no problem Rich I had the plastic one on our 76 400.had to put a heater under it in 77 while up near bancroft.it had dropped to well below zero the whole weekend.this was before I started using synthetic oil.as we sat in cottage noticed what I thought what looked like smoke.went out to check sure enough plastic cover was slowly melting down on to heater what friggen mess.moral do not put a heat source near cover LOL.covers have been in my inventory for over 30 years.if you ever melt yours you know where they are.I think the truth is that you found a cleaner one as opposed to closer one.that wagon is coming together nicely.just had a thought now I need to get Harry to delete the pics of my filthy parts do not want the whole world to see them

-- Edited by 54vicky on Saturday 4th of April 2015 05:06:27 PM

JPB wrote:

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Have the same problem on my chevy II. The previous owner  used a straight up  T stat housing and a goofy flex rad hose  on the top.

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Hey John I am thinking of machining something that will thread into the hole turn 90 degrees and be long enough to hold the temp. probe.  Oh ya...it needs to look good as well.  Don't know if it's a good idea and that's why I was interested in hearing what others thought or have done.  If that's the direction I go, I will machine two.  One for me and one for you.

I was also thinking that maybe you have had enough hardtops and need to trade up to a wagon!!?? 

 

 

if I understand your meaning on temp adapter I do not think it will reflect the true temp due to shrouding of probe.I have a few fan spacers in my inventory if you dont find one closer.they will also come with the prerequisite dust LOL I think a shroud would also be something to think about.for cooling as well as probably save someones fingers,do not ask how I know about the finger thing.I thought on thermostat housing again if I under stand your problem you could probably make a spacer to raise the housing away from intake.another thought is locating a therm housing that points straight up I am almost certain over the years I have seen them on GM engines.again just a thought did a search on rock auto found this one 1990 k1500 pick up 350 c.i. part #84942 may do what you want.it would require a different rad hose you would need to check hose ID to make sure it matches rad outlet to match ID on housing.over the years I have made many hoses where there is none available or made exactly the configuration.I keep a ton of rad hoses and find what I need (bend wise and ID)cut what I need use a piece of copper pipe or exhaust pipe if the same size I need to join them.if 2 different IDs then I would use a piece of exhaust pipe with OD of smaller hose then swedge other end to match other end to match larger hose.it may seem more work but gives you an option to overcome an odd hose problem.have used this method on a lot of our race car builds.being aluminum coated or galvinized they will (should not rust)at least ones I made so will not look ugly.only extra is 2 more hose clamps can be made to look clean with proper size clamps(ie not 3" clamps on 2" hose leaving a long portion of tail hanging off clamp)as to shroud you may find one that can be mounted fairly clean and easy.I used to keep every shroud off of cars we scrapped over the years many times I could mount one without it looking  like an abcess .I am sure you could find one that with careful measurements and mounting points would work again without looking like an ugly after thought.the plastic 2 piece are a lot easier to work with as far as fitting as you can see any clearance issues with them and helps on figuring how to mount.my thoughts on it anyway.BARRY

-- Edited by 54vicky on Sunday 5th of April 2015 09:44:07 AM

Slab,
please try and find a 4 or 5 bladed STEEL fan. Those flex fans can really make a mess of your hood etc., and especially throats and faces if a fin comes off. PLus it will cool better and a spacer and shroud would work really well.

69SS454 wrote:

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Love the progress you guys are making. Keep up the good work.

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 Thanks Kurt,  It;s great having a partner in crime to help out.  Ben's learned enough to do things on his own while I work on other stuff.  My wife Linda is giving full support to finish this up as well.  That also makes a huge difference.

No pictures today but Ben and I worked all day on the car. Took turns under the dash standing on our heads wiring. Ben did the neutral safety switch and I wired the lights for the gauges. We also did the HEI conversion wiring from fuse block to make it as clean an install as possible. We also had to trace and figure out some wires. Good day in the shop and one step closer to actually hearing this thing run...hopefully. I decided to machine a water neck spacer at work out of 316 stainless. Not sure how it will look but I guess we shall see. Found an exhaust problem. The old pipes(stainless) are 2 inch in and 2 1/4out. The new mufflers are 2 1/4 in and out. Have to get the pipes expanded.

