My girl (96 LT1 Trans Am) started acting up a couple weeks ago, so I was checking her out and noticed a spark plug wire on the passenger side was unhooked. So I hooked it back up and the last 3 times I've taken her out, she's been running really shitty and making strange noises, missing and surging like the timing was off. So today I was going to take that plug out and see if it was fouled.

Something was blocking the sparkplug from me getting a socket on it, started looking closer and my header gasket was loose, and the back half of it was gone completely. Only had 2 of the 6 bolts holding the header on. So I took out those 2 bolts and was able to pull pieces of the old gasket out.

The bolts have a hex head, and have been cut for an allen wrench as well. Anyone know what you call this type of bolt? Anyone have experience with putting in the gasket? I did notice that neither side had the back bolts in when I bought her. Hope I can get the back bastards in. Any tricks anyone knows of? Do the gaskets mount dry? They are Dynatech headers and I ordered Fel-Pro gaskets but need to find 6 bolts. Thanks a bunch.

I have no idea on the size of the show. There were 200 cars in the professionally juried part of the car show. Is that small? Big? no idea, my first show.

Every time I've went to a meet up of gear heads they go nuts about my car. There can be way more cool and valuable cars around me the gearheads will still be hanging out at my car. Whether its nostalgia, they watched the Fast and Loud episode where they swapped out engines, saw the Scat Pack Shaker in Fast and Furious, they love the Shaker sticking out of the hood or whatever. I don't think its one reason.

Same thing at this car show. There were a whole line of Vettes across from me. Very expensive beautiful ones. Customs, restored and all worth a boatload of money. People wanted to know about the SPS. Wanted me to start it so they could hear the engine.

There was a big car show in LA over the weekend. A stock Scat Pack Shaker won the award for best in class at that show.

Not a chance in hell of me doing that ever. Like I said, I was just going to check out the cars. Ended up spending 3 hours total. Already found out about another car show in the area next weekend. I've already figured out the least amount of time to be judged and when the trophies are awarded. 1.5 hours. I could get my car judged and then check out the other cars and talk cars. Sounds perfect for me.
I'm a noob as you know. I think its total BS that a guy can just buy a car and win best in class. There should be some kind of different categories. That dude who busted his ass to loving restore a car should not be in the same catagory as a new car some dude just bought.

I asked about this with some regulars. They said its all about being clean and stock. If you mod, make sure it works and doesn't look trashy.

Thanks guys..I will check both of those things out

lol

i have a 1985 4runner that i did a frame off resto on and a buddy and i just finished replacing the 22re with a 2000 tacoma 3.4 v6. thing is awesome for hunting. (last year yota had a solid front axle)

You should be able to go to the parts store and get a full set of header bolts pretty cheap.

I have never seen a header with all but 2 bolts missing, I can only imagine what that sounded like.

You may have had a bad enough leak to mess with the O2 sensor causing it run crazy.

I got a letter in the mail a month ago saying I needed to bring my Passat in for a ECM update due to calibration issues..I didn't take it because everything was running great..then 2 days after I got the letter my cousin calls me and asked if I heard about this whole deal and I said no..glad I didn't take my car in..47 MPG average is really nice

Not hate’n on ya BRC, just sayin it’s annoying.
That’s generally what we do. Park the car in a sunny spot so the metal flake paint pops, do a little finish dusting, wipe the road grime off the tires then go check out the other cars and find some concessions for MiniRadar.
We mostly go to smaller local car shows that don’t have that many classes, which is part of our problem, and they usually want cars for the show there early then do judging around noon. I’m sure that’s to get more of the car show crowd through the various venders’ booths but still it means there will be some standing around in the sun.

Even happened to us again a few weekends ago but at least in that case the brand new Camaro RS won the Kid’s Choice award so the how and why they won is understandable.
Not going to get too upset about it though, we're in it for the fun and it's kinda hard to have fun when we're grumbling about what other people get.

That sounds cool.
What else you got going on with it?
Any lockers? A winch?

If I may make one suggestion:

http://stage8.com/

Aftermarket headers are notorious for shaking bolts loose and blowing out exhaust gaskets. I had constant problems with the Hooker headers on my Jeep motor doing it and was replacing exhaust gaskets every couple of months until I switched to some Stage 8 header bolts. It's now been a good 4 years without a single problem.

i love these type of cars but I guess in the shows they don't do well.

Another

Not sure how a Cobra like that wouldn't do well at a show. Maybe its a kit car but damn.

I don't get it at all. In what universe does that not take home a trophy?