Ever wonder what happened to "Merlin"??
07-04-2006, 03:32 PM
#81
Race Director
Originally Posted by Jughead
He wanted to build a C3 that would out perform a McLaren.
And I (still) want to find Halle Berry naked in my bed
.....Steve was good at two things...writing checks and taking pictures, his documentation of the build of Merlin was fantastic. Unfortunately he was TERRIBLE at taking (constructive) criticism and he paid the price for it.....It never fails to amaze me that guys who are smart enough to be able to afford to throw $250K at a Corvette are dumb enough to actually do it!!...redvetracr
07-04-2006, 08:14 PM
#83
Drifting
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St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
...if by the time there are still fossile fuels available 
07-04-2006, 10:33 PM
#84
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Oh yeah..1300 HP is believable for an engine of that type...meaning a large cube Big block, aluminum heads, roller cam, double WhippleCharger, EFI etc.
But it ain't believable for HIS choice of those parts. Just wasn't going to happen. He mimicked some offshore boat racer motors, but it just didn't work out. No doubt he had combo problems, but it was hitting on all 8 cylinders and making boost on the chassis dyno.
The bill for that fuel tank was well over 3K I believe?
Again, not taking away from what the car is or was....I just like to try and keep the story accurate as possible. The facts are it didn't make anywhere near the HP he hoped for or claimed. He even posted some of the poor numbers, but he immediately converted them to crank #'s and you would see a few posts later that THOSE numbers would be quoted by the "Merlin Faithful" as RWHP...then a little later on THAT number would be converted to crank again. Before you knew it, it had been "cyberraced" to 1300 HP again!!
Most folks I ever heard from said Steve was a pretty nice likeable guy in person. I don't mind if someone doesn't take my advice......it's worth what they paid for it. I don't always take it from other folks either!!!
No prob's with Steve or Merlin.....just the facts ma'am...just the facts.
JIM
But it ain't believable for HIS choice of those parts. Just wasn't going to happen. He mimicked some offshore boat racer motors, but it just didn't work out. No doubt he had combo problems, but it was hitting on all 8 cylinders and making boost on the chassis dyno.
The bill for that fuel tank was well over 3K I believe?
Again, not taking away from what the car is or was....I just like to try and keep the story accurate as possible. The facts are it didn't make anywhere near the HP he hoped for or claimed. He even posted some of the poor numbers, but he immediately converted them to crank #'s and you would see a few posts later that THOSE numbers would be quoted by the "Merlin Faithful" as RWHP...then a little later on THAT number would be converted to crank again. Before you knew it, it had been "cyberraced" to 1300 HP again!!
Most folks I ever heard from said Steve was a pretty nice likeable guy in person. I don't mind if someone doesn't take my advice......it's worth what they paid for it. I don't always take it from other folks either!!!
No prob's with Steve or Merlin.....just the facts ma'am...just the facts.
JIM
07-04-2006, 10:36 PM
#85
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Hey Buddy...can we put you in charge of finding the new Merlin owner in Dallas and having them join us at the Cruise In next year?
That would be fun!
Next we work on Norval!!
JIM
That would be fun!
Next we work on Norval!!
JIM
07-05-2006, 12:06 AM
#86
Drifting
Originally Posted by 427Hotrod
Hey Buddy...can we put you in charge of finding the new Merlin owner in Dallas and having them join us at the Cruise In next year?
That would be fun!
Next we work on Norval!!
JIM
That would be fun!
Next we work on Norval!!
JIM
07-05-2006, 11:58 AM
#90
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Originally Posted by 427Hotrod
But it ain't believable for HIS choice of those parts. Just wasn't going to happen. He mimicked some offshore boat racer motors, but it just didn't work out. No doubt he had combo problems, but it was hitting on all 8 cylinders and making boost on the chassis dyno.
The bill for that fuel tank was well over 3K I believe?
The bill for that fuel tank was well over 3K I believe?
3k for a tank!! Wow!
07-24-2010, 02:50 AM
#91
Drifting
Yeah one of my favorite sagas ever. Car was nothing more than an show rack of out dated performance parts. But still it was fun to follow
07-24-2010, 05:01 AM
#92
Race Director
08-01-2010, 08:53 PM
#94
Team Owner
I was going to start a new thread, but hey, might as well bring up this old one. I was at the NCM Friday and Merlin is alive and well and on display at the National Corvette Museum!! (In case you are wondering wtf Merlin is doing at the NCM, they have a special temporary display of some wild modified corvettes. If you are really nice I will post some pics of the pink C-4 with pink satin seat covers and lace trimmed wheel wells!)
It was actually very cool!!
Felt like running into an old friend
It was actually very cool!!
Felt like running into an old friend
Last edited by PRNDL; 08-01-2010 at 08:55 PM.
08-01-2010, 09:02 PM
#95
Team Owner
I was going to start a new thread, but hey, might as well bring up this old one. I was at the NCM Friday and Merlin is alive and well and on display at the National Corvette Museum!! (In case you are wondering wtf Merlin is doing at the NCM, they have a special temporary display of some wild modified corvettes. If you are really nice I will post some pics of the pink C-4 with pink satin seat covers and lace trimmed wheel wells!)
It was actually very cool!! Felt like running into an old friend
It was actually very cool!!
Felt like running into an old friend 
08-01-2010, 09:54 PM
#97
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '07
I found Mike Raffetto a few years ago at a local car show and tried to help him out with the car. I figured between Jim, Mike, Nick, and all of us we could get a few more hundred hp out of the car. He seemed interested, but he didn't like the idea of us removing the blowers.
I hate to say it guys, but the vette has never seen a track, chased a lambo, or touched a dyno. It lives it's life backing on and off a trailer. I did have a few words of advice for Mike, "If the car ever puts down anywhere near 1000hp, kiss your back side good by.." He asked why and I told him, that the whole a$$ end was pretty much stock parts.
I hate to say it guys, but the vette has never seen a track, chased a lambo, or touched a dyno. It lives it's life backing on and off a trailer. I did have a few words of advice for Mike, "If the car ever puts down anywhere near 1000hp, kiss your back side good by.." He asked why and I told him, that the whole a$$ end was pretty much stock parts.
08-01-2010, 10:17 PM
#98
Safety Car
Just read this entire thread and had no idea he use to be part of this forum. I like the way this Vette looks. When I first looked up pics of a '74 Corvette, the first one that popped up was the "Merlin" Vette. I think that "1350HP" is too little power for a big cube blown engine, but let me stop there. We don't want to start another all out war like in the older posts.
. When I first looked up pics of a '74 Corvette, the first one that popped up was the "Merlin" Vette. I think that "1350HP" is too little power for a big cube blown engine, but let me stop there. We don't want to start another all out war like in the older posts.
08-01-2010, 10:37 PM
#99
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St. Jude Donor '07
Just read this entire thread and had no idea he use to be part of this forum. I like the way this Vette looks. When I first looked up pics of a '74 Corvette, the first one that popped up was the "Merlin" Vette. I think that "1350HP" is too little power for a big cube blown engine, but let me stop there. We don't want to start another all out war like in the older posts.
. When I first looked up pics of a '74 Corvette, the first one that popped up was the "Merlin" Vette. I think that "1350HP" is too little power for a big cube blown engine, but let me stop there. We don't want to start another all out war like in the older posts.