Messages

46

Restoration / Re: Getting the correct bell housing finish ???

« on: April 02, 2020, 12:17:42 AM »

Thanks for all the replies so far.

I had never heard of "vapor" blasting but doing a little research, it seems to be the same thing as dustless blasting. I found three companies in the Orlando, FL area who do the dustless blasting. They all told me they use the water and media slurry.

One company, the guy sounded short for time and somewhat unfriendly. Another's price was way too much. The last one had a good price and was easy to talk to (customer friendly)…...I'm going to stop by there tomorrow and check him out.

I know about the orange overspray on the bell housing done at the factory. I like to be factory correct when I can but I just don't like the looks of that. I'd rather have it all natural aluminum.

Edgemontvillage, those bell housings look great! Do you use anything on them afterwards to preserve the finish?

If by chance this doesn't work out, can anyone recommend one of the aluminum replicating paints?

Thanks.....Dave

47

Restoration / Getting the correct bell housing finish ???

« on: March 31, 2020, 02:10:46 PM »

Many, many years ago before I knew much about correct colors, I painted my bell housing orange. I know now that the correct finish should be natural aluminum. I'm getting nearer to getting it back in the car now and want it to look correct.

I degreased and cleaned it up the other day. Where the orange paint had worn off, some of the aluminum underneath was bright with a little shine to it. In most places though, it is a dark gray and blotchy.

So after I get the rest of the orange paint off, I was wondering the best way to go about this. I have no problem with painting it. There are a lot of aluminum replicating paints out there......but which one to use? I read some of the reviews on them and some will say one brand looks great while others will say the same brand sucks!

I have a small blasting cabinet with 80 grit glass beads. Is that an option using a clearcoat or some protective coating afterwards? If bead blasting is an option, is 80 grit way to coarse?

Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated.

Dave

48

Restoration / Re: Manual transmission mounting pad choices ???

« on: March 28, 2020, 02:55:12 AM »

Thank you for the reply and info.

Dave

49

Restoration / Manual transmission mounting pad choices ???

« on: March 26, 2020, 06:07:54 PM »

I need a new transmission mounting pad for my '68 with a manual transmission. The pad that bolts to the crossmember and then also the rear of the transmission. I just need a stock replacement, nothing more.

The last time I bought one of these (a long time ago) they were still available from GM but it looks like not anymore.

I know you can by these from any parts house and I'm sure they're made by many different manufacturers. Rock Auto offers four different brands alone.

Given the load that gets put on this piece, I want to make sure I get a good one. Does anyone have any recommendation as to who makes a good one and who sells it?......or does it really matter and anyone of them would do just fine?

Thanks....Dave

50

Restoration / Re: Problem with new pulley ???

« on: January 25, 2020, 11:54:21 PM »

Thanks for all the replies and thoughts on this.

I sent the new pulley back for a refund and one of the members here on CRG may have a lead on an original pulley for me. If that doesn't work out and I can't find an original elsewhere, I'll re-purchase the new GM piece and use one of the solutions mentioned above.

Dave

51

Restoration / Re: Problem with new pulley ???

« on: January 17, 2020, 12:57:29 AM »

Thanks for all the replies.

I should have mentioned this in my original post but what Scott said about the wider lip on the new double pulley causing the single pulley not to seat properly inside the double pulley is true. When you set the single pulley inside the new double pulley and pull them tight together, there is a 3/64 in gap between the bases of the pulleys. They should actually be contacting each other (see the photo). Despite that gap, the two large holes in the single pulley will still engage the raised lip of the corresponding holes in the double pulley. And yes, I believe that when you tighten the pulley mounting bolts, because of that 3/64 gap between the bases of the pulleys, you are going to distort the pulley.

So I guess my choices are:

1) Send this new double pully back and take my chances on a used one.

2) Have the wider lip on the new pulley machined down to the same width as the original.

3) Use the new double pulley and shim the lower power steering pump mounting bracket so that the power steering pump pulley lines up with the matching pulley on the harmonic balancer.......But I would also have to put washers in-between the double pulley and the single pulley where the mounting bolts pass through them to fill that 3/64 gap so there would be no distortion when tightenein

I'm not sure what the best way is......that might be decided by what a machine shop would charge to trim the lip down on the double pulley.

