My 1967 Belvedere Convertible Plans and Restoration (aka - Mad Scientist Build)

[conv67bdere]

Sorry for the limited posts - been trying to get a little project on my shoe box done and eliminate the exhaust leak that I've been fighting with for months. Turns out it was a different gasket blowout ! ! So I grab the headers I bought about 1 - 1 1/2 years ago ( I know . . . slow ) . . . and the guy SWORE they would work on my car . . . NOT ! ! ! Now I'll put these up for sale on CL and I've got a new set ( these will fit I measured ) coming in tomorrow so I can get that project completed.

Plus it's quite a bit warmer in the attached garage then the detached garage ( aka - shop ) . . . that helps ! !

So, alternator dropped down low, install headers, add the spark plug wire holders, upgrade to the electronic ignition distributor - and see how the shoe box runs ? ? ?

Oh - had to modify the bracket that dropped the alternator - it was suppose to be BOLT ON - close, but no cigar ! ! !

Dress it up a bit under the hood and hopefully help out the performance all at the same time . . . we'll know shortly.

I've been out to the shop and continue to weld up all the holes in the firewall and engine compartment. That's moving along quite nicely.

 

[tallhair]

I know you are cold and alone so I'll just say 'good for you for getting it done' Larry.

 

[kb67mopar]

Ha, you are making way more progress than myself.....Sounds like the shoebox should be a bit more of a runner with the upgrades. Wish we were closer so I could give ya a hand. Or maybe borrow yours...this weekend looks to be a bit of a thrash on my "new" stratus.

I bet that firewall comes out looking better than new with your attention to detail. Sometimes I get too caught up on making it work to focus on pretty....but hey I'm too young to be patient!

 

[747mopar]

Ha, you are making way more progress than myself.....Sounds like the shoebox should be a bit more of a runner with the upgrades. Wish we were closer so I could give ya a hand. Or maybe borrow yours...this weekend looks to be a bit of a thrash on my "new" stratus.

I bet that firewall comes out looking better than new with your attention to detail. Sometimes I get too caught up on making it work to focus on pretty....but hey I'm too young to be patient!

Sounds like I could use some of your mentality "I spend to much time doing almost nothing".

 

[conv67bdere]

Another shipment . . . guess I've gotten use to it . . .

Hey H2E - gotta share this with you - I can't let you have all the fun ! ! !

HERE WE GO AGAIN . . . .

So I ordered a set of special "block Hugger" headers especially for my 66 Chevy II "shoe box". Do to the limited space, I've got 3" on the passenger side and 3 1/2" on the driver side to fit the headers in the car. So, they make a "special" set for my car - by Sanderson - CC14.

They look like this ( you'll see the special routing for cylinder 2 over the top on the top header )




So I get the box from Summit Racing - and the box is sealed up with clear tape ( this is not a good sign ) - opening the box and pulling out the set of headers reveals that I've got this ( sorry for them still being wrapped - you can see the error - these have to be shipped back ).



It should be very obvious that I've got (2) of the bottom header and none of the top header ! ! ! At least I sure don't see any tube being routed up over the top of the header to get to the collector . . .

These are being called back - picked up by UPS at my doorstep, and a new set being shipped out when they get the order.

So - time to wait for this order to get corrected . . . ( sigh ) . . . oh well . . . ( smile )

- - - Updated - - -

Sounds like I could use some of your mentality "I spend to much time doing almost nothing".

I seem to spend a bunch of time waiting for my orders to arrive ( correctly ) . . . ( grin )

 

[tallhair]

Dammit man I feel for you brother. Hopefully this blast from the past cheers you up a little You should tell them it's their fault and you should have to wait AGAIN because of THEIR screw-up so that they should ship now and get their **** later!

[video=youtube;zvU4CC6s2e4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvU4CC6s2e4[/video]

 

[747mopar]

"What a pain" you sure do have some bad luck with ordering. Any pics of the "Shoebox", I really like the Chevy II's "probably one of the only Chevys I like.

 

[conv67bdere]

My shoe box - fun little car.

"What a pain" you sure do have some bad luck with ordering. Any pics of the "Shoebox", I really like the Chevy II's "probably one of the only Chevys I like.

Of course 747Mopar . . . first day the guy drove it over to my neighbor's house, I told him I'd buy it if he wanted to sell it . . . 1 1/2 later he sold it to me.



Yeah - it's a 4 door, but I like them ! !

It's had the bench seat swapped for a set of Honda Prelude bucket seats ( leather ) - got them for $50 !
Front drums have been swapped out for The Right Stuff disc brakes - tight fit on the 14" rims ! ! ! !

Found a guy selling a T-5 with the clutch, bell housing, drive shaft . . . would like to upgrade the 3-speed ! ! !

The "young-ins" at my office thought it was an AUTO because it had a column shifter - they had fun driving it though ! !

