Quite a journey though!

 

Looking good Dean! Keep up the good work!

 

Just AWESOME AWESOME
Alain platinum 442 4spd factory A/C

 

Wow I also missed this thread some phenomenal work! Just read top to bottom thank you for sharing

 

Awww fellas!
Going on 10 years this May. 8 of those years with car at welder who in the end just couldn’t get proper panel fit. Great kid. Just didn’t have the expertise. So, paid the bill and had to pull it out of there. Kept myself sane by doing sub-systems; Motor, trans, interior, dash, suspension, all pumps rebuilt with the advice and counsel of Steve Minore of casamperformance. What a solid Olds guy.
Searched around for a proper shop. Got taken for $5k by a great sales slickster who promised the world, but turned out to be a poser running a mini Cooper boutique. I didn’t read the fine print on the contract. He dug in yelling and screaming over the phone when I mentioned I thought $175 hr labor was too high and it needed to come down. Never even took delivery of my car. Boy that stung. Had to put the misstep in the rearview. Know what I mean? I guess I’m still working on letting that one go. Ha ha!

Pleased to report finally running out of stuff to do! Have been literally living with this car, its dozens of parts in boxes around the rooms in my house.
Last fall I brought car to shop where you see it now. LaBrecque Autocraft. Mike LaBrecque is turning out to be the real deal. Funny thing is he was the very first guy I approached when I bought this thing. I mention the experience in early part of this thread.

Anyway, these resto guys are literally redoing everything the first welder did. Fenders, doors, tail, dash frame, even found those nos quarters still in box. With so many aftermarket panels it was requiring too much adjustment. Even cut into the inner wheel wells last week. That was all painful to watch.

After following along with the incredible work, tenacity and care you folks on this forum have demonstrated on your projects… Made up my mind it’s got to be done right or don’t do it at all and that’s that. As they say.
Immeasurably grateful for the support. The saga continues.
Thank you guys.

 

As the English say keep a stiff upper lip
You are on the right track .Keep at it
Going to be totally AWESOME when finished
Alain platinum 442 4spd factoryA/C

 

Tickety-boo Alain!

 

Fitting nose.

 

I don't think that's how they go on...

 

 

Alain,
If you don’t mind…What’s the correct radiator for ‘70 442 non A/C?
Cheers.

 

Do you have HD cooling?
Standard radiator would be a 3 core no fan shrawed no clutch fan
HD would be 4core with shrawed and HD water pump X pump and clutch fan
Hope this helps
Alain 1970 platinum 442 4spd factory A/C

 

Good morning,

Thanks for replying. Good info! This vehicle is not an HD and non A/C.
Regarding 3 core non-HD, a couple more questions if you have time.

1. They made filler neck opening areas that are horizontal (parallel to the ground) and filler neck/cap openings that are at a 45 degree angle. Which is correct for this 1970 442 non-HD car?

2. I've also heard the 3 core rad. was subject to overheating issues. If true, have you heard of adding another row as a remedy? Lastly, would this modification take away from the car's originality?

Regards

 

Good Morning
1970 radiator is the horizontal filler neck 1971 is 45 degree adding an extra row to your rad will not hurt
Also a fan shroud is a very good idea.Are you going to drive the 442 or not?
If you are not going to drive it go for the show points if not stack the deck in your favour
Alain 1970 platinum 442 $spd factory A/C

 

That clears things up! Thank you. Solid advice on the shroud.
Will be driving it sure, but also show. I picked up a 4 core sending it out for recore.
Was thinking of also doing same for a correct 3 core keeping it in storage kind of thing.
I’m doing that with hood and trunk lid already. Yep, it’s gotten nuts.

 

Drivability is always good
Alain 1970 platinum 442 4spd factory A/C

 

Go back to the pic of your partial build sheet in your posting #1.....R lower side of the sheet shows "VO2 HD" (paper is folded over after that).

VO2 is a 3 row 2" core radiator....HD 3 row. So apparently that's what your car came with.

 

Alain,
“Standard radiator would be a 3 core no fan shrawed no clutch fan
HD would be 4core with shrawed and HD water pump X pump and clutch fan”

Dropped off both 3 core and 4 core at shop yesterday. Will be looking for a shroud. Water pump is org., was rebuilt and on the motor which has also been rebuilt.

- - - - - - - -

70Post,
“Go back to the pic of your partial build sheet…”

Oh man! Completely missed that. Thank you very much. Somebody needs to spend more time deciphering their tattered build sheet.

Any experiences with cooling issues 3 core vs. 4 core on ‘70 442s?

Regards,
Krusty

 

4 core with shrowd and clutch fan always better than standard 3 core
Alain 1970 platinum 442 4spd factory A/C

 

 

wow - impressive work - do you have any updates

 

I actually received one yesterday, John.








...thanks for asking.

 

Looks amazing - I can't believe how far you went with this

 

The plan...Getting close to when Labrecque Autocraft will release the frame. At which point I'll begin the process of assembling. Once complete, we'll marry it to the chassis and drive it back home.

 

Agree with Alain on that....more is better - especially when you have a big block in there.

Looking great.

 

Patton,
You're right.
Took the great advice.
Turned into a bit of a scavenger hunt, but picked up a correct 4 core rad, HD pump, clutch fan and pulleys.
Heading up to take a look at it tomorrow. Will bring interior for reupholstering.

Thank you!

 

Headed to the booth today.

 

 

I sometimes wish I had the talent to do this kind of body work. I am not even close to having these skills. Very nice work!

 

Agreed! I hear you...This is not MY work. I may have helped facilitate it but the credit rightfully belongs to the pros. I hold these guys and all of you like them in the highest regard.
Very talented, agonizingly patient and take great personal pride in their life's work. They want to be respected by their peers and their bosses even more than by the customer.

At one point I excitedly asked if I could observe them prime and paint.
Some chuckled, others looked down at their boots. The owner, arms folded, smiled and said, "Well...I know I don't like people watching me
while I paint a car".
Message received loud and clear. I immediately withdrew the request.🤣