Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Thanks. I found a local company, Hy-Tek Coatings, that is going to do it.

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Tracy,

A nice little weekend racer....I like the hood, I would have made the scoop just a bit shorter.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1971-chev...=item35ba71c3a0

Dan

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

L88 hood would look good.

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Got the finishing primer sprayed on this morning. Car is really straight with only a couple of minor flaws that need corrected. Tint supposed to be orange, turned out reddish pink... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif[/img]

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Pics, Pics, Pics....

Dan

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

I'm going to try to get some pics in next couple of days.

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Finally got both carbs finished. Getting closer.

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Early in this thread I said I was going to use GM production aluminum heads. I didn't want to give any details about what I had until I was sure of what they were and if they could be used.
The heads were done back in the 70's by the cyl. head man himself, Lee Shepherd. A friend of mine had done some trading for them a few years ago and had brought them by the shop for me to look at. I suspected what they might be and made a trade on them.
After contacting Reher and Morrison, it was confirmed that Lee had a stamp that he used on the cyl. heads he built and this was indeed a pair of his.
Bobby Myers at Performance Automotive rebuilt the heads and gave them a clean bill of health. He said the work on the ports and chambers was cutting edge, pro stock stuff back in the day.
I can't wait to get this car done!

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Cutting Edge, I`d say.....great score.

Dan

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Lee Shepherd was definetly the man. He was a real driving force for that Team. They never ran as good after his death IMO.

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

I'm so pumped about getting these heads ready to go. I was going to build the castings I have in the for sale section, but after getting these, I thought they would be a better piece of Day 2 history. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Here is some info. on the team.
http://www.rehermorrison.com/rmHistory.htm


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Lee Shepherd was definetly the man. He was a real driving force for that Team. They never ran as good after his death IMO.</div></div>

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Tracy,

You`ll like this....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...2012/214-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...2012/217-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...2012/216-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...2012/215-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...2012/218-1.jpg

Dan

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

I like it, but would change a few things. Can't make up my mind on the chrome headlight bezels.

Finally got some shots of the car in finish primer.

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Very Nice, is that Spies Hecker red primer?

Dan

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

It's Valspar sealer / finish primer. Was supposed to be orange but turned out that color. Has a pinkish red color.
I'm going to use De Beers base and House of Color clear. We are going to apply two coats of clear, block the finish, reclear two more coats, block and polish.

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Those Lee Shepherd heads are really neat. They were indeed touched by The Legend. He was an incredible driver and cylinder head man.

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

&quot;We are going to apply two coats of clear, block the finish, reclear two more coats, block and polish.&quot;

WOW! This will not be cheap, but the end result will be amazing.

What color are you going to use?

Dan

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Paint should have a lot of depth using this method. The color is going to be orange. Still tossing around which paint code.

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Make it '69 Monaco Orange [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]

Dan

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Pix

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

I ask Tracy why not four coats of clear,then block and polishing.

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

When you cut the first two coats and then apply two more, cut then buff, it adds way more depth to the color. Applying four coats at one time and cutting and buffing is no different than doing two as far as depth is concerned.

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Talking about time and material,it sounds like to me,four coats of clear,cut then buffing,leaves more coats of clear on the car. Adding more depth to the color by more clear on the car. But I understand if you can't explain your answer on a key board. *Paul*

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Sometimes it's hard for people to understand how it works until they can see it for themselves. It may be good for you to find a high end paint shop and let them show you.

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Tracy,your way has less shrinkage in clear coats paint. You have no skin to the paint when fresh. Sometimes it's hard for people to understand. But I am trying. *Paul*

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

And all of us men hate shrinkage. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif[/img]

Dan

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

I WAS IN THE POOL!!!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Tracy,

You need this.....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cox-049-1973-Veg...=item2a1c69dc31

Dan

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

What do you guys think about the interior in this car?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet...a1ca44df8#v4-42

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

I actually kind of like it, I just would not have done the sun visor`s.

Needs a split bumper too.

Dan

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Yeah. I think the door panels are a little much also. But maybe they would look better with less padding behind them.
I'm thinking of maybe doing my interior in diamond tuck, but don't know if that many &quot;diamonds&quot; would look right.

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hemicolt</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What do you guys think about the interior in this car?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet...a1ca44df8#v4-42 </div></div>


perfect. every custom interior was unique. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...2012/Vegas.jpg

Dan

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

----The carpet is OK!!!......Bill S

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

There is an urban legend floating around about a train derailment that had one of those cars full of Vegas. Story goes at the spot of the derailment, they dug a hole and buried all the damaged cars.

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Postsedan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...2012/Vegas.jpg

Dan </div></div> They really transported the cars nose down &amp; stacked like that..

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Yep.........RPO VK5...aka the &quot;Vert-a-pact&quot; option.
Here are more pictures,designed by GM &amp; Southern Pacific R/R.
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010...early-70s.html

In short,it added parts to the cars so they could be shipped,by rail,packed vertically to save space.
The vert-a-pac rail cars required that the cars be able to be driven on and driven off with no mechanical work needed.This drive-on/drive-off requirement was difficult to meet because all liquids had to be aboard,so the VK5 RPO was created.

Modifications included:
- a baffle in the oil pan to prevent flooding the forward cylinders with oil.
- off-center filler caps on the battery.
- a plug in the fuel tank vent line.
- an overflow hose from the float bowl to the charcoal canister.
- tilting the windshield washer bottle 45 degrees.
- plastic spacers between the splash pans and the engine to reinforce the motor mounts.

The Vega was designed to be shipped vertically, nose down. Special rail cars known as Vert-A-Pac cars held 30 Vegas versus 18 in normal tri-level autoracks. Each Vega was fitted with four removable, cast-steel sockets inserted into the undercarriage.

Chevrolet conducted vibration and low-speed crash tests to make sure nose-down Vegas wouldn't shift or be damaged in railcar collisions. Chevrolet's goal was to deliver Vegas topped with fluids and ready to drive to the dealership.To do this Vega engineers had to design a special engine oil baffle to prevent oil from entering the No. 1 cylinder, batteries had filler caps located high up on the rear edge of the case to prevent acid spilling, the carburetor float bowl had a special tube that drained gasoline into the vapor canister during shipment, and the windshield washer bottle stood at a 45 degree angle. Plastic spacers were wedged in beside the powertrain to prevent damage to engine and transmission mounts.
The wedges were removed when cars were unloaded.

Re: Day 2 Vega
 

Great historical info. Impressive efficiency on GMs part. Nearly a 70% improvement in number of Vegas moved on a single car!

It would be interesting to see if cost of RPO VK5 was off set by reduced transportation costs of moving Vegas to dealers. The customer would have the option to store his Vega in his garage in an upright position to make room for other cars/stuff!!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/laugh.gif[/img]