Bishop73
11-15-2009, 07:52 AM
Well, I've been driving Stella (my '70 Chevelle) for a little over a year now. I bought her from a like minded (pro touring) individual who had actually done all of the suspension, brake, trans, gauges, dash, and top end of the motor.
She is now a project rather than a driver. I drove her to work a couple months ago and had an engine problem that day. Some horrible knocking, terrible rotation of the crank, so I shut her down and got her towed home. She's been sitting in the garage since then, waiting for me to take care of her.
Yesterday some friends stopped by to start tearing her down, and did we ever. We weren't able to yank the motor without taking off the front clip, which is what we planned. So now instead of just having the motor out to get repaired, I've got the clip off so I'll do some cleaning and painting. I will do something with the firewall, this one has to go. I really want to keep driving her so I'm torn, with her down this far should I get the few bits of bodywork done and painted? Or just hammer out the motor and keep driving? Guess time will tell.
Current setup is a 454 (thought to be 468) and a TKO 600. Depending on how bad the motor is, we think the crank is broken, but I haven't got into the bottom yet to be sure. I'll likely do a 496 stroker, if it's completely thrashed then maybe I'll go LS.
Anyway, what's a project thread without pics?
Surgery Prep.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00683-1.jpg
Keep the clip, remove the clip?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00687-1.jpg
Off with her clip!!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00688-1.jpg
Home owners association loves me!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00691-1.jpg
She looks so naked.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00689-1.jpg
Almost there...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00697-1.jpg
Cry....
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00701-1.jpg
All big blocks blow a little oil.....
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00702-1.jpg
Speaking of oil.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00686-1.jpg
And my biggest helper, my 11 year old was knee deep in the tear down and loved it! Says he wants to be a mechanic now!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00704-1.jpg
More pics and info coming soon, would love to hear others thoughts on the best way to go about a 496 build as well as cleaning the firewall up. Should I get paint and body done, thoughts??
She is now a project rather than a driver. I drove her to work a couple months ago and had an engine problem that day. Some horrible knocking, terrible rotation of the crank, so I shut her down and got her towed home. She's been sitting in the garage since then, waiting for me to take care of her.
Yesterday some friends stopped by to start tearing her down, and did we ever. We weren't able to yank the motor without taking off the front clip, which is what we planned. So now instead of just having the motor out to get repaired, I've got the clip off so I'll do some cleaning and painting. I will do something with the firewall, this one has to go. I really want to keep driving her so I'm torn, with her down this far should I get the few bits of bodywork done and painted? Or just hammer out the motor and keep driving? Guess time will tell.
Current setup is a 454 (thought to be 468) and a TKO 600. Depending on how bad the motor is, we think the crank is broken, but I haven't got into the bottom yet to be sure. I'll likely do a 496 stroker, if it's completely thrashed then maybe I'll go LS.
Anyway, what's a project thread without pics?
Surgery Prep.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00683-1.jpg
Keep the clip, remove the clip?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00687-1.jpg
Off with her clip!!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00688-1.jpg
Home owners association loves me!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00691-1.jpg
She looks so naked.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00689-1.jpg
Almost there...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00697-1.jpg
Cry....
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00701-1.jpg
All big blocks blow a little oil.....
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00702-1.jpg
Speaking of oil.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00686-1.jpg
And my biggest helper, my 11 year old was knee deep in the tear down and loved it! Says he wants to be a mechanic now!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/DSC00704-1.jpg
More pics and info coming soon, would love to hear others thoughts on the best way to go about a 496 build as well as cleaning the firewall up. Should I get paint and body done, thoughts??