PROJECT "Z069" - LS7 powered '69 Stingray....

[msgross]

that's some attention to detail... nice work

[irongun324]

Any updates on this monster? Such a nice looking piece of machinery....

[70rs/ss]

Looking very sweet and this is the reason nut and bolt or even resto-mods cost so much to have done, this stuff takes time and I mean LOTS OF IT!! Looking very sweet, can't wait to see it done!

[ChiefRocka]

Man...WE GOT THAT LS7 FIRED UP !!! THAT THING SOUNDS LIKE A MONSTER !!

Anyway, no videos just yet....but have a few more pics:
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Picked up a temporary press. guage for the regulater (waiting for liquid filled) and rigged up an oil press. (even left it in the box)
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Threw the air-filter on...and gave it a crank....after a few seconds it came to life...with 100 psi of oil-pressure, and an ear-piercing roar from the open 3" pipes !!!
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After a few seconds of run time (no cooling yet)...I checked everything for leaks...everything is PERFECT !!!
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I hated to do it, but I've been having to modify the replacement M&H wiring harness in a few spots....including the alternator. Here I cut the early style plug off, and soldiered on some rings for the new style alt.
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Also tapped out the rear of the alternator for a harness ground, and the stock alt harness mount.
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Few misc items added:
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[ChiefRocka]

Started the wiring of the fans...
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Cleaned this reinforcement cable thingy, painted and reinstalled it (what is this torque strap thingy for anyway?)
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That's all Folks...

[70rs/ss]

I think that is in case the engine mount fails? It is supposed to keep the engine in place, if that is on the engine mount? Looking good, can't wait for the vid!

[Frizzle Fry]

That's a project right there! Looking good!

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

That's a project right there! Looking good!

Thanks Frizzle....here some more !!!!
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I'm back with some more pictures...this time I created some nice coolant piping. Since my new tubing bender is STILL not in operating condition...I had no choice but so purchase some pre-bent stock.
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Here we go:
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Also picked up some various radiator hose to make some couplers:
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After cutting and installing the hose ends...I started to mock things up:
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Big fan of keeping thing perfect:
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Picked up a cheap tubing cutter at HomeDepot..worked good...
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[ChiefRocka]

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Welded an 1/8" pipe bung for the barbed fitting...hose to cylinder head bleed...
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Bottom pipe was a lot easier:
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I purchased a box of cheapy hose clamps to hold things together...but the nice ones were picked up later.
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After the pipes were done...my buddy hooked it up with the bead roller !!
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[ChiefRocka]

Not sure why the pics turned out in different sizes..my camera phone has a mind of it's own sometimes...

[ChiefRocka]

Last two on the pipes...
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Looks pretty good, I think...even better after it's coated the same Silver as the fuel tank !!!
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After numerous years...we called Classic 5-speed and had them send up the driveline...built by Empire..and a nice piece !!
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Lift'n her ass up, so she can get the shaft...
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[ChiefRocka]

I finished up the throttle pedal and mount yesterday too.

When I first installed the throttle pedal, Lokar cable, and the throttle body mount...I wasn't getting enough pull from the cable.

After tons of adjustments, I realized the thin fiberglass firewall was flexing like crazy...and the stock small metal pedal mounting plate (riveted by two small rivets) was even working it way loose. Not to mention the stock plastic pivot point ended up breaking. I thought this will not cut it...especially being the most important pedal on the car !! ( next to the brake pedal ) So, the flexing was taking away from the leverage to open the throttle plate. The Lokar cable was new.. and not binding. And the return spring on the TV was not that over-powering, so the firewall was the problem.

So this is what I did.....I built a reinforcement plate, using roller heims for the pivot..heavy duty, and stout !!
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Here the pedal, and stock now broken, mount:
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and my idea:
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After making a paper template, then a steel plate....I traced out the stock mounting location, for the bolt holes:
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Took some 1/2" stock, drilled and tapped for the heims:
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.....and tacked to plate:
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After cutting the heims down a bit...it placed the pivot point within spec....This gave me more adjustment as well. I backed them out, which gave me a little more pull on the cable:
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[ChiefRocka]

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Cut them down a bit:
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Now I had to come up with a cool, way of mounting the plate to the firewall. I couldn't get in there with a rivot gun, or use hard rivets so....

I went to the hardware store, I purchased some screws with the same size head as the factory rivot...weld the philleps head, sanded smooth, painted black then installed.

Man, it looks totally stock !! Hard to see in pic though...
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Here's it mounted on the inside:
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Firewall pad back over it:
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Also finished the cable mount on the engine side:
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[ChiefRocka]

It's been a while, so it's about time we UPDATE !!
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The dash finally went back in ... here are some past progress shots:
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[ChiefRocka]

Shots from the kick-panel vent door restore ... These were pretty nasty and shot:
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One small piece of foam seal barely hanging on:
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[FRENCHBLUE72]

Looking good did you ever get the rear spring figured out?

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by FRENCHBLUE72

Looking good did you ever get the rear spring figured out?

Not yet man....with the engine and tranny in....fuel in tank...there is no movement yet.

I still think there is something wrong with that spring.

The dashboard, seats, and all the glass have to go in.....but I dont think that'll do it either.

Planning on purchasing a new fiber spring for the rear.

We will see...

[joe231]

nice work John!

very ingenious

[ChiefRocka]

I AM BACK !!!!!!!!!

We are on a mission to get this thing into PAINT JAIL ASAP !!!!

Currently I have been working on get the interior and dash back together, and getting the Vette operational.

From here it'll go to the alignment shop, and then to PAINT JAIL !!

Picked up some supplys at Lowe paint and went to work on the column and dash pieces.

Special attention is going into everything, including blasting and paint brackets and such that you would never see, but that's the way I roll ... came this far, why stop now !!
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I started back on it with the restore of the 'Astro-Ventilation' flappers from the rear of the car...blast, paint, re-seal, lube, re-assemble, and shelf it for now....

[ChiefRocka]

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The main frame needed a little more persuasion in removing the OG adhesive:
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Two-tone detail....:rofl:
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[ChiefRocka]

Next, I moved on to refacing the heater controls.....Completely dissasembled, blasted, and lubed the mechanisms:
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[ChiefRocka]

Steering Column freshly painted with 'Trim Black' and in position:
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Moved on to guages:
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and repainted upper panel...then carefully sanded to bring back the shine....
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Even rebuilt the clock to a 'quartz' movement....
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[FRENCHBLUE72]

Good to see ya still plugging away at this....

[67chevy1series]

very very cool love the gauges on these things! also that upper dash panel looks awesome excellent job cheif!

[Frizzle Fry]

Looking great. Always high quality work from you. I bought some raptor liner for the Minx on your recommendation.