Do you also have 1:1 project cars?

[espo]

Like the design. Much better than your average Bel Air interior. 

[bobss396]

Seats are installed. A tough job but I had help. 

[Can-Con]

2 hours ago, bobss396 said:

Seats are installed. A tough job but I had help. 

Looks great Bob. Did they do the whole seat or just the seating surfaces? 

[bobss396]

I was not able to see under it all, the entire front foam for sure and the bad spring section.

The sill plates are installed and I took it for about a 10 mile run.

[JollySipper]

The old car is really coming around.......... All it needs now is a set of wheels (Chrome reverse?)........ 

[TransAmMike]

The interior looks great Bob!!?

[bobss396]

Keeping it stock, the previous owner leased it out for movies. I have to check into that. The wheels are off a Camaro, I wanted to use poverty caps but no way to hold them on. 

[Tabbysdaddy]

Hinge pin bushing install. I already did this once but tapping the bushings in with a hammer wasn't good for bushing longevity. I gently pressed them in with tiny C clamps this time.

 

 

[StevenGuthmiller]

Found this required radiator shroud extension for my '69 Grand Prix, and it was obviously sitting out in the elements for many years.

While I could have passed on it and waited for another opportunity,  this part, as well as many other parts for these late 60s-early 70s GP's, are very difficult to find, so I decided to take what I could get.

I was more worried about the function than the appearance anyway.

 

Anyway, I decided to give it the mineral spirits and boiled linseed oil treatment to see if it would make it look a little more presentable.

Looks way better!

I gave it another coat, and this time I'm going to let it sit for an hour or so before I rub it down.

Not sure how long it will last, but being mostly out of the sun and elements, I would think it should last a good while.

In any case, it's a pretty easy operation to apply, so I can always do it over again in a couple of months, or next year, or as needed.

 

Before:

 

 

 

After:

 

 

 

 

After a second coat:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

Edited July 13, 2024 by StevenGuthmiller

[espo]

On 7/13/2024 at 9:27 AM, bobss396 said:

Keeping it stock, the previous owner leased it out for movies. I have to check into that. The wheels are off a Camaro, I wanted to use poverty caps but no way to hold them on. 

A couple of ideas on wheels and keeping them looking stock. In 1966 Chevrolet offered an option of their F-41 Sport Suspension. Part of that package included a 6 1/2 inch wide 14" wheel. The appearance even with the standard dog dish hub caps looks the same as the standard wheel except for being slightly deeper dished. The stock standard hub caps are not a problem. These wheels were also used on some station wagon models as well as the Cameros. The other would be a little more aggressive and may not be what you're looking for, the 15" rally wheels in either the 6" wide which is more common and less expensive than the Corvette 8" wide Rally wheels. Chevrolet offered a small center hub cap that is flat and had a bow tie on them. They were used for the Taxi Cabs and PD cars. These are also reproduced without the Bow Tie on them. I had a set of the 15 by 8s painted body color on my '72 and my '86 Monte Carlos.  

[bobss396]

16 hours ago, espo said:

A couple of ideas on wheels and keeping them looking stock. In 1966 Chevrolet offered an option of their F-41 Sport Suspension. Part of that package included a 6 1/2 inch wide 14" wheel. The appearance even with the standard dog dish hub caps looks the same as the standard wheel except for being slightly deeper dished. The stock standard hub caps are not a problem. These wheels were also used on some station wagon models as well as the Cameros. The other would be a little more aggressive and may not be what you're looking for, the 15" rally wheels in either the 6" wide which is more common and less expensive than the Corvette 8" wide Rally wheels. Chevrolet offered a small center hub cap that is flat and had a bow tie on them. They were used for the Taxi Cabs and PD cars. These are also reproduced without the Bow Tie on them. I had a set of the 15 by 8s painted body color on my '72 and my '86 Monte Carlos.  

I can get some newer disc brake wheels, also some from Vintiques thet will clear the calipers. I'm sort of done throwing lots of money at the car right now. The SS caps are a good look on the car. I believe they are re-pops.

[espo]

5 hours ago, bobss396 said:

I can get some newer disc brake wheels, also some from Vintiques thet will clear the calipers. I'm sort of done throwing lots of money at the car right now. The SS caps are a good look on the car. I believe they are re-pops.

Any of the 15" and most of the 14" Chevrolet Rally wheels, the one with the five open slots, should clear disc brakes since that was one of the reasons for their design starting in 1967. The 15x7's are still pretty inexpensive at most swap meets and garage sales. Some of the disc brake conversions from the aftermarket may even clear your stock 14x6 wheels. Another alternative if you're wanting to stay with 14"ers, your SS hub caps being a full wheel cover might fit a 14" Rally wheel and that would hide the wheel openings and look more like a stock option. Either way I like how you have redone this '66.  

[Tabbysdaddy]

I hate the hassle of getting the doghouse off, but I like the opposite view of the engine, while sitting inside. 

It died on me, luckily as I pulled into my driveway, but it was blocking the gate. I managed to get it started to pull it out of the way but it died again. Getting fuel, injectors are firing. No spark, I assume the ICM and pickup coil are fine because the injectors are firing. I try to make the coil fire by giving it power and tapping ground. No fire but ground is sparking pretty good. Not sure what to think about that, so I plug everything back in and it starts right up. Running fine. I think I should replace the coil, I don't really trust it without having changed something. 

