Roadkill's 1983 Chevy Z28 - (Work Starts on Page 5)

[Roadkill]

Updates on some on-going mini-projects . . .

The headlights . . . now all finished (buckets shot-blasted, painted, new  lights) and ready to go back in - just waiting for new adjuster screws/blocks from the states.



Headlining . . . . I had done this before but the "biscuit" was just too porous and the new lining (material from the market) quickly came unstuck above the driver's seat - typical !!
With the removal of the seat beats the thing had to be taken out and the holes filled anyway so it's seen one coat of 50:50 PVA, one coat of poly resin, a coat of resin & matting  . . then it had a good sanding followed by another, final coat of resin.
The holes are filled and it's now firm and smooth - ideal for a new lining - to be acquired soon as I want it off the Caddy's bonnet !



Nosecone back on (for a little while) !!

(Also jacked up so leccy work can be done underneath)

[Roadkill]

Finally ticked another one of the last mechanical jobs off the list at the weekend . . . The brake system is now finished and bled (and doesn't, as yet, appear to have any leaks . . )



I also got the new Spohn rear sway bar mounts fitted . . . needless to say they do alot better job than my cobbled-together efforts did.



I also trimmed the bolts prutruding throught the floor pan from the new seat runners and capped them with S/S dome-heads.



Next job(s) are to replace the recently fitted rubber/ally water hoses with silicone/ally but increase the use of ally lines (this is dependant on a shipment from the states so is on hold for now . . . )

The other major up-coming job is the exhaust . . . . . .

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Roadkill

Headlining . . . .

Is now totally finished and re-installed - Thanks to Ryan for the Star-locks - they hold the (now slightly heavier) headlining up a treat !!

The old seat belt holes are long gone as are the sun-visor holes . . . .

I can re-fit the visors but I never really used them so I don't see it being an issue . . . .

Quoting: Roadkill

The other major up-coming job is the exhaust . . . . . .

I spent a good few hours mocking up and measuring last week and have now penned-out about 90% of the system - enough to require another Jetex order which will happen come payday.

Once that's here I can make up some brackets and fit that to work out the last bits I need . . .

I've just had some bushes turned down for the 3-point harnesses too, so hopefully they should be all finished and fitted by the end of the weekend.

On a sidenote the interior is slowly going back in/together . . . If the Now-not-so-titted-one can finish the wiring inside soon I'll be right behind getting the dashboard and dashpad in . . . . . . . .

[ianjpage]

sounds to be coming on well - we need pics!!!

[Roadkill]

Quoting: ianjpage

we need pics!!!

Am on it today . . . .

[Titsy]

Quoting: ianjpage

we need pics!!!

Quoting: Roadkill

Am on it today . . .

[Roadkill]

Here's some pictures . . .

The headlining over a week ago (forgot to take a pic of it fitted) :



The rear seat position - all bracketry removed ready for the 3-point harness rear mount points to be drilled (now done) :



Some electrical thingy's (behind the dash) :



Some electrical box next to the fuel regulator :



NOW . . . . . .

<drum roll>

(Tilt your head onto your left shoulder and enjoy this little snippet !) :

http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c307/Roadkill-Auto/?action=view&current=tover005.mp4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">

No, it's not turning over on the key and no it's not at the "firing" point yet but It did, at least, prove that :

i) The starter is correctly shimmed and mounted,
ii) The engine has no obvious problems rotating,
iii) There's no unwanted noises coming from the block and
iv) The oil pump is pushing oil to the top of the heads.

So that's something at least . . . .

I'm pushing Titsy so I can start getting the dashboard back in but, in fairness, he's doing a more than adequate job.

[ianjpage]

looking good - excellent to see it turning over so nicely!

[Roadkill]

Got the bracketery for the alternator mount painted and fitted tonight - it's now ready for the new balancer (sitting in the states, atm).



Next job is to get hold of some M12 bolts for the rear harness points so I can fit the rear brackets.

Then I need to order some more exhaust stuff . . . .

Then . . . .

Well.  There's not exactly alot more I can do after that, until the next shipment arrives from the states.

In reality I need to be considering moving her to her winter home soon but I was hoping to be further along than this . . .

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Roadkill

Next job is to get hold of some M12 bolts for the rear harness points so I can fit the rear brackets.

Done, brackets fitted . . . am waiting on bolts from the states to finish fitting the harnesses.

