 wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15802
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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10-11-09 06:36 AM - Post#1786486
In response to overdrive
I come from a do-it-yourself family too. Whenever my mother asked my father to do something he would say "do it yourself". 
Actually my dad was a teacher and didn't possess much skill for working with his hands. I am self taught on pretty much everythiing I know how to do. I took my first car apart down off the frame when I was 19 without knowing really anything about car, other than I love them. I didn't rebuild the engine or trans in that one. I had an engine built and installed it along with the trans that came out of the car. The trans didn't last long behind the more powerful engine and having a lot of miles on it with a fresh engine. But it too, I had rebuilt and installed mostly because I was working 60-70 hours a week and in college full time as well.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
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overdrive
Senior Member
Posts: 1305
Loc: N.E. Mo
Reg: 02-17-03
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07-31-10 09:26 AM - Post#1953425
In response to wagonman100
Update:
I haven't taken the body off yet.
Just thought someone would like some pics to check out. I've been working a lot of hours at work and haven't been able to spend much time on the cars, but I have done a little. I'm taking all of the original paint and primer off the SS and I'm pretty sure I'll paint it '70 Fathom Blue or '57 Chevy Harbor Blue. They are close to being the same color. I'll install a black vinyl top and black cloth interior.
I recently sanded the area around the trunk opening, the taillight housings, and the panels below the trunk lid. I stripped off all of the old seam sealer and resealed the seams. I used a razor blade scraper to remove the old paint on flatter areas, including the qtrs. and doors. The paint comes off easily this way, but the blade won't get under the primer.
I used self etching primer before shooting the gray 2k primer.
This door is ready for primer now.
I've been taking it to cruise-ins and leaving the 57s at home.
Dan
http://www.picturetrail.com/57overdrive
'57 Belair Sport Coupe restored
'57 Nomad w/mild restoration
'57 Delray w/28K mi. unrestored
'71 Monte, restored
'70 Monte SS 454, L.A. built, restoration has begun |
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15802
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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07-31-10 11:17 AM - Post#1953460
In response to overdrive
Looking good Dan. Keep up the good work.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
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Gray Headed Mule
Valued Contributor
Posts: 4736
Loc: Fort Worth, Texas
Reg: 12-11-03
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10-07-10 07:38 PM - Post#1986212
In response to wagonman100
Any updates?? I had a 70 Monte SS back in 80...Loved the car.
Let me tell you one problem I had with it. The wife and I took off one weekend from Ft. Worth Tx...ended up in Arkansas in the middle of the night...around 3AM. In the mountains and the car just dies.....no lights, no crank...nota..nothing.. Popped the hood used a match for a light... and foumd that the main wire that supplies everything was shorted out between the radiator cross member and the radiator. I don't know if they are originally there but I would check. Who knows it may save you from breaking down in the middle of nowhere!!
Very nice ride.....
More pics....
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15802
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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10-08-10 04:35 AM - Post#1986327
In response to Gray Headed Mule
I had my main wire that goes to the starter solenoid slip down and short on the header and I lost power to everything. But that was at 7:30 in the morning halfway between work and home...a 3 mile trip. Went on to work and then came back and found the problem. Stripped and twisted the wires together and was on my way back home for a proper fix.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
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dadstoy
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1429
Age: 70
Loc: Lewisburg Ohio
Reg: 04-01-07
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10-10-10 07:28 AM - Post#1987221
In response to overdrive
My best friend in high school had a 70 SS Monte, triple black car with all the options. It was a very impressive car. Around 1980 he lost the car in a divorce, anyway the new exwife's boyfriend totals the car by rolling it several times. My buddy and I go to the salvage yard to look at it.
If I had known then what a 70 SS monte was worth now, I would have bought more than the 2 front SS fender emblems. BTW I still have them.
Larry.
1967 Camaro RS
1965 Impala 9 pass wagon 283
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overdrive
Senior Member
Posts: 1305
Loc: N.E. Mo
Reg: 02-17-03
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11-06-10 08:59 PM - Post#2000678
In response to dadstoy
With a new job, bowhunting, working on the house, and lots of other excuses, I haven't done much work work on the car recently. I shot some primer on the pass. door and put it back on and also primed the rear section of the car, except for the qtrs. I've been buying some parts and I cleaned up some real nice black original door panels that an FGMCC member gave me and installed them. I've called C.A.R.S. Inc. about the black cloth seat covers I'll need, and they'll be about $750, but I've been getting lucky finding some other new and used parts pretty cheap.
