Here’s part 2 of the ultra-budget small block. I picked up a mid 80s 305 for $75 that has the 58cc heads along with some other misc parts I was missing from the 283.
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Here’s part 2 of the ultra-budget small block. I picked up a mid 80s 305 for $75 that has the 58cc heads along with some other misc parts I was missing from the 283.
I pulled the 283 apart and it looks really good. All the bearings look new, the crank looks like it was just turned and it’s got .060 pistons. It looks like it was just put together except for three pistons with valve contact marks. I’m going to drop it at the machine shop to get it checked but I’m hoping to be able to get a new set of pistons and put it back together.
I also pulled the seats and carpet and the floors are rock solid as are the rockers and the whole underside of the car. Nice to not have to dig into a bunch of major rust repair for a change.
I got quite a bit done today. Pulled the dash, column, and pedal assembly so I can swap in the manual trans stuff and I’m probably going to rewire the car. I’m going to go ahead and start sanding the car down and fixing panels as I go. Not a ton of body work needed; just a patch here and there. Not bad at all for a 60 year old car.
WOW, you're gettin' after it now!
Should be an easy one compared to that Grand Prix.
Key words being "Should Be"... LOL 8-)Quote:
Originally Posted by falconvan
But we all know that if it was easy everyone would be doing it!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
Well, let’s just say easi-ER (hopefully). Did a little door patch tonight
Spent the day pulling all the trim and the front and rear glass. The only real rust through I found was the channel for the trunk gasket. Trunk floor is good and solid. Now for a whole lotta sanding.
Don't know what triggered the memory, but when I was in the Navy at NAS Corpus Christi one of the guys went home for Christmas, and his dad who had his own body shop, had picked up a '61 Biscayne 2dr post and painted it refrigerator white, or nearly so. Steelies and the little dog dish caps with upsized tires the thing was slick! For the drive from Ohio to south Texas he put in 6V sealed beams, "...for a little extra light late at night." You couldn't miss him coming at you, front or back! Those headlights were white hot, and he said they'd only last a few weeks.....
Sorry for the HiJack.
Got the other quarter stripped. I probably won’t get back to this for a few weeks but when I do I’m going to start fixing the channel for the trunk gasket. That’s going to suck the most; might as well get it out of the way first.
I really like the look of this one although it’s a two door. Might have to ditch the rally’s and go back with steelies and poverty caps. I’ve got the original wheels but I’ll have to see if they clear the disc brake caliper.
That is an awesome color! Maybe a white roof with it?
Cream. With matching stripe inside upper body reveals.
That was such a great color on the early 60's big cars! Friend of mine just sold his bubbletop with that paint on it. Some colors are just "right" for certain vintage cars, that teal, or whatever GM called it, would be killer on your more door IMO.
I'm thinking of this color; pretty close
https://tcpglobal.com/collections/ac...ical-Turquoise
Very nice - period correct yet a bit of pop. That's a very reasonable price for the material as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by falconvan
Nice, did you add those A/C vents?
Potmetalman,
Rumor has it that you are one of the few people that can actually do real repairs to pot metal parts. Real meaning you actual have a welding process (not solder) for repairing and restoring pot metals.
And, now I see you may even be local to me as it appears you are in Vacaville CA?
Would love to learn more!
I had a little time today so I did a small patch. This old furnace front panel had just about the right size channel already bent into it.
THAT is clever! As always - thanks for sharing.
Hot rodding ingenuity at it's best. As techinspector 1 once said, " You can put any motor into anything with a sawzall, a torch and a BFH".
Thanks! I've been watching a lot of video's of Chad Hiltz (Bad Chad) from the show he had and his videos on You tube. That guy is a fabricating madman! Unreal the ideas he comes up with and how he pulls it off using a lot of junk.
Nice work, I've determined it's either build a car with a big checkbook or a bunch of improvising! Doubt I'd use the big checkbook method (even if I had one) when a bit of ingenuity and time will accomplish the same thing!
you could save MP&C a lot of work ..
You and I think alike, I have free reign to an HVAC guys scap in town, its very handy. Your doing great work as always!
WOW! Nice work!
Howdy neighbor! When my knee heals a little more, I'd love to drop by your shop and visit a little.Quote:
Originally Posted by Potmetalman
Man, that is some killer work! I'd love to see a tutorial of of how you do that. Do you have anything on You Tube?
I finished up the channel across the truck bottom, just need to grind it down. I also was looking at the left quarter panel patch I welded on several years ago and realized what a crappy job I did on it and that I should have fixed the inner panel first. I cut it back off for a do over.
All hot rodders are approved for taking a mulligan on what at one time appeared to be a good plan!
I thought that was S.O.P.!?!? Name me one guy that hasn't changed his mind during a build.. go ahead... I'll wait! 8-) I know it isn't Seth! LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by Dave Severson
I’m hip! Sometimes it’s an ongoing battle not to change your mind!
I think when a project takes a long time, it exposes us to more different directions / opinions / wants / needs.. I know it made it harder for me!
Your not wrong:LOL: or maybe you are, or maybe we both are, now I don't know :confused::LOL:Quote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
It lasted as long as it needed to though.
So speaking of struggling not to change your mind......I was watching a video of guy doing a 4 door to 2 door conversion on a 57 Chevy by using two sets of front 4 door doors and sectioning them together to make a 6" longer door, moving the B pillar, and using the rear doors to make the quarter panel extension. I've got the parts car which is a 4 door post and has decent doors. You see where I'm going with this; build a two door hardtop but with the standard roofline rather than a bubbletop. Since I wouldn't have 2 door side molding, do a trim delete and badge it as a Biscayne, which also didn't have most of the trim. Not that I'm opposed to 4 doors, its more of a "can I successfully pull it off" thought. Nothing set in stone but I'm tossing it around. I can see this roofline in a hardtop looking pretty good.
Do it! Do it! Do it! I think it's a cool (kewl?) idea!
Wow, that's an interesting concept.. In the 2 pictures you provided ( thanks!) I have to admit that the 4 door "cockpit" or "greenhouse" presents a better view without the B posts clogging up the side view. The more door just has a feeling of "spaciousness" that the less door lacks. I know the 2 door is supposed to be "more cool" looking. But those pictures ( to me) confuse that line of thought.
All good my friend, we are all in the same boat. It's hard enough to plan the work. But then to work the plan and stick with it.. I couldn't do it. And I think that was the best reason for swap meets! Get rid of all those items we no longer need or pick up some items from guys who had those parts you now needed, Win Win right? LOL..Quote:
Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5