Another one of those mixed bag updates. Got distracted by a few other higher priority things, had to move the frame outside a few times in the rain and shop is a big mess again, lol. I need to spend some quality zen time cleaning the mud splashes off the frame (rain mixing with accumulated dust and hand prints from moving it) then get back onto cleaning/painting steering components, brake lines and source my fuel line.
I've spent a few more hours scraping the bottom of the floor pans, still many hours ahead of me but at least I can see some progress there!
My swap meet rims have become more expensive than I planned. They're two piece American Racing Torque Thrust II's (
https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/are-vn5057861?retaillocation=int) that list for about $616 Cdn each before taxes and shipping. I got the set for $1000 Cdn, which was less than the similar one piece rims would have cost new. Rims were a nice to have upgrade as I would have been just as happy running the OEM SS2 rims. Anyhow, figured out what size rubber I wanted to run on the 17" rims, ordered them in and dropped the rims off with the tire shop. Turns out three of the rims need to be straightened up and massaged...one of the rear wheels wanted a 6 ounce weight to balance it out. Apparently that will run as much as $300 a rim. On the bright side, they come back looking (and performing) like new...but that means the last rim needs to be sent out for inspection and cleanup.
As disappointing as all that is, I do like how those rims look, and any other aftermarket rims would cost me more than the cost of repairs to these ones...so I'm going ahead with that. I hate spending unplanned money that could be used for parts I want!!!
Like a close ratio steering box. I'm checking out my options on those, and will likely go with a Bergeson 12.1:1 ratio.
Meanwhile my engine is starting to go together. Some photos from Thursday, they have the first piston in, were just getting the degree wheel setup and prepping to set the endplay. But we need a water pump, which is easier said than done as there are three different lengths of pump, depending on whether you're running AC or not, and whether the engine is 1970 or earlier. Pick the wrong one and your pulleys won't line up. The earlier pumps also have a different OD on the output pipe than the later ones. I haven't found a "upgrading oldsmobile cooling system parts for dummies" list anywhere so trying to sift through option!
I have a BeCool radiator so I also need to take the input/output pipe ODs into account there to make sure I can get hoses that will work without a whole bunch of messing around.
