70 Chevelle Restoration

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stbabs
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6:32p, 8/14/19
AG
Headliner install is going well. It's dry fitted, tight and relatively wrinkle free. Will tweak the few remaining wrinkles tomorrow.
Key to getting it tight was these little tools.



Stretch the fabric by hand then use the end of the tool to push it even tighter into the groove where the clips are put on.

Hope to glue it down tomorrow morning.

Late start on the headliner because fitting the pass side fender took 4 hours. In spite of the pre-fit before it was painted it gave us major issues until it finally fell into place.
Part of the problem was that the car was sitting on its wheels during the pre-fit and was on jack stands today when we started. After a couple of hours frustration we decided to put it down on its wheels and somehow the geometry changed and things started coming together.

Grill installed



And the fender that was such a PITA:


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AgBQ-00
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6:58p, 8/16/19
AG
Man it is looking so good. Getting to the part where it is hard to stay steady and patient
You do not have a soul. You are a soul that has a body.

We sing Hallelujah! The Lamb has overcome!
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stbabs
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In reply to AgBQ-00 • 8:50p, 8/16/19
AG
AgBQ-00 said:
Man it is looking so good. Getting to the part where it is hard to stay steady and patient


Massive understatement!!!

Last two days have been frustrating. Aftermarket trim has some challenges. Drip rail chrome doesn't want to fit right and wheel house moldings had to be trimmed and fitted.

This is the car late today:



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TxSquarebody
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9:06p, 8/16/19
Looking good! Any plans to lower the stance?
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stbabs
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In reply to TxSquarebody • 9:35p, 8/16/19
AG
TxSquarebody said:
Looking good! Any plans to lower the stance?


Not now. I've measured frame to ground front and rear and she's maybe a 1/2 inch high in the rear. I'm good with that.

I'm a 3/4 ton truck guy. This is the only vehicle I own that I can't roll under without jacking it up. So, no lower for now anyway.
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stbabs
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9:38p, 8/16/19
AG


Hood still off and windshield and rear glass still not installed.

But the hood is ready



May have to tweak the fenders a bit. Hood to fender gap is a bit tight.

Tweaking the fenders likely means playing with the doors to make sure door-fender gap is good.

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TxSquarebody
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In reply to stbabs • 10:24p, 8/16/19
Getting things to line up properly is the part I always farm out. I just don't have the patience to get it perfect!
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Corps_Ag12
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11:11p, 8/16/19
AG
Love the factory stance on 60's era cars. I hate seeing resto mods that are slammed to the ground.
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stbabs
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In reply to TxSquarebody • 7:22a, 8/17/19
AG
TxSquarebody said:
Getting things to line up properly is the part I always farm out. I just don't have the patience to get it perfect!


Speaking of farming it out; in spite of the great start with the headliner, I'm not happy with the back half. Some small wrinkles I can't seem to make go away.

Taking it to an upholstery shop next week. So close to perfection I just couldn't live with wrinkles in the headliner.
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ac04
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7:26a, 8/17/19
i want this car
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stbabs
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In reply to ac04 • 8:10a, 8/17/19
AG
ac04 said:
i want this car


If it wasn't such a family heirloom I might let it go for a wheelbarrow full of $100s.

So many memories with this thing I'm not sure I'd let it go for a million $$$.

What'd I just say??!! Hmm
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TxSquarebody
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In reply to stbabs • 8:30a, 8/17/19
stbabs said:
ac04 said:
i want this car


If it wasn't such a family heirloom I might let it go for a wheelbarrow full of $100s.

So many memories with this thing I'm not sure I'd let it go for a million $$$.

What'd I just say??!! Hmm

Careful, stbabs! Even sentiment can be bought for the right price!
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stbabs
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In reply to TxSquarebody • 11:40a, 8/17/19
AG
Offer me a million. Test my sentiment.
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stbabs
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7:24a, 8/18/19
AG
Major disappointment yesterday.
Adjusted the brakes in prep for the first test drive. Plunger had jumped outta the slot in one of the rear shoes but an easy fix.

The engine has been started and run several times over the past month; timing, checking for fuel/coolant leaks etc. no issues. Always started and ran well.

Until this time. Hit the switch and nasty grinding noise from the starter. I'm talking major bendix eating teeth off the flex plate kinda noise.

I crawl under the car and sure enough, one flex plate tooth gone and others butchered up.

No loose starter bolts; no obvious cause of the problem.

Almost has to be a starter to flex plate fit issue but why da hell did it start so smoothly until this time??

Tomorrow I drop the tran ny and replace both flex plate and started.

Grrrrr!!!!
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AgBQ-00
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7:54a, 8/18/19
AG
Better it happen there than when finished and out and about. But yeah that would be deflating
You do not have a soul. You are a soul that has a body.

We sing Hallelujah! The Lamb has overcome!
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barney94
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9:07a, 8/18/19
AG
It looks amazing.
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chimpanzee
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In reply to stbabs • 5:33p, 8/18/19
stbabs said:
Major disappointment yesterday.
Adjusted the brakes in prep for the first test drive. Plunger had jumped outta the slot in one of the rear shoes but an easy fix.

The engine has been started and run several times over the past month; timing, checking for fuel/coolant leaks etc. no issues. Always started and ran well.

Until this time. Hit the switch and nasty grinding noise from the starter. I'm talking major bendix eating teeth off the flex plate kinda noise.

