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

[Roadkill]

Well, as promised a series of mini-updates . . .

Thursday, 22/11 - The Bad.

4.50pm.
Got a call from Sammy telling me to rush home as the gazebo was taking a pounding in the heavy gales . . .
5.15pm.
Get home to find gazebo barely standing.  
5.25pm.
Tie the gazebo to Mondeo and try to conduct repairs.
5.40pm.
Gazebo being damaged faster than I can repair it.
6.15pm.
Two major gusts hit the gazebo buckling all six legs and deforming the roof.
6.17pm.
No choice but to rip the gazebo to pieces before it falls in and causes further damage to the Camaro . . . .
8.00pm.
The gazebo is no more.
9.00pm.
Remains of the main canopy used to cover the Camaro as it starts to rain (still in heavy wind).



Make arrangements to store the Camaro in the limited space at work . . . . Just need to move it before it fills up with water . . .

Friday, 23/11 - More Bad (but could be worse).

At 10am-ish I find a trailer available until 5pm that day only (but I'm supposed to be at work).
Cue mad panic trying to arrange collection of trailer, loading of Camaro and travel/unloading etc . . . in very limited time.
The unit needs re-organising too, in order to fit her in . . .



Very tired Friday night.

Saturday, 24/11 - The Good.

Take all the "small stuff" to the unit and re-organise the space and clear some racking for Camaro stuff.
The space is still a little tight but useable with enough storage space.  Good amount of light, no heating, though . . . .

Some actual progress . . . .

Start getting the carpet in . . . Main passenger area rough fitted, luggage area fitted properly and boot plastics begin to go back in.  Boot struts now fully fitted and tested (work very well !!!)



Fit Handbrake lever using spacers Andy made up for me . . .
Start to re-fit shifter stick.



Sunday 25/11 - Can't Complain

Start the day working through a list of "to do's" in the morning, getting stuff together ready for the day.
Get to the unit just after midday.
Get the rest of the boot plastics in and cleaned (they now look pimpin').
Start to move forwards . . . sorting the plastics and carpet as we go . . .




Before the rear plastics can be finished, the door poppers need to be installed (bad pics because of flash) . . .




All rear plastics re-fitted and cleaned.  Poppers fitted.  Plastic seal cover plates fitted and cleaned.

Decided the original orange/yellow side markers didn't look right on a satin  black car with blacked-out rear lights :



So took a chance and order these (which are only supposed to fit a 85-92 Camaro ?????)
Needless to say, a subtle improvement :



Remove bonnet, ready for upcoming engine work . . .

First-fix the centre console (still needs a little sorting) and fit the link-rod Andy made to connect the re-located handbrake to the stock cable (need adjusting but does the job).



The plan for this weekend is to re-fit both doors.  There's a few little odds-and-sods jobs I can be doing in the evenings, after work, though so we'll see how we go . . .

Thanks to My Dad for assistance on Friday, Ian for assistance Saturday and Sunday and to Sammy's on-going understanding !!!



I'm generally happy with progress . . . I feel I've gone from seeing the light at the end of the tunnel to actually being able to see what's in the light at the end of said tunnel . . . . . and it's Satin Black.

EDIT

The Camaro DID sustain minor damage during the death of the gazebo . . . no dents noted but several minor rubs and a few scratches - most minor but one fairly heavy one on the lower edge of the spoiler (which ain't bad as it's an easy place to touch-up without it noticing).

So could've been a lot worse !

And it's nice to have two parking spaces back again !!

And it means I can get to the garage AND get the Caddy out (if I wanted).

I feel like I've let the neighbours down, though . . .

[ianjpage]

Some good progress this w/end, even if the move was, how shall we say - unplanned

[Roadkill]

Been beavering away on the Camaro in every spare second last week at work - getting little jobs done.

To be honest I can't be bothered to list them all as they were numerous but they centred around getting the interior closer to finished . . . getting little bits made and painted/fitted etc . . . Also painted the cowl area and re-fitted the plastic cover, final fixed the centre console . . etc . . .

Was a busy four days . . . . Not many pictures, though . . . . .

First, the headliner - which was actually finished the weekend before but I forgot to mention it . . . this was third time lucky but the glue seemed much more hardcore so I'm hopeful this time !!!



Next the bonnet pull - which although redundant - is still being re-fitted to keep a certain level of "stock-ness" to the interior . . . plus it saves a hole.  The parts were trimmed back and Araldited together, ready for re-installation . . .



The front footwell panels had their carpet piece re-attached and then dyed (using spray-paint and thinners) to match the new black (not dark grey as previous) carpet.
The picture shows one "before" and one "after" . . . .  





Then on to this weekends work - With Ian's assistance (thanks also to my parents and to Vicky for babysitting)

Both doors re-fitted & aligned,
Both lower door plastics re-fitted,
Both lower, rear quarter panel plastics re-fitted,
Door popper wiring installed and tested,
Hood pins adjusted and scratch plates fitted,
Front footwell panels re-fitted,
Handbrake rod guide bracket fitted,
Rear seat belt brackets painted (they protrude through the carpet and I didn't want to cut them off),
Panel made up, painted and fited to the rear boot plastics where the battery is now located to cover the hole cut by previous owner(s) . . .

