Successful first start

[boat737]

The big milestone of the first start is a success.

I zoned out and forgot to push the spark plug wires all the way down (from installing and torquing the headers), but once I figured that out, it fired right up. No leaks, no smoking wires, gauges all work, cooling fan and thermo switch and heater work, and even put it in gear and put a tenth of a mile on the speedo (which was indicating, but hasn't been calibrated) while it was on jack stands. I had my go-pro all set up to immortalize the event, but, alas, forgot to push the start button. A couple neighbors got it on their phones though, just have to figure out how to get it on my computer.

Gotta say though, the noise is awesome.

Now I need to figure out what to tackle next. I've pretty much spent the last 6 months to just to get here. I'll have to pretty much put the project on hold for Jan. and most of Feb., cause I get shipped off to school for work. I guess it will give me time to lay out plans on what to do next. The two biggies I see at the moment are getting the body on, and getting it titled and registered. Plus, I'm sure, a hundred other little projects.

But, for today, a big "whew..."

[cgundermann]

Congratulations - nothing more rewarding!

[Bad Moose]

Congrats

[Vette1972]

Nice Christmas present! Congrats

[2FAST4U]

Congrats!!

[Mark Dougherty]

fantastic well done

[wareaglescott]

Congratulations! I'm expecting a man that flies big jets around the world can figure out how to get us some video in a timely manner! Haha

[bluse]

Very Cool!

[boat737]

Congratulations! I'm expecting a man that flies big jets around the world can figure out how to get us some video in a timely manner! Haha

One would think that... But I'm the last guy in the world I bet that has never sent a text, ever. Working on getting a video. Timely, well, that's relative.

[Cobra-kai]

Congrats! Looks great!

[Jazzman]

What are the odds that we would both achieve first start on the very same day!! Congratulations. It is, indeed, a very good feeling!!

[boat737]

What are the odds that we would both achieve first start on the very same day!! Congratulations. It is, indeed, a very good feeling!!

Congratulation back at ya. Yup, I'm still pretty stoked. It's starting to become a real car now.

[wallace18]

way to go!

[edwardb]

Congratulations! Huge milestone.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Congratulations! Huge milestone.

What he said

Jeff

[KDubU]

Congrats! The first start always puts a smile on your face.

[2bking]

Congratulations! You will have piece of mind knowing it runs while taking off the next couple of months.

[boat737]

Thank you all for the great support and encouragement. I should have put it in the original post to this thread, but somehow in the excitement forgot. But it's not just my accomplishment, it's a lot of people on the forum(s) as well. Over the months, many of you have contributed advice, knowledge, and experience so that I wouldn't have to make the same mistakes as have so many before me. I have wondered often how those first few builders got through it without the help of builders before them.

Without the forum, and the expertise of you builders before me, I would still be fixing my own mistakes and still waiting for that first start. So I would again like to thank all of you who have contributed to this success. A team effort. (speaking of which, a neighbor got a good video of the start and the cheerleaders behind the camera. It's a crack up. I need to get it on my computer, edit it and get it posted). Merry Christmas.

[CraigS]

Great job boat737. That training will be a killer. Been to enough of them over the years. I am usually bored out of my gord by the 3rd night. Training keeps the days busy but the nights in the hotel are a pain. Plenty of time to make plans, that is for sure. Congratulations!

[rezell3d]

Sorry I missed it, Ken. Can't wait to see it on the road. Merry Christmas.

[boat737]

Sorry I missed it, Ken. Can't wait to see it on the road. Merry Christmas.

Thanks Rod. Maybe for the go-kart. Who's Ken?

[rezell3d]

Thanks Rod. Maybe for the go-kart. Who's Ken?

Oops, I'm sorry. I meant Dan. I was reading something else and had that name on the brain.