52

Restoration / Problem with new pulley ???

« on: January 14, 2020, 03:09:09 AM »

I have two pulleys on my harmonic balancer. First is the double pulley GM p/n 3744043 for the alternator and smog pump. And in front of that and sandwiched against it, GM p/n 3751232 for the power steering pump.

After having my pulleys sandblasted, I found there was a one inch crack in the alternator groove of the double pulley (3744043) and fatigued metal extending from the crack in both directions. I also found that it was slightly warped. I'm not putting that back on
 
I saw that this pulley (3744043) was still available from GM Parts Direct, AC Delco p/n 03744043 and ordered one.

The new pulley seems fine and it actually slightly heavier than the original but there is one difference and I don't know if this is going to be a problem or not. My photos will help explain this.

The lip on the front edge of the new pulley sticks out 1/16 of an inch further forward than the original pulley. Because the power steering pump pulley is sandwiched against the new pulley, if I use this new pulley, the power steering pump pulley will be pushed 1/16 inch forward. There isn't much distance between my crankshaft pulleys and the power steering pump pulley. There's only about 6 inches of belt between them that isn't contacting either pulley. So my question is......if I use this new pulley, can that 1/16th misalignment across such a short distance be a problem.....like wearing the power steering pump bearings? Perhaps it's no big deal but I want to be sure.

I know original pulleys are available on Ebay but I would worry about possible getting another one that was fatigued.

Thanks…...Dave

53

Originality / Re: 1968 Norwood Trunk Paint Color

« on: September 14, 2019, 03:19:46 AM »

Thanks for the pictures Joe.

To those in the know, would this be considered gray and white or black and aqua?

Dave

54

Originality / Re: 1968 Norwood Trunk Paint Color

« on: September 09, 2019, 02:24:51 AM »

When I said I had gray and white, I was just basing that on how these colors look to my eyes. If this is actually black and aqua, does anyone have a picture of what gray and white would look like. I'm just curious.

Thanks…...Dave

55

Originality / Re: 1968 Norwood Trunk Paint Color

« on: September 08, 2019, 08:28:16 PM »

Thanks to a member's suggestion on Team Camaro, I found out I had accidentally switched the photo album that hosts these pictures on Team Camaro from public to private and that's why no one else except me could see them.

I have switched the photo album back to public and hopefully everyone can see them now.

Dave

56

Originality / Re: 1968 Norwood Trunk Paint Color

« on: September 08, 2019, 05:01:58 PM »

Pictures have been e-mailed.

Thanks Darrell.

57

Originality / Re: 1968 Norwood Trunk Paint Color

« on: September 08, 2019, 12:28:20 PM »

OK, thanks.....I have no idea why they can't seen. Again, I am seeing them on my computer.

Any suggestions?

Dave

58

Originality / Re: 1968 Norwood Trunk Paint Color

« on: September 08, 2019, 12:12:47 PM »

You're the second person who said they cannot see the pictures I posted. I'm not sure what is wrong. As I'm looking at this thread on my computer, the pictures show up.

I have my pictures hosted over on Team Camaro and have never had a problem posting them on CRG before.

I'm going to attach them here again. Someone let me know if you still can't see them.

59

Originality / Re: 1968 Norwood Trunk Paint Color

« on: September 08, 2019, 12:19:54 AM »

I am curious as to any opinions about the pictures I posted above of my '68 Norwood trunk paint. Wouldn't this be considered gray and white? It looks that way to me. Could this be considered black and aqua?

Dave

60

Originality / Re: 1968 Norwood Trunk Paint Color

« on: September 01, 2019, 02:40:40 AM »

These are trunk photos of my 03C '68 Norwood car before the restoration I'm working on now. I bought the car when it was ten years old and the trunk always looked like this. Although the gray is well worn, I don't think it started out as black and then faded to gray because the areas that were covered by the taillight bezel stud nuts are the same color as the exposed areas.

Dave