Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

SShink · 3K+ Club

RE: 'Stanitization of a '72 Malibu Vert' Thread

Lost in the 60s · President

Yeah, I've read about the issues with Chinese brake parts. Seems everyone handles them to be low price competative.

ACC has AMD and Dynacorn body panels.

220 miles RT from AV at 14 mpg= 16 gallons of gas at $3.50/gl = $56

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
That didn't take long......one day to gut it .....
Of course Gearlube and The Dashboard have recent experience with major dismantling...
Looks like a few floor pan patches are on the list now too.

Actually about four hours but Gearlube and I began suffering the onset of CAC PTSD, Logan, the little guy in the picture and his dad Chad did most the work.

Scott Parkhurst · Super Poster

SShink wrote:
Lost in the 60s wrote:
Looks like a few floor pan patches are on the list now too.
Yep, probably a 1 or 2 piece floor pan. I thought we could get by with some patch panels, but the worst part is right in the center of the floor hump. Time to dig out the NPD catalog for some floor pricing and talk to my resto expert...
I know some people would say 'come on, it's just 8 body bolts then it's a body off rotisere job, and clean up the ch***is (I know there's a couple of spots that need rust repair there), and it will be sooooo much easier. Right? I really don't want to go there for budget reasons, but the car really is blown apart at this point!

You should put in a T56. Then you could replace the trans tunnel at the same time...

gearlube · Active Member

With all the idea's we give Stan to do to his car we should also take up a collection to fund it!! T56 conversion is $$Expensive$$ I have done it!

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Scott Parkhurst wrote:
You should put in a T56. Then you could replace the trans tunnel at the same time...

Doing the tunnel blow out now for future options and flexibility would be very inexpensive and hardly show; the T56 could then be part of 2015-16 projects with an LS1. But then again we are spending Stan’s money.

SShink · 3K+ Club

dashboard wrote:
Scott Parkhurst wrote:
You should put in a T56. Then you could replace the trans tunnel at the same time...

Doing the tunnel blow out now for future options and flexibility would be very inexpensive and hardly show; the T56 could then be part of 2015-16 projects with an LS1.

I'll beat everyone to the punch line because I know you're thinking it.... You're ***uming I will still have this Chevelle in 2015-16, and we all know that's not a wager most would take!!!

Jon H · 1K+ Club

dashboard wrote:

Its official, Stan has opened the door and entered CAC 2012-2013 with a quarter tank of gas no less; Gearlube was there waiting to greet him having entered CAC himself some weeks ago. Both will have world cl*** muscle cars ready to roll out by next spring.
Over the last two winters my Elky has been in CAC, but it won’t be this year; it’s tucked away, far away to help avoid the urge to tear into it.

I guess I am doing things backwards. Stan started the cac for 2012-2013 and I just got mine back on the road.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

I suspect by the time you get this one out of CAC it might be some time before you charge out to get another one; but I could be wrong.

gearlube · Active Member

I have known Stan for over 4 years now. I have seen him own 4 DIFFERENT Chevelles in that time...Just sayin....
But to be fair I am on my third car in that time! He has me beat!

bowtie · Secretary

Can anyone other than Stan name the colors he's had? General colors, not the fancified marketing names they were given by GM.

Blue
Green

(continue)

Derek69SS · Founding Member

He had a blue one the first time I met Stan... then he moved to Nebraska and came back with a white one (after owning a Corvette for a while I hear) After the white one there was a 2nd Gen Camaro, then the green one, and now the blue convert.

I may have missed some... hard to keep track. ;)

Lost in the 60s · President

Derek69SS wrote:
He had a blue one the first time I met Stan... then he moved to Nebraska and came back with a white one (after owning a Corvette for a while I hear) After the white one there was a 2nd Gen Camaro, then the green one, and now the blue convert.

I may have missed some... hard to keep track. ;)

You forgot the Blue hardtop between the Green one and the vert.

And Dashboard, I can't believe you don't remember how quickly the Green car left after it was transplanted with a 4 speed for the Blue hardtop and THAT one went away right after it was near MINT !!!

