Just a little bling to keep momentum.. Also, here is a photo of an original push clip compared to one that TPP sent. This is for the door weatherstripping top corners. The new ones are so big that they won't push into the factory holes. So I cobbled together a set from the parts car, and some others from my hoard. Thankfully I have saved some "stupid" stuff like this.
Exactly - We used to save everything b/c nothing was repro'd but then most the repro stuff is awful. I'd happily pay (a lot) more if they'd make the stuff correctly. Instead, I rarely even consider using repro stuff. Then the vendors wonder why they can't sell the stuff but they largely did it to themselves.
Why is it so damn difficult for them to get it right the first time? Main reason I won't ever toss anything again.
My American Autowire main (front) harness apparently has gremlins that I need to address. I'm having what feels like a rev limiter before leveling off at WOT and my back up lights have gone amiss. Neither of which was an issue previously. Also, the sockets for the front directional don't snap in when you turn them in. I've had to reinstall both sides a few times in the last couple weeks. It turns out a few others have had issues with their harnesses as well. So, there's that...
The door seals are the new Parts Place latex ones. They fit well, but the fasteners were wrong. Fast forward to today when I installed the A pillar seals (Metro brand)...open the box and there is a bag of these...the CORRECT size clips. Hallelujah. Front windshield stainless is polished and installed...sans the cowl piece. That is a real bitch to polish...will take care of it tomorrow.
Special delivery last night. Just need the flex plate to bolt it all together and stab into the car. Bumpers are here, too. I ordered an exhaust system from Gardner this morning...they’re 6 weeks out...good thing I called now.
I have two "good" dash pads here...but both have the sag at the instrument cluster. How to fix? Stick it in front of a torpedo heater for about 20 minutes and then lay it across a body work stand..with the sagged portion in between the two halves of the stand. Then put enough weight on it to push it in the opposite direction. Let it cool for an hour. Problem fixed. I had the bright idea to get a new AC compressor and just swap the pulleys, since this one needs the larger pulley. Well, the clutch surface is really really bad. Hoping I can find another, or have a machine shop mill it flat.
Steering column is all fixed up and pretty again...got it hung in the car so I can actually steer it when I move it around.
Dash pad went in this afternoon, but haven't had a chance to secure it down. It's just snapped in right now. I had some company show up and the afternoon went out the window for work. The left side of the dash pad looks like it wants to sag again just a bit. I'm not sure there is a permanent fix for that. Hopefully it stays where it is.
Hard stop this afternoon before I could stab the engine/trans in. Trans mount is too narrow for the TH400. I'm guessing this is for a 350? Picking up a new one tomorrow at O'Reilly. I don't even remember where I got this one...probably not worth the trouble to return a $7 part. Every time I turn around, there is a wrong or crappy part that I get from the various aftermarket suppliers.
‘68-‘72 GS big block cars are a mess in the electronic parts catalogs. Sometimes parts (U-joints for example) don’t pull up, but search a Skylark with 455 (which didn’t exist) and they appear. Go up or down a year and parts ‘appear’. Engine and trans stuff will be absent under GS but present for Riviera oe Electra. All sorts of incongrueties like that. Parts that went obsolete, like ‘68 rear wheel bearings, just disappear from the listing, no footnote or anything. Combine that with the ‘it’s the same as a Chevelle’ mentality, a little ignorance too, and you get what we have here today. I don’t like it, any more than you men. Patrick
Radio and glove box assembly are installed. Correct TH400 trans mount coming from Todd. O'Reilly gave me another 350 mount. Pardon the dusty fingerprinty mess.
Finally have a correct trans mount...got the engine and trans stabbed in this afternoon. I started putting some accessories on, but ran out of steam. Earlier today, I installed the top motor, hoses, and lift cylinders. I also got the new tires mounted on the wheels we are using. I still have to clean them up a bit more and paint the centers. Some of you will laugh or stick up your nose, but this is what the car came with, so that's what is going back on. I dig it.
