Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

It looks GREAT Kevin, but WHY did they put the side trim on and have to work around that before the final buff ???????

She's a trailer queen in the making....

Lost in the 60s wrote:

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It looks GREAT Kevin, but WHY did they put the side trim on and have to work around that before the final buff ???????

She's a trailer queen in the making....

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Mitch, that’s a good question, they did the same thing last year with the El Camino. First they cut and buffed the areas were chrome/emblems go then installed the chrome/emblems and cut and buffed the rest.

I was surprised to see tape over the chrome, the only thing I can think is they know I spent a lot of time on the chrome. I was in and out of there quickly today; I wanted to be at Derek’s by 1630 to pick up the El Camino; I’ll ask the question the next time I‘m there.

No Trailer Queen here, this ones going on the hi-way.

The Buick returned home today, it arrived today after riding on a flatbed truck in a driving rainstorm for 8 miles, the transport ride actually turned out to be beneficial, nothing better than wiping down and drying off a car to get to know the paint and every inch of the sheet metal; second positive discovery, its watertight.

Hopefully I’ll get some better pictures outside tomorrow. Now the work continues.

dashboard wrote:

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So much for taking pictures outside this morning; it’s also not the morning to be taking everything out of the garage to rearrange and make room for the new arrival.
Stan’s happy now, he moves to the front of the line, he’s next.

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 It isn't a morning for anything outside..   The Stillwater Art fair and Camaro Club season opening cruise are today too and with this weather, we will stay parked inside.

Guess I can go in the shop and start getting the Pete ready to sell...

-- Edited by Lost in the 60s on Saturday 18th of May 2013 08:35:15 AM

dashboard wrote:

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So much for taking pictures outside this morning; it’s also not the morning to be taking everything out of the garage to rearrange and make room for the new arrival.
Stan’s happy now, he moves to the front of the line, he’s next.

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I'll probably curse us again... but it's supposed to clear off by 11 a.m. or so, then be sunny and warm the rest of the day.  

You weren't in the way Kevin, I now know the true meaning of 'paint jail'. 

 

What color are you going with .....

dashboard wrote:

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Started cleaning it up yesterday, three months of body shop dust makes a real mess.

Stan here's a tip, when you bring Old Blue home, swing by a quarter car wash and blast it off, the engine compartment, frame, wheel wells, inside and especially the top then take it home and dry it off, you'll save yourself lots of time.

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Good tip Kevin.  I'm looking forward to the day I get to do that!   

Starting from the back working forward, painting the new sheet metal and frame with POR15; getting the body ready for the new fuel tank installation. I’ll install the rear bumper wire up the back up and licenses lights then install the tank and the filter regulator and work forward.

We have run the engine for the last time prior to installation so it’s off the test cell and on engine stand waiting for its new home. Steve has the tune were he wants it until we can put a load on the engine then some final tweaking.

Lookin' good Kevin! 

Can't believe I'm saying this... but can't wait until I see your tail lights! 

dashboard wrote:

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Shops a mess whoever finds Barbie first wins an ice-cream cone in Hastings.

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 When Barb read about the "mess" she almost passed out laughing.......

Guess she's used to seeing my shop, which is a bit more disorganized than yours....

Lost in the 60s wrote:

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dashboard wrote:

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Shops a mess whoever finds Barbie first wins an ice-cream cone in Hastings.

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 When Barb read about the "mess" she almost passed out laughing.......

Guess she's used to seeing my shop, which is a bit more disorganized than yours....

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 No kidding. I wish my shop was that big of a mess..

Is this Barbie?

 

Chris, the LED lights are not from a kit they were hand made by friend of Barbie’s who was returning a favor; he may check in.

Each fixture has 30 individual LED bulbs that all illuminate in a bright mode when the brakes or turn signals are actuated. In the parking light mode only ten bulbs illuminate at a lower intensity setting, this is the result of some magic built into the fixture by the designer when he built them.

If there is any law governing the brightness or intensity of tail lights I may be in violation of the law; they are very intense.

Nice job Tim exceptional eyesight and attention to detail, helps explain the excellent attention to detail in your car projects.

Guess I should've saved and magnified the pic too...

Those are nice looking mounts and should help with tie rod clearance.  Hopefully the oil pan and tunnel cooperate.    

-- Edited by SteveS on Tuesday 4th of June 2013 06:37:12 AM

Well it's back in with the new mounts only a 1001 things left to do now. I’d also like to drive it before Car Craft, but that’s only a dateline out in the future at the rate I'm going Sept may be more realistic.

