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  • Thanks SBG.
    Chris - HRPT Long Haul 03, 04, 05, 13, 14, 15,16 & 18
    74 Nova Project
    66 Mustang GT Project

    92 Camaro RS Convertible Project
    79 Chevy Truck Project
    1956 Cadillac Project

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    • I have spent a lot of time in the garage since my last meaningful update. I am moving forward but the details seem to be kicking me around quite a bit. Last weekend I got out the old 8 cylinder wiring harness and looked it over. I was in decent shape except for the starter wires. I decided to cannibalize the 6 cylinder harness. Here it is all unwrapped.

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      Last edited by 74NovaMan; April 26, 2015, 07:00 AM.
      Chris - HRPT Long Haul 03, 04, 05, 13, 14, 15,16 & 18
      74 Nova Project
      66 Mustang GT Project

      92 Camaro RS Convertible Project
      79 Chevy Truck Project
      1956 Cadillac Project

      Comment


      • My plan was to take the 2 wires from the 6 cyl harness and replace them entirely. As luck would have it, the 6 cyl wires are shorter than the 8 cyl so a splice was in order. I'm generally not a fan of splices but finding this one in the factory harness made me feel a little better.

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        Last edited by 74NovaMan; April 26, 2015, 07:01 AM.
        Chris - HRPT Long Haul 03, 04, 05, 13, 14, 15,16 & 18
        74 Nova Project
        66 Mustang GT Project

        92 Camaro RS Convertible Project
        79 Chevy Truck Project
        1956 Cadillac Project

        Comment


        • Here is the checklist from last weekend:
          Rear axle
          Rear shocks
          Drive shaft
          Engine wiring
          Valve Covers
          Carb and fuel lines
          Exhaust (95%)
          Distributor (first attempt)
          Last edited by 74NovaMan; May 6, 2013, 09:22 AM. Reason: added stuff
          Chris - HRPT Long Haul 03, 04, 05, 13, 14, 15,16 & 18
          74 Nova Project
          66 Mustang GT Project

          92 Camaro RS Convertible Project
          79 Chevy Truck Project
          1956 Cadillac Project

          Comment


          • This most recent weekend, I started with the transmission lines. I got these cool ones from Bowtie Overdrives:

            Click image for larger version

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            Last edited by 74NovaMan; February 4, 2016, 01:26 PM.
            Chris - HRPT Long Haul 03, 04, 05, 13, 14, 15,16 & 18
            74 Nova Project
            66 Mustang GT Project

            92 Camaro RS Convertible Project
            79 Chevy Truck Project
            1956 Cadillac Project

            Comment


            • From the BTO website:

              "Our new lines can be installed in a matter of minutes without lifting the engine or removing accessories. This system consists of custom bent 5/16" hard lines designed individually for Th-700R4 Transmissions. The hard line sections route around the starter, along the engines pan rail and terminate just in front of the engines harmonic balancer. The custom stainless steel braided flexible lines run from the radiator outlets down to these hard lines. The hard lines are cut to the correct length using a simple tubing cutter. Final connections are made using our special slip on fittings then tightened up using hand wrenches."

              The reality is that the connections line up under the fuel pump and motor mount. I had to remove the fuel pump and the passenger side header so that I could get the hard lines back out to cut them. Fortunately, I could get at the compression fittings once the lines were back in. That project burned up half of Saturday.
              Chris - HRPT Long Haul 03, 04, 05, 13, 14, 15,16 & 18
              74 Nova Project
              66 Mustang GT Project

              92 Camaro RS Convertible Project
              79 Chevy Truck Project
              1956 Cadillac Project

              Comment


              • Saturday challenge #2: The Distributor.

                I had test fit the HEI distributor a while back and thought it looked good. After the transmission line fun, I installed the cap with the wires on it and figured out that there was not enough room. Once the wires were on I did not have any room to turn the distributor. I ran into this on the original Nova so I got out a big hammer and made some room. I have been getting frustrated with this project but I am not quite there yet with this car, so I called up O'riely auto and picked these up Saturday night.