Quoting: Roadkill

Then I need to order some more exhaust stuff . . . .

This will be monday (payday).

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Roadkill

winter home soon

Where's this?

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Cunning Plan

Where's this?

Sammy Lou's mum's garage (assuming it fits - it's a double garage but they've got a lot of crap in there) . . .

[Roadkill]

UPDATE :

I'm happy to say that Titsy has done a bit more wiring . . . not as much as I'd hoped but some more none-the-less.

What it has enabled me to do is get the dashboard and dashpad back in a fitted and this meant Titsy could fit the gauge cluster.

I was out last night clearing out the front footwells, hoovering them and fixing the dash and pad in and giving it a good clean and polish for some pictures . . . . alas, it was too dark by then so I'll get some decent pics tonight as soon as I get home.

There's still quite a bit of under-dash wiring to go but I'm ever hopeful.

Realistically I don't see her firing up this year, now - it's just got a little too late . . . . the knock-on effect of this is that see's unlikely to see any real road miles next year, either.

On a sidenote I've ordered a shed-load more stuff for the exhaust . . . .

Up to this point I'd spent about £190 on bits and bobs (various pipes, clamps, bends etc  . . . ) to get me going.
I just ordered another £200's worth plus £60 of straight pipe PLUS £8 on some stainless fixings as all the clamps came with BZP bolts !  (tut-tut).

Net result is that the exhaust is a major risk - along with the Ceramic headers, Stainless flanges, and other bits the complete exhaust system will be costing just about £1,000 !!!



. . . And I'm not sure it'll work, yet.



On the plus side it'll be 100% stainless from the ceramic headers back.



I just hope the weather allows me the opportunity to fit it all when it arrives . . . .

[F Body]

Quoting: Roadkill

the complete exhaust system will be costing just about £1,000 !!!

Ouch, but it's reasonable given this includes the pucker headers

[ianjpage]

cool sounds like progress being made (slowly) then at least

[Roadkill]

Took advantage of the relatively good evening (although F*ck didn't it get cold quick !?) -

Dashboard :



Close-up of the new Cluster :



The seats and harnesses :



And my favourite picture of the evening . . .

The view from the drivers seat !! :

[ianjpage]

cool looks loads better with dash / gauges back in!

[Andy]

missing something

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm162/andydpics/Dashin001.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"> [img]http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm162/andydpics/Dashin001.jpg\" border=\"0\"  alt=\"\" width=150>

[ianjpage]

[Titsy]

Quoting: Andy

missing something

[Roadkill]

Maybe "Roadhouse" is something I'll get pressed into the next set of number plates I have done . . . . ?



Mini-Update :

All (I think) of the exhaust has arrived . . . It's exceeding good quality stuff - the clamps are certainly second-to-none so I'm looking forward to starting that job.



Also I've been working on a plate to fit over the "gap" left by the lack of centre console . . . this plate won't just fill a gap but will house a series of additional switches required to manually control/override the additional systems on the car waterpump / fuel pump / fan etc . . .

The mock-up is done so it'll be handed over to Titsy so he can pass it on for fabrication.  When I get it back it'll be crackle-painted to match the gauge cluster.

[Jamieg285]

Quoting: Roadkill

the clamps are certainly second-to-none

What sort of clamps?  I went with band clamps and they really are nice to work with.

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Roadkill

Close-up of the new Cluster :

Nice I do like gauges and lots of them.

What's the red tweezer-like object hanging from the middle vents?

Any reason the hand-brake is so high up?

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Jamieg285

What sort of clamps? I went with band clamps and they really are nice to work with.

They are one-bolt clamps . . . they use meaty M8 bolts so you can get a proper socket on them and "give it some".
Also the bolts run-though a tube that's welded onto the band - not pressed or formed on.

I'll get a pic over the weekend.

Quoting: Cunning Plan

What's the red tweezer-like object hanging from the middle vents?

It normally holds a fire extinguisher.

Quoting: Cunning Plan

Any reason the hand-brake is so high up?

Perfectly normal on third/fourth gens . . . mine looks worse as firstly it's cranked hard as there's no front wheels on and I don't want her moving AT ALL - secondly there's no centre console (which normally hides the first half of the mechanism).

I'm looking into relocating / modifiying / generally doing something with it but as it currently works fine - it's at the bottom of the list.

[F Body]

Quoting: Roadkill

Close-up of the new Cluster :

The speedo & Rev counter look better with the silver bezzel