I’ve changed my plan on air conditioning, I am going to install a retro Mark IV under dash unit. I plan to return my Classis Air kit, I need to pay a restock fee and shipping charge so if someone is interested in a AC kit at a great price send me a PM or give me a call.

I love that engine cover, it is going to confuse so many people. It looks great kevin, want to do a 66 chevelle next?

Chris this is not a Buick specific kit it is a Flex Fit Kit, it is what's used when there is no car specific kit for your car. It has electronic controls that adapt to your existing heater controls eliminating the cables.

I say weld it if you can, then cover it with insulation.

Heck..if you'd planned to cut the tunnel, you should have gone T56! LOL!

Car is looking great- can't wait to see it in person.

Chris R wrote:

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Ill go on a limb and presume a stop sign and a bunch of old license plates covered with a mexican blanket probably wont do the job then?

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dashboard wrote:

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 We did finish replacing all brake lines and hoses with new ones then bleed the system and fixed a couple of small leaks. JD that little MityVac kit with your vac bottle reservoir idea is the ticket when it come to flushing and bleeding. At least now the car has brakes so it is a little more mobile.

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 How about of photo of the rest of the system in action?

Jim, do you mean the brake bleeding process or the car moving on ships power?

Might be a while for the car but I could mock up the bleed kit and take some pixs if that’s what you would like to see.

Might not seem like much but the fuel line is installed and connected the engine. It took less than two hours to install the line, it took four hours to make five bends and install two clamps on the frame rail. Unlike the old fuel line that goes through the frame just behind the driver’s front tire the new one travels up the inside of the frame into the engine compartment. It needs to clear the shifter linkage and emergency brake cable, then go up and around the brake distribution manifold, clear the speedometer cable and then start toward the engine just under the brake booster. 3/8’ steel line and it all needed to be bent by hand in very close quarters; ok, so I’m whining, it was a PIA

That mock-up transmission case that John at Master Transmission loaned me is great, it only weights about 20#, two bolts and it’s out of the way.

Tomorrow I’ll complete the installation at the fuel tank. I was going to do it today but I want to install the driver’s side tailpipe first to make sure there are no conflicts.

I have a bolt above and below the locater stud, but I think your talking about the next hole up.  Mine is empty, the block has no provision.  Like the picture below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like there are several posts on LS1tech about the Muscle car pan not having the passenger side bolts.

http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1624761-transmission-oil-pan-bolts.html

 

http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1429907-help-please-hummer-pan-missing-bellhousing-pan-bolt-boss.html

 

 

 

-- Edited by SteveS on Tuesday 11th of June 2013 06:32:08 AM

-- Edited by SteveS on Tuesday 11th of June 2013 06:39:57 AM

-- Edited by SteveS on Tuesday 11th of June 2013 06:40:39 AM

Today I reinstalled the transmission mock-up case so we can complete the exhaust system. Then as soon as the exhaust system is done I’ll remove it and the transmission case to make ready for the real transmission install; I ordered the 4L60E from John today.

I’m trying to work out two issues with the bell housing. The bolt at ten o’clock simply can not be installed with the engine in the car. I looked at using a stud but there is no clearance for it. I don’t want to bash in the firewall so I’m going to open up the dog ear on the bell housing so I can slip the bolt in from the side, pixs latter.

The other issue is the bellhousing alignment with the GM Muscle oil pan. On the oil pan only the driver’s sides bolt lines up. Bryan is checking something’s out, more on that latter.

Steve, Derek on your bellhousing is the bolt at 2 o’clock used?

This evening I spent some time with Ron and his lovely bride at the local Culvers show. First time I’ve seen Ron’s 66, it is serious muscle and a very nice looking car.

I did see Stan’s Old Blu tonight looks great, when you walk around the car Stan puts himself between you and the car like a mother bear protecting her cub.

Steve, yep that’s how the pan and bellhousing fit together, it would be nice if there was a bellhousing out there that fit. If not it will go together like it is.

Mitch, interesting idea however, the picture I think you’re looking at was taken from underneath the car at a very steep angle, it is very deceiving as to the actual placement of the bolt relative to the firewall. The one to the right with the transmission installed gives a better view/understanding of the bolt location. The bolt is well above the carpet line and unfortunately lines up with the original accelerator pedal firewall through mount, the firewall is not flat there. I think if you saw it in person it would make more sense. I can either snip the dog ear or move the engine forward to install the bolt.

With some luck once the bolts are in it won’t need to come back out in my life time; the last transmission was in there for almost 50 years