Sneak peak at my 66 Cutlass

[ProTouring442]

Originally Posted by gearheads78

If you loved the wheels before what do you think now.

Waiting on a new hydraulic flare tool to do my brake lines. I did get the wheels painted and mounted the tires today. I can't wait to see the body down over these.

Dang those are sweet lookin'!

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by ProTouring442

Dang those are sweet lookin'!

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

Thanks I am pretty proud of them


Not too much to report today. I had to work most of the weekend but I did get in the garage a few hours tonight.

About a week ago I discovered I have a small problem as I was fitting up the rear brakes. The rotor was not centered in the caliper basket. After a little research on line I saw the other people are running washers or buying a spacer to bring out the backplate. Someone makes one intended for Camaros and Chevelles but it is 3/16" thick. I spaced mine out 3/16 with washers and it was too far. I get it very close to center on my Olds rear with .125" so I decided to make some spacers.

Now that I will bring the backplate out it creates another problem. I had thick spacers made at a machine shop to go between the factory bearing retainer and the axle seal and bearing. Now the spacer will be .125 too short. I'm not going to pay to have them made again so I made spacers for my spacers. Since I already have to cut a hole in the other spacers cut a second hole in the center first and then cut the outer ring. By doing it this way I am basicly making my bearing spacer when I cut the center out of the backplate spacer.

Here is the 1/8" plate marked up before cutting.


Here is the new bearing retainer spacers next to the machined spacer. It's hard to hold the plasma torch steady going arong the circle but they are close enough that a little time on the bench grinder they will be ready to use.


This is me cheating to make a nice straight cut with the plasma. Just clamped a piece of steal spaced away from my line so the torch cuts right on the line.


Here is the rough finished backplate spacer. Little bit of time with a file and it will be ready for a quick coat of paint.

[gearheads78]

I finally got a little done on the car today. After vacation I hurt my back and did not get anything done since. It still a little sore so I was going slow and taking it easy.

I the task I needed to accomplish is to build brake lines from scratch. i am switching to 3/16" front to rear line to match what was on the car the the brakes came off of. Pre-made lines only come in 1/4" so I just ordered 20' of stainless 3/16. I think it all came out good. I used the factory retainers and added a few of my own. The are Krugel line clamps I picked up at a local street rod shop.

I was origially going to run a 67 dual res. distribution block with a Wilwood proportioning valve. I changes plans when I found that Summit sells a block with a build in valve. I did not want to mount it showing in the engine compartment so I mounted it under the car. I made a bracket thar bolted to the original gear selector bracket holes in the frame.

Made a template out of cardboard to get an idea of what I wanted.


I then cut it out of 1/8" plate with a plasma cutter


After drilling, grinding, shaping with a torch in the vise this is the finished piece ready for paint


Finished in semi-gloss black and installed.

[gearheads78]

Here are the rest of the brake lines installed from the block back. I will try to do the fronts Sunday

[gearheads78]

Things for been going slow the last few weeks. My boss has been on vacation so I have been working extra to keep up with his duties and mine. Last weekend I selected to completly clean up and rearrange the garage instead of working on the car. It was something I should have done before I started but I was in such a hurry to get going I didn't. Its now laid out much better to tackle a big project like this.

Today I finally got a little work done. I am a little gun shy on my back still so I have been working slow and paying much more attention to how I move and bend.

I did lots of odds and ends that are not worthy of pictures. I did manage to build the front brake lines and get the motor/trans mocked up in the chassis to measure for the driveshaft. I still have to get the calipers powder coated and have the driveshaft built. Once thats done the rolling chassis can be finished up.

The boss did stop in and check on progress. Number one question from her has been "Daddy when are you going to finish the 'vertible" She is ready to start riding again.


When I built the rear brake lines my cheapie parts store bender got the job done. The the front I needed some sharper bends and much closer together than my bender is capable of. I scrounged up some 3/4" all thread and nuts to make up a quicky home made bender. It worked great.


Here is the finished front lines. I will wait for the body to be back on the chassis before building the feed lines.


One thing I was not sure about has how the rear crossmember was going to work out. After mocking it up with the tranmission it place I found out its going to be a cake walk. I will be able to use one exhisting hole and drill one new hole in the frame braket on each side.


Even thought it was only temporary to measure for a driveshaft it sure was nice to see a motor sitting in place.

[V8TV]

This is great stuff! I might have missed it, but what did it cost you for the zinc plating on the hood hinges, etc.?

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by V8TV

This is great stuff! I might have missed it, but what did it cost you for the zinc plating on the hood hinges, etc.?

Thank you. I took the original big bunch of stuff and it was 275.00 I was so happy with how it turned out I took another small amount and it was another 75.00

I am still happy with al the nuts and bolts in both colors and most of the silver stuff. Some of the black parts I don't think I would do again. There is some yellowish staining showing up on some of the parts. It started out as just barely showing but seems to be getting worse in places. Its almost like its leaching right out of the metal. I have not tried with any kind of solvents yet but it does not some off by just rubbing it.

[gearheads78]

Not much of an update as far as progress but did overcome a big hurtle today. I sold the wifes Tahoe so several small parts to buy and, plating and last little bit of powder coating can be done. I mentioned before I got myself out of debt last year. Its been so tempting to just order the stuff I need and pay for it later but I have just been patiently waiting.

I did decide to paint the gas tank since you will be able to see it from the back of the car. Since this was a Northern car it had a ton of undercoating. The normal method of heating up the coating to get off was not the best idea on a gas tank. I tryed several methods but in the end a razor blade on a windshield scaper was the fastest method.

It still took the better part of and afternoon to get it cleaned off. The blade left gouges in the metal So I primed with a heavy fill, blocked with 180 reprimed and wet sanding with 600.

I just finished painting it with dark gray metalic (same as wheel background) and semigloss clear. I think it turned out great. I will have the factory straps plated silver for a nice contrast and detail.