SShink · 3K+ Club

You all forgot the Red '72 because I had it in Nebraska after the blue/black top '72 that Derek remembered, and after the '89 Corvette I had for a couple of months in between those two.

Here's a two for one pic showing both the red '72 Chevelle and the Corvette the day I traded the Corvette for the Chevelle. That's my son in the background when he was about 14, tall, and skinny:

This red Chevelle was my wife's favorite until the vert we have now. And I can't wait until the vert is done and it looks really nice!

Derek69SS · Founding Member

So I count 8 "fun" cars in what, about 9 years?

Dan Williams · Active Member

Derek69SS wrote:
So I count 8 "fun" cars in what, about 9 years?

You also have Tina's Mustang convertible, if you count Fords!

SShink · 3K+ Club

Finally got a chance to get out in the cave this afternoon after all the outlaws left, so I did some more tear down work on the interior and around the windshield:

Here's the vinyl cover before I took it off:

And pleased to find out that all was solid underneath after heating it up with the wife's hair dryer and pulling it off:

I always like looking at the old parts when I take them off, and the vinyl label underside had 'TEX 71' under it. Kind of cool taking off stuff that's been on for 40 years...

Here's the underside of the windshield bar from the inside, and it's good too other than the surface rust on the inside:

The pillars looked good to after getting the seal channels and outside stainless trim off:

And as always when removing the interior vents and reaching down inside, found lots of leaves, nut shells, the usual stuff:

Probably taking the dash out tomorrow if I get a chance to get back into the cave.

chevelle · Member

Thanks for the update Stan. It looks like you are making a lot of progress. Hope the nut shells and leaves are the worst of the things you find.

Lost in the 60s · President

chevelle wrote:
Thanks for the update Stan. It looks like you are making a lot of progress. Hope the nut shells and leaves are the worst of the things you find.

Actually, pic #3 shows a repair issue at the base of the windshield.

SShink · 3K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
chevelle wrote:
Thanks for the update Stan. It looks like you are making a lot of progress. Hope the nut shells and leaves are the worst of the things you find.
Actually, pic #3 shows a repair issue at the base of the windshield.

Yes, I discovered after I took off the stainless trim at the base of the windshield that rust had formed there, and left a 3/8-1/2" gap that will need to be fixed. I found a patch panel that goes between the base of the windshield and the cowl for less than $100 at OPG. There isn't any rust in the rest of the cowl that I've found so far.

I already know all the floor pans need to be replaced because of all the patches, the rust through spots, and the braces under the floor are rotted out at the ends, but the rockers are solid. The body will need to separated from the frame to install a 1 piece floor that has all the braces, seat mounts, seat belt mounts, etc. already installed. It's going to be done right, as it will be worth it in this convertible. I wouldn't have bought it if it was a coupe with these issues with a negative return on the investment.

chevelle · Member

So are you doing the floor or having it done? when my turn comes i will need to do the same.

chevelle · Member

Lost in the 60s wrote:
chevelle wrote:
Thanks for the update Stan. It looks like you are making a lot of progress. Hope the nut shells and leaves are the worst of the things you find.
Actually, pic #3 shows a repair issue at the base of the windshield.

yep, good eye for detail.

i was starting from the update Stan gave me at hte Nov. meeting and it looked like he had pulled enough to know what he was dealing with overall.

On the teardown sometimes it is like the TV comercials "but wait, there is more!".

Lost in the 60s · President

That's how we end up in CAC for months at a time. We hope for the best and then deal with reality.

May as well plan on stripping the frame bare and starting from that, as you won't want to pull the body again later for the frame restoration. Seems you are in for a complete body/frame resto at this point. Mechanical/interior can wait for another time.

Lost in the 60s · President

Get the dash out yet ??

SShink · 3K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
Get the dash out yet ??

Not yet. Too busy with the holiday hunny do's.

SShink · 3K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
Get the dash out yet ??

A couple of elves stopped over and helped take out the dash and the fuel tank recently (thanks elves! , so now they're both out!

And found another build sheet tucked away on the top of the tank! Here's a shot right after the tank was dropped down showing the sheet. I have another original in almost perfect condition that matches this one:

The body should be leaving the frame soon, so I'll post again when that happens. Can't wait!

