Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

Finally everything related to the engine seems to fit.

There were alignment notches where the body joins the firewall that catch the fiberglass when the front opens.  While I am certainly not up to Mitch’s ability, I did manage to weld in patches. 

When I needed a break from applying and sanding fiberglass, I cleaned and painted the trunk.

And filled it with parts ready for final assembly.  And a trunk mounted battery box, which so far is just sitting there.

The last brackets are made for the bottoms of the front fenders to attach to the body.  Then I just have to get everything to fit just right before removing the front to work on the firewall and engine wiring and accessories. 

In anticipation of rewiring most of the car, I bought an assortment of wires.  Then I made a new front lighting harness.  It is much like the original except for later wiring colors and a quick disconnect.  The wires need to be much longer from the firewall to the core support because they used to run down the inner fender, and now they will go down to the frame and forward to the disconnect, then up to where they used to run.  I can’t remember where the horns mount so I will have to find a place where they are not in the way of the actuators or the wider radiator.  When I finalize all of that, I will wrap everything in original black wrap.

I found a TH200-R4 on a shelf in a pole barn.  And then spent more than I paid for the transmission buying everything needed to make it work in an old car.

Another candidate for color:  This is Ford Electric Green with blue flop.

-- Edited by Larry Lucast on Saturday 14th of May 2016 07:23:15 PM

Even though I haven’t posted any updates, I have been working.  I finished the bodywork on the tilt front and fender extensions, and on the smooth firewall.  When I was satisfied with the fit, I removed the whole front, painted the underside, and put it on a rolling tool cart.  The small parts are inside the car waiting for their turn for paint.

I assembled the drive train using the 350 I had used in mock-up, then covered it up until needed.

I had bought a tilt-steering column from an 80s Camaro.  I had Vanz Auto rebuilt it and made a mounting plate to match the factory opening.  Van made it the right diameter to fit nicely into the curve of the bottom of the dash.  I had to modify the pedal bracket a bit to make it all fit.

You've been making steady progress. The braze is factory, but I've never seen a naked '64, and there is more than on the '66's.
While you're into the Green spectrum, let me throw out another suggestion...Synergy Green..

Larry Lucast wrote:

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I like that.

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 1 year only Camaro color. Very few cars this color around...

Eastwood's version of Dyno-Mat installed.  The edges of the foil are sharp, so I had a lot of little cuts all over my hands.

This is the color of my chassis and engine block, pan, and timing cover.  Everything else is aluminum or ceramic coated.

Laying out the new instrument cluster.

The finished dash.

Wiring the new gauges.

This is the color.  It is a 2015 GMC color.  The green flops to black in shadow.  You can see at the bottom of the picture where it looks like I painted it black.  I have since done a better job of buffing.

The storage compartment in my console.

One of the many trial-fittings of the console, including the mock-up of the shifter and switches.  I will have power windows, door locks, and trunk release.

Heater controls.

And a couple more progress pictures of teh console.

I think we need a tech session up there in March to get that car back on the road...

Since my last post, about 20 members came over and got pretty much all of the mechanical done. 

Since then I have been working on the body.  If I posted a picture every couple of weeks, they would all look about the same, but I really was making progress.

I used a laser to get the style lines straight, and blocked for hours.  Finally it was time for sealer.  GM used black sealer.

Then it was finally time for color!

I last posted pictures six months ago.  Even though I have made a LOT of progress, it still looks pretty much the same. 

I wasn't sure I was strong enough, or steady enough to do all that buffing.  So I hired a veteran who had served two terms in a war zone in Afghanistan, and suffered from PTSD.  He missed a lot of days, and sometimes seemed pretty zoned out, but when he was on, his work was great.  My wife an I really liked him, but after two months of on and off work, we agreed he was done.  And then I started finding problems.  Some parts were so smooth and shiny; and then there was the rest.  I had to re-clear the roof because of sanding scratches, and had to paint color and clear on the door where he sanded through the clear and into the color.  Those areas were left with a lot of buffing dust on them so they didn't show.  And some areas he got pretty shiny and then waxed. 

I am almost done re-doing all this.  Then I just ned to install all the trim.  Most everything is done.  I still have to install the speedometer driven gear and flywheel cover. 

Fred the upholsterer will be here in a week or two.  He is doing everything in a contemporary version of the original.  The seats and door panels will complement the Audi TT buckets I bought.  He will upholster the console, and make a new package tray with hidden speakers. 

And then, except for all the "punch list" things I find, it will be DONE!

I took the brand new 1964 license plate to the DMV, and the new system will not let me register it for this car.  But it looks good in the garage.

VERY nice, Larry, congratulations on getting it to the point of almost "done"...

Don't get me started on the jerks at the capitol who were "supposed" to leave certain license sequences for us to register old cars with and then took it away so the state can use those numbers for the expensive personalized plates.

Sorry to hear about the health issues. Hope they go away soon and you can get back to full speed.

Super to hear you DROVE it !!! Looking forward to interior and odometer pics...

I "drove" my Camaro a couple weeks back too...onto the trailer at the old place, off at the new and onto the storage lift.

I would be interested in the door sill plates.

I haven't posted anything since I haven't done anything.

Just as the pandemic was starting, I took a careless tumble (tripped over a Buick GN rear end), and finished off the knee I had injured in a motorcycle accident many years ago.  I had it replaced and started rehab.  They closed rehab so recovery went slower.  Then, I picked up a light box, and pain shot up my arm.  It swelled to my elbow, was diagnosed as carpal tunnel.  I had the surgery and started the path to recovery.  I heal slowly because of my transplant, so that took too long.  Then our dog was doing his "Happy Dog" dance and hip checked me in the side of my other knee.  I had that replaced and started rehab again.  I was slowly rehabbing again, and in the middle of the night, I woke up in too much pain to sit up.  An ambulance trip to Mercy Hospital, where they diagnosed diverticulitis requiring immediate surgery.  But their surgeon wouldn't do it!  Another ambulance ride, this time to the U of M hospital.  They successfully repaired the damage and gave me an ostomy (a bag that hangs from my belly).  While hurrying to get me prepped and on the table, they strained something in my back.  I have been going to PT for that for a few moths.  For no good reason, I lost my sense of balance about this time.  I am getting better, and can now walk pretty well with a pair of alpine walking sticks.  And now I have another surgery to reverse the ostomy.

So it was time to get the last details done on the 64, and make some progress on my 79 Malibu.  The power steering had never worked.  Several of you gave me advice about bleeding and the check valve in the inlet of the gear box.  The check valve had been pounded in with a punch, and was blocking the inlet.  I took the box out and discovered that the box I had bought as new years ago was actually filthy and scored.  I bought a rebuilt and bled and bled.  I started the engine and it seemed to work.  So I drove it down the block and the steering stopped working. 

The engine dynoed at 500 + HP, the transmission was a rebuilt 200 4R, and had a 2600 lock up converter.  If I power braked it HARD, it would barely spin the tires.  It seemed to stall close to 2600.  Then it sat while I went through all the health issues.  A couple of weeks ago,  bled the steering with the engine off, then running.  It still doesn't work.  Everything is new or rebuilt - box, pump, hoses- so I am at a loss.  I called Dan at Dan's Complete automotive, whom I trust, and asked him to just come get it, and fix it.  He will come in the next few days. 

I know some things to check, and know many of you would be glad to advise  or help, but I am pretty weak and sore, and am still isolating because I am immune suppressed. 

I will post when something happens.  Meanwhile I have done a lot of easy stuff to my 79 Malibu, so will post separately about that.