My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!

[clemdaddy]

I believe the most beautiful will also become the most reliable. Good choice… it will be a chore but worth it, besides, what else do you got to do?

[Bomp]

At the rate you're going you'll have that jammed in there an lighting up the tires in no time.

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

I believe the most beautiful will also become the most reliable. Good choice… it will be a chore but worth it, besides, what else do you got to do?

Thanks Clem! I really want another project, but also want this one to be dependable! I guess that I have a little of both.

Originally Posted by Bomp

At the rate you're going you'll have that jammed in there an lighting up the tires in no time.

Greg, this will NOT be an overnight swap!
I plan on having some verrrrry select performance parts in the lineup.
I want to have some substantial horsepower numbers before interrupting my fun with "Old Blue".
My plan is to work out the bugs that I currently have, and also build a select replacement LS-swap motor...

"A diamond in the rough"

[Modges'66]

Soooo, if you have followed my build, you probably already know of my ignition gremlin that frequently interrupts my fun, and makes me question "Old Blue's" reliability altogether.
For those of you who are not up to speed, this is an error that I get with my Opti-spark distributor that randomly shuts down the ignition....
Randomly! What a nice word! And an awesome feeling of security! Ha! The feeling of knowing that at any moment, your truck could quit...And Will! It could happen in 2 miles, or in 200 miles, but it will quit!!!!

EVERY time that it has ever happened though, I would just pull over to the side of the road, crank it for a few secs, and it would start just like nothing ever was wrong. Then I would just wait for it to happen again....Randomly!
The codes that it would set were both Low-res & Hi-res Opti-spark errors.
This was a Brand-new Accel distributor on my engine, so I was trying to give it benefit of doubt....
I did some research, and just finally bought a brand new MSD Pro-Billet unit to replace it with.
Not an easy job, but I wish that I would have done in from the beginning!!!

Check-out this pic of the distributor cap! and notice the loose screw & washer from the rotor!....Also the opposed screw was also loose to the point that 1 more turn, and the rotor would have fell off completely.
In addition, note the melted areas. WTH?
I am not sure how it could even still run!

Also check-out the areas on the distributor that are melted about 180 degrees from each other....not sure why, but I am sure that loose screws & washers in the mix of electrical arcing doesn't help matters!
Additionally, the rotor was really chewed-up on the point. Probably from the loose screw...


And the new weapon of choice? voilà!(prior to replacing water-pump, balancer & belts...

I only had the chance to drive it directly to my storage facility (8 mi.) because of a rain storm, but it ran superior to EVER before!!!!
I am so excited that "reliability" may be a word in my future vocabulary!!!

[youngrodder]

Nice work. It is always nice to figure out something that has had to stumped. I have an LT1 in my 48 and I can commiserate on the fun of changing out an Optispark. I swapped mine out up before I got mine on the road. I have had mine for about 6 years and drive my truck everywhere. It has been very reliable. You should be golden since you went with an upgrade from MSD.

Good luck.

Marc

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Nice work. It is always nice to figure out something that has had to stumped. I have an LT1 in my 48 and I can commiserate on the fun of changing out an Optispark. I swapped mine out up before I got mine on the road. I have had mine for about 6 years and drive my truck everywhere. It has been very reliable. You should be golden since you went with an upgrade from MSD.

Good luck.

Marc

I actually upgraded from the Accel to the MSD unit. LOL!
The truck runs altogether different, and much more responsive!...No problem to bake the tires un-intentionally from a start, and brake-em hitting 3rd...Now, just don't leave me stranded....LOL!

[Modges'66]

And, I just noticed that I have had 1,111 replies...LOL!

[Palf70Step]

Glad you got it working. The Opti-spark is a know pain in the keester. Everyone I know with an LT1 has gone to MSD.

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Glad you got it working. The Opti-spark is a know pain in the keester. Everyone I know with an LT1 has gone to MSD.

I really wish NOW that I would have taken this distributor apart 1 year ago when I had the engine out for the head-gasket replacement....Or, maybe when I took the engine out again for the main & rod bearing replacement, and oil-pump drive gear...WTH? I dunno. I never had curiosity to open it up, and look inside. LOL!
I must be an idiot!!!

[Palf70Step]

From what my fiend told me the main issue, least in the vettes was it's placement. It would always get wet and got to crap. Maybe you lasted so long because of being in the truck and possibly protected better.

[Modges'66]

Wow!
It has been a bit since I have posted anything here!
My MSD Opti-Spark ignition has been a great investment for "Old Blue"...It has been about 3500 GOOD miles since any ignition issues have surfaced!
I am COMPLETELY good with just doing oil-changes, and polishing this gem! LOL!

On another note, I found these pics on Facebook of my truck at last weeks Grand Rapids Metro-Cruise.

I thought that these pics were hot, and wanted to share!


