The car is packed and Europe awaits

[Jack P.]

Hello Forum Members......

I am going to spend the next two months doing research for a possible trip to Europe with my 66 Roaster.

I will attempt to drive to as many countries as possible in a 8 week period. Late August to October 2012

My goal will be to see and meet as many owners of classic corvettes in Europe as possible. Same format as my 48 state trip, back roads, stops at members houses, visits to castles, car collections , beaches, beer, wine, cheese and other continental wonders. NCRS members in the US made my trip possible and I hope to bring NCRS hello's to the many members while there.

I will seek out "rare corvettes " that have found a home in Europe. I also hope to visit as many NCRS European Chapters as possible.

I will document this trip with pictures, posts and video for a possible documentary TV pilot project .

My posts over the next few months will contain information on the following subjects:

Car preparation
Insurance
Shipping/ Air Travel
Travel permits
Routes
Gas / Oil Needs
Legal Passport Travel Permits
Forum Member Locations Car Locations
Mechanical Support Abroad
Family and Financial Support

As you can see, there are many factors that must be addressed in order for this trip to take place.

So buckle up your seat belts and get ready for a ride that "Buzz and Todd " would be proud of.......

Jack

Important ...... European Owners........


If you would like me to visit you , your car club and your car (s)

All generation corvettes are welcome ....

Please PM me with your location in Europe...... I will only put the town or nearby city on the map. Not your addresses........

As the map fills with with dots (locations) I will be able to draw a real route.

The map below will be the projected route. It covers most of Europe and will be the map that I will add the locations .

This will be the map you will click on to see trip progress. It may take a few moments to load.......

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217525988141263560502.0004b39cf0d8b62714057&msa=0&ll=47.635784,34.716797&spn=15.288427,36.5625

I better get cracking on my languages..........

[Alan S.]

Re: The car is packed and Europe awaits

Hi Jack,
COOL!
I talk to someone named Martin in Switzerland on the CF. I believe he's going to be a part of a road tour of Corvettes through Switzerland, Italy, and Southern France, this Spring. 20-30 cars and 1500 miles have been mentioned; too early for you, but perhaps he could be someone you visit, and he may be able to offer some advice as you plan your tour. Forum name, Yankeededandy
Regards,
Alan

[Jack P.]

Re: The car is packed and Europe awaits

Hi,

Yes , I know of Martin............ he responded a short while ago ......I look forward to meeting him and learning of his trip .

I tend to travel alone......just me, the car....the road.....and adventure around every turn.......

What makes it even more exciting , is the fact that it is the same car that I drove 41 years ago......young , brave......not a care in the world....

My family and friends have allowed me to continue to feel that freedom with my car adventures......

And I enjoy sharing my experiences with you and the many others who may never have the opportunity to just wander in an old corvette......

Jack

[Erik S.]

Re: The car is packed and Europe awaits

Jack - The Dutch Chapter would be happy to facilitate and to bring you in contact with as many European NCRS members and other Corvette fans as possible. We can also address your other queries - If you are on Skype please PM me and we can talk (I am on CET, which is typically 6 h ahead of EST).

Tom Falconer from the UK Chapter, in the past, organised some really nice tours in France - he owns Claremont Corvette http://claremont.corvette.co.uk/

[Jack P.]

Re: The car is packed and Europe awaits

Hi Erik,

I will PM you later with info. I think you can help me a great deal and look forward to your thoughts

Jack

[Jorn J.]

Re: The car is packed and Europe awaits

Hi Jack

Denmark are ready for you, just contact me, I have sent a PM as you know

Regards Jorn Jarnved
#49584

[Jack P.]

Re: The car is packed and Europe awaits

Hi Jorn,

Here is my new projected map. A general route, it looks like I will drive about 10k or a little more.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Rotterdam,+The+Netherlands&daddr=Copenhagen,+Denmark+to:Oslo,+Norway+to:Troms%C3%B8,+Norway+to:Helsinki,+Finland+to:Stockholm,+Sweden+to:Florence,+Italy+to:Monaco+to:Paris,+France+to:Rotterdam,+The+Netherlands&hl=en&geocode=FfhMGAMd8GJEACl9xFRfYLfFRzGFS16VrLspUg%3BFcGMUQMdEce_ACkjPYBcPFNSRjG4Z5Tm3X7dBA%3BFY02kgMd9RCkACk58GfyYW5BRjGaHiPTX2CSfg%3BFTXDJgQdPDwhASn9cTtsUsTERTHTvm6Ohco9Ag%3BFXUelgMdN4h8ASmRBiGWxwuSRjFj9-I7hL1OzQ%3BFaJJiQMdDqYTASk9q5g0igfYRTF3AI__dNDnng%3BFZzbmwIdRcSrACnfTKTToFYqEzHZl2CJaKVFug%3BFTJlmwIdaEpxACkxhT97b8LNEjH8nMQ6THj3dA%3BFSZ-6QIdXuQjACkPt-IGH27mRzFglIxow4ILBA%3BFfhMGAMd8GJEACl9xFRfYLfFRzGFS16VrLspUg&aq=1&oq=rotte&sll=41.508577,-64.6875&sspn=52.946382,133.066406&vpsrc=0&mra=ls&ie=UTF8&ll=56.559482,14.238281&spn=40.242802,133.066406&t=m&z=3

Still a lot of work to do.....Thanks for your help

Jack

[Jack P.]

