Got the trunk open for the first time in 20 years! I had to pull the rear seats and used extensions and unbolt the trunk latch. Some how the door/trunk key was lost. However I found a set of keys in the trunk! I was excited to see what was in the trunk.
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However I didn't find anything too exciting except the keys. which were over here on the side
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After a little clean up and vacuum out the mice nest, throw out the nasty carpet. This is what was underneath.
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Got it loaded on the trailer to take to the car wash.
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It was really easy load with the use to of the engine hoist and winch.
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It was so worth it, much easier to see what condition it is in under there. It looks really good. just some light surface rust nothing bad at all.
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I removed the fuel Tank and rear differential next.
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The fuel in the tank stunk up the whole shop.

I left the leaf springs on the differential and just dropped in down it was easier than I thought it was going to be the bolts weren't even rusted I was able to just use a wrench on them they came right off.

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too easy.

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I spent a little time and cleaned this area up a little.
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Next I'm goint to sandblast the rear diff. and leafs paint. I brought the engine, dash and center console over from my other shop.

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I didn't take any pictures of the center console but it's out of a 02 Camaro just the like dash and gauges.

 

That's about as clean and solid as they get! Sure looks like a much easier way to go than most guys get.

 

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. I think I'd give it a good cleaning and have a nice survivor. I wish I'd had that much to start with, LOL.

 

Ok this really sucks in Colorado they just started back up with the emission testing and what not. So when I do get my car ready to go on the road I have to to put on the air pump, evap emission stuff and catalytic converts that goes with the 1997 Z28 engine I have. I think it's really dumb considering this engine is going to run more efficient than a 73 carburated 350 engine ever could even with out cats, air injection and what not. I mean its not like putting that stuff on is going to be that big of a deal it's just more stuff I have to mess with Before I can drive this thing on the road.

but n e ways
Just thought I would share this lol. It looks so crazy without the rear axle. the shape of the body looks really neat at this angle.
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Nice thread so far James. I'm really enjoying it. The state should give you carbon credits for the extra hurdles. LOL

 

How far back are they going with testing? In Oregon it's 1974 and earlier are exempt from testing. They say if you install a newer engine you need to put that year's DEQ equip. on, but nobody does it, and nobody checks pre test cars to see what engine they have.

 

In CO they test back to like 67. When they had emission testing back like 4-5 years ago and then they stopped until now. I Had my emissions inspector license and would do tests for the dealership I could have passed my car no problem of course. BUT now all the emissions stations are run by the state.

I think I'm going to try and sneak it through and see if they catch it they may not even know what they are looking at and just test it haha. 81 and older just have to do idle sampling test while 82 and newer have to do IM240 and run on the dyno for 240 seconds. IF they do catch it I have to set up a special appointment with a special emissions inspector to check out my car and make sure it has everything it is supposed to. The funny thing is all the equipment has to just LOOK operational they won't actually check and test it (they check obd2 codes thats it)... So they wouldn't know if I reprogrammed my pcm not to monitor post cat O2 sensors and not to operate air pump or canister purge.

 

Ok So I knew this would pry take me like a week and a half of work to do this a couple hours at a time so I spent all day yesterday doing this and it feels amazing to have this part done!

So I cleaned up the under the trunk area no prob a couple hours. However the rest of the under car was full of nooks and cranies which was such a pain to do, not to mention having to hold the grinder above my head all day. Yeah it pretty much took all day and it sucks using wire wheels constantly throwing little wires at your face, I had to keep check to make sure none of them actually stuck in OUCH. I never want to do this again lol.

But here is how it looks
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In the pictures above it doesn't really look to good but after I cleaned all the dust off with here is what we got.

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I really was thinking about sand blasting it but I didn't want to have to mask off the whole car and have to clean the media out of every little hole. Plus it still had a lot of good area with good paint still on it so I left the good parts alone.

So I got on the first coat of primer I'll put a few more today and I'm going to let it set for a few days and put on some undercoating. When I say undercoating I mean truck bed liner.

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god i wish i could do this with my car. awesome work man, cant wait to see how it comes out !

 

Sweet, I hope you used some type of epoxy primer. That is a very nice survivor. Your dad did the right thing putting it away.

Check out my thread, you were saying something about trying to use ABS. There is a pic of the trouble I hit with the ABS sensor.