Lost in the 60s · President

Are you taking to Tim for that or doing it at your place ?

I haven't seen anything from Tim for a while. Is he OK ?

SShink · 3K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
Are you taking to Tim for that or doing it at your place ?

I haven't seen anything from Tim for a while. Is he OK ?

Tim's got his buffer ready and he's doin' fine.

SShink · 3K+ Club

And away she goes...

And the cave is looking kind of empty now...

I'll start cleaning, painting, and detailing the engine tomorrow, then will drop off the TH350 at Master Trans for a quick checkup, seal replacement, etc. to drop it back in next Spring.

Lost in the 60s · President

Progress will be made and the car will return, better than it is now.

If you get lonely for a car, I could loan one out for you to look at/detail...

SShink · 3K+ Club

Somebody got busy with it this afternoon:

Lost in the 60s · President

Tim H wrote:
SShink wrote:
Lost in the 60s wrote:
Are you taking to Tim for that or doing it at your place ?

I haven't seen anything from Tim for a while. Is he OK ?
Tim's got his buffer ready and he's doin' fine.
Santa brought a new buffer. Now I need to put it to use.

Hi Tim ....

Glad to see you're still around. What's this new buffer ??

Looks like you uncovered some old crash damage in the left cowl area ??

-- Edited by Lost in the 60s on Tuesday 1st of January 2013 09:28:01 AM

Tim H · Mega Poster

SShink wrote:
Lost in the 60s wrote:
Are you taking to Tim for that or doing it at your place ?

I haven't seen anything from Tim for a while. Is he OK ?
Tim's got his buffer ready and he's doin' fine.

Santa brought a new buffer. Now I need to put it to use.

Tim H · Mega Poster

Hi Mitch,

I had a real busy late summer right through Christmas. I worked around 75 hours every week all of October and November.

Other than the dent there was no real surprises. It had some work done on it before but they put metal in where there was any issues. Once the floors, trunk and a little patch or two get in it will be a very solid car.

Looks like you have been busy as well.

SShink · 3K+ Club

Started on cleaning up the 350 for paint, and went ahead and checked out the valvetrain while pulling accessories off. Things looked pretty good other than some carbon build up on the tops of the intake valves, but nothing concerning since I'm just cleaning this up and sticking it back in for another year. I'll probably go with a different engine in the next year or so.

Tim H · Mega Poster

Looking good Stan. I'm looking forward to cutting up the car in the next week or so now that I'm back from the happiest place on earth.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Looks very clean are you going to drop the pan as well?

SShink · 3K+ Club

dashboard wrote:
Looks very clean are you going to drop the pan as well?

Yep. Typical SBC leakage areas to replace the seals; rear main and pan gasket. I'm going with the tried and true Felpro 1 piece oil pan gasket. Spendy, but no leaks! I'm also going to pull the timing cover to check the slop in the chain, and maybe pull the timing gear to see if I can tell if an aftermarket cam is inside. At idle, it has a little lope to it, so just curious more than anything else.

I'm going out to the cave now to finish cleaning up the engine, and if all goes well, maybe get some Chevy Orange overspray on my floor today.

Also, the TH350 was dropped off at Master Trans yesterday so that John can go through it to check the clutches, see what's been done to the valve body (I think it has a shift kit as it shifts pretty firm), and see what governor spring is in it as when driving it and kicking down from 2nd to 1st gear, it would rev up to about 5 grand lickity split! He thinks someone might have put in a Corvette governor with a light spring, so he will check it out and adjust accordingly. I asked him if NCC has brought him enough business lately, as I'm aware of 5 other members that he is working with on their transmissions, and he just laughed and said 'yeah' in his quite way. He's so easy to work with, and it's a great feeling knowing he only does what's needed to make the customer happy, and nothing more! to John and MT.

