Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

Damn, you don't waste any time. I thought you would drive it until winter.

I was going to ask if you wanted to use my engine lift but it sounds like you want to do this tomorrow.

Have fun gettin greasy...

That thing so needs an LS motor.

I had the day off yesterday so I started on the project because I wanted to sell my trans and engine.  Got the Trans sold already!

Pulled the drive shaft.  Looks like a lot of work was done in the back end.  The U-Joints look good and are noice and tight.  The mufflers are trashed though.  Instead of replacing the mufflers, they sport welded over the holes!!    I ordered a new exhaust system header back from Summit.  Going with 2.5" exhaust.  

The shocks on a 4 are crap.  Like a bouncie low rider.  Ordered some KYB shocks and struts.  Coils in the back look good.  Also ordered a 1.5" sway bar.  Not going crazy with boxed control arms.  If I come accross some cheap...then maybe.  

Pulled the battery first of course and it looks good.  Just a little surface rust is all.  Then drained the radiator.

Then pulled the radiator topper, fan shroud, and fan blades.  Pulled the coolant lines and hoses.

Drained the gas lines and capped them off.  Will be getting all new parts.

Dissasembled all the hoses, wires, alternator wires etc.  Pulled the plugs and headers.

I am going to re-use the headers.  They are in good shape!  Engine came out pretty easy.  Small Blocks are so much easier!!

THe TH350 slid right off, but I did lose some fluid.

I plan on doing a good freshen up.  Not going to spotless like in the Camaro.  But nice and clean.  Rattle can black, make it look nice.  My engine will have lots of chrome and stainless on it!

Go underneath and pulled the trans.  Damm those things are heavy!  Convert looks good and the rear tail shaft teeth look good.

I made sure to really take my time, and cap everything off, and label it.  Engine is sitting pretty and now on Craigslist.  The Trans is now sold!

I pulled out the Monster Super Comp Auto Meter last night too.  Put it up on Ebay.  Already has bids!!

Also pulled the B&M slap Rachet shifter.  Put it too on Ebay and it too has bids!!

Here are some of my parts ordered today to line up my winter projects.

I am having Tim H. Guy install the headliner and do the seats next week.

I will be putting in new exhaust from header back.  And Rick influenced me!  Going to put in electric cutouts.  Yes cheesy as it maybe, I want it loud when I want to...Don't worry Kevin you can turn the hearing aide down.  :0P

Now for the crem-da-la-crem!! I worked with the shop and put my engine order in for my custom 383!  Will be 475HP 490trqu.  Roller CAM Motor.  AFR Aluminum Heads, Full dress, Quick Fuel Carb.  Below is a pick of an identical engine they build.  They are also custom doing an A/C bracket to match my other parts.  Very excited. Using my own headers though.  I should have it in 30days to my door!  This will be mated to a 700R4 Trans that has Corvette Synchros....Want it to chirp 1-2-3!!

So now I will start prepping the engine bay, and clearning up under neath.  Very excited and really, really, really am going to try and pace myself.  Many that know me know that I cannot stop sometimes.  But I am going to try and save it for weekends...Do they offer a 12-step for Muscle Car addiction?

So gotta ask Tom on the electric cut outs... what's up with that?  Been hanging around old skool bikers that wear rose colored glasses and like to tach it up and be LOUD  (aka crabby old guy)? 

After the first twenty miles I like the old man quiet ride and some tunes, so both.  Those cut-outs should give you the best of both worlds. 

Your project seems to be moving along quickly. Let me know when you get to the power windows, door locks and trunk release.

My pile of boxes is also starting to grow.

gearlube wrote:

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Hey it's cool man!!! Who doesn't love a loud ride? Let's vote? Sometimes loud? Or old man lady quiet?

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 I like noise at the back of the car, not inside. All my cars have full tail pipes. I too like to listen to tunes...

The cutouts will be fun for stop light grand prix's...

Regarding cutouts --- the previous owner installed electric cutouts. The car was used part time for bracket racing so that may be why they are there. I rarely open them up. Actually, it's plenty loud for me with the Flowmasters.

He also put a sound system in the car but I only turned it on once to see if it worked. It could only be listened to when parked. It's not even hooked up now; the power cable for it lies next to the battery in the trunk.

Last night I really ripped into it. Pulled the muffler, suspension and rear cover off. I wanted to inspect the gears and get some numbers. Luckily my hunch was right and the POSI is a series III carrier. It does have 3.90 ring and pinion gears. However I did the math on the RPM calculators with 26" tall tires and at 60 the RPM's are not bad at all with a .70 overdrive.

No metal shavings in the bottom and the teeth all look good.  So I think I am going to stay with the 3.90 since I will have the overdrive.  Most of my driving will be at 55mph or less.  Plus it is a SBC so you have a lot more room than a BBC with a redline of 5000RPM or so.  I can always switch to 3.42 later.

