Do you also have 1:1 project cars?

[JollySipper]

Bob, I'm sure you're very aware of this, but please take extra precaution with the upper ball joints! I might would even have them welded in......

[bobss396]

12 hours ago, JollySipper said:

Bob, I'm sure you're very aware of this, but please take extra precaution with the upper ball joints! I might would even have them welded in......

Nah, they bolt in with lock nuts. The driver side was replaced at some point. The factory holes are smaller for rivets, which the air chisel makes short work of. Then the holes need to be opened to take a 5/16" bolt. I have probably done well over 100 of these when I was fixing cars for a living.

I got in last night, sat down and fell asleep, went up to bed officially around 11. Today is 62 and cloudy. All I have to do is assemble the arm and put it back together. Oh yeah, the disc pads are shot... that will be Tuesday's fun. I'm also having the new front tires put on my wheels.

[bobss396]

The upper arms and ball joints are back on. Front brakes are to follow. Im taking a short break.

[Scott8950]

I've recently taken on another.  88 mustang gt 100% original still has cold air and catalytic converters and is still efi (speed density) runs great and the 5 speed shifts perfect. The rear hatch has some rust bubbles which is very common but the rest of the car is rust free and believe it or not it's never been in any accidents the radiator support and shock towers are perfect!

Plans are ... 3.73 gears, gt40 heads, explorer intake, exhaust and a repaint. I want to keep it as a cruiser. 

 

I'll post some pictures after work. 

[bobss396]

Got the front brakes back in. Had the rotors cut, new pads and hardware. I greased the new front end parts.

I'm waiting to hear back from Hagerty with a quote early next week. 

New 215/75-14 tires are mounted up. The wheels are 7" from a Camaro and look good.

[bobss396]

Chipping away at it. Seats are in for recovering. Arm rests too. New sill plates are on order. So is a seat spring kit for the tracks. Going factory turquoise for the vinyl and something else for the fabric inserts.

Inspection and plates are done. Hagerty added it to my existing policy for $95/ year.

I got the cruddy pin stripe tape off it and washed the car on Sunday. I had 2 rust holes in the front floor in an odd spot. Dug all that out and used fiberglass to patch it. Looks great. Next is rug cleaning, I vacuumed it out before it got hot. 

[espo]

Remarkably clean looking '66 Bel Air considering its age. 

[bobss396]

20 hours ago, espo said:

Remarkably clean looking '66 Bel Air considering its age. 

Thanks, it has "fixed" rust issues but I'm going to run it. The door cards look new, getting the arm rests done too. I took the rear ash trays out, gave them a citric acid soak to get the rust off. I coated them with 1K clear so they are smooth inside.

In just 5 weeks it is a different car already. The gauge cluster is a hot mess on the back side. So I'm looking to do that over and since I need access to the oil sending unit, I'll be doing new plug wires at the same time. I may have to pull the distributor out. The new dimmer switch is installed.

[Ace-Garageguy]

7 minutes ago, bobss396 said:

...In just 5 weeks it is a different car already. 

Nice to see a lower-line 4dr getting some love. Cool car.  

[bobss396]

12 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Nice to see a lower-line 4dr getting some love. Cool car.  

Thanks. In 1975 I had a 4-door Caprice hardtop that I got for $75. That was a solid runner. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 minute ago, bobss396 said:

Thanks. In 1975 I had a 4-door Caprice hardtop that I got for $75. That was a solid runner. 

Thing I love most about this generation of cars is that they were relatively simple but mature designs, made with quality materials.

Fixed right, they're as reliable as bricks and will run, literally, forever.

Though a lot of folks bemoan them not having app-controlled-5-way-heated-cup-holders, cameras and screens instead of mirrors, and a half ton of tank-like "safety" features, I vastly prefer them.

[Can-Con]

1 hour ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Thing I love most about this generation of cars is that they were relatively simple but mature designs, made with quality materials.

Fixed right, they're as reliable as bricks and will run, literally, forever.

Though a lot of folks bemoan them not having app-controlled-5-way-heated-cup-holders, cameras and screens instead of mirrors, and a half ton of tank-like "safety" features, I vastly prefer them.

AS I like to say about my T/A, Bill , , 'No computers, no sensors,, NO PROBLEMS !"

[espo]

7 hours ago, bobss396 said:

Thanks, it has "fixed" rust issues but I'm going to run it. The door cards look new, getting the arm rests done too. I took the rear ash trays out, gave them a citric acid soak to get the rust off. I coated them with 1K clear so they are smooth inside.

In just 5 weeks it is a different car already. The gauge cluster is a hot mess on the back side. So I'm looking to do that over and since I need access to the oil sending unit, I'll be doing new plug wires at the same time. I may have to pull the distributor out. The new dimmer switch is installed.

