'66 Malibu N/SA

Dave Muller · 10-03-2016, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stocker396

I used a piece of 4" C channel Aluminum. You can get it at davis salvage in phx. Bolted it down to the tunnel (it fits right over it) the bolted the shifter to the flat top side. Works and fits perfect. Very sturdy. Just a suggestion.

Not a bad idea, I may yet do something similar.

Dave Muller · 10-24-2016, 11:42 AM

I tried adding the spacers for the shifter mount and once I trimmed them to a more even height I'm satisfied that this will work. No trace of movement that I can detect when I bang it through the gears.

Then I got to work putting the cable in. They say it should be straight for the first several inches, and I think I achieved that okay.

I would have welded up this hole but I'm not entirely sure this won't have a stick shift someday, so I just used screws and RTV to seal it up.

The TH-350 hardware worked fine at the other end too.

My next step was rigging a switch to disable the 2 step in high gear. For a while I was working on ideas for mounting a micro-switch above the shifter so the gear indicator arrow would hit it. That was the plan until I woke up at 1 AM the other night and thought maybe I could add a little bit of sheet metal to the slot for the back-up light switch (the upper switch). I cut out a piece and tacked it in, and it works fine. The switch is active now in reverse, first and second gears. Ideally it would be active in first gear only, but I should never be hitting the brakes hard at high RPM in the others anyway.

The next step is prepping Johnny Red to go in and get started!

Dave Muller · 11-19-2016, 11:39 PM

Ah, one step forward, two steps back...

I decided for a couple of reasons to set up the breather and PCV on the red engine the same as on the black one. So I removed that baffle in the lifter valley, removed the oil filler tube from the front of the manifold, and since the red 283 valve covers weren't set up for breathers I removed them and the valve cover spacers. Then I went to remove the long valve cover studs that I won't need any more. When I got to the intake side between #1 and #3 I was starting the first nut when I saw a flash of silver and heard a couple of "clinks". I had dropped the second nut. Damn I'm a klutz. I thought I'd see it in the lifter valley but no, and I didn't see it anywhere on the floor. Then I realized that the number 3 intake was open. I turned the motor over on the stand and sure enough I could hear "Clink, clink" from number 3 cylinder.

So here's what I see when I pulled the head:

And there's a double dose of klutziness here, I went to the Washingtin, DC area recently for a family wedding and took a couple of days extra for some sightseeing. On the second day I tripped on the last step going down a staircase in the library of congress. My left foot was a bit stiff afterward, but I walked away and it seemed fine. Then it got worse...

The bottom line is that after a couple of times when it seemed it was almost all better, only to get worse again I finally broke down and went to a doctor. It's broken. So this will slow things down for a bit:

HandOverFist · 11-20-2016, 12:34 AM

No worries Dave...I know several guys who use hand controls in their race car lol.

Dave Muller · 11-27-2016, 06:30 PM

I'm still limited on the amount (and type) of work I can do in the garage but I've managed to get the red engine back together again. Plus the intake is on as well.

I don't plan on running with them on, but those valve cover spacers are great for running the oil pump without oil spilling all over the floor.

HawkBrosMav · 11-27-2016, 07:23 PM

You going to make it by Jan 28th?? I hope your luck turns around, I know how bum ankles are and don't wish that upon anyone!

Brad

Dave Muller · 11-28-2016, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HawkBrosMav

You going to make it by Jan 28th?? I hope your luck turns around, I know how bum ankles are and don't wish that upon anyone!

Brad

Yeah, I expect I'll join you guys part way through the season. I'm looking forward to it though, it sounds like a great program.

10-24-2016, 11:42 AM	#2
Dave Muller Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 497 Likes: 162 Liked 223 Times in 73 Posts	Re: '66 Malibu N/SA I tried adding the spacers for the shifter mount and once I trimmed them to a more even height I'm satisfied that this will work. No trace of movement that I can detect when I bang it through the gears. Then I got to work putting the cable in. They say it should be straight for the first several inches, and I think I achieved that okay. I would have welded up this hole but I'm not entirely sure this won't have a stick shift someday, so I just used screws and RTV to seal it up. The TH-350 hardware worked fine at the other end too. My next step was rigging a switch to disable the 2 step in high gear. For a while I was working on ideas for mounting a micro-switch above the shifter so the gear indicator arrow would hit it. That was the plan until I woke up at 1 AM the other night and thought maybe I could add a little bit of sheet metal to the slot for the back-up light switch (the upper switch). I cut out a piece and tacked it in, and it works fine. The switch is active now in reverse, first and second gears. Ideally it would be active in first gear only, but I should never be hitting the brakes hard at high RPM in the others anyway. The next step is prepping Johnny Red to go in and get started! Last edited by Dave Muller; 07-08-2017 at 01:49 PM.

11-20-2016, 12:34 AM	#4
HandOverFist VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gulf Breeze, FL Posts: 1,651 Likes: 8 Liked 33 Times in 16 Posts	Re: '66 Malibu N/SA No worries Dave...I know several guys who use hand controls in their race car lol. __________________ Rich Taylor I/SA - 321

11-27-2016, 06:30 PM	#5
Dave Muller Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 497 Likes: 162 Liked 223 Times in 73 Posts	Re: '66 Malibu N/SA I'm still limited on the amount (and type) of work I can do in the garage but I've managed to get the red engine back together again. Plus the intake is on as well. I don't plan on running with them on, but those valve cover spacers are great for running the oil pump without oil spilling all over the floor. Last edited by Dave Muller; 07-08-2017 at 02:03 PM.

11-27-2016, 07:23 PM	#6
HawkBrosMav Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 362 Likes: 6 Liked 302 Times in 73 Posts	Re: '66 Malibu N/SA You going to make it by Jan 28th?? I hope your luck turns around, I know how bum ankles are and don't wish that upon anyone! Brad

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11-19-2016, 11:39 PM	#3
Dave Muller Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 497 Likes: 162 Liked 223 Times in 73 Posts	Re: '66 Malibu N/SA Ah, one step forward, two steps back... I decided for a couple of reasons to set up the breather and PCV on the red engine the same as on the black one. So I removed that baffle in the lifter valley, removed the oil filler tube from the front of the manifold, and since the red 283 valve covers weren't set up for breathers I removed them and the valve cover spacers. Then I went to remove the long valve cover studs that I won't need any more. When I got to the intake side between #1 and #3 I was starting the first nut when I saw a flash of silver and heard a couple of "clinks". I had dropped the second nut. Damn I'm a klutz. I thought I'd see it in the lifter valley but no, and I didn't see it anywhere on the floor. Then I realized that the number 3 intake was open. I turned the motor over on the stand and sure enough I could hear "Clink, clink" from number 3 cylinder. So here's what I see when I pulled the head: And there's a double dose of klutziness here, I went to the Washingtin, DC area recently for a family wedding and took a couple of days extra for some sightseeing. On the second day I tripped on the last step going down a staircase in the library of congress. My left foot was a bit stiff afterward, but I walked away and it seemed fine. Then it got worse... The bottom line is that after a couple of times when it seemed it was almost all better, only to get worse again I finally broke down and went to a doctor. It's broken. So this will slow things down for a bit: Last edited by Dave Muller; 07-08-2017 at 01:51 PM.