Messages

Here is what I have on 5s444. MM

Hi Guys, just my $ 0.02 cents on the location search. (www.Thermal.cc) in Thermal California.   Private racetracks/country club.  Home of the BMW school of high performance driving.   I have been there a few times taking the BMW classes on 5 different tracks on the property.   Maybe one of the wealthy SAAC members can buy a house on the property and get us all in for a convention ?  Sunny Southern California, surrounding Coachella Valley hotels, restaurants, entertainment, etc., and maybe hot enough in the summer to kill any Covid-19 germs    Mark

Charles, I bought one of your covers for SFM5s444 a few years ago.  It has been on my spare for the last couple of years.  Do you need me to send you this one for a pattern ? Mark

https://www.hemmings.com/parts/item/Engine/Valvetrain/Original-Cobra-valve-covers/18949.html 

I don't know if you have seen this, but a friend of mine shared it with me a couple of days ago to see if I wanted the valve covers for 5s444.   Since mine are original and in good shape, I passed.  Mark

I have heard that the Earl's brand Vapor Guard fuel lines hold up well.  Mark

Karl, if you are interested in selling both manuals, I am definitely interested. I could really use those for SFM5s444.  Thanks, Mark

I tried contacting Dan at the number SFM66H posted, and it appears to be someone's home phone with a young person leaving an announcement.  I left a message asking for Dan and a return call.   This was several weeks ago, and still no reply.   Does anyone have a better contact number to reach Dan or his business and order some supports for SFM5s444 ?
Mark

Sometimes, you have a lucky day.   Yesterday 9/25/18 Jerry Heasley called me.   You may remember Jerry's articles in various car magazines including Mustang Monthly on his Rare Finds topic.   Anyway, Jerry asked how my restoration was proceeding, and I brought him up to speed about the delays over the last couple of years, and that the restoration process was restarting.   He mentioned that he has been doing some short videos of interesting cars on his www.youtube.com channel, and wondered if car # SFM5s444 would make a good candidate for a new video.   Well, our conversation went well, and the end result is now posted on youtube under link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-LAXoTqNV0    This is a compilation of the original photos when the car was found, and Jerry tells the background story through the video, and does a great job describing the find.  Check it out.   Mark

Thanks Bob,  the depth of your Shelby knowledge never ceases to amaze me.  You are right on the money about the DOT rim portion, and I'm ok with the new hoops on the old centers.  The total cost to buy the rims, get them restored, and complete with caps & lugs is just over $ 1000 per rim.  I felt the sting on the cost, but I felt that the car's provenance and historical value was worth the effort to keep the car as original as possible, and using all original OEM/Shelby, or NOS, or restored used originals was the way to go.   By the way, I missed meeting you in person in Sonoma, and look forward to shaking hands someday.  Mark

Finally today, a close up of the grain on the vinyl spare tire cover.  This is a reproduction made by a SAAC Forum member that I bought a couple of years ago, and fits the reproduction Blue dot tire on the spare Cragar Shelby rim perfectly.   It has the heavy grained vinyl, and the smaller diameter welting.  Mark

More Tri Y header photos from 444 when removed in 2010 to start the restoration.  Mark

This is an overall shot of the backside of the restored Cragar Shelby wheel.  I can get a photo of the DOT stamping if need be.  Mark

The five original rims that were purchased for this restoration all had terrible chrome steel rims, but good centers.   All five got new chrome rims welded to the steel links at the bottom of the five aluminum spokes on each wheel, and you can see the new welds on the photo showing the back of the wheel.   The new chrome rims are stamped with a date, DOT number and some other codes.   We felt that this was the best solution for 444 to have original rims that are safe to drive aggressively when the car is complete.  Mark