66 c10 first timer build

[McMurphy]

Those Vetts were the last of a great era IMO.
In the 80s, like a lot of other makes, they went to sh!t in style and looks.

Like the GTO (and consequently the discontinuation of Pontiacs in general) stuff like that makes you want to find the board of directors and slap them up side the head for allowing junk like that to happen!

Performance is one thing, but a Corvette, a GTO needs to look like a freekin Corvette or a GTO.

[/soapbox off]

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by McMurphy

Those Vetts were the last of a great era IMO.
In the 80s, like a lot of other makes, they went to sh!t in style and looks.

Like the GTO (and consequently the discontinuation of Pontiacs in general) stuff like that makes you want to find the board of directors and slap them up side the head for allowing junk like that to happen!

Performance is one thing, but a Corvette, a GTO needs to look like a freekin Corvette or a GTO.

[/soapbox off]

Here, Here!!! Preach it Brother!!!

[williamsboys]

I'm right there with ya guys
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[williamsboys]

Anybody got any good cleaners they wanna share for cleaning intake manifolds. The one on my vette isn't really bad it's just not real cleanlooking like a new one. It's an aluminum edelbrock. I got my carb off getting it rebuilt so I've been cleaning on intake with brake and carb cleaner. It cleaned it ok just not like I want it. Any ideas
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[allaboutchevelles]

Hey williamsboys, I read in your post where someone was talking about measuring your new radiater support. I measured my new one tonight and mines off a 1/4 inch all together. So thats 1/8 inch on each side and I hope it doesnt affect to much. I almost forgot until right when I was walking out of the shop so I didnt check any of the bolt hole locations. I just hope they made it just a little shorter and all the bolts line up right. I got mine from Tommys truck parts.

[rustbucket66]

As for the advice on the aluminum intake manifolds, here is what works for me. Bare aluminum is very porous, and soaks up antifreeze, oil, dirt. etc, very fast, and looks really bad. Sandblast the intake first, then an etch primer, then paint it with an aluminum heat paint that any restoration place should have in an aerorosol can. Now, the aluminum should be sealed and you can wash it off easily. If you get a spot that looks really bad, scrub it with scratch cloth, a little masking, and give it a quick touch up spray with the same paint. Much easier than trying to keep bare cast aluminum clean, and it looks just like aluminum.

[williamsboys]

Originally Posted by rustbucket66

As for the advice on the aluminum intake manifolds, here is what works for me. Bare aluminum is very porous, and soaks up antifreeze, oil, dirt. etc, very fast, and looks really bad. Sandblast the intake first, then an etch primer, then paint it with an aluminum heat paint that any restoration place should have in an aerorosol can. Now, the aluminum should be sealed and you can wash it off easily. If you get a spot that looks really bad, scrub it with scratch cloth, a little masking, and give it a quick touch up spray with the same paint. Much easier than trying to keep bare cast aluminum clean, and it looks just like aluminum.

Ok great idea. Didn't think about painting it.
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[williamsboys]

Originally Posted by allaboutchevelles

Hey williamsboys, I read in your post where someone was talking about measuring your new radiater support. I measured my new one tonight and mines off a 1/4 inch all together. So thats 1/8 inch on each side and I hope it doesnt affect to much. I almost forgot until right when I was walking out of the shop so I didnt check any of the bolt hole locations. I just hope they made it just a little shorter and all the bolts line up right. I got mine from Tommys truck parts.

Yea mine was like an 1/16 off. Haven't Checked holes yet
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[rustbucket66]

Just read a post on the rad support, that someone else had the same problem as I did. Trust me, if that rad support doesn't measure perfect to the original, throw it in the junk and repair the original. It will cost you thousands of dollars and grief, before you have painted anything. Problems will arise throughout. Just try and put together the front clip on the floor, and see if you can put it together at all. Everything on the front bolts to that piece, and it is critical it is right. Another thing to check is to set the front pans on the top, and see if the bend in the rad support is in the right place for the pans to fit on properly, and the bolts to go in.. The aftermarket inner and outer fenders are bad also, and the rad support is the worst of all. I started a post called "how do you fix this, repo body parts". Read this post. It shows lots of pics, and what it takes to fix this crap. Beware!! Save or patch your originals at all costs.

