New guy from Des Moines

[ashanson]

Hi all, someone suggested I create an intro thread so here goes.
My name is Andrew, I moved here late last year after living in Minneapolis for about 6 years, but I grew up in Iowa so I'm familiar with the area. I first got into cars in 2004 when I got an Eagle Talon, which pretty much turned me into a weekend mechanic. I couldn't even change brake pads before I bought that car and before I knew it I was replacing turbos, cams, headgaskets, and finally rebuilding motors, haha.

In 2009 I moved on to a supercharged CTS-V which was pretty fun but it turned into a summer only "fun" car that I didn't daily drive, so I figured I might as well get a two seater sports car instead, and a corvette was a logic choice after the V. So I sold it last Winter and this May I bought a 2006 Corvette coupe. So that's my car history I guess.

The car has a built 427 LS3 stroker, pretty big cam that lopes nice at idle, and other supporting mods. I'm still learning how to drive the car a little, but I've already had it to one autocross at the Marshalltown go kart track and I'll be road racing up in Brainerd next weekend (June 25/26). I'm planning on drag racing it tomorrow (June 18th) as well over at CFR, hoping for mid 11's.

Pics:
http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn420/timschot/Corvette/DSC01525.jpg?t=1303841109
http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn420/timschot/Corvette/DSC00984.jpg
http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn420/timschot/Corvette/BIR%20June%207%202010/DSC_6439.jpg
http://www.dsmstyle.com/photopost/data/500/vette.jpg

[85XR7Project]

Welcome, god that thing is sick! Looks odd without a ZO6 hood for some reason.

[Domestic Disturbance]

Damn sick car. Love the all black. Welcome

[LT1Dan]

Welcome! Nice car, can't wait to see it at the track!

[JustinS]

Awesome car.

[c_mart_28]

Siiick!

I look forward to seeing it!

[c_mart_28]

Hope the car made it home ok!

PM me your phone number, you actually won the competitor raffle for a free 1 hr dyno session at Wrenches auto in Des Moines.

-Casey

[Domestic Disturbance]

You also left a bag we picked up for ya. What'd you end up running?

[ashanson]

Yea I feel stupid for leaving my bag, I realized it about an hour away. Thanks for picking that up for me. I'll be through Cedar Rapids tomorrow on my way home so hopefully I can stop by and pick it up.

I have a LOT to learn about drag racing, my first time out I ran a 13.8 @ 113 spinning at the line and then bogging in second. Next run was a 13.2 @ 116, bogging at the line and missing third gear. I ran a few more times and got a best of 12.2 @ 120 I believe, still never got the launch right, my best 60' was 2.15. I will have to do some research on what the deal is with shifting into third and the reverse lights coming on and not going into gear. Maybe I just suck at shifting that bad, but there is no way the car is actually going into reverse, it's locked out if you're moving. I'm more of an autocrosser, this drag thing is new to me, but I look forward to improving my times, the car can easily do mid 11's on the street tires.

[Xboosted23X]

I remember seeing you in mtown at the auto x. car looks good. welcome to the site.

[MustangSally]

Nice ride, welcome to the site.

[AutoMods]

Yea I feel stupid for leaving my bag, I realized it about an hour away. Thanks for picking that up for me. I'll be through Cedar Rapids tomorrow on my way home so hopefully I can stop by and pick it up.

I have a LOT to learn about drag racing, my first time out I ran a 13.8 @ 113 spinning at the line and then bogging in second. Next run was a 13.2 @ 116, bogging at the line and missing third gear. I ran a few more times and got a best of 12.2 @ 120 I believe, still never got the launch right, my best 60' was 2.15. I will have to do some research on what the deal is with shifting into third and the reverse lights coming on and not going into gear. Maybe I just suck at shifting that bad, but there is no way the car is actually going into reverse, it's locked out if you're moving. I'm more of an autocrosser, this drag thing is new to me, but I look forward to improving my times, the car can easily do mid 11's on the street tires.

thats why there theory and then there is reality. lot of people claim times they read on the internet but don't actually hit the track and put down the numbers. glad you made it out and put down some real numbers. i'm sure you'll work that time down with some practice. i'm sure the air will be better next time also

[Drifte]

What happened anyway, we have you in the qualifying round but no runs after for the event?

[ashanson]

My right muffler came off the pipe on the last pass, and it took awhile for it to cool off so I could get it re-attached. With that plus the reverse lights coming on I decided to quit for the day until I could get the issues worked out.

[slow ride]

My vette witht he t56 does the same thing with the stock type shifter. Seems like it wants to go in between 1st and 3rd then the reverse light will show up. I never had the problem with a aftermarket shifter, but most of those are very notchy and hard to move off center. I've never completed a full pass with the stock shifter without missing a gear or shifting really slowly. One is better for daily driving and the other is better for racing.

[ashanson]

Yea, the previous owner had an MGW shifter on it before but said it was difficult to use for daily driving so he swapped it back to stock. This week I'm going through the shifter box assembly and replacing the stock rubber bushings with some tighter/firmer ones which should improve the feel quite a bit (based on reviews of the bushing kit I ordered), and also it will allow me to double check that all bolts are secure. Hopefully I see better 2-3 shifts for this weekend's HPDE event up in Brainerd, MN.

[FiFdYnUtZ]

Welcome! Sick car

[slow ride]

Still got that MGW shifter?

[MurderedSnake]

Good thing you got that muffler put back on....that would have been an interesting drive home haha and I think LT1Dan has your backpack

[Sleeping]

Have MGW shifter in my car and it shifts great.

[LT1Dan]

Good thing you got that muffler put back on....that would have been an interesting drive home haha and I think LT1Dan has your backpack

You switched your name?! And he has his backpack.

[MurderedSnake]

haha yea I thought I would retire the old one considering the XR doesn't even run and it hasn't moved in like two years...

[Domestic Disturbance]

I can't believe someone would complain about the MGW. Maybe its different for the vettes from fbodies, but I think its great. And my car is no weekend queen either. Either way thats good you figured the reverse light thing out.

[MurderedSnake]

I love the MGW in my car. Wouldn't buy anything else.