Plastic Fantastic 2

[SuperBuickGuy]

that looks great. I know you are very happy. , we had a black corvette until one day when we were washing it we realized it had a faint metal flake in it and it was actually the darkest blue color we had ever seen, you could only see it in the mid day sun.

I promise this one is black.... it looks like shiny crude oil in the sun

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

time to install them for real

quite a pile to install....edited

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

making the pile smaller
the louver was hitting the air cleaner... so I shaved the base at an angle... clearance

lordy does it get dusty

but I like it and the louvers clear

blacking out side pipes

sand then hang

then bake the coating on


yep, thinking I like it

​​​​​​​
this is a test... paint would not survive here for long, but I wanted to see what it'd look like anodized black


now to take it to the coater.... yes, I like it a lot


this is the last bit I need to polish and paint...

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

my biggest fans

mirrors... going to make them black too.... just not 100% sure how

even the carpet is now down for a good clean

hmmmm.edited should I use it?

my stack of chrome to make black.... I may have a plan for this, though

fittings and hose... but not enough fittings... I also have yet another bracket system on its way, so nothing is set until that gets here



for the next person doing this... 5/8, 16mm 18mm, 18mm, 18mm
that is... the fitting size for the PS pump, the pump-to-hydroboost size, the hydroboost to the steering rack an finally the steering rack outlet....

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

the pointless existence of painting parts

and scrub the wheels...edited

so here it goes.... use header paint on the stainless and chrome

except rockers that get rocker paint

these are going to be a challenge

and why not, while I'm at it, replace the windshield

in my defense, the window has to come out to get those chrome corners off

it did come out, but not without a fight, likely this is original GM



and a bit of rust converter


​​​​​​​tomorrow more of the same, but I can start putting it back together....edited

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

more paintingedited

and dark tinting lenses

I'm not sure about this, but it is black now
​​​​​​​

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

and now shiney billet

time to mount the hood vent


and mirrors



​​​​​​​more of the same tomorrow

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I basically gave up trying to find mounts and pulleys... the biggest issue was the thicker dual port power steering pump with the short water pump
.edited

take off the pulleys



new pulleys

installed

and finally starting to mount the filler

 

[phantomjock]

That was your DIY anodize - right? Easy? Fumes a problem? Fans/vented - doing outside? I've been considering trying the approach - any recommendations? [Maybe a separate thread - or download section]

Looking real good.

Cheers - Jim

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Let's see how effective it is over time...
time to get the headlight buckets ready


and cut

and polish

end of week pics

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

power steering/power brakes connected
no hose clamps here

 

[mfain]

How many hours a day do you work on this thing? Looking good.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

How many hours a day do you work on this thing? Looking good.

2 hours 3 nights a week, 4 hours on Sundays.... usually... started this 3 years ago...

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

onward
I figured I'd lathe then 'hang' the pipes of the t-bolts.... in the end, no,edited


sidepipe hangers


headlight install

the hardest part was getting the tape back off

there we go
​​​​​​​

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

it was going too well.... ugh
but first, good news, cooling system holds a vacuum so no leaksedited

but something told me to look under the car... and there was a huge puddle - and nope, it wasn't the most common bolt

wth? that bolt is blind... oh wait, just above the bolt... a leak.edited damn


thankfully they're really cheap with a core.... and since this is well outside the warranty....edited

yet still, I thought I might have to pull the motor because the head gaskets were weeping.... so annoying but it could be far, far worse.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Have I ever mentioned I hate wiring... yeah.edited Hate.
drill new hole in the bulkhead to run wires back

start fitting lights (and mount license plate)

I need to take them back off because I'm going to replace all the bulb holders (it's how the LED lights connect).edited I also need to change the wiring so all the lights work - the centered ones are for reverse lights... but no more,


then spent quality time laying out the wiring - roll bar is back out so I can finish the area and it's a lot easier to wire when it's out
​​​​​​​

