Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Wow, this really woke you guys up!

I guess I should have been more clear about a couple of things. Yes, there will be more bracing at the bottom of the seat, either two,or more likely four braces from the side of the seat down to the floor. And I always planned on a roll bar (hence the lack of a back seat) which will, of course, have a brace to the back of the seat.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Hey Dave just stopped by to check out your car.
It's looking good and can't wait to hear you're making some passes soon
Chris
Cold n dreary here in New York
Need to get outside soon to mine n get ready for spring too.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Ah, I remember shivering in the garage during Long Island winters. Then I left the dark side and came out here.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Smart man you are Dave. Cold and snowy here. Shoveled around garage but did not make it in. Am looking at getting a trailer this year and get more involved in the 10.0 racing up here. Enough with the uhaul deals.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Other than the back brace to the roll bar that isn't there yet, this completes the seat mounts. I added braces to both sides of the front of the seats. I did the right seat also since my son may ride up to the staging lanes in it, and he's a pretty big guy... if he's not careful getting in the way it was he could kink the aluminum seat. In fact I might even brace that one to the roll bar as well, just in case he gets careless plopping down in the seat.

http://i.imgur.com/eUy19YB.jpg

And here they both are installed. I put the Kirkey cover on the left seat to check how I fit in the car with it in. That is a really nice product! I'm very impressed. It's almost too nice; there's enough padding in the seat that I wind up sitting a little higher than I expected. I accounted for that when I set the hight, but there's about 1/4" more padding than I figured on. I think it'll be okay, but I can always build new angled channels to lower it later if needed.

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

And finally I added a light that will come on when I hit the brakes hard enough to trigger the pressure switch. Because I have nightmares about not quite having the two step engaged when I floor it.

http://i.imgur.com/9zGm2rL.jpg

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Today I performed the 283 shuffle. Pulled the black engine out and put Red in. Still a lot of little things to take care of, it'll likely be Thursday when I start it. But we'll see. Doesn't help that I have company coming tomorrow and I'll have to spend some time Tuesday and Friday at my job (via telephone and internet) even though this is a vacation week for me.

Anyway here's Johnny Black on the dolly in the background with Red going in.

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

I finally got tired of this lift trying to turn the engine cross-wise on me. I pulled the chain out and cut off one link. Now it holds the engine almost perfectly straight.

http://i.imgur.com/bR9pg8v.jpg

Back in my stock car days I was told that black engines radiate heat better, and therefore run a bit cooler. That may be true, but I really like the way Chevy Orange looks in here!

http://i.imgur.com/zMqhiu2.jpg

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Progress continues this week. With a moderate amount of bending the powerglide cooler lines fit okay.

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

My son came over to help out the old man with starting the engine. When we did, it lit up instantly. I barely even heard the starter. Went right up to 3000 RPM. I got it to slow down some as we checked for leaks and checked the trans fluid. The only leak was where the cooler lines enter the transmission. I presume I didn't tighten something there enough, or maybe I didn't get the cooler lines lined up perfectly enough, but I don't expect to have a lot of trouble correcting that. And I put it in gear and the car moved under its own power.

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

After doing some research via google on the effects of different engine colors on cooling, I found out there's virtually no difference. So I couldn't resist painting the primary engine red (Chevy Orange). The number pad at the front of the block is still black, and it'll still be Johnny Black.

http://i.imgur.com/ul3EdUw.jpg

I should be starting up the primary engine late Sunday afternoon or an evening early next week. I have to spend some time working tomorrow and this weekend due to a big change-over in a key system, so that'll limit how much I get done on those days.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

On a earlier post about getting the right intake gasket thickness so everything lines up, I just make my own out of gasket material using a regular available gasket as a template. I then use anti-seize compound as a dealer , also can remove intake and reinstall with same gasket.