Deffinately needed a rear fluid change either way

Still am in shock how clean under neath and rust free it is.  I am going to just clean it up and paint under neath.  Going to put in some new moog spring insulators, and the rear will get new shocks.

The old exhaust system was pulled and will be tossed.  There are lots of holes and welding slag where holes were tried to be covered up.  Shocks are worn out too

Going to need to put on some new rear brake pads.  They are pretty thin back there...

I sold my TH350 below.  I went back and forth on what to do.  Yes the Internet Transmissions are cheaper.  However even if they offer a warranty, you have to pull and ship.  So I decided to go to Master Transmission in Rosemount.  Stan and Kevin have had good luck.  I talked to John and they had a 700R4 Core!!!  So he is building me a 700R4 that will be well built to handle th horse power and a shift kit.  It will also have a non-lockup converter.  They are very nice and knowledgable.  I like the fact of their two year warranty also and if I have a problem it is close to me.  Deffinately you get what you pay for...So I am going to spend more there.  Worth it.

I know I have said in the past my intentions for this car.  Well I could not get the rims I wanted.  And I am not going to settle.  So I am staying more stock!  I do like the stock SS rims.  So in the rear, staying with the stock spring, new shocks.  Stauing with the 3.90 gears.  In front it already has disc brakes!  I purchased some 2" lowering springs for the front to give it a more raked look, but not low rider.  New shocks up front also.

My headliner is getting done today and Chris is picking up my two front buckets to re-cover.  My Vintage Air is due to arrive today also!  I got a note from my engine builder they are ahead of schedule.  When does when ever hear those words!!  So things are on track for a fun winter!!

Just got a call from the engine place!  They have shipped the engine and is due to arrive on Halloween!!  Went better then they even suspected.  Specs are below.

Engine: 383 Stroker  Runs on Pump Gas!!

CAM Specs .533/.548  Duration at 50,000^th 234/242

RPM 5600 HP 490.4  

TRQ – 480.1 4900 RPM

Made 456 TRQ hitting 3600 RPM!!

Should be fun!!!  Having the 700R4 built now at Master Transmission.  This weekend will be undercoating the rear under neath.  Putting the rear cover back on.  Start on installing the Vintage air on the inside of the car.  Kris did my headliner and it turned out awesome!  I highly recommend.  He has my seats now to finish in a few weeks.  Told him no hurry on that.  Then will be moving onto the front end clean up.  Again trying to pace myself!!  But its hard!!

It's only going to get more difficult to "pace" yourself with the engine/trans sitting there. I'm betting on you having this done before Christmas...

Looky Looky!!  Engine is coming on Friday afternoon!!!  Dyno'd at 490.4 HP and 480 TRQ!!  

Tom, I'm diggin' that new brand of heads... the 'Tom Brokaw' version that's been engraved in the front of the head! 

I hope that carb/air filter clears your hood.  I don't know if it's the video or not, but that intake seems really high, plus there is a 1" spacer under the carb.  I'm sure you'll check it before you slam the hood the for the first drive! 

Clearance shouldn't be an issue. Even the BB had a steel spacer between the carb and air cleaner to get seal against hood.

O.k.... almost another month gone by without an update.  Surely all those new shiny parts have spoken to you enough to post some progress pics? 

Well I got my seats back and Dan Knish did a great job.  After he did my headliner I knew I could trust his work with my buckets.  I kind of felt bad because, yes I went for the cheaper covers, but his skills made them turn out great!  I highly recomend him.

My wife was grumpy about the large box next to her car so I figured it was a good time to dis-assemble the box and put the engine in.  Its amazing how everything starts with the engine and then you build around it.  Had to borrow my dads hoist as my cheapy was not long enough.  I took out about 100 screws to remove the sides etc.

When they built the palet unfortunately the slots were not large enough for my support bars.  So I had to rig up some chain to slid it over and remount it.

And here is the final pull!  And I didn't even scratch anything!!

.  Put a floor jack underneath to support it off the firewall.  But its in!!!  I ordered my trans mount and it comes next week.  Put on the custom balanced flex plate and torqued the bolts down to 60ft lbs.  

I still have a lot more detailing to do on the tops of the engine compartment.  But I painted the cross member and everything underneath.  I am going for a very industrial engine compartment look, similar to my last Chevelle.  No Chevy Orange here!!  Next I am going to be mounting my A/C compressor bracket and then the compressor so I can get my A/C hoses measured and cut to length.  Then going to put in the new power steering box, and start working it up the rest of the way with exhaust etc.  I still have lots to do on the interior, mounting the center speaker and A/C box.  Putting in the center console shoe shifter etc.

Here was the mess afterwards!  Wife was not happy with her car outside in the cold!

I spent the next hour or so cleaning up and organizing my next parts.  It was like Xmas opening the boxes and saying, oh ha I remember that!  Oh wait it is Christmas!

Merry Xmas Eve All!  Plan on doing my A/C bracket tomorrow, and mounting the compressor.  Then we will see from there!  Will be posting more pics!