What did you do to your non-G body project today? [2022]

[DRIVEN]

So...better to avoid herpes than deal with flare-ups?

 

[motorheadmike]

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.

Wowzers!

 

[81cutlass]

As beater cars go around here. You have to buy them when you find them. Usually not what you want, but nice cheep cars out there. I find cars 81cutlass would like all the time. Mid 90' Z34"s and Cutlass"s. On another note I got my trailer ramps made and primered yesterday afternoon.



View attachment 196301

I've got a fever and the only prescription is early 90's W body coupes!!

 

[ck80]

And my last real category from Saturday's AutoFair trip. Aside from a few things bought to placate the wife...

Spare s550 mustang grille for $20

Staggered set of 15x7 front and 15x8 rear c10 wheels for $70

Then someone else had trim bands and center caps for those same c10 wheels, steel caps not plastic repops, got all 8 for $55:

Old stock bumper for the 77 truck, $45

Gm shaft style radios, 3 different sellers, combined $55 for 4.

$10 for some 4x4 rally caps


Then $25 for a pair of old metal trucks for the wall...

 

[bruisedbanana79]

Went with the Old man to the first car show of the season. Found an el Camino with damn near the same color as the nova. Glad to see a big turn out this year!

 

[CopperNick]

"Some assembly required." Please see attached list for description of tools thought to be necessary for the work involved. Manufacturer does not warranty any part or component damaged due to assembly error on the part of the assembler........................................



Nick

 

[CopperNick]

So is it the tires themselves that are too wide, or is it the backspace on the rim that is incorrect (too shallow) or does the seam forthe fender skin to outer wheel house half need to be shaved down a little?

And, if memory serves, if you stuff a 327 crank in a 283 block you get a 302. Surprise!

Oh, yeah, managed to get over to the yard and pick up an engine harness from a 2010 GM that has the EV6 harness plugs on it. Plan X from way out in left field is to either swap that whole circuit into the older harness or alternatively just do a plug swap to match the injectors but stay with the old harness as is.



Nick

 

[Supercharged111]

So is it the tires themselves that are too wide, or is it the backspace on the rim that is incorrect (too shallow) or does the seam forthe fender skin to outer wheel house half need to be shaved down a little?

And, if memory serves, if you stuff a 327 crank in a 283 block you get a 302. Surprise!

Oh, yeah, managed to get over to the yard and pick up an engine harness from a 2010 GM that has the EV6 harness plugs on it. Plan X from way out in left field is to either swap that whole circuit into the older harness or alternatively just do a plug swap to match the injectors but stay with the old harness as is.



Nick

Nope, 283 crank in a 350. If you even can with the journal sizes. 302 should be a 4" bore and 3" stroke I imagine.

 

[DRIVEN]

Yup. 283 crank in small journal 327 block.

 

[CopperNick]

Yup, 283 has the 3" stroke, 327 has the 4" bore. The way I went initially gets you a 307. which was a very weird motor. 327''s and 350's share the same bore dia. Knew it had to be one way or the other (or both) And I did qualify the proposition with an "if so blame my memory, not me. (LOL)



Nick