Just wated to post some pics of after I got the motor into my '68. It's a 464, SP 400 trans, 3.42 posi gear, iron heads, too much compression, bunch of stuff from TA. I thought it'd be easy putting the engine/trans into the thing since the doghouse was off. But the deepened oil pan foiled that, I was still an inch from being far enough back when I had the oil pan on the front crossmember, top of the trans hard against the tunnel, and the transmission tailshaft UNDER the trans crossmember. Had to remove the trans crossmember, run everything back in, relevel everything back up, then put the trans crossmember back in. Spent about an hour fishing sockets back out of the frame after I knocked them off in those damn little holes where you access the tranny crossmember bolts. But anyway, it's in. And I was really impressed with how the shorty headers fit...I don't think they're within a half inch of touching anything.
Looks great Jim! :TU: You did a nice job on that firewall. I see you have auto A/C on yours too. Amazing the amount of vacuum lines right? That SS 396 looks awesome! Love those YA code rallyes. What HP is the Velle?
Thanks guys, it's just a good thing I'm not working to a schedule, 'cause I'd already be years behind. And yes, that auto temp control system is interesting...the vacuum harness was pretty well cut up and missing sections, so I ended up rebuilding it using the service manual. Since I couldn't get vacuum lines with color tracers, I ended up home rolling a color code system using different colors of tape. If I ever lose the scrap of paper that has my codes written down, I'm totally screwed if everything doesn't work perfectly. The Chevelle is a 350 horse 4-speed, I've had it since 1988. I built a 375 horse motor for it 7 years ago to slide in in place of the original motor. Now the 375 horse L78 is still sitting on the engine stand. Just need more time (or changes of priorities!). Couple more pics.
Great job! I just pulled a greasy, grimy 400 out of my 67 GS. Its got a long way to go til it looks like that!
Been busy on a lot of non-car related stuff, but thought I'd post a couple pics of when I got the radiator support/radiator/fans etc. installed. Last weekend I got the battery cable run from the trunk to the starter and the alternator cable also, to the other side of the kill switch. Used 1/0 welding cable for the battery and 4 gauge for the alternator. I ran them through the firewall and then through the passenger compartment alongside the channel and grooves in the floor that the vacuum trunk release line runs through. I've still got to figure out how to cover up the wires and tubes that lead to the gauges on top of the dash, I just ran them through the firewall and into the defroster duct and then on to the gauges. Progress comes slowly it seems.
I'm using the package deal through TA, it's a Ron Davis radiator and shroud with twin Spal fans/relays. It really fits nice, but I wish I could find the correct rubber isolators that go between the radiator and the support on the bottom and the cover plate on the top. All the junk that's advertised to fit actually does, sort of, in a way, as long as you don't mind the locating tits being in the wrong places and the lengths being wrong, but I think you could sort of jam them in and they'd maybe keep the radiator from falling out. Luckily, my old ones weren't in bad shape and I ended up using them for now, and I'll just keep looking for NOS. Think I'm going to run a 4 gauge cable from the starter solenoid to a junction block to power the fans, ignition, water pump, and a vacuum pump if I end up having to have one for the brakes and air conditioning system.
What ever you do ,,, dont lose, the key or mess up the ign switch in that car.... 68 is a stand alone year for ign switches.... only a ign switch from another 68 car, any Buick will work,,,, or if you are real lucky , find one for sale on ebay,,,,, Ihave a 68 Riv that the key was lost and my buddy proceded to drill it out,,,, like to have never found one... :Smarty: :Smarty:
Good point Doc, and over the years I've picked up a couple of '68 ignition switches just in case. Be nice to track down a new one though, and it seems like I've seen them at rare intervals on eBay.
Yeah, Jim, it was a nightmare,,,, I did not say anything to my buddy about drilling the lock out , because he had terminal cancer..... it took me about a year to find another one....:Brow:
