Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

OscarZ · Mega Poster

71 Malibu Resuscitation

Chris R · 2K+ Club

This isnt Facebook but im going to "like" this thread anyways.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

But did you drive it home?

OscarZ · Mega Poster

Not yet Kevin. There is a few more items Chris is going to help while it's at his place. Welding in my brackets for buckets and center console and a few other things.

-- Edited by OscarZ on Sunday 17th of May 2015 03:04:57 PM

67ss · 1K+ Club

Well I think a found what the noise was that caused Mike to park it long ago. When a pulled the valve cover the rocker arm fell to the floor. Found lots of the other rocker arm nuts also loose and valves out of adjustment. Not sure what happened but I reinstalled the rocker and readjusted all the valves and it runs like a top.

-- Edited by 67ss on Sunday 17th of May 2015 04:19:46 PM

OscarZ · Mega Poster

I hope it is that simple even if that would make me feel really dumb. Much better than a transmission issue I was thinking it was.

Lost in the 60s · President

67ss wrote:
Well I think a found what the noise was that caused Mike to park it long ago. When a pulled the valve cover the rocker arm fell to the floor. Found lots of the other rocker arm nuts also loose and valves out of adjustment. Not sure what happened but I reinstalled the rocker and readjusted all the valves and it runs like a top.

-- Edited by 67ss on Sunday 17th of May 2015 04:19:46 PM

No exhaust valve opening on #2 would account for the pop back we were getting on that side of the carb...

dashboard · 2K+ Club

OscarZ wrote:
Not yet Kevin. There is a few more items Chris is going to help while it's at his place. Welding in my brackets for buckets and center console and a few other things.

-- Edited by OscarZ on Sunday 17th of May 2015 03:04:57 PM

Well it's certainly in good hands with Chris. You'll be cruising this summer.

SShink · 3K+ Club

It's great it was that simple!

Mike, do you know the history on the engine and how they got so mis-adjusted?

OscarZ · Mega Poster

I know the history and I would be to blame regardless of if I last touched them or someone else did. Don't recall who else might have been assisting me or checked it out on my behalf previously...it's been a long time. Embarrassing if it turns out that it sat so long for such a simple reason. I do remember having the guy that put my engine together come out and listen to it but I don't think it went beyond listening and there wasn't any obvious noises of concern then. I could have swore that the rocker arm settings were the first thing checked way back when since they do require occasional adjustment. I used to start it up and move it occasionally until the gas got really bad and it wouldn't run very well any more. Never heard the hiccup previously that we did when we started it on Saturday. I'll take the hit to my pride if it prevents one to the wallet.

SShink · 3K+ Club

No worries Mike. Wasn't trying to say it was anything you did.

You should have heard the first crate 350 when I tried to start it after I installed my first cam on my own and 'adjusted' the lifters based on an article I had read. It wouldn't fire and sounded like a wheezing burro because I didn't have near enough lash. Thankfully I had an MSRA neighbor that heard the racket and came over and showed me how it's really done. I've learned a lot since then, but setting hydraulic lifter valve lash is one of those things that sounds easy, but you still need to have the 'touch' to do it right.

67ss · 1K+ Club

Got the transmission filled and it moved out of the garage on its own power yesterday.

SShink · 3K+ Club

67ss wrote:
Got the transmission filled and it moved out of the garage on its own power yesterday.

Or as Dashboard would say... 'Running on ship's power.'!

67ss · 1K+ Club

Console and shifter are in. On to the seat brackets.

OscarZ · Mega Poster

Wish I was in town to assist and maybe even learn a thing or two. Anyone have any suggestion for getting the chrome trim in the middle of the console reattached tightly?

SShink · 3K+ Club

OscarZ wrote:
Wish I was in town to assist and maybe even learn a thing or two. Anyone have any suggestion for getting the chrome trim in the middle of the console reattached tightly?

Are you referring to the chrome strips on the sides of the console? If I remember right... there is a front U shaped strip and a back U shaped strip that both have tabs on the ends that protrude into the inside of the console, and there are nuts that thread on to hold them tight against the plastic.

OscarZ · Mega Poster

Update: Chris put in a new master cylinder for me. Mine leaked and one of the reservoirs was dry. I went over to assist with bleeding the breaks i.e. sitting on a milk crate pumping the pedal. I also brought along the wheels to throw on after the brakes were finished. Looks much better now! Brought my storage wheels and bench seat home. Anyone have an idea on what a nice recovered black bench for a 71 or 72 is worth? It's going in our classifieds and on Craigslist as soon as I figure that out!

Lost in the 60s · President

Looks mean with the wheels....

Bench seat isn't a highly sought item. Maybe $100 ....

John will have his for sale in a while too..

67ss · 1K+ Club

Made some more progress today. Seat brackets all welded and seats bolted down.

SShink · 3K+ Club

67ss wrote:
Made some more progress today. Seat brackets all welded and seats bolted down.

Looks good Chris!

Mike, do you remember where the chrome trim for the seat back and bottoms came from? It looks like the original style, and all I've found is narrower chrome trim, which doesn't look right IMO. I don't remember where you had them recovered/rebuilt. Thanks.

67ss · 1K+ Club

It went for it's first test drive today. It was so fast it blew the hood off! Kidding the hood was sold to my buddy who is doing a 70 chevelle. Mike is installing a domed hood with the factory hood pins in its place. I am done with my end so I think Mike will be driving it home this weekend.

OscarZ · Mega Poster

SShink wrote:
67ss wrote:
Made some more progress today. Seat brackets all welded and seats bolted down.
Looks good Chris!
Mike, do you remember where the chrome trim for the seat back and bottoms came from? It looks like the original style, and all I've found is narrower chrome trim, which doesn't look right IMO. I don't remember where you had them recovered/rebuilt. Thanks.

