When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Been following along, I too have a little blue '64 Coupe with the 365 hp L76. I also chased a few bugs down when I first got mine but it's become very reliable now. I've managed to keep it original buying NOS parts which are pricey or correct parts that have been rebuilt.
Been following along, I too have a little blue '64 Coupe with the 365 hp L76. I also chased a few bugs down when I first got mine but it's become very reliable now. I've managed to keep it original buying NOS parts which are pricey or correct parts that have been rebuilt.
Was able to drive the car the entire weekend with no issue. I started over with the brakes and adjusted all 4 wheels to the point where you could just barely got the drum over the shoes, and then backed each off two clicks at each wheel. I then went out and did a few aggressive stops from 50 mph, and a few panic stops to verify everything was working properly. Both fronts lock up at the same point, and the fronts lock up well before the rears...you really have to try hard to get the rears to lock, but she stops hard and straight so I'm happy with it. Still going to do the disc swap next year at some point, but at least its safe and drivable now.
I also continue to be impressed by how much the motor woke up with the valve lash adjustment. It really is exactly what I was hoping for when I specifically started looking for an L76 car.
In all of the driving, I failed to take many pics, but heres a few from dinner last night and our coffee run this morning. I know not everybody likes the "steelies" look, but its only temporary. After I do the disc brake swap, Ill get a set of 15x7 Torque Thrust Ds with Avon CR6ZZ tires but for the time being, I had to ditch the factory hub caps....they just look too much like a Pep Boys special to me.
Annoying day at work...crappy weather...lots of meetings....no flying....
So I decided to relax at home by finally getting around to cleaning the car I bought 5 months ago....
But first, some parts arrived from Zip Corvette. Much like in my '72 Suburban, I'm going to swap all of the exterior lights to LEDs. For me its not a looks thing, but a safety item (and protecting the investment). I specifically chose the units from Zip because they use a factory reproduction exterior lens, with an LED circuit board that plugs into the factory housing. They looks 100% factory with the lights off, but provide drastically brighter light with them on...especially in my case where I only have two brake lights due to the reverse light option.
My only heartburn with the products will be noted below (besides the crappy photo)....
Brake lights and reverse lights come in pairs.....!$@%&@ing turn signals come as individuals!!!! Entirely my fault for not reading the fine print, but seriously, who orders one LED turn signal?!?
Fortunately, I live about 2 hours from Zip, so the turn around is usually a day at the most. Eventually, Ill also install the LED headlights from CJ Pony intended for the '69 Mustang. Theres another thread going right now that covers these lights, and they install without any modification to the '64 and later headlight buckets. They're also the closest thing you're going to find to a plug and play LED headlight solution for a 5.75 inch bulb. https://www.cjponyparts.com/headligh...-1969/p/HLA55/
Hope to have that all sorted by the end of the week....on to the cleaning...I hesitate to use "detailing" as those that really "detail" their cars would probably cringe at my process. On my two old cars, I don't wash them, I wipe them down with Chadwick's Triple Play regularly, and wax them once a year in the spring. I do however wash and dress the wheels and tires. For those unfamiliar with Chadwick's, I highly recommend it....especially if you're not into buffing your car for hours with $200 doilies made from fur of a rabbits anus and are just looking for an 80% solution. The below pictures are following two hours of work. I sprayed the whole car down, lightly wiped it off with a micro fiber towel. Sprayed it down again and ran over it with the Chadwick's rubber block that basically acts as a lighter duty version of a clay bar, and then buffed/wiped the residual off. The basic kit also came with some really nice "no sling" tire dressing that is neither glossy nor wet. Its completely dry to the touch after being applied to the tires and really just makes them look like brand new tires.
All in all, I'm quite happy with the results, and for 70 bucks, theres enough product to do the car 8-10 times depending on how dirty it is....plus theres 5 microfiber towels and a foam applicator for the tire dressing. Please excuse the crap-tacualr pics....we're getting the remnants of the latest hurricane now, so I was hesitant to drive to a more picturesque location after my two hours of intense labor (and more importantly, the 4 beers ).
Your car looks really nice! I've replaced the lamps on my 58 with LEDs and notice a huge difference. I'm not sure I'm going to update the headlamps since I don't drive much at night. I love the chance to "putz" in my garage and also have found Chadwick's to be very satisfying!
Thanks Benton!....like I said, its probably not for the hard core detail guys, but if you're just looking to keep the car clean, and give it a quick wipe down after driving it all week, its probably a good option.
I have been using Chadwick's for a year and a half. I love the stuff. The first time you use it you will see a dramatic difference. I use it on all my cars, sinks, counter tops and boats. I bought a gallon last year and have used 2/3 of it. I am told you can buy it on Amazon.
Greg, you are not missing much back here on the car scene. It was 25 degrees at the Cars and Coffee yesterday morning. This has been a rough winter for Virginia Beach. I have only driven the 66 once in the last month. Be safe.
Greg,
Ah, lovely Bahrain! It’s decent there now, just wait two months and it becomes planet Crematoria again...
I’ll be in Qatar this week and will tell “Lung” you said hey...
Be safe and save up that Corvette money over there!
Thanks bud...yea, Im actually enjoying it at the moment...my last two trips out here were May - Dec, so I'm well versed in the terribleness right around the corner. If you make it up this way at all, give me a shout. I'm at "The Deed" regularly, but generally not longer than an hour or so to drop off/pick up stuff and grab a splash of gas.
Greg, you are not missing much back here on the car scene. It was 25 degrees at the Cars and Coffee yesterday morning. This has been a rough winter for Virginia Beach. I have only driven the 66 once in the last month. Be safe.
Thanks, yea my wife said it was pretty gross out. I definitely don't miss winter, but I do miss home!
09-24-2017, 03:51 AM
).
