BUILD THREAD 1981 Camino 4 Speed Friday Night Build

[JBsCamino]

Picked up a non A/C heater assembly from a good guy on Craigslist, along with a F41 rear sway bar, 34mm hollow Camaro front sway bar, and a grand prix brace, so that was a good start.

I will be using POR15 for things like the frame, floors, and anything else when I have a big job and a lot to do all at once that warrants breaking a seal on a can, but I guess I will be using something like rustoleum gloss black on small in between jobs and hope it matches pretty close.

Since I will have to pull the dash to do the swap, I will probably make a final assessment whether to attempt to get an original crack free dash, or get a dash cap. Since it is out of the car, now is the time to do it.

Will try to get more pics in this build to make it more exciting....

 

[JBsCamino]

It's getting worse before getting better. My usual method is fix 1 thing at a time, but this heater box removal has half the car ripped up. I was feeling pretty confident that I could get this thing back together until 3/4 of the way through the dash removal and undoing all the electrical plugs and having to dismantle the whole instrument cluster to get to the speedo cable and misc plugs. Hopefully I can figure out how to get it all back together.

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• JBsCamino
• Jan 29, 2016

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• JBsCamino
• Jan 29, 2016

I found a mouse nest under the dash in the passenger compartment.

Next task is to get it all cleaned up.

 

[JBsCamino]

Just bought a dash cap, heater box gasket, coolant overflow bottle, and new battery tray from Mikes Montes, and SEM paint, adhesion promoter, and spring clamps from Amazon to do the dash cap install.

Gearing up to work on the dash cap over next weekend. See if I can manage to clean up the non AC heater box, and POR 15 the firewall areas and behind the dash on the inside by the weekend.

 

[JBsCamino]

Not a huge amount of progress. The last 2 Friday nights have been shorter, but I have had my buddy with me.

Last weekend we cleaned the passenger inner fender to get it ready to go back in after re-installing the heater box. It cleaned up pretty well with simple green. Also cleaned up and had to do a small repair to glue back on one ear on the heater box. Got the new heater box all prepped and the old gasket scraped out. Also started some work on the firewall chiseling off the old seam sealer around the heater box to prep for the new one going back in.

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• JBsCamino
• Feb 13, 2016

Last night got the dash prepped a bit for the dash cap, didn't get it glued on yet though.

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• JBsCamino
• Feb 13, 2016

This morning I picked up a set of 15x8 rallys with center caps and trim rings off of craigslist. Will get raised white letter tires. 275/60's on the back and probably 235/60's on the front.

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• JBsCamino
• Feb 13, 2016

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The 2025 Calendars are HERE. Two different editions, two different sizes, and a digital package!! Starting at $12.97US

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• JBsCamino
• Feb 13, 2016

 

[JBsCamino]

Finally getting back on it. Got the firewall cleaned up. First time using POR 15. I did go through the recommended 3 step process. It was a pain in the butt but it did turn out well. I did it now as a partial job just to get the spots done while the heater box and inner fender was out.

Once the engine is out down the road I can do a more complete job.

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• JBsCamino
• Apr 2, 2016

 

[Tuffregal83]

looking good my wife would kill me if i had any car parts in the house
your lucky lol
i like the 4x4 kubota tractor what year is that late 70's
i have a 80's mitsubishi mt372 non 4x4

 

[ssn696]

Nothing like a smiling apprentice wrencher! I bet he thinks you wear a cape with a big S on it!

 

[JBsCamino]

The Kubota is a late 70's 24HP. I only use it a few times a year, but it definitely beats shoveling snow!

The son is a good helper. He hung in there last night until around 10:45. He passed out before the painting actually got done and was only there for the prep so he was bummed out. Did my first coat at around midnight and then slept a few hours and then did a second coat around 4AM. It adheared no problem but it was pretty hard already. 2-3 hours is probably better timing for second coat.

Now the fun part starts. Trying to remember how the heater box and dash all go back together after 2 months.

 

[O. D. Showtime]

Nice progress so far! Nice to be sharing this with your son!

Oh and I should have pics of how the ducts etc go on a non AC car if you get in a pinch...