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Been busy on the chassis for the last couple of weeks but it sure doesn't show in the photos. Blasted and repainted the air cleaner base and breather top. Unfortunately the paint color for the base is not correct. Bought from Fusick but it is too orange. I will need to repaint with paint coming from Supercars Unlimited. Radiator was blasted and painted with Eastwood satin black radiator paint. Core support blasted, bumped and painted. Core support, radiator, and shroud installed as well as hoses and trans lines connected. Body work has been slow but some progress has been done. Most of the work was done on the rear quarters. Doors have also been hung but still need metal work. Next up will be a test firing of the engine.
Luckily I have a spare frame so the body guys can work without trashing my chassis.
Added radiator fluid, more trans fluid, removed air cleaner, and hooked up fuel to gas can. Wired up the starter and coil to fire the motor, and held my breath. Engine fired up after a couple of timing adjustments. Other than some antifreeze leaking out of the loosened cap when the system started to pressurize, all went well.
On the rear brake line where it passes thru the frame x-member, was there a fitment issue? A friend is re-doing a '68 and eviedently there are two places the factory may have run the steel line to. Early/late or type 1 / type 2 kinda thing.
Simply Awesome work!! That car is going to be a showstopper!! I have been inspired to do another car. Just not sure what. Keep up the fantastic work. Steve
Worked on the heater box and steering column today. Mocked up the heater box but am waiting on seals and gaskets. Disassembled the steering column, cleaned, blasted and painted some of the parts. Started reassembly. Need to order a turn indicator stem before finishing assembly.
Don't forget the PN sticker on the steering column. I found one on the '66, ragged, reproduced it as best I could, and put it on the refurbished column. Unseen detail.
Say, it just ocurred to me, this may well be the world's only '69 which is not only a convertible but a Holliday as well. :-)
The convertible is coming along nicely. The car has been painted, striped, and placed back on finished frame. Dash and steering column were installed last night and hopefully I can sort out the wiring today. It goes in for the convertible top on Monday, so the windshield needs to go in this weekend.
Wow, that thing is looking awesome. I spent some time drooling over the progress... Nice work!
Small diversion... One thing I noticed on your D heads (all the way back to your first post) is that they have the large exhaust crossover port feeding the intake manifold.
442.com says this about D heads: "Smaller combustion chambers than other BB heads, possibly due to the small bore of the G-block 400 motors. Rumored that the '68 versions had both center exhaust ports connected to the crossover, whereas an improved later version as used in 1969 had one port blocked off from the intake heat crossover port for better power."
We found that mine had the regular big 83cc chambers, but they have the smaller oval exhaust crossover and only feed from one center exhaust port (picture attached). Do you remember if your crossover fed from both center exhaust ports on the head or if it was only one of them?
Damn Tim. That is just beautiful, wow. Such nice work. Yes, it's a clone, but again, there was only two rumored to be built. At least when you show it, you can be proud to say, " Yes, this is what they were and they were pretty much Oldsmobiles unicorn."
But at the same time yours was more on the meticulous side when built. Kudos to you sir. She is a bad-*** and I hope to be able to see her in person one day. Call me green with envy, I can't help it.
Project is looking real nice and quality of work is excellent.
Question:
After you did the white base coat did you sand where stripes are going and then apply the gold stripes?
I've always been curious how its done. Ive seen some people put stripes on after clear coat but I would think you have to scuff clear area before applying stripes? I also think burying everything under the clear would make for a nicer job?
Last edited by scrappie; Apr 23, 2016 at 06:57 AM.
Scrappie, the painter did 4 coats of Cameo White base and 2 coats of clear. Then he sanded/scuffed the entire car after a few days. Next the stripes were masked off and 4 coats of gold base. One coat of clear over the gold once the tape was removed, then 3 coats of clear over everything. Wet sanded and buffed. The car will be hand pinstriped once it's back together.
Car is back from having a new top installed. C.H. Schultz and Sons in Flint did a wonderful job. Next up is trying to get this thing put together and on the road.
More progress on the car. Installed some peak trim, the pinch well, and trunk edge molding. Also finished the rear bumper area with tail lights, back up and license plate light. Buttoned up the dash area, and finished adding all of the wiring harnesses.
Nice work. The car is turning out beautiful. I have a '69 convertible that'll be going to paint soon and I have a question about the stainless trim at the top of your doors. The doors originally had small 'posts' that held plastic clips for securing that trim. My body guy removed the posts on my doors and I've noticed in photos that alot of cars are done that way. Did you fabricate new posts somehow in the holes on the doors for the clips?
Nice work. The car is turning out beautiful. I have a '69 convertible that'll be going to paint soon and I have a question about the stainless trim at the top of your doors. The doors originally had small 'posts' that held plastic clips for securing that trim. My body guy removed the posts on my doors and I've noticed in photos that alot of cars are done that way. Did you fabricate new posts somehow in the holes on the doors for the clips?
We drilled holes and used the threaded post like on the front fenders. The first and last ones should use a screw like the original. I think Fusick sells them.
Time for an update on this project. Car is assembled and pinstriped. The list of completed items is huge, but luckily, the list of things to do is shrinking. I can definitely see the end in sight. I'm hoping to get the inner fender wells in this week as well as a front end alignment. Mirrors need to be installed, and some decals need to be added. The stripe on the roof is still under debate. Thanks for following along. Tim
This is one of the awsomest (made that word up but I felt it was needed) cars I have seen. You should be very proud as I am sure you are. You better get a wall ready for trophies.
