[xxdabroxx]

The diff is going to rotate down a bit in the back when you get on the throttle so I wouldn't mind a little upward slope on the studs. I'd likely try and tweak them down a bit but that's what the rubber bushing is for anyways. I think mine are a little tweaked like that. Just put them on the bottom first them roll them forward to line up the top.

 

[unstable]

So the nova gods smiled on me a little for perseverance

The nuts are started at top but I’m honestly not sure how I’m going to be able to tighten them. What did I do? Big brained it…put shocks on the lower studs, top shock mount unbolted for movement and I got the upper mounts and bushings etc in and started.

Got a bunch of mud and rust and crap in my eyeball and I got really torqued and bent some steel gasoline line stuff out of the way, I have some critiques with this kit. I almost feel like the answer is I’m really stupid or there’s not really a reasonable amount of clearance on a 1972 to use this kit. Installing shocks shouldn’t be a nightmare like this. I might run a step bit through the trunk to access the mounts from the top. I don’t really have any other ideas. I’m glad that I didn’t weld this thing in and I’m not sure if the trunk pans are different on a 72 versus a 68 but looking at the videos posted by SS396RAT has posted, I don’t have the clearance he has

It’s getting cold here folks. I fear the amount of time I have to work on this for 2022 is growing short. Weldor texted me last week and said he’d be in touch this week but I’m not holding my breath.

I may or may not get a few other things done..:but hey little by little

 

[unstable]

November 6th, 2022

Oddly we had some 70 degree days over the weekend. Where did I leave off? Well, I managed to get the top of the shocks bolted to the cross bar, but I didn't really have the clearance to tighten them up. What did I do? Took them back off, put the bar where it needed to be, bought an expensive step bit and drilled myself some holes. Then I recruited my sons to help and I cycled through all three kids until the middle son managed to get the nuts on the shock studs and we were able to get a wrench in through the holes and use some teamwork to get them tightened down. Then I went to put the crossbar in and it's going to be a bit of a challenge but it's the last step for this. It's not ideal but it's a workable setup and I guess I'm learning the finer points of customizing cars. It isn't all just bolt on, perfect fit sort of stuff and I'm working through accepting that I'm going to have to solve some of my own problems...and that's ok.

If the weather holds for today I may climb back under and try to get the crossbar bolted up. I'm now fighting against the shocks wanting to be where they are and trying to get the bar lined up with the brackets. We're almost there. Yeah I know this year sucked for updates and progress but it happens.

 

[sudden_impulse]

Life happens, things take time, and that's ok. I had two almost whole days to work on the car, and all I got done was removing seat belt bolts. A little progress is better than none though.

 

[xxdabroxx]

As you already know, step bits are my favorite thing. Something about the near glowing hot shards of metal raining down on your sweat and dirt covered face that's hard to replicate. Oh the swear words... But the perfectly round holes at the end are the best.

 

[unstable]

January 4th, 2023
Bought a (used) floor shifted column off ebay a few weeks back. Supposedly it’s out of a camaro or Nova…whoever really knows. It seemed like a good idea from an economics standpoint but after I did some figuring, I’m probably not saving too much money on this thing when all is said and done.

Besides for the surface rust and such, it’s missing the lock cylinder.

I’m home sick with covid and decided I would tear into it a bit yesterday…it being the winter puts a serious damper on working on the car with the cold weather here and no heat or electricity or door on the garage.

Anyhow, I tore it down a little, still more to do and so far everything looks pretty reasonable. I’m not sure how or why the lock cylinder is missing but I do not yet see any evidence of damage internally. Plan is to get it all torn down, cleaned up, powder coat it and shelf it until I’m ready to do the floor shifter.

 

[Glebo68]

GREAT video. Thanks so much for posting. This is exactly what I want to put on my 68. My concern is the tailpipes from the mufflers from where they go over the axle and to where they dump out (in the stock location) may interfere with the shock being able to be bolted up the top mount because of the angle ....so...
If you would be so kind, the next time your under the car, measure the distance from the frame to the top of the shock?? This will give me an idea of the angle of the shock and may be able to show me if the exhaust is going to interfere...
Looks good..

 

[unstable]

GREAT video. Thanks so much for posting. This is exactly what I want to put on my 68. My concern is the tailpipes from the mufflers from where they go over the axle and to where they dump out (in the stock location) may interfere with the shock being able to be bolted up the top mount because of the angle ....so...
If you would be so kind, the next time your under the car, measure the distance from the frame to the top of the shock?? This will give me an idea of the angle of the shock and may be able to show me if the exhaust is going to interfere...
Looks good..

@Glebo68 just for clarity, the video posted was not me / not my car. I used it for reference when doing my car. From everything that I've come across, when relocating the shocks, you're going to need to rework the exhaust. I ended up just cutting mine off at the mufflers which are a little forward of the rear. @xxdabroxx I think did something similar in the past also. When you get into doing these customizations, I'm learning you have to make sacrifices, compromises and also problem solve on the fly. I really don't see where you'd be able to maintain anything close to the stock exhaust routing if you relocate your shocks. They end up taking up the real estate that you need. Also, I would recommend NOT relocating your shocks UNLESS you have to (for disc brakes etc.) While it may look cool, it's not really worth the headache just for the cool factor. If you read through my adventures with this car, I replaced the rear-end and the rear I bought had disc brakes. When I went to install it, I figured "hey, this would be a great time to relocate the shocks because COOL FACTOR. I bought the kit and after some pondering, decided NOT to do it. Then when I got to the point of installing the brakes onto the rear, I realized I HAD TO RELOCATE THE SHOCKS.

