[Andre]

I would change it out. That car is too nice to have a detraction like that. To keep things rolling, you could go with a pair of repo mesh, and get the originals worked over, and replace later. Is the engine out of the car?

[geeteeohguy]

What a beautiful car. LOVE the color. Yeah, fix the grille. You can probably remove it and bend it back into shape. Hit a deer with my '67 convert about 15-20 years ago, and it bent the grille mesh on that same side. R&R'd the grille, worked it a little, and re-installed it. Came out perfect. That mesh and surround is workable...just be patient.

[Gator67]

Well, I'm glad I'm not being too picky. I seem to recall that the grilles are pretty fragile...I remember snapping off a tab or two trying to straighten one out back in the day--but I had a lot less patience back then. So, how are the repo pieces? I've read that the mesh is smaller, but I've never compared them to originals side by side (in fact, I'm not certain the grilles on the car are originals or repos).

The engine hasn't been assembled yet. It's such a tease going to the shop and seeing the finished block and heads sitting in bags and the boxes with my rotating assembly and cam, etc. on the shelves....

[Gator67]

Here are some pics of the #s WS engine. It will look stock when it's done, but it's a 462 with a H roller setup.

[goatmanmitch]

Man, that is one good lookin' engine bay.

[oldgoat16]

Gator67, that is one perfect 67! The color combo is really sharp, keep up the good work!!

[6 Grrrs]

Car looks nice. It'll look great when finished.

[Gator67]

Diamond Back redlines (Firestone Firehawk Indy 500) on their way to get mounted on some original HURST wheels. These wheels are one of the few things on the car I restored myself (albeit under the guidance of a very active member of this board who's initials are TJ, whom I can't thank enough for all his help). I'll be delivering these to the shop later in the week. Can't wait to see what they look like on the car.

[shawn e.]

This thread has me drooling, Nice Car!

Shawn

[Old Blue 66]

Originally Posted by Gator67

Diamond Back redlines (Firestone Firehawk Indy 500) on their way to get mounted on some original HURST wheels. These wheels are one of the few things on the car I restored myself (albeit under the guidance of a very active member of this board who's initials are TJ, whom I can't thank enough for all his help). I'll be delivering these to the shop later in the week. Can't wait to see what they look like on the car.

All I can say is in a thread like this, pics tell a thousand words.

[Gator67]

Dash turned out nice. The rally gauges are a little faded, but they cleaned up really well. I'd like to find a header control head with better chrome.

[Old Blue 66]

Hey that dash looks great. Did you do it yourself?

[Gator67]

Thanks Paul. Heck no, the dash was done by Steve Dietz at his shop here in FL. He does great work.

[Gator67]

Here's an update on progress. As you can see from the first photo, the grille situation has been...straightened out (thanks Paul).

I got to hear the engine run, and I'm very pleased--more aggressive and louder than the previous stock set-up, but not over-the-top. I wanted the engine to look fairly stock, but as shown in photo 2, spacers were needed to clear the roller rockers and poly nuts. Less noticeable than tall aftermarket covers.

Because I plan on driving it a lot, I went with a rear sway bar.

The top was supposed to go on this week, but the top installer noted several issues with the components that came with the kit (pad, well liner, window--not from our host BTW), and so the shop ordered a new top and kit (this time from our host).

[geeteeohguy]

Gator, that looks REALLY nice. You're putting on a white top, I presume?

[Old Goat 67]

Gator,

That really looks good!
I wish I was that far along, you make me envious.

Just one thing, can't tell for sure, but in your engine picture, is the top radiator hose too high so as to trap an air bubble?

Charles

[Andre]

Good move to let the top guy order the top himself. I used him for my '64 convertible and I supplied the top. Guess what... the top had one of the bow sleeves installed incorrectly. I could have had him start over, but opted to move forward as is. 8 years later, I had mostly forgotten about it till you mentioned your situation.
Good move on the valve cover spacers. That is quite unnoticeable and definitely the way to go instead of aftermarket.

[Gator67]

Originally Posted by Andre

Good move to let the top guy order the top himself. I used him for my '64 convertible and I supplied the top. Guess what... the top had one of the bow sleeves installed incorrectly. I could have had him start over, but opted to move forward as is. 8 years later, I had mostly forgotten about it till you mentioned your situation.
Good move on the valve cover spacers. That is quite unnoticeable and definitely the way to go instead of aftermarket.

Andre, Steve told me that there was something wrong with just about everything in the top kit. The pads were the universal type with incorrect covering, the rear window side flaps were top color instead of black like they are supposed to be, the rear window zipper was incorrect, and the well liner was wrong material and had snaps on it which are incorrect.

Jeff, yes the top will be white. Non-original, but it will help keep this non-A/C cool and I prefer it against the light green.

Charles, the radiator hose does look high in the photo, not so much in other photos. I'll check it out next time I'm down there.

Thanks for the compliments!

[luvmygto]

Originally Posted by Gator67

Wondering if I should try to get a straighter grill or just live with it.

Looks like it's winking to me

[Gator67]

To me it looked more like a classic case of asymmetric ptosis...I guess I'm a just a glass-half-empty kinda guy