I was going to make an upholstery suggestion, but it sounded like you already had your seating picked out. I was thinking some of the reproduction upholstery that is available but use the Impala pattern seats. I'm sure there would be a cost consideration as well. I think I mentioned before that I was fortunate to have owned a '66 Impala SS when new. I have always liked the overall style of the '66, and I think that is why I enjoy seeing what all you are doing with yours. 

[bobss396]

14 hours ago, espo said:

I was going to make an upholstery suggestion, but it sounded like you already had your seating picked out. I was thinking some of the reproduction upholstery that is available but use the Impala pattern seats. I'm sure there would be a cost consideration as well. I think I mentioned before that I was fortunate to have owned a '66 Impala SS when new. I have always liked the overall style of the '66, and I think that is why I enjoy seeing what all you are doing with yours. 

I had an interior set on order from a Chevy parts supplier (I opened a BBB complaint with them) and the sales guy said I'd have the set by June 15th. Then I get an email, now it is Sept, 9th. I was able to cancel the order and get a refund. The cloth pattern is not factory but looks good. The actual factory patterns are hard to come by and often are made to order. Classic Industries quoted me 10-14 weeks.

[bobss396]

21 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Thing I love most about this generation of cars is that they were relatively simple but mature designs, made with quality materials.

Fixed right, they're as reliable as bricks and will run, literally, forever.

Though a lot of folks bemoan them not having app-controlled-5-way-heated-cup-holders, cameras and screens instead of mirrors, and a half ton of tank-like "safety" features, I vastly prefer them.

I was driving around in my '20 Mustang yesterday while chasing parts. Heated and cooled seats... AC... blue tooth, XM radio... one does tend to get spoiled. Back in the day, if we had an old car with AC.. it was a miracle if it worked at all. So we got to where we were going bathed in sweat.

[Ace-Garageguy]

2 hours ago, bobss396 said:

I was driving around in my '20 Mustang yesterday while chasing parts. Heated and cooled seats... AC... blue tooth, XM radio... one does tend to get spoiled. Back in the day, if we had an old car with AC.. it was a miracle if it worked at all. So we got to where we were going bathed in sweat.

I understand how all the mod-cons can seem to be necessary after a time, but I've always used old, interesting cars as daily transportation, and most of them were convertibles with the tops down whenever it wasn't raining.

Neither my '89 GMC or my '96 Blazer have currently functioning AC, but I run 'em both with the windows down and don't actually "suffer".

Of course, I'm acclimated to heat, as it's routinely over 100 degrees in one shop whenever the outdoor temp is over about 95.

I have to admit I like the power windows in the Blazer though, 'cause rolling 4 of 'em up and down manually every time I go in a store would get to be a real PITA.   

EDIT: I also have to say I grew up in an environment and a time when it wasn't necessary to lock a vehicle up whenever you walked away from it, and I liked THAT a lot more. Change isn't always for the better, and "progress" sometimes isn't.

Edited June 28, 2024 by Ace-Garageguy

[Rob Hall]

5 hours ago, bobss396 said:

I was driving around in my '20 Mustang yesterday while chasing parts. Heated and cooled seats... AC... blue tooth, XM radio... one does tend to get spoiled. Back in the day, if we had an old car with AC.. it was a miracle if it worked at all. So we got to where we were going bathed in sweat.

Yes, Im used to all the modern conveniences..my '14 Jeep Grand Cherokee and '19 Cadillac CT6 have all the modern goodies--the Cadillac has heated/cooled/massage seats.. I drive it the most. My restored '87 Mustang GT has nice cold AC and an aftermarket CD player...my other oldies, my Dad's '69 Mustang never had AC, ...and has a black vinyl interior an AM radio, and the '67 Cougar is even more basic..no power steering, drum brakes, 3spd manual.... when I get them eventually back on the road they would be dry day w/ cool weather (spring/fall) cars. 
 

Got my ‘87 Mustang out today to take a spin since it's my birthday.  Still has a few things to get sorted, but that’s the nature of project cars.   65k miles.  I still enjoy driving it today as I did when I was 20 in 1990...I drove this car all over in the 1990s--Ohio, Cape Cod, Chicago, around the thumb of Michigan (had it in Ann Arbor '94-97), the top of Pikes Peak (had it in Colorado '97-02), Cheyenne, Wyoming, Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico, etc.    I've put about 150 miles on it since getting back from the restoration shop last November.    My Cadillac CT6 has 56k miles, got it in March as a very clean CPO. 

Edited June 28, 2024 by Rob Hall

[bobss396]

Yesterday was cool in the morning and overcast. I got the oil changed. It was already converted to a spin on filter.

Interior is vacuumed. I have to clean the rear seatbelts next. I also put new wiper blades on it. Also have new mats on order. The carpet is clean enough and now smells good.

I'm waiting on the new sill plates, transmission filter, gasket and 8 quarts of ATF.

[knight1020]

Its not a car, but i am having fun bringing this one back to her true form...