Did I tell you guys how much fun it is to drive it?
Larry, that's too bad about the black SS.
Mule, thanks for the heads up. I'll check for a possible problem there.
Dan
http://www.picturetrail.com/57overdrive
'57 Belair Sport Coupe restored
'57 Nomad w/mild restoration
'57 Delray w/28K mi. unrestored
'71 Monte, restored
'70 Monte SS 454, L.A. built, restoration has begun |
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overdrive
Senior Member
Posts: 1305
Loc: N.E. Mo
Reg: 02-17-03
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05-01-11 07:00 AM - Post#2084380
In response to overdrive
Awhile back, I bought a complete lower body trim set and I got a new front bumper and had the rear replated. I've had the headlight trim and the rear corner trim for the vinyl top replated, and the bumper guards, outer door handles, PW and PL switches and a couple other parts are being replated now.
I've done a little with the car over the winter. Mostly buying parts and making a wish list of the rest of the parts needed to finish and looking for the best deals. I got a nice frame that I want to blast and powder coat or paint. Haven't decided which.
I've now decided to not go with the original colors and I'm changing the interior to black. I've had a gold car before and it's just not my favorite color. The body color will probably be Fathom Blue or maybe Black Cherry and a black vinyl top.
Bought a clock, everything needed to make the seats and headrests look and feel like new, arm rest pads and bases, complete weatherstrip kit, some emblems, fuel sending unit, etc.
I have one seat apart and blasted/painted. Waiting on the seat covers to show up.
I've put a new door on the console and restored the rest of it.
Shifter assembly is done. Used a new handle.
The spare tire and the jack are done.
Plans are to restore the dash, finish the body work a little at a time this summer and drive it some more. I'll do the engine repaint and upgrades when I move the body to the other frame.
Dan
http://www.picturetrail.com/57overdrive
'57 Belair Sport Coupe restored
'57 Nomad w/mild restoration
'57 Delray w/28K mi. unrestored
'71 Monte, restored
'70 Monte SS 454, L.A. built, restoration has begun |
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15802
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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05-01-11 09:07 AM - Post#2084432
In response to overdrive
Looking good Dan. You can't beat powder coating for the frame. All of my cars will eventually have their frames powder coated. My '83 wagon frame should be going to the coaters tomorrow.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
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ZAACCHHAARRCCCRRYYYA
Forum Newbie
Posts: 49
Loc: Upstate NY
Reg: 11-22-10
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05-21-11 03:46 PM - Post#2093205
In response to overdrive
| I throw money at problems. |
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overdrive
Senior Member
Posts: 1305
Loc: N.E. Mo
Reg: 02-17-03
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05-21-11 08:32 PM - Post#2093342
In response to ZAACCHHAARRCCCRRYYYA
That's how I drive it!
I got the seat covers and they forgot to put the listings under the bottom covers for the buckets. Sent those back to CARS Inc. I put the new cover on one back rest. I really like the cloth/vinyl covers.
Here's another color I like.
Dan
http://www.picturetrail.com/57overdrive
'57 Belair Sport Coupe restored
'57 Nomad w/mild restoration
'57 Delray w/28K mi. unrestored
'71 Monte, restored
'70 Monte SS 454, L.A. built, restoration has begun |
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overdrive
Senior Member
Posts: 1305
Loc: N.E. Mo
Reg: 02-17-03
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06-01-11 08:12 PM - Post#2098162
In response to overdrive
Well, I was taking the rear seat cushion cover off last night and I found the build sheet! It was between the foam pad and the jute pad and it's in great shape, other than being torn. I had given up on finding one, but I'm now grinning from ear to ear.
