So the fans are mounted, just need to clean up the brackets a bit and throw on some paint and they'll be good to go.





Took my convoluted aluminum tubing to the auto parts store to find a lower radiator hose. This method works well, but the best part is the look on the face of the person behind the counter when you say "I need a hose that looks like this"




I found one that fit pretty well, and the left over part ALMOST fit the upper hose, but sadly it's just a little to big and not at the right angle to fit the water pump.

 

Love that hose match method! I used to use a stick of brazing rod to mock bends when I worked in exhaust shops. I've walked into the parts store with a chunk of coat hanger and asked for a "hose like this" before. After a couple trips like that, the counter help just points to the hose or brake line section and lets me walk back and get it myself. You and GFWC are making progress pretty quickly and it's helping motivate me to keep on mine. Thanks for the boost! Mann called and my block is done.

 

They sell adapters at NAPA to change the diameter. to smaller size for the water pump I'm using one.

 

The parts store usually lets me go back and look myself too, but this time there wasn't anyone in there that I knew. The turn over rate at the store by my house is high, I think it's kind of their training store. Glad I'm keeping you motivated, we'll have to settle up for what you owe me for that at some cruise this summer!

Yeah, I have seen those, but it isn't that much of a difference so the adapter would have to be pretty thin which I'm not sure they make, plus the angle is off enough to make it not really worth it, I'll just have to get another hose. I'll keep this one around since it looks like it may work on a future project though.

 

I've been slacking on keeping this thread updated, but I have been working on the car. I needed to get the transmission lines made, and it would have been nice if someone on here would have stopped me when I was making that A/C bracket, and said "Hey stupid, might want to leave a little room for the trans cooler lines"..... But, since that didn't happen, I was forced to go around the compressor. What a pain transmission lines are.....



And, of course when I was running the lines I kept looking at the starter and crank sensor wiring that was just a little too close for comfort to the exhaust manifold, so I decided to do something about it. Drilled and tapped this hole in the block....



Made a little bracket....



And bolted it on. Perfect! Wires are not able to touch the manifold now even if they wanted to!



I'm not one of those guys who loves buying tools, but every now and then there is one that I feel will pay for its self. So I bought a Mastercool A/C line crimper. No more paying for every crimp and having to take them somewhere for the privilege.



Bolted that bad boy to my pick up bed trailer frame since I didn't have a way to bolt it to the work bench. Seems to work pretty good.



Starting to make up the 3 relay fan wiring harness.



Didn't take any pics during, but you've all seen wiring before, so here it is done, just needs to be wired into the car.



Moving along to the A/C hoses. I had originally planned to run the hoses through the right inner fender. I drilled the holes and put in the grommets, but they went through the inner fender at an angle so they looked like they would eventually be cut by the sheet metal edge.



So I figured I would build a straight place for them to go through. Used some card board to make a template.



And all welded in. It's not the prettiest, but it's under the fender where no one will ever see it, so I can live with it!



The under side of it, you can see this if you look up under the fender so I grinded it as smooth as I could get it. After a coat of undercoating, it should look like it was made this way.

 

Been following this one since the beginning. I love everything you have done and have learned so much, love it all and hope to come within a fraction of the way you have with my projects. Great stuff man. My favorite build.

 

I've considered that AC crimper tool. How do you like it? There is a clip on A/C clamp. Like a O'kier (????) CLAmp.

Did you have the trans like buckle on the inside radius? (of bends) I had a problem with mine (3?8"). I've considered redoing them with water in it and crimped/capped. Maybe sand. Dunno. Any thoughts?

 

Hahahaha!!! I'll put another brick of $100 bills in the dryer.

 

What a great build. Thanks for posting the detailed pictures of the gauge swap. I want to do something like that with my 68 Camaro.

 

Thanks!

The crimper seems to work good, but I haven't charged the system yet, so if they leak I'll be changing my opinion! I don't think there will be a problem though. As for the trans lines, I had to throw away the first one because I tried to make too sharp of a bend at the end of it, so I just try to keep them not so tight now and it works a little better, although it doesn't look as nice.

Make sure you put that little security strip in them so I don't get busted passing them...

