Update
continued from these two threads: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=936778
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=936775

Well the work continued this weekend on my 383 swap. I had always planned to clean up the engine compartment while there was access, but I never could have imagined that it was going to take as long as it actually is taking.
A pretty nice turbo 400 transmission was discovered inside the heavy ball of grease I pulled out of the car last weekend. After installing new seals and gaskets into it I decided that it would be a shame to re-install this sparkling (hopefully leak-free) thing back into a grease incrusted car, so the decision was made to clean and paint everything from the driveshaft forward.

So far I have spent about 26 hours laying on my back under the car, Used at least 1/2 gallon of Simple Green, two toothbrushes, 500 paper towels, two razor blades and a couple of cans of paint.

This is what the transmission and the crossmember used to look like:



After scrubbing through all the layers of grease and dirt I found that the transmission was actually silver



A trip to the car wash, several hours with degreaser and sandpaper, and a few coats of paint, the crossmember now looks like this:



The entire underside of the car (or at least as much as I can get to) is now free from 31 years of grease buildup, and it got a new positive battery cable and tunnel insulation while I was down there.







The visible part of the left frame rail has now been painted from the rear wheel all the way to the motor mount



Tonight the right frame rail and front crossmember will receive the same treatment, hopefully making it ready to accept the new core support and radiator when they arrive.

Later this week the brake booster and wiring harnesses will be replaced and the firewall and inner fenders can be cleaned up too.

And to think, when I started this project I imagined that I would be able to do all of this work in one week of evenings, it looks like I underestimated my timetable by a lot.
With my ever changing work schedule it looks like it will be at least two more weeks before I can get the new engine into this thing.

Question:
Is the paint on the firewall and inner fenders supposed to be flat or semi-gloss??

 

Dang, that's looking pretty good and CLEAN at that. I should have let you come out and clean mine....LOL

Well if your two weeks out on dropping that engine in, I should be able to stop by and lend a hand.

As for the firewall and inner fenders, I don't know but I prefer semi-gloss on most surfaces.

Later'

Tim

 

 

Nice work! The engine compartment was shot with an eggshell sheen of blackout paint. The most accurate paint to use for blacking out the engine compartment is John Deere Blitz Black, available in spray cans at your local Deere dealer.

Shannon

 

It looks great. Nice work.

 

Clean enough to eat off of. Got any beer left?

 

Actually, Yes there is quite a bit of that beer still in the fridge.

My hands have been so greasy for the last week that I have trouble getting a good enough grip to twist the tops off.
Then, when I do get one open I have trouble drinking it since the bottle keeps hitting the bottom of the car when I tip it up.

What I need is something like an IV bag that I can fill with beer and hang above the car before I start working, then I could just keep the hose in my mouth and have a drink without even stopping work.

Crap, I'm never going to get this car finished!! Now I am going to have to spend the next couple of nights building this beer rig

So i guess "eggshell" means "flat"?
I will look into getting a can of that John Deere paint and compare it to the semi-flat that I have.

 

Sorry, not pics today, but last night (early this morning) I got the other frame rail cleaned and painted.

Tonight the front crossmember and inner fenders will get the "treatment" and tomorrow I will be able to put in the new core support and radiator (which arrived yesterday).

I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I still don't think I will be ready to put the engine in for another week or so.

I'll try to get more pics tonight before I pass out.

 

Cool we'll be lookin'

 

Looks Great, will be looking and waiting for more pics

 

Good Job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I've been very busy earning a living, but I did manage to get a lot done on the vette this weekend.
The accessable part of the frame has now been cleaned and painted from the rear tires all the way to the front.
The front suspension components (all of which are less than 3 years old) have been mostly cleaned.
The front half of the inner fenders have been cleaned and painted.
The radiator core support and fan shroud have been installed with all new seals.
The headlight wiring harness has been replaced.
The ignition wiring harness has been removed (to be replaced).
The AC wiring harness has been disconnected (to be replaced).
The brake booster has been removed (to be replaced). [Note: this was nowhere near as difficult a job as I expected it to be given the descriptions by some here on the forum]

Another evening or two and I should have the firewall and the rest of the engine compartment cleaned, painted and all put back together.

I didn't get any pics taken of the progress over the weekend, but I will try to take some tonight.

If anyone needs any specific pictures of 73 engine compartment components while I have this thing apart let me know and I will try to get them for you.

New engine will definitely be going into the car this coming Saturday !!!

 

looks great!!! and i feel your pain....

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as for the beer try taking a couple of really big gulps and go straight to lying on your back....i though i was going to explode!!!!!!!


I am especially interested in paint scheme you are going to use...I'm thinking gloss gray on inner fender wells and flat black or satin black firewall

where did you get yours trans tunnel insulation? thats a great idea and where did you get your radiator seals?
and yes can you pls post pictures so i can steal your good ideas
thks bob

 

Looks great!! I did that several months ago and still waiting to get my engine back together.

 

John Deere Blitz Black does have an eggshell sheen, so it is more of a semi-gloss than flat. Any semi-gloss will work: the John Deere is the closest in texture and hue to the factory appearance (NCRS). Don't use flat black. The porosity of the finish will trap dirt and grease and makes it a real pain to clean.

 

I bought the tunnel insulation, throttle cable, wiring harnesses, radiator, core support, radiator seals............... brake pushrod clevis ....and so on.. from Volunteer Vette products http://www.volvette.com/ .
Wide selection of parts, excellent support, and prompt delivery. I would highly reccommend them.

You are welcome to steal any ideas you can get from me, I probably already stole them from someone else on this forum anyway.

Thanks for the compliments

 

Missle Man thks i live by lots of farms so that may be locally available

Kevin 73 thks

 

How did you clean the trans tunnel and firewall?

I have the body off the frame right now, and will be cleaning the underside soon, but was not sure exactly how to clean it.

Thanks!





www.bigdogvettes.com

 

Looks real nice...might want to come up a little closer to the engine compartment with that tunnel insulation. Again, nice job!

 

Awsome job so far. Keep up the good work and take care of everything now so you don't have to say - I only wish I would had done- later.