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

[conv67bdere]

That did come together nicely! Well done as always brother!

GOON . . . where in the World have you been hiding lately ! ! ! ( driving the tires off your car ? ) Thanks - nice to see you back around . . .

I do myself Dev, with all these cars you would think they would come out with other models you can get parts for, With your welding though it seems by the looks of it you have it covered Khan.. I didn't think this would slow you down any.. I see how much guys put into there work here over the years and wonder if the guys building there Cameros have the same determination... You finish this your going to be smiling plenty for sure.. not to give you a big head i hope you know.. Heck, you are working for it and deserve big time credit, most would have said "enough"....

Thanks Ron . . . really appreciate the kind words - trying my best to get this stuff all figured out ! ! ( smile ) Yes - I think I got it covered ! !

I sure do feel for you guys that don't have the option of buying good panels....................... Looks like you got it covered!

Yeah 747Mopar . . . I know what you mean . . . but what's a guy going to do when his car falls into the years where they don't ( yet ) make decent panels . . . but work a little harder and find another way to get 'er done . . . and appreciate it that much more too ! ! !

I've been able to find answers to all my damage on the car thus far . . . ( smile ) . . . let's hope that continues ! ! !

 

[conv67bdere]

Quarter panel and trunk work continues . . .

Finally was able to make it back into the shop and work on the quarter panel and trunk, or is that quarter panel in the trunk ? ?

Got a piece of metal and bent it like a piece of angle iron - that will attach to the floor and up the quarter - it will add strength to the quarter panel too.



If I can get this in place, get the back side of the panel in primer . . . then I can get this thing installed once and for all . . . slowly, it's coming . . .

Not much metal work left . . . and things start going back together . . . and I'm going to start getting the flywheel, clutch, and transmission attached to the engine.

 

[747mopar]

Great to hear your getting close to finishing up the metal work, I'm curious to see how this trunk comes out too! I think you can use the change of pace, instead of all the hot itchy grinding and welding you'll be tinkering around nice and comfortably.

 

[Propwash]

Looking good Kahn. Nice work on the braces and patch work! Have fun splitting that timber! A good ol' 8lb splitting maul would make short order of that, and get your daily workout at the same time.

 

[kb67mopar]

Looks good. I cant wait to see that engine in the car. By the way....whatever became of the shifter snafu?

 

[conv67bdere]

Looks good. I cant wait to see that engine in the car. By the way....whatever became of the shifter snafu?

Hey KB67 . . . no progress on the shifter - here's the jist of the story . . . due to the long delay in shipping, they replaced the White-lightning shifter ( by the way, the WL shifter has all kinds of leakage issues ) with a model they call Red-robin ( I can't find anything on the RR shifter online ). I have informed the salesman that I would like to return the RR shifter and get my money back for the shifter - I'll use the one on the transmission for now.

I've gotten (2) texts from the salesman:
1 - that he has gotten approval for shipping me the Wilwood master cylinder as a result of all the delays
2 - that he was shipping the master and asked that I return the RR shifter

That test was on 10/9 that he was shipping it on 10/13 - no Wilwood master cylinder has arrived and no he's ignoring my texts . . .

That was over a MONTH ago . . . they still owe me a drive shaft and I wonder if they can be trusted for that anymore . . .

they are really pissing me off . . .

Note: This was an order with American Powertrain that was placed and paid in FULL on 7/28/2013.

Notice that was Almost 16 months ago.

Selling one product and then switching it to something different is a very illegal sales tactic called "bait and switch"

 

[conv67bdere]

Looking good Kahn. Nice work on the braces and patch work! Have fun splitting that timber! A good ol' 8lb splitting maul would make short order of that, and get your daily workout at the same time.

Thanks Prop . . . if my welding skills were a little better, I wouldn't have to spend so much time grinding down the ugly welds . . . argh . . .

Agreed - the maul does the trick - BOTH for splitting and a workout ! ! Saw a new maul at Lowes I may need to pick up and give a try . . .

 

[HYRDGOON]

If I were closer Kahn I'd be there to help you split that wood in a heartbeat. Stupid as it sounds it's something I enjoy doing. Even better with a cold beer and a sauna or hot tub at the end of the day

 

[kb67mopar]

Sorry to hear no porgress with professor dickweed. (Henceforth I shall refer to your salesman as professor dickweed).

I think I need to build a wood stove for the garage.

 

[conv67bdere]

Angle bracket welded to panel . . . now I need to get it in primer and it's cold here

Got the angle bracket tack welded to the quarter panel and I'm very pleased with the result ( and the welds )

An over all view of the trunk connection . . .



