I have a fish story

db · Post by db » Sun Jul 07, 13 10:20 pm

Nicely done

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Mon Jul 08, 13 7:05 pm

I worked well in to the wee hours of the morn, just about half past midnight, I just couldn't stop ,I had to get this done I wouldent have slept anyway.

but the Hood has some issues , the small peak as well as the leading edge of the hood was way off ,I clamped the header to the hood got it close and now have some glaze on it ready for block sanding, epoxy, and sanding primer , then I will remount and see how close I am , it is very close I am sure there will be some adjustments but ,it will look alot better

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Fri Jul 12, 13 9:26 pm

Well I chose the best or worst for last , the AAR hood. I have about 50 hours in on it so far
It was not very solid ,they really didn't glue all the seams ,so I had to stiffen it up with expanding foam and fiberglass structural bonding adhesive.

this all could come back later on but I couldn't get it to sand with out it bouncing up and down

the thing sanded like a trampoline before I did this ,and now I am fairly happy it is alot flatter , but it needs a tad more work

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Thu Jul 25, 13 8:49 pm

UP date after having to reseal the steering box I got installed and sure enough the engine starts sputtering through the carb, lots of lifter chatter, I pulled the valve covers and found a two bent push rods , on #7 in take and exhaust.

I initially thought timing gear/chain and that will be replaced too as this and all lo po 383s have a nylon timing gear to reduce noise.

but I did find after pulling the head the exhaust valve was really rusty and sure enough there is a crack not to visible with the pic but it is there , .............moral I should have pulled these heads before I put the motor, in even though it was running fine no smoke or vapor that I could see ,but it locked up the valve you can see that in one of the pix it is much lower than the others.

and didnt damage the piston only a small nick, ,now I do have a set of spare 906 heads but I might end up going aluminum ,since the cost is about the same to have a set of iron heads done.

Oh well I have to take it in stride , I also have a 440 block here so that might be in the plans, I will know more after some research

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Fri Jul 26, 13 9:04 pm

Okie dokie I found a used head, used push rods, 115 bucks, got it running.............I will be ready for the nats in the morning

Matt74 · Post by **Matt74** » Fri Jul 26, 13 10:19 pm

Good to see you are still making progress Drew.

The car looks awesome even with out the hood and grille fitted.

Enjoy the Nats!

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Sat Jul 27, 13 10:16 pm

Well looks like the rain spoilet somethings at the Nats so far... we here are ready for a party

Mossy68 · Post by **Mossy68** » Sat Jul 27, 13 10:21 pm

Now if that ain't 2 mean looking Mopars I don't know what is !!!
Great work Drew

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Sat Aug 30, 14 12:31 am

Wow it has been a while...................

I have finally found some one that can paint, I have done bits and pieces , but not a whole car ,so I really need someone that does it on a regular basis.

He is the head painter in the shop and will be doing it on the side at his home, and then his boss lets him use the downdraft paint booth, I have seen his work first hand on several cars including show winners.

He will take the car disassemble everything , paint all the door,trunk ,and hood jams,as well as the underside of everything,then reassemble ,paint it , bring it back home, wet sand the paint, and polish .

It should take about 2 months and 7 thousand dollars, I priced the paint and supplies myself and it came to over 3 k ,so at this point I have to send it out and have this part done I don't want to mess with it ,and this was my plan all along to get it ready for paint and have someone that is experienced lay the final paint.

I have the car ready , pretty much ,it will leave tomorrow, but I did fab up some rear wing brackets I don't want the pedestals simply bolted to the skin of the boot lid

. with just washers.

I had some sheet steel and made some inner reinforcing panels that I panel bonded in, and then made the extra bracket similar to what the factory did ,but they are a little heavier, and now there is absolutely no flex what so ever with what I made .

It is gonna be a long 2 months, but it has been since 99 that we bought the car ,so whats another 2 months or so and this winter we can assemble the car for spring

cant wait

Dave81 · Post by **Dave81** » Sat Aug 30, 14 9:48 am

Great stuff Drew........look forward to seeing the results in October!

What colour have you gone for........or is it part of the big reveal in 2 months time?

Mossy68 · Post by **Mossy68** » Sat Aug 30, 14 11:19 am

Glad to hear the progression is continuing Drew.
Well done

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Sat Aug 30, 14 1:13 pm

We are going with dark black, not to many black 71,s out there, so we have toyed with a brilliant blue ,or silver,but , black is what we really want

]

And after speaking with him ,we have agreed it will be most likely end of November,but again winter is coming so we really cant drive it anyway and cant do anything about that