'66 Pontiac Resto-Mod Update

[rockytopper]

I see you have up'ed me again Bill. We both made it in the August PHR issue except you got 1/2 a page and I only got 1/10. Congrats you truly do have a beautiful and awesome machine!

[wmhjr]

Thanks, though I have to laugh at the content of the PHR issue. Somehow a good deal of artistic license was used in the PHR one, and not only did I not know it would be in there, but the content has some serious mistakes.

OTOH, I did make both the cover, and the feature (5 page or so spread) in the current issue of High Performance Pontiac. You can see it on the web at http://www.highperformancepontiac.co...ans/index.html

VERY cool! I was also able to get some mentions in there from some of our forum sponsors - trying to take care of those who take care of us.

[wmhjr]

This weekend, finished the oil cooler, thermostat, engine oil line, etc. Reassembled and started her up, and so far no leaks, good pressure, no problems. Oil thermostat is working as advertised. Oil temp never got up anywhere near 215 so the thermostat kept most oil from going through the cooler. So far, very happy with the results.

Also, checked and tighted up spindle nuts, and upper ball joint nuts. Both new tapered bearing equipped axles are fitted, and I'm just waiting on the different caliper brackets to install them for good. Brackets and calipers are enroute. Cut and reflared rear brake lines to install 3/8-24 to -3AN adapters for the (now required) flex lines.

I have a funky fuel pressure situation going on. The mechanical gauge near my regulator isn't remotely accurate. Not sure what's going on there. Electric gauge on my dash shows low pressure for a while after startup. And, I have a small leak near my regulator. Have to take a look at that later this week.

Also need to put on the new front sway bar end links I'm testing out. And a bunch of other stuff. Plus cleaning. But it's been a productive weekend.

[Van B]

Any pics of the axle retainers and bearing assembly installed?

[wmhjr]

Jeff, a couple but they're not great. I'll post them a bit later. I have not fully installed as I want to install the new floater caliper brackets while the back plates are still off. I'm expecting the brackets in the next day or so.

[wmhjr]

Here are some pics following this weekend from my phone. Quality isn't as good as my normal pics.

First, here's the finally installed oil cooler and thermostat in front of the mounted radiator. Please disregard the sloppy wires hanging - I had to clip some ties and have not tidied everything back up yet. Also, I have not yet secured the oil lines permanently (ties, clamps). They will be a little cleaner also.





Direct side view of axle, retainer, SET20 bearing and seal. Note that seal is not yet pressed into housing, and that the backplate (parking brake and caliper bracket) are not installed yet. Axles will need to come back out, parking brake/bracket assembly put on, and then axles back on and seal pressed in. Note the much heavier thickness of the retainer plate.

[ccracin]

You've got plenty of room in there. Let's mount a tranny cooler and rear end cooler just for good measure! Nice job. To all those out there that have not seen this in person, these pictures do not show how much room Bill is NOT working with. This was an amazing puzzle to figure out. Very good work!

[wmhjr]

Thanks, Chad. So long as it holds up and the grills fit in there and the bumper still goes on without interference (should according to my measurements, but you never know) - I'll be very happy. Hopefully you'll see it tonight!

[ccracin]

You're slacking here. We need some updates! Don't hold out on us, we want to hear about road tests, parking lot speed stop practice, and what you did to get the oil over 215 to see if the thermostat and cooler work. C'mon!

[wmhjr]

Ask and you shall receive - at least partially.

It's not on the road yet because of two issues. First, delays that the floating calipers were shipped to a non-existent address, which I discovered when UPS sent me the tracking info and I noticed that the destination city was wrong. Took an extra day or so to get them. Then, the brackets are still not available from Wilwood, however Mike at Wilwood arranged for me to get some from Heidts. Did the offset measurement, however after getting the brackets and finally getting the calipers, discovered something was wrong with the setup. I still don't have an answer for how it happened but the spacers were wrong. Had to machine spacers to mount the brackets (which I could not start to even think about until the calipers arrived). Final result is that they are on, and the line brackets are on. However, that's when I realized that I really needed 90 deg -3AN flex line connections due to clearance. So, those should arrive today and I plan to bleed the brakes tonight. Here's how it looks now...





The grills and bumper are installed again. The bumper was a massive PITA, because of how I was forced to run the oil lines. It was a chinese puzzle. Drivers side bumper brackets stayed on. Passenger side angle bracket mounted to the bumper, frame bracket mounted to the frame, and kind of try to fit it together and then break all the bones in your hand to get nuts tightened on the bumper bolts.





More to come.....

[wmhjr]

There is another modification shown here. Anybody guess what it is?

[ccracin]

Pick Me, Pick Me, I know what it is!

Looking good Bill. Most would never imagine what you have gone through to make this all happen. On a new car to boot, isn't racing fun? I told you it was a form of brain damage!

[wmhjr]

Thanks, Chad! I have to be careful. Not much brain matter to start with.

[wmhjr]

Last night I got the following done.

