So......After driving this Beater all summer......Here are a few observations.......Starting with a #'s matching restored car was one of those should I or shouldn't I deals.........In retrospect, I wouldn't change a thing........The time and aggravation of doing the Body/Paint/Interior thingy was well worth the little extra cost at the start of the project........It might have been a little different story if there was shoddy workmanship involved, but...........that wasn't the case here.....Driving the car has been a blast.......basically it didn't miss a beat all summer (5500 miles).....as far as I'm concerned, It's the perfect blend of "Old" with the drive ability of all the "New" stuff (that's also what the GM guy's on the Power Tour thought and why they did the Feature on the car........ https://theblock.com/news/ken-tibor-...ur-feature-car The car never gets hot.....even with the A/C blowing ice cubes......Did I mention Torque.......LOL.....Now I know why Charley is always smiling while driving his Camaro..........

http://vid13.photobucket.com/albums/...OV_3844MOV.mp4

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...7D28042EFF.jpg


After the Power Tour was over........one of the regulars we travel with for the week is Steve Kranick who just started a Hydrographics business [email protected] ...........Between Steve and my son Chris they worked behind the scenes and did a new engine cover to surprise me with as they hated that red cover
.........The finishing touch.......


Before

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...7C8205D3B0.jpg


After

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...288307CAD9.jpg


The ride, comfort, handling, and power in this beater is awsum......Looking forward to the Muscle Car Adventure Event in a couple of weeks with Stefano............

Ken,

I agree it looks way better and it's awesome that your actually driving and enjoying the car.

My motto, Build it to a "8" drive it to a "4" and don't save it for the next guy to enjoy.

The Season is just about over here in Wisconsin........Overview of the year since the completion in May......7276 miles of trouble free driving this year......There is still a few "Tweaks" needed to make the car up to the standards ..........The first issue I will be dealing with is the Oil pan / Drivetrain angle issues.........again......on the initial install the Holley 302-2 pan was not available so I used the -1 pan........I had to raise the front of the engine to clear the tie rod ends, which gave me a little more angle than I wanted.......to get the angle more in line I have the rear of the trans shimmed up as high as it would go to help out with the angle issue......In doing this the trans is hitting inside the trans tunnel and giving a slight vibration ........So....even though mechanically the angle is now dialed in.....I am going to change the -1 pan out for the -2 pan so I can lower the engine slightly to alleviate that issue.......

The second issue is the reproduction dash Pad in the car........Repro Dash pads are Junk in my opinion and don't fit worth a crap......I've been looking for a OEM one for months to send to Just Dashes for restoring........I finally found one and sent it off to them for restoring.......they have a twelve week lead time so that makes the timing about perfect.......I also bought a DSE wiper motor assy so when I take the dash out for the pad install I can change around the wiper switch and wiring.........

All in all it's been a real treat to drive this car around the Country this season......The Torque and Power these engines make is just Crazy...........along with the average for the season of 20 MPG are just outstanding .............


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...8EC4D4C696.jpg


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Stay tuned........

Glad to hear you got to drive it as much as you did. You did a beautiful job on the car and the install of the engine. Did you drive the car before you put on the ZL1 lid? I was wondering if you noticed a difference?
When I saw the red cover on the motor I said to myself it looks good but when I saw the next picture Wow what a difference . They did a great job on it. It makes a big difference.
Nice job.

When I rebuilt my Brother in Laws '69 Camaro - I had the upholsterer just do the dash in leather. Otherwise you end up using this nasty plastic looking POS that never does fit right. It wasn't a big deal back in '69 if they didn't fit well -- nothing fit well back then!! LOL

But when you have a nice interior it (the re-pop junk) just looked horrendously bad.

Love the car Ken! Been following the build for awhile and you have done a great job. I even picked some ideas and tips from it for my upcoming LS2/T56 swap...

So........Winter is here and it's time for the "Tweaking"..........The OEM Dash Pad should be coming back from Just Dashes in a couple of weeks........so after installing it I won't be tortured next year looking at that piece of crap reproduction Pad with the ends flipped up because it's too narrow to fit.......sheesh.....you would think by now the aftermarket guy's would have figured Mold Shrinkage into the picture......Just Say'in......Now to deal with the Driveline angles....... After loading the Tremec driveline app on my phone (you use your smartphone as a level and hit the Engine.....Driveshaft....and rear end housing ....and it compares the results and let's you know if everything is good...or Bad) and seeing Red... I decided to get around to starting the process of changing to the -2 pan.....so....After double checking everything....... it ended up with the Drivetrain Angle at 5 Deg down ....... Driveshaft 2 Deg up....... Pinion -1......The car rode well without any Vibration.....But.....at 70 MPH when I let off the gas I could feel where the universals were fighting themselves.........after calculating how much I would have to drop the front of the engine to get to 3 Deg ......It ended up that I would have needed to drop the engine mounts down 1 5/16.......Even with the -2 pan it would be problematic..........so.......After seeing another persons purchase to deal with this issue with parts available from the Driveshaft Shop .......... I called Frank there and we discussed my concerns.....Gave him all the info and he is building me a 3 1/2" Aluminum driveshaft with the trans end having a CV joint and a conventional universal at the rear end........Should be here in a couple of weeks.........Again.....The car drove perfect, but.....I just knew the I didn't hit the "Sweet Spot" with the angles.........This should be the final fix that will let me feel 100% about the Chevelle..................After thinking about it a little more..........everything was built around the engine sitting where it is and lowering it much would have really opened up a can of worms.....This seems to be the simplest and best way to solve that one little issue that was O.K.......But not up to standards........So.....That also means if anyone is going to do a LS swap and will be needing a Holley 302-2 Pan....Baffle system and Oil Pan Gasket.....I just happen to know where there's an extra one for Sale......LOL


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...evelle/103.jpg



http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...evelle/102.jpg

Just a little refresher on what is going on.........My drivetrain angle wasn't the best in the Chevelle.......I had to raise up the front of the engine to clear the Tie Rod Ends.......It ended up that I had a 5 Degree down engine angle and a 3 Degree up driveshaft angle to the rear end (due to the car being lowered).........this gave a 8 Degree working angle at the Transmission U-Joint..........The ideal angle is 3 degrees.......so......Even though the car rode and drove well, It just wasn't right.....So.....I took the easy way out and talked to Frank at the Driveshaft shop and he built me a CV Joint 3 1/2" Aluminum shaft to eliminate these concerns.......It showed up today and I put it in already..........Now I'm Bored again....That took all of ten minutes.........The Dash Pad is supposed to be finished at Just Dashes some time in February.......Gonna have to drop the Dash down to get it in........But, at least I won't have to look at that piece of Crap repro Pad the original owner put in with it's flipped up ends.........Sheesh.......If you are going to Repro something.....at least go thru the effort to make sure it fits.......How many years have we been talking about this Crap............

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...613C035B63.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...F16C17E239.jpg


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Nice piece! glad you're enjoying the car!

That all ya got?


Looks good Ken and that's a great fix!

:y0!: can i pee on this and claim it for my own??

Wicked setup overall

Hey Ken

Check your PM. Sent you an email too.

Completely wicked car man.

Ken,

Did they mention how much HP that setup would hold?

That driveshaft uses a custom billet CV that The Driveshaft Shop uses on their high HP drive axles. Since the drive axles see between 3 and 4 times (depending on R&P) the torque that the output shaft sees, durability is not a concern. The "fuse" in that link is the rear u-joint. The Driveshaft Shop also makes custom pinion flanges that will mount a CV. Here is one for a Ford 9", which is what I plan to use on my 1967 Cougar build.

http://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/cougar/104.jpg

http://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/cougar/105.jpg

Andrew

Thanks Andrew. :thumbsup:

Sure thing...I've been running one of those in my GTO since 2010. My front operating angle is about the same as Ken's.

Andrew

Nice Sunny cool sunny day today and I got the Bug to get the Beater out and go to the Drag Strip...... Paid....went thru Tech....and pulled up to the line (Lot's of Prep)......LOL........When I got the Helmet out of the trunk I realized I still had all the normal travelling "Stuff" in the trunk.......Tool box, chairs, hydraulic Jack etc........LOL.......Made two passes......1st one just blew the tires off the car and had it sideways about a third of the way down the track..........2nd pass I drove it out and gradually got in it........2.3 60 ' time and went 12.21 @118..........Not bad for a Highway car........Easy 11's with Drag Radials.......But.......once is enough.........LOL


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...65924671_n.jpg

Sounds like a good time. Nice times too.

Ken,

Did that driveshaft accomplish everything you wanted it to? Also, what bore diameter master cylinder did you settle with?

Thanks!

Tim

Yep......Driveshaft resolved all the issues.........Smooth as silk......Power Master 1" bore.......

Kool! I have been fighting driveline angles in the 59 and I swung and missed with the 7/8" manual master. Off to a 1" for the manual brakes for me

Tim......Just so I understand you.........I have the 1" master with a Vacuum Booster.......


Ken

Yepper!

Took the "Beater" out to the track last night........made 4 passes on street tires.......LOL....1st pass 12.10 @ 117, 13.65, and 12.11 @ 118 spinning the tires.......on one pass the car actually hooked pretty good and went 11.82 @ 120.........Ya Mon!!!!


