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Why is it so hard to make my Pontiac ALL Pontiac?
Tue Jul 15, 2008
Well, I finally got around to putting that 400 in I've been working on (off and on) and it's been fighting me the whole way! I know it sound simple, "change the motor and be done with it". Not as easy as it sounds. I swapped V-8's into S-10's and Monza's that didn't cause me this much frustration! I swear this car must've been built on the "Oldsmobile Only" line at GM. I had to re-route the fuel line from passenger side to driver side, change the motor mounts (they look very similar but oh are they different!) and now the exhaust isn't working out for me. I had headers on the Olds motor that I took out and new ones for the Pontiac going in, but the Pontiac ones are too short to hook up the same, so now I have to hack into the exhaust and add a few inches to each side. I'm not sure where the factory location for the guage senders are and I'm not ready (and don't really have the time) to mess around with figuring that out, so I'm just going to install aftermarket guages for now. I don't know why, but it seems like whenever I go to the parts store, the kids working there think that all GM's were the same "way back when" and try to sell me Chevy stuff for my Pontiac! Oh, and that's not all, when I finally find one that doesn't have his head wedged in his rear-end and actually looks up parts for my Pontiac, they don'y syock them and ordering them takes 7 to 10 business days and costs twice as much as Chevy or Ford stuff! My boss almost had me talked into putting a 390 Ford in, but I said that would be too much work. Maybe not with all that I've been through so far. But anywho, it's in (for the 3rd time and it has to come back out again so I can bolt down the motor mounts) and looking pretty good in there! Maybe I'll have some luck on my side from this point on and have things just fall into place like they're supposed to! I'm hoping to have it running this week, but it's going to require burning some more "mid-night oil" like I'm getting used to, to get it done! Wish me luck!
I'm glad the rust scabs aren't too obvious
Fri Mar 21, 2008
My immidiate plans for this car have changed Even though I've already got the new upholstery and decal kit, they're going to have to wait to get installed. I was going to rebuild my Pontiac 400 before I installed it, but that's not going to happen either. I've got another transmission that's behind the 400 right now, but it's going to wait too. I wanted to change the back window too, but it's going to happen later also. I'm going to put the old interior back in it and change the motor just to get it back on the road. I'll pack up all the new stuff and save the project for when I get settled into my new home later this year. I'm getting all my vehicles prepared for the journey, none are being towed or trucked there. I'm going to be moving to Minnesota to be with Michelle. Things here in Ohio just aren't going my way no matter what I try to do. Being alone for the past 3 1/2 years hasn't been easy on me either. So to give my life the shot in the arm it needs, I'm relocating and getting on with my life and leaving all the mess behind me.
Rags To Riches, well it's still going to be a rag, LOL!
Wed Mar 19, 2008
Filed under: 1970 Chevrolet Nova (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang)
My life has taken a pleasantly unexpected turn. I've fallen in love with somebody that is the one I want to stay with. The thing is, she lives in Minnesota and wants to stay there. I went there and I don't blame her. I've made up my mind to move to Minnesota to be with Michelle. So I'm changing my plans for my cars. I am still putting the 400 in my Trans Am but I'm packing the new stuff up and saving that project for later. The Nova is just a shell right now with gobs of parts that all need completely refurbished. I want the car to be A-1 when it's done, but I've got more important things to do right now. I'm going to assemble the body the way the parts are now (all rusty and crusty) and get the drive-train put together along with the chassis. I'm going to get this thing road-worthy and DRIVE it to Minnesota! I'll get all the lights working and make sure the wipers work too. I'm not going to worry about a heater or interior. It just has to be drivable. That in itself is going to be exciting! It's going to look like something from "Mad Max" on the hi-way. I don't care! I'm driving it there and trucking the parts in a U-Haul later. I'll probably have to get the biggest truck they have that you don't need a CDL to drive to take all my parts and tools up there in. She's got a garage there, but the Nova and it's parts alone would fill it up, so I'll build a shed for my stuff. It's just going to be my Nova and Trans Am parked in there along with her Bonneville. The cool thing about this woman is that she wants to help me with my plans! She wants me there bad and she's got me hooked! So I'm going to slam this car together and hit the road this summer!
