The body had been painted FLAT BLACK. It'* a mess. Looks like oxidized paint it was soooo poorly done.
Yes I will have it painted when I'm done with the mechanicals.
I was thinking about the original dark Midnight Blue color. The interior is black.
I don't want an extreme color change.


Got the body mounts changed today with urethane units, laid in the carpet underlay and started to fit the new dash cover.

Pulled apart the carburator...the float was waaaay low, and it needs to be rejetted and rodded. Will order tomorrow. Performed some trick mods as part of a Power kit I learned some time ago.

Peened the crankshaft balancer fit and it turned out nice and snug.
Painted the cover and installed a new lip seal.

Ready for the new cam. Need to order a new timing chain and gears. The .040" lube hole in the gallery plug was restricted with crud, so I cleaned it out.

Heads should be ready this week.

The darn kids broke the computer connection for downloading pics from my camera.....have to get a new USB connector.

The rebuild is coming along fine.
Installed the Hooker headers tonight.
The engine is all buttoned up now.






After I took the pics, I installed the carb and fuel lines, hooked up the linkages and drained the transmission.....then it got too dark to work. :(

I am sooooo enjoying this project.

ooooh, pretty! What are your plans for the transmission?

Transmission will get a Strip action shift kit and fresh screen and oil.
Seems to be in good working order.
The stock converter is a 2400 rpm stall unit that isn't too bad.

Another damn!!!
I was installing the water pump pulley and discovered that there is a difference between the A/C unit and the non A/C unit. This car used to have A/C but has been disconnected (no compressor and evap coil removed). The snout on the non A/C water pump is slightly shorter, so the original 3 groove pulley doesn't fit.

Well the solution is to swap over the pullies from my Formula and to purchase new Mondello underdrive pullies for the Formula. :P

Just heading out to pull the rearend diff cover for an inspection and oil change.....

when do you think you will be done, end of June?

I'm shooting to fire it up by the end of May but still have to do the brakes. I'm in no hurry to get it on the road so I'll pick away at it thru the summer.

Buttoned up the rearend. Gears look fine. Fresh lube now.

Installed the shift kit and buttoned up the trani too. When with the Street and strip B&M kit. Shifts should be chirping crisp now.

Another surprise yesterday. While assembling the rockers, I discovered one of the rockers did not have an oil hole for the pushrod. Very strange. Have to order a new one.

Going to Vancouver in a couple of weeks to get the salvaged rad support and front right inner fender well. Also need an alternator bracket.

Tomorrow I will concentrate on installing the trunk mounted battery box so I can re-install the starter.
That'* all that'* holding me up from re-assembling the interior and installing the fresh carpet. The new dash fits nice but I still have to finalize its install too.

Got the new rocker installed.
Installed the battery in the trunk and bolted in the starter with wiring completed.

Went to work on the brakes. Installed brand new rear calipers...painted red. Had to replace the entire emergency brake cables, they were all seized.
Still have to do the front brakes complete with new rotors.

The only thing left to do in order to start the engine is to find an alternator bracket and a radiator support. I have found them in Vancouver and will pick them up when I'm there in a week from now. The bad news is I have to travel in the Jeep cause they won't fit in the Bonne. :(

Oh and I discovered an old Vendor has reopened in California. HO Enterprises, Ken Crocie. I used to buy goodies for my Formula from him 25 years ago. So I ordered a custom carburator power kit, tailor selected to suit the specifics of the T/A. He also sells F body specific suspension components.

I'm having soooo much fun......my hands have never been greasier.

you family probably never sees you now that you seem to always be working on that car.

i was thinking the same thing...... "gonna see my Fairlane up on blocks...holes in all our socks"..just it'* a Firebird here

James

Actually I use my time wisely.
Get home from an 11 hr work day about 5:00 pm and work till dinner at 6:00 then back at it from 7: to 8:30, then on this Forum till about 9:30.....bed by 10:30.

I watch TV while on the Forum.

Pulled off the front rotors tonight and painted up the new calipers....red....picking up the new rotors tomorrow. Old rotors were corroded beyond recognition. Calipers were seized and the bleeders were missing and plugged with screws.
These rotors have the integral bearing housing, so new bearings coming also.
100% new brakes all around. Got to have some good stopping power now. :P

Last weekend was a real challenge installing a new ignition lock. I had to make up a special tool. I an expert at it now. Trial and error is such a Biatch.