The New Project: Part Deux!

[njsteve]

Ok, I just warmed the car up and did a compression check. (Throttle propped at WOT, all plugs out, cranked 7 revolutions for each cylinder- gauge stopped climbing at 6 revolutions)

WHOA! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif[/img]

I would say the cylinder pressure is just a little bit high?

Cyl 1: 230 psi
Cyl 2: 220 psi
Cyl 3: 225 psi
Cyl 4: 230 psi
Cyl 5: 227 psi
Cyl 6: 230 psi
Cyl 7: 220 psi
Cyl 8: 235 psi

For you engine gurus out there, would that confirm that the camshaft in this thing is WAY WRONG for this application? It does have stock looking flat top pistons, as I can see the valve reliefs through the spark plug hole (no dome).

I guess this could also be the cause of the oil leaking past the main seal under full throttle. A whole lot of overpressure down there.

[njsteve]

Since a low compression 455HO is supposed to have around 165 psi per cylinder in stock configuration, the consensus seems to be that the cam in there now is REALLY wrong in terms of centerline and lobe seperation and is also either advanced or retarded incorrectly, as well. So, no full throttling until after I put a new cam in...and rear main seal. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[njsteve]

I have gotten a couple requests for photos of the super rare, Formula 455HO Ram Air, air cleaner, so here you go:

One interesting thing I noticed is that these were dip painted originally. You can see the paint line inside the two snorkels, where the air pocket kept the paint out. (The Formula 455HO air cleaner had two heat risers and the Formula 400 had only one.)

[njsteve]

Got the windshield in for the second time...

The first date coded windshield that arrived from Pilkington Glass had some issues. The date code was supposed to be flipped but it was readable from the outside, and there were a couple scratches in the glass that looked to be from the rack they must have been stored on. Pilkington was very attentive and immediately shipped out a second one.

I can't say enough about Bob at Finishline Auto Glass in Hackettstown, NJ (908) 399-6461. He came out to the house three times - first to remove the original glass so I could clean up any possible rust issues (none found), then several days later to install the first windshield. (The scratches weren't visible until after it was installed), and then a thrd time to carefully remove the first new windshield so it could be shipped back, and then to install the second one. Extremely nerve-wracking to watch, but he is a professional and made it look easy.

FYI: if you order date coded glass make sure you give them a photo of your existing code if possible. The date codes were put on in a variety of ways and positions - the most important of which is where are you standing when you are reading the date code: is it read from the outside of the car, or read from the inside like mine.

Here's the original date code:



And the date code on the second windshield:



And the finsh installation photos:

[njsteve]

Now that the windshield is so clear, I got tired of looking at the degraded mirror glass on the rear view mirror and decided to do something about. After reading a variety of threads, I found that he best way to remove the glass was to soak the mirror in very hot water for 15 minutes. By then, the plastic/rubber gasket is semi-pliable.

I used my thumb and was able to work my way around the gasket several times, each time prying a little further so as not to crack the glass since it is glued to the backing of the gasket. Eventually, I was able to get the edge of a plastic decal applicator squeegee under the lip and gradually moved it around the perimeter, each time pushing a little farther in. Every few minutes I would soak it back in the hot water. This worked great. The glass just popped out.

I was checking on prices for resilvering the existing glass but found that Paragon Corvettes sells the new mirror glass for 67-73 GM cars for $40 which is comparable to resilvering the old one. It is due to arrive tomorrow and we will see how it fits. https://www.paragoncorvette.com/p-35...ror-glass.aspx

Here is the original 1972 black pebble grained mirror.



After the glass was removed. The white is the residue where the glue pulled off the silvering from the rear of the mirror:



The only logo I could find on the mirror was a &quot;GM&quot; at the top of the gasket:



Nothing at the bottom:

[njsteve]

Well, the new mirror glass arrived and it turns out I ordered the wrong one. The 2300 is the correct part number for the 10&quot; mirror that wasn't used in the Corvettes until 1974, I just learned. The one I ordered was for the smaller mirror glass used from '67 to '73.

Here's the corrected link:

https://www.paragoncorvette.com/p-34...ror-glass.aspx

[RPOLS3]

Steve-

Another option for those who do not want to risk removing and/or breaking the glass on their own is to send the whole thing to the &quot;Mirror Lady&quot; Joyce Borell. I know others on this site have used her as well.

Her e-mail is: mirrorlady25@ (remove me first) yahoo.com

She is in PA and charges $85 plus the ride. I had her do two mirrors for me last summer and they came back perfect. Turnaround was about a week and half.

Jake

[KevinW]

Steve, If you still have that smaller mirror (8&quot;?)I would be interested in it. Was on my list to get anyways for my vert. Kevin

[njsteve]

I sent it back already, sorry.

[KevinW]

No biggie, Will just have to put an order in (need two anyways) Let us know how they install [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]