1970 RS Project by aps63

8 minute(s) of a 120 minute read

Got the trans in and it runs great. On to the next of my winter projects, a new rear.
I've got the rear all cleaned up and ready to get POR-15 this weekend. Then on to stuffing it with all the new parts I have on the workbench.

Ok, this is a small thing. But, I do love the tiny details.
I had a spacer between the carb and the air cleaner so it would clear the electric choke.
It was the only one I could find at the time. It was plastic but served the purpose.
Last week I removed the air cleaner to hook up the tv cable for the new trans. Sitting there are what's left of the plastic spacer. The rest of the pieces are sitting inside the carb.
Luckily I had not run the car or all of those pieces would now be inside the engine. I went on a hunt for a new carb spacer(Non-plastic) and found this. Got it today and for the price, it's awesome.
Made by Bryke Racing for $8.99. Has a rubber o-ring seal and everything.

2-7-2016

Here is what I started with. A very crusty 8.5 rear and a bench of new parts.







After a lot of cleaning and POR and a bunch of new parts from Moser, Yukon, and ARP, plus the stud girdle from the old rear. It's finally in.
The 3.73 gears should work good with the 700R4. Just have to have the drive shaft shortened and it's ready for a test drive.
Hopefully by next weekend if the warm weather hangs around.

2-28-2016

Now that I have all the mechanical winter projects done, I have started on the winter body projects.
So I started to peel the car before I do the body work.
I have learned that it peels off really well except for the places you don't spray it on thick enough.
Mainly the edges and the bottom of the car. Still it's coming off pretty easy.
What color for this season? White? Orange? Or maybe black again. I have time to decide.

3-17-2016

Started on my first body winter project.
The rear pass wheel lip was repaired very poorly before I got the car.
I assumed that the wheel lip was rusted out or worse. Turned out it was just creased in a bit. The damage was not that bad.



The guy who repaired it did more damage by drilling holes and then just slapping a bondo on it.
Once I welded up the holes and pulled out my stud gun I needed just a light skim coat of filler.
I was expecting to have to cut and replace the whole lip, or worse, the whole quarter.
Turned out to be a very minor repair. Sure glad I didn't order a new quarter.

5-30-2016

Took the Camaro out for a cruise the other day and something did not feel right.
By the time I got home the trans was slipping pretty bad. Time for a rebuild.
Ordered a kit from Monster transmissions and should be here by wed.
Will be my first trans rebuild. Bought a special tool to compress the springs to aid in taking out the snap rings.
Turned out to be easier to push down with the handle of a hammer and pop out the snap ring.
Now I have a bench full of parts for my giant trans puzzle.
Should be fun. New learning experience.

8-20-2016

So the 700R4 is all rebuilt and back in the car.
Took me longer then I had anticipated because I ended up replacing a few more parts that were not included in the rebuild kit.
Got it back in and it was not locking up in fourth. Called Painless and they helped me figure out it was a bad solenoid. Shipped me a new one right away. Thanks Painless for the great customer service.
Well worth the wait though, cruises down the highway great and has plenty of grunt down low. Hopefully if the weather stays nice today we will go out for a nice long blast.

12-24-2016

I have been thinking about building the next motor for the Camaro. Going back and forth between old school and new school.
Looking through Craigs List last week and my mind was made up for me. An LQ4 for $550 five minutes from my house, after a little negotiating we settled on $400. I think it was a good deal. Everything looks in very good shape. I have a pretty modest goal of 400 to 450hp. Should be attainable without to much trouble. I hope. Early Christmas present.

2-9-2017

Picked up another piece for my LS today. I bought the motor with 317 heads but found a set of L92 (823) heads for $350. Pretty good deal I think. Hopefully I will get everything to the machine shop in the next few weeks.

3-27-2017

Well the block is off to the machine shop. Should be back by the end of the week.

4-2-2017

Got the block back and it looks brand new, very happy.
Before I took it to the machine shop I spent some time deburring the oil passages. Always time well spent.





Spent some today cleaning and getting the block painted.

4-28-2017

Starting looking around for a set of cylinder head stands. Most were at least $50, so out came the tools and for $10 here's my homemade stands. The OCD in me won't let them stay looking like that for long. A little smoothing out & polishing is in order. They work great.



Used some over cleaner and all the carbon came right off.

9-4-2017

Looking for a fast weekend fab job and came up with this, crankshaft stand.
Only one I found online was a Goodson one and it was $124.
Sorry, but for about $20 I can build my own.
Here it is.

9-5-2017

Eagle Rods came in for the LS, another piece of the puzzle is here.
Researching cams at the moment for the next piece.

Also, starting to look for an old pickup to stick the Camaro's driveline in, another project. YEAH!!!!!

9-16-2017

Spent the day cleaning and straightening the garage getting it ready for the winter projects. Have to build a new motor for the Camaro and rebuild the Mustang's 5.0.
Should be a busy winter.