Dan
http://www.picturetrail.com/57overdrive
'57 Belair Sport Coupe restored
'57 Nomad w/mild restoration
'57 Delray w/28K mi. unrestored
'71 Monte, restored
'70 Monte SS 454, L.A. built, restoration has begun |
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15802
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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06-02-11 04:22 AM - Post#2098232
In response to overdrive
That's a nice find. I was fortunate with mine. Someone else found it before I bought it and it was in the glove box along with the original owner's manual. Not that it matters too much since my car will be heavily modified when I get to work on it again.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
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overdrive
Senior Member
Posts: 1305
Loc: N.E. Mo
Reg: 02-17-03
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06-05-11 01:25 PM - Post#2099644
In response to wagonman100
Got the cushion covers back and finished one seat yesterday.
Dan
http://www.picturetrail.com/57overdrive
'57 Belair Sport Coupe restored
'57 Nomad w/mild restoration
'57 Delray w/28K mi. unrestored
'71 Monte, restored
'70 Monte SS 454, L.A. built, restoration has begun |
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Daves 57 Bel Air
Contributor
Posts: 162
Reg: 06-22-08
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06-05-11 07:13 PM - Post#2099774
In response to overdrive
Very cool. My uncle found the build sheet on the '71 Monte Carlo I gave my son for his birthday last year when he was recovering the driver's bucket seat.
- Dave -
1957 Bel Air 2dr Hrdtp (work in progress)
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15802
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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06-06-11 04:17 AM - Post#2099854
In response to overdrive
I forgot to mention, the original window sticker was in my glovebox as well. The seat looks great, by the way.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
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overdrive
Senior Member
Posts: 1305
Loc: N.E. Mo
Reg: 02-17-03
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09-20-11 07:59 PM - Post#2139222
In response to wagonman100
Thanks fellas. Update: I finished the seats awhile back and installed them so I could drive it a little this fall. It's been off the road almost a year. Also took the ID labels off the seat belts and redyed them before sewing the labels back on. They came out real nice. I recently finished the first round of bodywork on the qtrs and the drvr door. They didn't need much work, but I just hadn't spent the time on them and now the whole car is finally in primer. Lots of block sanding and primering to do now.
Mixed some hardener in with some gloss black to make satin black and shot a few small parts.
Used the build sheet to have a window sticker made. This car had a sticker price of $5269.80!
Dan
http://www.picturetrail.com/57overdrive
'57 Belair Sport Coupe restored
'57 Nomad w/mild restoration
'57 Delray w/28K mi. unrestored
'71 Monte, restored
'70 Monte SS 454, L.A. built, restoration has begun |
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15802
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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09-22-11 04:37 AM - Post#2139610
In response to overdrive
I haven't looked at mine in a long time, but the price of mine was way up there too for 1972.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
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overdrive
Senior Member
Posts: 1305
Loc: N.E. Mo
Reg: 02-17-03
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10-03-11 04:13 PM - Post#2143560
In response to wagonman100
I cleaned and painted the motor last week. Finished it Sat night and put the car in the unfinished class for its first car show Sunday.
http://www.picturetrail.com/57overdrive
'57 Belair Sport Coupe restored
'57 Nomad w/mild restoration
'57 Delray w/28K mi. unrestored
'71 Monte, restored
'70 Monte SS 454, L.A. built, restoration has begun |
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15802
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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10-04-11 04:35 AM - Post#2143699
In response to overdrive
That's a dramatic difference. Looks great.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
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old51sedan
Contributor
Posts: 832
Loc: Michigan
Reg: 10-11-09
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10-10-11 06:30 AM - Post#2145799
In response to overdrive
Your Monte Carlo is looking nice. I can still remember when my brother inlaw came home from the service in 70. He went down and bought a new MC SS with the big 454, it was triple green, auto on the floor and that baby would run. I remember him saying the dealer had 2 the same except his had power sttering. He drove the one without, then bought the one with PS. He dummied up and traded it in 72 for a grand prix.
1951 styleline 2dr deluxe
Original 51 plate, Dealer Tag, Documents
58,000 original miles, second owner
1954 PG 235, rear axle, Power Steering
Fenton Headers With Smitys |
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overdrive
Senior Member
Posts: 1305
Loc: N.E. Mo
Reg: 02-17-03
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01-05-12 06:01 PM - Post#2176146
In response to old51sedan
Thanks. I was only 10 when these were new, but I sometimes wish I had been old enough to buy one new.
