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

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Roadkill

I suppose I should actually send the V5 back to the DVLA with all the changes on it . . . . .

It's now registered as being a 2-seater and black.

However, they failed to spot that I'd also changed it to a 5700cc !!!

Muppets.

Looks like I'll have to do that again.  

[Roadkill]

Well . . . Managed to get a few bits done between Jensen-sitting, the snow and the rain at the weekend . . . .

Ian worked on making the door poppers 100% MoT friendly (I had a simple idea and ordered 2 weather-proof switches and some cable from VWP) . . .

Basically the switches are mounted on the rear of the car, hidden under the number plate . . . meaning that they can be "popped" from outside of the car . . .



We also mounted a pimpin' little fuse and holder near the battery, in the boot (it's the little things that make me happy)



I worked on fitting the new (totally illegal) number plates - not quite as simple as the front one had been previously bodged countless times before . . .




We also offered-up the "spare" new door cards . . . . Seem to line-up nicely.
Unfortunately the weather prevented anymore progress with these . . .



Getting there . . . .

[Andy]

Love that number plate!

Looking sweet though. Whats the fuse for?

[Titsy]

I'm guessing the fuse is for the popper switches so you can make the car secure after the MOT has passed...

[Roadkill]

That is a handy side effect, yes.

[Incursus]

Especially after advertising to the world where the secret hidden buttons are


Neat job though

[Titsy]

Quoting: Incursus

Especially after advertising to the world where the secret hidden buttons are  

[Roadkill]

It'll be impossible to steal it after the addition of a removable steering wheel.

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Roadkill

6) Get new wheels !

I was originally going to go with 7 x 15's on the front, 8 x 15's on the rear with all new tyres . . . . .

This would've totaled £1085 !!

Also it would've dropped the front of the car another 5-6mm with the choice of tyres I wanted . . .

In order to push things along I've opted for 8 x 15's front AND back and re-use my 235/60/15's from my existing 7 x 15 Torq Thrust II's.

This reduced the bill down to £470 which should be covered by the sale of my T.T.II's.



The other plus side (apart from the saving) is the radius / geometry stays the same (or similar) to stock and I don't loose any more ground clearance  . . . . And I get my new wheels tomorrow !!!



EDIT . . . . But what rims did I go for ?????



EDIT, EDIT . . . .

Quoting: Roadkill

5) Acquire removable steering wheel - EDIT - Am investigating . . .

New Grant Wheel and Removable Hub Ordered.

[Titsy]

Quoting: Roadkill

It'll be impossible to steal it after the addition of a removable steering wheel.

But would it stop the neighbours cats sleeping in it...

[ianjpage]

cool new wheels sorted then

[Roadkill]

Yeah.  Bit of a risk but I'll be getting the others up for sale and hopefully gone before the credit card bill comes in.  

[ianjpage]

cool so wheel swop the weekend then ;);

[Roadkill]

Quick update :



Sidepipes gone and Outlaw I's fitted (to one side only at the mo' - will get the others sorted tomorrow).  New wheel nuts, too.

Mental note - adjust the panhard to centralise the back end !!!

[Roadkill]

It's that time . . . .

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Roadkill

It's that time . . . .

Yeah baby.  Got a stonking deal on a 100-150 N.O.S kit and pressure gauge . . . with the current exchange rate so lousy it actually mean't that I saved money buying it new over here !

Go figure !

The kit came with lines, solenoids etc . . . etc . . . and a 10lb bottle.

Had a fairly successful day crossing some jobs off the "original" list  . . . ie. Drilling drainage holes in the doors (previous repairs had blocked them) and then POR15ing the lower internal surfaces of the doors to protect them from any future standing/trapped water . . .

Next we moved on to making up a frame to mount the NOS bottle on . . . on top of the transmission tunnel was NOT my first choice but given the space the bottle needed, it did make sense.

It's not an easy task, though, so I had a series of bits and bobs laser-cut and bent up for me on Thursday in preparation.

The result was what I affectionately call the "horse"



Also, with a quick modification, turned the cheap-ass not-so-quick-release bracket screws into much, much quicker-release brackets !

Such a simple yet effective mod - it baffles me why it's not done as standard ??



And finally, the evolution of an exhaust pipe.



