Michael Coger
1/29/2020 11:09 AM
Since nobody will start a thread on the forum I guess I will jump in .
For those of you that wonder who this guy is. I had the Dancing Rabbit Morris Minor
B/Gas car at Knoxville last season.
I only made one race last year as a competitor. I had hoped to make more ,but life got in the way. I broke everything but the trailer at Knoxville and I was in the process of fixing the Morris for 2020 when out of the blue a guy from N.C. contacted me about selling him the car.
So I shot him a price and the car is gone. It is being rebuilt with a Flathead to run in the H/Gas class. Should be cool.
I have since bought a 1965 Comet 202 station wagon . I am putting my new 333 inch Windsor and my Top loader in the wagon to run Super Stock. I am finishing up the motor.
Waiting on Liberty to send me my new 300M input shaft so I won't be twisting it off like I did at Knoxville. I found a 57 Ford station wagon 9 inch rear at the local salvage yard. I am in the process of getting all of the parts needed to make it strong enough to race. Hopefully be ready by June at the latest. Then try and run with the guys in the Super Stock class.
Dan Hogan
1/30/2020 7:44 AM
Looks good Mike, I was following your thread on the HAMB. Wagon looks like its in nice shape.
Todd Wimberly
2/3/2020 9:54 AM
Ill ship your traction bars today or tomorrow.
Todd
Michael Coger
2/8/2020 6:52 AM
Thanks Todd. I received the bars . Will help a lot .
Quain Stott
2/6/2020 7:11 PM
Welcome to the new forum, just making my second post. Hope this is a good idea and it helps get more traffic to the website. We are averaging 200 to 250 visits per day which is good but y'all know me I'm not satisfied with just good.
Mark Gronau
2/9/2020 11:06 AM
What a cool starting point for your new project; looking at the picture you shared, the wagon looks to be in great shape. It will be interesting to watch the progress!
Michael Coger
2/11/2020 8:26 AM
Got my long block built after some starts and stops. Had to get a timing chain set for the older block as my timing set for a roller block wouldn't work.
Then had to get a different water pump to change from pass. side to driver side.
Also had some issues with the stud girdle.
Michael Coger
2/19/2020 8:41 PM
Well one part of the project is completed. I finished the motor today and put it away to start on the next part. I will finish the chunk for the rear end tomorrow.
If it ever stops raining in Tn. I can get the car off the trailer and get started on taking the original 6 cylinder 3 speed out.
Then tear out all of the original suspension and get the V-8 suspension components in.
After I get over 50 years of road crud.
I have found a set of A100 seats to replace the stock bench seat.
Michael Coger
2/25/2020 9:07 AM
Rained all day in Tn. again yesterday so I went into my shed and built the chunk for the Comet. All Strange engineering components. Now just need some axles to complete the rear end. Going to start with a 5.29 gear. Probably not enough, but I already had the gear.
Michael Coger
2/25/2020 8:17 PM
I headed up to the hills of Tn. this morning and found some genuine Ford 15x7 station wagon wheels for the Comet all painted. Ready for some new Hoosiers.
Also got the chunk painted and ready.
Michael Coger
3/30/2020 9:35 AM
Well I have been locked out because of a computer glitch that David Smith and I had to work through but now I am able to post updates on my build again.
My slicks are supposed to be delivered today and my axles should be ready to pick up tomorrow. That way I can get the rear end in the car and see if I have to move the springs.
I have my fuel cell in the car and I am working on the battery box and kill switch.
I have completed the dash and am waiting to install it. i am trying to figure out how to use the heater control levers to be my fuel pump and water pump switches.
I need to find a vintage hard shell suitcase to cover my fuel cell as it sticks up 2 inches above the floor. I want it so when you look in the back of the car you see a suitcase. When I open it then i can pour fuel in the cell.
Michael Coger
3/30/2020 6:45 PM
Well my new SEGA super stock spec tires came in today so I got to drill the rim screw holes in some brand new old stock 15x7 Ford station wagon wheels.
Got them mounted up now waiting on axles.
Michael Coger
4/4/2020 8:50 PM
i got a really good deal on a fuel cell a few weeks ago. I was excited to get such a good deal then I got it home and found the threads on the bungs were cross threaded.
I ordered a 3/4-16 die and in about 5 minutes had the threads fixed and could screw fuel fittings on by hand. that's the size for a # 8 fitting in case you wondered.
Amazon came through and I had my die in 3 days.
Michael Coger
4/8/2020 9:56 PM
Got my new axles in yesterday. now I can finish my rear end and get it under the car.
I need to give a shout out to Hudlow axle in rossville, Ga. for the quick turn around
on the axles considering how many people that are not allowed to even go to work.
I can't get my input shaft built because the folks at Liberty's Gears are not allowed to work until at least April 13th.That's the soonest they can go to work if everything goes right with the virus.
Michael Coger
4/14/2020 6:50 PM
Got my main hoop in for my roll bar and finished the front floor pans.
Now time to start on the rear and the seat mounts.
Michael Coger
4/25/2020 4:43 PM
Due to a local shortage of mig welding gas. I got behind again. finally got some welding gas so I could finish out the floor pans and cut out the old rusted out battery box.
I found a set of big tube Doug's headers that fit my Windsor in the Comet.
I was going to build a set of fender well headers but I got a good deal on these so that's what I am going with.
The only bad thing is they require a cable clutch. I ran a cable in my Morris minor and it worked well until I twisted and bent the input shaft on my tranny.
Hopefully they will let the folks in Michigan go back to work soon so Liberty can build my input shaft .
that's about the only piece that I don't have to finish the car. Trying to be ready for Ky. but it will be close. Won't be painted but it might be under it's own power.
Michael Coger
5/6/2020 6:53 AM
Got a little more done and still have a long way to go.