Finally, the sheet metal parts are starting to roll in as it sounds like Tim has his new buffer ready to go! Drove to Auto City Classics after work yesterday and picked up the 1 piece floor pan w/braces, and a domed hood (non-flapper as I changed my mind and the flapper door will go to a good home in the club). Talking to Denny at ACC, these 1 piece floor pans w/braces are the bomb, and he can't hardly keep them in stock. He got in a new shipment of 4, and now there's 1 less in the lot. I just wish ACC was closer, but it's probably good, as I would be spending $$ there all the time! Can't wait to help Tim make some sparks and noise with the buffer!

chevelle · Member

That one piece floor looks to be the way to go. Looking forward to seeing updates on the transplant.
Sounds like you have been there, don that on the motor, good tip on the one piece gasket.

SShink · 3K+ Club

Tim's buffer was busy over the weekend... it's not only topless, but now bottomless!

If you didn't catch it in the Classifeds, the old floor is available for sale!

-- Edited by SShink on Monday 14th of January 2013 08:06:40 PM

SShink · 3K+ Club

Blew apart the inner fenders and found kind of a cool surprise. A rusty old Hide A Key with keys in it!

Then we got the work area organized and the floor out and ready to go in. Too cold to work today, so probably later this week/next weekend. Cool thing is the floor already has the bucket seat mounts and nut serts installed! All we have to transfer over is the back console bracket, and drill the hole for the floor shifter cable and it's ready to go.

Check out the Mandarin chalk mark writing. It's a Dynacorn floor produced in Taiwan. I've been over there for work, and have seen some 1st rate stamping facilities, as well as the dirt floor ones... Hopefully this came from the better ones.

-- Edited by SShink on Sunday 20th of January 2013 09:42:58 AM

dashboard · 2K+ Club

I don’t want to hijack Stan’s build here so let me move this to

http://northstarchevelles.activeboard.com/t51771632/2012-2013-a-body-winter-project/

(mod - added link paste)

Lost in the 60s · President

That writing is kinda weird to see. I've bought a lot of Dynacorn panels and haven't seen any writing on them...
Missed seeing Tim at Karl's. Guess he was busy on your car.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Stan, if your old floor pan is still available, I would like to try to recover the rear seatbelt reinforcement points where the seatbelt retaining bolt goes through the floor, for use in the Buick.

Derek69SS · Founding Member

Kevin, I don't know if it makes any difference to you, but the 68+ seatbelt anchors use 1/2" - 13 (course thread) bolts, and earlier cars used 7/16" - 20 (fine thread) bolts.

If you change the anchors, I have an extra set of later bolts you can have.

Tim H · Mega Poster

Lost in the 60s wrote:

Missed seeing Tim at Karl's. Guess he was busy on your car.

Naw I had a ice fishing house calling my name.

John D · 2K+ Club

Lookin' Good!! I wonder what the characters translate to... ham on rye, meet at Cho Vin's for a beer, hmmm....

The engine looks nice inside, typical "brownage", but really no crud. Your going to get the black "baked" stuff on the intake's heat crossover, but the valley and heads look typical. Throw a timing chain at it just because - they're cheap - and run it! (Lemme know if you need a puller to get the crank sprocket off.)

(Just remember the JD rules of leak-free engine assembly... lots of razor blades, acetone, dry-fit, check, ultra-cleanage... and DABS of silly-cone & sticky stuff.)

Scott Parkhurst · Super Poster

Stan- if you want to turn the wick up on that motor a bit while it's out, let me know via PM. I have some stuff..

SShink · 3K+ Club

Scott Parkhurst wrote:
Stan- if you want to turn the wick up on that motor a bit while it's out, let me know via PM. I have some stuff..

Scott, always interested in more! PM sent.

SShink · 3K+ Club

Finally made some progress on the dash tear down, cleanup, and painting:

DASH BEFORE:

DASH AFTER:

Funny thing was I had to bring it in to the house to use the shower to clean it up, and guess what... the wife walks in and says 'Get those dirty car parts out of my house!" I told her that's why I need running water in the man cave!

SPEEDOMETER BEFORE:

SPEEDOMETER AFTER-Amazing how much better it looks getting 41 years of dust off of it!

And Tim's buffer was available, so we dedided to take the project in a new direction... a Funny Car!

Seriously, this is so that repairs can be made on the rockers where the braces were attached as some had some rust there. Before lifting it the bracing was installed:

And yes, Tim let me use his buffer and also make some welding sparks. Thanks Tim!

And the floor pans are nearby ready to go in soon.