[twooldgoats]

Knock, knock! Anybody home? Are you too hot to work?

Jim

[mechanickeith]

Jim,,,Mark is hibernating from the heat!! I think I woke him enough to attend a swap meet early tomorrow morning!!

[marks73ta]

YYaaaawwwwnnnn!!! Someone knockin'??? Thought I heard someone knockin'???? Heh, must just be the wind ZZZZZZZZZZ. Is it 6:00am yet Keith. I got a while 20 bucks to blow at the swap meet--heh.
(Hey Jim. I'm in my anti-winter snooze right now.) (Got my car painted yet??? HA!)

Mark L

[twooldgoats]

Originally Posted by marks73ta

....
(Hey Jim. .....Got my car painted yet??? HA!)

Mark L

I got your car right here.....................

The other day I told Ellen to shoot me if I ever start another car project that involves paint or body work. I'm done.

Jim

[marks73ta]

In all honesty. I totally understand.

Mark L

[hellerods]

I got the underside of hood painted and plan to do some additional small parts maybe this week end, this thing is a monster--------- next time I'll choose a smaller car to paint!!!!!!!!!!!

[twooldgoats]

Originally Posted by hellerods

I got the underside of hood painted and plan to do some additional small parts maybe this week end, this thing is a monster--------- next time I'll choose a smaller car to paint!!!!!!!!!!!

The paint looks great, but isn't that what underhood pads are for?

Jim

[BruceWilkie]

Originally Posted by hellerods

I got the underside of hood painted and plan to do some additional small parts maybe this week end, this thing is a monster--------- next time I'll choose a smaller car to paint!!!!!!!!!!!

I helped prep a 64 Bonnie Brougham 4 dr for paint about 12 years ago... Sight of sand paper ever since gives me shivers...

I stripped and repainted my daughters go-kart last week... wire wheeled 95% and made her sand the places I couldnt get the wire wheel to. I already warned her she has to help me with my Firebird when I'm ready.


Mark, save that swap meet money for an AC unit for the garage! You try hibernating in the house too long and Janet will find something for you to do that will make you wish you had stayed in the garage!

[Engine-Ear]

Originally Posted by BruceWilkie

I helped prep a 64 Bonnie Brougham 4 dr for paint about 12 years ago... Sight of sand paper ever since gives me shivers...

Amen, brother. I can do electrical and some mechanical...drop me into a body shop and fuhgeddabotit.

Originally Posted by BruceWilkie

Mark, save that swap meet money for an AC unit for the garage! You try hibernating in the house too long and Janet will find something for you to do that will make you wish you had stayed in the garage!

L O L !!

[60man]

you in hibernation Mark?..
Anything new??

[marks73ta]

TOOOO LATTTTEEE!!!! Arge!! LOL.

Mark L

[hellerods]

Mark! Mark!! Mark!!! ahhh, missed him by that much!!!!!!!!!!!!

[marks73ta]

Hey Guys, yeah, hibernation is the thing to do this time of year. Thanks for checking in on me though. It's nice to know people are thinking about ya. I did get my Hedman shorties though and I'm waiting to test fit them to determine how to run all my hot side piping. Just too hot, and now, in the Monsoon weather, it's too humid. So waiting for early October to get rolling again.

Mark L

[twooldgoats]

Originally Posted by marks73ta

..... So waiting for early October to get rolling again.

Mark L

That's just totally unacceptable.

Jim

[marks73ta]

LOL Jim. It's too hard to get any thing done when I have my head 3 feet up the air-conditioning vent---HA!!!!

Markus TooSweatius

[Steve Barcak]

I can understand Marks situation. The heat here is really bad. Mark, at least you have air conditioning. I have been roughing it now for 7 years working in primitive conditions but, I soldier on. Make progress here and there. I do not mind body work and paint. I am primarily an engine guy but, learned I need to know how to do most of a cars work myself- body work, sand blasting, paint, welding, fabricating, engine building. It is fun. Body work is time consuming but, it is very satisfying after it is done and you are spraying the color on! I am slowly working on about 6 at a time, plus 2 boats and 2 acreages, because I enjoy it. Each day I work on what I feel like, what car and what part of each car. As Mark says, things slow down in southern Arizona this time of year.
The only thing I really have not learned is upholstery but, recently have found someone who is good, reasonable and actually comes out to my place to do work. This is because I have so many projects for him to work on. He has done several headliners for me and will be back next week for more. I hope this relationship lasts because there has been a 'void' of lacking an upholsterer now for about 10 years and there is a lot to do.

I am glad I have some shade and a swamp cooler. Now back to work on my collection.


Best to you Mark and others here. Now, get to work!




