Slowest 1970 Chevelle build!

[Ms Grumpy]

Oh man Berg. I feel your pain, I am just glad that you took her out for a ride before you said good-bye. Isn't it amazing how we get attached, how many memories are tied up in, and how we miss them when they are gone. And some people think they are just cars.

[Berg]

You know the funny thing is I can never find the camera when I need it and when I do find it the only thing on it is a million pictures of the dog. I like the dog but I like the cars and trucks and boats too! I need a good phone with a camera that I can upload pictures with that way I will always have them. I wish I had a video of the car running or me driving it or something. I become jealous when I see people with them. I guess in the end I still have A Chevelle... just not the car the memories were with but this one will have some of the stuff from the other car so I can pretend it is a partial reincarnation of it. Yeah that's it, I'll just tell myself that!
On a lighter note, I had gotten a set of black door panels from an SS that were replaced with aftermarket ones a few years back. I just dug them out of the garage and finally cleaned them up. They don't look half bad for garbage as far as I'm concerned and they are a lot better than the ones in the car at the moment. I know they'll fit too because they are GM originals too! I'm thinking about buying an aftermarket cowl induction hood with the flapper since I sold my NOS GM SS hood with the car. I wish the guy didn't see it. I figure if I have to buy one anyway I'm thinking of buying the whole functional cowl induction kit. I see some companies out there with the kit mostly complete for around $600. What do you guys think?

[smokenjoep01]

Sounds like your taking it well. Everything happens for the best! Youll be making new memories soon.

[Berg]

I got some more stuff coming on the way. It took me a while with other things going on to finally get some stuff taken care of. I got rid of a few more projects and made some more room in the garage. I'm able to fit 2 cars in the 3 car garage! It is an improvement. I'm not even able to fit a car in the middle bay even if everything was out of it because there is only 16' from the back wall to the door opening. It seems like my Chevelle always takes a back seat to projects like baseboard moldings and door trim in the house. I also had a roof leak and a window that was so out of square it was binding up and not able to latch shut. I still have a door to take care of on the back of the garage too and new steps and a patio where the deck used to be. I broke down and got a 3899621 bellhousing for the 11" clutch. I was going to use a 10.5" clutch behind the 454 I'm putting in because of the low power output but had a change of heart. I had gotten a 3858403 housing but I'm going to stack it into the spare parts bin along with the extra 12 bolt rear and spare disc brake spindles. I might end up selling this stuff once the car is together to get some more funding and space in the garage. I ordered a partial trunk pan to take care of the hole and rust around where the cutout was for the fuel cell sump. I ordered a new cross shaft rebuild kit to help tighten up the Z bar. I'm going to weld up and re-drill the holes for the linkage to take some slop out of it. I opted to get as many used GM and NOS parts as I could so I could ensure they'd fit as original. Its going to be a rainy week so I don't see the car getting pulled out for a little while.

[Ms Grumpy]

Berg, it sounds like you are making progress. But this weather really sucks. I thought it was fall, not spring. I can deal with the cooler weather but the rain needs to go away. It makes it hard to get things done. I can't even pull mine out to wash it cause one minute the sun is shining and the next it is pouring. Hope the weather clears up soon so you can pull your car out and get some things done before it snows.

[Berg]

The weather has been a drag. I ordered another oil pan today because I didn't like the first one. I got a 5qt gold zinc coated one from Summit. Lets see how this one fits. I ordered the thick gasket set with it like it said also. I also ordered a pit pack bushing kit in nylon for the shifter to take any slop out of the linkage. While I was at it I ordered the correct serpentine pulley for the 12SI alternator to match the crank and water pump pulley set. I'm probably getting ahead of myself but I have been doing so many other projects that I sprung for a cheap fitted car cover to keep the crap off the car if its in the garage or if I have to put it out in the driveway and it rains. I plan to register it and have it on the road before the snow hits just so I'll be more easily motivated to work on it in the spring. I don't see much happening over the winter unless I save up some money for seat foams and new seat covers and headliner and package tray. I need to move a little faster on this car than I did with the other one.

[flash]

At least you are making progress ,I stopped by the bodyshop to see my truck still in piles and pieces but it will be nice one day before long .

[Berg]

Flash, one of my trucks is the next project. I have to do something with my 84 Blazer. It is my first truck and not worth much to most people but I have major sentimental issues with this vehicle. It has been good to me and taught me a lot along the way. It has been a a test rat and saved a few lives. Its done countless recoveries and got me to work, school, and everywhere else you could think of. It was also my prom limo and saw more action in its history than than I should admit. That truck deserves a medal, let alone some fresh metal. I'm always collecting new parts for it for the big resto I have planned. That'll take even longer than my Chevelle project.
Speaking of project progress, I removed the window moldings around the back window and windshield and cut the windshield out of the car. Someone glued in the window moldings with silicone,caulk, and some form of monkey snot instead of cutting the glass out and fixing it the correct way. I'm up in the air over doing the roof skin or just bending up some window channel patch pieces. I feel like the skin may save me a lot of overhaul. I figure if I'm going to need a passenger side rear quarter maybe I should just do it at the same time as the roof. Anyone have any input/experience?

[Berg]

I found my camera and uploaded some pictures of progress. Still have to get a new oil pump screen. Its the only thing keeping the engine from going in the car at this point. Keep in mind I'm not doing a restoration on this car, I'm just trying to make it a nice period-correct weekend driver. Right now I'm focused on getting the powertrain sorted out with brakes, suspension and then comes the body work. I just cleaned up the stuff inboard of the frame rails and brake booster. I'll finish off the heater box and outer portions of the firewall when I pull the fenders.

[Berg]