The Elephant In The Room: unloading the load from a B-body.

[fullmetaljacket]

Fiberglass, now that's cool. Great alternative to all the work I went through to make 'em out of the lighter alloy, but then again, it wouldn't go with the theme of the car which is to create or replace everything imaginable with lighter metals. Hence: FullMetalJacket.

I've heard that those original metal uppers are now hard to get at all or at least in decent shape.

My A-100 seats are from Gary Ball, but I bought them only if he would bring them to the Nationals in person because I heard that many people were waiting for long periods of time after ordering them over the phone. Don't get me wrong, cool guy and an even cooler product, but I was on a NOW mission back then.
The Legendary panels were nicely done and unfortunately they discontinued them shortly after the run.

Next, I'll be showing everything about the seats and everything around them. Over a 100 Lbs removed. Stay tuned.

Badvert, since you and I are the only early B-body guys exchanging ideas on here, (Just kidding' LOL) do you have a picture of the beast?
Winter's a comin'

 

[Badvert65]

It's a work in progress and it don't look too purty, at least for now.

 

[fullmetaljacket]

It's a work in progress and it don't look too purty, at least for now.View attachment 1546476

NIIIIcccccee. Patience and one small area at a time will get it done.

 

[bearman]

Trust me guys I'm following right along.

 

[fullmetaljacket]

Trust me guys I'm following right along.

Just the bear facts Man! LOL.
Years back when the rear quarter window panes were removed along with the rooster tail crank mechanisms, I noticed the track extensions just hanging out there in the open inside the quarter. Didn't think much of them and plugged it all up in anticipation to get the car out and about. Sometime later, like perhaps early last year, I decided to have another look underneath there. The window tracks just stood out again, so I went ahead and surgically removed them with a nice sharp buzz wheel. 1-1/2 Lbs removed.

 

[Cranky]

Badvert, since you and I are the only early B-body guys exchanging ideas on here, (Just kidding' LOL) do you have a picture of the beast?
Winter's a comin'

Uh....a 66 isn't considered 'early'? lol

 

[fullmetaljacket]

Uh....a 66 isn't considered 'early'? lol

You're right about that.
The 66's and the 67's are early in my book as well, especially the sedan post Bel 1's and Coronas. They are truly a utilitarian approach to function over fancy lines and the last of the true box cars. Everything was slippery after that, but still beautiful.

 

[Cranky]

You're right about that.
The 66's and the 67's are early in my book as well, especially the sedan post Bel 1's and Coronas. They are truly a utilitarian approach to function over fancy lines and the last of the true box cars. Everything was slippery after that, but still beautiful.

I've loved the 2dr post cars of any make but always wanted a 66-67 Belvedere and got mine in 88 (my first car was a 66 Belvedere sedan but it was a mor-dor). Hope to get it together one more time before I croak lol. At least I had fun with it for 10 years before blowing it apart and life getting in the way....and got it down to 2950 with the factory AC still on it before pulling it all apart. Wish I had kept that part of it but oh well.

 

[Badvert65]

Years back when the rear quarter window panes were removed along with the rooster tail crank mechanisms, I noticed the track extensions just hanging out there in the open inside the quarter. Didn't think much of them and plugged it all up in anticipation to get the car out and about. Sometime later, like perhaps early last year, I decided to have another look underneath there. The window tracks just stood out again, so I went ahead and surgically removed them with a nice sharp buzz wheel. 1-1/2 Lbs removed.

Dang, I don't recall taking mine out. I'll have to check it when I go out to the shop.

 

[fullmetaljacket]

I've loved the 2dr post cars of any make but always wanted a 66-67 Belvedere and got mine in 88 (my first car was a 66 Belvedere sedan but it was a mor-dor). Hope to get it together one more time before I croak lol. At least I had fun with it for 10 years before blowing it apart and life getting in the way....and got it down to 2950 with the factory AC still on it before pulling it all apart. Wish I had kept that part of it but oh well.

Cheeesuz, how'd you accomplish 2950 with one of those? Enquiring minds want to stop talking and listen in.

I almost bought one back in the early 90's but the guy reneged on the sale. It was supposedly a Hemi car but running a stock 440 at the time. It was black on black and a 4 speed with the original shifter lever and knob still in it. Never forgot it, but then again I already had the box car that I'm currently boxed in with. LOL.

 

[fullmetaljacket]

Dang, I don't recall taking mine out. I'll have to check it when I go out to the shop.

Only if you're never looking back through those glass panes the same way, but if you want to return to stock ( I doubt it) I would leave them intact.
On mine, the quarter windows are nicely screwed and fixed to the inner quarter lip most probably like the factory had them on the '64 AFXers.

