Chevelle updates

[VintageMusclecar]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pxtx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No self respecting hot rodder has just 1 set of wheels and tires. No worries Eric. Look forward to seeing the new buns. Heck, the Nova with the 325 series rubber would be cool to see too! </div></div>

Ask and ye shall receive. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]





He's been invited to join up &amp; post. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/cool.gif[/img]

[VintageMusclecar]

Our very own Tony N. a.k.a. &quot;scuncio&quot; made a little road trip today from Michigan to Ohio to drop off a 12 bolt rear for the Chevelle. This one's a <span style="text-decoration: underline">correct</span> early rear end (Nov. `66 for my December `66 built car), so no more fussing with custom offset wheels in the back! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

For those who haven't met him, Tony is good people. It was a true pleasure. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

As of this afternoon the Chevelle now has a new set of shoes, M/T 275/60 DR's in the back and BFG Comp T/A's (225/70) in the front. I'll get pics up later.

Unfortunately Tony wasn't able to hang out long enough for me to get the tires swapped. As such, Tony got the last ride with the Goodyears on the car. I do need to note that from the last time I drove it to today I did drop the rear tire pressure down from 23 to 19.5 lbs.

I did my best to give Tony an E-ticket ride. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

While 1st and 2nd gears were as useless as before, this time 3rd gear hooked, and before I knew it I was on the limiter at 6800. I pulled it into 4th and backed it down.

Hopefully Tony will give his impressions when he has the chance. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

[scuncio]

I decided to take the day off today and head down to Eric's shop, about a 4 hour drive from Detroit. Eric was a great host and showed me his extensive collection of cool speed parts and carb stuff.

I have to say, I am in love with his '67. The paint is gorgeous, it sounds pretty mild (by my standards, at least) and boy it is ever fast. I have owned a lot of fast cars in my time, and am not easily impressed :-). This car would outrun any of my old cars by a considerable margin. It's deceiving because the car stays so composed and tracks very straight.

Thanks for the hospitality and I'm glad you could use the 12-bolt! Hell, with those dates, maybe it's the original one that came out of your car!

[VintageMusclecar]

Just a few quickie shots from yesterday, sorry the quality isn't better.

[VintageMusclecar]

Tony you're too kind, thanks. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

[MosportGreen66]

Eric, looks super. Very nice job, congrats.

Dan

[VintageMusclecar]

<span style="font-weight: bold">MUCH</span> better.

I am very impressed with these tires. I gave `em a full-on whack from a ~5 mph roll (still pumped up to 35 psi., that's where the tire store put `em) and it just <span style="font-style: italic">skittered</span> the tires through 1st and 2nd gear. They're down to 30 now, we'll see how they do next time.

Three things to note:

1) I'm so outt'a practice it's not funny. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif[/img] I can't shift this thing quickly enough...by the time I react to the shift point, it's bumping the rev limiter (of course there's the incessant paranoia of scattering the trans that's running through my mind each time I start to yank the shifter). [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

2) I really, <span style="font-style: italic">really</span> can't wait to get that 4.56 screw outt'a the back.

3) Pretty sure the car now needs jet extensions. There's a pronounced momentary lag immediately after the hit now and after each shift that's definitely not an accelerator pump issue or anything like that.

More eventually.

[VintageMusclecar]

Picking off one little gremlin at a time.

The car has had a vibration from 50 mph + since I've got it on the road. To make a long story short, I tracked it down to a pinion angle issue.

Since I had to add all those shims under the motor mounts to clear the Milodon pan, the engine and trans are a little more rearward-tipped than they should be. Combine that with the slightly different upper control arm mount locations on the `68 rear end (3/8&quot; further rearward than a `67 housing according to my research) and the car wound up with a lot more pinion angle than it needed.

I picked up a pair of UMI Performance adjustable upper control arms last week and got them in the car today (not gonn'a lie, that job sucks).



After a fairly significant adjustment, I'm happy to report the 50+ mph vibration appears to be gone. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

I have yet to &quot;traction test&quot; the car again since dropping the tire pressure, but I'll get to it soon.

Lastly, a couple of weeks ago I ordered an assortment of decals for the car; a trunk posi sticker, jacking instructions, GM stickers for the doors, and an array of air cleaner decals...I just couldn't stand lookin' at that nekkid air cleaner any longer! (dopey me forgot to order a Tonowanda sticker for the valve cover though [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img] )

After a little cuttin' n' pastin', I came up with the following:







Admittedly not perfect (there's quite a bit of variance in the font and trim lines between the different decals) and a whisker optimistic (a whopping 9 HP...gimm'e a break! lol!), but it's as close as I could get with the readily available decals.

Does anyone know of a resource who can custom make these decals?

I have two more updates to the car I'm working on, a rear end swap and reinstalling a power steering system on the car.

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Hopefully</span></span> I'll be able to get them done before I have to put her up for the winter.

[Gary Anderson]

You forgot the &quot;Caution Fan&quot; decal. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]
Looks good man.

[mockingbird812]

That is one beefy bad boy!!!!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]