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I built theseedited




it's made by Off Road Anonymous - and they're cheap... and make a secure, safe way to carry a fire extinguisher.edited Always carry a fire extinguisher... the irony is I built it for my 4x4 but the reality is I carry a shovel because dirt is more plentiful then fire extinguisher chemical... or, as I say "you'll never run out of dirt"... but on the track, digging in the infield is usually frowned upon.... but I digress, they cost $30 normally, and most holidays they're 30% off (so $20).edited Yes, you have to weld it together and it doesn't have instructions.edited I'll give you this... the part that holds the double - there's a top and bottom... there... I've done my good deed for today.
https://www.offroadanonymous.com/

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I don't like the black wheels... thinking a dark, flat bronze......edited

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

so I had this thing called plans... started to execute them... DEI wrap for the power steering lines

then this happened... well, before this, fireworks happened.... I was planning on drilling some holes, starting to run the battery cut off...
but no

how do you say no to that face?
so quiet things... measuring the air cleaner hold-down length... yeah, big things
​​​​​​​

 

[Red77]

Bronze might give a nice contrast against the black. Some of the F1 cars through the years have had that combo and it looked really sharp. The old JPS sponsored Lotus at least had the gold and black combo and that was always a looker.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I put bronze wheels on my pickup (you can barely see them on the pick-the-vette up picture).... it was a risk, but I think it really looks sharp with them against the black
back to where I was a week ago...


don't see a leak (the pump with the hose on it)


the only place it might have leaked is the bottom bolt... but even so....edited


got a relay box in so I can start wiring stuff

and new steering wheel arrive


I did put DEI wrap around the hosesedited

trust but verify


Friday night picture, looks pretty much the same

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

success?

no

however, it was an easy fix.... so success
then came a lot of stuff like this... this was the alternator wiring

stripped it out of the harness, I'll repurpose the full-time power wire, though


installed the markers


and a battery cut-off switch



still have a ways to go... but one bite at a time
​​​​​​​

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

So I did do jack today... twice
new hotness

old brokenness

wait.... which one is broken?

I was all ready to proclaim how my Costco jack outlasted 2 HF jacks.... which, old brokenness did... problem was that was a factory sealed new one that was broken when they put it in the box.... ah well, just 2 hours I'll never get back
putting the new, new one to work

and the divorce is final




finally get to use this cart


this didn't last long, but it fits so I can move stuff around if needed




stiff stripped off..... more to come

​​​​​​​

I'm bringing this blast from the past up because I think it's cool. Art Morrison now has a IRS chassis that uses all Camaro parts.... hmm, wonder where he came up with that idea? yeah.. I know it wasn't available when I did this because I looked at all the options - he was still using the Ford T-bird rear....

File this under "why I blog" maybe even "why I'm poor" too still, more power to anyone who follows along and does it themselves.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I never realized how many views... 72,000.... lordy that's a lot of lurkers cool - hi lurks :hi:

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

onward with important, performance upgrades

new brake/clutch covers, worth 20 hp - which is damn near a Summit racing sticker

then exciting latch attachment

then... hold your breath in anticipation.... wiring

I'm going to replace the adapter with a real, waterproof plug.... these things are useless

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

two installed

four installed

ugh

fun fact, you need this wire connected

there was 2 hours of my life, gone.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

well fuel


plumbing complete


and started on the steering column


and obligatory picture of new alternator because pictures
​​​​​​​

 

[rtj]

Car is really coming together, huge project. Great job.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

onwardedited
time to prep to put the glass back in
​​​​​​​





that would be great if I wasn't checking brake lights...edited


speaking of brakes, need to take an 1/8" off this

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

oh look, glass


a glass guy taught me this - it works quite well at getting full adhesion because it makes a triangle on the rail

now glued in

looks like a black Corvette





​​​​​​​my cheap camera hates this car....edited

painting a lot of misc. parts

hmmm... wires....edited

it was a broken one
would you look at that... brake lights... all of them

and license plate lights... because, well, legalities