I crawl under the car and sure enough, one flex plate tooth gone and others butchered up.

No loose starter bolts; no obvious cause of the problem.

Almost has to be a starter to flex plate fit issue but why da hell did it start so smoothly until this time??

Tomorrow I drop the tran ny and replace both flex plate and started.

Grrrrr!!!!


Had a similar issue with my firebird. I ended up going with a Powermaster brand mini-starter. They were able internally move the gear back in the mechanism (away from the flexplate) a couple of tenths. I called their tech line and they were very helpful.

If nothing else, it weighs half of what the dinosaur of a stock unit did.
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stbabs
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In reply to chimpanzee • 6:25p, 8/18/19
AG
Thanks Chimp. I'll look into Powermaster.
They'd already popped up on my internet research.
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TxSquarebody
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7:46p, 8/18/19
I second the powermaster starters. Use them on every engine I build now.
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lb3
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7:03a, 8/19/19
AG
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stbabs
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In reply to lb3 • 6:50p, 8/19/19
AG
Rear disc? Thought about it. Decided to stick with drum on rear.
Car was originally drum all way around. Converted to front disc years ago.
If I planned to really run this car I'd put disc all way around. It'll be a cruiser, never run hard, even though that 396 is probably pushing 425 HP.

Pulled the tran ny back far enough to pull the flexplate. Ordered new TCI flexplate and powermaster mini starter. Hopefully no more bendix to flexplate issues.
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stbabs
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6:16p, 8/23/19
AG
New flexplate and Powermaster starter installed and op checked. Working well.

Adjusted angle of the starter to get the solenoid as far as possible from the exhaust manifold. Considering a heat shield but that's for later after she's on the road and checked out.

Speaking of which, she rolled out of the shop and maybe a mile down the road this afternoon. No hood or windshield yet but wanted to check Tran ny shift points. Gonna need some adjustment. Winds way too tight before shifting to 2d gear.

Slight lifter tick; needs some adjustment.

Drip rail trim isn't fitting well. Too loose and doesn't lock onto the channel. Work on it next week.

She goes for windshield and rear glass next week.

Then carpet and seats. Seats are covered and sitting in my dinning room. Pearl white. Look good against fathom blue exterior.

Starting to believe I may actually finish this project.
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TxSquarebody
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6:43p, 8/23/19
Can't wait to see it doing smokey burnouts!
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cmiller00
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6:52p, 8/23/19
foulbeast
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2:20p, 8/24/19
AG
One of my favorite threads on Texags right now. Thanks OP for taking us on this journey with you.
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chimpanzee
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7:34p, 8/24/19
Great progress, nearly there!
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stbabs
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In reply to foulbeast • 10:20p, 8/24/19
AG
foulbeast said:
One of my favorite threads on Texags right now. Thanks OP for taking us on this journey with you.


You're quite welcome.
It's been a journey for sure. Lots of $$$ and some frustrations along the way. But, I expected both.

I committed to this restoration and Hell or high water I'm finishing it.

I posted early on that this was the first car my wife and I owned; and it was with the family for the duration. It carried our two sons thru A&M.

What I haven't told you is that I lost my wife to cancer over 3 years ago.

The restoration is a tribute to her and the great years she gave me, our three kids and six grands.

Hope you like it Vicki. I know, the racing stripes are probably a bit much for you, but, be patient, they grow on you.
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Stringfellow Hawke
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In reply to stbabs • 10:40p, 8/24/19
AG
What is the total cost of this project??
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stbabs
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In reply to Stringfellow Hawke • 4:27a, 8/25/19
AG
brs4688 said:
What is the total cost of this project??


I haven't tracked too closely; will tally it when I'm done, but likely north of $65K.
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stbabs
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12:47p, 8/26/19
AG


Might be a "tool throwing" day.
Test drive to check shift points of Tran ny. Didn't shift, stayed in low gear.

It's a 700r4 rebuilt by best Tran ny guy in this area.

Two things to check for. Throttle Valve adjustment and one electrical wire. Both seem right.

Stopped just short of throwing tools.

Letting the Tran ny rest for now.

Hauling it to get windshield and rear glass installed.

Oh, one old transmission guy suggested I drive the car slowly and slam it into park while moving. Apparently that's a truck used on 700r4s after a rebuild.

REALLY??? I think I'll wait a while before doing that.
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sts7049
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2:34p, 8/26/19
AG
been a long time now, but way back when i had the trans rebuilt on my old s-10 by a reputable shop. i remember when i picked it up, it did the same thing...didn't shift out of first right away.

i think all i did was just drive it...it revved up to redline and finally slammed itself into second. i think it was fine after that.
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Centerpole90
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3:41p, 8/26/19
AG
I've thrown tools. Is this the confessional thread????
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lb3
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3:55p, 8/26/19
AG
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Stringfellow Hawke
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In reply to stbabs • 4:30p, 8/26/19
AG
Just curious bc I have seen a wide variety of price on classic cars.com anywhere from the 30s into the 200,000 range
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stbabs
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In reply to sts7049 • 8:50p, 8/26/19
AG
sts7049 said:
been a long time now, but way back when i had the trans rebuilt on my old s-10 by a reputable shop. i remember when i picked it up, it did the same thing...didn't shift out of first right away.

i think all i did was just drive it...it revved up to redline and finally slammed itself into second. i think it was fine after that.


Likely what I'll try when I get it back from windshield install.
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