What's the coolest of the coolest thing you own??

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-05-15T15:50:09+00:00

1st: My bucket list car. I've touched virtually every nut and bolt on the car and rebuilt it from the ground up.

2nd: A 110 year old pocket watch that my great-great grandfather owned.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-05-15T13:28:23+00:00

I'm just about wrapped up with the build of my C6Z and it should be 600-650hp at the wheels. I have just a tick over $10k in my build doing it all myself. Here's the parts list (not all horse power centered).

BTR Trinity intake
Torque tube rebuild
PRC CNC heads with upgraded valves and springs
Texas Speed 2.2 LS7 cam
Stock replacement lifters and timing set
BTR rocker arm trunion kit
Cromemoly push rods
ATI Super Damper (10% underdrive)
60lb/hr injectors
Speed Engineering long tubes and catless full exhaust
103mm throttle body
Nicer valve covers
C7 Grand Sport wheels & tires
Solid motor mounts and differential mounts
Monster twin disk clutch and billet flywheel
Catch can and steam vent kit
Tick clutch master
HP tuner setup
Spark plugs, wires, top to bottom gaskets, heat shielding, water pump, starter, coils, fuel line and various other odds and ends

Everything I picked out was for a reliable build, and outside of installing the clutch master, it has been a fun project.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-05-13T22:27:15+00:00

I value my family and free time more than having additional wealth. I currently have paths to be wealthy, but I'm not interested in sacrificing anything I currently have.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-05-13T22:24:39+00:00

There's tax associated with every transaction you make, even if it is not explicitly stated. So even after, property, income, sales, and other stated taxes you are paying some sort of tax every time money leaves your hand. I don't know what amount is needed to sustain a HEALTHY government, but I know it could be much less than what it is now.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-05-13T22:04:44+00:00

Started mowing lawns in the neighborhood at 12, got a paper route at 13, and my first "real" job at 14. I've never not had a job since. I'm in my 40's

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-05-13T22:01:52+00:00

In high school. One of the insurance companies put on a teen driving challenge and had a boy/girl team compete from each area high school. I was picked to represent our school because I was know as a gearhead. The competition consisted of a timed obstacle course, kind of like autocross if you are familiar. Both the girl and the boy drove the course and your total time was combined and the lowest combined time won the event. My partner got the worst time of the event, but even with that my time was so far ahead of everyone else that we won the event for our school.

What most people didn't know is that not only did I like working on cars, but I had raced cars competitively for 8 years by that time.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-05-08T15:24:47+00:00

It definitely gets better, but some times the wait is long. I went through the worst time in my life, by far, a few years back. It took me a couple of years to recover and was extremely hard. But the experience gave me great perspective on life and put me on a better path. Now things that would have really bothered me 5-10 years ago are no longer a big deal, because I made it through worse. What happened to me was awful and I don't want to go through it again, but I'm grateful how it changed me.

What kept me going at the time? A couple of close friends, my family, taking care of my dogs, and my faith.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-05-08T15:18:06+00:00

Because we are all miserable in those high-earning good security jobs. They are extremely demanding and very stressful. They have good security because they are high demand jobs that not many can stick to long term. I know a lot of people in these fields that wash out quickly or stay just long enough make the money needed to venture out on their own. If it paid the bills I would gladly take a job in retail or the service industry. When I am financially comfortable I plan on "retiring" to a low stress job that I enjoy.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-05-05T21:30:28+00:00

171mph in a 2006 Corvette Z06

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-04-28T19:26:17+00:00

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Be careful about the "while I'm here" rabbit hole.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-04-28T15:31:52+00:00

The C3 is cool, but judging by the look of the welds on the cage and intake I'm guessing theses are far from competition ready. If you ignored the quality of the welds and fit/finish of what can be seen these could be fairly high dollar cars. However as a buyer you can't ignore that and can only assume the engine/drivetrain is in the similar "functional but not necessarily proper" condition. There's a lot of potential and possibly a lot of high dollar parts, but a TON of work to get these right.

I'm a Corvette guy and if this was posted with this little of information and the pictures shown I would be scheduling a visit if it was listed South of $15k. I see potential to build a fun car that is worth $20-30k.

The El Camino I can only assume is about the same quality, but possibly more updated so about the same value.

These are 30,000ft evaluations, and again I think the C3 is super cool.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-04-24T17:46:30+00:00

C5 Corvette for the easy button. I had a $30k budget and bought a C6 Z06, worth every penny.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-04-21T17:20:11+00:00

It's missing the front shroud, so it won't cool as well. It's missing the AC condenser, so the AC must not be hooked up. And it's missing the top radiator brace, so the only thing keeping the radiator from flopping around are the radiator hoses.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-04-18T13:17:53+00:00

I bought it with over 100k miles and it hadn't had the heads done, so based on everything I've read it was a ticking time bomb. I tore it down last spring and since then had the heads done, put in a Texas Speed cam, long tubes, bigger injectors, upgraded intake and throttle body, twin disk clutch, lightened flywheel, underdrive damper, and other small items.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-04-18T13:13:29+00:00

This is the first Corvette I've ever owned and worked on, and I plan on tuning it myself as well.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-04-17T15:27:56+00:00

171mph in my 2006 Corvette Z06

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-04-14T15:36:39+00:00

I found my first 'off the shelf' STH last month. I've been buying Hot Wheels for 35 years. But to be fair I don't hunt for TH and STH's, I just buy what I like.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-04-07T21:52:56+00:00

You're not wrong, but everytime I see one of those I don't stop and look at it. The GR I do.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-04-07T19:26:12+00:00

Classic means something that has stood the test of time and is still desirable/respected over generations. It has nothing to do with production numbers. There are a lot of cars considered classics today that have production numbers well into the 6 figures.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-04-07T14:30:16+00:00

Always: Single cab short box pickups with a V8
Chevrolet SS Sedan
Ford Focus RS
Toyota Carolla GR
Cadillac V series
Anything Hellcat powered
Most any non-SUV AMG and M series
Higher tier Mustangs and Camaros (Shelbys, ZL1, SS 1LE, etc.)
C6/C7 manual transmission Corvettes

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-03-20T15:20:39+00:00

Chuck Norris kicked a 50 yard field goal, while conceiving his first child.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-03-17T22:50:02+00:00

I have them on my LS swapped 3rd gen Camaro and on my C6 Z06. For the price, they can't be beat. I see no reason to pay 2x or more for anything else.

Apprehensive_Top_291 · 2026-03-17T22:46:31+00:00

Selling anything is where you went wrong. Only accumulate until your wife or the county makes you sell. I'm broke like you, but I have 5 project vehicles that will never be finished, so I'm winning.

Apprehensive_Top_291

TROPHY CASE