Michael Coger
5/16/2020 5:15 AM
Got my door bars bent up and installed. I made them curved because I am too old to be climbing over the door bars.
Michael Coger
6/4/2020 6:16 AM
A little more progress. the 5 lug conversion is completed. Had to try out my new front wheels.
Michael Coger
6/6/2020 4:56 AM
Got my parts from Liberty's Gears and finished my Toploader yesterday. now need to make linkage rods for it.
Michael Coger
6/13/2020 4:56 AM
Proud to announce a sponsor ship deal with Lloyd's auto glass and paint to lay a new paint job on the Comet as soon as the mechanical's are completed.
Lloyd's shop is located in Owingsville .Ky. Lioyd and his wife attended their very first Southeast Gasser race at London,Ky. and thought it would be a great way to get involved with the Southeast Gassers.
So if you are in their area stop by and give a big shout out to Lloyd or if you need glass work or body and paint work give Lloyd a chance to help you out.
He is also on the HAMB website which gives the Southeast Gassers lots of coverage.
Hopefully the Comet will be able to make it's debut at Lyon's ,Indiana
Michael Coger
6/23/2020 3:13 PM
Got the rear end ready to put in the car. Also got the transmission linkage built.
Michael Coger
6/28/2020 8:00 PM
Finally got the motor and transmission mated together and ready to go in the car tomorrow.I hope . Since this is a driveway build it depends on mother nature if she gives me rain then I will have to do something else.
got everything welded up under the car and the floors painted.
Michael Coger
7/1/2020 4:42 AM
One step closer. Got the motor and transmission in the car and got it on wheels, well the back ones anyhow.
Guido Ruschak
7/23/2020 12:11 PM
no comments in this topic? well here is first one. I am new to this and from
europe. I wonder if the sump and valvecovers can do with periodic style?
Would you tell me about?
Michael Coger
9/25/2020 7:14 AM
Sorry about no updates on the car, but I have been extremely busy.
We will be at the Knoxville race . I am finishing the car today except for paint.
There are a few other things I need to get done but it should run and drive.
Will take it around the block and put it on the trailer in the morning.
Michael Coger
9/28/2020 5:45 AM
Well mother nature got the best of me. As you know the car will not fit in my one car garage and still have room to work on it.
So I have built this entire car in my driveway. Last week it started raining Wed. afternoon and did not stop raining until Friday afternoon which basically cost me almost 3 days of not being able to do much to the car so I got behind.
As hard as I tried I could not catch up with getting the car ready. My wife has helped me all she could but between showing her how to make paper templets and transferring that into metal a lot of time was lost.
The car is now running and sounding great. I still need to adjust the clutch some more and bleed the brakes one more time and hook up a switch for my lights. The car should be mechanically ready.
We will try and get some primer on the car and be ready for Aiken S.C. in 3 weeks.
Guido Ruschak
9/28/2020 10:38 AM
bad and good news then. Building a car in your driveway isnt easy. You could set up
some sort of shelter over your car? I mean some roof fixture that holds up to wind and rain
Michael Coger
10/2/2020 6:31 AM
I did have a cover over the car, but when it's raining sideways and the rain is running down a sloped driveway and it's a creek under the car.
That's when it becomes a problem. Keeping water out of the car and laying in the water was not in the cards for this 71 year old body of mine.
You sir are fast to critique my build and my lack of ability to get the car done in time , but never to offer to come and help me get this car done for your viewing pleasure.
Guido Ruschak
10/2/2020 12:33 PM
ha! i would help if i could , but i am living in the Netherlands. It is nice to hear that
at your age the thrills and vibes still be present. In my country there is almost none
being active at that age in thrill seeking motorsports.
That is something typically American i guess. Dragracing fans enough here, but no strip.
Politics you know. Only tractorpulling is what goes here at a few venues. And we have
world class pullers here. To bad we do not have such dragstrips in western europe.
And well, as having a forum, there is to my surprise almost no activity. That is not
good. I hope to waken up all so called "SEGA it is a family affair"
So to all others who read the forum, step in and let hear from you.
All the best and luck to you Micheal Coger
I if ok, may post my project, not a drag car but typically european oval racer influence.
If thats OK.
Michael Coger
11/19/2020 6:19 AM
Haven't updated in a while ,but we are now competing. will be at the Florida race.
Hope to have our launch issues straightened out and not doing 3 wheel wheelies.
Put a 6.00 gear in to spin it up and use 4 th gear. Had to have a new driveshaft built as it bent the shaft at the Carolina race.
Didn't show up until we got to Shadyside. Had to lift in 3rd gear due to vibration.
Should be a good bit better than the show we put on at Shadyside.
Over the winter big plans ,but can't reveal those yet. Depends on the Democrats and the virus and if I have to get my shoulder replaced . If so then winter will be spent in rehab.
Michael Coger
12/6/2020 4:41 AM
Went to Paradise dragstrip on Dec.5th made some changes to the car. It got better, but still not competitive numbers.
Going to make some more changes over the winter to try and get this thing to be faster.
Michael Coger
12/26/2020 4:36 AM
Got the engine out of the car and taking the heads for some new valve springs and titanium retainers. Talked to the Howard's cam rep and then to Jimmy Huff and Pro Maxx.
We all agreed it just does not have enough valve spring pressure to recover from the shifts when the rpm's drop between gear changes. So the the good people from Pro Maxx
told me to bring them the heads and they will set them up for what we need to give us the power to run a lot better.
We are going to have 265 lbs. of seat pressure and 750 lbs at .700 lift. plus titanium retainers to take some weight out of the the valve train.Hopefully it will be a game changer for the wagon.
In Jan. we are taking the Comet to Ky. to Lloyds auto body and glass to get the old girl a new dress. It should look good when we get it back.