PROJECT " LAID BACK 2 " - 1978 SALON 2 DOOR AEROBACK

[JAMCAR223]

I went to the shop for a couple hours today. I scuffed, primed, and painted the tie rod adjusters. I cleaned the rear axle, . I also went to the local roundy-round, circle track speed shop, and picked up some new rear upper arms. This is another one of those No-brainer decisions in my opinion. If I don't have to press out bushings, clean, sand, clean, prime, paint, buy new bushings, press in new bushings... I'll spend $59 dollars for one that is powder coated with new bushings, any day. So that's what I did.

I came home to find boxes at the front door... I got new Blazer calipers. This was an awesome deal through Rock Auto. Cardone Premium calipers, with mounting bracket, new mounting bolts, banjo bolts, and bleeders. $29.79 each, and NO core charges. Half of what the parts store charges, and they want a core.

Besides the price, they are ready to paint.

I also got some "low dust" ceramic pads $13.40. I used the 5% discount code from this forum, and got these parts even cheaper. Thank you, Rock Auto!

I also got the Caswell Black Oxide Concentrate. Now I can treat the 200 + bolts on this car, and put some stuff together.

Back to work tomorrow after 10 days off. There are now (18 ) confirmed CV-19 cases at my building... 🙁. Not looking forward to it AT ALL!!

 

[JAMCAR223]

Most people would have bolted these new calipers on as is, but I wanted them to match the color of the rear drums. I also wanted the brackets painted a contrasting color of Black. I disassembled, and did just that. Before...

After...

I painted the rear drums to match.

I cleaned up the stock rear axle bump stops.

Got a new proportioning valve.

Rear axle fluid.

Might as well keep the crud out of all the new zerk fittings. Bag of (25) was like $7.

I will be coating all the frame / suspension / brake line bolts with the Caswell Black Oxide tomorrow. Hoping for good results from that product. You will be the 1st to know...

 

[69hurstolds]

Keep it up. Lookin' good!

 

[JAMCAR223]

Keep it up. Lookin' good!

Thank You, and to all of you who follow this build thread. You guys keep me motivated to keep pushing forward.
TRANSMISSION - Last night I talked to my transmission builder, and he is ready for me. So I will order a Master Rebuild Kit today, along with a TransGo shift kit.
ENGINE - Yesterday I talked to the machine shop, and he is working up an estimate for me. Hope to have that info this week.
Hoping to make some good progress over the next month.

 

[mclellan83]

Love all the progress and pics

 

[JAMCAR223]

I got about half of the frame/suspension hardware treated today with the Caswell - Black Oxide Treatment. This process is very easy, but with the amount of hardware I have, it was a little time consuming. First I had to do a quick cleanup on all the hardware on the wire wheel. You guys know over the last couple months I had cleaned close to 200 pieces of hardware on the wheel BUT even though I had bagged it all, and stored it plastic containers, you can't keep oxidation from happening. It was quick to clean, but still... Next step is to degrease, then rinse in distilled water. Next you mix the concentrated liquid at a 9:1 ratio ( 9oz of distilled water / 1oz of black oxide concentrate ). It was easy to do with a paint mixing cup. Submerge the parts into the mix for several minutes. Then rinse with regular tap water, and dip the parts into used motor oil, to add to the blackening effect.
Now I love the look of painted to match bolts, but you guys know the 1st time you put a socket on them to tighten them down, they look like poop. I also did not want to spend $250 on Stainless bolts and washers on this car. Then you gotta do it for the motor... more $$. I have all that on my GN, so I wanted to use all factory hardware on this car. I have about $45 in materials. I have never done this before, so we will see how it holds up.
I got the hardware done for : front shocks, idler arm, steering box, trans crossmember, u-joint, rear control arms, motor mounts. Tomorrow I will do the hardware for the spindles, caliper mounts, and brake lines.

Here's what they look like after coming out of the solution.

And after a dip in used motor oil.

A before and after shot.

🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

 

[fleming442]

How long is it supposed to last? Every black oxide fastener i ever used rusted.

 

[JAMCAR223]

How long is it supposed to last? Every black oxide fastener i ever used rusted.

🤷‍♂️ 🤷‍♂️ 🤷‍♂️ We will all find out together. I'm in Texas, and this car will stay garaged, so I have that on my side. If they start to rust, I will call Totally Stainless and place the order.

