Funny Car Updates #5
As mentioned in my last missive, there would be no word until near the beginning of the season. Well here are about 1300 words on what's happening.
The season opener was April 6th (same date a last year). However, we did not win the opener again this year, as the car is not back together. In the relentless pursuit of perfection (inherently a never-ending quest), we're diligently and surely working the car to an improved mechanical state, and particularly improving its appearance (which was fine before).
As mentioned last time, the goal this year was to improve mechanically and beautify every component possible.
To that end the rear body mount has been changed from a simple 3/4" mild steel tube resting in a saddle to a Rockwell 60 hardened solid 3/4" stainless shaft held in place by stainless steel bracelet bearings mounted in an aluminum fixture. This fixture has been red anodized, and the entire assembly welded permanently in place into the rear body tree.
The tree itself is now painted black. The whole assembly rides on a 1" machined aluminum spacer block in turn sitting on a steel plate welded across the tail frame rails. Where it used to require releasing 2 quick pins on the body tree restraints to lift off the body (and 4 people), now 4 bolts will be undone to release the system. We still need the 4 people.
The lift system itself (2 pneumatic rams and the receiver cups and crossbar) have been plated to accent them. In addition, nylon bushings have been installed to further reduce friction on the crossbar.
Some tuning of the body tree and mounting points has been done to get the body to nestle more perfectly onto the frame rails. We've also added frame pads at all mounting contact points to both cushion the mounting and save the frame rails from damage. The lexan windows will be made new as well.
As a result of one of the fire bottles being accidentally popped off, the fire system has been upgraded from Halon to the new Cold Fire system (requires new bottles and different nozzles). I'm adding two more nozzles for a total of five. 
The tin (the aluminum panels surrounding the driver) is being anodized a contrasting color.
In the color department, the front engine components: blower pulleys, front support, blower belt idler, and some misc items-- are being red hard-anodized to carry the color scheme further.
The aluminum Enderle injector has been replaced with a brand new unit, polished of course.
At this writing the body remains in primer, waiting until the last moment to be painted (remember those sponsors). 
In the engine department the 542 motor's cylinder heads have finally been returned from Sissell's, where they were repaired and D-ported (a process of increasing the radius in the exhaust port--eliminating sharp bends--to increase flow). This translates into about a 100 HP increase. This process took 2 shops 4 sessions of brazing and about 6 months to accomplish, at a cost of nearly $1200.
The heads have been taken to Barrington engines, where new added head bolt locations will be transferred to the original 542 motor and the brand new 540 Bowtie block, which has been bored out to 4.500".
With the completion of the block-drilling, the 542 is ready to be reassembled with the new Brooks rods (still in the box), the existing pistons and near-new C&A rings, new C&A lead-indium bearings, and the original Velasco crank. The block has been line-honed (it had new billet main caps installed last season), the cylinders honed and the entire unit cleaned.
The new 540 motor will be using the rebuilt and chromed COLA crank, and as-yet-to-be purchased rods and pistons. The cylinder heads on the 540 motor will be taken next week to Sissell's for the extra bolt hole drilling (thankfully NOT a 6-month deal!).
So, to date, we have 2 complete fresh Powerglide transmissions ready to race, a complete (though unassembled) 542, and a 540 second motor waiting on parts (read: MONEY). We're waiting on anodizing and polishing, and are preparing to send the frame out for powder-coating dove gray color. There's still some tab changes and tail welding to be done first.

TRAILER, DUALLY, AND GARAGE
Some additional items are being attended to: I just purchased a used Onan 4000 generator with a very slick 18-gallon tank on top, mounted on a dolly. The trailer has been reworked and the unit is comfortably settled in place. The adjacent pit crews will be most pleased with the DRAMATIC reduction in noise. The dually is being completely repainted Dodge (!!) Red. With the generator I also got a fresh, unstarted 454 motor as a spare for the dually. I now have a complete engine and transmission spare for the tow vehicle. We're DEEP in spares on the major stuff. 
The garage (a fairly integral part of the program) is being enlarged from 19x19 to 19x55, with the ceiling being raised to 14' at the peak, with a 10' high door opening. This has required innovative engineering, a survey, some structural steel fabrication, and a lot of thinking. I'm ready to go pull the permit (I just need TIME!!!). Most of the footings and post pads are dug. Thankfully, money has been set aside for the first phase.
My expectation is that, with sufficient cash flow, the  refurbished car will make its debut in late June. It's important to remember that the car was NOT shabby in its prior state, not in the least. It's just that relentless pursuit of perfection.........

I've included a poem to illustrate. 

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