I have similar hopes for Lucy as well Kiwi, but it is pretty far down on the list of mods I still want to do to her. For the Camaro, I'd say go for it.

 

https://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=product/product_id=924/category_id=413/mode=prod/prd924.htm

7 hours ago, Frosty said:

I have similar hopes for Lucy as well Kiwi, but it is pretty far down on the list of mods I still want to do to her. For the Camaro, I'd say go for it.

 

https://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=product/product_id=924/category_id=413/mode=prod/prd924.htm

aww nice !!! after using there product in the cortina, i am sold on how well they are made and how easy to set up 👍

Edited April 10, 20242 yr by 64 kiwi boni

Just out of curiosity, what sort of things did you have to do to the Cortina to make the digital dash work with analog sensors, or did you have to replace the sensors too?

5 hours ago, Frosty said:

Just out of curiosity, what sort of things did you have to do to the Cortina to make the digital dash work with analog sensors, or did you have to replace the sensors too?

Sorry buddy, Lucy's almost back on the road.  We can't let you play with the dash again. 

7 hours ago, Frosty said:

Just out of curiosity, what sort of things did you have to do to the Cortina to make the digital dash work with analog sensors, or did you have to replace the sensors too?

super easy mate, you buy all the sensors with the new dash, i had to make a adaptor for the ford speedo drive out of the 5 speed gear box to fit the speed sensor too, then its very much all plug n play i had 2 ports to fit temp sensor into so 1 for the dash and 1 for the ecu.

all the gauges have cad 4 plugs and all wire to the controller

3 hours ago, JUSTA6 said:

Sorry buddy, Lucy's almost back on the road.  We can't let you play with the dash again. 

Touché!

I took Lucy to my local tire store on Saturday. I was informed that the 275R60-15 tires that I have for the rears are too big (no kidding I already knew that). The biggest I can run without tire rub and not modifying the fenders is a 255R60-15. I already run those on the fronts. Now I need to order another pair of 255s.

I also put the return spring and new star wheel in the driver's side brake drum. It's fixed. I went around the garage mahal yard doing a lot of reverse stops to set the brake shoe properly before I left for the tire store.

I dragged Black Beauty and the Roadmonster out too. Got heat into both cars. I ended up taking the Roadmonster to my car club meeting and I somehow managed to lose the right rear hub cap. eBay here I come.

Edited April 16, 20242 yr by Frosty

This weekend I got the last two new BF Goodrich TA Radials, 255-60-15s, and got them mounted on the newer rims. I haven't mounted them on the car just yet. I need do something else first, like power wash the wheel wells, they are pretty dirty, so I need to take the car for a decent bath first.

I spent some time this weekend doing "arts and crafts" work. I've had this set of chrome valve covers for quite awhile now. I never installed them since Lucy wasn't running. However, now that she is, I can work on other things. I dragged out my 10-year old, never opened, One Shot pinstripers paint. First I took a Scotch Brite pad to the letters and arrowhead on both covers. Next I sprayed some self etching primer into a cup and hand painted the primer over everything. I let that dry over night. On Sunday, I mixed some paint and hardener into a Dixie cup and hand lettered both valve covers in Fire Red and Process Blue. I will probably need to do a second coat but I am letting it set for 24 hours first.

My Scotch Brite pad and my brush selection

Self Etch primer is now on.

FIrst coat of paint on the valve covers.

 

This was not the only art project I started either. I decided to create a faux wood on my aluminum Hurst pistol grip shifter. I have started with the Scotch Brite bad, some self etch primer and a first coat of yellow.

 

The final project was a brand new set of Rally II lug nuts. This is an idea I got from my late friend and former GM designer, Paul Deeson. He designed my "Jury" logo too. Paul designed the '66-67 GTO/Lemans/Tempest as well as the first S10 Blazer/S15 Jimmy.

Normally Rally II lugs are either chrome (post '72), black or red centers.

I painted the centers Process Blue. I may need to add another layer of paint. I used Bullfrog adhesion promoter on the plastic caps before I added the paint.

 

Edited April 29, 20242 yr by Frosty

Nice work Picasso 

The valve covers look great...Michaelangelo. perhaps the ceiling of the Garage Mahal next?

7 hours ago, 64 kiwi boni said:

Nice work Picasso 

 

4 hours ago, Fitzy said:

The valve covers look great...Michaelangelo. perhaps the ceiling of the Garage Mahal next?

Thank you…..I think, wise asses! 

Hmmm…..the Sistine Garage has a certain ring to it!

1 hour ago, Frosty said:

 

Thank you…..I think, wise asses! 

Hmmm…..the Sistine Garage has a certain ring to it!

Sistine.....now that's a tinie sort of word.    Can't even remember who used to say that!  Think it was from Bennie Hill.

Bennie Hill or Red Green? Either way I’m in good company!

Back off FP! I have got duct tape and I’m not afraid to use it!

