What did you do to your non-G body project today? [2022]
- Thread starter g0thiac
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So much potential for oozing cool. The wheels are a hard no for me so hopefully that's something getting updated (style not sizing).
Original 283/Powerglide car and all still there. Currently no plans for any swap as long as we can make sure it will run 70-80mph down the highway. Plans are to get it running correctly(replace generator and points), reseal engine/trans, and drive. Well among things like bolt down rear body, install rear brakes, install interior, fix air ride, you know, the usual stuff.
We haven't made any decisions on wheels. Yet. Seems they are rubbing with the rear aired out already, I would guess a change will be in the future but keep that 315 look out back.
Begun upgrading the curves on my outdoor track. Going from 5 foot diameter curves to 8 foot diameter curves. With trains the wider the curves thd better. My outdoor loop is a big L shape with 6 90 degree curves, replaced 3 so far.
Insert "shrug" emoji.
At this point it is still on the trailer and we are waiting to get it up on jack stands to figure everything out. I can say the rear wheels are mounted sans any brakes or mounting brackets.
*ninja edit*
It has been "mini back halved" on the original X frame, can't wait to see what there is to fix on that.
Gotcha.... Fresh project from the start.Insert "shrug" emoji.
At this point it is still on the trailer and we are waiting to get it up on jack stands to figure everything out. I can say the rear wheels are mounted sans any brakes or mounting brackets.
315/30-20's aren't really tall @ <28" so already making contact would be concerning.
This was my life from 4-10 Apr, what a ride. Copy/paste from LS1Tech.
On Monday I went to finish buttoning up the trans and got the first u joint clamp on nice and tight. Since the driveshaft wouldn't rotate, I figured my next step was to put the shifter in and pop it into neutral. I found I had 1,2, and R. The rest didn't exist. F me. So I started on redoing my radiator shroud from plastic to aluminum. I quickly realized I couldn't get the center reinforcement snapped down with my new gun, so had to run to the hangar Tuesday to get that. I took Tuesday off to slay on this thing. When I got to the hangar, I found this.
Bad day. It was grandfather, father, and some. Last I heard they were all alive, but in critical condition. My hangar neighbor always raves about how we have a front row seat to the runway. That seems to go both ways.
Tuesday I did finish the shroud among other things.
Wednesday the UPS fairy came with an SA2020 helmet and 2 sets of stickers.
But Wednesday wasn't about tires, it was about un****ing my transmission. I started around 4 PM, stopped for dinner and a trip to get beer, and by 9 PM I had removed, disassembled, prepared, reassembled, and reinstalled all but the shifter. It was the big win that I needed to get this thing together on time. . . or so I thought. More to come on that.
Thursday morning I went to the hangar before work and hooked up the trailer to truck and camper. After work I got the rest of the crap reinstalled/secured in the engine bay so Friday (which I also took off) I was left with what I thought was an hour's worth of work plus a brake job. I couldn't have been more wrong. I got the starter lug on wrong somehow so when I turned the master on the starter immediately engaged. Easy fix, but a time suck. When it came time to do the brakes, I screwed up the passenger side and knocked the pistons out of one side when I left the bleeder bottle set on 10 psi and I was trying to push them back in. Oh what a ****in mess that made. Why? Because I've already blown the 2:00 Dyno off and I'm beyond rushed/stressed. Next I go to load the thing and on the test drive something is just wrong.
I said screw it and loaded it anyway. Put 2 random spares on when I got to the track after 9 PM.
The car seemed to run normal again so I left it that way and went to bed. The next morning I had to be sure to be up as soon as tech was open so I could get my annual. I then went out and warmed up and roached the #7 plug wire that I hadn't tied down. Why? Rushed. Yep, I'm pissed again. I'm sooo ****ing over this. So I swap it out, tie everything down better, and go out to qualify.
I ended up pulling the handle and getting out the passenger side.
At first I thought a fuel line failed. At this point I called the weekend off and took a shower because the theme seemed to be rushing is really ****ing me over here. Then I was poking around under the hood wondering why there was so much fire there and under the car. After poking around some, I realized that the return line wasn't hooked up! Damn thing popped off going into that turn. I saw a big huff of black smoke roll out from under the hood and a flame licking down by my feet.
You can see where it came through. Wild. At this point, my faith in the stock lines was restored and I decided to see what it'd take to patch the lines that failed not as the cause, but as a victim of the fire.
Well hot damn, I can fix this with those repair kits they keep on the shelf at Napa being so close to a disconnect. So that's exactly what I did: Chinese finger trap unions and 2 repair kits later the car was alive again! But those unions are bulky and the whole mess didn't want to stay tucked in without some help. I got lucky and found this metal strap at Walmart and proceeded to cut and bend it into a suitable shape to use as a bracket to support everything. I even had some self tappers in the trailer to hold bolt it down.
