HOOAH! SgtSteve Here!

[sgtsteve]

Hi everyone, my name is Steve and I'm addicted to cars....LOL

Seriously, I'm 36yrs young, married to my beautiful filipina wife Chantal, and we have 2 kids. Our son Stephen (Steve Jr) 8yrs old, and our daughter Caitlyn 6yrs old. I bought my 66 4dr Chevy II Nova after coming home in 2004 from my deployment to Afghanistan. The car was sitting next to the road a couple streets down from me, and I decided to go ask the guy what he wanted for it. He said about $1,200, so I offered him an even $1,000 which he accepted. The rest is history. I've pretty much redone everything on the car since I bought it, lost track of how much money I actually put into it but it's been worth it. I'm almost finished with the 66, and currently looking for another Nova to start on.
As you can tell by my avatar and signature, I'm in the military. I started out active duty Navy as an "AT", seperated in 1999 while stationed in CA, got married and moved back to Tucson,AZ in 1999.
Started working for Raytheon missile systems the same year, and have been with them since. In 2000, I joined the Army National Guard and was deployed with them from 2003-2004. I left the ANG in 2005 and joined the Naval Reserves as a "ET" The unit I'm currently with does communication stuff (radios/networking). I just re-enlisted for the last time (hopefully) for 5 yrs. I'm at 15 years now, and should be able to retire just before my enlistment runs out.

[raidmagic]

Thank you for your service to our country.

[FNG]

Hey, did your dad ever get that lighter? If so, how did he like it? Oh, congrats on your last reenlistment.

[sgtsteve]

Hey, did your dad ever get that lighter? If so, how did he like it? Oh, congrats on your last reenlistment.

Cameron,
Yes I gave the lighter to dad for Xmas. He did like it alot, and put it with all the other ones he has. Thanks, on the reenlistment....
Wish there was an SRB for my rate/rank, they had one for PO1,and PO3, but skipped PO2's :mad:

Steve (raidmagic),

You're more than welcome. :yes:

[Stan Sixes]

Steve,
Thanks from me too for your service to the USA. My son Jeff has been in the Air Force about 6 months now and is an A1C. Wish I could join but they don't want old codgers.
I've enjoyed the pictures of your car and was impressed with your ingenuity on getting that throttle linkage to work. I saw your post the other day about the V6. We had some 88 Safari vans with the 4.3's at work, and the guys kept squealing the tires on the darn things. I figured that it wasn't that they make that much more power than my 250 (though they are fuel injected) as much as that low first gear on the 700R4 trannies. From your pictures I'm guessing you have a Powerglide like me. I'm waiting for warmer weather and have a 700R4 ready to go in my Nova (I don't have a garage) and am expecting it to really help. Just wondered if you had considered trying one?
I liked the sound clip too. Not as obnoxious sounding as mine:cool:
Stan

[sgtsteve]

Stan,

You're welcome for my military service. Thanks for the compliments on the car, it's came along way since the day I purchased it. Yes, I do still have the powerglide. I had thought about swapping in a Turbo 350, but seemed like alot of work at the time. I would have to buy either another radiator or external tranny cooler, replace or modify the crossmember/mounts and possibly have to modify the driveshaft. Plus, my p/g is an air-cooled model which is pretty rare.

[yllib1961]

Hi Sarge, I am just curious if your into amateur radio as many communications people in the military are? Billy.

[Stan Sixes]

Steve,
I think an air cooled Powerglide is quite rare. Does it also have to be shifted manually? There was a thread a little while back about "Torque Drive" and I think that was air cooled.
I understand that if you swap in a 200-4r you don't have to modify the driveshaft, which I will need to do. I got my 700R4 for free from a van so I don't mind spending a bit on the installation. I already have a BTO crossmember, TV cable kit and have installed the temp gauge and wiring for the lockup torque converter. The first gear in the 700R4 is so low that it works out to be the same ratio as a TH350 with a 3.73 rear end I think, even though I have the standard 3.08 rearend. I'm thinking that it's going to make a big difference:D Might even be able to smoke the tires...

[sgtsteve]

Steve,
I think an air cooled Powerglide is quite rare. Does it also have to be shifted manually? There was a thread a little while back about "Torque Drive" and I think that was air cooled.
I understand that if you swap in a 200-4r you don't have to modify the driveshaft, which I will need to do. I got my 700R4 for free from a van so I don't mind spending a bit on the installation. I already have a BTO crossmember, TV cable kit and have installed the temp gauge and wiring for the lockup torque converter. The first gear in the 700R4 is so low that it works out to be the same ratio as a TH350 with a 3.73 rear end I think, even though I have the standard 3.08 rearend. I'm thinking that it's going to make a big difference:D Might even be able to smoke the tires...

I came to find out alot of people didn't even know that there was such a thing as an air cooled p/g. It doesn't have to be shifted manually, it uses a vacuum modulator. However, sometimes I do shift it manually because if I step on it it will shift to high more quickly than I would like. So, I'll put it in low at the stoplights and shift into high manually. Let me know how that tranny swap works out for ya!

[sgtsteve]

Hi Sarge, I am just curious if your into amateur radio as many communications people in the military are? Billy.

Billy,

No, I'm not into the amateur/ham radio hobby. I do have my FCC license though. I've thought about getting into the hobby sometime, and occasionally pick up my handheld scanner and listen in to some of the amateur radio operators :D

[Mankind]

sgt steve good to know that you came back in one peace my father just retired from army 20yrs been all over the world. thing i like about arizona is your crazy weather and cool thunderstorms, oh and i hate those sand storms left my car covered in red sand! i hope when im in arizon i'll get to see your car! you never know we might just hit a red light side by side :devil: :no::yes::yes: i would never do that!:D good to know that your not the only one addicted to cars :cool:

[sgtsteve]

Mankind,

You plan on coming through Arizona anytime soon? Let me know if you are and if you drive through Tucson area, maybe hang out for a bit.

Steve

[Mankind]

not any time soon, when i go through arizona i'll contact you definatly. :cool: we can hangout at the in and out :ragtop: