1966 Belvedere I from S6 Granny Car to 360 Sleeper

today we finally got to weld the bottom of the floor pans and weld in the subframe connectors....

subframe connectors...bolt in or weld in,we welded them in

ah 110 MIG works great

Bill's doing a great job on this car. Don't mean to take over his posting but I sold it to him and thought you all might enjoy some of the background on that car.

I found it behind a closed up gas station outside of Atchison, KS about 1995. It was filled to the roof with tin cans for recycling. The owner used the car for storage and was considering making it his wife's winter car. At the time I was there I couldn't find anyone around so left a business card on the windshield. Week later got a call, closed the deal over the phone and my Dad and I went after it shortly thereafter. The owner had greased it, changed the oil, checked it all over prior to our arrival. Great guy. He was enjoying a beer when we got there at 8:00AM.

Also owned a 67 Coronet 440 wagon with 383 4 barrel and factory air (which we went back for a few months later), another Coronet hardtop with 7500 actual miles on it and a gorgeous 59 El Camino.

Dad wouldn't rest till he had the Belvedere in his possession. I gave it to him shortly after getting it repainted and putting new upholstry on the seats. It was him I can blame for the black undercoating on the firewall Bill had to blast off. I could have killed him when I saw what he'd done!

Dad's gone now, but I'm sure he approves from on high the work Bill's done to the Belvedere. I know I do too. It's been fun to watch the progress.

10/06
just installed the new repo fuel tank w/ 3/8s pickup,strap&rear Monroe Max Traction Control shocks, next up is fuel and brake lines front to rear...

Shocks mounted with some nice Grade 8 bolts from Hoger Race Cars....

360/904 installed TODAY!

Up on the hoist with the leveler

over the hump!

gee lots of room in there 360 B-body!

sitting on the k-frame finally

finally can see some arch in the SS springs...

Fantastic Bill! Thanks for the email/pics. Sure glad to see the car going back together so well. We got 5+ inches of snow today. I'm not ready for winter!

Finally got back at it this week, got the 3/8s fuel line installed,front brake hoses,dual master cylinder,splitter,lines,steering collumn,headers,starter,seaat belts,rear seat.....

Dave working on the 1 3/4 Hooker Super Comps....

Got help this week from Don Swanson&Dave a couple of racers from RT66, we got more done this week than i did in months...helps to have extra hands!

5/06 more progress...distributor in,spark plugs in,wiring harness installed,voltage regulator,ballast resistor,oil pressure gauge in,temp sender in,went with Auto Meter electric water temp gauge...no where to plug in my nos moon mechanical water temp gauge...no threaded hole big or deep enough in that manifold...looks like i will mount MSD6C inside under dash,Mount mallory coil to left and below ballast resistor.removed entire heater box assembly, now got two nice holes to run wires thru....have to get some grommets...

Very nice

Ok finally back at it....installed battery tray,cables,starter relay,horn relay,coil,MSD6C,ballast resistor,trans cooler lines,seat belts,electric water temp gauge..,horns,electronic ignition wiring harness....

powdercoated tray&braces,(Thanks Larry at JIT),nice cad plated mounting bolts(thanks to my friend,the late "Big" Dan Buick)

more progress......carb spacer,carb on,fuel line ran...alternator,brackets,spacers,bolts,pullies,spark plug wires(separators on order)wiring harness to alternator...

carpet back in, bench seat in....seat belts.....Dave measuring for Hurst Shifter location....

old school radiator repair

Post deleted by Joesixpack

Thanks to Moparts member STHEMI(Greg),I picked up a radiator and driveshaft,both are now installed....will be firing it up this week and making some noise....got offer from member to drag the beast to INDY for its debut....

took driveshaft to machine shop for installing two u joints&spin balancing, suprise,end of shaft where u joint sits is cracked(split)anyway they had a nos 1 left in stock!so he is going to cut the old end off and then remove 1 inch from the shaft to make it easier to instal(was a C-body and about and inch to long)and install&weld the new end cap...put the ujoints in it and drop it into the spin balancer. should be done friday and then i can install the driveshaft,only a few items left to do,hoping to fire it up 3/30 for my birthday present to myself....

end of shaft with nos end cap,installed&balanced

nos slip yolk

balanced rear

quality welds and craftsmanship

3/24 have all day session planned,2 guys coming to help,should get a lot done...

Ok getting closer.....this week the following was done, gear lube in,brake drums on,radiator hoses on,new throttle cable,throttle cable holder,return springs&holder installed,driveshaft in,shifter mounted,cable ran,3/8s union installed in fuel line,hopefully will get time to get trans cooler on,install tach,put in some gas,trans fluid,top off radiator,and drop in a battery....and fire it up....run it,go thru gears,check for leaks,tighten everything up,break engine in....get header mufflers adapters and bolt on the screaming purple hornies..

functional throttle cable bracket,return springs,new cable...

Gates belt and hoses...

nors Delco Remy battery,from 1976-1977,from a Ford application I think, fits great in B-body tray, Nors repo battery cables.

742,4.56 traction lock 8 3/4,coming apart for freshing up....

balanced driveshaft installed

11 inch rear brakes,replacing 10s

after inital break in of engine,this will be going on....

ok put a fresh battery in it, hooked up cables....some issues....brake lights are on,no headlights,turned key to start,nothing, jumped relay and it did turn over...no spark....looks like there is some troubleshooting to do....10/04/2012

12/07 Jim Rhinehart stopping by and were going to trouble shoot it and see if we can get it started today.Got a dozen krispy kremes so that should help.

Well I helped working on the ignition and at least got it to turn over with the key. We still couldn't get spark through the MSD 6C but did get MSD to say they were emailing the wiring diagram, so some progress was made! I only got one Crusty Cop donut though, what was I thinking?

Hope you get it figured out soon. I can imagine how anxious you are to hear it run. By now I think I'd have been slipping in a point style distributor and hot wiring it just to make some noise while you wait for the wiring diagram. Possibly you know someone who deals in ignition parts?

I have the MSD 6C wiring schematic,but no gas line from house to garage,so no heat...supposed to be high 40s and low 50s later in the week,will rewire it and check for spark.yea after more years than i can count or even remember it will be good to hear it run...looks like 2013 will be its season.

8/30/2013 IT LIVES!
RT66 Racer Mart B came by this morning and wired the MSD6C&Mallory coil...we filled the float bowls of the carb,hooked up a timing light.....hit the key and it roared to life...amazing sound....a few minor leaks(trans cooler lines,rad cooler line fitting,duh,tightened them up, hooked up the timing light,moved the dist a bit..., 1 minor fuel leak at float bowl screw(gasket delaminated,time to get nylon),and a few minor carb adjustments...sputter and dies....mechanical fuel pump needed to be primed...dropped line from pump to tank, back filed line with gas, reattached line, fired up and finallly gas flowed. warmed it up,no more trans leaks.no fuel leaks, no anti freeze leaks...its a great day!

at speed

running...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=552...otal_comments=1

One of my favorite B-bodys..

Way to go Bill! Congratulations.

worked on it all day today....rewired electric wt gauge, it now works, tightened oil pan bolts, trans cooler lines, added brake fluid,cracked bleeders...coming along..

view from below

thats a wrap!

fuelish pleasure...

diggin out my junk in the shed, found this tire&rim, fits perfect! only got 1 any body got 1 more? 15x6? 15x7? not sure of size without dismounting

code?

older than dirt!

nostalgic look!

flashback?

i'm diggin' on it.

Sounds good!
When's the next MMCI meeting?

well i picked friday the 13th as get some stuff done day.....we bled the brakes, adjusted the shifter, put the hood on, added gas, fired up the engine, 1500 rpm for 12-14 minutes per the builder instructions to break in the cam. engine got to 180,thermostat opened,idled it down, shifted trans into reverse, ok, got reverse, then to "N", ok, into 1st, nothing, 2nd, nothing, 3rd, nothing, no foward gears....full of fluid, have to pull pan, pull valve body and air check some bands and servos...

OK red fluid everywhere...upside down mess...internal s exposed...

anybody else mystified by the internal workings of a automatic transmission?LOL i read the ATSG manual,looked online at a guy posting the rebuilding of a 904, next time i leave it to the "experts"

no i did not rebuild this....i had a local trans builder "bench' it...it had reverse but no foward gears.

ok update....a trans guy came by and performed the 4 air checks,all servos&bands are applying....time to call Turbo Action and see if they have ever had that problem before with the RMVB....

LOL PAUL FORTE from Turbo Action called me back today, he does not know why i would not have foward gears...said to return the valve body to him and they would inspect it, repair it and send it back.I have a spare used one built in 1992 i am going to install tuesday and see if that one works, if not then i guess its pull trans time.

I went saturday and bought a used 904 trans ,stock,from a 1970 318 Duster...I allready have a new Mancini HP rebuild kit, so I think i will take that trans and have it rebuilt.

Dropped of 904 core&rebuild kit with Jim from Jims Performance(KY),he is a tuner/engine/trans/diff builder who has helped me out in the past.I am pulling the first 904 out and when he brings the #2 rebuild back I will swap them and give him #1 to dissasemble/diagnosis/rebuild. then i will have 1 new one in the car&a new one for a spare for 2014,

todays carnage....trans removal...time to start over...

big gaping hole

never got to "flash"

10/23 Lee Kapusta tears down my A904 and finds a suprise!sun gear od much smaller than the ID of the 4 gear planet.oops.....

unit has huge crack on weld to boot....

original builder made a huge mistake....so we will start over and rebuild this unit....

tear down to bare case and lets try this again!

cracked weld in planet

UPDATE 11/08
trans rebuilt(by Lee Kapustka)supposed to be sunny@59 Saturday....trans going back in...we will try it again!

ok great news....trans is back in...Mart Brunke and I worked on it friday...a few minor things left....then we fire it up, go thru gears,check for leaks, and once or twice around the block....

loctited and tight

side view....gotta figure out some wheels and tires that would look good on this slab side ...

360 old skool...

Way to go Bill! I can imagine how relieved you must feel.