With that but of encouragement I went and bought a fire extinguisher and mounted it within reach so I'm be legal. From there I was able to race Sunday without any more BS, though as I was loading the trailer I noticed the bumper beam and skin bolts were only put down finger tight and came loose. At least now I can take my time doing a full on bolt check. I'll change out the doors for the next event, replace the fire bottle, and be good to go. And try some ST47 pads, these ST45 pads suck so bad they're pretty much unusable. They fade to the point I can't tell what the hell the car is doing. It'll still lock them up, but there is zero communication in that brake pedal.
On Monday I went to finish buttoning up the trans and got the first u joint clamp on nice and tight. Since the driveshaft wouldn't rotate, I figured my next step was to put the shifter in and pop it into neutral. I found I had 1,2, and R. The rest didn't exist. F me. So I started on redoing my radiator shroud from plastic to aluminum. I quickly realized I couldn't get the center reinforcement snapped down with my new gun, so had to run to the hangar Tuesday to get that. I took Tuesday off to slay on this thing. When I got to the hangar, I found this.
Bad day. It was grandfather, father, and some. Last I heard they were all alive, but in critical condition. My hangar neighbor always raves about how we have a front row seat to the runway. That seems to go both ways.
Tuesday I did finish the shroud among other things.
Wednesday the UPS fairy came with an SA2020 helmet and 2 sets of stickers.
But Wednesday wasn't about tires, it was about un****ing my transmission. I started around 4 PM, stopped for dinner and a trip to get beer, and by 9 PM I had removed, disassembled, prepared, reassembled, and reinstalled all but the shifter. It was the big win that I needed to get this thing together on time. . . or so I thought. More to come on that.
Thursday morning I went to the hangar before work and hooked up the trailer to truck and camper. After work I got the rest of the crap reinstalled/secured in the engine bay so Friday (which I also took off) I was left with what I thought was an hour's worth of work plus a brake job. I couldn't have been more wrong. I got the starter lug on wrong somehow so when I turned the master on the starter immediately engaged. Easy fix, but a time suck. When it came time to do the brakes, I screwed up the passenger side and knocked the pistons out of one side when I left the bleeder bottle set on 10 psi and I was trying to push them back in. Oh what a ****in mess that made. Why? Because I've already blown the 2:00 Dyno off and I'm beyond rushed/stressed. Next I go to load the thing and on the test drive something is just wrong.
I said screw it and loaded it anyway. Put 2 random spares on when I got to the track after 9 PM.
The car seemed to run normal again so I left it that way and went to bed. The next morning I had to be sure to be up as soon as tech was open so I could get my annual. I then went out and warmed up and roached the #7 plug wire that I hadn't tied down. Why? Rushed. Yep, I'm pissed again. I'm sooo ****ing over this. So I swap it out, tie everything down better, and go out to qualify.
I ended up pulling the handle and getting out the passenger side.
At first I thought a fuel line failed. At this point I called the weekend off and took a shower because the theme seemed to be rushing is really ****ing me over here. Then I was poking around under the hood wondering why there was so much fire there and under the car. After poking around some, I realized that the return line wasn't hooked up! Damn thing popped off going into that turn. I saw a big huff of black smoke roll out from under the hood and a flame licking down by my feet.
You can see where it came through. Wild. At this point, my faith in the stock lines was restored and I decided to see what it'd take to patch the lines that failed not as the cause, but as a victim of the fire.
Well hot damn, I can fix this with those repair kits they keep on the shelf at Napa being so close to a disconnect. So that's exactly what I did: Chinese finger trap unions and 2 repair kits later the car was alive again! But those unions are bulky and the whole mess didn't want to stay tucked in without some help. I got lucky and found this metal strap at Walmart and proceeded to cut and bend it into a suitable shape to use as a bracket to support everything. I even had some self tappers in the trailer to hold bolt it down.
With that but of encouragement I went and bought a fire extinguisher and mounted it within reach so I'm be legal. From there I was able to race Sunday without any more BS, though as I was loading the trailer I noticed the bumper beam and skin bolts were only put down finger tight and came loose. At least now I can take my time doing a full on bolt check. I'll change out the doors for the next event, replace the fire bottle, and be good to go. And try some ST47 pads, these ST45 pads suck so bad they're pretty much unusable. They fade to the point I can't tell what the hell the car is doing. It'll still lock them up, but there is zero communication in that brake pedal.
Three of the cars I've had were imports. The TBSS was imported by a dealer. The B4C Camaro was imported by a private reseller. And the wagon was imported by me using an importer/transport company that handled all of the paperwork and movement door to door. It was seamless. However, it added to the cost of the vehicle... but, it made for a better jumping off point than what was available in the salt belt.
Now that the Monte is "rust free" I will commit to never-ever (forever ever?) buying a questionable car in the salt-belt.
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