I want to see, and hear, that '63 on our Phoenix area streets. The world really needs more blown Pontiacs! I hope this thread influences others to build a blown Pontiac for street, strip or on the water ( or, all 3! ).

[marks73ta]

I haven't been working on the car much at all so it's been a while since I posted anything. I had ot wait for back ordered shorty headers to come but they are finally here. So I'm slowly working on the hot side piping. Had to order 2.5 inch V-Band clamps and flanges, turbo drain flanges, I had one turbo oil inlet screen/restrictor but I needed another for the second turbo, so that's on the way too. My turbo exhaust outlets are 3 inch V-Bands. I want to run 4 inch exhaust piping down and out along the rocker panels, kind of like lake pipes, but larger. Turbos really quiet the exhaust so the pipes will be unmuffled. I'm hoping the sound will have a lower sound with the long piping and have little to no restriction. To that end I ordered two transition cones to go from the turbo 3 inch to the 4 inch pipes. The expansion also helps with the exhaust coming out of the turbo. The flow is pretty turbulent as it exits, so any expansion right out of the housing helps the flow settle down and straighten out. Mine will also hit a 90 degree turn within inches of the end of the transition, so it will help the exhaust make that turn. Now I'm just waiting for that stuff to arrive. I have to mock up my turbo placements as well so I can order that piping soon.
My Brother in Law was visiting so I brought out the old 4 cylinder to show him and threw it up on the engine stand. But of course, now that it is staring me in the face I had to play with it a little. I've decided to remove the polished Tunnel Ram because I just don't trust that it will stay sealed under boost. I'm going to cut it in half so no one else can get stuck with it. Then, what the heck. I'll keep one half and close up the cut open plenum, add injector bungs, (I'll sell the good side to someone needing it for their 4 cylinder) machine the port flange straight again, and use it with throttle bodies. There are tons of 4 cylinder EFI systems out there, so EFI should be easy.
My intention is to find a cheaper little '86-'92 third Gen Firebird and drop it in there. Then either turbo it or use a GM supercharger off a 3.8. Mount the supercharger on a plate in the open side of the 4 cylinder block. Run the boosted air out the bottom of the blower and into an intercooler and then up to the throttle body. This way I can have an intercooled supercharged set up. Of course a smaller Pro-charger or that type of supercharger would work great but I'm thinking I can find a nice clean working GM charger and do all the other stuff for less than buying a used Pro-charger?? The GM charger should flow enough for the 4 cylinder. I have a full Switch Pitch setup to go into a TH400 so that would make a neat trans option. Although I think the supercharged combination would be more fun with a manual. Find a 5 speed WC T5, a Corvette 4+3, or even a nice wide ratio super T-10. Use it as a daily driver. These are the shots of the 4 cylinder mocked up with a chrome oil pan, RAM AIR front cover, and the uncut tunnel ram bolted on.





I was also thinking that once the 4 cylinder short block was built. I could swap it into the Gasser too. For something very different. I could use one of the KRE heads, one of the turbos and intercooler systems. If I don't sell the other half of the tunnel ram, I could close up the plenum so it would accept one of the blow thru carbs. I can use all of the trans adaptors I made for the V8 and only have to modify this block for a late starter. Even that is really already on the adaptors and would require only one hole to be drilled and tapped on the block. Even the clutch assembly would bolt right on if I get the rotating assembly zero balanced. So it would really be a fun easy changeover. Even the front motor plates and the rear plate/adaptor would be in it's exact position. The only thing I would change for the 4 cylinder is to an electric fuel pump instead of the Hilborn pump. HA!! Nice to have options. Mark L

[twooldgoats]

You've got all sorts of plans cookin'! Glad to see you post again. It's always nice to know I'm not the only one. I ran out of welding wire and came up one U-bend short to finish up the exhaust on the '60, so I'll finish Monday when Summit gets the U-bend to me.

Jim

[marks73ta]

I always say--Once a Man Quits Dreaming, He's a Dead Man--. I may not get it done but I want to. I see nice 3rd Gen Firebirds and Camaros out there with great bodies and bad motors or mechanicals. I figure I'll get the 4 cyl built slowly along side the '63 and then keep an eye out for a good buy on a 3rd Gen. If I do everything I can to have the engine ready to drop in. It can go together fast and hopefully smooth once the time comes. Or once the '63 is done the 4 cylinder could be dropped in it in a weekend.
That's dreaming. But doable.
By the way Jim. Now that I've been able to get out for a little in the morning, the heat has gone up to a record tying 113 today and it's supposed to stay there for days.
Just my luck, LOL.

Mark L

[Jack Gifford]

The other half of a 389...

[Crude mockup- lots of building to go]