Long Overdue Progress! Doors Finished 3/17/26

[SuperBuickGuy]

cool, good luck!

 

[BBShark]

Started removing the C950 from the car this weekend. I was successful at removing the ECU and the harness in the interior of the car. It was a not fun at all. When I put it in, the car had no interior and I integrated the wiring into the main harness for the car including wire looms and clamps all over the place! So this took a fair amount of time cutting it out without accidentally cutting wires that were part of the main harness (like diffusing a bomb).

Did I mention how much I hate wiring?

So next is taking the plenum apart to get to that wiring. Hoping that will go a little smoother.

Garbage:

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

did you keep remarking to yourself how neat the job was while you were undoing it? that's what I tell people I'm muttering when I'm de-looming something I did before.... :hi:

 

[BBShark]

did you keep remarking to yourself how neat the job was while you were undoing it? that's what I tell people I'm muttering when I'm de-looming something I did before.... :hi:

I was actually thinking about what a waste it was to install it in the first place. I knew the chances of getting it running good were not good.

Lesson learned.

 

[rtj]

I think dynamic corvettes is selling a wiper cover now (just released), like the one you did.

They have some nice parts.

 

[BBShark]

Dynamic is selling one that looks a lot like to one that everyone else sells. I'm sure the DC one is better made but I would like to see a picture of a car with wipers. I also question that the DC part could be used on 68-72 short hood cars.

I had one of the plastic ones and ended up cutting away so much of it that there was nothing left.

And mine has perforated screens!

 

[phantomjock]

VERY NICE! And I love the screens. Did you really start with a basic set and make these? There is much more to this story that you have let on. The screens look as if they have been relieved some too? Hammer and buck?

Very Nice.

Cheers - Jim

 

[BBShark]

I had some plates water jet cut to form a flange on the perforated metal. Backed that up with MDF and into a hydraulic press. So then I ended up with a hat section with the center drawn 1/4 inch an a 1/4 flange.

 

[rtj]

Yeah, yours looks better. I could not find the thread.

 

[BBShark]

Yeah, yours looks better. I could not find the thread.

It started about midway through this thread on page 1.

 

[BBShark]

Plenum De-construction

Time has been limited for a while to weekends. I got the plenum taken apart today to expose the injector and sensor wiring. When I put this together, I put the wiring in down in the intake valley and then put the fuel lines on top of it. Big mistake. Ended up cutting the harness out with just about every cutter I have.

So the deconstruction of the C950 crap is done!


START


WITH WIRING


WITHOUT WIRING

 

[BBShark]

Been focusing on the EFI lately but did get a chance to wrap up the shoulder belt install.

 

[rtj]

Looks like you are closing in on the “finish line.” That feel good.

And, c3 convertible prices are shooting up too. Up in the northern states, I see a lot of cars advertised that appear nice, until you see underneath photos. So, having a nice one will be an exception.

 

[bobs77vet]

can we swap C5 seats? mine are looking tired and yours look so NEW!!!

cleaning up that wiring makes it look so good. nice work

 

[BBShark]

Looks like you are closing in on the “finish line.” That feel good.

And, c3 convertible prices are shooting up too. Up in the northern states, I see a lot of cars advertised that appear nice, until you see underneath photos. So, having a nice one will be an exception.

I'm thinking I will keep it and be buried in it. I can't sell after this amount of time invested in it. At $5 an hour, I would be lucky to break even :suicide:

 

[phantomjock]

[
I'm thinking I will keep it and be buried in it. I can't sell after this amount of time invested in it. At $5 an hour, I would be lucky to break even :suicide:

LIKEWISE; I'm thinking the same about my boat. It could be a Viking flaming -burial at sea ... But my wife says - NO!

Cheers - Jim

 

[mfain]

After 45 years, I couldn't break even at a $nickel$ an hour. BTW, your car looks great!

