[OCMDGTO]

Dang that's purdy

[roger1]

Originally Posted by OCMDGTO

Dang that's purdy

Thanks! I love walking into my shop and looking at it. My plan is to stretch wrap it before I put the body back on for all the priming, blocking and painting. So, I wont be able to see it for quite a while at that point.

Originally Posted by 3 Chiefs

I cant wait for your opinion on the FI setup after you drive it a bit. It looks so darn cool too.

Yes, me too. I was impressed how it ran when it was on the dyno. It went from smooth idle to full power right back to smooth idle super well.

Originally Posted by dataway

Holy Crap. I didn't even see many posts on the engine build ... and all of sudden there it is!

I didn't make that many posts about the build since I farmed it out to the machine shop. It was all unassembled when I bought the car but most of the machine work was already done. The machine shop checked all the previous work, finished up what needed to be done and then assembled and ran.
If you haven't already, go back and watch the short video I posted of the dyno run. You can tell by my voice how shocked I was that it made so much power.

[roger1]

It's been a while since I've posted an update but I have been working on various items.

I made the proper cut on the inner hood structure to be able to install the '68 style ram air hood pan and here it is mocked-up in place:



I used the procedure exactly as PurelyGTO68 documented in this thread:
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...d.php?t=809815

I also opened up the original hood scoops. I was surprised how much metal had to be removed. Got them blasted in my cabinet afterwards.





I blasted both sway bars, painted them with cast iron engine enamel and got them installed. Installed the KYB Gas-A_Just shocks too.







The front bar is the original 1" bar and I went with urethane bushings and the rear is an aftermarket bar which is also 1".

Got the core supported painted today using SPI black epoxy primer:





I did hear from the machine shop last Friday afternoon. My engine seems to be running well but he was having trouble with his electric fuel pump shutting down after a few minutes of running. So he wasn't able to do the dyno run yet until he solved the issue. I was there and took a short video. It does sound good so far. Oil pressure was excellent and the fuel pressure was right on until his pump would quit. After a few minutes of sitting the engine would start again and run fine for 2 or 3 minutes and then the pump would quit again.

https://youtu.be/eLqGebJTVaA

I figured he would have the issue with his fuel pump solved on Monday but today is Wednesday and I haven't heard back from him yet. He knows I want to be there when he does the dyno run.

[3 Chiefs]

I just want to say that I really enjoy this build. I look forward to your updates. I also very much can appreciate the work you are doing and the quality also. You certainly have some skills. Thanks for sharing your build.

Paul

[Ben M.]

I agree, this is probably one of the coolest builds I've seen lately and I enjoy watching it. I personally wish this was something I could do on my cars, just to ensure they'd be around for another 50 years! And they'd probably drive like they came off the showroom floor (with a little more power...).

[roger1]

Originally Posted by 3 Chiefs

I just want to say that I really enjoy this build. I look forward to your updates. I also very much can appreciate the work you are doing and the quality also. You certainly have some skills. Thanks for sharing your build.
Paul

Originally Posted by Ben M.

I agree, this is probably one of the coolest builds I've seen lately and I enjoy watching it. I personally wish this was something I could do on my cars, just to ensure they'd be around for another 50 years! And they'd probably drive like they came off the showroom floor (with a little more power...).

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the kind words and that folks appreciate I'm putting this online. Sometimes I think I might post too many details for some people but as they say, "it's all in the details".

I have some new news that I will be posting in just a little while.

[roger1]

I got a call from the machine shop this morning and he said come on down. He had done some dyno pulls on the engine and would do one more when I got there.
I was quite surprised how well it did. You can hear the shock in my voice:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opyoQKBO7aM

So 425HP at 5,000 RPM and 480 TQ at 4,100.



Here's the engine specs again so you don't have to go way back in my thread to see them:
Original YS block bored .040
Original 62 cast heads with new valve job, valves and Lunati springs
Lunati Voodoo 19510702 flat tappet cam kit
Dished KB pistons - should yield a compression ratio around 9 to 9.5 to 1.
Edelbrock Pro Flo-4 EFI kit w/ 29lb injectors and 58psi fuel pressure.

I just got home with it. My El Camino weighs a little more and my wallet a little less.

[Verdoro 68]

Pretty solid numbers! That’s almost identical to the set up in my engine sans fuel injection. Now I have a ballpark of what it should be putting out. I need to be driving more in the upper end of the RPMs!

[will slow gto]

I’d be very happy with those #s too. Basically just a cam swap and Ram Air exhaust manifolds got you 75 hp over stock. Would be interesting to see the difference between the EFI vs. a well sorted quadrajet but I’m sure others have tried that. Thanks for sharing all the details of your project!

[Greg Reid]

That IS impressive... I have a similar setup also. Little less lift and a little more duration on my Crower cam. I guess I better install that 3.55 rear to get my car into it's power band a little quicker.

Sent from my moto g stylus (2021) using Tapatalk

[roger1]

I hope to get a transmission in a couple of weeks. I might reach out to Art Carr and see if it is still on track to get it then.

[roger1]

First, I took the data from my dyno results and used google sheets to create a chart:



It's been over a week since my last post but have been spending at least some time on the car each day. A lot of that time has been for online research and ordering some things. After mocking up the new stock type starter I was given with the car, I decided I wanted to use a smaller gear driven type. Quarters just seem very, very tight with the original starter and the ram air exhaust manifolds.
I went with a RobbMc Performance mini starter.