Today I got a lot more hardware done - spindle hub bolts, caliper brackets, brake/fuel line bolts, rear control arm braces, steering shaft, front sway bar, emergency brake.
Brake/fuel line bolts.

Rear control arm brace bolts.

Sway bar bolts.

I cleaned, primed, and painted the prop valve / shift linkage bracket.

I got my TH-350 transmission out, so I can power wash, and clean it tomorrow. I store my transmissions on Harbor Freight small moving dollies ( $7 ), and then use a ratchet strap to hold it, Use a scrap rope, strap, or seat belt to pull it around. I'm not as young as I used to be, so "smarter not harder" applies here 😊.

Last night I ordered a Master Rebuild Kit , and a TransGo 1 & 2 shift kit. I should be able to drop off the transmission and parts next weekend.
I came home this afternoon, and parts were at the door. My BMR rear drop springs. I know... they are RED. It's the only color they do. Here's the deal... I am still undecided on the front & rear springs. You all know how unhappy a lot of guys are with the amount of drop you get with drop springs. I did not want to use 42 year old sagging springs. I did not want to buy F Body isolators, and rear springs, and then experiment if not happy. There's a lot of talk of using A Body ( Chevelle, etc. ) rear springs, as they are about 1" shorter free length, as compared to a G Body rear spring. So I thought I'd have better luck with an A Body 2" rear drop spring. Who knows what the outcome will be... SO I was looking at options on these springs, and noticed that BMR had a " scratch & dent " listing on there website. No show carhere, under the rear of the car.. how bad could they be?? $87 + free shipping on scratch & dent items. Arrived today, with NO damage what soever. Why don't I buy coil overs??? I have coil overs on my GN, but those are $1200 now - ain't happening! A Body drop springs it is!! We will see.

I also received my Blazer 2" drop spindles. I traded a Forum Member a pair of stock Blazer spindles for these. We both bought these at the J-yard, but he did not realize they were drop spindles until he got them home and started looking at pics. He did not want to drop his car. I do. I now have options on the front. A whole other issue, just like with the rear springs, people are unhappy with the amount of drop after buying new drop springs. I'll go into that on another post. I started cleaning them. I'll need another hour though.

 

[JAMCAR223]

Transmission parts are here. Dropping it off on Saturday. Builder has taken a couple of jobs during the time it took to receive the parts, so he said it might be 2 weeks before he can get to it. No biggie. I got an estimate for machine work and short block assembly. Machine shop said I can drop it off any time, but it will be next week before I do. I want to disassemble the short block, and remove the freeze plugs, so he doesn't charge me for that.
I got the 8.5" ( 3.08 posi ) rear axle installed today. New stock replacement uppers. UMI FBody lowers. Hotchkis control arm braces. BMR drop springs, Moog coil spring isolators. KYB shocks. UMI rear tower brace. Jegs dual exhaust crossmember is installed.

I also got the new NAPA Monte SS steering box installed. Idler arm installed.

I also received another trunk. An awesome Forum Member called me from the J-yard in Minnesota, and sent pics. He got it for me, and put it on the Greyhound bus. Thanks 81cutlass! We have the best Forum Members here, PERIOD!! I now have (2) nice trunk lids. I will paint both of them. One with the rare Century Turbo Coupe rear spoiler, and one without.

Tomorrow I will install all new rear brake drums, shoes, spring hardware, and adjusters. I'm also hoping to get some brake lines installed.

 

[JAMCAR223]

Just a little update. I have been lazy the last (2) weekends. I have not gotten anything else done. I have sold a couple things, trying to gather the money for the machine shop bill . I'm almost there. The TH-350 transmission should be done by next weekend. This is the Stage 2 Master Rebuild kit I used. Alto Reds, and Kolene Steeles.

Along with the TransGo 1&2 shift kit. I do want to bark some 2nds 😊.

Got a new Detent Cable.

It will be nice to get it back, and cross another one of the larger expenses off my list. With the cost of the core, the rebuild parts, labor, and the converter I have $790 in the transmission.

During this downtime, I have received a couple parts to complete my shortblock. Edelbrock double roller timing chain.

Inline Tube replacement timing cover

I have also spoken to Jim Lapikas @ J&S Machine about doing the head work on my #5 heads. He's moving from Illinois to Florida, so lead time + shipping costs, will be a factor if I choose him to do the work. I'm not building a race car, so the local machine shop I'm having do my shortblock, will probably get my money.