Thanks Larry, Having a second trans built right now as a spare, also bought a third trans as a "test" unit. I enjoy R&R ing them so much!the third unit is a A999 lock up,2.74 first gear,5 clutch drum...once the current combo is "worked in"would like to experiment with the lock up trans. use the 2.74 low gear to launch and get a better 60 foot time, a micro switch on the shifter, when i hit third gear it would lock up...A B-body small block combo is not real common...as time&finances allow would like to try an aluminum driveshaft, an aluminum third member,alloy lite weight axles,aluminum radiator, glass hood&scoop,as i think this is my last project...an aluminum headed 408 would be great for 2015....
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=102...e=2&theater

drove it today...first time since 2007! out of the garage round the corner, down the street,up the driveway for a bath....neighbors scared of open headers!

stall converter did not like 2.94 open gear today...

Congrats Bill. Looks darn good!

THANKS Larry! next up is install a aluminum 3 core 22 inch radiator..trans cooler, electric fan...wire the neutral safety switch....swap in the 4.56 pig...still working on wheels&tires, on second set now, saw what i really want at CMC swap meet...15 inch American Torque Thrust Ds...a guy was there with 4 new ones ready to go....

trial fit of Centerlines...

4.56 742 traction lock going in...

still working on rear wheel&tire fitment....15x8 centerlines with 5 inch backspace will not fit...cant go 6 inch backspace,not enough room from tiresidewall to leaf spring&shock mount...might have to drop down to 15x6 or 14x7 rim ...

that 66 wheelhouse is tiny

about three fingers...rim to spring

tight on outer to quarter panel lip

flanges welded unto headers...header mufflers bolted on, have to make some hangers...

4.56 installed, ujoints greased, driveshaft installed...

3 prong NSSW installed, have to wire it....got new pigtail...

Gabriel Pro Shockers 3 way adjustable installed.(yea i know there old tech, but thats the way i roll)

90/10 setting fist

Wizard Cooling 3 row,3/4 tube.22 inch aluminum radiator installed...

external trans cooler fabbed in...

went to local truck supply store,Standard Truck,got some neat brass adapter fittings and was able to use stock cooler steel lines hooked right to trans cooler lines...without cutting steel tubing and reflaring...clean

closeup

electric fan installed&wired

new tach instlalled&wired

another minor setback....remember to use thick spacer washers when you put back the shift cable bracket on the trans and bolt it up or this may happen.unreal the longer pan bolt went tru the top of the case and impacted the body of the NSSW....driven upward it broke the trans case...opps....gotta come out and ..no i did not do it....a "guy i know" who has worked at Chrysler Dealerships for 20 plus years was helping me out that day...ouch

yank that broken case trans out....drop off core at Lee Kapustkas with a rebuild kit, bands, thrust washers...etc....have him rebuild a fresh one....get it back and ...

put in a new one...same converter ...

on jack stands trans shifted fine....on the ground ....no had to rev engine to get it to even move at all. ouch. looks like we have a bad torque convertor...so out it comes ....trans taken to John at CRT...he check it out,pump,valve body,drums...everything is ok...sending the torque converter in TO GET IT CUT APART AND SEE WHATS FAILED...

Trans back from John Cope at CRT...ready to go in....dug up a Hurst Shotgun Torque Converter for now...back to basics to get this car on the road...

real old school...

Drove it today! everything worked,no fires,no leaks, nothing fell off...stopped and did a holeshot,smoked tires and went sideways wow gotta learn how to drive all over again!

sleeper?

What a great job you have done.Love the sleeper look.

drove it to its first show....50 degrees...crisp throttle response!

with 15x7 Americans and P235/70R15s

thanks to John Cope for allowing me to use his lift&to help me out by fixing a pesky trans leak.....plus correcting a few errors made by yours truly in the past...its a different view on a lift compared to a creeper with the car on jack stands!

wow under an hour to get it out....

problem fixed and going back in...

OK thanks to Moparts member Kevin I got the correct length 8 3/4 housing for my 66. a bonus its backbraced&reinforced perchs..

68 8 3/4 HOUSING OUT....

BACK BRACED 67 HOUSING IN

ok 67 housing in, axles&pig in...fluid in....no leaks....tweaked the back brace for coil over spring clearance....sitting on the ground

ok have more tire to quarter panel clearance now

couldn't keep the hubcaps huh? I wouldn't have either. still a sleeper

lol kept the 14s and dog dishs for 8 years...need traction now....cooper p235s are first step to P255-60-15 MTs drag radials on correct offset 15x8s

10/20/2015 US41 MOTORPLEX 6 PM
PASS#1 13.69@97 CHECK OUT PASS

PASS#2 13.28@100.79

PASS#3 13.13@100.59
STREET TIRES, FOOT BRAKE 2400

https://youtu.be/u0h2b-fIhlY

burnout shot

moved from IL to sunny AZ will get to drive all winter! (and not summer)weird. anyway its been transported. barely fits in parking spot in new community.

Congrats on the move to a warmer climate!!

Must feel good to be away from Illinois...

new dual exhaust with dyna flow super turbos

741 open 3.91 coming out and 3.55 742 traction lock going in

1

in arizona

underneath clean up