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View Full Version : Introducing II Old,,,The Zero Budget or Less Caprice



MonzaRacer
09-17-2017, 05:32 AM
So guys, had lots of people speak up in the past, great ideas, lots of comments.
BUT when a pretty lady offers an idea it stuck.
II Old,,,The Zero Budget or Less Caprice

Ill take a new pic after church since photobucket flopped.

So the week was local car cruise and show but alas I missed both due to luck lack of funds and breaking on way to do exhaust!

So used to hit this local event every year and ran it for like 11 or 12 yrs in what ever I drove.
But since after dad passed life seems to keep me away.

Since getting other Caprice then this one I wanted to go but timing, funds etc. had car for few years but never got tires on it or the exhaust till yesterday.
So plans were take Sat off, drive up early, build exhaust. Nothing elaborate since engine is stock later model 350 replacing long gone 327.
The local job I got in March abruptly had to be left as owner was sinking fast, came in about 6 wks ago or so and last charge account was shut down. That night I sat in car and prayed something would open up. Next day old boss at Midas called with job opening in Bloomington IN again and so far I have been working my ASS off.
So plan was get car running, BUT my old 750 Edelbrock/Mr Gasket adapter plate I had loaned out to customer back in May never came back, so I ordered NEW ones from our last charge account in hopes he would come back to get them swapped out.
Well I got frustrated and brought new parts home didnt get bolted on til Thursday.
Plans were to drive it Friday and do exhaust, didnt happen.
So planned on going up early Saturday, 45 miles open headers,,,,welllllll 10 miles from work while running 65mph on I69 left rear ancient 255/60 decided to have offspring. BEAT THE ***** out of me, had old wasp nests, and anything else falling out of nooks and crannys.
So limped to work, tire does flat and heck 15 tires of any decent size are hens teeth.
Well one of managers at work was going to local tire distributor and asked if need a tire. WE get $300 tool allowance but they had been allowing anything on it.
So I got 2 new Cooper Cobras(Cooper hasnt been favorite in past but since most generic tire built my Kelly are now by Cooper,,,)255/60/15
wound up working all day on planned day off and started on duals at 4pm, hour before closing.
Back in the day used to use card system and bend up pipes and slap on duals in under 2 hrs.
Well fought bender with most of accesories gone or broken, rusted Corvette ralley not wanting to seal and just plain TIRED.
My shoulders are not what they used to be and was tired, so the mid pipes and long Thrush Glass Packs made interesting choice. Reason I like Thrush is they are perf core not louvered. But without tail pipes for pattern or card system to help building tail pipes over panhard bar rearend SUCKS.
So I had to three piece it, boss was pushing me to leave it but Im 45 miles away from home and car I HAD to do it.
He offers to let me stay and finish and come back later to lock up.
I had left bank done and one tire mounted by little after 6, took time getting car in, tools out, etc.
And by that time was nearly done with left over axle, figured at best get every thing partially welded and finish later.
Got right side built and figured out I have almost enough of my own clamps to clamp mid pipes to muffler.
So still owe for one clamp and hanger. Did weld over axle pipe 80%, didnt have enough pipe to point straight out back (had 2 full 10ft sticks of 2 1/2!!!!) so they come out at angle behind rear wheels!
2 new RWL tires on 8in Corvette ralleys on back, old 215/70s off my 98 Regal I wrecked(one is brand new) on front on 7 in ralleys. Found 2 center caps, now need 2 more and all 4 rings. Around here somewhere!
So figuring I have $225 in new tires, $115 in Exhaust, $30 in new chrome air cleaner, $60 in internal reg alt swap, forget what Corvette brake master and check valves cost so I estimated ,nothing in new carb and adapter,,,.
Oh and since havent gotten seats OR seat belts I will use my new/old in box RCI racing harness as lap belt for now. Every cop I talk to says run them they like them better than stock ,stronger and easier to release so add in $69.
So Zero budget is pushing $600 so far.
BUT driving at night in old car with good tires and SWEET sounding exhaust heck wasted at least 1 gallon of gas racking off pipes every time I hit barricades on bridges and over passes on I69!
She do sound good. You almost forget how cool old school glass packs can sound.
And so far other than needing to REALLY inspect brakes as it pulls left in hard stop it does pretty good and learning experience with manual brakes again.
She has Patina, she has old school glass packs, and still I kind of like it!
Shes II Old,,,The Zero Budget or Less Caprice. Now rolling along.