Other people's stupity is causing me problems
Sat Mar 15, 2008
When I got this truck it sat stupid low. I figured putting it back near normal ride hiedth would solve any problems, but the damage was already done. In these extended cab S-10's they use a 2 piece drive-shaft that has 5 universal joints and 2 CV joints. I had one of the CV joints go bad shortly after I got the truck. You can't get just the CV joints, you have to get the whole unit. I cobbed it up by cutting the CV joint out and eliminating one of the U-joints. That created a problem. The rear shaft was too short and the slip joint on the carrier bearing was only about half engaged. It held up for a while, but gave up on me 2 weeks ago. I'm not sure what part failed first, but it ended up a catastrophy. It ended up blowing the front U-joint and shaft out which blasted the rear U-joint and shaft out (or vice-versa) and tore everything to Hell. The shafts came out in pieces and broke the tail-shaft housing on the transmission. My boss called around trying to find a used drive-shaft assembly. The yards that used the locator system found one in New York and one in Arizona. There was one locally but it was out of a '01 S-10 and they said they don't interchange. I don't know how different they could be. To make things worse, they all want $150+ for the units. I called about having a unit made and that would cost $250 to $350 minimum. So I guess the "Redneck" in me is coming out. I'll build my own damn unit and have it balanced. Seems nobody had a tail-shaft housing either! I got desperate and started checking my own pile of tranmissions laying out at the barn. Without using a micrometer or other pecision measuring device, it looked to me that the housing on my tore up 700R4 was interchangable. Then I looked at my turbo 350 laying there and it looked usable too. They are all the same length and the speedo drive is in the same location. I know the drive-shaft yoke is the same for all these units, so I came to my own conclusion that the 700R4 piece will work. So now I have to measure and cut a driveshaft from one of my stripped out cars and weld it all up with what was left from the S-10 drive-shaft pieces. I'll prove to everyone that said it couldn't be done, that I can do it. Hopefully I'll have it back on the road soon. I'll let y'all know how it turns out!
The Camaro Project is DONE!
Fri Jan 4, 2008
This long-winded project that should've taken only 8 weeks to complete is now done! It took so long because our other body-man quit in October and I had to do all the body-work in the shop from then on. I was supposed to be "The Specialist" that only worked on the resto work. Jeff called me back for that purpose only. While we were winding down on the Camaro, I got started on the '64 Corvair project. I couldn't find the disk that has the earlier stages of the Camaro on it, but here's the pics from the final stages. When (or if) I find the other disk, I'll add those pics to the album. Like Jeff said, we turned a $4000 car into a $40,000 car. The story behind this car is kind of amazing itself. It belongs to a lady that was a school teacher in Bluffton and she bought it brand new. Last year she retired and decided she wanted her car made "like new" again. I don't know how she heard of Jeff's shop, but she brought it there. Now Jeff had some real yay-hoos working for him that started tearing it down and then they jumped ship. Jeff didn't want the other body-man doing the work on it because he didn't think he was as quality minded as he should be, so he called on me. The plan was for a "frame on" resto. New quarter panels, new doors, new fenders, new interior. We pulled the engine and trans together and cleaned them up and detailed all the under-hood stuff. I was ripping right along and was right on schedule until we had to wait on parts and the other guy quit. I almost quit too, but I stayed. There was one problem right after the next, but it's done now! I don't know what's up next after the Corvair, but we'll see!
Christmas in Ohio
Mon Dec 24, 2007
Okay, this picture is from last year (the T/A is stashed away in the barn this year) but it's still cold here! Somehow I'll have to brave the weather and get out to the barn and get working on the T/A so I can have it done for the Bandit Run in May. Santa didn't bring me anything for the project so I'm on my own! But I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!
Bandit Run '08
Sun Dec 23, 2007
I missed out on the '07 Run, but plan on making this one! That gives me about 20 weeks to get my Trans Am done (again) and "shake the bugs out"
Back to work on the '69 camaro!
Tue Dec 11, 2007
I've been so busy with regular body-work that I haven't worked on the Camaro much, but the boss wants it done so he's had me working on it every other day this week. I'll get some pictures of it and post them soon! It's looking good!
Where Do You Go From Here?
Sat Dec 8, 2007
Is this the road INTO town or the road OUT of town? It's the road in front of the shop. So I guess it depends on what time of day it is. It may also be dictated by the disposition of the boss! Of course this picture was taken in the summer-time, but it's the same road now as it was then. Just now it's all snow and ice covered and makes the drive (either way) even more unpleasant. SO... which way should I go?