 

[BBShark]

Finally completed the HP EFI wiring. I had the old ECU inside the car but there was no way to get the new ECU in there. Holley says this is ok for underhood but options were limited there. I removed the vacuum tank so that was pretty much the only space I could find. But, at this point access to that area is pretty limited.

This is mounted to the splash shield behind the wheel well. Been so long since I removed it, I couldn't remember what it was. But, the harness was long enough and, if I need to remove it, I can drop it out from the bottom. And a bonus, I can get to it through the side gills.

 

[bobs77vet]

that looks like a great spot for it.

 

[BBShark]

First Startup!

So, I finally got all the Holley EFI stuff installed and setup. The setup was not too bad but some of the instructions are outdated (all manuals are for version 2 and I have version 5). Holley saves money by not printing or updating the manual and putting it online.

Last night I started it up and adjusted the TPS and IAC and it seems to run well. Next step is to drive the car in "learn" mode. Only problem is I have to install the springs and shocks to make it drivable.

I ended up not using the BBK throttle body. Lots of issues with that.

Baby steps!

 

[69427]

So, I finally got all the Holley EFI stuff installed and setup. The setup was not too bad but some of the instructions are outdated (all manuals are for version 2 and I have version 5). Holley saves money by not printing or updating the manual and putting it online.

Last night I started it up and adjusted the TPS and IAC and it seems to run well. Next step is to drive the car in "learn" mode. Only problem is I have to install the springs and shocks to make it drivable.

I ended up not using the BBK throttle body. Lots of issues with that.

Baby steps!

Glad to hear about the progress. :thumbs:

 

[BBShark]

It shouldn't take too long to get the springs and shocks installed. If I can drive it, I can properly tune it. It will be the first time I have driven the car in ~15 years!

Hope I don't drive by any police on the tuning runs:bounce:

 

[bobs77vet]

that is exceptional news......15 yrs is along time to wait

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

fantastic

 

[BBShark]

Got the front spring/shocks done. Had a really hard time finding the stuff I bought years ago.

Today, with some luck, I'll get the rear done. Then it's drivable!

 

[69427]

Got the front spring/shocks done. Had a really hard time finding the stuff I bought years ago.

Today, with some luck, I'll get the rear done. Then it's drivable!

................

:thumbs:

 

[BBShark]

Well the rear was a little more of a challenge. I had to drop the exhaust to get the spring mounts in. I had the ride height set with threaded rod in place of the shocks when the body was off. Seems I put the upper shock bolts in backwards so now I have to cut them out.

I'll get there sooner or later.

 

[BBShark]

Ran into another snag. Tried to install the rear shocks. With the suspension at full droop, the shock body interferes with the trailing arm. Really badly interferes. It is not even close. When the suspension is lifted to ride height it is better but still interferes.

What is really strange is, with the shock hanging from the upper mount, you would need to force the bottom into place. Basically "bending" the shock into position. That cant be good for the shock.

The suspension travels in 2 arcs, one front to back and the other arc is lateral (90 degrees to that). But the shock pivots are arranged so that it only has freedom of motion from front to back. The lateral arc causes a bind.

Seems like the front shocks would be a better setup for the rear

 

[mfain]

Ran into another snag. Tried to install the rear shocks. With the suspension at full droop, the shock body interferes with the trailing arm. Really badly interferes. It is not even close. When the suspension is lifted to ride height it is better but still interferes.

What is really strange is, with the shock hanging from the upper mount, you would need to force the bottom into place. Basically "bending" the shock into position. That cant be good for the shock.

The suspension travels in 2 arcs, one front to back and the other arc is lateral (90 degrees to that). But the shock pivots are arranged so that it only has freedom of motion from front to back. The lateral arc causes a bind.

Seems like the front shocks would be a better setup for the rear

Can you post a photo?

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

With the tubular front arms I'd guess that you have a shark-bite or similar rear?

those have to be perfectly assembled or there is all sorts of clearance issues.

Also

when the suspension is at full droop - even on a stock car, the shock will interference fit

but without pictures - those are just guesses