Macadoo

Thought since I had the front this far apart I MAW paint the grills. That Krylon metallic is pretty good stuff. Goes on nice without the tendency to run and it actually looks good; not like "I want it to look like metal so I'll use this crappy silver paint", but smooth with an even finish.
The hardest part, and there were many, was taping them up and doing it well...which I didn't.

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So after painting the inside black it came time to tape that and spray the krylon metallic silver. I had a heckuva time getting the tape just where I wanted it so I used something called masking fluid (sometimes spelled masquing). It's a liquid rubber resist used for watercolor painting, available at any arts and crafts store. I had it laying around so I thought what the hey. It worked well but I have a pretty steady hand when it comes to using a brush (I used a small artist's chisel brush). You can kind of see the gap between the tape and the area to be painted. First I painted on the mask and then I taped, partly covering the masking fluid. So, to be clear, I painted masking fluid over the black paint just along the edges.

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Now for the fun part. It takes a specialized tool to remove the masking fluid and I couldn't find mine. It looks like a small paint brush but with each end having a rigid rubber nub, each a different shape. I did however find my sharpen-able eraser. It looks like a pencil but with eraser material instead of graphite. That made quick work of the masking fluid. I kept a stiff brush nearby and a pair of very sharp tweezers for removing the balled up rubber.
Obviously I missed a spot on the lower right with the mask but a little touch up with a brush and I think they'll look pretty good

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76olds

Holy jumpin your certainly covering a lot of MAW's, Pfffft and the list just keeps growing oh I know that feeling. I just haven't got the feeling to do all of my MAW's. Man your going to have a NEW 71 cutlass before you know it, looking good !!!

Macadoo

Thanks Eric. Just a couple more weeks and I hope to have the motor back in, then exhaust and wheels. Getting close!

Macadoo

The grills have four attaching points but I can only find two of the screws. I've maintained excellent organization and I can't find them. Am I missing something? Do the other two screws hold on another component maybe?

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Macadoo

Finished the AC box this morning, thanks to Rob's thread. Getting ready to install it. Also, I put the grills back in yesterday. I think they look pretty awesome.

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Putting stuff back together is way more fun that taking it apart and cleaning. But it certainly has a "Uhh..did I remember to put that doohicky back in there" anxiety component.

oldstata

Wow! Mac do you want to come and do my engine bay next ? It will have engine and tranny out and no fenders or hood lol.

Looks great

Macadoo

I'd rather rebuild another motor...or two. Engine bay is a rather miserable job. Just so much cleaning! But thank Justin, I'm getting there.

Macadoo

Don't forget the caulk, don't forget the caulk, don't forget the caulk. I forgot the caulk. Lol, at least the bolts weren't all tightened. Pulled it once more and added the caulk. It's all on and clean and tight.

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Now, wheel wells, brakes, clean/re-wrap the wiring harnesses, install the condenser....I think that's it. I'll be ready to drop my motor in!

Macadoo

Back up a sec; why are you pulling your motor and tranny??

z11375ss

Might As Well!

Macadoo

Lol!

Macadoo

Snuck out of work early (on time) and decided to spend some quality time under the dash. I needed to run the power wire for the HEI and yank out some of the toggle switches and poorly installed wiring for that triple electric fuel pump rig that was on there. Oh, and the FM tuner and some other sketchy stuff.

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Macadoo

I'm going to be doing my brakes early next week. I found the rear drum brake tutorial here on CO. Will this get me through the fronts as well?
Replace cylinders; yea or nay?

oldstata

I would while your there if they leak you should replace shoes depending if the got soaked in fluid or not.

Macadoo

I've got shoes for both front and back, spring kits as well. Are the front and rears the same as far as rebuilding goes?

coppercutlass

Yep same deal pretty much.

oldstata

I think so it's been along time for me. I would do the front wheel bearings too at least clean/ check and repack/ replace

Magna86

Wow what a progression you have made for a simple motor pull! :-) I've been pretty good though I have removed most of my front clip the motor has stayed in place. Another later time the whole thing will come apart and get the full rebuild.

MDchanic

I'd say if the wheel cylinders don't show signs of leakage, don't replace them.

Reason? The new ones will be Genuine Made in China, the old ones may be American, and of higher quality.

No point swapping out good old parts for crappy new ones (that may leak in a year... or may not).

