1970 Stage 1 Diplomat Blue- with commentary from the original owner

Hood hinges still have mag phos coating….

 

For all of you date code lovers.. these BFG’s date to 1973!!!

 

Brett- I power washed the engine bay Wednesday. I’ll take some pics in the sunlight when I finish mowing the lawn…

 

I wish I could get half as much done on my car as you do! Keep up the great work!

 

Got the intake off…. Clearly bent. One other one was slightly bent…
Damn hole….

 

Awesome. I want a Patina car now, drive it to the grocery store and hope someone door dings it

 

Hopefully the original heads are moving toward you.

 

Brett has asked me numerous times about the carpet and “how it came out”. I went out and laid the old rear carpet over the new one and cut it as the original. I left it an inch longer in the rear. It fell right into place and the seatbelt bolts lined up perfectly. Still need to do the front….

I threw in the rear seat just to see how it would look..,,

 

dude!!! yes!!1, and that pushrod is bad..

 

Will post pics this weekend of the progress.

1. Popped out the rear window- little surface rust, some pits and only 4 PIN holes! Made me very happy. Will use Brett's glass guy- $100 to seal and set.. Feel like that's WELL worth it!!
Have to paint the rear window area inside of the car. The eggshells were not chipped or broken!!!
2. Need to size and cut the front carpet.
3. Got a new set of Melling push rods- made in the USA!!! I had soaked the 2 valves in gas, Marvel, and 2 stroke gas for several days. Turned the car over and the valves worked perfectly.
4. New tires are mounted and balanced.
5. Have to grind the head off of 1 header bolt, and get the other header bolt OFF- then I can get the head welded.
6. Purchased a new, correct Spectra GS fuel tank- to replace the new Chevelle fuel tank that is in there
7. Bleed the brakes
8. Wash the car, then begin the process of paint preservation. I am going to use the "saturate in Maguire's #7, let it sit for 24 hours, wipe off, then do this 2 more times to condition the paint...Then buff, polish, and wax" method.
9. Need to polish the bumpers- to see how much of the chrome I can save..
10. Safety crap- lights, dash lights, heat, etc.

I should probably install a headliner.... However, maybe for the restoration that happens later...

DONE for the season!!!!

 

Love what you’re doing, George!

 

This car is in good hands!

Thanks for keeping us up to date George!

 

Thanks for the kind words! Much like Brett and a few others, I prefer a “preservation” than a restoration. I also operate all of my vehicles… not so much for shows, but to drive and enjoy…
This car had the “bones”… and when I dug into it, no real surprises. I am only replacing what I absolutely need to replace for both driveability and livability… the interior needed a deep clean, new sound deadner and carpet… so those I replaced. The rear window was NOT sealed on the lower section… that needs to be sealed. The fuel tank is new- but it’s for a Chevelle… so, that will be replaced. The carb will be rebuilt… not restored, just rebuilt The bent pushrods, the hole in the head…

 

SUCCESS!!!!!! What a complete pain in the a** !!! I removed the steering shaft, then just unbolted the head and moved it forward so I could get that last bolt out….
This was the biggest barrier….
I took a few days off next week as Dylan is coming home Monday. I can bleed the brakes, reseal the rear window, and complete the interior. I may even have time to begin to rejuvenate the paint!
I may have it on the road by the end of the month!!!!

 

Good work, George!

 

Any chance that you can show the exhaust ports that might show how Kenne Bell opened them up?