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No problem . I enjoy reading other people s builds . So.e for ideas , some for safety , etc .
I just finished up having my 82 repainted & completely replacing my interior ...undercarriage is next .
Great job again !!
Just read your entire thread from the beginning. Hell of a job you've done with your 77. My project is more or less about the same as yours, Especially the interior. The PO replaced just about everything with new stuff but just threw it all in without Even painting and insulating the floorboards and not properly fitting anything.
Anyway. So far you car is looking great. I really dig that blue also.
Been awhile since I updated this post. The only real updates to the car have been a new windshield and rear glass. I also tinted the rear window. Amazing how much of a difference new glass makes!
On a down-side note, I'm loosing coolant. It's not dripping on the ground or ending up in the oil (a very good thing!), and I have no white clouds from the exhaust.
Even though it's not puffing white smoke, I suspect it's getting into the combustion chamber and being burned, so it looks like I'll be pulling the intake off to see if it's an intake gasket. If it's not there, then the heads will be coming off. Sorta bummed about it, but what can you do.
Ended up pulling the intake and found my leak. #3 intake runner was wet with coolant. Found that the intake gasket had gone bad.
Cleaned everything up, new gaskets, coolant, thermostat, oil / filter, plugs, etc. and it was good on a short test drive. I'll pull the plugs and check the coolant level again once I get 20 or so miles on it. If all looks good, I'll change the oil and filter one more time.
Now I can go back to my regular list of stuff to do / fix.
The family and I were looking for something to watch during Christmas break. We binge watched 9 seasons of "How I Met Your Mother" in 6 weeks. I find myself doing the same thing on these build threads. I have finished all of CorvetteJoshua's, DoorGunner's and now yours. This has been a great and inspiring thread. Can't believe how great the engine compartment came out. Keep up the awesome work.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed reading through the thread. There are some amazing builds going on here all the time. I have also been following along on the threads you mentioned along with a few others, and have gained not only some great ideas, but also some very valuable knowledge.
OK... so I haven't posted up on this project in a few months. My attempt to fix the problem with new intake gaskets didn't solve the problem so I'm digging in deeper. I even went to the extent of trying a new intake to eliminate that from the equation. Still no luck. I have now ruled out everything I can think of shy of replacing the heads, so that's what I'm doing.
I ordered a new set of heads from Summit Racing - their cast iron 2.02 heads which are actually manufactured by Dart. And, to keep going with the "while I'm in there" theme lol - new rockers, pushrods, ARP head bolts, and all of the misc. gaskets needed to do the job. Purchased them on "cyber Monday" and saved almost $70 on the pair of heads which were IMO, already priced very well.
The new parts should be here in two or three days. Keep your fingers crossed for me on this one.
Oh... and one other adjustment to the plans. We've now decided on another color. I guess the third times a charm? lol
We're going to paint it orange. Yep, first black, then blue and now orange. It's now morphed into a goal of keeping it retro looking. Something that would have been done in the '70s. So orange it is, and eventually some Torq Thrust D2 wheels with the grey spokes and polished edges.
Going to go with Summit Racing's paint which will save us a ton of $$. They call it Hugger Orange.
Thanks guys Since we have an "old" set of Erson valve covers and a "old" set of Cyclon headers (Bob Glidden signature series), I think it will have some nice retro touches to it without getting too crazy.
I'm also going to replace the Edelbrock air cleaner lid with a flat no-name lid and use a Chevy type 350 decal. Just little things, but it should all start to tie in with the look we're going for.
And no, we won't be running any hijacker air shocks.
Heads and all the misc. parts I ordered showed up today. I have to say, the castings look great, and they were packaged really well. Fast shipping too. Those 2.02s sure are pretty.
Hey Adam.. I've been following your thread since you started it. What I like the best about it is you're doing the work yourself. I usually have the same kind of no frills budget you do on the 77 so I can relate to that but even if I could pay to have it done I'd still be doing the work myself. That's the best part.
Thanks for the support! I agree - doing the work myself is the best part, and at times the worst part
I fired up the motor for the first time yesterday and it sounds fantastic. Honestly, it sounds like a different motor with the new heads and various parts I just replaced. I'll post up a few pics very soon.
Diggin' the Orange and the new heads... Haven't been around in awhile, but will try better in the future!!!
Rogman
Thanks Rogman! Great to hear from you. I saw a post you made about your project. Please stick with it - even if you take a break, dig back in and finish that amazing Vette you have.
Originally Posted by brent319
Glad to hear from you. I am sure you will get things figured out and on the road soon.
All the cool kids have orange vettes
Thanks Brent! We did a short test drive, and it feels awesome. Obvious that it not only runs better, but the power is way up as well. Really liking the orange idea too! I think it will look good with the factory wheels, but eventually the Torq Thrusts will really make it pop.
We've had a lot of company during the holidays, so not much time to work on it, but I will post some pics up in the next day or two.
As a remembrance of my cousin who passed away on Jan. 1st we have added a small engraved plaque to the engine compartment of our '77.
Not only was he a Vietnam Vet, but he was more like a brother than a cousin to my family. He also was a huge influence / mentor for me when I was young and starting to learn about cars. This will be an awesome reminder of what a great guy he was, and to know that he's there with me, guiding me when I'm working on it.
Among his projects over the years were a '69 Camaro 302 car, a 70 Buick GS with a Stage2 455, a 73 Vega with a nasty 327 in it, and a variety of other GM products that he owned and modded.
Since we have an "old" set of Erson valve covers and a "old" set of Cyclon headers (Bob Glidden signature series), I think it will have some nice retro touches to it without getting too crazy.
