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

[ianjpage]

Hmm not too bad for the focus one, hmm not too good on the optima though....

[Big Mouse]

I have a spare Exide Maxxima deep cycle battery that we used to use in the camaro when we were racing if its any good to ya? 750cca sp should be plenty for your camaro

[Roadkill]

Optima's now down to 10.28V so I'll be trying to "blast" charge it !

I'm pretty sure it's dead, though.

Ray.  Definitely interested - will chat once I've been paid.  

[Big Mouse]

You don't need to wait until pay day if you need it now, we can sort it out later mate, you know it won't be expensive

[Roadkill]

Yeah, I know, and it's appreciated . . . . but it's not stopping me from doing anything at the moment . . . The steering has been / is the real thorn in my side at the moment.

I've gotta take a deep breath and blow best part of £500 this weekend to start correcting that otherwise there's no chance of her being finished this year.

There's the steering and just a few snagging jobs left (tidying wiring under the dash and cut and paint some plates to go around the interior door handles . . . )

I'll be tackling those while I wait for parts to arrive for the steering.

That Exide of yours is the same size as the Optima and has terminals both sides so will be a simple drop-in - no work there.

[Roadkill]

Been shopping.



£51 (inc. shipping and taxes) For a replacement Intermediate steering column.  Ebay.

£398 Rock Auto (inc. shipping and taxes) For New :
Pair of Outer Tie Rod Ends (Moog),
Pair of Inner Tie Rod Ends (Moog),
Centre Link (Moog),
Idler Arm (Moog),
Pair of Adjuster Sleeves (Cheapie ones as I won't be using them long),
Re-Man Power Steering (Saginaw) P/S Pump (Cardone),
Serp Pulley (Dorman),
Reservoir Cap (Dorman),
Gates P/S Pressure Hose,
AC Delco Bracket (this is risky as I may or may not need it . . No choice, though)

£50 Summit Racing (inc. shipping and taxes)
P/S Return Line & Cooler

I just want it to be finished, now.  

[ianjpage]

eek not cheap but at least it should be fairly easy install once it gets here!!

[Roadkill]

Yeah, that's the up side of it.

I still need to agree a deal with Ryan for the P/S box itself and the Pitman arm . . . after that I think I have everything (except hopefully just the new belt).

[ianjpage]

Quoting: Roadkill

I still need to agree a deal with Ryan for the P/S box itself and the Pitman arm

Well you're in the process of brewing some beer so that's a good bargaining chip lol!!

Quoting: Roadkill

after that I think I have everything (except hopefully just the new belt).

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Roadkill

I still need to agree a deal with Ryan for the P/S box itself and the Pitman arm . . .

Sorted and acquired.

Also had the Exide Battery from Ray, too.

Cheers, guys.

[ianjpage]

Quoting: Roadkill

Quoting: Roadkill
I still need to agree a deal with Ryan for the P/S box itself and the Pitman arm . . .

Sorted and acquired.

Also had the Exide Battery from Ray, too.

Cheers, guys.

[Roadkill]

Been doing various test charges on the Optima . . . It's now even worse.

I had it charging with a fan on it constantly yesterday to keep it cool . . . I gave up last night, disconnected it and left the fan on for an hour to make sure it was cold.

Went outside this morning and could hear it quietly whistling to itself !!

Seriously f**ked.

Still, I've got Ray's Exide, now, so It won't be an issue.  Just a PITA about the loss of MORE money and MORE wasted time !



I hope the next project runs smoother.  

[Roadkill]

Holy SH!T !!

The stuff from Rock Auto was delivered this morning !!!

5 days.  I have a new respect for FedEx !!!  

[Titsy]

Quoting: Roadkill

Holy SH!T !!

The stuff from Rock Auto was delivered this morning !!!  

5 days. I have a new respect for FedEx !!!

I think it's more down to Rock auto letting you pay the duty up front that make's it get through quickly, otherwise FedEx would sit on it for a week while they justify their admin fees and eventually send you a letter to charge the duty...

[Roadkill]

That helps, T'is true.  I get most stuff from Summit now and use iParcel - They're good, too - much, much cheaper than the others and normally get it to you in a week.

