???"

ACTUALLY, AS IT TURNED OUT - IT ALL WENT TOGETHER VERY WELL. IT IS A MUCH "CLEANER" INSTALLATION THAT THE ORIGINAL VERSION ALSO. TED HAD PRE-ASSEMBLED A LOT OF IT IN THE SHOP AND ALSO SENT ALL THE NECESSARY BRACKETS, HARDWARE, BOLTS, NUT-SERTS, ETC. ALONG WITH IT.

TED ALSO HELPED SORT OUT A FEW QUESTIONS (I THINK I DROVE HIM NUTS) OVER THE PHONE - AND WHEN THERE WAS A FIT PROBLEM WITH THE OLD A/C CONDENSER COIL HE MANUFACTURED A NEW BRACKET FROM SCRATCH & MY MEASUREMENTS THAT WORKED FINE AND HAD IT TO ME IN TWO DAYS.

MORE EVIDENCE OF REAL QUALITY PEOPLE BACKING UP A REAL QUALITY CAR.

THANKS, GUYS, AS USUAL - IT'S A PLEASURE DOIN' BIDNESS WITCHA.

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY,

BLACKJACK

[Bob Putnam]

BlackJack,

I have complete confidence in my ability to convince myself that I'm always right! Actually, I hadn't figger'd on the AC condensor... But I knew that the radiator was a drop-in anyway. I designed it that way.

[a427sc]

BlackJack,

I'm sitting here laughing out loud. I can hear each of them clear as a bell. I am just finishing up a new project with the ole beast in the garage and it went much like yours. In my case, it was a bit more complicated (by me of course). Bob jumped in with both feet and the CAD, coming up with a typically neat, innovative, and elegant solution. Peter, well he was just Peter. Always a little frazzled, and seemingly hopeless but really well in control. Going way out of his way to help me hook up with a buyer for my extra parts and delivering what was needed on time (that's ERA time). And Doug putting up with my endless questions, yet never being satisfied until it passed his muster as well.
My deal was to assemble the unit myself. But when I showed up, Doug had it all done for me! Weld the brackets per the instructions (with Bob's typical detailed drawings and measurements like 8.087 inches!) and it just fell in.

There is no better deal around for me.

McFEZ

[427Aggie]

I agree with you Blackjack...ERA is a top notch group....I wouldn't do it any other way.

ERA's all the way

Matt #122

[BLACKJACK]

WELL,

AS "MURPHY" WOULD HAVE IT - I SPOKE A BIT TOO SOON.

THE MECHANICAL "STUFF" WAS TOGETHER WHEN I LAST POSTED. I HAVE SINCE HAD TO REMOVE ABOUT 3.0276 POUNDS OF FIBERGLASS IN ORDER TO GET THE FRONT CLIP CLOSED AND THE FRONT COMPARTMENT COVER ON. ALL, OF COURSE, UNDER TEDS CAREFUL TUTELEDGE.

THE BIG TEST RUN HAD TO BE POTPONED UNTIL TODAY - - I'M ON MY WAY OUT NOW.

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY,

BLACKJACK

PS; BOB, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. THE RADIATOR DID "DROP RIGHT IN" AND IT EVEN "BOLTED RIGHT UP" (AFTER DRILLING OUT THE NUT-SERTS AND INSTALLING THE TINNERMANS).

IT WAS TRYING TO GET THE RADIATOR TUBES LINED UP WITH THE FEED TUBES THAT WAS A SMALL PPROBLEM. THE TUBES ON THE NEW RADIATOR WERE 1 5/8" FARTHER APART AND A LARGER DIAMETER THAN THE FEED TUBES. SOME JUDICIOUS MANIPULATION OF THE FEED TUBES AND A LOT OF "SPRAY SILICONE" (TED'S EXCELLENT IDEA) WORKED FINE. MOUNTING THE A/C CONDENSER TOOK A LITTLE MORE CREATIVITY AS WELL AS TED MANUFACTURING A NEW BRACKET WHICH ENABLED ME TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER WITHOUT HAVING TO "DUMP" THE FREON.

I JUST HOPE THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM IS HELPED. IT SEEMS TO BE.

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE HELP (AND FUN)

JACK