4/9/10
Went to Bob’s tonight and saw good friend Sam Rivera again. He is such a compendium of knowledge, and on SUCH a wide variety of subjects.
Bob Patterson was there as well, and it was a welcome change to mingle with him. He appeared almost ready to switch allegiance to a beautiful red 57 Chevy Bel Air from his staple of turquoise 56 Bel Airs.
The response to the Impala is nearly universal: ooohs and aahs, nice story, beautiful car, etc This is the way to have a car evoke responses. This is what makes this hobby fun. Of course I have a couple of other cars I’m looking to have do the same stuff, as in the Condor and the KiloKub. But it is nice to have a reliable niche in the car hobby game.
I am intending to get the 348 motor in there within the month, just a soon as we get the Condor running. The car runs very nicely right now, so it will be interesting to see what a 287 HP tripower motor feels like. I am also going to investigate the fuel pump and pickup in the tank, as this TPI setup seems to starve for fuel just below a half tank, at least according to the gauge.
The left window does not raise easily with the door closed, but zips right up with the door open. And the window does not reach square at the top. Economy Glass had little advise to help from years back, so I’ll have to tap perhaps Sam Rivera and his large body of experience.

4/11/10
Took the Impala over the Ramer’s for dinner last night. Nice to just get it out. It drives wonderfully with the 305 TPI. I hope the 348 is as satisfying. I am running out of money, so it is possible I won’t get that motor installed for a while. I sure would like to get it in, finish the AC, and be done with it.
There are some paint “cancers’ starting to appear. They are small, but are becoming more numerous. Not good.

5/25/10
I’ve taken the Impala to Bob’s several times and it just gets me hugs and kind words. I feel like a breasty girl driving that car, as everyone has nice things to say.

8/20/10
The Impala has been pretty much sitting, save for a couple of outings to Bob’s and an occasional drive. The brakes have been scary bad.
Today, Bob Sweeting changed all that. Bob came and loaded up the 62 Biscayne, gave me a cashier’s check for $2500 (more money to come later, I believe), and decided to do the brake job on the Impala this afternoon rather than just climbing into 5 PM Friday traffic.
We finished around 9 PM, and the results are ASTOUNDING. He was not kidding when he promised never-before braking.
He did NOT install a Hydro-boost, rather a better vacuum booster and a different master. He also discovered and worn-through rear brake line. I got the replacement line at AutoZone, and Bob noted that the old master was for disc brakes. So I now have safe, GREAT brakes.
Next on the Impala agenda is putting in the 348 tripower motor.
I need money for that, and the fiscal nightmare right now preempts that swap for the immediate future.