MonzaRacer
10-03-2017, 06:15 PM
So I have put 1000 miles on the ? 305. Averaging 16+ 15 with header burnt wires.
So I have found all my old ralley centers but only one ring. Still looking.
My plans are to install a pair of Silverado seats, say from 06 up with integrated seatbelts.
Right now I have the lap belts from my old RCI set in there. So far no cop had issues.
Trying to figure out issue installing YOM license plate, went to register it and BMV doesnt take Discover! So I pulled out old plates from my wreck 98 Regal and slapped them on. Try to figure it out on Thur, as its payday.
Installed $10 side mirror, used old trick of super glue in floppy joint of original rearview mirror.
Swapped in some old wires off my truck to get by, put in new right wheel cylinder and found hose collapsed so replaced that. Really wasnt wanting to put ton in from drum brakes as I intend to install C3 spindles to get Disc brakes and I know they clear Ralleys.
Needs few new lights, turn signal switch is toast. Found out how bad as I had no brake lights for first few days.
So I looked around, oem replacement dang near $100!!!!! Found one of the clamp on universal units off Ebay for $12 something shipped. It will work for now.
Still looking for right rear door latch assembly then Ill cut hole in door and get it open and replaced. My plan has been either use my tig welder to patch door OR use 3M 8115 panel bonder. Saw shop doing that, bond some extra metal in from back of cut, clean it up then bond cut out to that and sand smooth. I was impressed how well it works. That stuff is AWESOME.
Does need some work in lower side of quarters and on fenders. Just trying to NOT jack up patina just yet OR expose more metal.
Watched a shop heat forming hot rolled steel to a fellas window channels. This allowed them to then sand blast rusted areas, used a zinc wire plasma spray to treat certain areas but instead of just building up holes they then used sanding disc, roughed up areas and ponded these pieces to car with some tig beads THEN they welded/soldered up the holes, sealed stuff from underneath. They then smoothed things out and installed glass flush without fully permanent mods, BUT it was metal, well attached and sealed up good. Then after plenty of blending the transition was incredible and looked like it was factory with trim delete, rest of hard parts were cleaned, blasted and painted to match car. Only chrome/trim was bumpers and grill and name tags/emblems and they used chrome paint for those to save cost!
Was told they had one car they did that too just too stiffen up window edge, then tacked on threaded tabs on and used old tool and made window trim screw on! I honestly couldn't tell it was screwed on from 3 or 4 feet away and they didnt have to fix THEN drill for trim clip screws.
They had a tool that pulled dimple in trim without distortion and installed polished trim with stainless screws. LOOKED AWESOME.
Then I saw their way of using some generic steel cowl hood scoops. Cut out hood, use belt sander to edge the hood ridge cut out from part they removed. They formed it and trim to steel cowl, then tacked and panel bonded it and modified hood trim strip too. LOOKED STOCK! Showed me a hood hit by deer, epoxy didnt fail the metal scoop ripped!
Gotta start getting picks up!

MonzaRacer
11-15-2017, 11:05 PM
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPIp2mxfXqlb7i-CHcQGWxo7dP1nHwVpE2YxY6q out of the barn.
Ill take few pics tomorrow if no rain. About 5k miles now.
finally got exhaust finished up more or less for now, just need to get brakes little better, finish aftermarket turnsignal switch properly, fix couple windshield leaks, door weather strip, install cheapie shaft mount radio and some speakers.
Did finally replace other front brake hose and install some new strut rod bushings so now its quit pulling right ot left but think front shoes are too low/drums too big. Trying to NOT spend fortune on front brakes as local guy is supposed to be parting out 82 C3 Vette and hoping to get front spindles/brakes reasonable. since he is installing all the crap from the 82, one of last off line before 83 skip year. He wanted to keep crossfire, yep it had crossfire. Talked him into possibly using my TPI I was given but we will see. Only seen 3 crossfire in 82 Vettes. Big experiment in my book as they were atrocious.
Car runs good, old school perf core red Thrush glaspacks and 2 1/2 exh sound pretty good. had some issues with not enough hangers but think we are good now.
255/60 coopers on back and sooper trendsetters on front for now. Hoping to score some 17/18 wheels.
Had planned on installing RideTech rear airspings and maybe shocks but for now I have new set of AC Delco rear springs, hoping they are not too stiff. I hate ass dragging look and the two by fours previous owner shoved in springs are failing or falling out and springs are just sooooo weak. Still debating shock type/brand. Was hoping for enough to install Ridetech, but then did want their stuff all around.

Still wanting to install Silverado seats with integral seatbelts, Gotta be better than 50 yr old crap or poor quality knock offs. Right now using lap belt from RCI 5 way harned I have thats new but out of date.

also still working on getting engine for my 04 Grand Prix I got to be my DD, it has the death rattles. guy at work was given Tracker with bad brake lines so Ido lines he buys me engine!
Then 66 Can get some real love/mods.