On 4/29/2024 at 8:24 AM, Frosty said:

T

 

I didn't take any new pictures but I applied the second coat of yellow to the Hurst shifter last night. I applied and touched up the red arrowheads. The PONTIAC letters didn't need anymore paint. They required an Exacto knife to scrap away some paint dribbles. I did put a second coat of blue on the lug nuts.

I have a weekend drive from Numica Michigan (south of Muskegon) to Traverse City. It's a drive around Lake Michigan. We have 2 private car collection tours on the agenda for the weekend as well. I'm taking Black Beauty.

 Can’t wait to see pics 

I worked on Lucy a little last night. I have a car show on Sunday, so I am trying to get some last minute stuff done.

Here is the shifter when I started the night.

Here it is after I finished making some brown paint

I still need one or two more shades before I am happy with it.

I also installed my Judge front air damn on Lucy! Indyman Joe inspired me to install mine.

 

Edited May 16, 20242 yr by Frosty

Lucy attended her first car show in 5 years today!

 

Look what else I found walking around.

Lookin good! 

I put one last thin coat of dark brown on the shift handle. I'm letting it dry and then I will spray a couple of coats of clear coat it and I will be done. No pics this time around. I will take some once the clear goes on.

Edited May 22, 20242 yr by Frosty

Frosty !!!

I think that is soo cool you got Lucy to a show again !!!

cheers mate 🍻🍻🍻

well done !!! 

I've been thrashing so much trying to get her ready for Power Tour in a few weeks that I'm behind posting three events now.

I did a driving tour along the west side of the state, then came the Widetracker's monthly meeting this month, which was at the Pontiac Transportation Museum, and now this local Dust Em Off car show. I will get around to posting them eventually. Somehow, sleep always seems to win around 10 pm but eludes me anytime after 4 am.  I get up at 6 am. Grrrr....

Edited May 22, 20242 yr by Frosty

Well this Memorial Day weekend is NOT going the way I had expected it to. Lucy throw me a curve ball on Friday night. I went to my local cruise, where I volunteer as the cruise's photograph. It is less than 1/2 mile from the Garage Mahal. I ran Lucy down there but when it came to leave, she was a no start, no crank. Just click. Lights work, radio and headlights work. I get her towed back to the garage by AAA.

Saturday I tried replacing the ignition cylinder since the guy that got Lucy running had some issues with it (original key cylinder) into a new column. New cylinder lock did not change anything, still no start no click.

I spent the rest of Saturday jacking up the car and slowly removing the starter so it wouldn't crush my skull while on my back. I got it down but not disconnected before I decided to call it quits. It was almost 10 pm when I quit.

Today I got up, finished my household chores and went back to work on Lucy.  I got the starter disconnected. I am no ace mechanic but I am pretty sure that a starter solenoid is NOT supposed to look like Apollo 13.

I went to three different parts stores. Do you think any of them had a working starter bench tester. Nope. I replaced the solenoid but without a working bench tester I couldn't validate if it works on not. I also ended up buying a replacement starter too. Before the evening was out, I was able to hook up some jumper cables to the old starter/new solenoid and used a screwdriver to jump it and it ran! I hooked up the old starter to the wiring without bolting it back to the block. I hit the key - nothing.

In the morning, I will get up and try to troubleshoot the ignition switch on the steering column. Other than wiring, that is all that is left to troubleshoot.

I also checked the positive cable to the battery for any burned insulation. The positive cable was not mounted correctly since I got the car back and the oil plan had been changed. In 2002 I had the positive cable rub against the exhaust manifold, melt the insulation, and ground itself against the hot exhaust manifold. Thus causing a hot engine, no crank situation. Once it cooled off, things contracted, the wire didn't touch to allow the car to start. Since then, I insure there is correct routing to avoid rubbing.

I have finished painting the Hurst shifter knob in a faux wood (like the original pistol grips use to be). I don't have a photo of the final product yet since I've applied 3 coats of clear coat to it today and it was drying when I left. Here is what I have thus far. The Hurst outline will be black and the HURST lettering will be the original aluminum silver.

 

Edited May 27, 20242 yr by Frosty

The starter is earthed on the car, isn't it? This was an oversight I endured when my freshly rebuilt engine wouldn't turn over. You got the right smaller wires on the right spots on the solenoid? A mechanic wired mine back to front. 'S' for start and 'R' for...something else.

Do the dash lights dim when you hit START? If so, starter issue. If not, wiring issue.

I know you already know all this - I'm just thinking out aloud.

Correct Fitzy. I have not noticed any dimming when I hit start.

Thanks for doing the mental checklist though. I appreciate it.

R for run.

Edited May 27, 20242 yr by Frosty

justA check your power from ignition switch at the teminal for the starter Frosty, if its no power, i would be pulling your ignition switch and replaceing it ... is yours the type mounted down the coloum and the ignition barrel operates a rod to the switch its self like a f body does ?