Topics

1

General Discussion / Muscle Car Review - July 2018, Readers Rides

« on: June 19, 2018, 04:57:49 PM »

After finishing my oh so long project early last year.... it feels like it was worth it to get my car in Muscle Car Review this month... not a feature but a Readers Rides...if you are a subscriber... you may already have this issue (with the yellow Dodge on the cover).

Worked hard on so many details, this site helped me out with so many questions to make sure I got it as right as I could.... if I was gonna do it, I was gonna do it right...

thanks to everyone here who provided insight (and opinions)

and this car was born WITHOUT a posi....a 3.07 open rear end.....still a Muscle Car....

2

Restoration / 12 Bolt diff - vent hose

« on: January 09, 2018, 05:51:47 PM »

I have never seen another car with a vent hose on the rear diff like mine.... It is the original 12 bolt... pic below.

The top of the vent hose attached to a fitting on the underside of the trunk. I sent the car off to the body shop as a roller with the rear end still attached. There we removed the rear suspension and put the body on a cart. I was hoping to just replace the lower part of the trunk but the rust was too bad and we did a total trunk pan replacement. I never documented what the vent was attached to! Now I cannot find anything in the AIM or in my past pics that shows it. I remember it being stretched when the rear end was lowered....

Anyone else have this and can document it?

My car is a 69 SS396.. 10C '69 build.

(I actually drove around all summer with the hose just hanging like that so its on pretty good...)

3

Originality / trunk mat cuts

« on: May 07, 2017, 01:38:12 AM »

Just finishing up my restoration and trying to put the new trunk mat in....original one long gone...I have not been able to find anything to tell me what cutouts i should make....One for the spare tire tie down?. One for the jack brace in the back?

I am most confused about how it was cut around the support for the trunk latch...was it cut to lay in front or did it also wrap around the back? Were there cutouts for the top of the shocks?

Anyone have an original mat they can post a pic of?   Most original cars do not have pics looking toward the latch... just inward toward the front of the car...

Also, what is the best tool to cut the heavy rubber with? I think using a razor could go bad in a hurry......

4

Restoration / Dash suede paint

« on: July 24, 2016, 04:17:09 PM »

I had to replace the dash due to rot at the bottom...

I do I replicate the suede paint finish on the dash?

Is there a particular product to use?

5

Restoration / Door striker and latch mechanism

« on: June 06, 2016, 04:45:34 PM »

So I know the door striker was installed prior to paint. Was the latch mechanism in the door at paint? Did the striker have to be adjusted later to line up with the door latch?

Getting ready for paint and want to make sure I get it right... it would seem the latch goes in after paint...but I need everything to line up...

6

Restoration / Fuel lines clips - green coating

« on: May 17, 2016, 05:02:47 PM »

Does anyone know what the green coating on the fuel line clips was? I am assuming it was to prevent rusting.... Cleaning and de-rusting the clips has removed most of the coating. Has anyone tried to replace this coating or do most leave the metal bare?

7

General Discussion / Original firewall markings

« on: May 17, 2016, 04:58:01 PM »

As I mentioned in another post, I had my car media blasted with plastic media. The results were pretty amazing in that it took off 3 layers of paint and rust yet left the metal factory clean. How clean?... You can see the original markings on the firewall.... I am assuming these were probably a crayon mark from Fisher body

So far I have made out "G80" for the spoilers, "N10" for standard dual exhaust, and "OK" written over it all.

One looks like "B94" on the left but I cannot relate that to anything. Looks like "G08" in the upper right but again, no ideas.

These were not visible when the car was painted.....

Anyone else find these markings or have ideas on the other codes?

8

Restoration / driveshaft - de-rusting and rustproofing

« on: February 25, 2016, 05:52:54 PM »

After degreasing my driveshaft to find the color bands (thanks leaky rear main), I want to de-rust it to return to the "natural" look it started with. I tried using Evap-rust soaked papertowels wrapped in plastic... some progress. Any one find anything better?

How do you keep the driveshaft looking "natural" after de-rusting?.. same with the yokes... hope to retain this nice look...

9

Originality / TH400 filler tube

« on: February 05, 2016, 07:53:22 PM »

Is the filler tube (dipstick tube) for a 69 TH400 supposed to have a bracket to bolt it to the back of the trans? The one in the car does not have a bracket (kinda flops around a bit) but the replacement ones seem to always have one.... Which is correct?

Should be left "natural" correct?

10

Restoration / now the front springs....

« on: January 20, 2016, 05:52:44 PM »

15 years ago I replaced the front springs in my 69 big blockwith new ones from Eaton because I thought I had an issue... turns out I did not but fortunately I did save the old one. Now that the full resto is underway, I'd like to re-finish and re-install the originals.

I checked the old ones and they are identical in height. Are there any references out there for the correct unloaded height (length) for the front coil springs so I can check if there is any loss in height to date?

I believe the springs were originally just natural metal finish... I am going to blast and powdercoat (Eastwood). Any recommendations on what color would work best?

All SS cars got the F41 "Heavy Duty Suspension" in 1969 right?

11

Restoration / TH400 pans - color and finish

« on: January 08, 2016, 06:00:38 PM »

I have had my 69 SS396 for 18 years and it has always had a crappy chrome pan on the tranny. At Fall Carlisle, I got my hands on an original pan in pretty good condition with straight flanges. It has black paint on it and I was questioning whether or not it was original. From the tranny tag topic, I checked out the chevelle link and saw original pics showing black pans.... but what gloss? Looks satin from the pics but can't be sure.

So are the original pans satin black? or more semi?

thanks!