AK----thanks for the note. I used the American Autowire Classic Kit # 510645 and love it. I also used one like it on my Chevelle restoration. I prefer these kits over some of the other manufacturers. AWW kits allow you to customize the length of your connections for things that are custom or routed differently. They also are highly capable for things you may way to add like fuel injection, electric fans, vacuum pumps, A/C, and etc. Once you buy the two pair of special GM type crimpers...you are good to go. I would highly recommend them again.
I'm looking forward to the Dakota Digital cluster and seeing it perform. Finding a place to hide the control/interface box was the biggest challenge but I am nearly done now with all that wiring except for the Vehicle Speed Sensor for the speedo once I get the new trans.
Adding the SNIPER fuel injection will be the next.....more to come....

 

Well I can see I will be visiting you’re thread a whole lot I have the Dakota gauges and sniper as well but I’m a ways off from connecting all of that! What are the special gm connector tools I will need for the wire harness I have heard a lot of good things about the aww kits I am also going to be running aluminum radiator with electric fans and single wire alternator and a/c so thanks for confirming for me lol. Good luck on your project looks like you’re making great progress

 

AK,
Sounds like fun. I love projects. Here is the link to the recommended crimpers from AAW....https://www.americanautowire.com/sho...lice-clip-6744

I installed the SNIPER on my 640 HP Chevelle BBC and love it. I've installed about 10 of them now for myself and others. They perform well as a carb replacement unit. I will be getting the Quadra-Jet version this time as I wanted to stay with the factory GM W-30 intake and the hood seal for the OIA ram air hood. I'm excited to see how it all comes together.

 

Thanks for the info on the crimpers, I appreciate it, I love projects as well I have been working on this one for awhile. I am running the performer rpm intake I am trying to figure out how to run the OAI air cleaner and hood on my 72 convertible. Im on body work now so I have some time before final assembly, good to know I'll have references!

 

Your moving right along! Looking great!

 

AK...good morning! Let me know how that intake works with the OAI hood. I got mixed reviews when I was debating on getting one for my engine. My engine builder advised that I would likely squeak out a few more horses with that intake over the GM, but everyone that I talked to said it would not work with my OAI hood. I even researched having the RPM manifold "cut down" so that the height would be similar to the OEM manifold. I was then told that once it was cut...the performance gains would be gone. In the end, I was quite happy to get 550+ HP out of my config that we tested on the dyno but that GM intake did add more dollars to my total engine cost. That was the 1970 W-30 aluminum intake and a race-ready Q-Jet. Hopefully I will be happy with the SNIPER performance there too.

Good luck and keep me posted.

 

Thanks! It's taking shape now......

 

Just picked up my new GM 12 bolt rear end today from Tom Rockwell Racing. This is the second rear end he's built for me and I like his work. This one has 4.10 posi gears which will be fun and still work well with the Tremec TKX 5 speed I hope to purchase soon. My new UMI rear tubular control arms and sway bar arrived but still waiting on the coil-overs from Performance Online. More to come.....


New GM 12 bolt---Right Stuff Rear Disc brakes with drilled and slotted rotors, 4.10 posi gears and 1350 driveshaft yoke.

 

What a beautiful car. Love the color. Love the build. What's it like to run around with 4.10's?
How are they with that trans and highway speed?

 

Thanks for the kind words. I love that gearing with the Tremec 5 speed. In my Chevelle....I'm at 3,000 rpm at 60 mph in 4th and then it's more like 80 mph at 3,000 rpm in 5th. The gearing works well with the fuel injection too. Keeps the driving experience perky and fun in all gears. Lol

 

Sounds very fun. Nice job. When I was a kid I had a 70 SX with a 2.56 posi. That car would drop second at 80 mph. I loved those highway gears.

 

What a great example of a restoration. I have learned quite bit from reading your various posts. Thanks for sharing.

 

Interested in how the new Tremec fits. Nice work.

Don W

 

Nice work Dave!

 

Dave, your craftsmanship of your projects are on a level that I am truly envious of !

Can't you just build one car that looks like an averagely-talented person built it so we don't all feel so jealous?
I am excited to view this one in person and see/hear it roll down the road. Absolutely beautiful work.