 

[747mopar]

That's a pretty cool little car "I like it".

 

[conv67bdere]

That's a pretty cool little car "I like it".

Thanks 747Mopar . . . I do too . . . after the Belvedere, I've got a Heidt front end clip going into it - and an engine upgrade . . . and a 5 or 6 speed ! ! !

For now - I keep it driving to go to shows and enjoy while I work on the Belvedere - when the Belvedere is done, the it's time to fix it up too ! !

Can't stop at a gas station to fill up without a couple guys stopping over to talk to me about the car . . . that's really cool ! !

 

[Ron 73]

Have to say im one who always liked the Chevy II also!!! The 66 is cool and i like a lot of them, my pick was always the simple looks of the 63, inside and out.. Very nice bud and lots of fun!!

 

[kb67mopar]

The "young-ins" at my office thought it was an AUTO because it had a column shifter - they had fun driving it though ! !

You would have laughed your *** off the first time I tried to drive my Coronet with the 3 speed on the column. One partially locked up brake up front and no synchros in first...by the time I hit second I had to come to a complete stop and start back off in first because I had slowed down so much! My neighbors were probably laughing pretty hard......

But I do love your Chevy II! Its a great looking car and I like those 4 doors too.

 

[conv67bdere]

You would have laughed your *** off the first time I tried to drive my Coronet with the 3 speed on the column. One partially locked up brake up front and no synchros in first...by the time I hit second I had to come to a complete stop and start back off in first because I had slowed down so much! My neighbors were probably laughing pretty hard......

But I do love your Chevy II! Its a great looking car and I like those 4 doors too.

Great story KB - the kids had the same trouble with my car too. I think it's the same as on the floor - but maybe it's not ? ! ?

( or I'm just too familiar with it )

Think I'm going to call up the guy on the T-5 and see if I can talk him down some - sure would like that 5-speed in the shoebox while I'm working on the Belvedere ! !
That would allow me to go to more shows a little farther out . . . Hummmmmmm . . .

And several people have approached me about buying the car too . . . it's not for sale . . .

Correction - everything is for sale if the price is right . . . but it's gotta be "right" . . .

 

[tallhair]

That's a really cool car!

 

[Ron 73]

Great story KB - the kids had the same trouble with my car too. I think it's the same as on the floor - but maybe it's not ? ! ?

( or I'm just too familiar with it )

Think I'm going to call up the guy on the T-5 and see if I can talk him down some - sure would like that 5-speed in the shoebox while I'm working on the Belvedere ! !
That would allow me to go to more shows a little farther out . . . Hummmmmmm . . .

And several people have approached me about buying the car too . . . it's not for sale . . .

Im not surprised to hear of some wanting to buy it, If i had the money i might have made the offer myself, a droptop and the model and color seems inviting to say the least.. But no surprise, it isint for sale! Good call.

 

[conv67bdere]

That's a really cool car!

Thanks tallhair . . . . I kinda like it too - and as you can tell, I like the "not the usual" cars - this being a 4 door.

The Belvedere Convertible - which you don't see too many of on the roads . . .

So this one is right up my alley ! ! !

 

[conv67bdere]

More engine compartment cleanup . . .

Attempting to weld the area where the battery was located, the metal was very thin and not very easy to weld. So I decided to cut the area out, and fill it in with a new piece of steel and give it a cleaner look and more strength.

Here's the area that I'm working on today:



So I cut it out to figure out how to fill it back in again ( does this seem a little odd ? ? )



Then I got a piece of scrap metal and started the process of fitting it into the hole . ..



Then I tacked and welded this piece in to follow the curve of the shock tower . . .



Next I got it fitted in place with my neat little clamps . . . and tacked into place . . .



Then started doing some grinding to get the weld taken down and finish up the work.



I'll re-shoot the last picture - not sure why it turned out so dark . . .

Not too bad, but still had some "fun" trying to get it welded into place ( guess I still need more practice ) . . .

Still got a bunch of grinding left to do on this area to get it presentable - but it's in place now !

 

[747mopar]

I like the idea of putting a flat piece in there "should look really nice". I'm curious to see a better pic after your done cleaning it up to see how those recesses look in there.

 

[conv67bdere]

I like the idea of putting a flat piece in there "should look really nice". I'm curious to see a better pic after your done cleaning it up to see how those recesses look in there.

I'll get a better pic 747Mopar . . . the beads are due to it being extra flooring that I had for the car - tried to fit it in and make it look good at the same time.

Seems to have worked out pretty well - we'll see how it turns out when I'm done . . .

Worse case - cut it out and replace it with flat sheeting . . .

 

[tallhair]

Weird I could have swore I posted before but oh well .. looks like you're having a great time and skills are coming along nicely. Battery is going in the trunk I suppose.