. . . . . .

All went really good but I did manage to put a hole in the ally fuel line when drilling for the handbrake bracket
Bloody typical as it only runs along the other side of the car before looping over the transmission tunnel (which is where I put the hole in it !) . . . so that's another job on the list, now !!!

Some pics to summarise the weekend . . . . (taken yesterday).










And, finally . . . I'm opting not to run any badges on the Camaro (externally) at all except those below (one on the rear bumper, and one each on the lower sill covers) . . . . Here's the first fitted:



Subtly cool, methinks.

[art b]

ah the old unit.
where we worked on her .. how many yrs ago ...?

some great likkle touches there..

so whats the status on the engine..

[Incursus]

When do you fit the swishy red lights at the front?  

[Roadkill]

Quoting: art b

ah the old unit.
where we worked on her .. how many yrs ago ...?

A few.  
Nice to be back with my old company and I must admit it has been helpful having it there.

Quoting: art b

some great likkle touches there..

That's the plan.  I've tried to keep it all as subtle as possible . . . obviously some stuff just ain't subtle at all but where possible I've tried to go low-key.

Quoting: art b

so whats the status on the engine.

All parts are here and ready to go (except a timing cover gasket) . . . I've resisted starting work on it until I've worked through a strict checklist of jobs first - These are mainly interior and body related - In order not to spread myself/ourselves too thinly (I'm sounding wise).

The plan is to finish the interior jobs this week, the body jobs are already done meaning that, after a weekend off (LANing it up) It's full-steam ahead on the motor next week . . .

Quoting: Incursus

When do you fit the swishy red lights at the front?

[Cunning Plan]

Really starting to look like a beast

Loving the dash! Close-up's please.

[Andy]

*cough* think your interior light cover is the wrong way round *cough*

Looking awesome!! Looks pretty fierce just as it is without the nose cone, plus those side pipes!

Purely out of interest and to save re-reading the entire thread. Is it running a stock rear end or does it have a trick diff in it?

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Andy

*cough* think your interior light cover is the wrong way round *cough*

You're quite right.  But not accidentally.

Quoting: Andy

Purely out of interest and to save re-reading the entire thread. Is it running a stock rear end or does it have a trick diff in it?

3.73 gears,
Auburn Gear LSD (fitted by Webster Racing),
Bearing Cap Support Cover.  
Stock Drum Brakes, New shoes and Hardware,
Stainless Lines,
New Cables,
Casing fitted With Relocated LCA brackets,
Finished in Mazda Colorado Red.

(Shortened Torque Arm with Cradle)



Nosecone is currently sat looking at me in my office . . . it's had a few funny looks this afternoon.  

Quoting: Cunning Plan

Loving the dash! Close-up's please.

Next time she's outside - Promise !

Pictures inside with the flash on look sh!te.

[ianjpage]

That does look nice with just that 1 badge on the back

[Roadkill]

Bugger !

Got the new R/H front turn signal light yesterday to replace my smashed one and offered it up to the older, L/H one . . . It looked so good I decided I couldn't fit it with the old one so went of to find a new L/H housing to get a shiny matching pair . . . .

Ironically, both are discontinued and whereas the R/H ones are available, the L/H ones are NOT.



Gonna have a look to see if I can modify a R/H one to make a L/H but suspect the lens is directional . . .

[Andy]

Shirley a bit of spit and polish will have the lens looking clean enough?

[Roadkill]

It's not the lens . . it's the chrome-plating on the plastic housing . . . the old one's dull as dishwater but didn't look that bad until you compared the two !!

[ianjpage]

how wierd that the r/h isn't avail....

[Roadkill]

Spent a bit of time pondering the front light issue . . . gonna try taking the old busted one apart and see what my options are . . .

Anyway.  Update.

Not got much done this week but did manage to finish the carpet and all the interior jobs on "the list" (see below) . . .

Charged the battery and started testing bits and bobs . . . Left indicator doesn't work (?).  Windows work but the P/S gets stuck (I suspect one of the bolts that replaced the drilled-out rivets is a tad too long - easy fix) . . .

List as at Last Friday :



List as of Yesterday.



Rear lights (I tinted these 5-and-a-half years ago and don't think I ever actually tested them !!)



P.S - I HATE THE NEW PHOTOBUCKET - 4 clicks to get a link !!!!

[art b]

you can go back to the old foto bucket..

the one thats not pretending to be fagbook..

[Roadkill]

Quoting: art b

you can go back to the old foto bucket.

Not for long . . . . . . I figure I may as well get used to it while I have the choice rather than have it forced on me

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Roadkill

List as at Last Friday :

I just don't know how you can work so fast, especially with a kid etc How do you find time?

You sir, have my respect.

Funny though, as it always encourages me to work harder on the bus. I did 4.5 hours on it today, but I didn't seem to actually accomplish much, nothing finished anyway, lots of moving parts around, writing lists of fixings I'm missing, getting ready to clean up the inside roof for the headlining and crying that my sliding door hinge isn't made anymore and mines broken, etc.  