[bobss396]

19 hours ago, espo said:

Any of the 15" and most of the 14" Chevrolet Rally wheels, the one with the five open slots, should clear disc brakes since that was one of the reasons for their design starting in 1967. The 15x7's are still pretty inexpensive at most swap meets and garage sales. Some of the disc brake conversions from the aftermarket may even clear your stock 14x6 wheels. Another alternative if you're wanting to stay with 14"ers, your SS hub caps being a full wheel cover might fit a 14" Rally wheel and that would hide the wheel openings and look more like a stock option. Either way I like how you have redone this '66.  

I'm done pouring money in it for now. Whoever swapped the front discs did it right. The rotors were good, no idea what they are from. I got pads and hardware at a local parts house. The car stops very well. I might pick up a set of stock '66 wheel covers for it down the road.

[Tabbysdaddy]

Confidence is high that the coil was the problem. 

[Tim W. SoCal]

You should check the coil wire resistance also. It should be 4000-7000 ohms per foot. Too high resistance can cause the coil to burn out.

[Tabbysdaddy]

25 minutes ago, Tim W. SoCal said:

You should check the coil wire resistance also. It should be 4000-7000 ohms per foot. Too high resistance can cause the coil to burn out.

Too late. The doghouse is already on.

[bobss396]

I took the Belair out yesterday to my model car club meeting, it had cooled off by then and the drive was comfortable. This was the 1st time I had the car out at night and learned a few things about the car. The interior dome light, might need new door switches. The passenger side works when it wants to. I have no dash lights, I use the HK (Helen Keller) method to guesstimate my speed. The car keeps up with traffic, I have to change out the gas pedal return spring, it is very tight.

The headlights, I have to look into new adjusters, etc. Which are available. I was changing to halogen bulbs and noticed that the buckets are different on the left and right sides. Worst case, I have to find some used buckets that all match.

I have a slightly loose strut rod on the driver side, the bushings are new. I have to dig up a 1.25" open-end wrench to tighten it up. I can feel it when I brake when going over 40. Not dangerous, but needs to be cinched up. The transmission had a slight flare on the 1-2 shift at times. I am going to change the fluid and filter sooner than later.

The ride is good with the radial tires. After my heart procedure (next Tuesday) I will be getting into changing the springs, some front end parts and doing an alignment. I came out to the car a couple of days ago and found the LF tire flat. So I take it off and look for a screw or nail... nothing. I fill it up and hear an immediate HISS.... the valve stem was cracked. They are all new, there was no pressure on the valve from the wheel cover. I took the tire to a local shop and $10 later I was on my way.

I cleaned out the trunk yesterday, the light bulb went off in my head to look for a jack. The car came with spare wheels, the old drum brake parts, etc. No jack was present, although I had a cheapo lug wrench. Off to Harbor Fright, $99 later I had a 33 lb. low-profile floor jack. 

My touch up paint (for the drip rails) I just re-caulked is coming today. I will with for a cool-ish day to get into that. Today we are going to the beach, not with the Belair. But we will take it out for a ride after.

[Bainford]

On 7/13/2024 at 3:13 PM, StevenGuthmiller said:

Found this required radiator shroud extension for my '69 Grand Prix, and it was obviously sitting out in the elements for many years.

While I could have passed on it and waited for another opportunity,  this part, as well as many other parts for these late 60s-early 70s GP's, are very difficult to find, so I decided to take what I could get.

I was more worried about the function than the appearance anyway.

 

Anyway, I decided to give it the mineral spirits and boiled linseed oil treatment to see if it would make it look a little more presentable.

Looks way better!

I gave it another coat, and this time I'm going to let it sit for an hour or so before I rub it down.

Not sure how long it will last, but being mostly out of the sun and elements, I would think it should last a good while.

In any case, it's a pretty easy operation to apply, so I can always do it over again in a couple of months, or next year, or as needed.

 

Before:

 

 

 

After:

 

 

 

 

After a second coat:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

Nice score Steve, and looks great after your cleaning. If further improvement is desired, black vinyl die in a spray bomb might do the trick.

[Zen]

Picked up this donor 88 Tbird for the 5speed swap in my 86 Turbo coupe .............

 

[JollySipper]

22 minutes ago, Zen said:

Picked up this donor 88 Tbird for the 5speed swap in my 86 Turbo coupe .............

I really like these 80s aerobirds! That one looks almost too nice to pull apart............ Can we see pics of the '86, please?

[Zen]

This 88 is too rotted out unfortunately. Going to pull the engine, tranny, disc brake rearend, driveshaft, pedal assembly, etc. out of it and send it to the scrappers. 86 turbo coupe ................ next to my friends 86 GT.

Edited July 23, 2024 by Zen

[JollySipper]

That's a cool car......    When the Turbo Coupe made it's debut, they pitted one against a BMW (an E30 I believe) on Laguna Seca. It was pretty difficult to keep up with the Thunderbird! I hope the hood is salvageable on your parts car............

[Zen]

The hood is probably the only relatively rust-free part on the car, will be keeping that. 

[sfhess]

You should probably pull the front spindles, rotors, etc so you can have 5-lug front wheels on the 86 as well.

Edited July 24, 2024 by sfhess