Dan
http://www.picturetrail.com/57overdrive
'57 Belair Sport Coupe restored
'57 Nomad w/mild restoration
'57 Delray w/28K mi. unrestored
'71 Monte, restored
'70 Monte SS 454, L.A. built, restoration has begun |
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knightfan2691
Dedicated Member
Posts: 6215
Age: 50
Loc: Elgin IL
Reg: 11-18-02
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01-12-12 10:19 PM - Post#2178804
In response to overdrive
Thanks. I was only 10 when these were new, but I sometimes wish I had been old enough to buy one new.
Dan ... I'm the same way ... wish I had been old enough to buy one of those new, but I wasn't even born when the 1st gens were new. I came along in '73, the first year of the 2nd gen, and the only year the MC was named MT COT.
I tell people I was born in the wrong decade....
Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker + cowValve | 5 MCs + 1 Caprice Classic
CHD.MCs.CC + RoadTrips.hobbies.RadioShows.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"We believe in tomorrow, but we're stuck in today" __ Hall & Oates __ 'So Close (Yet So Far Away)'
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overdrive
Senior Member
Posts: 1305
Loc: N.E. Mo
Reg: 02-17-03
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07-20-12 09:47 PM - Post#2250466
In response to overdrive
Well, I lost a cam lobe the day after I cleaned and painted the motor. 
I just finished rebuilding it a few weeks ago. When I pulled it apart, I found 4 bolt mains, a forged crank, and domed hypereutectic pistons.
I did a complete rebuild using a Comp hyd. roller cam kit.
It runs better than ever, now. I love the roller cam.
Dan
http://www.picturetrail.com/57overdrive
'57 Belair Sport Coupe restored
'57 Nomad w/mild restoration
'57 Delray w/28K mi. unrestored
'71 Monte, restored
'70 Monte SS 454, L.A. built, restoration has begun |
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overdrive
Senior Member
Posts: 1305
Loc: N.E. Mo
Reg: 02-17-03
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05-31-14 04:24 PM - Post#2457390
In response to overdrive
It's been quite a while since I posted here. I've been buying parts and restoring others, as time and money has allowed. After I put the motor back in, I went to a few cruise nights and had some fun with the car. The motor was doing great until it only had about 500 miles on the rebuild. The rear surface of the thrust bearing went bad. It turns out that the torque converter was going bad and the metal particles from it caused a blockage in the trans. This caused the torque converter to put alot of forward pressure on the flex plate and crank shaft every time I'd accelerate. I rebuilt the motor again, but I haven't reinstalled it. I'm now commited to getting the body off the frame soon and finishing the body work. I've recently been scraping all of the undercoating off the bottom of the car and in the rear wheel houses. The metal I'm exposing looks great.
Dan
http://www.picturetrail.com/57overdrive
'57 Belair Sport Coupe restored
'57 Nomad w/mild restoration
'57 Delray w/28K mi. unrestored
'71 Monte, restored
'70 Monte SS 454, L.A. built, restoration has begun |
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overdrive
Senior Member
Posts: 1305
Loc: N.E. Mo
Reg: 02-17-03
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09-04-14 09:30 PM - Post#2481894
In response to overdrive
The body mount bolts came loose easily. That was a big relief. I got the body off by taking the frame out the side, just using some jack stands and a floor jack.
I've cleaned the top side of the floor pans and the inner trunk, and primered the trunk. The primer and painting of the top of the floor pans is now done. I was able to finish the underbody and wheel house cleaning and primer last weekend. I shot 2 coats of chassis black on the underbody, the firewall, and the cowl.
These pics show the body tilter I designed and built for this job. It was a life saver and doesn't take up nearly as much room as a rotisserie. I can unbolt the rocker rails and bolt on a set of casters to convert it to a body cart. The casters are large enough I can roll the body shell easily onto a trailer for transport to a friends shop. He has a paint booth I will use.
This is the last of just a few patches I had to make and weld in. Access was made easy with the tilter.
