Rob, looks good! What's with the dunce cap on the engine?

Brian

 

When I was putting the motor in it gave me a real hard time! One of my friends was telling me that while working under his hood he lost a washer somewhere. He eventually found it in the #7 cylinder, Im trying to lessen the chance of that happening to me.

 

Running into a couple of problems lately. Hooked up the battery for the first time and there are a few thing that dont work. First the horn was staying on, had to take apart column and found a tab on horn contact under lock plate was grounding out. Now I still havent figured out why the parking lights, dash lights, wipers and heater arent working.
Then I went to fill the radiator up and found coolant pouring out of the engine block. My heart sunk, I thought the worst. I turned out that the block was missing 2 drain plugs, one on each side. I hope nothing like this was overlooked inside the engine!

 

Got the windshield and moldings in also got the exhaust kit installed. Now im working on the interior. Hope to have it running very soon!

 

Rob,

Nice progress on the car. Don't forget to hook up the vacuum line to the trans modulator....I see it is disconnected.

Brian

 

Good eye, thanks

 

The car is running!

 

Good job, is it all done now?

 

Thanks , but its not done yet. Still have to finish interior and top, and still need to iron out some electrical problems. The startup went better than I expected, the only problem we ran into was a minor antifreeze leak.

 

Got motor tuned fairly well and its running pretty good now. Had a few coolant leaks and a few noisy rockers but seems to be ok now. I would say its 90% complete, the biggest things left are the top and interior panels. Im having the top done and glass aligned professionally in 2 weeks.
Also I know some guys arent fans of the Chevelle stripes on the trunk, but I think they work well on this particular car.
Rob

 

Rob, the car looks great and it's nice to see you've made some nice progress. Build the car they way you want to because....well.... it's your car.

 

Finally got the top done by a local shop and wound up doing the glass alignment myself. The drivers side is alost dead on but the pass side I just cant seem to get. Im thinking maybe the track in the quarter is a little bent, but its pretty close. Also had to replace the drivers door pwr window motor. Got the old one out pretty easy but couldnt get the new in right. Had to take the glass and regulator out and then bolt motor to regulator.
A friend of mine got my dash/tail lights working. A wire that leads into the headlight switch connector was in the wrong spot.
Hope to get door panels on soon.
Rob

 

What door panels are you using,or are they the original ones?

 

No, the originals are long gone. Im using a PUI interior kit (original pattern) which I picked up for I think about $800. Came with seat covers carpet and assembled door panels. So far so good.

 

Got the rear interior panels and back seat in. Now it feels mostly complete! Actually there is still a bunch of small stuff to take care of. Before I put the door panels on I have to have the drivers door repaired. There is a couple of cracks in the bottom of the door frame near the regulator, may have it spot welded.
Also my wife bought me a pair of vintage plates from the 60s that were never used and had 442 consecutively, a rare find!
Rob

 

S-w-e-e-t

 

You have done a real nice job on her!

 

Awesome Rob! I'm sure you're relieved to be past all the crap you went through with this project, but persistence pays off! That's a good wife you have!! Did you register the car with those plates yet? Everything is looking good! I'll see you at Bellmore in the summer!

 

Thanks guys appreciate it!

Hey Eric! Good to see you back, was wondering about you. Yes, big relief to have gotten to this point and happy it worked out this way. The fact that I put most of this car together makes me feel good! Car is registered, been driving it but still a few bugs to work out, and a bunch small stuff to finish. Went to Bellmore a couple times and if I can get up early enough might go to Captree. Maybe see you there. Any progress on the Vista?

 

Great job Rob. I loved to see the all the pics and updates. Great documentation of your restoration. I'm currently restoring my 69 442 convert. Hopefully I will get some pics up soon.

 

Lookin good Sir!! Can't wait to hear it rumble... I am currently working on my 69 Cutlass W-31 Post Coupe, just got of the phone with the guy for the rim's for it. 2 year's of waiting for these Rim's, can't wait to hold one & put it on the car.

 

Thanks very much! Its been 2 years now and it mostly complete. Lately Ive just been doing repairs. Had to change the heater core, hood hinges, wheel cylinder and now the starter is giving me problems. When we get a nice day I will get some more pics of the completed interior.
Thanks, Rob

 

Well its just one thing after another going wrong. First the heater core started leaking on the brand new carpet, then a hood hinge decided to bend one day and the corner of the hood took a good size chip of paint off the fender. Wheel cylinder started leaking, and starter is grinding which im going to send back to powermaster. Now my tranny wont shift out of 1st. Changed modulator, didnt help. Anyway interior is mostly complete.
Rob

 

Rob just think how far you have come! These are just little bumps in the road compared to what you have already been through. Your car is great!

 

Thanks for encouragement, but I cant help being a little frustrated at this point. Going to tranny shop this weekend and hoping its not serious, but with my luck im seeing a new tranny in the near future

 

Tranny is fixed, turned out to be the govenor. Tranny did not have to come out and didnt cost a fortune so I was relieved. Meanwhile in between all these problems I did have some time to take care of a few small things. Cut the holes for the rear marker lights, drilled holes for pass side mirror and recovered the console lid with the vinyl from the old sun visor. I also did confirm the console and hurst shifter are from a 68-69 GTO. I do have an original but I like this one better. I also sent the starter back to powermaster for repair.

 

Nice work Rob! Glad the tranny was a simple fix. Only thing I noticed was you have leaves and sun shining today, and I was working in the cold and sleet....I guess Nassau County is where all the good weather is? I guess I need to move 20mins west!

 

Awesome awesoem awesome!!!!!!! Very nice car and work!!

 

What did you think this was Nassau, NY. This is Nassau da Bahamas mon! Actually been slacking lately with all these problems and holidays, ya know.

 

Thanks you! yours looks sweet too.

 

Got the starter back from powermaster and seems to be working ok now. They replaced the clutch at no charge. Now its on to the next problem, hard brake pedal and slow stopping. I posted a question in the brake section.
Rob

 

Nice job. my dear departed dad used to say,

"Nothing difficult is ever easy."

 

very cool

 

Car looks awesome...if my project looks only 1/2 as good as yours I'd be happy.

 

Just thought i'd update this thread. Over the past 2 years i've enjoyed the car very much{maybe too much}. I entered in the Olds show in 2012 and won 3rd place in modified class. About 5 months ago the engine developed a top end knock. long story short pulled motor and found almost everything in the valve train bad. The bottom end needed extensive work as well, which i just got back from speed shop. im now in the process of putting top end together, and hope to drop it in, in the next few weeks.

 

Really a nice build congrats on such a quality finished product. I love the color too.

Sean

 

Thank you. It was finished now it has no engine. I hope I never have to do this again, it's not as easy as it used to be.

 

Some pics of engine progress. Long block is now compete.

Oh well I guess you can't upload more than one pic from an iPhone

 

Hi - I have watched your build since the beginning. Well done, it is beautiful. I really like the OAI hood on the '69.

Your paint color is very similar to mine, which is not original and I am trying to match. Do you recall what it is? Trophy blue code 51, or some other aftermarket color?

 

Thanks. paint is not an original color, its actually called santorini blue found on early 2000s audi. i picked it from a chip catolog so it would be easy to match. id be shocked if its the same, but you never know, they do look similar. Good luck
Rob