Topics

16

Mild Modifications / Smoothed Bumper Availability

« on: June 08, 2011, 06:22:55 PM »

I've been seaching but haven't found anyone who sells smoothed bumpers.  I saw what Year One has, but they aren't chromed.

I thought this was a popular mod so I figured they would be easy to find.

I suppose I could mod them myself and get them rechromed, but I was hoping for an easier and cheaper solution.

Anyone know who sells them?

17

General Discussion / Identifying a 10 Bolt Rear End

« on: May 25, 2011, 01:19:31 AM »

I have a 10 bolt bare housing allegedly out of a first gen. The flange to flange dimension is 54.5" and the perches are 42 5/8".

Is there a way to determine if it's an 8.125" (8.2?) or an 8.5" ring gear?

Do my flange and perch measurements correspond to a first gen rear end? I would imagine if the measurements are for a second gen then the gear would be an 8.5", correct?

BTW, the brake hose bracket is welded to the driver's side axle tube instead of bolting to the top of the cover.  The only axle code I could decipher is "TAC"  The rest looks like it has been ground off.  The "webs" on the pumpkin aren't large enough for the casting date or casting number.

18

Restoration / Body Shell Inspection

« on: April 01, 2011, 02:27:01 PM »

Tomorrow, I will be looking at a 69 for a possible purchase.  The rear of the car, (quarters, wheel housings, rear panel, deck filler panel, and full trunk floor) was removed.  The front of the frame rails were left attached to the body.  The panels are now installed and the rear of the body is now complete.

What would be some quick and simple checks to insure the body dimensions are still within specs?  I would imagine with all of those pieces removed, there would have been a possibility of twisting, out of square issues, etc.  It's a roller at the moment.

I thought of using a plumb to check for squareness.  I know what the datum line measurements are but I'm not sure how to use them to detect twisting.

Thanks for any tips you can offer!

Larry

19

Restoration / Headlight Grounds

« on: December 21, 2010, 06:05:47 PM »

Can someone tell me where the headlight ground terminals are located on a 68? I know I can attach them anywhere, but if I'm able to know the correct location, I might as well do it right as the factory had it.

Thanks!

Larry

20

General Discussion / Leaf Springs Too High

« on: November 13, 2010, 02:45:00 PM »

I've run into an interesting problem. On my 68 Firebird the leaf springs were replaced at one point in it's life from the factory (I think) 5 leaves, to 6 leaves. This didn't leave enough room inside the perch and shock plate. They torqued the hell out of the bolts until the plates were bent and the rubber squeezed to nothing. There was still a considerable gap between the plate and perch.

I removed one leaf, about 12" long, from the bottom, and added a 1/4" shim between the perch and plate. Now, the new rubber has a nice clamping pressure without too much distortion.

I also sandblasted the springs and painted them. I didn't take the leaves apart. You can see the before and after pics below.

Now the car sits way too high. They are almost at the limits of the shock travel. The shackle and front mount bolts are still loose.

That's all I did. I can't think of any reason why the springs are not compressing like they used to. Anybody have some suggestions as to why this is happening?

21

General Discussion / Bracket on Evaporator Housing?

« on: October 09, 2010, 01:58:28 PM »

Would someone possibly know what this bracket is for that is riveted to the housing next to the expansion valve? I can't remember if I ever saw anything attached to it. All my pre dis-assembly pictures show it to be unused.

Also, is there anything that keeps the coiled copper lines on the expansion valve from vibrating? They are pretty flimsy. They are just hanging out in the middle of nowhere. I haven't seen any pictures that show what would hold them.

22

Restoration / Evaporator Housing Color

« on: October 05, 2010, 03:48:47 PM »

I am rebuilding the evaporator asembly on the 68. Could someone check their original and see if the housing is painted? My original plan was to remove what I thought was someone elses repairs and paint job and leave it bare.

So far, I used paint stripper and then scuffed the surface with red scotch-brite. After spraying on a satin clear coat, it looks very nice. The bare surface is a very dark gray color with the fibers showing.

Thanks!

