Need a Winter Project.

Meames1

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 14, 2020
Messages
157
So....what kind of projects do y'all have going on besides boats ?
I just finished a kitchen remodel, so I'm looking for some inspiration for the long NY winter.
I'm kicking around building a new 383 for the Larson. I put a "new" rebuilt 350 in it this spring when I finished the rebuild, but due to time constraints I bought an ATK reman instead of building my own. Plus, us hot-rodders are never happy with our current power level ;)
In the meantime I've been severely neglecting my 2017 Shelby GT350 this summer. I have a few weeks or so of extensive cleaning, polishing, etc. Remove the wheels and ceramic coat them, new different compound brake pads all around. A new MGW shifter, and some engine breathers that I've had for over a year, lol. That should keep me busy until the end of the year.
So, what's everyone else up to ?
20211129_200430.jpg
 

Meames1

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 14, 2020
Messages
157
Not bad. I need to get my street rod ready for sale next summer...View attachment 353396
Nice !
I'm getting the itch to build a driver for ME. I've done several over the years (race, street, show) for other people, time to do one with my son for myself. Last complete fab / buildout I did for a guy was a '41 Willys, Outlaw body, with an all aluminum 572 Indy Hemi.
I tend to lean towards muscle cars. But, want something different. Something like a '66 Chrysler 300 , low on a custom fabbed air-bagged frame, twin turbo new hemi...etc.
Or a Galaxie 500....
 

briangcc

Commander
Joined
Jul 10, 2012
Messages
2,360
Too cold in my garage to work on my baby - 1978 Pontiac Trans Am Y88 (Gold Special Edition). 455 bored 60 over with TH350 tranny. Almost every option checked - cruise, AC, etc... I have the numbers matching 400 stashed away for safe keeping.

Going to be working on our Lionel layout in the basement. Nothing outlandish - 14'x14' double main line. Have a few custom paint jobs to start/wrap up. Son wants an US Army steam engine and caboose - I have a couple of willing donors waiting on repaints. Also have to re-do a crane for New York Central for another son. Wrapping up a Baltimore & Ohio crane for my middle son as a Christmas gift. Bunch of scenery to go and more track to lay.
 

Meames1

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 14, 2020
Messages
157
Too cold in my garage to work on my baby - 1978 Pontiac Trans Am Y88 (Gold Special Edition). 455 bored 60 over with TH350 tranny. Almost every option checked - cruise, AC, etc... I have the numbers matching 400 stashed away for safe keeping.

Going to be working on our Lionel layout in the basement. Nothing outlandish - 14'x14' double main line. Have a few custom paint jobs to start/wrap up. Son wants an US Army steam engine and caboose - I have a couple of willing donors waiting on repaints. Also have to re-do a crane for New York Central for another son. Wrapping up a Baltimore & Ohio crane for my middle son as a Christmas gift. Bunch of scenery to go and more track to lay.
Nice !
Always wanted a 77/78 Trans Am, with modern suspension and drivetrain. Of course my list of "Always Wanted" cars is a mile long, lol. Maybe after I get that Grand National.... :)
 

WIMUSKY

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Staff member
Joined
Sep 26, 2009
Messages
19,918
fiberglass or steel? Gen III or LT1 or LT3? inquiring minds would like to know
Glass. I went to one show and I watched a person who was of part of the show feel the inside of the fender. He thought no one was looking, except the owner. I had a chuckle since he wasnt sure...
You need a fourth option, old school 350. Block was used between '69 and '79. Guessing is from the mid 70s due to the smog heads.... If it was a Pontiac I could practically decode every piece...
TH350, 9" rear. Ford leather electric seats. A/C, heat, electric doors etc...
 

WIMUSKY

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Staff member
Joined
Sep 26, 2009
Messages
19,918
Nice !
I'm getting the itch to build a driver for ME. I've done several over the years (race, street, show) for other people, time to do one with my son for myself. Last complete fab / buildout I did for a guy was a '41 Willys, Outlaw body, with an all aluminum 572 Indy Hemi.
I tend to lean towards muscle cars. But, want something different. Something like a '66 Chrysler 300 , low on a custom fabbed air-bagged frame, twin turbo new hemi...etc.
Or a Galaxie 500....
Galaxie 500s are nice.....
Prior to my rod I had a '68 GTO, 455, 4spd. Very torquey which pontiacs were noted for...... Hemi? I'd love to put even a 5.7 in my '34. 6.4 would be killer. It would be a handful with the lightweight car....
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
49,585
Glass. I went to one show and I watched a person who was of part of the show feel the inside of the fender. He thought no one was looking, except the owner. I had a chuckle since he wasnt sure...
You need a fourth option, old school 350. Block was used between '69 and '79. Guessing is from the mid 70s due to the smog heads.... If it was a Pontiac I could practically decode every piece...
TH350, 9" rear. Ford leather electric seats. A/C, heat, electric doors etc...
Gen 1
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
49,585
That's what I was thinking, but I believe they said gen Gen 1 started in the 80s...... Maybe it was something else since I believe the '55 chevy had the first 350..... IDK what I saw....
The Gen 1 is 1954 to 1985
the Gen 2 is the LT1 (1992 - 1996 with reverse water flow)
the Vortec is just a Gen 1 head with the Gen 2 combustion chamber
the Gen 3 is the LS's (1997 - 2007)
the Gen 4 is the LS's (2007-2013)
the Gen 5 is the LT's (2014 - )
 