5 days is still pretty good from FedEx, though, considering it included a weekend.

[ianjpage]

Quoting: Roadkill

Been doing various test charges on the Optima . . . It's now even worse.

I had it charging with a fan on it constantly yesterday to keep it cool . . . I gave up last night, disconnected it and left the fan on for an hour to make sure it was cold.

Went outside this morning and could hear it quietly whistling to itself !!

Seriously f**ked.

Still, I've got Ray's Exide, now, so It won't be an issue. Just a PITA about the loss of MORE money and MORE wasted time !

That is definately knackered as you say least you got something sorted now!

Quoting: Roadkill

Holy SH!T !!

The stuff from Rock Auto was delivered this morning !!!

5 days. I have a new respect for FedEx !!!

wow that is quick!

[Roadkill]

I must confess, it's getting harder and harder to get enthusiastic about doing anything on the Camaro these days .....

That said, tonight's been a good pick-me-up.

I've got loads of jobs done (non car-related) and still managed to get all the new (and not-so-new) steering parts ground smooth, cleaned, masked and primed, ready for top-coating tomorrow.

A distinct feeling of de-ja-vu that was both sickeningly amusing and irritating at the same time.

Still.  Progress.  Kinda.

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Roadkill

I must confess, it's getting harder and harder to get enthusiastic about doing anything on the Camaro these days .....

Totally understand chap. I am working on the rear suspension on my bus and as I am taking parts off to upgrade, I am finding more metal work to repair first So, instead of moving forward with the bus BUILD when I can actually work on it, I am back to repairs!

[Roadkill]

Yeah, that sucks.  

I managed to shuffle a meeting around this morning to free up a couple of hours for some painting ....

Got all the parts that I primed last night in three coats of red.



Just need to fit the grease nipples to them when I get back ....

Also need to tidy up the new steering pump as the factory finish is not great.

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Roadkill on 12th July

The [battery] connected to the Camaro is 12.55V .....

Now at 12.4V, which, after nearly 2 weeks ain't too bad.  

Hopefully that suspected draining issue was just the Optima dying.

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Roadkill

Also need to tidy up the new steering pump as the factory finish is not great.

The factory paint literally wiped off !

It's had a clean and I'm in the process of putting 3 coats of Hammerite on it (you won't see much of it but I figure I've gone this far so - )

Here's a pic from last night of the steering hardware prepped ready for priming (all now finished, ready to go on the car).

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Here's a pic of the Exide battery fitted.  Perfect fit, too.

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Also started addressing some snagging issues ahead of the weekend (nothing major - just measuring up for a couple of small plate to in-fill around the interior door handles) . . .

[Roadkill]

Hit my first snag on the way to going back to power steering . . .

The '89 Ancillary bracket won't mount the '89 pump in the correct position/alignment on my '93 engine in my '83 car !



It's weird as we took dimensions from Ryan's Iroc (an '89) and they seemed to tally with the LT1 belt position which I was very suspicious about as I'm running a Corvette pulley - so I double checked.

When we offered up the bracket it was about half the belt spacing further from the block !











Soooo, looks like I'll be making a custom mounting bracket, then . . . .

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Roadkill

just measuring up for a couple of small plate to in-fill around the interior door handles

Now have the plates in my hand so should be able to get that off the list this weekend . . .

Also got a bit of 8mm plate to make the P/S pump bracket out of . . . I wanted 6mm but took what I could get.

Have also ordered 3/8" UNC x 4.5" Bolts (will make more sense later).

Hopefully should make a start at stripping off the manual steering stuff this evening . . .

[Andy]

What's the plate made out of? Could be an opportunity for some funky ally billet pieces!

[Roadkill]

I need quick turn-around so it's just steel.  I'll whittle it down with an angle grinder til I get the shape I need.

We have a bridgeport in the workshop but VERY limited tooling for it (we mainly use it for large diameter drilling).

We don't have a lathe so I'll need a steel spacer or two made up >wink< . . . Also I still need those ally ones doing once I've confirmed the final seat position.