my 69's resurection/modification

Yup, I have three wonderfull sons. They come first also.

Update: Axles are back, disks fit over the flanges just fine, however.... Seems they sandblasted my new axle bearings for me. One more thing to replace!!! Cusom serpentine Pulley came back from the machine shop about 2 weeks ago. Of course it didn't fit, now it is back there for some modifications. My oldest (10) passed hunter safty course, and two of them are in school now.

Busy couple months

 

Skyman, nice ride !! where did you get that hood from and how much it run you ?

 

Bought it online... It was about $150 for the weld on scoop. I cut and welded it myself. The web site was "The Speed Center". Dimensions are 53" long, 22.5" wide, and 3.0" tall. Ph# is 605-348 3850. Bear in mind, this was about 5 years ago.

 

Hey Chris,
anything new to report?

 

very nice job, very nice. I read where you'er thinking about changing the interior, would you be getting rid of the center console then? If so, would ya be willing to sell it.

Dave

 

Allright guys... I know it has been a LONG time since I have posted anything usefull on here. It finally lives!!! New wheels are on it, exhaust is hung 3" T/A duals with Thrush fully welded. Man does it sound awesome!!! Engine is all together, power steering is all worked out. Serpentine belts are turning, no interior yet, getting ready to deploy again in a couple months (Afganistan this time). I have driven it a couple times so far, now need to get it down to have the alignment done, and tweak a few minor things.

Thank my Lovely wife for the upgraded wheels. She hated the others. I think they are just what the car needed. See for yourself. get TONS of compliments on the car daily. Thanks all for your support over these LONG five years!

 

Here's some pics of the completed engine bay. Serpentine belts and all. Fans are 97 camaro dual fans, set up to turn on at 180 deg. Enjoy

 

And here is the link to my You tube video of it running.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbvS5iSYfdc

Enjoy

 

Sounds awesome. Looks very cool! :TU: :TU:

ps throw away that fram oil filter and get one that actually works...mobil one/pureolator pure one/wix etc

 

Not sure what i am going to do with the interior yet. The center console and steering wheel are about the two things I do like!!!

 

The car sounds wicked,very unussual but atractive color.I bet you can't wait to have it nearly finished:Brow: .Take care of yourself and buddies on your deployment.:beer

 

WILCO!!! I hope to drive it to work before I deploy!

 

Hey Skymangs...looking good as always! glad to see it almost finished...oh and it sounds awesome.

I am trying to fit my headers in my 69 with new 455. did those fit with out any dings or modifications? What headers where they? Did you have to drop them all the way down in the engine bay before dropping the block in?

Right now it looks as though mine will never fit....they are TA's for the 69 body...my is a california...doubt that makes a difference.

Any insight?o No:

 

I just read the entire post from the beginning. I am very impressed. I have a 69 Skylark also that was my first car when I was 16. I have had it for 10 years now and it has moved from MN to Texas with me (luckily not an original MN car, so it was rust free!). There were so many things you have done to your car that have been ideas in my head, but I never knew how they would look. I wanted to remove the chrome and paint the bumpers to match the car. I want to paint my car flat black and seeing yours in the black primer looked amazing to me. It's like a vision form my head in a photo. I am planning on doing the body work and paint myself in my garage too. I also wanted to shave the door handles. I like how you’re building the car for yourself and not what someone else did. My car has pretty much been in pieces the past 10 years and I am hoping to get it back on the road this summer. It’s a running joke in my family about when it will be done. I originally wanted to just paint the engine and clean up the engine compartment when I was 16, but the more I worked on it, the more things I decided to change. I always said it would be done by the 4<SUP>th</SUP> of July, but never what year!!

 

I almost forgot, did you ever get the AC installed? I have wanted to put an AC system in mine and have been trying to figure out what to buy. Texas summers are hot! <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
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Good luck on the interior. I have been wanting to take my original seats and add power sliders and adjusters to them form donor seats. Not much of a need for heating in Texas, but try different foams and shapes to get the comfort and look of the originals.<o></o>

 

That's funny. :laugh: My 442 is the same way. I too pulled the motor to clean and paint it, clean up under the hood. That was, oh, ten years ago! The car has moved from West Virginia to Phoenix to Reno with me and will soon ray: join me here in Washington! My family calls it the "Family Heirloom". My two youngest boys both talk about wanting it, but not till it actually runs.

Here's to :3gears: for both of us 'soon'!

 

Mike, Sure they'll fit. I used TA's Shorty 455 headers. They are the same for 68 to 72. Mine are Jet hot coated. If you are going to spend the money I recommend the coating. They will look new forever. you can pull one mount bolt at a time and raise one side of the engine to put them in. That's what I did. Next lets talk exhaust man gaskets. They always leak!!! The only gaskets I use are the Malleable aluminum ones from either TA or Poston. They are thick and compress to the shape of the headers. don't waste your time with other types, you'll just wind up replacing them. My shortys required a slight dent on the #2 tube Driver side for the steering column. I am using a thicker Camaro column and 87 GN box though, I think it moved it slightly closer to the engine. I also noticed that you have a full sized starter on there. I recommend picking up a Ford remote solenoid from the parts store. They run about 10 bucks, wiring is easy. With headers, your solenoid will get hot, and start VERY hard when the engine is at operating temp. Hope that helps.

 

I haven't gotten the heat/air installed yet. I bought Hot Rod Air. The evaporator was $350, I got a condensor from a JY, and the compressor is a reman GM, and you just need to purchase a new dryer ($50) You could use factory brackets, or fab your own. The system is pretty simple and straight forward. follow the instructions, you cant go too wrong.

I used 98 Buick Regal leather seats. I would up replacing the tracks and power accessories (Regal stuff sat too high in the car). I used mid 80's camaro sliders (they have a very similar floor pan). Pick-a-part $6.99 each. once I had them working well, I replaced them with Camaro power seat sliders. Worked very nicely.

 

I haven't gotten the heat/air installed yet. I bought Hot Rod Air. The evaporator was $350, I got a condensor from a JY, and the compressor is a reman GM, and you just need to purchase a new dryer ($50) You could use factory brackets, or fab your own. The system is pretty simple and straight forward. follow the instructions, you cant go too wrong.

I used 98 Buick Regal leather seats. I would up replacing the tracks and power accessories (Regal stuff sat too high in the car). I used mid 80's camaro sliders (they have a very similar floor pan). Pick-a-part $6.99 each. once I had them working well, I replaced them with Camaro power seat sliders. Worked very nicely.

 

Thanks for the input. Its funny, no matter how many opinions you get and how many times you look at it, it always helps to hear it from someone who has gone through the process in your same situation (or almost).

I agree with the gasket comment. I think we are set there. I had never thought of the pivot idea before but as soon as you said it I was like wow that seems simple. I will try that first, hopefully i won't have to dent them but everyone seems to say atleast one ping with a hammer is going to happen.