[StevenGuthmiller]

I've had this 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix Model-J since I was about 18, and right out of high school in 1981.

I drove it for a number of years until shortly after I got married in 1987, at which point, it went into storage.

Turned out that after a number of years, the storage situation became other than ideal, and I wasn't aware of the situation as I lived more than 100 miles from where the car was stored.

 

The family farm where it was stored along with a few other vehicles, became vacant at some point, and the shed fell into disrepair.

The roof began to leak, and for a period of time, apparently a group of meth heads began squatting in the farm house and cooking their meth there.

The shed and the car were broken into, and some minor damage was inflicted on the vehicle, as well as a number of parts stolen.

 

Eventually, the owners of the home site began tearing down the house, as well as the out buildings, so I was contacted to come and get the car.

 

At first, I was very disappointed to see the condition of the vehicle, but as time passed, I began to feel better about it.

The paint was terribly oxidized and moisture damaged, and there is some rust that is beginning to appear, but all in all, I think it's repairable.

The interior is in pretty good condition, with pretty nice upholstery, and a perfect dash and console.

The head liner has been eaten by the mice, and the carpet and a few other items need replacement, and other items need repair and refinishing.

The white upholstery is discolored, but it's good enough to where I don't want to start reupholstering anything.

I would just as soon keep it original.

A few cracks in the driver's side door panel/arm rest.

 

The engine and transmission have since been rebuilt, as well as the necessary repairs performed on the fuel, cooling and brake systems.

The car runs and drives like a champ, but there have been some overheating issues, which I'm currently addressing.

 

It had come to my attention that a very common mistake made when overhauling some Pontiac engines, (this 400 included) is the spacing between the water pump impeller and the corresponding backing plate, which impedes the efficiency of the pump, so right now, I have the pump removed and have reduced that space from over 1/4 of an inch to virtually nothing.

The addition of the gasket should make the spacing perfect.

Another issue was the fact that the meth heads damaged the radiator shroud extension, which was removed and replaced with some plastic sheet when the engine was overhauled and reinstalled.

The new "shroud" does not encircle the fan completely which affects the air flow that the fan is able to draw through the radiator.

I've since found an original shroud extension which is on it's way, so with any luck, the combination of these two repairs will remedy the overheating issues, at which point, the car should be in pretty sound mechanical condition and should be able to be driven anywhere.

At some point thereafter, when funds permit, the body work and paint can be addressed.

When, I don't know, but that's the plan.

 

This will never be a show car, but all that I want to achieve is a presentable driver than I can proudly putz around in on the weekends.

 

 

 

 

This is an illustration of the spacing between the impeller and divider plate that needed correcting.

Before, and after.

 

 

 

The engine bay was never cleaned before the engine was installed, so I'll be getting that looking a little better as the summer progresses as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

Edited July 6, 2024 by StevenGuthmiller

[bobss396]

Nice Pontiac, they were always great looking and driving cars.

[Tabbysdaddy]

I've had this issue with my (31 year old) work truck for a little while, the gas tank has been pressurizing. Checked the carbon canister, it was clear. Checked the vent line, blocked. I had blown through it with air and carburetor cleaner before, I thought that fixed it but it no. So today I was going to replace the hard line from the front of the truck to the gas tank. Inspecting it again I found a short piece of rubber hose I didn't notice before making the line two sections. Cool, maybe I won't have to replace the whole line. Removed the hose and blew through both sections, clear. The little three inch hose was swelled shut. Saved me a bunch of trouble, fixed way faster than I thought (hopefully this time).

[espo]

52 minutes ago, Tabbysdaddy said:

I've had this issue with my (31 year old) work truck for a little while, the gas tank has been pressurizing. Checked the carbon canister, it was clear. Checked the vent line, blocked. I had blown through it with air and carburetor cleaner before, I thought that fixed it but it no. So today I was going to replace the hard line from the front of the truck to the gas tank. Inspecting it again I found a short piece of rubber hose I didn't notice before making the line two sections. Cool, maybe I won't have to replace the whole line. Removed the hose and blew through both sections, clear. The little three inch hose was swelled shut. Saved me a bunch of trouble, fixed way faster than I thought (hopefully this time).

Not all automotive rubber hoses work well with all the different petroleum-based products used in cars and trucks. Best to verify with the parts supplier that the type of hose they are selling you will work in your application. 

[Tabbysdaddy]

9 minutes ago, espo said:

Not all automotive rubber hoses work well with all the different petroleum-based products used in cars and trucks. Best to verify with the parts supplier that the type of hose they are selling you will work in your application. 

I just grabbed a piece from the hose pile. It's fuel hose so I think it will be fine. 

[bobss396]

The seats are DONE. Even the arm rests look great. So far I have the arm rests on... but the driveway is in full sun.

My buddy is coming over around 5 to help with the seats. All I need is to get some of the front bolts started

Even the pool is on the warm side at 85.