Question - as you are re-fitting the parts, are you using new fixings? If so, where from?

Quoting: Roadkill

I tinted these

Are they going to be bright enough? They look fine there, but I have been behind some tinted lights that are really dull and do not do their job properly.

Knowing you though, I am sure they have been done well

Once again, great project

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Cunning Plan

How do you find time?

I do get help a lot of the time, but It's hard work.  I have to literally fit it in whenever . . . sometimes at 6 in the morning before work . . sometimes in my lunch break . . sometimes after work before I go home . . .

Quoting: Cunning Plan

Question - as you are re-fitting the parts, are you using new fixings?  If so, where from?

Some new, some old . . . .

The more generic fixings I've generally replaced with metric stainless or metric/UNC/UNF BZ plated.  Some of the recent plastic panels have been re-fitted with stainless self-tappers.
The suspension and chassis parts generally came with new fixings (or I bought them from spohn) . . .

I fully intend to replace all fixings on the caddy with stainless ones, though, when it comes to it . . . I'm not a fan of plated fixings . . .

I'd estimate about 60% of the fixings used were new . . . Mainly the engine-related ones and specific ones were re-used . . .

Quoting: Cunning Plan

Are they going to be bright enough?

As you say they look bright enough . . . I'm pretty sure they're brighter than the ones I did for Chris on his Mustang (In fact, I know they are) so they'll be fine.

[Roadkill]

Can't remember where I am with this . . .

Had the weekend off of the 7/8/9 . . . Popped in for a recon run on Saturday.

Stripped the headers, heads, rad, fan, water pump and housing, hoses etc . . .  off yesterday.

I'll be stripping the heads at lunchtime ready to drop into be skimmed tonight . . . .

Then I've got a long list of "MUST-DO'S" to do before Friday . . .

Unlikely, to be honest, as I feel like sh!t and Friday is blown out as it's our second work's do.

Providing there's no issues with the heads I should have them back on Thursday-ish . . . Then they'll need intake-port-matching and re-assembling.

Providing, also, that the massive double-roller chain and sprockets can be encouraged to fit behind the tiny timing cover she should be running (again) before Christmas . . .

I'll take some pictures later . . .

Thanks to Vicky for Jensen-sitting on Sunday and Ian for the much-needed extra pair of hands on Saturday evening and Sunday.



EDIT -

I'm currently in the process of designing the monster bracketery arrangement that will take the entire steering rack and (hopefully) connect to the K-Member in a way that Spohn should've done !!



EDIT, EDIT -

Quoting: Cunning Plan

Question - as you are re-fitting the parts, are you using new fixings?

Ironically, I had a very old and used bolt snap in the block yesterday . . . it's gonna be a PITA so it strengthens my opinion of "replace if you can" . . . . As I need to, now !

EDIT, EDIT, EDIT -

Have sent the main parts of the steering bracket off for laser-cutting in 6mm plate.  Hope to have them back this week.



Hehehe.  Added a nice little "touch" to the main plate at the front . . . . Let's just say if the Camaro runs anyone over they'll know it's a Chevy.

[ianjpage]

Quoting: Roadkill

I'll be stripping the heads at lunchtime ready to drop into be skimmed tonight . . . .

Cool you managed to find somewhere then !

Quoting: Roadkill

Have sent the main parts of the steering bracket off for laser-cutting in 6mm plate. Hope to have them back this week.

[Roadkill]

I've noticed that I only tend to get responses on this thread when I post pictures . . . .

So . . .


Tough.


There aren't any.


Yet.


I've been ill . . .


I did drop the heads off for skimming and intake port matching . . was going to get them fully ported but they couldn't guarantee that I'd have them back for Saturday so decided not to.

Also collected the first wave of parts for the monster steering bracket-thingy . . . and collected the ally door cards . . . .

[Roadkill]

Awww, go on.

Because I love you.  

Here's some pics :

Ally door cards (not offered them up yet but look good . . I've got 4 !!! - My supplier wasn't happy with the scratches on the first lot so had a second lot done F.O.C . . not that any of them cost me any money . . . . )



And the first parts of the steering bracket . . .

(Top: main front brace; Left: R/H bracket with rack tube support; Middle: Tube support plate; Right: L/H bracket)



The notch shown in the top of the main plate is for the sump . . . Hopefully that means that

Quoting: Roadkill

Hehehe. Added a nice little "touch" to the main plate at the front . . . . Let's just say if the Camaro runs anyone over they'll know it's a Chevy.

. . Now makes sense.

[ianjpage]

Quoting: Roadkill

I did drop the heads off for skimming and intake port matching . . was going to get them fully ported but they couldn't guarantee that I'd have them back for Saturday so decided not to.

Fairy nuff - least they should hopefully be back in time then

Quoting: Roadkill

Also collected the first wave of parts for the monster steering bracket-thingy . . . and collected the ally door cards . . . .

you managed to get the cards then - did you drive there or get him to deliver lol

(can't see pics at work - boo - will have to look later)

[Roadkill]

Collected the cards and plates this morning from Baldock services (it's a mid-way point) . . . .