[Blue '66]

Merry Christmas to you too Phil.Just remember if you have been GOOD() this year santa will be good to you!

[fyrffytr1]

Well, I hope evryone had a nice Christmas. Evidently, I had Santa fooled again this year. I got an A/C compressor and drive belt so I am a happy camper. I also received some parts for the interior from a fellow PYer.
Right now it is bitter cold with temps in the mid 30s but it is supposed to warm up nicely by the end of the week. I might get a little done or I might not.
Here are the updated totals:

My Labor @406 hrs..............$8,120.00
Parts................................$9,143.03
Outside labor......................$6,721.00
Gifts.................................$1,559.87

Total...............................$25,543.90

[Blue '66]

Maybe some of us here need to set Santa straight for next year!lol!Glad things are coming along.......

[fyrffytr1]

I just hope I'm here next year!

[goatmanmitch]

I've been following this for quite a while, Phil. How far along do you think you think you are in the resto? It sure does add up, and again, I commend you for keeping such good records on the process.

[Old Blue 66]

Originally Posted by Blue '66

Maybe some of us here need to set Santa straight for next year!lol!Glad things are coming along.......

Hopefully Phils car will be done by next year.

[fyrffytr1]

Originally Posted by goatmanmitch

I've been following this for quite a while, Phil. How far along do you think you think you are in the resto? It sure does add up, and again, I commend you for keeping such good records on the process.

I still lack final paint, interior including gauge restoration, top, rechroming bright work and putting everything back together. There are probably a few more things I am overlooking but that is the big list. Money is holding me up right now but I do see a small light in the far distance. I would like to have this car on the road by next fall.

[goatmanmitch]

Keep it up, hopefully this thread you started helps your motivation.

[Blue '66]

Originally Posted by fyrffytr1

I still lack final paint, interior including gauge restoration, top, rechroming bright work and putting everything back together. There are probably a few more things I am overlooking but that is the big list. Money is holding me up right now but I do see a small light in the far distance. I would like to have this car on the road by next fall.

All those little things add up:My last 2 weeks before I moved was a blurr trying to get as much done as possible.I was not as close as I thought.I have been lazy since I got the car here

Your getting there Phil,we are pulling for you!

[fyrffytr1]

Happy New Year, Y'all! I have decided to go ahead with the exhaust install and worry about the oil leak at a later date. If and when I pull the motor out again it will be for more than a rear seal.
Work, weather and the holidays have kept me from the car for the last few weeks and it looks like work may get in the way for the next couple as well.
One of the "Hub" drivers quit Wednesday after getting his third speeding ticket in less then three months. Another driver was fired for "sticky finger syndrome". So, I will have to help out until new drivers can be hired and trained.
I am probably going to trailer the car over to a shop and have them install the exhaust. I have it partially hung but things aren't lining up like I want them too. Laying on my back trying to get it right is a pain.
Thanks for the encouraging words. I am going to complete this project!

[Old Goat 67]

YEAH.

Remember Phil;

"Quitters never win.
Winners never quit!"

You go!

[fyrffytr1]

I almost let this week slip by without posting an update. There is nothing to report! I want to take the car to the muffler shop but I don't think the weather will allow it before Thursday at the earliest.
On the bright side, I may be able to take on another part of the restoration pretty soon. Just have to figure out what I want to do next.
Y'all have a good week!

[fyrffytr1]

Well, the weather didn't co-operate so the car sits waiting to go. Looks like it may be a little warmer this week.
After I get the exhaust done I am going to start on the A/C, installing the engine compartment components.

[fyrffytr1]

I was able to get the car over to the exhaust shop last Wednesday. Everything went good with only one small problem. The stock tips that I bought did not match. I called PYPES and they are sending me a new pair(no charge). The shop owner had quoted me a price of $125.00 to install the system but cut it to $75.00 after he finished. I gave him $80.00.
I took several pictures but my camera was set wrong and only three are any good.
I worked on the car four hours mostly on the cooling system. I removed the thermostat housing to turn it around so it would be correct. When I took it off there was some gunk on top of the old thermostat so I flushed the system and installed a new thermostat. I spent $21.45 on parts.

Here are the latest totals:

My Labor @ 410 hrs...................$8,200.00
Parts ......................................$9,164.48
Outside Labor ..........................$6,801.00
Gifts ......................................$1,559.87

Total....................................$25,725.3 5

[Blue '66]

Man that was cheap for the exaust install.Hard to tell,does the system have a H pipe?

My A body Flowmaster pipes system(Dynomax mufflers)put on 7 years ago cost $125.It took a while to work out and the guy said he would NOT do another Flowmaster system!

I think the problem was making the system fit using an H pipe.

[fyrffytr1]

Mine has the X-pipe. I reckon Xs are cheaper to install than Hs. I just checked the front porch and my package from PYPES was there. Now, I can install the matching tips and be done with the exhaust .......for now!

[Blue '66]

The Xs were not popular yet back then.Back then I was worried the system would be loud (2.5 pipes)but the H really really cut the noise down(almost too quiet).It sounds some better (idle) with the new motor and cam.

Can you give us a sound bite of the exaust note?

[fyrffytr1]

I will try to get a sound bite but it will take some time. I went with the street pro mufflers and really like the sound of them.

[fyrffytr1]

I tried to download a video from my Olympus camera to my computer and kept getting error messages and the computer would shut the program down. I don't know what the problem is.
Yesterday, I had a friend come by to check my carb and my buddie's carb as well. He got my buddie's 63 vette running like a scalded dog!
Then, I cranked mine up and he listened for a few seconds and said" One or more plugs aren't firing". So, he started pulling plug wires while the motor was running until he found the culprit. No.6 was fouled. I pulled the plug out and it was very wet. I didn't have another plug so I told him we would get mine another day.
He said I should wait until I get ready to start driving the car and then he would go through the carb and fine tune the timing and make any other needed adjustments.
Well, when I took my wife to dinner last night I stopped and picked up another plug.
I put it in this morning and this afternoon I cranked the car and drove it around the block twice. On the second pass one of my neighbors stopped me to ask about the car.
After a brief conversation he asked if it could spin the tires. I said "Let's find out"
I rolled away about fifty feet then hit the gas. The car got a little sideways in first and again when it hit second. Man, that felt good!!!
Anyway, that's about all I have done since the exhaust was installed.
I have ordered a new windshield and rear quarter glass and will pick them up next Saturday at the Moultrie swap meet.

[fyrffytr1]

I went to the swap meet yesterday and was miserable! It was misting rain, breezy and cold. I had long handles on as well as a hood and jacket and still got cold! The weather really affected the attendance. There were only about 1,000 cars on display. There were a lot of vendors and I saw about four that had Pontiac parts.
I picked up my windshield and passenger side rear quarter glass and almost bought a standard gauge dash with A/C controls but I didn't.
The glass cost me $194.00. I didn't do anything to the car last week and probably won't this week. I am going back to work at my part time job and my old boss called and said he some small jobs for me. Hopefully I can make a litttle extra this week and get some more parts.
Anyway, here are the latest totals:

My Labor @ 410 hrs...................$8,200.00
Parts ......................................$9,358.48
Outside Labor ..........................$6,801.00
Gifts ......................................$1,559.87

Total....................................$25,919.3 5