Michelle Balch - Tacoma, Washington
In the Summer of 2018 I purchased a very dilapidated example of an early Crown conversion (done cheaply and poorly). It was for sale in Bend, OR for only $1000.00. I thought this would be an affordable way to finally get a V8 car, which was the idea that originally drew me into the Corvair world back in 1999. However the A-pillars are beyond repair, the horrible radiator set up would over-heat and the rings in the tired 307 were shot.
So, after sitting at my mechanic's shop for almost two years, it's restoration is finally back underway and a refreshed 327. It will be going into the '65 Corsa body my mechanic had for sale. The only parts left from my purchase from Oregon will be the Crown kit parts and the '66 drive train.
So, after sitting at my mechanic's shop for almost two years, it's restoration is finally back underway and a refreshed 327. It will be going into the '65 Corsa body my mechanic had for sale. The only parts left from my purchase from Oregon will be the Crown kit parts and the '66 drive train.
A little more information about Misha -
I look forward to becoming a valued member and helping to grow the V8 community as much as I have my local Corvair community here in the Tacoma, WA area over the last 20 years.
Of course, until I have completed my current doctoral program, have graduated and have my private practice up and running, I will need to make concessions to keep my education and future employment front and center in my life. But this will not be forever, and my choice of transportation will always be something I invest energy and time into learning as much as I can about, improving my knowledge and ability for self-sufficiency and offering help to others. This is especially true when it involves Corvairs and the larger community who use them for their daily transportation, and who and invest their time and energy in keeping the memory of these cars alive in the public's imagination. And, this goes double for the more exclusive community of the V8 owner/builders, as well as other H2O pumpers and custom builders.
I know that it is something notable to be the first in anything. And, so, if I am truly the first female to be granted membership in the club, I expect closer scrutiny. Being that this is the V8 Registry, it didn't seem to be the place to post photos of my other automotive toys and my 40+ years of self-taught automotive/mechanical experiences I've collected in my 55 years on this planet. So, I hope to find the time and place to share some of them with you as my 66 Crown morphs from its, as-I-bought-it, less-than-presentable, rusted-out 66 Monza body to a solid, presentable, and functional 65 Corsa body, giving me something substantial, and appropriate to this group, to earn my place here.
I'll be paying for the '65 Corsa body, that is owned by my mechanic, as soon as I get my Winter 2021 student loan in the 2nd week of January, with the first cuts to install the Crown sub-frame (which is getting powder-coated as I write this), and the radiator likely occurring in mid-January, and the freshened 327 bolted in soon after that.
To save myself a bit of time, I will copy and paste this introduction into the Forum as soon as I get some school work out of the way and complete my initial log-in to the V8 Registry Forum.
Thank you, and my best wishes to you all in this unexpectedly-odd upcoming holiday season.
Misha
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Michelle Balch
BA Psychology
Doctoral student, clinical psychology
Antioch University, Seattle
mbalch@rainierconnect.com
Safe Zone trained volunteer
I look forward to becoming a valued member and helping to grow the V8 community as much as I have my local Corvair community here in the Tacoma, WA area over the last 20 years.
Of course, until I have completed my current doctoral program, have graduated and have my private practice up and running, I will need to make concessions to keep my education and future employment front and center in my life. But this will not be forever, and my choice of transportation will always be something I invest energy and time into learning as much as I can about, improving my knowledge and ability for self-sufficiency and offering help to others. This is especially true when it involves Corvairs and the larger community who use them for their daily transportation, and who and invest their time and energy in keeping the memory of these cars alive in the public's imagination. And, this goes double for the more exclusive community of the V8 owner/builders, as well as other H2O pumpers and custom builders.
I know that it is something notable to be the first in anything. And, so, if I am truly the first female to be granted membership in the club, I expect closer scrutiny. Being that this is the V8 Registry, it didn't seem to be the place to post photos of my other automotive toys and my 40+ years of self-taught automotive/mechanical experiences I've collected in my 55 years on this planet. So, I hope to find the time and place to share some of them with you as my 66 Crown morphs from its, as-I-bought-it, less-than-presentable, rusted-out 66 Monza body to a solid, presentable, and functional 65 Corsa body, giving me something substantial, and appropriate to this group, to earn my place here.
I'll be paying for the '65 Corsa body, that is owned by my mechanic, as soon as I get my Winter 2021 student loan in the 2nd week of January, with the first cuts to install the Crown sub-frame (which is getting powder-coated as I write this), and the radiator likely occurring in mid-January, and the freshened 327 bolted in soon after that.
To save myself a bit of time, I will copy and paste this introduction into the Forum as soon as I get some school work out of the way and complete my initial log-in to the V8 Registry Forum.
Thank you, and my best wishes to you all in this unexpectedly-odd upcoming holiday season.
Misha
------------------------------------------
Michelle Balch
BA Psychology
Doctoral student, clinical psychology
Antioch University, Seattle
mbalch@rainierconnect.com
Safe Zone trained volunteer