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                Last edited by 74NovaMan; April 26, 2015, 07:02 AM.
                Chris - HRPT Long Haul 03, 04, 05, 13, 14, 15,16 & 18
                74 Nova Project
                66 Mustang GT Project

                92 Camaro RS Convertible Project
                79 Chevy Truck Project
                1956 Cadillac Project

                Comment


                • Frustratingly enough, the MSD distributor is taller and is really close to the firewall as well. The HEI fit into a recess designed for the original points distributor and the MSD is too tall to take advantage of this. There does look to be enough room though. The other downside is that the wires I have are now too short. Well 1 wire is. This may actually be a good thing though because the existing wires are these hideous looking bright yellow Accel numbers. So at the end of the day yesterday I had the ignition in (used a spare wire until I can get a new set.) According to my list this is what I have left:

                  Run oil and temp gauge lines
                  Shift linkage
                  Trans wiring
                  Bleed brakes
                  Fill fluids: trans & coolant
                  Last edited by 74NovaMan; May 6, 2013, 10:07 AM. Reason: I feex!
                  Chris - HRPT Long Haul 03, 04, 05, 13, 14, 15,16 & 18
                  74 Nova Project
                  66 Mustang GT Project

                  92 Camaro RS Convertible Project
                  79 Chevy Truck Project
                  1956 Cadillac Project

                  Comment


                  • Hey I have those hideous looking bright yellow Accel numbers on two of my cars! They are the cheapest easiest way to get 90* boots, what makes them look bad is the coil wire is a diffrent color. If you only have one that is too short can it be swapped for a diffrent one on the engine?
                    http://www.bangshift.com/forum/forum...-consolidation
                    1.54, 7.31 @ 94.14, 11.43 @ 118.95

                    PB 60' 1.49
                    ​​​​​​

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                    • I swapped a few of them around to no good result. The set I have has 3 short wires and I have places for 2 of them.
                      Chris - HRPT Long Haul 03, 04, 05, 13, 14, 15,16 & 18
                      74 Nova Project
                      66 Mustang GT Project

                      92 Camaro RS Convertible Project
                      79 Chevy Truck Project
                      1956 Cadillac Project

                      Comment


                      • Originally posted by 74NovaMan View Post
                        parts car interior
                        Love rubber floor coverings. One of these days I might find a police/taxi package 72-76 Torino in a junkyard and I'm so putting that in my car.

                        I also like the idea of taking a rust-free car from the south with tattered interior and combining that with the rustbucket body from up north which has a pristine interior.

                        I also like your engine lift technique using a creeper to support the transmission, keeps it low to the ground and if the creeper is strong enough it can keep you from having to go out and buy that cheap pain in the rear to use $80 transmission scissor jack from HF.
                        Alan Moore - Wichita Falls, TX
                        1976 Gran Torino 351C - Four Door Whore

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                        • Most Pep Boys stock the blue Accel wires in an universal, cut to fit kit. $30. Beatd the yellow. Around here they also have the $80 MSD wires as well.

                          Personally, I wouldnt spend the money on a MSD distributor on a cruiser type motor. I would just use a Pertronix in the stock distributor.
                          Last edited by Scott Liggett; May 6, 2013, 01:52 PM.
                          BS'er formally known as Rebeldryver

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                          • 2 bad pertronix out of the box .....I would never buy them again

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                            • Scott - In retrospect, I should have gone a different direction. I was probably dazzled by the shiney parts and the promise of a built in rev limiter (that I will set but probably never hit.) Had I known about the height issue I would have gone with this one:

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                              Last edited by 74NovaMan; April 26, 2015, 07:07 AM.
                              Chris - HRPT Long Haul 03, 04, 05, 13, 14, 15,16 & 18
                              74 Nova Project
                              66 Mustang GT Project

                              92 Camaro RS Convertible Project
                              79 Chevy Truck Project
                              1956 Cadillac Project

                              Comment


                              • Originally posted by SpiderGearsMan View Post
                                2 bad pertronix out of the box .....I would never buy them again
                                I have installed six of them years ago. All are still running great including the one in the Caprice.
                                BS'er formally known as Rebeldryver

                                Resident Instigator

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