Rebeldryver's '65 Impala SS Black Betty

[DanStokes]

Re: Rebel(Dryver)'s Machines

One of these days I'll be able to afford one of those classy balancers with the timing tape etched right in. Or maybe I don't need it now that I have a fancy timing light that I can adjust to the desired timing.

Dan

[milner351]

Re: Rebel(Dryver)'s Machines

Dan

all you need is a piston stop and a paint pen.....
oh
you already put the engine together....

it's easier to check the balancer relation to piston position with the engine out of the car. ;D

[DanStokes]

Re: Rebel(Dryver)'s Machines

Did that - it was spot on (they usually are).

Dan

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebel(Dryver)'s Machines

The tape was put on when I had the motor apart two years ago for the head and cam change. I sprayed bombed the balancer then put the tape on. I'm guessing those 19 high rpm runs on the autocross is when the tape got tossed.

[jcharliem]

Re: Rebel(Dryver)'s Machines

Reb: Curious... What kind of angle-plug heads are you using? Seems like you don't see them too often anymore. (I have a pair of iron Sportsman II angle-heads on my Chevelle.)

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebel(Dryver)'s Machines

Victor Jr's. Over kill for this motor.

[jcharliem]

Re: Rebel(Dryver)'s Machines

Victor Jr's. Over kill for this motor.

To paraphrase Freiburger's line... you just don't have enough motor for the heads. ;)

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebel(Dryver)'s Machines

I think it's not enough cam. The cam is a bit tiny for these, so's the intake, and the headers.

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebel(Dryver)'s Machines

Messing around with the new camera today. Here's video. I like the mic can handle the loud noise.


Pic of the engine with a new fuel log and I shortened the heater hoses.

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebel(Dryver)'s Machines

I've said before my Impala's stereo setup was pieced together over the years. I replaced stuff as it failed. It's kinda messy and unnecessarily complicated.

I got tired of listening to three of four speakers. I finally got around to fixing the wire that I accidentally pulled out of the amp. The reason why the right front speaker wasn't working. The amp is under the front passenger seat. So, I had to partially remove the seat to get to the wiring.

Here's the mess under the seat. That Sony amp on the left powers the front speakers. Someone gave it to me like 20 years ago and it's now in it's third car. The other little amp is a JBL 50 watt that powers the rears. I keep saying I'm going replace this mess with a single four channel, but they won't die.


The other thing that's been bugging me about the stereo is those jacked up speaker grilles on the rear deck. They were jacked up by me during installation. Please ignore the warped rear deck thing. I'm not. It's actually from Year One and was in the car when I bought it. I found the label while cutting holes for the speakers. It's been more warped each year. I got new grilles which I didn't use from the new speakers I installed on that POS in the background.


Here's the rest of the rear setup. A JL Audio 10 inch tube, a 200 watt amp of unknown brand, and a capasistor I disconnected because of it constantly screeching while recharging. This is the easiest way to work on all this crap. I'm not getting in the trunk and removing all the crap out of it unless absolutely necessary.


The plan didn't go well because I put two screws of the new speaker grilles through the speakers. Those are Pioneer 2 way 6x9's. They are about 12 years old and I discovered after this accident extremely brittle from baking in the back window. Now, I get to go shopping.


I worked one Christmas season in retail and I learned one thing. They'll push whatever product line they make the most profit on. I wanted Pioneers and most stereo stores were pushing Alpine crap on me. I just threw two Alpines in the garbage from the other car. I want Pioneer. You want to make a sale today? Get me Pioneers. Retail guys hate me.

Here are the new Pioneer 370 watt 6x9's.


Since I bought new rears, I decided to get new fronts. The old Infiniti's still sound nice, but they are as old as the rear speakers. The right speaker's grille surround was broken. They are also generally filthy and crappy looking.

I got display models for dirt cheap. $25 bucks. I even unscrewed these from the display myself. They are 180 watt Pioneer 6 1/2. In case you're wondering; that diamond plate on the door is not stock. The previous owner pulled the carpeted part of the door panel off and replaced it with this stuff. I suppose it could be worse.


I know it's crazy, but it sounds fantastic and is loud enough to overpower the noise of 85 mph blasts down the road.

The last thing I did was replace the light for the alarm. This is actually more of a deterrent than the alarm. That bundle of wiring goes to the two amps, the cross over unit (under the driver's seat) and the rear amp.

[joebogey]

Re: Rebel(Dryver)'s Machines

Person1 says "Why don't you fix your radio?"

Bangshifter says "'Cause I don't have time to take out the seat."

Person1 stands there with a blank look on their face.

As I always say, "If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand."

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebel(Dryver)'s Machines

Decided to change the oil on both cars today. Bought a case of oil, couple of filters, one piece oil pan gasket, valve cover gaskets. The last one I bought for future work.

The Caprice just got new oil and filter. Kept it easy.


The Impala got more today. I pulled the pan off to replace the gasket and main seals. They've been on there for more than ten years and are leaky.

Here's the under part of the motor. You can see the Melling HV pump and the windage tray. Although, I bought bits and pieces of this motor; I had a friend of a friend assemble the bottom end for me. He was a Volvo mechanic by trade, but played with a pro streeted 65 Nova. I bought some of the engines pieces from him. I had him put the engine together because he so anal and detail oriented in his work on his Nova. Since the short block was originally assembled in 1995, I've changed the cam four times, the heads twice, intake, literally hundreds of carbs, and so on; and this held together with my beatings for 14 years. To my embarrassment; I can't remember the guy's name.


Here's a few pics of the engine bits. I think he balanced the assembly as the rod ends look to be ground on. He also move rods around, but kept the pairs together. You can see the factory GM 'pink' rods, cast TRW pistons, four bolt mains, and the crank I found.








After degreasing the pan; I think it needs a new coat of paint. I scratched it up good dragging out from under the car.'


Here's the innards of the oil pump. I can't find any wear, metal bits, or any sign of fatigue.


The cover shows this wear. Why do they use 10 mm bolts on a old chevy pump?

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: Rebel(Dryver)'s Machines

Isn't there anything that trunk latch doesn't hold?? Got to give that guy credit on the bottom end holding together.

To my embarassment my engine's only got about six months and 9,000 miles on it and it's rear main leaks :'( I'll take care of it when I upgrade the bellhousing.....

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebel(Dryver)'s Machines

Don't feel bad, Randal, Carl's Chevelle leaks like an old Harley and his motor has less than 5k on it.

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebel(Dryver)'s Machines

In The News sent me a placard with the article of my car in last month's CHP. I told them not to and they said they just wanted to send it anyway to see what I thought. They actually sent it the day before they called me. Nice.

Then they sent a bill. I wasn't going to pay $146 for it. I called and said I wasn't and I didn't want it; and they sent it anyway. I got the whole blah, blah sales pitch, then the discounted price sales pitch. I told them that I was gonna pitch it in a dumpster cause I'd rather eat this month. They then asked me to cut the picture out of the plaque and mail it back in the supplied envelope.

Here's my anger management today. I accidentally deleted the before shot.