 

Thanks guys for your kind words. It's fun to watch these old cars take shape as each individual's creativity becomes evident on the reassemble. Possibly I'm just a bit more passionate and **** than the average guy. 😉

 

Time to install the rear-end and the rear suspension components. I chose UMI for my rear tubular control arms and sway bar. I went with Aldan American coilovers for the rear purchased from Performance On Line(POL). The install of the new 12-bolt posi was pretty straightforward but not so much on the coilovers. I found out that the Moser shock and lower control arm mounting tangs, that are welded on the housing, are much different than the ones on a GM housing. This caused the coilover brackets to be completely out of alignment. I had to do minor surgery on the brackets with my plasma cutter and then re-weld them with the correct angles and spacing. Here are pics showing the new corrected brackets and the entire setup all complete. All-in-all....it came out nice and I'm happy with it.


Here are the Moser brackets welded to the housing. They're quite different for the shock mount and the lower control arm mounting area.

Left side bracket with alterations....

Right side bracket with alterations....

View from the rear....

View from the front...

 

Still waiting on the remaining SNIPER fuel injection parts. Hope to install the quadrajet model, Hyperspark coil, distributor, and coil drive box this week. Custom making the flex fuel line from the stainless hard line from the tank and to the engine. Finished custom making the MSD spark plug wires into the looms.

today.

 

Looking Great!


I think you are using the Holley dual sync distributor with this efi setup, correct?

Check your distributor gear carefully for flaws and dents, as both the original and the replacement I got from Holley were equally as ugly. I did some minor correction on the drive and coast sides of the helical gear teeth to keep from having a bump that would cause damage or inconsistent timing.

I figure you already have the MSD phase-adjustable rotor that fits (84211) these Holley dual sync’s...

Also, I have some extra USA made ball roller bearings for the upper and lower shaft support in the Holley dual sync if you want them. I replaced my Chinese bearings that Holley originally had in my distributor before it ever touched the engine (Shame on them). They are the exact same part number, but made by people who care.

 

Great looking car, nice work!

 

Thanks. We are in the home stretch now for sure. Got the coil driver box hidden and mounted today as well as the ignition coil. More to come this week I hope.

 

Lots of work done in the last two days.....received the Holley SNIPER Quadra-Jet setup, the fuel tank, and sending unit this week.

Installed the SNIPER and was able to finish near all the wiring for the engine compartment. Installed all the SNIPER feeder circuits, signal circuits and outputs associated with the SNIPER and the Hyper Spark ignition system. I was able to shorten and lengthen the wires as necessary to keep the majority of the wiring hidden and out of site. The coil driver box is placed right behind the right front headlights and then the coil is mounted to the firewall near the distributor. I'll be swapping out the distributor soon as I was waiting to complete a few more things.

Fuel tank is now installed along with the Holley OEM style pump and sender. I like this model as it recirculates in the tank relieving the need for an external fuel pressure regular. The Quadra-Jet model does not have internal fuel regulation in the throttle body like the 4150 models and requires a bit more thought on how to regulate the fuel pressure.

I have to finalize a few more connections into the Dakota Digital input board for oil pressure and coolant temp. Next will be ordering the radiator and fan setup with internal overflow tank from Wizard Cooling. It's a high capacity aluminum radiator with the overflow tank built in and also includes two high speed SPAL fans integrated into the shroud. I've already added the wiring provisions for the fans and even an external fan bypass. This bypass allows me to enable the fans whenever I desire rather than relying on the SNIPER to trigger them based on the setup parameters entered.

OEM style tank and Holley OEM sending unit and pump..

Fuel tank wiring and fuel line routing....


SNIPER throttle body installed along with fuel line and pressure gage.

More engine compartment pics....

Excited to place the air cleaner on the engine and see how everything fit.....

 

One of the hardest things I had to do was cut a hole in a brand new trunk pan. But I wanted to have access to my intank fuel pump if anything should happen. But it came out ok.

 

I really like what you did in the trunk, it looks like it belongs!

 

Thanks!

 

Loving this build. Will be very interested in seeing pictures of your TKX installation.

 

Happy Saturday.

Finished the installation of the Leed brake vacuum pump. I'm excited see how that works. Also installed the UMI front sway bar and links. Installed the electric cooling fan harnesses in prep for the fans on the radiator. Terminated the remaining sensor wires for oil pressure and engine temp to the Dakota Digital input board. Also finalized the manual override switch for the electric cooling fans.

