Those are some nice looking floors! We don't usually get that lucky up where I live. By the way my compressor joined yours in the scrap pile. I beat the hell out of it for the last 12 years and it finally blew up. I blew the head gasket on it I guess about 4 years back and had 2 snapped head bolts when i took it apart. I ended up tapping and installing studs, rebuilding it and got a few more years out of it. It finally popped when I aired the tires back up on my K5 Blazer. Now its time for a new cast iron belt-driven one. The aluminum direct drives are so damn loud I can't hear myself think in the garage

Looks like fun - can't wait to see the results

May 8, 2011 "Mothers Day" I finished the trunk pan. Now the floorboards and trunk pans are done. The entire interior of the body has several coats of POR15. The firewall is complete on both sides.
Now I just have to get my media blaster motivated and get the right rear quarter blasted. Hopefully this coming Sat.

thats cool, mine has more work to do on it, ill post pics soon

3- Straight weekends with very little progress. We had Bike week the past 2 weeknds. Then this weekend for Memorial day we headed to the mountains of Virginia for some canoeing.
Very motivated to get the last bit of sandblasting done on the right rear quarte, radiator support and the left inner fender. The painter keeps asking me when Im getting it to him.

June 4, 2011 Saturday I was finaly able to do some work on the car. Not being able to get the quarter panel sanblasted this weekend. It was decided to work on the motor and finish it up. The cam I ended up using is a Summit #SUM-1787 Its 260/260 adv. duration and .427/.427 lift. Also used stamped roller rocker arms. Got it completly buttoned up with all new mini starter, updated alternator, new harmonic balancer etc. Valves adjusted. Couldnt find the oil filter part that bolts to the block. It must be at the machine shop. So I wasnt able to get it primed. Need some break in additive or break in oil. Next I Need to find a turbo350 core, as mine was junk. They are getting hard to find.

Sunday- I removed the drum brakes and control arms. Cleaned up all the frame forward of the firewall. Got it sanded(most of it already has a coat of POR15 from when sandblasted)and cleaned to get ready for the POR15 and then the thunder clouds moved in. The ones that make it look like dusk in the middle of the day. So I cover the car and sat on the deck and drank beer. The rains came and I was very greatful because we havent had rain in a long while. We are in a serious drought. It was nice to see rain beed up on the deck I pressure washed and sealed last weekend, instead of working on the Chevelle. Over this week Im gonna replace the ball joints with some new Moog's and also replace the control arm bushings. I had one that had zero rubber left. All but one ball joint were toast. Cant wait to drive it with all new moog suspension parts and the Grand Cherokee steering box. Pictures coming soon.

June 18, 2011 (Saturday) Was the day I was able to get the last of the sandblasting done on the Chevelle. What little rust holes that showed up I was able to stich weld up with my mig gun. All of its grinded and ready for epoxy primer. I just ran out of time and will finish taping off and try and get the primer on tonight. When the right rear quarter was getting blasted. I also had them blast the radiator support and the left inner fender. Both the support and inner fender are in a nice coat of POR15 thanks to my girl Julie spending her Sunday out in the shop painting. I took lots of pictures. Just havent down loaded them yet.
I brought the controls arms with the bushings and ball joints to my buddies brothers shop and had him install them. WOW was I hosed! $241.35. Two hours labor @ $70.00 p/hour and the rest was for the control arm bushings he said he "could only get in a kit". But there done and back on the car with new springs, tie rods etc. Also installed the disk brake spindles and rotors from my disk brake swap kit from Right Stuff. The caliper brackets dont seem to beefy, but will work. Other than that the kit is very nice.
Also got the lastl ittle bits on the motor finished and got it about ready to be dropped in. Just need to add the oil and prime it. And I was lucky enough to find a core TH350 on Craigslist for $80.00 bucks and have that at the rebuilders. So things are coming along. After I get the primer on. I wanna get both doors on. Then the rad support so that I can start getting my new fenders on. The hood, etc. Make it look like a car again! Pictures to come soon.

Sounds like you have a lot of support from your girl Julie, she was doing some painting and that saved you a lot of time. It is so nice to read your updates and I can't wait to see some of the pics.

Some pictures. First picture of the upper balljoint, if you notice the boot dosent fit the top properly. Is this because there is no motor in the frame? Will it fit/look right with the weight of the motor on it? Or did I assemble something wrong?

More Photos and Julie my sweetheart helping POR15 the radiator support and inner fender.

More photos

A couple random shots of my dog (Ralph) keeping an eye on me while I work. He cant wait to go for a ride!
Also a very rare bike I am tearing down and painting flat black with gloss black ghost flames. Why he wants to ruin a perfectly good paint job, I have no Idea. I just need the money! I hope yall enjoy. Thanks for taken the time to look.

Most recent photos start on the previous page. Post#89

I like the pics joe. Just wondering whose bikes are in the pics in the garage. We were trying to figure out what those were.

Most of those bikes in the photos are customers.
What do yall think of the top balljoint in the first photo of post #89? The boots not hitting the spindle.
This weekend went slow not a lot of progress. But I did get some things done.

