Oh, lol. Pics weren’t coming through on my phone due to reception so I didn’t see the quoted pic. I wish those were mine but that’s at the shop that’s doing the paint and chassis stiffening.
Blue Brick
- Thread starter go-fish
- Start date
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Oh, lol. Pics weren’t coming through on my phone due to reception so I didn’t see the quoted pic. I wish those were mine but that’s at the shop that’s doing the paint and chassis stiffening.
John did I see the car in paint at Reiss Racing? I still have the tail lights for you next time you're up this way.
Kevin
Kevin
It's not in paint yet but it is up there. The fenders are going to get some work done on them, trans tunnel made bigger and a crossmember for the t56 before it goes into paint. I'm usually up there on Thursdays and Fridays. I'm out of town this week but let's meet up soon.
text me anytime your up here and we will meet up
Kevin
Kevin
Time to catch up. This whole project got completely derailed by a crooked shop, Reiss Racing. They would only work on the car sporadically. After promising to put the car “on the front burner “ in exchange for more money I bit bringing a total of $12,500. The original agreement was to do some chassis stiffening, tubs, and paint. I would pay 1/2 up front, 1/4 when it went to paint, and the rest at pick up.
Then came the addition of tunnel mods for the T56. I supplied the crossmember.
These pics are from 2018-19.
In 2019 I decided to have IMM build a .060” 340, 4” crank engine using the Edelbrock heads that came with the car. That was a huge bummer too because it took Brian over a year and a half to finish. Might have been closer to two.
I think Brian is a good dude and this was in the midst of Covid parts shortages. I would have liked to hear the obligatory apology but hey, my addhole ead already stretched by Reiss Racing so it didn’t hurt as much as it could have. Didn’t have a car to put it in. He did build a badass engine.
Then came the addition of tunnel mods for the T56. I supplied the crossmember.
These pics are from 2018-19.
In 2019 I decided to have IMM build a .060” 340, 4” crank engine using the Edelbrock heads that came with the car. That was a huge bummer too because it took Brian over a year and a half to finish. Might have been closer to two.
I think Brian is a good dude and this was in the midst of Covid parts shortages. I would have liked to hear the obligatory apology but hey, my addhole ead already stretched by Reiss Racing so it didn’t hurt as much as it could have. Didn’t have a car to put it in. He did build a badass engine.
While Reiss Racing was busy not doing anything on the Valiant I stayed busy at home in my carport.
I restored Arthur’s Duster with the help of a friend….
And continued to destroy my lungs and back
I restored Arthur’s Duster with the help of a friend….
And continued to destroy my lungs and back
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The Valiant had minimal work done on it from October 2018 to present.
In January 2023 I left San Diego and the US Forest Service and moved into my childhood home near my parents new house in Oklahoma. Now I’m a prescribed fire specialist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
This is where we’re at today. It was my last possession in California so now I’m free and clear of the stress and drama. The car spent 66 months at Reiss Racing and they received a total of $15,500. $4000 for the purchase of the car. I don’t have a tally for engine parts and the work from IMM but safe to say ~$12,000 in the engine build.
Couple thousand for brake and front suspension parts. Upwards of $5000 for the Tremec, hyd. TOB & clutch.
I’m happy to be in a place of peace. The teachings of Christ is the only way I haven’t gone to prison for murder.
In January 2023 I left San Diego and the US Forest Service and moved into my childhood home near my parents new house in Oklahoma. Now I’m a prescribed fire specialist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
This is where we’re at today. It was my last possession in California so now I’m free and clear of the stress and drama. The car spent 66 months at Reiss Racing and they received a total of $15,500. $4000 for the purchase of the car. I don’t have a tally for engine parts and the work from IMM but safe to say ~$12,000 in the engine build.
Couple thousand for brake and front suspension parts. Upwards of $5000 for the Tremec, hyd. TOB & clutch.
I’m happy to be in a place of peace. The teachings of Christ is the only way I haven’t gone to prison for murder.
Amazing. Is all I can say.
It has been a very expensive lesson in life. In my situation at the time I only had a carport to work out of so I felt like paying someone to paint the car and do some chassis stiffening was a good idea. I know how to do most things but my welder is a 120v unit because I didn’t have a 240v outlet. I’ve only painted military vehicles in matte. I wanted it expedited. …,
This has caused so much stress over the years but in the end I have resolved to not pay anyone for something I can do. I have some shop space now, even though it’s never enough.
Reiss Racing was very effective at smooth talking and making promises. They did just enough work early on to get a huge chunk of money out of me.
The fact that they freaking hit a home run with Tomswheels purple Valiant really got me. Tom and I know each other and he even vouched for them.
I was really ignorant at that time and o was making a lot of money in hazardous duty pay because of all the wildfires I was going out on.
It’s been a huge exercise in humility and forgiveness. As I said, if I didn’t forgive I would be in prison. I very seriously thought about it a time or two. The forgiveness was for me more than them.
Next chapter.
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joes68340s
Well-Known Member
Hi what upper cross member did you use. Im planning To go TKX in my Valiant.
It was from ToddRon (@Tjfly4pay). Todd Johnson but they had licensed to Modern Driveline who isn’t making them anymore, apparently.
Just a couple months ago I went direct with the former business partner of Todd Johnson and he made me one for my 70 cuda.
Tony Edler - (573) 823-1813
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I just remembered, SST told me the TKO and TKX crossmembers are the same.
joes68340s
Well-Known Member
I understand your dissapointment with Riess. There is some hacky work and rushed work that I have been fixing for years. Reason I asked about the upper is someone hacked out half of my upper and butchered the fix. I cut it out and did a temp fix but now I want to replace with a beefier upper crossmember.
So I guess I shouldn’t say they hit a home run with the purple Valiant? LOL.
Definitely a good car though. Tom could have done even better with a better trans and brakes. The direction of my Valiant has always been toward doing the things that he “would/should” have done, ie. better brakes (Viper), more power, better trans (Tremec).
I talked with him a lot about weight distribution. I was mulling over a fiberglass trunk lid but he said all that would be needed would be to lose a little weight in the front. I’ve got a race weight fiberglass hood and will do glass bumpers.
DionR
Well-Known Member
Funny thing is a couple of month's ago, I got an email from Modern Driveline and it listed the ToddRon crossmember for A-Bodies as a "New Product". Makes me think they are still selling them, but...??
They’re Ford guys I believe so they’re a little weird anyway.
joes68340s
Well-Known Member
I wish I had a fiberglass trunklid. the springs are gone and it weighs a ton.
joes68340s
Well-Known Member
I have to admit when i bought the car from Tom it had a pretty good 4 scale balance.
That’s why I brought up the idea of the glass trunk lid Tom said to not worry about it. If weight needs to be removed it would be more beneficial to lighten the front.
I hear you though. That thing weighs a ton! I may still do it.
Dang dude… sucks to hear about what you went through! But I am happy to see an update on the car! And also glad that you’re still here with us and not in a 6x10 cell somewhere. 
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