Received my exhaust pipes today from TA performance and ordered Super 44 mufflers from Summit. Now I have to locate 3.5" to 3" header collector reducers with oxygen sensor bungs. That's proving to be a bit harder than I imagined. I guess I am using non-standard sizing for the headers and exhaust main pipes. I'll reduce the pipe size for the tail pipes from the mufflers and go with 2.5" out to the trumpet tips at the bumper.


Front sway bar and links installed.


Cooling fan harnesses ready to go...

Brake vacuum pump installed.....

 

The latest---installed the new Wizard Cooling aluminum radiator with cooling fans over the weekend. I like the look and the fitment. Battery install will be next and then I can fire up the engine while I'm waiting on the trans and other driveline components.

Finally received my rear seat upholstery that's been on order for a year. Cleaned and painted the frames and then added the matting and foam for the seat cushions and seat back. Still waiting on the rear door panels. I have no idea when those will arrive. Also received the front door panels and hope to install those this weekend. More pics to come on that.

New Wizard high performance radiator

Installed...

 

Pant... Pant... Pant...

Great Build. Those valve covers kill me. Probably my favorite Olds valve covers. Huge huge props to you for building YOUR car. 🍻

 

Thanks so much no1oldsfan...I appreciate your comments on the build. I'm looking forward to getting it on the road soon.

 

Here's the latest:
Still waiting on my rear door panels. I was told I should have those in the next two weeks. It's been over a year now.

Received the Billet Specialties wheels and the front Mickey Thompson tires. Rear tires are still on backorder from MT.

Still waiting on the Tremec TKX trans and all the clutch parts and etc. Hoping that will arrive yet this month or early June.

This weekend I finished installing the sound system and am VERY pleased with how that turned out. I went with the Focal speakers recommended from Crutchfield and they sound amazing with the amp that's installed in the trunk. There are 5.5" speakers that I made brackets for and hung under the dash near the kick panels, the Retro Sound speaker in the original dash

​​​​​​​ location, and then (2) 6x9" Focal speakers in the rear deck area. Then add a 12" JL subwoofer with enclosure and it sounds like you are at a concert. The stereo I went with was the Classic Car Stereos model 740. It's got a classic AM radio look but is loaded with all the normal tech features we like.

 

Well, my backordered MT tires finally arrived last week and I was able to get them mounted and balanced on the Billet Specialties wheels. I removed the BS center cap logo and added and Olds logo which makes the wheels look a bit more OEM like. I'm pleased with the look and the tire sizes and fit.

Trans is now in and buttoned up. The TKX trans installed very nicely without trans tunnel modifications. Shifter is in. Carpet is now installed as well as the console and driver's seat. My rear door panels that were on backorder since April of 2020 have shipped and should arrive this week. This will allow me to complete the interior. Lastly, I'm waiting on my aluminum driveshaft and then it's time for the first voyage test drive in the new beast.

I'll post more pics of the interior once I finish the rear door panels and install the passenger seat.

New rear wheels and tires. Rims are 11" wide.


New front wheels and tires.

TKX transmission installed with hydraulic clutch.

 

Looking great Dave! Looking forward as well to you making my latest fuel Injection project come to life, I appreciate your help.

 

The Olds looks fantastic NICE WORK!! Someday I hope my budget allows for a build of this caliber!

 

Thanks Mark. Should be fun.

 

Thanks for the kind words Bandit. I'm having fun with it.

 

Rear door panels finally arrived yesterday afternoon after a nearly 16 month COVID delay. Installed the rear panels and finished up a giant portion of the interior, seats, carpet, and trim panels last evening. Seatbelts next and then the interior for the most part----should be complete.

Prepping the panel to drill the window crank hole.

Rear door panel half installed.....

Carpet and sill plate completed.

Rear components installed.

The final product........

The final product........

 

I wish my '70 Olds had the white interior.... that is sharp. If you don't mind me asking, where did you purchase it from? I know it took a while, but the quality looks great!

 

Thanks. I got all the interior parts from Parts Unlimited Inc (PUI) out of KY......I am happy with the quality.
They did a good job with the stitching and seat covers. I bought some of the other seat foam and batting from another company I believe.

 

Ready for that first drive once I get the driveshaft......excited!