NorCam (Graeme Browne's) Lemans Blue 1969 Z/28

[NorCam]

And here are a few more shots of the manifolds c/w smog tubes. The tubes have been restored and I dusted them with a coat of black over the brown coper like finish that's underneath. Hoping after they've been heat cycled a few times, that they start to look more like they should. Last picture is the original 633 calipers after I cleaned them up. Still working on them now and will pull the pistons to check them for pitting inside the bores. If they are good, I'll put new seals in them and clear coat them before they go back on. It they need to be sleeved, I'll send them out for that.

[luv2sixty9]

Pitting in the bore doesn't matter for the piston rides on the O-Ring.

[NorCam]

Finally got around to cleaning up the rotors and have the pistons removed from the calipers. Bores look pretty good and the cores are now soaking in evapo rust to further clean them before installing new slides, seals and o-rings. Should have these back on when things warm later next week. Had a wintery blast drop some more snow on us this weekend and a big plunge in temperatures. Should make it out to the shop today to get some more work done as there's nothing else to do right now (other than watch mecum online).

No NHL means more time on the car I guess?


Original rotors washed down and ready for a light facing.


This yellow paint daub and a white stencil number are somewhat visible.


Both rotors are still within spec. Will clean up with a couple of thou off each side.


Pistons are good and bores are fairly decent looking. Back into the cleaner!


They're both soaking now Madge. But it isn't in Palmolive (lol)

[NorCam]

Been busy trying to finish some big projects at work but found some time to get out to the shop and the calipers are finished up. Last week, I also dropped the rotors off to a friend and he surfaced them for me. Only took a couple thousand off each side to face them. New bearings are packed, new brake hoses are sitting off to the side here and the restored brake hardware will be going back on very soon.

[mockingbird812]

Beautiful work Graeme!!!!

[napa68]

I hope to see this car in person one day! MCACN 2020........yeah........that's it!

[NorCam]

Perhaps, if I still have it in November that could be possible Tim.

I still have a couple of people who've been staying on me about selling it when it's finished and that's still a real possibility. I'm going to put some miles on it come April/May, but may in fact sell it if the price is right. We'll see once the snow has melted and the dust has settled on the other matters currently affecting the world.

[firstgenaddict]

My own personal observations are that when blending "new work" into an original car - Most people use entirely too much paint which sticks out like a sore thumb... you have to do it as crappy as it was originally.
To blend frames/subframes -I have mixed some roofing tar with black paint and rubbed it into the frame with a rag... it doesn't stick out and will not result in over spray anywhere.

In this shot you can see where I rubbed the paint into the subframe...


A light coat of semigloss on the calipers and then file/sand the machined areas like original...


Casting Date

Assembly date


Here is a photo of the entire subframe with the tar paint mixture blended into the frame...


and what the car looks like after a few years...

[NorCam]

Thanks for that. Been so busy making hay while the sun is still shining for our business here that I haven't touched the car in weeks. I should be wrapped up with things here in the next few days and will be jumping back on to finish it up and get it running again.

Still have to deal with the front frame horns as I am not happy with either the current look of it, the wash down stripped look or the touched up look. Might have to try your method out if I don't just dial it back and cover it in BoeShield or something similar.

Are the calipers supposed to be black? Or were they bare from the factory?

[m22mike]

Black