 

[Cranky]

Cheeesuz, how'd you accomplish 2950 with one of those? Enquiring minds want to stop talking and listen in.

I almost bought one back in the early 90's but the guy reneged on the sale. It was supposedly a Hemi car but running a stock 440 at the time. It was black on black and a 4 speed with the original shifter lever and knob still in it. Never forgot it, but then again I already had the box car that I'm currently boxed in with. LOL.

Thought I had posted here all what I did to the car but man, not gonna go through 20+ pages to see lol. First thing I did was weigh the car...3370 with about a 1/2 tank of fuel without me in it. Next thing was removing ALL the undercoating and there was a super helping of that under there and for a Texas car to boot. What Texan in their right mind would even want that!? IIRC, there was like 75 lbs of undercoating under it which surprised me. Glass hood was next then removed the front bumper aka tri 5 chevy look. Had intended on having glass bumpers by now. Then the doors got 'holely' and removed the rear seat and headliner. They were junk anyways and the wasted front seat got a pair of Duster buckets.

Rear window mechanisms were next and the glass was fixed in place using stainless steel wire formed to hold them up. Rubber floor mats and ALL insulation came out. Also, the car had many coats of paint on it and the only reason it got removed is because it was starting to break open like tiny little volcanoes. It came off with a razor blade scraper and filled up 2 5gallon buckets. The car had a /6, 904 and 7 1/4 rear but it got an 8 3/4 just before it's last weigh in. Did a few other things but elifIknow what they were....that happened in the late 80's and early 90's. I've done a little more since like trimming a V8 K frame and drilling door hinges and the list goes on. But man, what you're doing is way beyond what I've been doing! The next thing for me to do is to drill the hood hinges and bumper brackets. Btw, when I weighed the car last, it had 15x7 cop car wheels on it and those dang things are not exactly light.

Something that really jacked me up was a buddy has a 72 Demon with a small block, 8 3/4 and 904 and that thing was also 2950 with only the heater box and carpeting removed. It still had a pretty much full interior which was buckets and console! I just couldn't believe it but it was weighed on the same scales as mine at the then not so old Houston Raceway Park. He still has the Demon as far as I know....

 

[Badvert65]

FYI, I weighed a 15x7 cop rim and it was 25.6 pounds (no tire).
My 65 Belvedere Post car, slant six-auto-bench seat, weighed 3200 pounds without driver, no spare, no front door panels, no radio, and half tank gas. I was genuinely surprised as I was used to my 65 Fury (big block auto) that weighed 3920 pounds race ready.

 

[Cranky]

FYI, I weighed a 15x7 cop rim and it was 25.6 pounds (no tire).
My 65 Belvedere Post car, slant six-auto-bench seat, weighed 3200 pounds without driver, no spare, no front door panels, no radio, and half tank gas. I was genuinely surprised as I was used to my 65 Fury (big block auto) that weighed 3920 pounds race ready.

Don't know what they did in 66 but I'm glad they did it!!

 

[fullmetaljacket]

Thought I had posted here all what I did to the car but man, not gonna go through 20+ pages to see lol. First thing I did was weigh the car...3370 with about a 1/2 tank of fuel without me in it. Next thing was removing ALL the undercoating and there was a super helping of that under there and for a Texas car to boot. What Texan in their right mind would even want that!? IIRC, there was like 75 lbs of undercoating under it which surprised me. Glass hood was next then removed the front bumper aka tri 5 chevy look. Had intended on having glass bumpers by now. Then the doors got 'holely' and removed the rear seat and headliner. They were junk anyways and the wasted front seat got a pair of Duster buckets.

Rear window mechanisms were next and the glass was fixed in place using stainless steel wire formed to hold them up. Rubber floor mats and ALL insulation came out. Also, the car had many coats of paint on it and the only reason it got removed is because it was starting to break open like tiny little volcanoes. It came off with a razor blade scraper and filled up 2 5gallon buckets. The car had a /6, 904 and 7 1/4 rear but it got an 8 3/4 just before it's last weigh in. Did a few other things but elifIknow what they were....that happened in the late 80's and early 90's. I've done a little more since like trimming a V8 K frame and drilling door hinges and the list goes on. But man, what you're doing is way beyond what I've been doing! The next thing for me to do is to drill the hood hinges and bumper brackets. Btw, when I weighed the car last, it had 15x7 cop car wheels on it and those dang things are not exactly light.