Busy Busy Busy!
Tue Nov 27, 2007
I'm not sure what's going on in the auto shop biz elsewhere, but our mechanic work has slowed down and the body-shop has been booming! I've been so busy working on customer cars and used cars that I haven't been able to touch the Camaro (and we finally got all the stuff that was ordered!) or even start on the Corvair! My buddy finally got a hold of his buddy that had the Firebird quarter panel for sale and I got them for my car. I was told they were full factory type quarters, but they were just skins. I wasn't going to argue about $100 for the pair though. I know I could just weld up the spots where mine are blistering (again) but I want this to be the last time I cut into this car! I've got new door panels, rear panels, package tray, seat upholstery, and visors for the interior. The carpet and dash were replaced in the first go round between '99 and '01. I've also got a decal kit to go on for a "factory appearance" and not the "I took 8 hours to lay out the bird and 6 hours to do the stripes" paint-job. I've also got the engine kit and new oil pump and water pump and headers for the 400 that I'm putting in. I did get a early '77 scoop that I'm putting the "6.6 Litre" decals on and I'll put the "T/A 6.6" decals on the scoop I've got now. This time I don't have a wife nagging on me about how much I'm spending (both $$$ and time) on it now, so I plan to have it done before the Bandit Run in May. This summer there won't be any "rest for the wicked" because I'm going to kick butt on my Nova and do something with it! I doubt I'll have it even close to drive-able before fall, but you never know!
End Of Week #8
Fri Nov 9, 2007
My Dead-Line date has come and the Camaro isn't done. We're stll waiting on the interior stuff and the bumpers. Jeff called Year-One and they're still waiting on the interior and bumpers, too! The interior is a special order item because of the color and the bumpers are on national back-order. I did get all the emblems put on and got the doors and windows all together. I'm waiting to install the windshield and back glass until we have the head liner installed. I've been so busy with the other body-work too since the other bodyman quit. Maybe it will be done before the end of the month!
Happy to be "Back In Black"!
Sat Nov 3, 2007
Filed under: 1994 Chevrolet S-10 (Low-Rider)
Okay, this truck wasn't the greatest when I got it, but it was definately worth getting. The springs needed changed and it needed all the brakes worked on. The wipers were a "hit and miss" opperation but they now work. I got the exhaust patched up until I can get a chance to replace everything from the "Y" pipe back. Give me a chance to put a few more miles on it and I may trust it to go accross the USA! This truck also helped me decide on what color I'm going to paint my Nova when I get around to it. I'm going to have 3 black vehicles when all is said and done. And the good thing about having this truck over the Ranger; it shares the same bolt pattern on the wheels as the T/A and Nova so I can play "switch hitters" with the wheels!
End of Week #7
Fri Nov 2, 2007
This week wasn't productive at all on the Camaro. Jeff decided that we are going to do the upholstery job ourselves and ordered a kit (2 to 4 weeks wait) and we're still waiting on the rest of the parts to be delivered from Year One. The car is all buffed out and we put a cover on it to protect it while I'm doing work on other cars (8 of them this week). The next project is a '64 Corvair. It's supposed to be coming into the shop in the next week or so. We may have to put the Camaro over in the other building next to Jeff's Crown Vic to finish it up. Hopefully next week isn't so busy with the other cars and I can get back on the Camaro.
Jeff's Crown Vic
Sat Oct 27, 2007
Part of the deal with me getting the S-10 was to help Jeff on his '55 Crown Victoria. I've already done some work on this car, but like every body-man's own projects, this one got shuffled to the back burner and forgotten. Well, not really forgotten, just no time in the schedule for it. Jeff brought the doors, fenders, trunk lid and hood to the shop. I guess I'm going to be putting in a couple hours each night after the regular work-day and fitting everything up and getting it closer to paint. I think I want this car done just as bad as Jeff does! I mean really, how many "Pro-Street" '55 Fords do you see? Especially with the motor he has for it! I won't swear to it, but I think it's a 428 Cobra-Jet. It may be a 429 SC. I know it's going to Bad-Ass when it's done! He's talking about taking the interior out of a newer Thunderbird and putting in it. That would be so sweet!
End of Week #6; Camaro is painted!