Will Lamprecht
65 Impala I/SA 396/325

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

There's some good ideas there, Will. The gaskets I'll be using are meant to be cut-to-fit, as someone here suggested a while back. It turns out they fit the ports almost perfectly. But they have large elongated bolt holes, I presume to make them compatible with different port locations. I use gasket cement around the water passages only to glue them to the heads so they won't move while I drop the manifold on. I've been leaving the manifold side dry, but using some anti-seize on that side sounds good, I think I'll try that next time.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Never had a Chevrolet Orange 283, unless it was original!
Probably my least favorite OEM color.
To each his own, buddy.. ;-)

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Before swapping engines again I decided I didn't want to keep pulling the radiator, which also would mean pulling the trans cooler lines. So I made up a piece of particle board to protect the radiator when I lift the engine out.

http://i.imgur.com/2SbY6xA.jpg

I used Dupli-Color for the engine which turned out a little redder than whatever was used on "Johnny Red". I think it looks a little better this way.

http://i.imgur.com/0uFhKLH.jpg

For all I know everyone but me already knew about this little trick, but just in case... A couple of years ago I bought new headers for my Camaro and found it was much harder to get at the spark plugs. The plug socket that came with my socket set seemed like the right concept but was too long, so I made my own. Worked great. But that's for a 5/8" hex, here I had the same problem but needed it in 13/16". So I pulled out a 1/2" drive short 13/16" socket and went at it with the grinder. The result allows me to easily use a 13/16" box end wrench on any plug.

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

And a little while later my son came over and we started up Johnny Black. Didn't start quite as easily as the other engine, but ran better, probably because I now have the good carburetor on it instead of the swap meet carb. That one I expect could be gotten into shape without too much trouble but I may not ever get around to it. There are a couple of minor (I think) glitches; I had a significant leak of ATF at one of the cooler line connections to the trans; that's about 98% fixed, but there's still a tiny drip. I mainly focused on one line, but this may be the other one now.

And there's a small oil leak, which seems to be from the plug on the block just above the oil filter. Hopefully that won't be too much trouble either.

Meanwhile the spare engine is now nestled under the workbench. It actually fits under there pretty well, even though it's a narrow space.

http://i.imgur.com/fB8JUiO.jpg

I have a video of the engine starting, I'm hoping I can figure out how to get that on here soon.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Captain Zoom II keeps inching along. Probably the best change recently... no more leaks from the engine. Glad I have those issues sorted out.

Also I reworked the collector extensions so they clear the cross member. This one needed a lot more angle than the other.

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

And I got the door glass installed in both doors, along with all the associated weatherstripping.

http://i.imgur.com/bAGhI6h.jpg

However, in the process the mis-alignment of the right door, that I wasn't concerned about earlier, is now worse. I tried moving the striker to get the door closer, but I still wound up with this as the best I seem to be able to do.

http://i.imgur.com/4q4Ec1Q.jpg

I think I'm going to get a professional involved in adjusting the doors and windows, and hopefully have them do the headliner while they're at it.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Should be able to loosen bottom door hinge from door and push door in. It could change the way window touches body up top.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

I think it's not so much that the bottom of the door needs to go in; it's hitting, that's why it doesn't go in further. I think it needs to move toward the back of the car. Or else the top hinge needs to move forward. But that's tough to do with the fenders on.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Well it was like pulling teeth to find a headliner guy who would come out here and do the job, but it finally happened today. Turns out this isn't quite the right headliner for the car; this is a (very) early '66 and I wound up with a late-66 headliner with separate pieces for the sail panels. But they were able to modify things just a little and got it to work.

http://i.imgur.com/B1seQGA.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/9qeGnCH.jpg

I put the cover and knob on the shifter a little while ago and the metal cover presses right on the neutral switch contacts. They glue some very thin plastic to the side as insulation but I didn't trust it (sure don't want the solenoid wire shorting out in the staging lanes!) so I banged it out a little for clearance. It's ugly, but you can't see it with the seats in.

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

http://i.imgur.com/6xrTNaE.jpg

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

The Chevelle spent a day and a half in Darin Dolezal's shop and got the doors adjusted. They work a lot better now, and look a lot better too.

Once I got it home again my son helped put in the windshield and back window. I also trimmed and dyed the carpet that will go where the back seat used to be.

The one negative was that my oil leak came back. This time I'm trying cork gaskets, but I may go the route I did with the Camaro, cast aluminum valve covers that are rigid enough I can tighten them extra, using steel-reinforced rubber gaskets.

Anyway, here's the car with the glass in:

http://i.imgur.com/BnY1PtS.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/6aW3cfZ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/1Tz5fnK.jpg

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Oh man that headliner looks good. I could not find someone to come to the house so I'm giving it a shot myself. Most frustrating thing I've done in some time. I'll probably have someone RE do it down the road but for now it'll do to get the car on the track.