64osby

Admiral
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Messages
6,819
PXL_20210619_200110863.jpgPXL_20210628_154819370.jpg

This is my current major project. Replacing the frame and rear axle, which means replacing most of nuts and bolts in the course of switching everything thing over. Might even get a paint job along the way.
 

WIMUSKY

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Sep 26, 2009
Messages
19,918
Leave what ya got, keep the patina. Clear it...
 

64osby

Admiral
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Messages
6,819
Leave what ya got, keep the patina. Clear it...
The bulkhead needs new foot wells and mounting posts. It will be getting new paint to keep the rust at bay. Still debating seven shades of green versus one shade.
 

Meames1

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 14, 2020
Messages
157
The bulkhead needs new foot wells and mounting posts. It will be getting new paint to keep the rust at bay. Still debating seven shades of green versus one shade.
Those are aluminum bodies, right ?
 

Scott06

Admiral
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
6,450
Too cold in my garage to work on my baby - 1978 Pontiac Trans Am Y88 (Gold Special Edition). 455 bored 60 over with TH350 tranny. Almost every option checked - cruise, AC, etc... I have the numbers matching 400 stashed away for safe keeping.

Going to be working on our Lionel layout in the basement. Nothing outlandish - 14'x14' double main line. Have a few custom paint jobs to start/wrap up. Son wants an US Army steam engine and caboose - I have a couple of willing donors waiting on repaints. Also have to re-do a crane for New York Central for another son. Wrapping up a Baltimore & Ohio crane for my middle son as a Christmas gift. Bunch of scenery to go and more track to lay.
Nice to see another poncho... I'm chipping away at my 65 GTO , just got Tri Power back on it , finishing interior. Hopefully top and another repaint in the next year or two. Really just enjoying driving it as I bought it in 1990, and has taken me 30 years to get this far. Just got it road worthy in 2020, which is the first time its been on the road since 1978 ...
 

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dwco5051

Commander
Joined
Sep 14, 2008
Messages
2,413
Nice to see another poncho... I'm chipping away at my 65 GTO , just got Tri Power back on it , finishing interior. Hopefully top and another repaint in the next year or two. Really just enjoying driving it as I bought it in 1990, and has taken me 30 years to get this far. Just got it road worthy in 2020, which is the first time its been on the road since 1978 ...
My mother had a 65 hardtop. Bought it new, always garaged,run hard. I told her I wanted it when she was ready to get rid of it. Go forward 20 some years and she called and said she sold the GTO. Said she was tired of every time she would stop for gas somewhere young guys would try to buy it from her. Sold it for enough to buy a year old Buick 4 door. About a year later she got pictures in the mail of it completely restored and converted to hand controls for its paraplegia owner. Made me feel better that I missed out on it. BTW this was the same woman that showed me in the early 50's when I was about eleven or twelve that a 1947 Olds straight eight would do a 100mph on a long downhill straight road.
 

Scott06

Admiral
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
6,450
My mother had a 65 hardtop. Bought it new, always garaged,run hard. I told her I wanted it when she was ready to get rid of it. Go forward 20 some years and she called and said she sold the GTO. Said she was tired of every time she would stop for gas somewhere young guys would try to buy it from her. Sold it for enough to buy a year old Buick 4 door. About a year later she got pictures in the mail of it completely restored and converted to hand controls for its paraplegia owner. Made me feel better that I missed out on it. BTW this was the same woman that showed me in the early 50's when I was about eleven or twelve that a 1947 Olds straight eight would do a 100mph on a long downhill straight road.
That’s too bad I wish I had bought more old iron in the 80 s when it was relatively cheap.

I bought a 65 lemans coupe in 1987 that was prob like your moms … one owner 66 k miles never should have sold that car. After that all I wanted was a ‘real’ gto. I bought this convert that had unbelievable options but was beat to hell. More work than a high school kid could hack in his parents garage … I had the body off the frame took about 4 years to get metal work paint and mechanicals working. Car sat while I was in my 20a and had a young family. My kids started driving and it renewed the whole project .

Started in March 2020 rebuilt suspension, rear grears, finished electrical, did the seats and tripower. Just need to fix the power windows so I can finish the interior …
 

aspeck

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May 29, 2003
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18,888
I have not gotten to do any work on my 76 50th Anniversary T/A … I either have to get busy or find a good home for her …
 
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