Something that really jacked me up was a buddy has a 72 Demon with a small block, 8 3/4 and 904 and that thing was also 2950 with only the heater box and carpeting removed. It still had a pretty much full interior which was buckets and console! I just couldn't believe it but it was weighed on the same scales as mine at the then not so old Houston Raceway Park. He still has the Demon as far as I know....

Very reasonable by what you have done. That thing was light right from the get-go light. Of course a 6-904 accounts for no mounts of weight.
Yes paint can be very heavy, sometimes even more than body filler because depending on what amount has been applied, it's usually all over the car in that amount. My doors alone had about 4 layers of paint, primer and filler amounting to 6Lbs and they didn't even need much filler at all. Skim coats was all that was needed.
Yes, same as you, my friends street driven, full interior, audio system '72 Duster is in the high 2900 LB zone. Few tricks here and there like aluminum bumper brackets that I made him way back and a fiberglass front bumper, but still a featherweight for a full steel panel car.
Those A-team guys have it easy compared to us Plan-B guys.
By the way, those are two actual divisions of The Brooklyn Dodges club. We laugh amongst ourselves at the races by saying that when the A-team doesn't come through, there's always Plan-B.

 

[Cranky]

FYI, I weighed a 15x7 cop rim and it was 25.6 pounds (no tire).
My 65 Belvedere Post car, slant six-auto-bench seat, weighed 3200 pounds without driver, no spare, no front door panels, no radio, and half tank gas. I was genuinely surprised as I was used to my 65 Fury (big block auto) that weighed 3920 pounds race ready.

I think 'post' cars were lighter than all the others. My first car....a 66 Belvedere II 4dr was 3700 at the 'old' Houston track in 69 with the poly head teen and 727. It was a balance beam scale so, have no idea if it was accurate or not. That track had Top Alcohol cars from time to time but it was mostly a show deal but they did have Pro Stock cars too but also do not know if it was official weights or not. The old Houston track had a very short shutdown and all the fast cars pulled the laundry early.

 

[gooser]

you guys give me a lot of ideas for my 68 roadrunner keep them coming i love this post

 

[Cranky]

Very reasonable by what you have done. That thing was light right from the get-go light. Of course a 6-904 accounts for no mounts of weight.
Yes paint can be very heavy, sometimes even more than body filler because depending on what amount has been applied, it's usually all over the car in that amount. My doors alone had about 4 layers of paint, primer and filler amounting to 6Lbs and they didn't even need much filler at all. Skim coats was all that was needed.
Yes, same as you, my friends street driven, full interior, audio system '72 Duster is in the high 2900 LB zone. Few tricks here and there like aluminum bumper brackets that I made him way back and a fiberglass front bumper, but still a featherweight for a full steel panel car.
Those A-team guys have it easy compared to us Plan-B guys.
By the way, those are two actual divisions of The Brooklyn Dodges club. We laugh amongst ourselves at the races by saying that when the A-team doesn't come through, there's always Plan-B.

Don't remember what the old /6 weighs but iirc, it's not exactly a light weight 6 banger and the factory AC isn't either. Imo, plan B is better!! Never was very comfy in an A body car and had one of those but it had bucket seats which imo, helped!

 

[fullmetaljacket]

Don't remember what the old /6 weighs but iirc, it's not exactly a light weight 6 banger and the factory AC isn't either. Imo, plan B is better!! Never was very comfy in an A body car and had one of those but it had bucket seats which imo, helped!

I am not the fastest car out there by any stretch in todays world, and don't want to be and won't be, but a few decent running cars have found out that plan B works just when they least expect it. These things are presumed to be heavy and lazy, but can be light enough to be Franklin's kite that strikes lightning fast.
AC! open the vent windows and there's your AC. LOL.

Speaking of '68 Roadrunners, they are presumed to be the lightest of the birds and the Bees and definitely look the part as they came from Mother Mopar with no frills clothing. IIRC, a dude I knew way back had a post Burgundy wine '68 RR. Never saw one before or since. Strange.

 

[fullmetaljacket]

I am not the fastest car out there by any stretch in todays world, and don't want to be and won't be, but a few decent running cars have found out that plan B works just when they least expect it. These things are presumed to be heavy and lazy, but can be light enough to be Franklin's kite that strikes lightning fast.
AC! open the vent windows and there's your AC. LOL.

Speaking of '68 Roadrunners, they are presumed to be the lightest of the birds and the Bees and definitely look the part as they came from Mother Mopar with no frills clothing. IIRC, a dude I knew way back had a post Burgundy wine '68 RR. Never saw one before or since. Strange.

I know this one is off the cuff of devotion, but it sure is pretty .......and light. I can't remember what the older statesman told me, but it was light for its size. Stick shift and all and it was running in the 12's.