New World Datsuns...

Sweet, They do look like a nice

too bad about the wreck, glad to see your still workn on it tho!

Since the chassis components haven't shown up yet I've been slacking on this project. A few weeks ago I mentioned that my 510 got broken into. At the time I was buying some valve cover -- the set I'm planning to use on my 283. I didn't think to snap a photo of them before I started but they were covered in a thick layer of gray spray paint. Luckily it was of poor quality and much of it came off after a couple trips through the parts washer at work. Then I bead blasted them. What I was left with was pretty disappointing. I'm 98% certain these were on an engine that had been on fire. I can't think of any other reason for these weird pits and separations. Some spots look almost melted. They aren't warped though.



Anyway, I sanded them for a couple hours and started filling the stuff that was too deep to sand out with this...

It's kind of an experiment. Once I'm happy with the finished product I'll send them with my buddy Nate to be powder coated. Honestly, I'm not sure they can be saved. We'll see. I'm maybe half way done at this point.


BTW, these were probably from an L82 Corvette. At least that's the way I deciphered the date code cast on the inside. This style was also used on the original LT-1s from the early '70s and the DZ302 in the 1st gen Z/28. GM Performance still sells them new but they cost about $250-$300. I've seen sets sell for $500-$1000 if they have the right date codes. Resto guys are crazy.

Given your talents you will make these look good

I think I can make them straight. Just not sure if the filler product is PC compatible. If all else fails I can always slather them in gray spray paint like the last guy.

And thanks.

DRIVEN wrote:I think I can make them straight. Just not sure if the filler product is PC compatible. If all else fails I can always slather them in gray spray paint like the last guy.

And thanks.

Hmm, Good point it will be nice if it is compatible

My front suspension kit and X-rail kit showed up earlier this week. Finally got around to opening the packages. Then got all excited and had to lay everything out. I'm really impressed with the quality of the parts.




Still trying to get the outer rails sandblasted. Saw my brother today and talked about starting the bodywork. We took a good look at the doors and decided what patch panels to order. Hopefully he'll be able to start in a couple weeks. He has a pretty big job on a Suburban to get through the shop before he can begin mine.

Yes !!! Those do look to be of the quality type !

+10

Very nice Jess!

Thanks. I'm clearly awesome at collecting parts. Eventually I'll have to start doing some actual work.

Thats almost sig worthy!

Definitely looks like nice stuff.

Rack and pinion will be nice!

The kit calls for '89-'97 Thunderbird/Cougar rack. The one in my pics is from my '93 Mark VIII and is the same. Problem is, I decided I don't want power - I want a manual rack. Gonna have to figure something out.

I have been keeping Flaming River in the back of my mind for awhile now. I really want to do a custom manual rack in the 510, and they dont seem too badly priced.

Just caught up on this, progress is being made, even if it is just collecting parts.

Laecaon wrote:I have been keeping Flaming River in the back of my mind for awhile now. I really want to do a custom manual rack in the 510, and they dont seem too badly priced.

Thanks for the suggestion. I had looked for specs in the past (years ago) and hadn't come up with a definitive answer about a manual alternative. I just checked Flaming River's site and it has more dimensional info than I remember from before. Looks like a manual foxbody Mustang unit might work.

drooling over the pics man. The only thing that gets better than your pics n updates is if i could stand there n drink a beer and watch in person Can't wait for moar!!

Some guys wait for playboy issues to come out. I wait for project updates.

nice shiny parts!!!!

Okay, here's the lame update...
I joined Garage Journal a couple months ago. It's a pretty cool forum but has a ton of traffic. For example, I started a garage thread, which was essentially a cut and paste of the Compound thread, and it had 2000+ hits in the first 24 hours. Consequently, I maxed out my Photobucket traffic which made all my pics on ANY forum I posted to unviewable. My options were; (A) Pay to upgrade PB, (B) Join another hosting site which means having to transfer ALL my photos and repost, (C) Delete all my PB links on GJ and do direct uploads as attachments, since that forum supports that function. I decided on the last option. So I've been going back though all my posts there and deleting the PB, adding attachments, and trying to edit the text for continuity. Total PITA but at least my posts here should be back to normal once my PB account resets in a couple weeks. I appreciate your patience.

Although I have no photos (yet), I have been working on it. Still haven't gotten any sandblasting places to return my calls. Was bitching about it to a guy at work and he mentioned that there's a blasting rig in his dad's garage. Dad died a few weeks ago and my coworker is the executor and in the process of liquidating so the house can be sold. Told me I could try it out and if it works okay, it's mine for $40. There's also a bunch of other stuff in the garage he needs to get rid of. I'm going over there today to do some shopping before he has a garage sale this weekend.
I also got the engine out of the cubby under my stairs. Put it on the stand and started tearing it down for a cosmetic overhaul. I have been taking pics and will post them when it's possible.

$40? Damn that's awesome.

You sir, could fall in a pile of shit & come out smelling like roses.

Don't know about that. Usually it goes the other way. To quote Jrock, "It could be raining pussy and you'd still get hit by a dick."
Let's see if it works first before we decide which way the karma scale is tilting.