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'55 Plaza Suburban arrives today Jump to page : < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... > Now viewing page 2 [50 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
Forward Look NON-Technical Discussions -> 1955-1961 Forward Look MoPar General Discussion | Message format |
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I finally had to give up on the idea of keeping the original one-piece plastic headliner and yanked it out today to make rewiring the back of the car easier. There was another, smaller mouse nest at the top of the windshield and a third in the passenger quarter panel. After I got the headliner out, I had a lot of gross crap to vacuum up. (phpmMXQWNPM.jpg) (phpFeenC0PM.jpg) (php8LFBgbPM.jpg) Attachments ---------------- phpmMXQWNPM.jpg (145KB - 421 downloads) phpFeenC0PM.jpg (131KB - 432 downloads) php8LFBgbPM.jpg (97KB - 423 downloads) | ||
SavoyPlaza |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 1172 Location: Georgia | Eeechhh! Glad you got the mice out! Nasty stuff. She's getting better all the time! Pete | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | Smelling better, that's for sure. I'm thinking of going with the 8-bow headliner that Newstalgia sells. Gets expensive when you have to also buy bows. Edited by 71charger_fan 2017-01-18 1:24 PM | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | Took forever to wire in the right front park lamp/turn signal today as my supervisor felt the need to closely inspect everything. (phpBFtv5FPM.jpg) Attachments ---------------- phpBFtv5FPM.jpg (71KB - 433 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I went with Sylvania Xtra Vision headlights. I needed a 12V horn, so I pulled an extra '71 horn off the shelf and mated it to a bracket from an '87 Lancer which I drilled and tapped. I'm still trying to decide which disc brake conversion to go with so I wired the brake light circuit with extra wire so the switch can be moved around if necessary. My graveyard of old wiring is still growing, but, at this point, almost all of the old wiring is out now. The "boss" continues to oversee progress. (Plaza Headlight.jpg) (Plaza Horn.jpg) (Plaza Wiring Graveyard.jpg) (Plaza MC.jpg) (Bear the Overseer.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza Headlight.jpg (115KB - 428 downloads) Plaza Horn.jpg (124KB - 436 downloads) Plaza Wiring Graveyard.jpg (126KB - 453 downloads) Plaza MC.jpg (132KB - 423 downloads) Bear the Overseer.jpg (103KB - 446 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | Pulled the upper metal dash which was badly peeling to give it a coat of satin black. Having that out of the way made it easier to mount a couple of resistors for the 6V wiper and blower motors. (phpuRwwoNPM.jpg) (phpSnNycQPM.jpg) (phpN9ko5OPM.jpg) Attachments ---------------- phpuRwwoNPM.jpg (157KB - 416 downloads) phpSnNycQPM.jpg (79KB - 424 downloads) phpN9ko5OPM.jpg (97KB - 411 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I stripped all the gauges out of the dash panel for painting and installed the electronic voltage reducers on the temp and gas gauges. (Plaza dash frame.jpg) (Plaza gauges.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza dash frame.jpg (120KB - 413 downloads) Plaza gauges.jpg (134KB - 426 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | Had a nice warm day today. I couldn't let that go to waste. Got the dash panel painted, the steering wheel painted, headlight bezels and some of the dash trim painted. Also swapping the painted tail light bezels for stainless ones I got from CTC Auto Ranch. (Plaza HL Bezel.jpg) (Plaza Dash Trim.jpg) (Plaza Repainted Dash.jpg) (Plaza Steering Wheel.jpg) (Plaza TL Bezel.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza HL Bezel.jpg (281KB - 420 downloads) Plaza Dash Trim.jpg (180KB - 412 downloads) Plaza Repainted Dash.jpg (127KB - 400 downloads) Plaza Steering Wheel.jpg (98KB - 423 downloads) Plaza TL Bezel.jpg (124KB - 412 downloads) | ||
SavoyPlaza |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 1172 Location: Georgia | You are attacking this car! Love the updates--looking good!! Pete | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I adapted a RetroSound 6 3/4" speaker with dual voice coils onto my original speaker bracket. Had to cut away some of the punched grill that was between the dash grill and the speaker to clear the tweeter bridge. (Plaza factory speaker.jpg) (Plaza factory speaker removed.jpg) (Plaza Speaker mount modified.jpg) (Plaza RetroSound mounted.jpg) (Plaza speaker installed in dash.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza factory speaker.jpg (136KB - 410 downloads) Plaza factory speaker removed.jpg (123KB - 411 downloads) Plaza Speaker mount modified.jpg (127KB - 407 downloads) Plaza RetroSound mounted.jpg (108KB - 422 downloads) Plaza speaker installed in dash.jpg (115KB - 412 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I installed a bus bar on the passenger side of the steering column bracket. I'll run a fused accessory lead to that so I'll have a more convenient access point for powering any accessories I may add. Working around the "inspector" sticking his nose into everything added a level of difficulty. (Plaza bus bar.jpg) (Bear the inspector.