Projects looking good!!

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Yes, he did an awesome job on that headliner.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

That engine and engine bay look nice. Turned out great!

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Here's a minor update. Nothing to take a picture of, but I got the front end aligned and the brakes fixed this week.

The brakes continue the story of my life where anything I touch that contains fluid will leak. They put sealer on the connections and bled the brakes and they seem to work pretty well now.

And I have a pair of aluminum valve covers and steel/rubber gaskets on order from Summit now.

Tomorrow I take the car in to Comp Chassis for the roll bar. I still plan on testing in Tucson May 6, though I could get a pass or two in on the following Friday night at Wild Horse instead or in addition to, if the need arises.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Mike will do a great job on the cage for you. And he will always get the job done when you need it done.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

I seemed to have seen this Malibu at a repair shop just the other day. I was working on my rods in the other building.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

It was just at Bud's Service Center (Country Club just South of Main in Mesa), and of course at Darin's shop (near Arizona Ave and Frye in Chandler) before that.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

enjoy following your build, probably a better idea to have RB installed and then install headliner..even the best RB fabricators will SCORCH a poor, defenseless Headliner now and again....can't wait for track results.....

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Will you have the car at the next Team race? Joann and I will be testing her car Friday night She needs some seat time.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

I'll still be racing the Camaro then, but I might have the Chevelle there Friday night for testing. Depends on what happens May 6 in testing.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Amateurs!

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

I don't know TEDDY, those welds on the TOP of the bars can be awful close to the headliner..and the heat is also very damaging....just saying that with all the EXPENSE involved it would have been a good idea to install the RB first. I have seen it all in 30 years....I will put Dave s headliner at the very top of my prayer list this morning.....

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

I appreciate the thought! I think he'll do okay, and I'll live with it if it's not perfect.

If the roll bar were in I might have had more trouble talking the headliner guy into driving out to my place and doing the job.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

I got the car back from Comp Chassis today and the roll bar looks great.

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

And while we're at it, here's a look at the headliner, which seems to be just fine.

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

http://i.imgur.com/SQ9BY5X.jpg

But there's a little more prep needed on the car than I was figuring on, and the power company picked now as the perfect time time rip up the roads in my neighborhood, including directly in front of my driveway. Plus a lot of turmoil going on in my job now doesn't help. So testing Saturday is looking unlikely unless I can take Friday off from work. We'll see if I can.

But there's an opportunity to get a couple of passes in next Friday night at Wild Horse.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Jeebus Dave...did they use a stick welder? Good luck with your initial tests. :)

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Mike does great work. On time and reasonably priced

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Prayers Answered.....

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

I don't think that roll bar will pass NHRA, tech if they had tech.....

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

My concern would be the side bars. They appear way too low.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Wow, that would be real sad , If you read Dave's first post he has plans running the car in N/SA ..... And if he is in the other lane from you , better be on your A game as he is real tough competitor .....

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

I've seem better welding, but since I did my own I won't comment on that. As for the questions raised about the bar placement, everything seems to be where the book wants it to be on a roll bar stocker.

No Malibu stocker scares me... except one around here. Make that two. Same guy...

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Wow, now these guys will all think I paid you to write that! But thanks. In this case though, I'm sure I'll be a sitting duck for the guy in the other lane. Assuming I'm racing there at all, it'll just be a big, expensive test session for me. My only testing in advance will be two or three runs probably this Friday night and as long as I can run the car at full throttle without anything terrible happening I'll take it with me to Fontana (I'm going with or without the car). But it won't be anywhere near sorted out I'm sure.

As far as the cage goes, yeah now that I look more critically at the welds they're not the prettiest. But I've looked at both the rule book and the roll bar closely and I'm satisfied it's legal. Of course if a tech inspector says otherwise I'll get the issue resolved.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

I've been told several times that when the driver is seated and he puts his hands on the steering wheel at 10 and 2 o'clock that the side bar should pass thru a line between the shoulder and elbow. In reality this puts the side bar very high. Often I start the bar parallel to the rocker from the main hoop for a short distance then turn it down to the floor. Remember that bar is designed to keep you in the car if you ever barrel roll in a crash.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

If you get to Fontana in two weeks, drop by my pit area and say Hi. Always like Chevelles, hope you bring the car.