The restored shocks were mounted back on using their original restored hardware.

Here is the ground strap that runs from the frame rail to the body mount gusset. This is a reproduction as my original was just too stained but this one was the perfect length and had the correct ends.

Newly restored windshield washer pump, decal and hoses. Also new firewall to engine grounds.

This is a hole that was rudely stamped through he firewall for the tach harness. I am not sure why they did not use one of the other holes unless the pigtail would not reach. The original plug mounted near the accelerator cable had an X pattern cut in it like they were thinking of running a wire through it but the stamped hole is where I found the harness coming through.


Thanks to an sYc member I was able to locate and purchase a correctly ribbed PCV hose. I had one in my inventory for quite some time but of course when I needed it I could not find it.

Several people had mentioned to me that their Chevelle had a staple in the middle of the firewall. Ours did to so it was left alone. In the original photo you can see "RED" spelled out. It too was replaced on the firewall with a grease pencil UNDER the paint as was the original but due to the poor lighting it does not show up in this photo.

My Chevelle has 3 staples across the firewall. Was this done to attach a build sheet or some other document? I've always wondered why those staples were there. Does anyone know the answer?

When the Winter weather gets me a little blue , You post these awesome photos. This is one lucky car !! Beautiful..

I've mostly seen 2 staples on the firewall on a few SS '69s including my current project, my vert, and my brother's recent project, also a '69 vert. Never pinned down what they once held. All were KC cars.
....and Beeeutiful work Rick/Annie!

Rick,
Just an FYI........The valve stem hole is also different.

In what way?

It’s open not closed

That's what I was afraid of. What really sucks is I had a complete set of original survivor YH wheels, rings and caps (though slightly used) and had no idea of their value or that I would ever need them so I sold them a few years ago. Live and learn as they say.

Last night and tonight's progress, I restored the red oxide harness clips that hold the intermediate harness to the quarter panel lip as well as installed the harness code tape on the rear light harness.

The entire date coded and original GM smog system was fully restored and installed back on the engine today. NO reproduction parts here!

Installed the fuel tank gas line and admittedly not sure if they used "SWAN GAS" in 1969 like they did in 1970 as the old fuel lines were so weathered I could not make out any markings on them.

The speedo clip is slightly different than what I am used to seeing on early 70 cars. No one makes this clip so I made it per a photo I received from someone who had this on a similar dated 69 Chevelle.

That's it for now as Annie and I are going to tackle the exhaust system tonight and put her welding skills to test. It has been over 10 years since she last welded but when I told her I wanted her to take an active role in the restoration I was not joking. Just like riding a bike.....I hope......

Looks awesome!:headbang:

Man, Rick. My finders can’t type what my brain thinks about what my eyes see......IM-FREAKIN-PRESSIVE!!!! And that’s an understatement!! Fuel to the fire and motivation on my next restoration. :burnout:

Cheers:beers:
Dave

Ha! I am just learning and trying to keep up with you pal! :)

As the owner of two 69 Chevelles, I am just....speechless. Phenomenal work :worship:

Whut Dav sed!

Is the gas tank new repo or original? If original what was used to clean its exterior and what finish was applied? Galvanized or polished & cleared or ???

Its a reproduction Darrell. The original was beyond saving. This is the Quanta Products gas tank. I just wiped it down with hot soapy water (any solvent will destroy the slight galvanized look) and then covered it in Boe-Shield after applying the screen printed logo.

Rick, I thought I'd share this with you, not wanting to add any confusion in regards to fuel hose but here's one I discovered from the sender to main line on a '69 B-body built in St. Louis. I wonder if any A-bodies used this style?


What I found interesting was the color of printing is silver when magnified.

Very interesting Shaun, but what i don’t get is how did the fuel move thru the hose with that dag-blamed Phillips head in it?:hmmm:

I have seen those markings before. I just wish I could have found markings on my original hoses.

The bar has been raised! This will be the new standard by which others are to be judged. The word “perfect” gets tossed around like a schoolyard dodgeball, but the term is warranted here. It seems the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer and brighter......