[williamsboys]

Originally Posted by rustbucket66

Just read a post on the rad support, that someone else had the same problem as I did. Trust me, if that rad support doesn't measure perfect to the original, throw it in the junk and repair the original. It will cost you thousands of dollars and grief, before you have painted anything. Problems will arise throughout. Just try and put together the front clip on the floor, and see if you can put it together at all. Everything on the front bolts to that piece, and it is critical it is right. Another thing to check is to set the front pans on the top, and see if the bend in the rad support is in the right place for the pans to fit on properly, and the bolts to go in.. The aftermarket inner and outer fenders are bad also, and the rad support is the worst of all. I started a post called "how do you fix this, repo body parts". Read this post. It shows lots of pics, and what it takes to fix this crap. Beware!! Save or patch your originals at all costs.

Ok I will try that. Dumb question but what do you mean the pan's?
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[rustbucket66]

The pans as I called them, are the two pieces that fasten on to the top of the rad support and the top of the header panel. They are the first things you see when you open the hood, have 5 bolt holes on each, and the hood latch piece goes in the middle between them. The two new rad supports I had didn't quite have the bend where it slopes to the side in the right place. You should be able to set the pan on top with the bend for the rad support and the bend for the pan sitting together. Then see if the bolt holes line up. Also, try and put the inner fenders, fenders, and header panel up to this new rad support, and see if the holes line up. Try it on the floor. If it is a 1/4 short from side to side, that is A LOT. Someone wil spend a lot of time and money trying to make it work. I've learned my lesson the hard way. All I would use repo body pieces for is to cut patch pieces out of them and weld them to the originals. I have a couple hundred hours making my inner fenders, outer fenders, and header panel work. All repos, and I still have junk. The two new rad supports, from two different manufacturers, that I had couldn't be used at all, that rad support is the most important piece. I have not seen really good repos from anywhere yet. If yours isn't dead on, think about repairing your original.

[williamsboys]

Originally Posted by rustbucket66

The pans as I called them, are the two pieces that fasten on to the top of the rad support and the top of the header panel. They are the first things you see when you open the hood, have 5 bolt holes on each, and the hood latch piece goes in the middle between them. The two new rad supports I had didn't quite have the bend where it slopes to the side in the right place. You should be able to set the pan on top with the bend for the rad support and the bend for the pan sitting together. Then see if the bolt holes line up. Also, try and put the inner fenders, fenders, and header panel up to this new rad support, and see if the holes line up. Try it on the floor. If it is a 1/4 short from side to side, that is A LOT. Someone wil spend a lot of time and money trying to make it work. I've learned my lesson the hard way. All I would use repo body pieces for is to cut patch pieces out of them and weld them to the originals. I have a couple hundred hours making my inner fenders, outer fenders, and header panel work. All repos, and I still have junk. The two new rad supports, from two different manufacturers, that I had couldn't be used at all, that rad support is the most important piece. I have not seen really good repos from anywhere yet. If yours isn't dead on, think about repairing your original.

Ok thanks for input I'm gana try all that this weekend
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[williamsboys]

I put all my front end on rad support today and it all lined up except like 2 or 3 bolts . But it was so close that I bet I get it to line up with more time. [IMG]http:/ [/IMG]
[IMG]http:/ [/IMG]


Do yall thank I could beet this out? It's all in great shape except this grill support
[IMG]http:/ [/IMG]
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[allaboutchevelles]

I dont see any pics. I done the same thing on my truck this weekend. Mine seem to fit ok as well.

[williamsboys]

Originally Posted by allaboutchevelles

I dont see any pics. I done the same thing on my truck this weekend. Mine seem to fit ok as well.

Really I.see the pics on my side. That's weird
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[williamsboys]

My motor has been built and sitting since Oct 2011. It was shipped dry. I feel like its going bad just sitting there. I don't have a priming tool for the oil if I put the oil in. Is there anything I could or should do before.it's.ready to be broke in in a couple.months
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[williamsboys]

Any thoughts on my motor question
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[williamsboys]

Why'd my pics go away in the above post
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[jhrusk]

looking good

[williamsboys]

Originally Posted by jhrusk

looking good

Thanks a lot
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[williamsboys]

Here's the pics that were deleted
[IMG]http:/ [/IMG]
[IMG]http:/ [/IMG]
[IMG]http:/ [/IMG]
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[McMurphy]

Yep you can hammer that out, no problem.

[williamsboys]

Originally Posted by McMurphy

Yep you can hammer that out, no problem.

Yea I figured I can just trying to salvage all I can. Now the passenger fender maybe not[IMG]http:/ [/IMG]
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[williamsboys]

I'm going with the champion rad and electric fan they offer. Any thoughts?
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[williamsboys]

Finally got my trans crossmember and mount in today so now just need to order trans dipstick and new pan. Once I get them I'll be hooken it up to the motor. I've read quite a bit on how to meet the motor and trans but any heads up or advice?
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