Colossus - the 1970 Concours frame replacement project

Thanks for the great photos and information. Like that exhaust and the clamps. Gonna redo my pick up with those.

 

geez Tom...she's really coming along

 

Major milestone achieved. TWFH has a battery and has electrical power!

Redid the forward lamp harness, which then powers the rest of the car. Got caught by a bad solder repair for the hi-beams, but all is now good.

Have been going thru everything, found the turn signal assembly has issues, put in a spare and got all lamps, flashers, hazards working. Motor cranks, windshield wipers wipe, truly a happy day (it has been a sucked and many times interrupted several weeks getting here, but oh well...).

Low beams...


and high beams...


(blurry) tails...


and after over 2 years I can see the interior at night without a flashlight!

Need to check the backup lights, no work-ee. Either bulbs or switch. Also need to install the turn signal switch and check the power feed and grounds for the HVAC (no fan).

Next steps are finishing up the engine side fuel lines, finish all of the vacuum routings, and sort thru the cooling system. Need new heater hose fittings and radiator mounting isolator pads. And awaiting word on my fuel sender. Having that will allow me to button up the rear end of the fuel system and finish the exhaust install. Then I can maybe light it up...

Getting closer.

Best regards,
Tom

 

Some progress, no pics.

I have gotten all lights and signals to work except for back up lamps, which just may be new bulbs. Motor cranks and builds oil pressure nicely. Looks like all lamps in the cluster are good except high beam indicator. No power to the HVAC still, but haven't really looked into it.

Cooling system is hooked up and complete, what a b!tc# the "correct repro trans cooler lines" were. Had to reform the a bit (lot). Also tightened rear suspension in the correct position, so no pull on the bushings.

Still a lot to do, but finally running out of major parts, which feels good.

Best
Tom

 

I am looking forward to a video of your first drive; you're getting closer!

 

Chevygod , you've put in a huge effort and now its nice to see your nearing the fun parts of such a mammoth task :2_thumbs_up_-_anima

 

Nice work. Looks like it is really coming along!

 

OK, have been getting some stuff done, not as much as I had envisioned, but forward motion, right?

Anyway, among everything else that is standard life stuff, I had to deal with my homeowners insurance "needing to inspect" my property. So spent a few weeks getting everything shaped up so the guy could come out for 5 minutes of pictures. Still haven't heard from the insurance company if all is OK now... Forced me to get rid of some stuff (2 truckloads of scrap, metal and parts and wood) and get some other stuff organized so I can go thru it and get rid of it.

Got past that and then had to deal with a slab leak, second one in a year/ week and a half there. And just this weekend helped a friend with some stuff so he can get his parents moved from near here to Nebraska. He's got a real tiger by the tail with this one!

Anyway, finally got around to buttoning up the tank and getting it installed. Decided I didn't want soft lines the entire distance from the sender/top of tank to the line in the frame, so bent up a set of steel connector line for the fuel supply and return and for the vapor line.

Added some steel spring wrap and an extra covering of split loom


formed to fit along the tank


tank and lines installed




then installed the tank shield



Also got the rear bumper cleaned up and hung, and got front fenders on it a little more securely, along with the hood (which does need adjustment).



I had hoped to do something cool to show off starting the car and all of that, but with the inspector dude coming out I just had to make it run. put in some gas, hosed the carb with staring fluid, and cranked it up. Lit first time out and had it running and idling within 15 minutes. Was able to pull it out of the side yard it has been in for 2 years to clean things up. Haven't driven it around the block yet, but that is getting closer. Sounds OK, had a little noise in the bottom end, but it's going to be run as it is. Just don't want to deal with it anymore. Also found that the pinion seal is leaking fairly steadily, so will take care of that as I don't want the underside of the car lubricated just yet.

Unfortunately the days are getting shorter, however here in SoCal we can still work thru the winter, so if any are interested, I will keep posting updates. But for now, the frame swap part of this mess is mostly done.

Best to all
Tom

 

Fantastic Tom - getting it running and moving is always a shot in the arm for motivation. Keep it up.

 

Interested? Sure! Keep up the good work!

 

Small update...


The project is becoming asymptotic to the x axis, which means I am always getting closer to being done, but still no closer to being finished...

Got most of the front clip on, still need parking lights and such. Hood isn't latched because I discovered while adjusting the hood that the catch mechanism is damaged, looks like broken welds, so will try to find one in the bone pile out back, or repair if I can't locate one.





Also, first time in years it has had inner fenders. And s'prise, s'prise! With a decent frame, the fan shroud fits...


Had a leaking pinion seal, put in a new one, but found that the pinion nut was wrench tight and pinion flange had no sealer on the splines. New seal too. Dunno what was going on there, so tightened the number of turns it needed to come apart, plus a little until the wheels turned and will call it good. There was no discernable slope in the pinion bearings before disassembly, sooo... Means I need to get a 12 bolt ready for it and not look back.

Also have a sticking caliper on the right front. Fun never ends, does it...?

Best to all,
Tom

 

Good stuff Tom - keep plugging away.

 

Slow and steady wins the race, they say. Keep up the good work. You're getting there.

 

your getting more done than me brother

 

Just keep those small updates coming. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Let's just hope they stop making the tunnel longer!