Sat Oct 27, 2007
Even with the other body-man leaving this week, I still got everything tidied up on the Camaro and got it ready for Jeff to paint. He put it in sealer Friday late in the day and came in Saturday and scuffed off the nibs and started mixing Red. I was at the shop fixing the screwed up lowering blocks in my truck. The u-bolts were stripped out and the locating tabs were broken off the blocks. Hmmmm, do you think that would let the rear-end float and swim around when you drive it? New blocks and u-bolts and it's as good as new! Anywho, Jeff got the Camaro painted and it only took 3 quarts of paint (at $110 a quart) and a gallon of clear. With this car, a guy won't need Viagra! It looks good and I haven't even laid a buffer to it yet! The new chrome parts started coming in this week and the seats went to the upholstery shop Saturday. Give it another couple weeks and it should be done, right on our 8 week schedule!
Late Update!
Mon Oct 22, 2007
I got so busy this past week-end working on my S-10 I didn't have a chance to update about the Camaro! Even though the other body-man is still working for Jeff, I'm doing a lot of regular body-work. That's stealing time from the Camaro! I still managed to get the front end put together and lined up. The "Goodmark" fenders are made in China and fit worse than Tiawan junk! The "Goodmark" doors weren't much better (and one that "fell off the truck") and took a lot of tweaking to get to fit. Like I said, I've made a lot of progress even with the set-backs. I started final sanding it today. I'm sure there's going to be a few "glitches" that are going to need to be worked out, but it's going to be ready for paint this week! I'll get some pictures before it's painted and post them.
Changed the springs
Sat Oct 20, 2007
Filed under: 1994 Chevrolet S-10 (Low-Rider)
I got it done! I changed the springs back to stock and added these American Racing wheels to it this week-end! I left the lowering blocks and spindles in it so it's still got a 2" drop. I installed new shocks and sway-bar links on the front. I didn't get to do the rear brakes this week-end, but when I do them, I'm putting new shocks on the rear too. I fixed the exhaust (sort-of) so it doesn't sound like a derby car now. This is going to be a fine ride as I do more with it. I always was an S-10 man (over Rangers) and now I've got another "Black Truck" to play with!
3 Days Of Ownership
Wed Oct 17, 2007
Filed under: 1994 Chevrolet S-10 (Low-Rider)
It's amazing what's happened in 3 days! Day "One" I brought it home and washed it and removed the crappy seat covers to find leather seats. Inside the door jamb there's a label for some after market company that did the "dress-up" on it. Day "Two" I had a belt break in one of the goofy tiny tires. I went to the barn and grabbed 2 of the old S-10 wheels and tires I had and threw them in the bed. Day "Three" I took off the bad tire and checked the front brakes. E-Gads! Metal on metal and rotors ruined! The rear was worn out but not down to rivets yet. Saturday is going to be a BUSY day on this truck! Changing the springs, fixing the exhaust, and doing a brake-job! I think the buff and wax will have to wait for Sunday! LOL! So far I've put over 175 miles on it and still have more than half a tank of gas! May not sound surprising to you, but I'm amazed because my P.O.S. Ranger went through a lot more gas than that. But that truck was JUNK! Granted I've always been a Chevy (or at least GM) guy, but the Ford part had nothing to do with it being junk. This truck was nothing like the other Ranger I used to drive. The "Red Ranger" couldn't be killed! I beat that little bugger to death but couldn't kill it! I'm just glad the P.O.S. is gone and I'm "Back In Black"!
New Toy At Home
Sun Oct 14, 2007
Filed under: 1994 Chevrolet S-10 (Low-Rider)
Made the deal Friday, sealed the deal Saturday, Brought the "Low-Rider" home today. The goofy wheels and tiny tires are so wobbly I'm glad I'm changing them this week-end after I change the springs. While it's up on the hoist, I'm going to fix the exhaust where it got torn up from sitting too low. This is going to be a fine little truck when I get done with it! I've already got plans rolling thru my mind! I'll keep y'all updated as I get things rolling!
Going, going, GONE!
Fri Oct 12, 2007
Filed under: 1998 Ford Ranger Super-cab (P*O*S)
My boss sold his Hyundai and took a '94 S-10 in on trade. He knows I'm sick of this "train-wreck on wheels" and made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Even swap plus some labor on his '55 Crown Vic this winter. The S-10 needs a little work but easy stuff that could be done in a week-end. Bye-bye baby!