I heard the WhaadduhFuuuggg brand was the best for the thrusters.

 

To invoke the great Billy Joel: "You may be right!"

Although there are eleventy-somethin' things I could still be doing to the Camaro, I'm sort of at a stand still for the time being. Man, I hate saying that but truthfully, I'm not going to (nor was I even planning to) start on the interior or body work until the drivetrain is completely installed, working properly and the car drivable. I've decided that the 327 is not going in until I get the trans installed. With that said, it's going to be a while until I can get the stall converter ordered. Holidays are upon us and I suppose my kids are worthy of a nice Christmas this year LOL! Gotta keep them priorities in line with the season, like it or not. Since it's going to be MUCH longer than I'm really mentally prepared to wait, I'll probably take a little time and maybe get the rest of the engine harness put back in beforehand. Was thinking it might be easier to wait on that also until the engine is in there but I don't know. Already wishing it was warm again so I could tackle the core support cleaning and painting but that's out until April/Mayish. I realize some might question why I'd wait on the engine for the trans but it's just what I've decided to do to make it easier for me to do since I'm flyin' solo on this. I doubt I'm letting too many down by not posting updates for a while but in total honesty, it'll be a while. On a more positive note, I have already picked out one of my gifts from the kids this year, a new steering wheel for the Camaro! The Cheech N Chong (non-chain link but close) tiny wheel is outta there yo! Maybe I'll get crazy and post a pic or two of the fuel tank/filter/plumbing installed at some point here.

 

Well not sure about the rest, but I enjoy the updates! But I totally understand making a great Christmas for the kids, and the car wont go anywhere in the meantime!
I still haven't started my winter upgrade list for the Falcon gasser. Have all my parts here, but been busy helping my buddy with his '69 Nova A/FX clone, so the Falcon is still waiting!

 

I'm glad you enjoy them Vall, always appreciate the insight/guidance you're so willing to provide also sir. Just trying to keep my word from the beginning and keep posting/showing as I go. Not happy about the fact that the Camaro is being laid off for a couple months but fully understand that it happens to many at times. Guess it's most frustrating as the progress was moving along steadily and I was quite proud of that. I did foresee this issue arising but of course hoped that it wouldn't be the duration that it appears it will be. I'll live. Now I'm hoping the second gen project page won't get shut down due to inactivity! It has appeared for some time now that everybody else's projects are on hold as well.

I see you mentioned a list for the Falcon, are you enjoying the change of pace with that? I'd love to see a picture or two of it! Working on a Nova would sure be great, albeit tough for the sake of knowing it's owned by someone else. In all truthfulness, i'd drop this Camaro in a heartbeat if I could find a decent Nova project to work on. That was my original plan long before I found my Camaro but couldn't find one that wasn't already finished and 40k or too far gone to even consider.

 

The break from the Falcon is OK, but I see the Nova project going on until spring, and I may excuse myself at some point to proceed with my project. The owner is a good buddy, and only lives 4 houses away, but there's not much he can do in the way of mechanical work, or fab without me doing it.
I've finished a complete new front suspension, and almost finished with rear axle swap, and new crossmember for shocks. Need to pull the engine today to install the gear drive, and fit the flywheel and T56 six speed trans. Once that's all done he can clean and paint everything, and then we'll drop it back in and at that point I may beg off for awhile.
I have to drop the trans on my Falcon to install the Lakewood scattershield, and swap the linkage out. Going to separate reverse from the shifter and make a separate reverse lever. Also have to finish the carpets, and complete the body work.

 

I like the look of the separate lever too Val.

Tim I wouldnt get too down on yourself, your the only one who is making progress. I too am done with the car until after the holidays. The transmission got out of control fast. Real fast. I still will pick up the small parts I need for that but once its done I have to hold out until tax season probably. I need a gallon of primer for the car and the truck needs a EFI capable fuel pump.

 

So you guys are installing faux reverse thrusters too huh? Man I knew that was a good idea.

The Nova sounds like it'll be a nice car when it's done, but let me get this straight... The owner doesn't do any mechanical or fab work and "he's" building a A/FX clone?!?! Interesting.

I'm not necessarily beating myself up over the halt in progress. Sure, I'm bummed a little but knew it was coming. Didn't mean to sound like I was feeling sorry for myself. Only thing I'm truly sad about is thinking of how cold it'll be when I finally pick back up where I left off! As always, I'm hoping that something good will happen and I can pick up a converter sooner than expected. I do a lot of hoping!

What's going on (or not going on) with the trans Damon? All you had left was to cut the pistons down and grab a thrust washer kit I thought? Now that's a bummer right there.

 

Yes, his skills are limited, but he's always been a car guy. That's always puzzled me also. In the many years I've known him he's always paid someone to do his mechanical work. What brought it all to a halt was his business closing in recent years due to the economy, and paying a local builder a bunch of money to do the chassis on his '35 Plymouth coupe, which turned out horrible. I was looking at the coupe when they brought it home to finish the body work, and began pointing out things that were not only wrong, but unsafe. I told him he could do better himself, and not pay someone to do work he needed to redo.
He's not totally unable to do mechanical work, but needs guidance to show him what and how it's done. I have had resistance from him on learning to weld, as he just seems to think he can't get the hang of it. But if I tell him what needs to be done mechanically, and show him how it's done, then he jumps right in and does it. He's still very apprehensive about engine work also. Things like a cam change, or timing set really scare him.
We got things to a point yesterday where he's got at least a week of cleaning/painting before I can go back and show him how to assemble it, so I'll get started on the Falcon now.

 

Yeah, it's more of a cool factor thing for me. I don't have any trouble hitting reverse when banging gears, as the shifter requires me to get to neutral and pull up to go over. But I like making people guess what's going on when they look inside the car. Most people will wonder why it's got two shifters, and the young guys will probably think it's got a transfer case!

 

Well I am short a few pieces. Here is the list best I can tell so far.

1 Intermediate Wave Steel ( anyone reading this with one PM me please)

1 Direct Drum Steel (I was shorted in my kit)

2 Sun Gear Bushings ( I think there is one extra in the kit, not two)

1 Thrush Washer kit ( My new one piece output ring gear doesnt use a torrington like the old one)

I need to check my clearances still. I also have been stuck on what I'm going to do as far as the 1-2 accumulator. I could leave it working, pull the spring, Or pull the spring and install a spacer. I think I am going to put a spacer in it and run all 4 check *****. I have had cheap shift kits before. I didnt really like having the 1-2 chirp the tires EVERY time I left a stop light. They way its set up the harder I'm on the gas the firmer the shift. I was really annoyed with my last one.

I spent a ton of time prepping the case for paint too. I got rid of all the casting flash with a file and blasted it. Then a 80g DA followed by 180. Its smooth as a babies butt now. I had all kinds of flash blocking the vanes where the valve body goes. (check my tread for pics) No wonder I hated this trans so much. I have some pics on my phone. There were three passages blocked off at least 75% with flash from when they cast the case. I also still need a pan. I am still kicking around that steel pan with the tubes through it. But I wish it was Aluminum.