A closer look at the bracket attachment . . .



And the rear bottom corner of the pane that i needed to rebuild - it was rusted out . . .



Next - to get it in primer where I won't have access to it ever again . . . and get it welded in place . . .

 

[monroegtx]

Looking good Kahn. Enjoying watching your skills leaping ahead. Great stuff.

 

[conv67bdere]

My next question . . . concern . . . the rear shock cross member . . .

Was out in the shop working on miscellaneous things and one thing that I've read, and always had in the back of my mind, is the strength ( or actually lack of strength ) of the rear cross member that holds the shocks . . .

Got some pics today while I was working on the car and want some advice . . .

see the gaps above . . . ( looks like I got missed some undercoating - sigh )



and the gaps beside the cross member



Filling in the gaps would greatly strengthen the cross member, and the car . . . seems like a pretty simple mod - and easy now that the car is stripped down ?

Thoughts ? Suggestions ?

 

[kb67mopar]

I don't think it should make a huge difference to be honest. The shocks don't support vehicle weight and only dampen the suspension which does impart load but some flex there won't be felt in the handling of the car (or at least I am not thinking so). If I was to do anything back there I'd drill the spot welds and have somebody bend me a piece of DOM tubing to weld between the frame rails. I'd gusset that to the trunk floor in a few spots and then add my shock tabs back.

Part two of that is doing research into the difference between staggering shocks...most newer solid axle vehicles run one shock in front and one in rear of the axle and I suspect there is a benefit there as well....

Have I given you enough extra project ideas? haha.....

 

[tallhair]

I don't think it should make a huge difference to be honest. The shocks don't support vehicle weight and only dampen the suspension which does impart load but some flex there won't be felt in the handling of the car (or at least I am not thinking so). If I was to do anything back there I'd drill the spot welds and have somebody bend me a piece of DOM tubing to weld between the frame rails. I'd gusset that to the trunk floor in a few spots and then add my shock tabs back.

Part two of that is doing research into the difference between staggering shocks...most newer solid axle vehicles run one shock in front and one in rear of the axle and I suspect there is a benefit there as well....

Have I given you enough extra project ideas? haha.....

Great idea .. Rick Ehrenberg had a article about a staggered shock setup to control wheel hop and enhance traction.

I'll see if I can find it

Can't locate it at the present but it was an article about installing a staggered quad shock arrangement .. quadra shocks

 

[747mopar]

I think your right Tallhair, one in the front and one in the rear at angles would dampen any axle windup (wheel hop) although I've never experienced any wheel hop in mine at all but I don't have huge tires like your planning on either. I still say if your going to fart around you might as well put a triangulated 4 link in it................. Lots of advantages to a coil over like easily adjusted ride height, easy tuning, virtually no windup at all etc but it's more work and more money.

 

[conv67bdere]

I think your right Tallhair, one in the front and one in the rear at angles would dampen any axle windup (wheel hop) although I've never experienced any wheel hop in mine at all but I don't have huge tires like your planning on either. I still say if your going to fart around you might as well put a triangulated 4 link in it................. Lots of advantages to a coil over like easily adjusted ride height, easy tuning, virtually no windup at all etc but it's more work and more money.

Thanks 747 Mopar . . . I'm riding the fence on this, my Uncle said he drove a car with a 4-link and he didn't much care for the ride . . . likes the ride of springs much better . . .

So I'm still not quite sure what to do here . . . but the current state of my car, NOW would be the time to get it done . . . still thinking on this . . .

Which 4-link would be the way to go ? ? ?

 

[daytona kid]

About the extra welding,, I put more/extra welds on my car everywhere I thought it needed., filled gaps, went over factory welds, added pieces of metal in gaps, etc... It can't hurt and doesn't add hardly any weight. I put twice as many spot welds as the factory on my floors, panels, etc.. The only thing negative I've ever heard about extra welds is that it will be harder to take it back apart.... I don't plan on taking mine back apart!, duh.. Weld on bro!

 

[conv67bdere]

New addition to the shop . . . see if this will help a bit . . .

To try and keep moving through the cold winter months, picked up the following . . .



To try and get the chill out of the air ( not that it's stopped me yet ) . . .

 

[Propwash]

Sweet! A little bit of warmth to the air sure can make all the difference in the world.

 

[HYRDGOON]

To try and keep moving through the cold winter months, picked up the following . . .

View attachment 223698

To try and get the chill out of the air ( not that it's stopped me yet ) . . .

Nice! I've been debating looking for something along these lines. One of my only concerns is the open loft space above my garage. Heat rises so I'm concerned I'd lose all my heat up and out