This is it.  My complete exhaust system, after the headers.

Had to extend the "tail" pipes (with shiny stainless pipe I cut out from the old side-pipes).
Also got my fab guys to bend up and TIG on the brackets.
The exhaust is back on and will be final fixed tomorrow.

Also got 2 coats of black hammerite on the "horse" so it may be ready to go in tomorrow or Monday, latest.

Tomorrows jobs (weather dependent) are fitting the rest of the NOS kit under the hood, finish fitting the exhaust and continuing with the steering planning saga.  

Maybe more . . .

Cheers to Ian, as usual.

[Cunning Plan]

Great work, great read

[Big Mouse]

How are you planning to fix the horse to the trans tunnel? it looks a bit 'industrial' for you as it is

[Roadkill]

Horsey painted.

Quoting: Big Mouse

How are you planning to fix the horse to the trans tunnel? it looks a bit 'industrial' for you as it is

Like so (although doesn't really show how it's done) - I added the holes at the bottom of the four "straps" after the first photo was taken . . .



It's VERY heavy duty but I had just hours to design the brackets and plates and getting them cut and made before my fab guys packed up for Easter.

I was only saying to Ian yesterday that, if I do this again (and I will) that these are the kind of "additions" that should be thought about and allowed for right back when the car's stripped and gutted.

NOS was always a "some time in the future" plan but given the length of the Camaro project I opted to push on and get ALL the foreseen expenses out of the way now, to allow me to begin purchasing for the Cadillac as soon as possible . . . . So here it is.  



It's about 75% fitted.  Just need to take a fuel feed from the regulator (need a fuel barb fitting), final fix the microswitch (???), get an adapter so I can fit the gauge and run the wires.

In addition, and with Titsy's advice on board, it'll have a blow-down tube added before it's "Live" and I'll also fit a purge kit (not critical for now).

I don't intend to run it at all this year but it's nice to have it fitted.  



Jobs left are basically finish installing the NOS kit (not super critical), win the war against the steering column (Uber-critical) and fettle/fit the door cards (not critical but a must-do) . . . Time and tune (Probably the next job).



Then I reckon it's 99% done*

Note:

It'll never be 100% done.

[Big Mouse]

How will you control it? I had an old maximiser controller kicking around somewhere, I'll have a look tomorrow to see if I can find it, might even have a bottle heater still.

[Cunning Plan]

When itis Inn situ, You Get an iddea of how large thaat cylender is!

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Cunning Plan

When itis Inn situ, You Get an iddea of how large thaat cylender is!

Holy sh!t, CP, how many spelling mistakes ?  

Is your right hand busy doing something else ?

Yeah, I was planning on having it in the P/S rear foot well.   No chance !

Quoting: Big Mouse

How will you control it?

This is something I've briefly discussed with Titsy.  As I say, not planning on running it this year (necessarily) so not fretting over that yet.

Quoting: Big Mouse

I had an old maximiser controller kicking around somewhere, I'll have a look tomorrow to see if I can find it

Excellent, would be interested, thanks.

Quoting: Big Mouse

might even have a bottle heater still

Ah !  That'd be pukka !  Definitely interested in that.

[Roadkill]

Just ordered a load of little bits on eBay for the additional fuel line for the NOS kit.  I run a 3/8" main but that one needs a 5/16" so I figure a complete separate line from the regulator is better than a nasty Tee-piece on the main line.

Also ordered another in-line fuel pressure gauge to check there's no fluctuations between the two.

Also just put another order in with Summit Racing . . . NOS blow-down tube and cap, NOS bottle blanket and NOS purge kit.

Now I'm going to lie down for a bit.

[art b]

Quoting: Roadkill

Quoting: Cunning Plan
When itis Inn situ, You Get an iddea of how large thaat cylender is!


Holy sh!t, CP, how many spelling mistakes ?

Is your right hand busy doing something else

 ........

[ianjpage]

Quoting: Big Mouse

How will you control it?

The Kit comes with the wiring for a master switch then a micro switch to fire the solenoids at WOT - it is actually a fairly comprehensive kit to get the NOS in and working (less purge / blow down etc)

Quoting: Roadkill

Just ordered a load of little bits on eBay