I bought a deluxe dash bezel out of a 73 which has the larger wiper switch opening and is in very good condition although it still needs some restoration before going in the car. Note the cigarette lighter opening will need a little work as it once got hot and has a larger opening.
New 4-core after market radiator.
Also have the throttle lever mounted on the build stand gauge panel
New Edelbrock air cleaner that matches the valve covers.
No pictures to post right now. I was able to get the 12-bolt completely disassembled – had to rent a axle bearing puller from AutoZone. Next week I will clean it and inspect it to decide if I will rebuild it – things are looking good so far. This weekend I hope to work on the engine to get it ready for the Daytona 500 party on Feb 22nd. Also next week I hope to get back to sanding the shell so I can prime it once it gets warm enough. I also ordered some deluxe door panels and deluxe dash gauge bezel which should arrive tomorrow. I also ordered a set of deluxe window regulators for the deluxe door panels. Will post pictures when they arrive.
Worked on the engine and the run-stand. Worked on attaching the throttle control to the run stand. Also put the new air cleaner on.
Got the brakes and pinion gear off of the 12-bolt tonight. The impact drill was a life saver!
Will need to remove bearings and then clean it up for inspection. Will rent a tool for removing the bearings.
Continued the 12-bolt tear-down and initial inspection. Looking good so far, but more to inspect before ordering new parts. Also going to have to get some more tools to complete the job.
Started the dis-assembly of the 12-bolt for inspection. First had to get the drum brakes off with a big hammer:
I had to get the drums off (will be replacing brakes with disc) so I can get the spindle out which is a part of the bolts that hold the wheel on.
Once the spindle is out, I think the 4 bolts (2 shown in red) will be all I need to remove to get the rest of the brakes off the axle.
This is my setup for working on the read axle. Got the cover off without breaking any bolts (sprayed with Kroil for a couple days prior). I can still wheel it around the garage with this setup. Will let it drain over night before doing much more. I have a DVD to refer to for the rest of it. I need to inspect the portion that holds the posi in place. If they are in bad shape, I won’t be able to use the axle as they are matched to the rear axle. So I will need to do some inspection before determining if I can use this and before ordering replacement parts. I do know I will be changing the gearing to 3:73 gears.
Got to use my magnetic bowl – those are great for holding bolts and not losing them if you kick the dish!
Polished-up the valve covers and put them on the engine along with the MSD distributor – still need to get a matching air cleaner to match the style of the valve covers. Also have a new radiator and fan shroud to put on the engine stand:
The two braces in the picture are a 1973 Camaro RS only part that currently is NOT being re-produced. I finally not only located a pair, but they are New Old Stock (NOS) – off the shelf parts that were never used. Still has the original GM stickers on them! These attach between the fender and radiator core support and were required on RS models in 1973 to strengthen the front-end in case of a crash. It is going to be a hard decision to put these on the car, but I have time to think about it.
Started the engine last night. Will be working on the engine and tuning it up some within the next couple of months to get it ready for a Daytona 500 party in February. It started right up after pouring some gas in the carb!
