Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

I must be missing the boat but I thought everyone runs a distributor with an adjustable collar ??

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Really enjoying this build! Thank you for doing such a fine job of detailing everything. I also have a 66 and your build is making me consider going a different direction with it. Thank you again and keep up the good work!

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

The nylon shims work fine. I had to raise my distributor up some after cutting the heads and intake and I think that I purchased a Mr.Gasket set.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Along with my broken foot I seem to have gotten the flu--just as I had holiday and vacation time coming up! Fortunately I was able to have the vacation time converted to sick time, so I can get some work done on the car during a week in February.

But now I'm reasonably healthy and back out in the garage. Next thing up was an exhaust system so that I can start the engines at home without terrifying the neighbors. Here's what I came up with:

http://i.imgur.com/lGywHOM.jpg

It exits just in front of the slicks, and can double as street exhaust if I ever return the car to street duty:

http://i.imgur.com/uJZvoou.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/QTjTjdk.jpg

Next up is the driveshaft loop. Naturally if I locate the top of the loop in the spot that yields the most driveshaft clearance, it hits the under-floor cross member. So I reworked it to angle out and follow the edge of the cross member.

http://i.imgur.com/ieEh5mG.jpg

It fits in pretty nicely now. And it sure was nice to weld some thicker metal for once!

http://i.imgur.com/8ZHvOXX.jpg

And finally I put the driveshaft in, and yes! We have clearance!

http://i.imgur.com/bpxxdUw.jpg

Next weekend I only get one day in the garage, as Saturday is race #1 of the Summit series at Wild Horse, but Sunday I plan to start building the seat mounts.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Nice work! I need to fabricate a loop myself...thinking of welding something to the crossmember to keep from drilling any more holes.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Too much going on this weekend to spend more than a morning out in the garage, but I got a start on building the seat mounts. I'm starting with the right side so any mistakes won't matter as much. It's slow going in part because I'm making this up as I go along.

I'm starting out by getting myself a reasonably flat, level surface to work with

http://i.imgur.com/wgSMXPE.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/uyirMCL.jpg

From here I'm thinking of using 2" channel to go from the base I just made to the bottom of the seat. That'll have the bottom of the seat about 3" off the floor. From sitting there on about 3" of lumber with my helmet on, it seems like a reasonable height.

http://i.imgur.com/7QjZs2u.jpg

Next weekend I can work both days, and I hope to complete both mounts.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

I got most of the seat installation done this weekend, but not quite all. I wound up reworking the right-side brackets to stiffen them up. I shortened the one and added a vertical piece to each for strength.

http://i.imgur.com/lw85XKA.jpg

Here is the right side mocked up. I wound up moving it to the rear before finalizing it. That side is done once the paint dries on the brackets; that didn't quite happen in time to finish the install today.

http://i.imgur.com/jkKKIRu.jpg

The left side is mostly set up now, though the inside bracket still needs to be strengthened a bit more. Once I get that done I'll be ready to sit in it to determine if I have the location correct. I will also add additional bracing to the front of the seat down to the bracket so it'll be much more rigid than it is here.

http://i.imgur.com/TliuiFU.jpg

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

If you don't put a brace from the seat back to the floor you will be on you back staring at the headliner the first time it hooks and leaves....Usually the seat back is connected to the roll bar cross bar behind the seat....

Just sayin'

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

I have those seats in my 68 Mustang Coupe which has a really difficult floor to fit too.

You do need to add more bracing to that, you don't really have much contact area. The brackets Kirkey and others make for this seat bolt to the side of it and run from front to back about 12 inches. I would at least weld cross pieces to your brackets front and back to join them into a single unit.

You will need a back brace connected to a cross member of the roll bar behind the seat.

My seat mount is constructed from 2X3 aluminum channel and a sheet of 3/16 T6 aluminum to form an elevated platform bolted to the floor in 6 places. The seat is on Kirkey brackets bolted to this platform. I can't weld aluminum but with lock washers is seems very solid. The back brace is the one Kirkey makes. It bolts to clamps around the cross member of the cage. It's out of the car now so I can't post a pic.

Not to run on, but it's a safety thing.

EDIT: I reread your captions and edited this post. You recognize the need to strengthen the brackets.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

I'll second that...I would want some type of brace on that aluminum seat back. With a suitable brace bolted in place that would give a place to mount a good over the shoulder belt restraint system. Another perk is you are exempt from the current 2-year re-certification rule for belts. ;) Heck, I'll send you a expired set of ours for the price of shipping. I would not install a roll bar if I had plans to return it to the street someday.