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza bus bar.jpg (103KB - 409 downloads) Bear the inspector.jpg (90KB - 421 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | After several failed attempts, I finally got the glovebox door and ashtray front to take paint. Whatever textured finish they put on these parts in '55 did not react well with Rustoleum. (Plaza glove box painted.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza glove box painted.jpg (242KB - 393 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | Got the dash mostly reassembled. Still have to make up a single DIN radio faceplate for the Pioneer I'm putting in. (Plaza dash repainted.jpg) (Plaza dash left section.jpg) (Plaza dash center section.jpg) (Plaza right dash section.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza dash repainted.jpg (90KB - 423 downloads) Plaza dash left section.jpg (90KB - 397 downloads) Plaza dash center section.jpg (88KB - 404 downloads) Plaza right dash section.jpg (103KB - 415 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I went added a second horn since I had a set from my '71 Charger parts stash. (Plaza dual horns.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza dual horns.jpg (129KB - 393 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | The original dome light fixture was a mess, so I'm using an LED fixture. (Plaza LED dome light.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza LED dome light.jpg (112KB - 404 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I used the terminal block from the core support originally used for headlight wiring to make a ground distribution block. I've run a 10 ga. wire from the battery negative terminal to the block. Now I know I have a good ground. I ran a wire from this ground distribution block over to the passenger side kick panel area and installed a ground distribution block I grabbed off of Ebay. It's nice to have a location to where I know there's a good ground. (Plaza ground distribution block.jpg) (Plaza Ebay ground distribution block.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza ground distribution block.jpg (145KB - 368 downloads) Plaza Ebay ground distribution block.jpg (158KB - 398 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | Fortunately for me, the glovebox liner is being reproduced. (Plaza new and old glovebox.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza new and old glovebox.jpg (124KB - 388 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I spent the day sanding and painting the interior trim. Some of it's pretty beat up from over 60 years in the back of a station wagon. (Plaza repainted trim.jpg) (Plaza repainted trim (2).jpg) (Plaza repainted trim (3).jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza repainted trim.jpg (84KB - 383 downloads) Plaza repainted trim (2).jpg (129KB - 404 downloads) Plaza repainted trim (3).jpg (81KB - 396 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I prepared a steel plate with a single DIN opening to mount over a spare radio faceplate so I can use a modern Pioneer radio with Bluetooth. (Plaza single DIN radio mount.jpg) (Plaza radio faceplate.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza single DIN radio mount.jpg (139KB - 383 downloads) Plaza radio faceplate.jpg (79KB - 368 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I installed the new Pioneer into the modified radio plate today. (Plaza radio faceplate front.jpg) (Plaza radio faceplate back.jpg) (Plaza Pioneer installed.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza radio faceplate front.jpg (108KB - 380 downloads) Plaza radio faceplate back.jpg (116KB - 398 downloads) Plaza Pioneer installed.jpg (84KB - 393 downloads) | ||
Old Ray |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 507 Location: Invermere B.C. Canada - Rocky Mountains | Thank you for posting. Radio looks great. I see that Gary S. did a double din in that same place and I would also like to do that for a back up camera (old bad neck) but it sure looks tight for space? Reply is optional, thanks, Ray. | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I think I double DIN would probably fit fine. the original radio was huge. | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | The oil pressure gauge hard line had a rubber section in it which was cracked and leaking like a sieve. I replaced that with a braided 3AN line. The worst part was having to pull the starter to get to the pressure port on the block. (Plaza Starter Out.jpg) (Plaza adapters.jpg) (Plaza 3AN Line.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza Starter Out.jpg (137KB - 396 downloads) Plaza adapters.jpg (155KB - 382 downloads) Plaza 3AN Line.jpg (134KB - 388 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I disassembled the grill to replace a severely dented piece with an NOS piece I was lucky enough to turn up and put in another NOS piece I didn't really need but was cheap. Whoever repainted this car didn't take anything apart, so I repainted the grill brackets to eliminate the blue overspray. (Plaza dented grill piece.jpg) (Plaza grill pieces.jpg) (Plaza grill brackets.