I did a bunch of research on A/C to decide what I wanted to do with the entire system and made a decision on a compressor. I ordered a Pro6Ten from Old Air Products. This compressor is a bolt-in replacement to stock A6 type compressor and it allows me to use the original accessory brackets. It's a 10 cylinder vs the 6 cylinder A6 and doesn't require the use of a muffler like the A6 does. It also weighs less than half of an A6.

I also spent some time researching what I wanted to do for an alternator as I wanted an updated one with an internal regulator. I came across this one from Quick Start and had a long talk with the guy that builds them. I was impressed and went ahead and ordered one.

I got those front frame brackets corrected by welding the ground out area and then grinding them back to the proper shape:
Before:



After:



I've been working on the accessory drive on the engine. First this shows what I was given by the seller of the car as far as brackets and pulleys:





I had quite a puzzle to figure out here. I found diagrams online and that helped a lot. I was able to determine that one bracket was missing and 2 of them don't belong to this car. I ordered the missing bracket (front alternator brace that bolts to the water pump) and also ordered the bolt, washer and spacer kit for the aluminum compressor bracket as those were all missing too. I have already received both of those. I blasted the 2 aluminum brackets and painted with aluminum ceramic engine enamel. I think they look better painted. I blasted and painted all the pulleys too. Here they are mocked up in place:



Old ugly alternator mocked up in place:



Some of the bolts were missing and some I want new ones for. I've got an order in for those that hasn't come yet so I mocked it up for now with some bolts I scrounged up.



I can't use this original bracket that I show laying there on the valve cover. There's no bolt holes in the Edelbrock manifold to mount it to. I think it will be just fine without it though especially since the compressor I'm going to use weighs so much less. I think the bracket is kind of ugly too.

Today, I sprayed SPI red epoxy primer on the 4 rear interior panels that I blasted a while back. I needed to get this done as I heard from Ames this week that the front seat foam that had been backordered was finally shipped off to me. I will take all this stuff down the interior shop when the order gets here.







Ready and waiting for a transmission:



I did talk to Art Carr this week to get a status. He said he was waiting for a call from his supplier to give him an update on the clutches he needs and he will let me know when he hears. He says they previously said by the end of the month.

[Scarebird]

I am wondering about those bumper brackets - mine were exactly the same. I wonder if the factory goofed and they had some poor bugger with a torch opening up the holes?

Was your car hit in the front?

[roger1]

Originally Posted by Scarebird

I am wondering about those bumper brackets - mine were exactly the same. I wonder if the factory goofed and they had some poor bugger with a torch opening up the holes?
Was your car hit in the front?

I see no evidence the car was ever hit in the front. When I got the car the bumper fit was very good and when I stripped the bumper, there was no evidence of it being worked on. Another person in one of my forums thought that the front fit of the car went bad when the core support mounts rotted out and that someone compensated by using a torch on the brackets to get it lined up again. Don't know though.

[Sidponcho]

If the original owner was unhappy with the endura fit, the torch job may have been done under warranty

[roger1]

Originally Posted by Sidponcho

If the original owner was unhappy with the endura fit, the torch job may have been done under warranty

Maybe.
The car was repainted just once. Maybe it could have been done at that time too. I wouldn't be surprising having now seen all the poor bodywork prep that was done prior to that paint job.

[roger1]

I got the frame brackets and core support center bracket painted with SPI black epoxy primer. Also, I wasn't quite happy with the way I had laid down the epoxy on the core support so I sanded and resprayed just the top.



I had dismantled the original power steering pump about a week ago and it appeared fine inside so I decided to rebuild it instead of replace it. The original case was really dirty but in excellent condition so I would have reused that either way. So while I was waiting on the Gates kit I ordered to arrive, I blasted the case and the front portion of the pump and painted them with ceramic engine enamel. I cleaned all the inside parts with lacquer thinner.
I received the rebuild kit late afternoon so I will get this all back together tomorrow. Already installed the shaft bushing before I quit for the day.



Just an interesting note -
I cleaned away the portion on the old alternator where the numbers are to be able read them and was pretty shocked when I realized it was the original to the car. The part number is correct and the December 5th, 1968 date code is 4 months prior to the April 4th '69 car build date.
So since I'm saving original parts to the car that I'm not using, I will store this away with the other stuff. OTOH, I guess I don't need to save the A/C compressor I got with this engine. It is not the original.

[wagzilla]

Hi Roger This is looking great !! I just wanted to say Hi

James

[roger1]

Thank you my friend! Glad to see you joined up.
And thanks for the advice on my A/C system too!

[roger1]

I received both my new Pro6Ten compressor and my new hybrid alternator and finished up with the installation today. I also bought some new silver cad plated grade 5 bolts for installing these and the power steering. I have not received the mini starter yet.









I decided to go ahead and order new valve covers, oil cap and ARP stainless bolts for both the new valve covers and the intake manifold and should receive those this week.

Excellent news too. My transmission was shipped today via FedEx Freight. Delivery estimate is next Monday.

I did receive the bucket seat foams at the end of last week and got them and the metal rear panels down to the interior shop. He said he probably wont get to them for at least another couple of weeks but he knows I am in no hurry for them. I do have new headrests for the seats that I received from Ames but I need to get them painted with vinyl spray paint since they were only available in black. I just ordered the supplies from Ames and should get that this week too. Adhesion promoter, white base coat and Metallic Parchment for the color.