 

[unstable]

January 9th, 2022

Was out of work for 4 days with the Covid. Aside from the inflammation in my lungs and feeling like I was drowning in my own phlegm at times and the periodic explosive and unexpected diarrhea, it wasn't especially bad. I used some of the time disassembling and assessing the 69 non-tilt steering column. I've got it torn down 99% of the way, outside of the ignition cylinder/key, all of the pieces seem to be present and in serviceable condition. Lower bearing seems a little ratty. Ignition switch sector tooth is eaten up a bit, but that's to be expected when you've got a plastic gear interfacing with a metal rack and it's a part that is constantly used.

The plan is to send this to a local shop to be media blasted and powder coated. I will order up the parts I need at some point and then put this badboy back together and shelf it until I have procured a shifter and some bucket seats. I've got enough things to button up on the car already, it doesn't make any sense to tear into something else on the car itself at this juncture.

 

[Glebo68]

Unstable, thanks for the reply. My only reason was to hopefully put some more meat on the rear in time. I could probably get away with new wheels with a different backspace and tire dimensions. I don't intend to race so I really don't need super wide tires. It was mostly for aesthetics...

As far as your steering column...I just went through this replacing my turn signal switch... I forgot to take pix of disassembly...(du-ohh) so putting it back together in order was a challenge. Especially figuring t that darn slip ring those three screws go into through the TS assembly, collar and the upper bearing assy....It took a while to figure that out. Oh, and the spring order...

Speaking of which, I need a new upper bearing/assy for my steering wheel.. I have abt a 1/4" play in it.... The whole assy is hard to find if at all, I may just have to find a bearing that will fit.... Always sumtin'

 

[sudden_impulse]

If you find Unstable's thread about the steering column, there are parts numbers posted in there for upper/lower bearings.

 

[Glebo68]

1961-1979 GM UPPER OR LOWER STEERING COLUMN BEARING GM# 5674684, 7800269,7817365 | eBay

I think this is it...

 

[xxdabroxx]

Glad to hear you survived the sickness, and making progress on the car to boot!

 

[unstable]

March 9th, 2023

Yesterday the high performance transmission engineer called me for a computer issue. I suspect he felt like I wasn't going to help him with his issue without an update on my TH-400. He said the tech support department has been using it and that it's going to get rebuilt soon. No big deal on my side, no rush. I've still been kicking around what I want to do and how I want to do it. It's, "do I want to run the big block I have? Do I want to buy another small block? Do I want to go down the LS path?" but more than anything "How do I want to approach this so that I can actually enjoy this car while still working on it and moving it towards what I want long term."

It was about 50 degrees out yesterday and I got the itch to try to measure for a driveshaft. It didn't take me long to realize that I'm not very well positioned to do such a thing. As I understand it, I want the car sitting on the ground, at ride height etc. The problem is that I can't fit under the car to measure it. I came back inside after being outside for 5-10 minutes, went online and ordered two sets of cribs so I can get this thing off of the ground and have access underneath. Maybe there were other ways I could accomplish this but I figured a set of cribs would be useful for welding underneath etc. which still needs to happen.


As soon as these things come in, I'm going to get the car up on them and measure for the driveshaft and order it. From there I expect that we'll be seeing nicer weather and I can work on all of the little odds and ends that need to happen before she can go back on the road. I'm thinking that maybe this year I'll do some minor stuff...keep her on the road as much as possible, maybe convert the column and seats and floor shifter. I'd really like to bring this car to the company picnic to be the only car that has parts we actually make here, installed on the car.

 

[Stroker Ace Ventura]

I expect that we'll be seeing nicer weather

Jeebus, I sure hope so! You guys back east are getting hammered this year! Hoping you can get some info on that beast and order your driveshaft soon, man. Engineering needs to get with the program and get moving on the 400 I mean, it doesn't take but a day to build one from start to finish and with all the sweet parts available there, it should be nearly unbreakable when they're done with it... Well.. "NEARLY" is subjective... Knowing our right feet...

 

[unstable]

@Stroker Ace Ventura I haven't been all too worried about the 400 honestly because I wouldn't do anything with it until I go to swap the motor anyhow. There's just so much that I want to do with this car and it's trying to be intelligent about it and order of operations. My mind doesn't even really want to think about the inevitable motor swap because I've got stuff from the past 2 years I need to make right first.

 

[Stroker Ace Ventura]

@Stroker Ace Ventura I haven't been all too worried about the 400 honestly because I wouldn't do anything with it until I go to swap the motor anyhow. There's just so much that I want to do with this car and it's trying to be intelligent about it and order of operations. My mind doesn't even really want to think about the inevitable motor swap because I've got stuff from the past 2 years I need to make right first.

Copy that, Brother!! I hear ya

 

[xxdabroxx]

AN UPDATE! YES. Glad to see you're chipping away at it.

 

[unstable]

March 17th, 2023
This state and the weather really just irritate me. Everything was warming up, bugs were making appearances, birds were chirping, the snow and ice was melting...Then mother nature being the vegetarian she is hit us with LOVETOFU and massive snow storm that knocked out power in basically the whole state. As mentioned I went out about a week ago I ordered a set of cribs. They showed up:

Bought from Race Ramps. Not too expensive, made in the USA, pretty lightweight and a nice little tool to have for certain situations.

I'm trying to convince myself whether or not I should buy the bucket seats for the Nova. I know I have other stuff to finish first but I'm really thinking that seats this year and possibly the floor shifter /new column should be doable. That should keep her on the road more than off. There's just a bunch of minor odds and ends that I need to get done that shouldn't take too long.

 

[Stroker Ace Ventura]

LOVETOFU

HAHAHAHA!!! Hope that guy gets to keep his plates!!!

buy the bucket seats for the Nova

DO IT!!! You won't regret them!! They're SWEEETTTTT!!!!!