- Eric

coppercutlass

To add to what eric said I have gone through 4 wheels cylinders in the past 6 years. Different ones at different times.

Macadoo

Thanks for the info guys, and a good point on the cylinders. If I get stuck I'll let you know. I have wheel bearing grease but it's kind of old. Kind of really old, like 20 years or so. But it seems okay. Maybe I'll get new just in case.

Yeah, turns out I had my MAW helmet on backward, lol. I just couldn't see putting a pretty, shiny motor in a greasy, ugly bay.

Professur

The fronts don't have the e-brake bits so don't freak out when they aren't there.

Macadoo

Just can't get our hands on decent cylinders? Seems kind of silly.

Macadoo

Will do. Thanks Prof.

Macadoo

One side of the front is done. A fairly steep learning curve but I finally got it. The other side should be much faster.

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These came in pretty handy (sorry Copper).

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And I was tearing my hair out until I realized what this could do.

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oldcutlass

Yes sir, both inexpensive tools well worth the investment. Cuts the time down and limits the amount of injuries to your hands and doesn't damage parts.


These are handy too:

Macadoo

For adjusting the starwheel? I didn't see those at Advance.

oldstata

Yes , and on most cars you can pull the rubber plug and loosen or tighten as needed

Macadoo

From the back of the backing plate I assume? Good to know, Justin. Thanks.

VI Cutty

It's little things like that you don't find in the books, don't know to search for and never comes up until someone accidentally mentions it!

I was given a set of brake tools years ago and love them...can't imagine doing brakes without them now!

Macadoo

Yupper. It's part of the reason I hang out here. Lots of experience for the taking. That, and it's just a cool place to hang out.

oldstata

Yes . From the backing plate,
I am with copper most if the time I have the correct tools but basic hand tools seems to get the job done faster and easier. I am sure it's just because that what I learned with'

Macadoo

Something to be said for "familiarity" and comfort.

Macadoo

Justin, why are you pulling your motor and trans?

oldstata

Mac, I have been rebuilding my car but honestly I'm pulling the two speed trans and little 330 that could and replacing with my rebuilt th400 and soon to be rebuilt 455
I also have a 70? Olds 12 bolt just not sure if I will keep that or find a chev 12 bolt

If you get some time search my build it's " kids helping with project "

Macadoo

Oh yeah, I started reading that a while back. I just lost track I guess. 455 eh? Gonna' have some muscle under that hood!

oldstata

Lol the good stuff ats the end

Yes 455 !!!!

I picked two up last year with a trans I think I am in both like 800 bucks one I paid 600 and the other 200.
The machine work seems fair, but parts man they are pricy. I am currently working with a member for some trw used pistons 30 over with a set of reconditioned rods that he is balancing for me I hope to get them real soon

Macadoo

It's ALL expensive, motor parts and body work/paint. I just read through the rest of your thread. Making big moves on that 65. Nice work.

Macadoo

I wanted to test the blower motor before I put the inner wheel well back in and had a couple of surprises. First, it took me a while to figure out how to hook it up to the battery (which is out of the car). Turned out to be positive cable to power in at the resistor and negative cable to the resistor housing.
That's when I discovered it was leaking air pretty badly so I added more 3M strip caulk to the outside of the AC box but I must have pushed it too far in because I started to hear a buzz, like a large bee inside. Soooo......I pulled the motor again. Now, to be fair this wasn't a MAW, more of a do it now or pay later type of thing. And it's a good thing I did because the resistor input wire fell off Now I figured I was really up a creek, not knowing if I could find one and I didn't want to be derailed now that summer is here. So I cleaned it up, got out the ol' soldering iron, and went to work.

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Luckily the hole was mostly there so I just cleaned up the wire, inserted it, and soldered that baby back in. Now I'm not usually this much of a solder-slob but I wanted that wire REALLY in there.

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I waited another minute or so and covered the joint in black hot glue for good measure.

While that was setting I used brake kleen and sprayed out the inside of the motor, it was kinda' nasty in there, and oiled it up with 3-in-1.

Boy it's quiet as a mouse now and kicks out gale force air. I'm really glad I took the time to go through all of this. I mean it worked when I pulled it so I didn't think I would bother but I't's a good think I did

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Now, for that inner wheel well........

Smitty275

Macadoo....KING of MAWs. Its all looking very good.