Its hard to say until the complete nose is on it and you got the engine and trans in it. The suspension will drop a good amount and it may seat. Are you sure the ball joints are fully seated? Is it all stock replacement stuff? I know some spindles are machined to take B-body ball joints instead of the A-body joints for running Caprice/Impala brakes on a Chevelle. Is it possible you got the wrong ones? maybe just the boots are wrong? I'd get it loaded to ride height before jumping to any conclusions but just some things to think about.

Well Ive been away on vacation for the last three weekends. And the entire past week I was out of state on my real weeks vacation from work. This weekend its time to get the nose mocked up. Hope everyones been doing good.

How'd the weekend go for working on the car? Up here on LI the weather killed me. It was sunny but too humid and 100 degrees. Not good for getting things done. Luckily I got both my Chevelles indoors and the black car is probably going on ebay at the end of this week.

It was waaay to hot to do anything outdoors. Thinking about tinking nights this week. Forecast is for another very hot weekend.

And it was another very hot weekend. Highs over 100 degrees. I feel guilty leaving it out in the yard under the tarp. What gets me is its only the first day of August.

Same here ,its to hot to do much out side .

Predictions are for high 80's this weekend. I sooo wanna get some work done. My transmission is back from the trans guy. Did a complete rebuild including the converter for $380.00 The motor recently completed is just collecting dust in my garage, using up valubal space. They need to be put back in the chassis. Im just waiting till the paints done before installing them.

Its looking like cooler weather (high eighties 60% humidity) this weekend. Leaving work now. Going to try and get something done. I would love to make the Turkey run in Daytona Fl. with this car in Nov.

Woo Hoooo. Got the doors hung. The fenders hung. The hood on! Got my paint/ body guy over and he said to bring it on to his shop! Hell take care of the rest fo me. Not only will I have the old car with the tarp out of the front of my shop. I will be able to see grass again too. But when my car does come back, it will be in paint! Now I have to figure out the exact color.
I am sooooo pumped.

I cant stop coming back and looking at the pictures. Im like a kid waiting for christmas.
Im going to the body shop this afternoon to bring him my list of things needing to be done and some materials. Cant wait to see it again.

Dang near a month and still havent heard anything from my body man. Never tell a body guy "no rush". He is doing me a huge favor. So Im trying to be patient. He is priamrily a motorcycle painter. His prep area is about 700sq.ft. Its a bit cramped in there . I iamgine he wants it done and out of his way as bad as I want it back. He is just busy with customers that he can make money on.

Im with you on being patient with the paint shop but I sure do miss my old truck .Im going to visit the shop when I return home but this will be to get an estimate on repairs to our Malibu vert that got hit tonight in Pennsylvania at the hotel .At least I keep the bodyshop busy working on my junk.

Looking forward to a update.

Any updates on your Chevelle ,you cant stop now ?

I wish I had a good update other than I got my rear seat back from the upholstery shop and it looks good. I traded a Harley motor I had extra for a interior redo.
I havent been to the body shop to check out progress. I have sent hime three complete bike paint jobs at two grand each over the last month. So I know Im keeping him busy. Just trying to be patient.

Still no word from the body shop. I did get my Classis auto air underhood updrade A/C kit!

well hopefully he is making some sort of progress on it. Does it have to stay outside when it gets back from paint or can you fit it in the garage? Does he have it inside at his place? When my Suburban was in the shop for the cowl hood I decided it was better being there for a month because it was indoors... Then again I had overspray on it and other things wrong that I had to clean up under the hood. It does sound like you'll have it together by spring though

Yup Im hoping spring now. A year over due. But yes it is inside at his shop. No worries about any overspray or that type of things. Everything is sprayed in his booth.

I was able to finalize title paperwork this week on the motorcycle I am trading my painter. He has not done anything to it as of yet. I will be pushing him as we are in a legal deal now. Thankfully the cars has been inside this whole time!

I have made some small progress on the car the last coiple days. Got some ribs welded in to help support the roof skin. Now the roof is good and sturdy.
I did some POR15 on the bottom of the body. Looks like Im next in line with the body man. The fenders,doors, hood, trunk lid are pulled off. Were ready to rock on the final body work on the body,quarters so I can get the drivetrain back in.

Maybe your Chevelle and my 72 C10 will both be done soon ,I hope mine will be done for spring. But I'm not pushing my bodyshop as Im getting a good deal by being patient.

Same here. I have more time than money.

NO LIE! The painter has FINALY talked to me about getting the car back to me for the drive line install. He said the body work and jams painted of the carcass(body on the frame rolling) would be ready to pick up Sat.
I am really excited. I went back to my first post to see what date I started it. I read Flash's post and thought "yup he's right! One I get it back to my place I can install heater box/cowl stuff. The dash and The Motor and Trans. Then get it back to the painter for assembly and final paint! I will take pics Sat.

Im glad to hear there's progress being made on yours ,mine is still waiting .

Went and picked up the paint yesterday. It's gonna be PPG Torch Red. For the sealer, hardener, reducer, paint and clear it was $580.00 I could of spent more but feel this will be a good ten year paint job!
Painter said it will be all jammed out and ready for pick up Saturday. Cant wait to get the motor and trans back in it.