Ben and I went to the wrecking yard and scavenged some parts.  Always fun looking around.  I needed an exhaust for the wagon and Ben found this one that we considered for a moment.....

We did find a spacer for the fan. It was off a 70ish Pontiac and was about 4.375 long.  I cut it down on the lathe to the size we wanted.

Had enough to make two if I had to.

This piece of steel will (if all goes well) become my spacer for the water neck.  Not sure if it will look OK but it needs to be about  one inch thick.

Rich ...I have a spacer for the water neck if you need one.... about 1 1/2 - 2 "

More pictures...

Second operation was to face the length to size.

Next operation was to drill the bolt holes

Then I bolted on the spare neck and milled a flat.

Then rotated and milled the other sides respectively.

Then I used a big disc grinder to do the radius' and that was about it.  You could mill on the radius but that would have taken a few more steps than I wanted to do. 

lastly here it is on the car for a test fit.  I will probably polish it some more latter. 

A small explanation on a couple things....

The slug was a piece of scrap 316 stainless from the junk bin at work.

The set ups used were done quick on lunch breaks and may not be the most Ideal.

Total time was approximately equivalent to 4 lunch breaks while eating a sandwich.  LOL 

It looks like a million bucks!!! ......or a hundred at least! Nice job!

Nice work Rich! That's what Hot Roddin' is all about.

some pics from today.

The mufflers are a touch different and that is presenting a bit of a problem.  So is the wagon spare tire well.

Hei is in. Remember most of the new parts I am bolting on are 20yrs oldish.  What was cool back then may not be today.

Water neck spacer all polished up and installed.

The copper oil pressure gauge line.  Notice the coil for expansion!?

The carb is off and my Dad started trying to detail it.

Thanks for looking and the comments.

well the new rad hose is 24 years old lollllllllllllll great work

Here's what has happened over the last few days. 

The parking brake handle as it was programmed on lunch breaks.

How it looks in the car.

After trying it out a couple times I figured out why the originals broke.  It is a tight spring on there that you have to turn against to get the brake released.  I'll run this for now and see how it goes.

Carbs on and bolted down.  If you see anything that doesn't look right or is "just wrong" let me know.  I'm not to proud to say I may be guessing a bit here and there??!!

I did actually turn the key last night with the distributer disconnected and it cranked the engine around.  I had lights in the dash etc.

The wiring seems OK so far and I was concerned about that.

Rich

tv on ly show the time it starts all the other tries the don t show us

I wish I had of had even a hick-up but no. Lots of fuel out the jets but I think there is no spark. The checking begins..........

-- Edited by slab on Friday 24th of April 2015 10:18:17 PM

Had no spark. Tested coil but still no spark. Switched out the distributer for another one and the motor actually showed signs of wanting to start. Still ain't quite there but closer.

Ben also check the compression. If it is low get your dad to pick up a can or two at Canadian Tire...lol.
Good Luck on first start up guys.

TADA!

Love it

I need to figure out the carb problem with the one that was rebuilt. Oldguy thinks the float is set wrong or stuck. I'd really like to run it if I can but we will see. Today I cleaned up the shop a bit and worked on installing the tail end wiring. I now have a working power tailgate glass(no glass but the arms move up and down) with key or dash switch. But no tail lights or brake lights. Might just be a fuse so I ain't worrying yet. Ben 's Camaro is back in the shop and he is hoping to do the intake gaskets in a couple weeks.

Wow...that was a long nap Oldguy. Nice to see you checking in.

 

Hi Joe 

-- Edited by 69SS454 on Sunday 26th of April 2015 02:06:34 PM

We were camping on the long weekend Tillsonburg way and Ben drove his Camaro.  He went racing at Sparta on Sunday.  Did a best time. 

Been a tough go on the Nova but things are slowly getting done.  Glen said it took a full weekend to do the glass on the Comet....so I guess for all us normal speed people I should get about 6 months to get the glass done!! LOL

Here's some pics.

Still lots of parts to get ready to put on.....will it ever end??  I really would like to run this car in the Remember when cruise.

 

Nice work Rich.