Got the new 12" flex lines with 90 degree -3an fittings on one end, got the brakes on, and bled. It was too late to fire up the beast and test drive it. I'm a little uncertain as it seems as though there is a bit more travel in the pedal now. Just have to drive it and see how it responds.

One thing that we discovered through this process - if you got both wilwood floating calipers and these brackets from Heidts, you probably want to check to insure that the setup is correct. Turns out that the offset discrepancy I had was because Heidts has been using a different caliper which is designed for a thicker rotor than the wilwood .81" that I'm using here.

Totally disassembled my fuel delivery system including filtration, regulator, lines, etc. Cleaned them and reassembled in hopes of eliminating my very minor leak.

Have a late work meeting tonight so I won't be messing with it, but hope to test a bit tomorrow night.

[wmhjr]

Well, good news and bad news.

The good news. Rear brakes and pedal modulation seems quite good. I'm no longer worried about the pedal travel, though I have still not had an opportunity to really put some side load on to test the knock-back performance improvement. This weekend I went to one large parking lot but it wasn't empty (though it's in the middle of nowhere). I refuse to push the car if there is any risk to other people or property. Engine and oil temps were great - even when I deliberately kept the car in a lower gear to keep higher rpms to kind of force it - though again, no real "track" kind of pushing going on.

The bad news. Oil leaks. One on the output side of my oil regulator - not exactly sure where, but had to remove the bumper again. And on the oil line coming out of the motor - small leak. I'm sick and tired of the oil leaks. Brand new, perfectly installed, and tight fittings. What in gods name do I have to do to get rid of oil leaks?????? I'm about to coat the entire friggin systm of lines with JB weld! (just kidding).

[Jim Nilsen]

Wow Bill, it sounds like you are winning the battle but damn it is a lot of work there. Hopefully you won't have any of the problems again. As far as the oil leaks go it seems like your hunting a drip from hell, I hate those.

Hope it all gets back together and you can enjoy some hot laps somewhere!!

[wmhjr]

Jim, assuming you're there, I'll see you at RTTH! Oil drips and all!

[Jim Nilsen]

Jim, assuming you're there, I'll see you at RTTH! Oil drips and all!

I am not sure I will make it down there, I really wish I could. The Dragon is so much fun and the group that makes it down there is totally differnet than the northern group. I know Deadcat will be there and I really want to see Payton and so many others.

If it works out at work I might drive down in my Vibe for the autox.

I will be looking to see all of the video and pics of how you do. It's good to know that you got it all back together so quickly. If it is as hot as it usually is down there you will get your chance to see how your oil cooler works.

Goodluck and hope to see ya sooner than later!!!

[wmhjr]

Jim, let me know if you're going to show up.



Anyway, the drama continues. pulled the front bumper, went through all the (brand new) lines and fittings on the cooler and oil thermostat. I've got two fittings (yes, fittings - not lines) on the front that will not stop leaking. Two brand new Fragola -10AN fittings. They aren't leaking real bad, but I'm not on a track either.

And it gets worse. While I took the car for a test drive, I stopped at a friends house - pulling into his driveway. Got out and was inspecting the oil system and noticed a puddle forming under the car. Looks like the power steering box seal let go. It looked like fluid was streaming out of the input shaft seal area. Talked to Tom Lee, and a replacement box will be enroute today. Assuming it all works out, this is a prime example of why pay a little more and deal with good vendors. I called Tom from where I was stopped. Took about 15 minutes to talk to him. Explained the situation, and Toms answer was "well, I don't make the seals but I stand behind them". Tom initially said that if I shipped the box back, he'd get it turned around within 24 hrs - and suggested I send the pump along just to be sure. That would still put me out of business for probably 2 wks due to shipping, so he quickly agreed to ship me another box with a call tag for my box. Hopefully this happens, but regardless it's hard to beat that kind of service. Had I had to wait 2 wks, I would probably have been forced to bail from RTTH, as I have business travel out to the west coast and would probably not have had time to get things straight in time.

Got the car home, put it on the lift, turned out the lights and walked out of the garage. Some days you just can't win.

[Jim Nilsen]

those pesky PS seals, did you feel how hot the reseviour was or know? Mine went out at 265 degrees at the MSC. How hard was it to turn with no power? Mine was like a truck and both hands was barely enough to do it.

Try putting a bit of lube or anti seize on the threads of those fittings to see if you can get more torque on them easier. Sometimes it is that last 3 or 5 degrees of turn with the wrench that makes them go away. I had to do that with 2 stainless brake fittings that were persistant on leaking.

I too can attest to paying more for parts and getting the service that comes with it, that service is priceless when you have/want to make an event on time or not at all.

I will let you know if I can make it to RTTH but right now the chances are slim.

Did you see the video on yt from Heidt's that you and I get a moment, I am still trying to remember what we were talking about? The actions are classic to me talking with my hands,LOL. That event was the best for everyone giving it their all.

Hope you get it all sorted out and the box back in wirh no problems. Do you see a temp gauge for the ps in your future? I pondered it for just a few days and John Parsons made me realize how important it is to know what the ps temp is doing. It seems you can never have too many gauges.