Dan
http://www.picturetrail.com/57overdrive
'57 Belair Sport Coupe restored
'57 Nomad w/mild restoration
'57 Delray w/28K mi. unrestored
'71 Monte, restored
'70 Monte SS 454, L.A. built, restoration has begun |
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overdrive
Senior Member
Posts: 1305
Loc: N.E. Mo
Reg: 02-17-03
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09-04-14 10:06 PM - Post#2481905
In response to overdrive
I enjoy making parts that aren't made anywhere else. I've been making some of the automatic level ride system parts that were part of the SS package in '70 and '71, and also an option on non-SS Monte Carlos and on Chevelles.
This is an ultra-rare NOS level ride compressor inlet I bought years ago. It's been my pattern without opening the package.
I have a mold of an original base and reproduce the filters. Nobody else makes these. All foam rubber is white when it's new and yellows with age.
I make these Monte Carlo specific compressor mounting brackets to look as close to the originals, (that's the black pair), as I can.
These are the first pair I made. I've made 5 or 6 pair, so far.
I built 2 dies to reproduce the shock protector plates. These were also used on El Caminos.
Some more of my level ride system parts...
The control valves are still available from the original manufacturer.
Dan
http://www.picturetrail.com/57overdrive
'57 Belair Sport Coupe restored
'57 Nomad w/mild restoration
'57 Delray w/28K mi. unrestored
'71 Monte, restored
'70 Monte SS 454, L.A. built, restoration has begun |
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overdrive
Senior Member
Posts: 1305
Loc: N.E. Mo
Reg: 02-17-03
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07-26-16 08:05 PM - Post#2641949
In response to overdrive
Hello again to all!
I haven't posted here for a long while. Progress has been slow. Too many other things going on to be able to spend as much time on the car as I'd like, but I certainly haven't stopped on it. Alot of the smaller projects are now done. Also, I've gotten the frame blasted and powder coated, along with just about everything else under the car. Suspension parts, bumper brackets, etc. I've blocked out all panels at least once and I recently shot a couple more coats of primer/surfacer.
I've gotten a stainless gas tank, stainless fuel lines and brake lines, stainless parking brake cable set, and the trans cooler lines.
After putting the motor and transmission back on the frame, along with the stainless American Racing Headers, I made some cuts on the Magnaflow stainless exhaust, then TIG welded some of the joints and got the mufflers hung. If you haven't noticed, I really like stainless steel parts and powder coating. I want this car to last a long time.
I also put the front suspension back together.
Since the frame is not the original, I put the body on it to be able to reinstall the doors, fenders, etc., to check for alignment issues.
Dan
http://www.picturetrail.com/57overdrive
'57 Belair Sport Coupe restored
'57 Nomad w/mild restoration
'57 Delray w/28K mi. unrestored
'71 Monte, restored
'70 Monte SS 454, L.A. built, restoration has begun |
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rcr3
Site Ambassador -"20th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 3995
Age: 72
Loc: MANHEIM PA. U.S.A.
Reg: 11-24-02
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07-27-16 03:16 AM - Post#2641968
In response to overdrive
WOW !! What an amazing job you have done on this car! Thanks for the update.
'67 Camaro survivor
'06 Z71 Sierra Ex Cab
'37 Chevy cp.SOLD!!6/7/14
'00 S10 Ex Cab BUILT FOR EVERYDAY,NOT JUST THE HOLIDAYS
'73 Nova pro-street project
'17 Chevy Trax LT
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overdrive
Senior Member
Posts: 1305
Loc: N.E. Mo
Reg: 02-17-03
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09-12-16 02:56 PM - Post#2650876
In response to rcr3
Thank you, sir. I've blocked out everything except the shell again. Shot a final coat of primer on the hood and one door yesterday. I was really hoping to shoot the paint this fall, so I could reassemble during the winter. Since I'm not retired, other work priorities keep me shackled and it's not looking like I'll get to spray it until next year, unless I can rent a heated paint booth after bow season.
Dan
http://www.picturetrail.com/57overdrive
'57 Belair Sport Coupe restored
'57 Nomad w/mild restoration
'57 Delray w/28K mi. unrestored
'71 Monte, restored
'70 Monte SS 454, L.A. built, restoration has begun |
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