69 refresh

[cheveslakr]

Since the other thread in performance kinda ran it's course, thought I'd continue over here to chronical the few things I'm doing to get it ready for summer.

Brakes, adding correct master cylinder, complete with a survivor distribution block and new SS front to rear brake line.
Just finished this project up, bleed the brakes using speed bleeders....took far longer than usual, but done.

Rebuilt numbers matching 396, hydraulic ft cam, roller rockers, forged 6223 crank, d roller chain and SRP pistons. That had it's share of startup issues, but all in check now.

Adding correct alternator upper bracket, correct PS pump brackets, ,correct 772 fan, and correct water pump.

Added under dash lights (nos), that I never put back on the car because they weren't pretty enough.....these are!

Fixed the carpet cutting @ the seat floor brackets. Had to fake a little piece of donor carpet into the mount hole I previously cut because I didn't know any better (1997).

Restored another set of SS wheels so I can run modern radials everywhere but high end shows, then I'll through the other set on with repop bias plys.
The ride with those bricks never gave me confidence.

Exchanged the hood catch and latch with correct gray phosphate versions.

Exchanged countless hardware with correct plated stuff I sent out with the silver '69 as doubles and triples. (bulk pricing).

I'll add more, but these are the immediate updates and the fun continues......

 

[kmakar]

I'm sure she'll be sweet and absolutely gorgeous.

 

[1969chevmalibu1969]

I’d like to see more.

 

[Kawickrice]

Sounds like you have a plan. And the addiction continues.

 

[cheveslakr]

Had some trouble with the horns...bench tested and they work fine, but couldn't activate through the steering wheel. Changed the horn relay back to a factory unit, still nothing. Gave me an excuse to look deep in to the steering wheel itself and change it back to a '69 "grained" wheel vs. the '70 wheel I had on there. Turned out the contacts needed cleaning and lubed with dialectric grease.....all's working great, even the key buzzer. Love the key buzzer, it just makes me smile for some stupid reason. Added a starter heat shield also.

 

[kmakar]

I just did the same thing for the Starfire, and I actually like the buzzer, it has a "gritty" sound.

Someone had bypassed the relay (keyed) for the convertible top which led me to the relay. I hate when people hack stuff.

 

[cheveslakr]

Yep, and that someone was my younger self in this case. If you remember the TwoLaneBlacktop movie where "GTO" kept opening his door while at the gas station, that key buzzer just stuck with me. In those years it was kinda high tech.

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

It took me forever to get my key buzzer to work properly, bad aftermarket NEW turn signal switch caused me a lot of issues. Went o my building, found an old one, installed and worked perfectly.

Now if I can get the seat belt buzzer system to work.

 

[cheveslakr]

I draw the line on the seat buzzer. The aftermarket often just cheapens things up, and omits things like that little contact leg that connects the key buzzer. I recently learned the '68s had a key buzzer, always thought it was a column switch thing. There's a third leg on the base of the horn relay that poles to the key buzzer, which fibrillates a bi-metal arm inside the relay....pretty cool really.

 

[kmakar]

I stand corrected.... the "gritty" sound was not a key buzzer, but a bad relay. Now I know why they bypassed a couple of relays (including the power top). Now to find a relay for the top.

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

I draw the line on the seat buzzer. The aftermarket often just cheapens things up, and omits things like that little contact leg that connects the key buzzer. I recently learned the '68s had a key buzzer, always thought it was a column switch thing. There's a third leg on the base of the horn relay that poles to the key buzzer, which fibrillates a bi-metal arm inside the relay....pretty cool really.

I would like to get it working. Late model 72's were the only ones with it. My early 72 does not have it. OK, well it partially does. Around 1985 I changed the dash harness because as a teen I hacked it for a Pioneer Super Tuner II. Dad and I went to a local junkyard and I removed the dash from a late model 72 and swapped the wiring out. I also bought a NOS plastic OEM sweep dash, new in the box, from Ausley's for $125 so I basically swapped the entire dash out.

Fast forward to 2015, I finally used the late model sweep speedometer out of the junk yard 72 in my Gold Chevelle. kept that sweep speedo around for 30 years.

Moral of the story: Try not to throw anything away.

 

[cheveslakr]

Do you have the seat switch? I had one hanging around here some time ago, but no more. It's butt activated when you sit down. The b-bodies had them also, bench or buckets.

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

Do you have the seat switch? I had one hanging around here some time ago, but no more. It's butt activated when you sit down. The b-bodies had them also, bench or buckets.

The passenger side has a seat sensor, the seat belt re tractors have sensors.

From what I can tell (the service manual is wrong) The feed comes from the right hand prongs on the Neutral safety switch to the buzzer. When the circuit closes by seat sensor or belt sensors the buzzer and light work. I have feed from the NSS to the buzzer and thru the NSS. The lite has not lit yet and I cannot verify the re-tractors are working properly. I haven't looked at it in a while and I need to get back on it.

 

[cheveslakr]

got the water pump back today....this guy does nice work. He disassembles, cleans, blasts, new seals and bushings, mills flat surfaces, replaces any hard parts necessary, and epoxies the housing. This pump had it's original cast iron impeller, which is getting very hard to find anymore and aids greatly in flow. $140 plush any hard parts. This one or the previous 2 I've sent him didn't need anything additional. Got everything I need to button this car up finally!!

 

[cheveslakr]

All fluids topped off, new oil filter, and timed. All good but the clutch fan is shot, ordered a new one, and a slight bit of noise from the roller tip rockers. First time I used these and only because they came to me free, but I'll likely tear the covers off and replace them back to factory issue. No ticking, just a bothersome low pitched noise not present at fast idle or above.
Never really saw the use for roller tip rockers anyway, just more moving parts and weak points.

 

[Nashville Cat]

All fluids topped off, new oil filter, and timed. All good but the clutch fan is shot, ordered a new one, and a slight bit of noise from the roller tip rockers. First time I used these and only because they came to me free, but I'll likely tear the covers off and replace them back to factory issue. No ticking, just a bothersome low pitched noise not present at fast idle or above.
Never really saw the use for roller tip rockers anyway, just more moving parts and weak points.

Very nice detailing on your motor. Same look I will go after.

 

[Derek69SS]

Had some trouble with the horns...bench tested and they work fine, but couldn't activate through the steering wheel. Changed the horn relay back to a factory unit, still nothing. Gave me an excuse to look deep in to the steering wheel itself and change it back to a '69 "grained" wheel vs. the '70 wheel I had on there. Turned out the contacts needed cleaning and lubed with dialectric grease.....all's working great, even the key buzzer. Love the key buzzer, it just makes me smile for some stupid reason. Added a starter heat shield also.

I unhooked the key buzzer on mine 20 years ago because I thought it was annoying... recently, while watching Two Lane Blacktop, I heard that familiar buzz from the GTO and now I'm thinking I need to hook mine back up.

 

[cheveslakr]

You know it....every time I hear that buzzer I picture the same scene....Warren Oates getting schooled on how to race for pinks cross country. "I think we got ourselves a squirrel to run".

 

[77cruiser]

I still have it hooked up in my 77.

 

[1969chevmalibu1969]

I was going over your build next door. You did a nice job on your front grille. Are you still happy with the door panels? Like the steering wheel and the seats look great. Hope you don’t mind but I had to copy a picture to drool on.