Messages

1

Maintenance / Re: replacing heater core

« on: February 16, 2010, 08:01:19 PM »

I have a 69 Convertible with AC.    You can access the heater core hose connections as stated above with a wooden block.   I believe the whole job is much easier by removing the fender though.    It requires a lot of disassembly and some alignment when reassembling,  use masking tape to protect all edges,  and use a good quality heater core so you only have to do it once.   Good luck.

2

Restoration / Re: Need Help and or Advice

« on: February 02, 2010, 04:29:20 PM »

A few years ago I had the same 4 core vs. fan clutch issue.   There are at least 2 different versions of the fan clutch,  the first one I tried was about 1/16" away from the radiator,  way too close!   After going back and forth with my local Chev dealer and Ricks First Gen I found a clutch that gave me about 5/16" of clearance.   I believe it was a Delco unit,  but I'm sorry I can't be sure.

3

General Discussion / Re: a trip to the scrap yard. One mans junk is another mans gold

« on: February 01, 2010, 12:57:14 PM »

Those types of "junkyards"  are few and far between.  Most of them crushed all the cars decades ago. 

4

Restoration / Re: Stecils and stripes for '69 SS

« on: January 07, 2010, 04:11:44 PM »

I did not use any stencils,  my body repair man is a good friend,  he took the time to research the size and placement of the stripes,  the car looks great.

5

Restoration / Re: Remove rust or sheet metal?

« on: January 07, 2010, 04:09:15 PM »

Your budget will have to be the determining factor.    Will you be doing this work yourself,  or paying the body shop rate?   I agree the original panels will be a better fit but the cost of repairing them will be expensive.   I was faced with the same question a few years ago on a car I was restoring.  My body repair man is a good friend so we sat down after disassembling the car and determined which parts where economically worth repairing.   I ended up installing new quarters and hood but repairing the front fenders.  The car looked great and I was not bankrupt.   Good luck.   

6

Maintenance / Re: Tachometer

« on: December 21, 2009, 07:11:21 PM »

I have had this type of problem with a repop tach and a MSD distributor.   MSD said to use a tach adapter module between the coil and tach,  it did not cure the problem.   MSD then sent me the filter free of charge, it worked.  I don't know if the same type of signal mis-match is occuring with the HEI but it seems to be so.

7

Restoration / Re: Original tachometer

« on: December 21, 2009, 03:24:25 PM »

I have had several problems over the years trying to use the repop tachs with MSD distributors.  MSD does have a tach adapter module that they sell to cure this problem but it did not work for me.  After speaking with the MSD tech he sent me a capacitor that went inline with the tach signal wire from the coil this solved the problem.    If you are using an HEI distributor the MSD tach adapter module could work,  I don't know for sure.

8

General Discussion / Re: The end of the big block

« on: December 21, 2009, 03:18:41 PM »

The demand for that particular engine did not justify the enormous cost of building it.   The factory space is needed for the 4 cylinder engines that will go in many more GM vehicles.    The diesel engines demand did away with the large gas engines over the past few years,  I work in the Ford Kentucky Truck plant where we make the Super Duty line of pickups,  the diesel engine is by far the best seller in the 3/4 ton and up vehicles.

9

General Discussion / Re: AM-FM

« on: December 14, 2009, 05:28:16 PM »

I got an original radio from a yard sale,  it was from a Nova,   but basically the same radio.  It worked great,  I only had to replace the clear plastic faceplate which is available aftermarket.   This radio isn't a stereo,  it only utilized 1 speaker.   The original speaker in the dash I had reconed by The Speaker Shop in Lima, Ohio.   I am very pleased with the factory appearence and operation.

10

Decoding/Numbers / Re: F-Code...not X-Code

« on: December 07, 2009, 02:54:55 PM »

This site helped me with that very same issue a few years ago.   My car is a L.A. built 69 with the same type of tag,  except my code begins with X,  as in X278!   I questioned what type of Trim package that was before learning what it really represented here on this Forum.

11

General Discussion / Re: Convertible Top Fluid Type

« on: October 27, 2009, 05:58:29 PM »

I did a complete rebuild  on my power top system a few years ago.   I replaced the cylinders,  and cleaned the pump and lines.   I replaced the fluid with hydraulic fluid,  as I had extra from my garage rack system.   The refilling procedure is easy,  just remember do not overfill.   When the cylinders are retracted the fluid is in the pump,  when they are extended almost all of the fluid is in the cylinders

12

Restoration / Re: Convertible Molding/Window fuzzy

« on: October 02, 2009, 10:23:55 PM »

Thank you for the info Kevin.  I was fairly sure that was the correct procedure but it never hurts to ask,  I only want to do this once!

13

Restoration / Convertible Molding/Window fuzzy

« on: September 30, 2009, 12:27:04 AM »

I took this car apart about a year ago for paint and it's almost back together.   I am installing the pinch weld trim and 1/4 window fuzzys.   My memory fails me at this point.  Do the fuzzys go on first then the molding over them,  or the other way around?  A screw holds the end of the molding,  does it pass through the fuzzy?  I have tried to find pictures showing this assembly but haven't been successfull.  Any help would be gretly appreciated.

14

Restoration / Re: Leaf Springs When Restoring

« on: July 30, 2009, 01:16:44 PM »

I would guess that these are multi-leaf springs,  which can be re-arched with very good results.  take good measurements before you remove the springs.   Take your springs to a good spring shop,  usually it is a truck type of service but they will re-arch them to your specs,  I have done this with several sets of original springs and it is much cheaper than new springs.    Mono-leaf springs cannot be re-arched in my opinion,   they don't stay very long.

15

Maintenance / Re: factory tach problems

« on: June 01, 2009, 01:43:36 PM »

I have been through the exact same situation.   I had a replacement tach from Ricks first Gen hooked to an MSD distributor and MSD 6 box,   it would not operate correctly.    I tried an Autometer tach,  it worked fine.   I got the MSD Tach Adaptor module from Summit racing, it did not change anything.   I contacted MSD and explained the problem they sent me a small resistor/condensor combo that I put in line with the tach signal wire,  this cured the problem.   This has been 4 to 5 years ago and I don't have that car anymore.  Contact MSD,  hope this helps.