Glad I could help, good luck with your car.

 

So this weekend I dragged out the tailgate, since I knew it was going to need some work. The original gate had been stripped bare and blasted and primered. That would have been fine if the hardware was with it, which it was not. I have some parts, but no latches or anything, so I decided to use this gate that came with the car.



It has been sitting a while as you can tell by the Wabaunsee county Kansas license plate from 1970....



This must have been something's home at one time...



Threw it on the car to see what it looked like. Had to take the latches and hinges out since they were rusted solid and wouldn't move. I got one latch to free up, but the left one is beyond repair, so I'm looking for one of those if anybody knows where there may be one.

Had to drill out the screws holding the window regulator in, so removing the remaning parts of them is going to be real fun since they are about 3 inches inside the gate through a couple layers of sheet metal.



Did some bodywork to the front inner fenders, then ran them up to the carwash and pressure washed the under sides real good. Came home and after they had dried, I undercoated them.



Then painted the inside of them. Bad pic, and they are still wet, so they are shinier than they are now.



Also painted the A/c fittings that you can see through the grille. I don't want to see them since they look out of place, so this will make them not so visible.

 

In order for the BCM controlled automatic headlights to work you need to use the headlight switch, so this is the bracket that it screws to and then is bolted under the dash to the left of the steering column. I only left it accessible to be able to hit the dome override switch to turn the headlights off when they are automatically on should the need arise.



With the switch mounted in it. The ALDL connector is screwed to the other side of the bracket, but isn't on in this pic.



Then I bolted the booster on, bench bled the master cylinder, and hooked up all the brake lines. Went around and double checked that all the brake line connections were tight and bled the system.



This is one of my favorite tools! Vacuum brake bleeder, 80 bucks from Amazon, and works awesome! This thing is such a time saver, not to mention a frustration eliminator. You do have to watch the level of fluid in the master cylinder because it can suck it dry, and in the words of Ron White, "I know, I've seen me do it" But, by all means, if you like doing things the hard way, keep doing it the old school way!



Also got the steering column bolted in finally.... Still need to repaint the wheel though. Oh, and maybe clean up all that crap on the floor in there. LOL

 

GFWC picked up your batch of fresh bills along with his usual take. I'm sure he'll take good care of them until you can pick them up.
I seem to be running into him a lot lately. I might have to move...not sure if this area is safe with the two of us in such close proximity. Old women draw the shades when I drive by. Nice tailgate, btw. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a left tailgate hinge.

 

This is such a badass car.

 

Eric.............."AWSUM" !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Slowly getting the front end back on this thing. Painted the aluminum radiator since it looked out of place.



Looks way better black in my opinion, more stock looking. Didn't paint the core because you cant see it with the condenser on one side and the fans on the other and I figured it will cool better with no paint.



Got the fans cleaned up, painted and installed.



This is the start of the heater hoses. Two 90 degree bends and some barbed hose couplers so I can get it all behind the factory heater box.



This is it somewhat installed. You can also see the two A/C hoses going the opposite direction under the right fender.



A quick mock up to see what it is going to look like. I think once the hood hinge is on it you wont be able to see the area under the fender as much so it should look like the car doesn't have air.



This is a shot of what it looks like under the fender. I will clamp the two hoses up to the top of the inner fender with one of the fender bolts. You can also see the drier and trinary switch that still needs to be hooked up.



Pulled a quick vacuum on it to make sure there are no leaks before putting the front fender back on.



There is only the low side hose on it in this pic because I think my gauges are shot since the high side wont hold vacuum even in just the manifold. I thought I had a leak at first and chased it for a bit before testing the gauge set..... Going to have to borrow a set from a buddy when it comes time to charge it, but that's a ways down the road at this point.

 

amazing work as always!

 

^^^Agreed.


LSnova 71,
What kind of paint did you use on the radiator? I always wondered if regular paint would hinder the cooling/heat disapation (SP) of the aluminum.

I seen EASTWOOD sell specific radiator paint, but its $$.

 

Great ideas, execution and themed look for under hood. Hiding the ac is very cool...love the look!

 

You got mad skills man nice build.