Larry

23

Originality / Bumper Jack Stoage Brackets

« on: October 01, 2010, 04:13:46 PM »

I am trying to determine how the jack in stored in a 68 Firebird with a space saver tire.  I have read about references to brackets that are welded to the trunk floor that properly locate the jack, but haven't seen any pictures.  I don't have any brackets in the trunk of the 68 I'm working on.

I have a 69 AIM somewhere but don't know if it would be the same for 68.

24

Originality / 68 Space Saver Tire Wheel Color

« on: October 01, 2010, 04:06:02 PM »

I have seen a couple references that the Camaro's wheel is gray.  But, it seems that the Firebirds are tan, according to the First Gen Firebird site.

Did they really go to the trouble of installing different color spares in the Camaro and Firebird? Seems like this would be one of those universal parts for both cars.

I have a 68 Firebird and I am trying to determine if it should be gray or tan.

25

Originality / Tail Light Housing Finish

« on: September 28, 2010, 03:22:09 AM »

What is the finish of the tail light housings on a 68 non-RS?

The reflectors inside of my housings are a dull chrome/aluminized plating.  Was the entire housing finished this way?

After stripping the exterior of the housing of paint and other crud with paint stripper, I was left with a dull, bare metal surface.  The interior reflector finish was unaffected by the stripper.

26

Originality / Undercoating On Inside Quarter Panels In Trunk

« on: September 25, 2010, 11:30:50 PM »

Were the inside of the quarter panels in the trunk undercoated before the spatter paint was applied?

27

Originality / 68 Gas Filler Hose Cover Paint

« on: September 25, 2010, 11:18:57 PM »

In the trunk of a 68, on the sheetmetal cover and the gas filler pipe and its rubber sleeve, which is covered by the sheetmetal piece, what color should they be?

I referred to the Camaro Assembly Process.

It states that the trunk was spatter painted then, later, the gas tank was installed. Depending on when the filler pipe was installed, the cover may or may not have been installed in the trunk when spatter painted.

The fuel hose clamps can be accessed through the hole behind the license plate, but with this sheetmetal cover in place, it seems like it would be hard to line up the pipe to the hose.

Anybody have good pictures of an original trunk?

28

Restoration / Bed Liner Instead Of Spatter Paint

« on: September 22, 2010, 11:05:17 PM »

So, far, I am not impressed with the durability of the trunk spatter paint that I have tried.  Even with the recommended clear coat, it scratches easily.

I thought about using a bed liner coating.  I figured I could use a black base and then before it dried, use an aqua color and spatter it over that.  If they make it in a satin finish, that would be even better!

What does everyone think?

29

Maintenance / Moly or Cast Rings?

« on: August 22, 2009, 03:18:48 PM »

I have an old SBC that is maxed out at 0.60” over.  It has about 70,000 miles since it was rebuilt.  Several thousand miles ago, I tore down the motor and did a quick hone and ran the motor with no apparent blow-by problems.  (On cold mornings, it does sound like a diesel!  Piston slap?)  I can’t remember what type of rings I used.

 

For other reasons, I have torn down the motor again and I’m going to try to do a hone one more time.  I have no idea what the actual taper is.  There is very slight ridge I can feel, with the sides of the cylinders being a little less, so I know there is an out-of-round condition.  I can still see a lot of the original cross hatch on the walls, but the pattern is irregular and somewhat patchy.

 

Since this is not the correct way to be resurfacing the cylinders, I was wondering what would be the best ring to use that could tolerate the irregular wear.


Thanks!

30

Maintenance / Strut and Shock Rates For 83 Z/28

« on: November 22, 2007, 03:44:09 PM »

Has anyone done any research regarding the factory strut and shock rates for the 83 Z/28? I would like to get replacements that are close the factory specs. I know there are several performance combinations available, but I don't want anything too stiff.

Another thing I remember when I ordered the car, is that the front strut piston/rod was thicker on the Z than the coupe. Are the performance struts the same size? I haven't seen any aftermarket struts designed for the Z/28 only, so I am going to assume different sizes will fit all third gen Camaros.

Thanks!

Larry