Wow David. Those are some pretty strong words for me to achieve but much appreciated. This is I how restored most of our customer cars but admittedly I am taking a lot more time on this one labor wise since it is so cheap. ;) It sure has been a fun one and the amount of help and input we have received from members and friends has been incredible.

As others have said. Absolutely incredible work! Can’t wait to see in person!!

Grady and me made the short trip to the Pittsburg world of wheels a few weeks ago, I just had to see it before all that detail gets covered up.
It's all that and a bag of chips.....:worship:
:youguysrock:

Thanks for a very useful thread, learned allot along the way.

Mike

Annie and I hung and welded the exhaust Thursday night before I left the country. It took us a lot longer to install for some reason as I was having difficulty with getting the alignment just perfect. We use Gardner's system and he sends me extra long head pipes as I weld them to the muffler inlet similar to what was done at the factory using no clamps. They are not done exactly the same but pretty darn close. I wanted to cut and weld the alignment tabs on the rear outlet but due to all the problems I was having with the alignment I elected to move forward without them.

The second set of photos are of the original assembly line exhaust we took off the Chevelle during the disassembly.

The exhaust tips are original late 69 tips (without the rolled tips) which I had rechromed. I still need to dress up the inside of them but otherwise the turned out perfect thanks to out plater.

Wonderful detail Rick/Annie. Love it LOVE IT!!!! Time to fire it up!

Thanks are not enough for John H. who sent Annie and myself 4 NOS trim rings and center caps. The center caps match our originals exactly. I never found any trim rings and know these are the second design but for now they will do perfectly. The members on Yenko.net have been amazing. Thank you John!

…

… You and Annie are a real Artist :worship:

… Glad I could help in a small way :beers:

That my friend was no small way!

Fully restored and ready to install seat belts back into the car. As soon as we put the headliner in the rest of the interior will fall into place and I can put these back in their place.

I have had a lot of people inquire about the rear antenna with regards to the length and type of tip on the end. Our tip has NO grooves in it. I am not sure if that is a case of multiple suppliers (grooved vs non grooved) or another case of assembly line versus buying one over the GM counter. Our unit is oval as well and not round.

The overall length is approximately 46.5" with the two telescoping sections measuring in at 16.5" and 31.5". Notice also the base. Hope this helps those who have been wondering.

Just a little more detail work in the trunk

Huge shout out to Grady Burch for cutting one of his very valuable parts loose. As you can see in the photo, the correct NOS shift boot is on the left, my rat, mouse and racoon eaten original boot and the last photo is the more common replacement NOS boot. From what I know, the original boots are much thicker than the replacement boots and would cause the shifters to pop out of gear so GM replaced them with the taller, more bellows and thinner version. I remember this issue when I owned my 69 back in 1981, the shifter would always pop out of gear when you would take you foot off the throttle. I always thought it was the shifter or internal transmission issue when in fact it was likely due to the original boot putting too much tension on the shifter as it is so much stiffer than the replacement. Thanks again Grady for cutting this one loose as these are pretty tough to find.

----Ohio boys are always eager to help good guy's!!!...….Bill S

That's a part someone could fairly easily have reproduced and would sell like hotcakes.

That is the problem with most reproduction parts, they produce and sell what is most commonly found or used as second design parts and not necessarily assembly line parts as they can cover a much broader audience as well as more years combined.

I just got my paper copy of MuscleCar Review with Jamie Cooper striping this bad ass ride on the cover!!!

I will be off the grid for a little while, an actual car magazine has so much real goodness inside!! (Of course I love the inteweb but a car magazine has some soul that can’t be reproduced just like a shift boot)

Ryan W31

Great day in history. Our life savings little bank account drainer reached a milestone today. Born 50 years ago today. Yea.....

Our car had a Kentucky inspection decal on the window dated 1970. In the interest of keeping the car's history intact I hired a company to make the reproduction decal. I worked very close with the gentleman who made it demanding an exact copy and he got it as close as he could. It is really not as close as I wanted it but I have not been able to find anyone else who can make them so it will have to do for now. I guess I am just a little pickier than most.

“I guess I am just a little pickier than most.”

Full stop