Ken

SWEET ! It gives me hope for my 69 when I get my LSA in there. Nice numbers

A little update on the Chevelle........Since completion in May of 2014, we have driven it on two Power Tours (Long Haul).....Did the Goodguys Hall of Fame Road Tour this year, and put on 14,240 miles in total ...........Along the way, after getting the brake issue corrected, the only other issues were a flat tire,....... a broken tail pipe hanger,......and a slight problem with the plug on the Throttle Position Sensor caused by condensation while cleaning the engine at a quarter car wash (since sealed up and corrected)..........LOL.......These LS engines are the best thing since sliced bread !!!..........But....with all Good things there is an end.........Had to pull the car into the garage and do some Heavy Maintenance to it........Changed the Oil and Filter.........Sheesh !!!!.........And .....after driving the Chevelle for a year and a half.......a new standard for "Drivable" torque has been established.........so.......The Impala will be upgraded and the "New" project will be starting shortly after the Impala is finished...........Stay Tuned.........I found the purse........LOL........



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http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...3F0243C786.jpg

Awesome build! I enjoyed reading all the way through. I have a 66 Chevelle as well and I have a couple questions for you pertaining to the suspension.

On the rear coil overs, what pound rating did you go with? I have 150# springs and I'm thinking I should have 200 in the rear.

And, could you give me a measurement for both front and rear from the ground to the top center of the wheel openings? Just one of each is fine. I love the stance on yours, trying to compare yours to mine, curious how close. Wouldn't mind getting my rear down a little, but if I do the top of the rear just bumps the floor if I hit a good dip in the road. I think without notching the floor I'm at my limit.

Hope that isn't too much trouble for you?

Thanks,
Glenn

I'm with ya Ken. LS motors are tough to beat. The LS7 in my '67 runs great and the PWM control of the fuel pump and cooling fan is fantastic. BTW....Liz was admiring that Nomand behind your Chevelle :drool:

Glenn......No problem.......It will be a day or two as the car is up in the air right now......

Ken

The Nomad will be getting a LSA shortly..........

Ken

It was so much fun to run with you and Paulette on GG Hall of Fame! Can't thank enough for your help with my A/C issue... Didn't think I'd ever have to "hot wire" an A/C unit! LOL

Love the Don Hardy Race Engines built LS3 in the '33.... not a single drop of oil... not a leak... fires up and ready to go regardless of how hard we drove them.

Come to think of it -- I think it was 4 of us pretty much leading the pack for the tour -- and we all had LS motors! WTF - we even had a LS powered '49 Caddy on the tour!

XOXO

Yep..........Can't wait till next year !!!!!!.........I'll be starting a couple of new threads for the new projects in the Garage soon !!.......

Ken Greg......As you know......It get's expensive hanging with Charley....LOL

Don't remember what the spring rate was......Standard Ridetech as supplied in their kit.............Height.......24" front and 24 1/4" rear........Hope that helps

Ken

Hmmmm......

That is where I want my rear to be, but mine is at 25 3/4". I have a 29" tall rear tire, and with the QA1's that I have I can't see how to get it lower.

Did you notch the floor at all above the rear end? If I were to drop mine lower it would hit the floor where the two upper control mounts are on top of the pumpkin. Right now I only have maybe two inches of clearance. The floors in my car are absolute virgin perfect, I don;t want to be the one to cut them after all these years.

Thanks for the time to measure for me. Much appreciated.

Didn't cut anything........I'll take some pic's tomorrow.....

Ken

Update....... Didn't drive the car much this year, been driving the Impala all over..... Took the Chevelle out last week for a local show..... the car ran perfect as usual... On the way home after getting off the highway I noticed the engine was running rough...... Humm!!!!..... I was 10 minutes from home so when I got the car in the garage (no check engine light) I plugged the scanner in and no codes....... Hummm!!!!!......Used the infared heat gun and shot all the Header pipes...... #3 cyl was showing no heat....... Humm !!!!....... Put a spare coil on and started it up .......Same thing......Pulled the spark plug and it looked O.K........ Checked for spark and everything good......Hummm!!!!!......Got Air....Got Spark..... Fuel????...put a Noid light on the plug on injector #3 and everything good....... Hummm !!!!...... The only thing that made any sense was that the injector went bad (36,000 miles)....... Ordered a new set and put them in and the car run's perfect again......... You never know...... LOL

Thanks for the update Ken. Not a really common occurrence I would think, injectors generally last a lot longer than that. Appreciate you posting up the steps to determine what had failed.

Awesome car and build, I went through the entire thread. What radiator manufacturer and fan set up did you use. I’m in the process of replacing the radiator and fan set up on my 66? Thanks.

Griffin assy.............

Ken