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza dented grill piece.jpg (110KB - 380 downloads) Plaza grill pieces.jpg (140KB - 374 downloads) Plaza grill brackets.jpg (83KB - 377 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I taped off the ridges on the grill center to reshoot the grooves black. (Plaza grill center.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza grill center.jpg (139KB - 391 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I did relocate the fuse block to the driver's side kick panel. Much easier once I got the whole dash out. (Plaza fuse block.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza fuse block.jpg (183KB - 399 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I've also spent a lot of time putting convolute tubing around the wires to avoid chaffing and cutting. (Plaza wiring protection.jpg) (php6xEsgaPM.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza wiring protection.jpg (187KB - 380 downloads) php6xEsgaPM.jpg (120KB - 366 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | Too cold in the garage this weekend, so I brought the grill pieces into the family room and assembled it inside where it's warm. (Plaza Grill.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza Grill.jpg (68KB - 385 downloads) | ||
56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9855 Location: Lower Mainland BC | I wonder if you will like the Volt meter better than the AMP meter. That speedo brings back memories. Like me being a 16 or 17 year old and getting my old 55 Dodge Regent (Canadian Plodge) flat head 6, 3 on the tree, up to 85 mph. At night. With at least three passengers. All of us could have died. What an idiot. At least it was Saskatchewan and the road was straight. Edited by 56D500boy 2017-03-05 6:21 PM (PhotoFlip2.jpg) Attachments ---------------- PhotoFlip2.jpg (50KB - 382 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I thought about putting a higher capacity amp meter in, as I felt sure the original ammeter couldn't handle the output of the new Delco alternator. However, from what I read, the voltmeter is much safer. | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I installed the grill on the car today as well as the headlight bezels and NOS turn signal lens. (Plaza grill TS lens installed.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza grill TS lens installed.jpg (115KB - 381 downloads) | ||
56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9855 Location: Lower Mainland BC | Looking good. I just installed a cleaner/clearer park light lens in my 56 Dodge and it looks much better. Carry on the good work. I like the fuse panel that you installed but I am a bit afraid of the work to install it. | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | It's not difficult, just tedious. Would have been easier if I'd just yanked out the entire dashboard to start with. The American Autowire kit came with more than enough wire for everything but the right rear tail light and that's only because I have a wagon and had to route the wiring up and over the tailgate. The only circuit I needed that wasn't provided for was back up lights. I took power from a fused accessory port and ran it to the back up lamp switch, then ran power from the switch to the back up lamps which ground through their sockets. I did buy some extra wire for some of my own customization. I added two LED spot beams back by the tailgate wired to the dome lights as well as the added ground blocks. Plus extra wire to make up for the extra wire run distance in a wagon. While everything is torn apart, I'll run a few extra wires from behind the dash to different parts of the car but not hook them up to anything. Just have them available if I, or a future owner, decide to add accessories such as lights or amplifiers in the future. | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I forgot that, since I have a wagon with the two wire fuel sender, I also had to run an extra wire to the rear of the car for that second wire. | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I've got the dash back in but now need to figure out why the wipers don't work. (Plaza dash in.jpg) (Plaza radio check.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza dash in.jpg (100KB - 371 downloads) Plaza radio check.jpg (124KB - 387 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | Just ordered a 12V starter for a '56. I saw it on Ebay for $323, but found it on that sellers retail website for $209 with free shipping. Although the 6V starter should work just fine on 12V, I have no way of knowing how old it is. | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | The starter showed up today. I found this with an internet search for Prestolite 3410 and Prestolite MDG6001. (Plaza 12V starter.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza 12V starter.jpg (95KB - 360 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | Unfortunately, the new starter's nose is shaped just differently enough that I can't get it to slip into the bellhousing. The dipstick tube is in the way. Today, I pulled the nose off of the 6V starter, cleaned it, and painted it. Tomorrow, after the paint has cured, I'll swap it onto the 12V starter. | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | Switched the old starter nose onto the new starter today. It was just different enough to get the new starter to pop in. I was thrilled when I turned the key and the engine turned over. (Plaza starter nose switchover.jpg) (Plaza starter noses.jpg) (Plaza starter nose switched.jpg) (Plaza new starter.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza starter nose switchover.jpg (97KB - 363 downloads) Plaza starter noses.jpg (95KB - 379 downloads) Plaza starter nose switched.jpg (90KB - 363 downloads) Plaza new starter.jpg (91KB - 369 downloads) | ||
