Gramma's Car: the new project!

[njsteve]

Anyone have one of these little firewall ground strap connector clips? It screws to the firewall and allows the braided copper ground strap (that goes to the shaker base) to be removed without unscrewing the bolt. They were used up until 1974 on all sorts of GM cars. It's #46 on the chart but it shows as a non-serviced part. The part number is 8900232.

[Burd]

Call me. You gotta talk to Bobby.

[njsteve]

The hood is at a local body shop getting painted. The underside was blacked out yesterday. The metal was in very nice shape. Just needed scuffing and painting in semi glass black.

[njsteve]

The hood is painted. Wet sanding and buffing today. Body man is blending the fenders (and fixing some paint chips from the bad hinges) tomorrow.

[njsteve]

Hood and functional shaker scoop are now on the car. The paint match was close but it is noticeable in certain light when you look straight on. I think it is partially due to the way the metallic laid down. The car was painted Code 26 Lucerne Blue in 1993, 25 years ago. When you stand by the tires and look across the hood, it matches the fenders. When you stand in front of the car and look toward the windshield, it is a big difference. But what the heck, I am looking to repaint the entire car in the next year or two anyway so this was just a stop gap so I wasn't driving around with a primer hood anymore. It sure is fun to watch that functional shaker door slam open when you hit the gas.

What do you think?

[Dave Rifkin]

Looks like a one-of-one 1975 SD Formula.

[njsteve]

I just noticed (remembered) that I removed all the emblems and markings from the car 25 years ago when we painted it. Now I'm kinda stuck - do I put a number on the shaker? There was an actual 1975 "455-HO" shaker decal but since this engine is something like 464 now (a .040 over 455) where would I get that decal? :-)

Oh, and a big shout-out to Eric at Vintage Musclecar. That carb you resurrected from the dead for this project is the best running unit I have ever had on any engine in the four decades I've been playing with these things. Crisp as hell, never bogs, or sputters or anything. It just goes...and goes.

(I does get less than 8 mpg now that I keep wanting to see the shaker trap door open)

[markinnaples]

Looks great, nice job.

[9999]

Originally Posted by njsteve

What do you think?

Steve, I think you're crazy for complaining about having a car that nice. I would drive that car every day of my life if it were mine.

[njsteve]

LOL No complaints here. I am actually enjoying this car more than my '73 SD455. I can do whatever I want with Gramma's car as it is a "blank canvas" and I'm not constrained like I am with an unrestored, survivor car.

My son and I drove it to the local cruise night on Saturday. Lotsa fun!