Sorry about the bugs in the radiator! LOL!

[clemdaddy]

very beautiful ride my friend… very beautiful.

[Bomp]

Every time I look at my shaved door handles I think of you.
Glad you kept on me to shave'em. Your doors, whole truck for that matter, is Amazing.

[Captainfab]

I have to agree....That is one beautiful truck

[flips72]

Absolutely beautiful

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

very beautiful ride my friend… very beautiful.

Thank you very much clem!
I have been peeking in on your projects also, and things look fantastic over there!
I need to get in touch with you, but keep forgetting about it. I need to get a set of sunvisors, and have them upholstered to match the seat that you guys did for me!

Originally Posted by Bomp

Every time I look at my shaved door handles I think of you.
Glad you kept on me to shave'em. Your doors, whole truck for that matter, is Amazing.

Thanks Greg!
I don't think that you will ever regret shaving them!...Everybody comments.
You really need to start rockin' on finishing-up ole Steiner! I have logged almost 10,000 miles on Old Blue already!!!
Hop to it man!

Originally Posted by Captainfab

I have to agree....That is one beautiful truck

Thank you Captain!!!
I really appreciate your comments!

Originally Posted by flips72

Absolutely beautiful

Thank you Flip!!!!
How are things going for you???
Have you been making any passes with that truck lately?
Is she on spray yet?
Drop me a line!

[Strodder]

Nice job, BEAUTIFUL

[Modges'66]

Well guys, it has been a while since I have posted anything....
I have been slowly getting cabin-fever over the winter months, and finally decided that I am going to start building/installing a sound system into the '66.
I am planning to do this without cutting up anything...In fact I am trying to keep it somewhat hidden in the sense that that you may need to look closely in order to notice it...

I am going to start with building of the subwoofer/amp box while I do some more research on the direction that I will take for the rest of the system.
A few weeks back, I went up to where the truck is stored and took some measurements, then I started to draw the box up in Solidworks so that I could optimize material usage. I thought that it was going to take a lot more material than what it actually did!
Here are some pics of cutting the speaker/amplifier openings in one of the CNC mills at the shop...


And here is a pic of the front panel with the amplifier opening, and the rest of the material all cut up and ready to assemble. The intentions are to assemble the box with screws, then disassemble & cut the front panel into 3 pieces (with perfect gaps) then re-assemble using glue and screws.


....Skipping some of the steps, what is pictured here is the glued & screwed, radiused & sanded, box with the removable amp cover missing...The cover is getting painted to match the interior color....


Keep posted for more pics on a even-more regular basis! LOL!

[Palf70Step]

Nice looking box.

[pdxhall]

Hey man, I just caught up on your build after my 3 yr absence and your truck is looking fantastic. Quality work.

[clemdaddy]

Box does look good...
Scottybob doesn't remember the material from your seat, probably because since then a lot of others have clouded his mind. See if there is a place under the seat that you could snip off a small piece to match.
You might go to a local shop and look through their swatches to get the name of the material. Will PM you later.

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Nice looking box.

Thanks for the compliment...More progress yet to come!

Originally Posted by pdxhall

Hey man, I just caught up on your build after my 3 yr absence and your truck is looking fantastic. Quality work.

3yrs? Sounding like me now! Thanks a bunch!

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

Box does look good...
Scottybob doesn't remember the material from your seat, probably because since then a lot of others have clouded his mind. See if there is a place under the seat that you could snip off a small piece to match.
You might go to a local shop and look through their swatches to get the name of the material. Will PM you later.

Clem!
Thanks...You haven't seen anything yet!!!
I have the material samples here in the envelope that you originally sent them to me in for approval!
They all (3) have the color names written on the back side. I am going to go up to my storage to confirm that these are all correct and let you know the outcome.
And just in case you don't remember what the seat looked like....

[Modges'66]

Well guys, over the past few weeks I have started to make a bit of progress with my stereo system project for the '66. I have started to see the UPS man more often with some of the selected items arriving.
The first items to be chosen for the system are a JL Audio 900w/5ch amp with a pair of Rockford Fosgate 10" DVC 2ohm subs...I will be picking-off other items as I need them, but I already know what I want. LOL!

I have carpeted the box with exact matching carpet as already installed in the '66 and added an aluminum moulding to split-up the carpet & painted areas. The amp cover for the box is primed, sanded, & ready for paint, but I am waiting because there are a couple other items that I will be painting to match also...



I will have more to come Soon!

[silvertonguedevil]

This has to be one of the most inspiring threads on this website! Amazing work! Makes me itchy to get started on mine!

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by silvertonguedevil

This has to be one of the most inspiring threads on this website! Amazing work! Makes me itchy to get started on mine!

Thanks Greg!
I haven't posted in a while, and when you said that, it made me look for myself....I saw a lot of things that I had forgotten about! LOL!...Good times!