Powerflite |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9605 Location: So. Cal | Nice job. I wouldn't have expected those to be different. Was it a difference in the heights or bolt pattern? It is very possible that they changed it just to guarantee that they wouldn't interchange because of the difference in voltage & potentials. | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | It was only a difference in the shape of the nose. The nose on the left is off the '55 six volt starter. The one on the right, off the twelve volt replacement, has more of a squared off shoulder. The original is more sloped. The difference in shape kept the replacement from being able to slip into the bellhousing without hard interference from the dipstick tube. The housing is clocked differently too. With the '55 nose on it, the new starter's power lug is on the bottom instead of on the side. My solenoid to starter cable just barely stretches. Edited by 71charger_fan 2017-04-03 8:22 PM | ||
Powerflite |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9605 Location: So. Cal | I can plainly see the difference now that you point it out. I guess blindness comes in many forms | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | Started on the disc brake conversion today. (Plaza Drum.jpg) (Plaza drum brakes.jpg) (Plaza Spindle cleaned.jpg) (Plaza Scarebird disc adapter.jpg) (Plaza Scarebird Hub.jpg) (Plaza disc installed.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza Drum.jpg (110KB - 382 downloads) Plaza drum brakes.jpg (143KB - 357 downloads) Plaza Spindle cleaned.jpg (124KB - 351 downloads) Plaza Scarebird disc adapter.jpg (97KB - 356 downloads) Plaza Scarebird Hub.jpg (106KB - 378 downloads) Plaza disc installed.jpg (110KB - 351 downloads) | ||
56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9855 Location: Lower Mainland BC | What kit are you using (you probably said but I missed it)? I like the idea of separate hubs and rotors instead of rotors and hubs combined in one unit. | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | I went with Scarebird because that kit required no spindle modifications. Chevy S10 4WD calipers and Ford Probe rotors. | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | One side done. This is the easy part. Installing the master cylinder/proportioning valve/new lines is still to come. (Plaza Caliper installed.jpg) (Plaza caliper install.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza Caliper installed.jpg (116KB - 356 downloads) Plaza caliper install.jpg (110KB - 354 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | Prying the unneeded brackets off the Cadillac brake hoses. (Plaza brake hose1.jpg) (Plaza brake hose2.jpg) (Plaza brake hose3.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza brake hose1.jpg (97KB - 348 downloads) Plaza brake hose2.jpg (93KB - 346 downloads) Plaza brake hose3.jpg (107KB - 354 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | Time for new shocks. I bought some Gabriels for a '75 Corvette. I had to open up the slots in the mounting tabs on the shocks for the 3/8 bolts and had to remove about 1/32" on the control arm to pass the shock through. When I pulled the old shock out, it had undercoating on it and was stamped ORIFLOW, which made me think I had the original factory shocks on the front. (Plaza shock.jpg) (Plaza shocks.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza shock.jpg (79KB - 355 downloads) Plaza shocks.jpg (80KB - 347 downloads) | ||
71charger_fan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD | One problem with the disc conversion was that, with the new hub, the outer washer stands outboard just a little farther. This negated being able to slip the cotter pin through. I wasn't having any luck finding a low profile 3/4-16 castle nut, so I set up the bearings and marked which slot on the nut needed to be deeper. Then, I just filed that slot down until I could slip the cotter pin through. (Plaza cotter pin.jpg) (Plaza castle nut.jpg) (Plaza castle nut filed.jpg) (Plaza castle nut modified.jpg) (Plaza cotter pin2.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Plaza cotter pin.jpg (79KB - 361 downloads) Plaza castle nut.jpg (124KB - 366 downloads) Plaza castle nut filed.jpg (164KB - 371 downloads) Plaza castle nut modified.jpg (72KB - 383 downloads) Plaza cotter pin2.jpg (89KB - 368 downloads) | ||
Powerflite |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9605 Location: So. Cal | I didn't have to do anything with the control arm to install the Corvette shocks. Is the Gabriel a larger diameter than most or is the 6cyl control arm smaller than the V8 version? Nice job on the castle nut. The Scarebird conversion for '57-'61 has a similar problem, but not as severe. | ||
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