74 Ventura build

[brantb]

I called around and the consensus is 1800-2200 to reupholster the front and back in a basic black or charcoal. Now I am looking for aftermarket buckets for the front and just redoing the rear. I haven't been able to find new foam for the year which sucks since they reek of mouse piss. I ran the hose on them and walked on them to squish water through them and hopefully that and some air will get them close to normal.

I need to find a place that has some scrap metal to build some motor mounts which would be some great progress. I would like to have it moving on its own by December.

Also planning on selling the wheels and tires and go to 18s. The 17s are barely clearing the Corvette brakes and calipers with spacers and with a hard brake and some flex will probably cause problems.

 

[Will Scarlet]

Nice build. It sucks about the mice, but there may be more so I would suggest you put out some mouse poison around in the car to make sure none are holed up anywhere else. And an upholsterer should be able to fashion new foam to fit your needs.

 

[brantb]

Found the first mouse in a trap yesterday. I have only seen one so far, but i am guessing there are more. I put the front seat frame in the car and threw a blanket on it to actually sit in the car. First time i have done that in the year i have owned it.

 

[brantb]

Found a second mouse when I got home from work.

And here is a photo of the front bucket back in the car.

I am going to order some seat upholstery for the rear seat and give it a go. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't. If it does I will save 1200 or so which is nice when restoring a car.

 

[brantb]

Got some progress forward, then backwards. Spent about an hour getting the heater controls hooked up, then realized what a part sitting in the corner had been. The ducting for the defrost. Out came the inside of the heater box, but the foam on the defrost ducting is shredded so it can't go back in.

If I would have realized it sooner, it would have pulled the heater box out and it would have taken me a couple minutes to hook up the controls.

I'm guessing this is going to happen a lot since I didn't take the car apart

Also, anyone have wiring diagrams for this year xbody car? I have a lot of wiring that I have no idea where it goes.

 

[brantb]

Yesterday I got the vent duct for the defrost and the heater box back in.

Today I decided I am going to try to figure out how to get the engine and transmission in. First thing was to get it off the stand and bolted back to the transmission.

Also pulled the hood and put that in the closet.

I think I might pull the front clip so I don't mess it up trying to get the engine and transmission in. I'm also not sure how to bolt up the combo to raise it into place.

I am going to order some small pieces of steel to make the engine mounts. I want to try to retain the factory mounts and build plate for them to sit on and bolt through. Found a place on ebay that sells small chunks and they can bend and cnc laser holes so I will probably go that route.

 

[brantb]

I tried like hell to get the engine in place with the transmission attached and I couldn't do it. Pulled the transmission off and dropped the engine in place.

And the clearance between the oil pan and steering link at full lock. Also the reason I couldn't get both the engine and transmission in at the same time.

 

[brantb]

Got some motor mounts build and the start of the transmission mount done. Broke a few drill bits since the are powdered metat shit, but they got the job done.

Also got the hydro boost mount build and mounted.

 

[brantb]

New wheels that clear the calipers. They were 145ish a piece, so good enough for now.

Welded tabs to hold the soft lines.

Lunchbox locker installed...took two attempts because I missed something the first round.

Finished the trans cross member. I got the brake system closed up but don't have photos yet. Put the wiring harness in, but still hesitant to cut the plugs off. I know it needs to be done, just doesn't feel right. Going to figure out the fuel lines and pump/filter and get that stuff ordered. That way I will be done with the back of the car.