Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice Granny's Luxo-Muscle-Barge

[Scott Liggett]

This what I was describing going on with the valves. I set the lash, then spun the motor until oil came out of the pushrods. This is how they looked by the time I picked up the camera.


I decided to move the temp sending unit line and oil pressure sending lines for the gauges to a different hole in the firewall. This will allow me to move the gauges to a place I can see them better. While under the dash, I decided to pull the carpets back to see if I can find the build sheet. No luck on that. But, I discovered my pristine rust free Caprice ain't so rust free anymore. When I bought the car, water would run down the cowl vent to the footwell and kick panel right onto the carpet. Also, the window leaked before I changed the seal. The carpet was rotted away when I bought the car but the heat shield/jute padding was still there and I guess held a ton of water. Now, the floor is paper thin in a couple areas.

You can see that it is very localized and wont be hard to fix at all. The under coating under the car made it impossible to see this rot.


This is after a little cleanup with a wire wheel on the drill.


I used some two part epoxy stuff that becomes like steel to fill in the holes until I can repair the floor. I sealed the the floor vent, drain thing with RTV for now as well. This will keep fumes out of the car while driving. I then threw the factory rubber floor mat from the back on top of this to help insulate it.


I did find the tags to the original carpet. Interesting, I never heard of JP Stevenson & Co. It's also interesting to note that the front and back pieces of the carpet were made 8 days apart.



I still cant find the build sheet. It's not under the seats (I havent pulled the front seat out yet, but can see it underside easily), under the carpet, or on top of the gas tank. Where else could it be?

[DanStokes]

Not sure with Chevies but the Buicks usually had them tucked into the rear seat back between the springs and the stuffing, but not always. I often had the seat backs out when looking for squeaks and rattles. I'm guessing that there was no "right" place for the assemblers to put them so they just did what they wanted to.

Dan

[SuperBuickGuy]

that's such a classic picture of what happens when heater cores leak.... interesting that yours was the cowl leaking. I've also see it (rust issue) with a car that debris plugged the drain, then it drained back into the floorpan (while the car was parked).... it made its own drain hole.

You're looking in the right places for it. I sometimes wonder (with floorboards like that) why not kill the rust, paint it, then put the sound deadener (with the adhesive) on it.... it wouldn't get worse in our lifetimes - and would give someone something to b*tch about when they're doing a restoration on it in 2060.

[Scott Liggett]

The metal is too thin for that. I could get away with it on the Impala, but I can literally put my finger through in a couple areas. It'll easier to cut out and weld a new piece. It'll most likely just be a flat piece of metal, not a floor section unless I happen to come across one.

[DanStokes]

I'll wager that Yanick could pull that off, no problem. Once more I say - van roof.

Dan

[SuperBuickGuy]

I'll wager that Yanick could pull that off, no problem. Once more I say - van roof.

Dan

refrigerator sides work in a pinch

[milner351]

I have a van - with a roof that will be scrap - as soon as I can get around to it - pitty you live so far away Scott. I'm assuming floor panels are available for this?

[Scott Liggett]

Yes, they are but they are front to rear half sides. I obviously dont need that much. There are still 70's cars in the yards around here. I also have the bent fender from my previous accident in the Impala. Yannick has sheets of metal at the shop if I want to buy a piece from him.

[DanStokes]

I like van roofs because they come with reinforcing ribs already stamped in as well as a little crown. Keeps the patch from oilcanning, which is VERY annoying. Another lesson learned in the school of hard knocks. Yannick probably had a bead roller so you could make your own.

Dan

[squirrel]

I've seen a couple of hand made GM build sheets, just a list of the option codes, hand written on a piece of paper. in a 65 buick and a 72 chevy wagon. They looked original. Maybe the computer was down that day.

They didn't put the option list in the glovebox door yet did they?

[1_slo_gen_2]

super cool build! sub'd for sure!

[Scott Liggett]

I cut out the rusted floor pan area, cut a new piece, and welded in the new patch. Yes, I said I welded. It's ugly, splattered and crappy looking, but I welded it. I had some fun figuring out what I was doing wrong and doing right. I'll have to get the pics up later. I finished welding by flashlight.

[squirrel]

Best bet is to practice on scrap metal first, then you'll find that when you go to weld in the real part, you still have the same problems because the real thing is rusty, painted, etc

So you're independent now?

[milner351]

Scott - you have to start somewhere, floors are a good spot!

[Scott Liggett]

Here's a couple shots of the floor done and painted. I had to get paint on it last night, or it would've rusted already. We have high humidity at night around here. I used VHT's Roll bar and Chassis paint as it's an epoxy paint and sealer. I plan to use seam sealer top and bottom of the floor and then spray the bottom with a buttload of undercoating.