Fred did my seats. I don't recall were he got the parts for restoring the seats.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

When you drive it home.............drive it like your stealing it; or even better, drive it like a rental.

OscarZ · Mega Poster

As Chris mentioned earlier in the thread I sold the hood that was on my car to his friend Chad. He is doing a 70 Chevelle SS and he needed a hood and that one was a 70 SS hood. I had an SS hood (in the back ground of first picture at start of thread) off the 72 El Camino I parted out a few years back. I wasn't planning on selling my hood until I had the car painted in the future. So now I need to put my other hood on the car but I didn't want to throw it on as it was. Luckily for me Mitch is a very willing and talented mentor with a well equipped shop! Mitch is responsible for the hood now being Hot Rod Black (satin). Thanks Mitch!!! Sorry the pictures were in order and all right side up on my computer and when I selected them for attachment. They take too long to load to mess with them to try and correct!

-- Edited by OscarZ on Saturday 13th of June 2015 08:36:27 AM

dashboard · 2K+ Club

So does this mean your driving the green beast? I like that flat paint on the hood look. Pushrod did something like that on his hood and it really sets it off.

OscarZ · Mega Poster

Brought the hood over to Chris' and we put it on the car. Then we drilled the holes to mount the hood pins. I think it turned out well. Then I drove it home! Then unloaded all the boxes out of the trunk and took Shannan for a short ride around town.

Chris S · Active Member

Looks nice Mike!

What's next?

Lost in the 60s · President

It does look really nice. Can't even see the bug tracks in it...

OscarZ · Mega Poster

Chris S wrote:
Looks nice Mike!
What's next?

Next is to put in some insulation and carpet. I also want to reinstall the front sway bar. I expect there will be a few bugs to work out as well.

SShink · 3K+ Club

Lookin' good Mike!

OscarZ · Mega Poster

Drove the car locally a few times so far. Definitely needs some suspension and braking upgrades in the near future. Also need to clean the steering wheel. I have a 4 spoke sport wheel that feels a little tacky and every time I squeeze in under it it leaves a black mark on my shorts. Anyone have a favorite cleaner for such things. Speaking of squeezing by the steering wheel - Derek what did you do for your tilt column again? I remember hearing about it but forgot the details. Ordered some B-Quiet insulation, a roller, carpet and sill plates. Chris R. - care to part with your 200r4 core you got from Mitch?

OscarZ · Mega Poster

Finished accumulating the major parts for my disc brake conversion with help from Jamie, Chris P., Amazon and Jegs. Dropped the car and parts off at Pittstop Performance. Should be much more enjoyable and safer to drive once the brakes and sway bar are installed and since I'm not turning the wrenches myself I should get to put some miles on it yet this fall. 😃

Lost in the 60s · President

Cool !!

Then you can drive it to the All GM show at Merit Chev next month...

Derek69SS · Founding Member

OscarZ wrote:
Speaking of squeezing by the steering wheel - Derek what did you do for your tilt column again? I remember hearing about it but forgot the details.

Sorry I missed this question earlier.

A 2nd gen Camaro/Firebird column (up to '77 or '78) is nearly a direct swap. You need to use the Chevelle steering shaft and blinker harness.

The Chevelle harness won't fit the clip on the bottom of the column, so I just used zip ties to hold it tight to the column.

67ss · 1K+ Club

We are on to phase 2. Rebuild front suspension with poly bushings, new ball joints, and disc brake swap.

Enganeer · Mega Poster

Stepping it up...nice!

Lost in the 60s · President

Making good progress, Chris. Will we see it at Cruise for Troops ?

67ss · 1K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
Making good progress, Chris. Will we see it at Cruise for Troops ?

Yes hoping it should be done for the cruise.

OscarZ · Mega Poster

Mitch - I plan to attend with the car if it is ready. If not I likely will still attend but not sure if I'll have an alternate ride or join a friend. Hopefully the car gods will allow things to go as planned! 😀

Lost in the 60s · President

Cool, I'm going to try to make this year too.

67ss · 1K+ Club

So I bought a new tool that I thought others might like to see or use. Mike's transmission was leaking and it looked like it was coming from the shift shaft seal. I have seen the videos of people trying to pick out with screwdrivers and such and spend probably hours trying to get it done. This tool was $8.00 bucks through napa and I had it out and back in in less then 5 minutes.

-- Edited by 67ss on Thursday 10th of September 2015 09:03:01 AM

OscarZ · Mega Poster

Glad to hear that went well. Hopefully that and a few miles on it will stop the pesky leak!

Lost in the 60s · President

Yeah, I have a couple of those pesky leaks myself. For 8 bucks, I will just get one and have it on hand.
Thanks for the info, Chris !!

4-door Chevelle · Super Poster

I am also now the proud owner of one of those things.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Anyone have the Readers Digest version of how it works?

67ss · 1K+ Club

It is real easy Kevin. The black colored piece is tapered and threaded on one end. Start that end into the seal, I gave it a couple taps with a hammer and then screwed it in with a wrench. It has a hex head on the other end. Once seated in it has a thread bolt that goes down the middle and pushes in the end of the shaft to pull it out of the transmission. The silver colored piece is for tapping he new seal back into the transmission.

When installing the new seal I started it and used a small pick to make sure it was all the way around the shaft and then tapped it the rest of the way in.

67ss · 1K+ Club

Making some progress.

Lost in the 60s · President

You ARE going to paint the frame too, so those swing arms don't look so out of place.........

67ss · 1K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
You ARE going to paint the frame too, so those swing arms don't look so out of place.........

I'll let Mike handle that.

OscarZ · Mega Poster

Looking good Chris!