Re: The car is packed and Europe awaits

I seem to have a problem editing the early post

Here is the undated map with a projected general route, showing the areas to be visited

Jack

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Rotterdam,+The+Netherlands&daddr=Copenhagen,+Denmark+to:Oslo,+Norway+to:Troms%C3%B8,+Norway+to:Helsinki,+Finland+to:Stockholm,+Sweden+to:Florence,+Italy+to:Monaco+to:Paris,+France+to:Rotterdam,+The+Netherlands&hl=en&geocode=FfhMGAMd8GJEACl9xFRfYLfFRzGFS16VrLspUg%3BFcGMUQMdEce_ACkjPYBcPFNSRjG4Z5Tm3X7dBA%3BFY02kgMd9RCkACk58GfyYW5BRjGaHiPTX2CSfg%3BFTXDJgQdPDwhASn9cTtsUsTERTHTvm6Ohco9Ag%3BFXUelgMdN4h8ASmRBiGWxwuSRjFj9-I7hL1OzQ%3BFaJJiQMdDqYTASk9q5g0igfYRTF3AI__dNDnng%3BFZzbmwIdRcSrACnfTKTToFYqEzHZl2CJaKVFug%3BFTJlmwIdaEpxACkxhT97b8LNEjH8nMQ6THj3dA%3BFSZ-6QIdXuQjACkPt-IGH27mRzFglIxow4ILBA%3BFfhMGAMd8GJEACl9xFRfYLfFRzGFS16VrLspUg&aq=1&oq=rotte&sll=41.508577,-64.6875&sspn=52.946382,133.066406&vpsrc=0&mra=ls&ie=UTF8&ll=56.559482,14.238281&spn=40.242802,133.066406&t=m&z=3

[Rob M.]

Re: The car is packed and Europe awaits

That looks like a wonderful trip! Don't forget to let us know when you are in the A'dam area so we can tour you around the worthwhile highlights of the area...

[Jorn J.]

Re: The car is packed and Europe awaits

Hi Jack
Members in my family has a summer residence 1 miles from Monaco with secured parking/aircon/Pool if you want to stay a week or so.
www.middelhav.dk

/Jorn

[Gary C.]

Re: The car is packed and Europe awaits

Jack,

An important thing to add to your list
- Personal Medical Insurance and Coverage

Gary
....

[Paul L.]

Re: The car is packed and Europe awaits

Jack,

An important thing to add to your list
- Personal Medical Insurance and Coverage

Gary
....

Excellent advice.

[Wolf S.]

Re: The car is packed and Europe awaits

paris calls
anytime you want

[Jack P.]

Re: The car is packed and Europe awaits

Thanks for the encourgement. Now I need your (NCRS) members and judges (Don here is your chance) help. As many of you know, my car is a original engine drive train car 66 L-79 Roaster. I want to have as many correct parts on the engine bay area as possible. Condition of engine bay is not important....I drive the car year round.....

But I would like your opinion on what looks correct or not ........

Here are the pictures and fire away...........



Jere, Thank you for the use of the shielding.........( Jere lent me the shielding, I threw out the originals 42 years ago when I bought the car)

Once I remembered that the plug brackets are held on by the manifold bolts.......the rest was easy.........

It is a tight fit over the distributor........the kit had everything in it......

Top, sides , right and left upper shields and all the wing nuts and coil bracket, and plug wire brackets....

I did not need the wire brackets as I had installed new ones last year.

Here are the pictures of the engine bay without cleaner or shielding and with them on.......







Shielding On and I like it.......





Just need to fire up the engine and get some patina on it

It will look fine being polished

Jack

[Jack P.]

Re: The car is packed and Europe awaits

Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen

The last item of mechanical concern was my original steering box of 46 years of age. It performed wonderfully for years but it was time.

I did not want to do it myself because of special set up procedures and if done correctly , would need no work in my driving lifetime.

I called Gary Ramadei of Hartford CT....gary.ramadei@radiall.com
203-776-2813

He does profession work or both a standard build and a blueprint build. I would recommend him over the out of the box rebuild that you can buy if you wish to have your original box restored to better than factory.

Several things can go wrong with the box. The gears themselves can wear out, adjusting the lash, crashes , time, lack of grease, rust.

Gary is aware of my trip and wanted to make sure the box would be perfect....and it is.

My car has all new front components, joints, rods, bushings , PS valve , springs, Idle arm etc. . The box was the last part to do.

Here is a link to the complete set of photos , from Gary getting box to finished job.

http://s633.photobucket.com/albums/uu57/jackfit87/Steering Box Rebuild/

Here are some sample photos of the rebuild, You want a quality job done , Gary is one of the best in the business.

Old Box

[IMG]http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu57/jackfit87
/Steering Box Rebuild/asrecd1.jpg[/IMG]




Lash all the way in (bad)


Rebuild



New Gears Seals Bushings




Fitting and adjustments





New lash



Marking for center of travel index



Finished Box



I will do a follow up post on the alignment done today so that box all components are set up perfectly for my kind of ride.

I used Palmer Spring Company and will have photos of their shop.
They still make the springs right in their shop as well as all that is involved with suspension parts. Been in business since 1849.

I will have photos of the blacksmith shop still in use for springs and metal fabrication.

All my suspension components are stock and like new and the car rides perfectly for a 1966 corvette , just like new ( the old new) .