The transmissions back in with the changes made to the suspected heavy pedal culprits and its worlds better. Still just a bit heavier than I would find ideal, but my frame bracket is tweaked (new one on the way) and I know it need a shot of grease. But overall, I think its licked. A BIG THANKS to Paul Massicote for chatting with me for about an hour on the phone and letting me pick his brain! Planning on starting on the interior install this weekend, hoping fenders/hood/wheels will be back from paint this weekend or early next week. Then its a multitude of little things and we should be off and running. 34 days to Norwalk! (and I need to get this thing wrapped as well as jump on taulbs car to help iron out some issues. We're gonna be some busy boys, but the challenge is {supposed to be} the fun part, right??
Where are you sourcing new frame bracket? i have yet to see one that is bent correctly and the parts place and opgi are horrible. I have had to cut it apart and weld it back together to be sure the bell crank sits square. Keep on it man, you can do it.
Yeah Greg, I'm embarrassed that they do it in a week on overhaulin and this has taken me years. I just don't get it..... Mark, I've got the bracket coming from CARS. We'll see if its any good or not. The one on there now got tweaked from the excess pedal pressure (yes, it was that hard!) So the frame mounted ball is not concentric to the one on the engine. If the new bracket is FUBAR I'll either cut and weld or just try to fix the original one I guess. And thanks for the encouragement, I'm trying!!!
If you have time to post a pic or two of the cars frame bracket installed out of the package for posterity...that w pop uld be useful info. Cheers!
Got to love Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Just asked a bunch of the younger kids in the shop and no one has seen that movie.
They have around 10 guys on TV working on those cars for 12-16 hours a day that get done in a week. So it is actually around 980 hours of labor that goes into those TV cars that get done in a "week" so don't sweat it. And those guys do that kind of work for a living so 1 of their hours can be as much as 3 hours for someone learning how to do something as they go. It looks like you guys did great getting as far as you have doing it part time. Thumbs up! Derek
They definitely make it look like there's nothing to it on TV. That's what I like about these kind of threads. Get to watch the real thing from guys like me. Especially since I can't work on cars or have my Buick it's nice to see what everyone else is working on and the progress. The "what is was" to "what it is" part is awesome. Great to see classics brought back to glory and not sold for scrap. The sweetest thing is when you turn key and cruise down the road. Makes the countless hrs of hard work, sweat, and many buster knuckles all worth it. So thanks to Shawn and all the guys that take the time to get on here and post their projects.
How much was your A/C delete panel? I know of only one source of those for my '77, and it's pretty pricey since it comes with a different blower ($500 range). Insanely awesome build up, it's been a great read! So impressed with your work. Also happy belated birthday from another April born classic car enthusiast.
Thanks Roland! That cover was from acdelete.com and was around $160. Check there and see if they have one for your application. Happy belated b-day to you as well!
Thanks! And awesome, looks like they have it for less than half of what I originally found it for (including shipping). Sweet!
Got the rear seat, front seat, and carpet in today (along with finally welding in the 4-speed hump. Carpet still needs some wrinkles worked out, but overall a nice afternoon of progress!
Looking good man. I would have trouble not cruising it down the street. Even If it was only the the neighborhood streets. Just letting it lope around would be good enough for me. Your trying for Norwalk I believe. I am going to the Texas Nationals here by Austin. Unfortunately my car will not attend this year. Maybe in a couple it'll be ready. Good luck with it though. My car is half gutted. Mostly sanded to bare metal. Some metal cut out and some still rotted. The engine outshines the car by a mile. For now at least. Still waiting for the first tire roasting video from the Rusty Hulk.
Thanks Jesse. Yeah, Norwalk is the goal. I missed taking it to the last 2 BPG events which killed me, I thought this year would be a shoe in since its in august usually. Then they decided to combine with Buick race day and hold in in May which threw a huge wrench in the gears! But at this point I think I'm in good shape barring any unpleasant surprises. I did cruise it today, from the front garage to the barn! Haha. A whopping 250 feet at most.... If all goes right, maiden voyage should be in about 2 weeks
Is that the straight bench seat? (Don't know technical name) You thought about swapping that out later in the future to the bench seat with arm rest? Keep it up, your almost there.....and so is Norwalk
Yeah Ryan, its a "straight bench" (or whatever the proper term is, I don't know either). I don't really have any plans to swap it out, the entire theme of this car appearance-wise is low option, which the lowly boring vinyl bench fits perfectly. I may have the vinyl replaced eventually as it is a bit faded, but then it'll be a straight replacement with the same stuff (just new).
Progress. Just curious. Still haven't officially bolted in my engine yet. I test fit it but its not there for good. Hopefully I'll get the job done on Sunday. Somehow the time line just keeps moving back on meou:
Progress wise hasn't been too exciting. Not that there hasn't been any, its just been a lot of little things that aren't very picturesque. I was supposed to pickup the hood and fenders and such today, but something came up so that won't be till Monday most likely. Not so bad though, I have a little work to do to my front inners so not the end of the world. Other than that, it cleaning up wiring, polishing bumpers/trim, and a mile long list of little things to install and check and we're good. Hoping to get it on the street next weekend.
