ss454-71

The hardware showed up from the plater. It appears none was lost and for the most part look like new. Almost time to reassemble the chassis.

Well I hate to throw this out there but I'm considering selling the convertible body and cassis once I finish the metal work in order to further my other projects. Anyone interested send me an email at jeffemad@yahoo.com. I really don't want to let it go so better get it before I change my mind.

I was quoted $85 for 10lbs but once I gathered everything up it was 20lbs so I figure with shipping it will be $200. The bracket is for the battery cable. I have one that is similar on a '70 chassis. If it's any good I will send it to you. I will check it when I get home tonight. Dan- just sent you a pm.

I just hope I get it all back from the plater.

Got all the hardware ready to send out to put on a fresh coat of black oxide. I would rather reuse the original hardware and it's in really good condition.

Shot the radiator support and a bunch of other suspension parts over the weekend.

The under body, frame and rear end have all been media blasted and painted over the weekend. Those were some long days but they are done.

No action on the convertible but lots on the '70 SS.

The 70 brackets are different from the 71-72. There are a lot of subtle changes between 70 and 71-72.

Cleaning up the rear end to be media blasted and after degreasing and pressure washing the brake assembly the original hardware still has paint on them. It's a great reference when restoring it back to the correct factory appearance.

Still getting things ready for media blasting. Put the frame up on a jig and through a stand together to hold the rear end. It should make things easier.

I'm almost positive that the vin is not on the frame but the date codes and part # is. At least the 4 van nuys cars I've had didn't have a vin on them but anything is possible. Here is the stamping typically found on the rt rear tail section.

Something I noticed about the rear outter bumper brackets. They are cut a bit crudely to clear the tail light extensions. At first I thought they were cut for clearance by someone during it's life but comparing them to another set I have off the '70 convertible project and I beleave it was a factory modification. Anyone else notice this on their '70?

Made another pile of parts to be media blasted.

Here is another common issue with A body frames due to a mechanic improperly placing and lifting the car with a floor jack where the side rail isn't reinforced. Every car I've owned had this issue. This before shot with a strait edge up against the bottom of the frame you can see what I mean. Here are a couple of methods of straitening that have worked for me. First way I used on the driver side was to use C clamps and a piece of square tube. The tube helps prevent over pulling the steel. This method works well with the transmission crossmember holes. Used some 1/2" bar stock with a hole drilled in it and bolted it to one of the crossmember holes with a heavy washer to prevent distorting the hole. Then used a 3/4" piece of bar stock to transfer the load as I pressed down on the 1/2" bar stock. It worked well. Here is an after shot.

Before media blasting I'm going through the frame to make sure things are spot on. I measured square and it is within tolerances. I didn't find any cracks in the engine cradle that big blocks are prone to. Found a couple tow slots that some tow truck driver grabbed on a bit too hard. I straitened out the hole but now need to add some weld then clean it up with the grinder and reshape the hole.

I've been prepping the chassis parts for media blasting. Removed all the suspension bushings, ball joints and hardware. The pile will get bigger.

Stripped the frame down to the rails. Only a few small things to remove and it's ready to be media blasted and painted.

Do you have a sense as to the finish on the early version. It appears to be black paint or black oxide. The more common later version always appeared to be gold cad plated. Do you agree.

This is how I went about it in '07 when I freshened up the chassis on the '71 SS. I set the body down on a spare frame on dollies.

The body was built the 5th week of October 1969 (10E). The date on the air valve arm is October 25th 1969. The others air valve arms I have are February 18th 1971, march 4 1971 and January 11th 1972. They must made the change some time in 1970.

Another thing I noticed is the air valve arm is slightly different than the one I'm accustom to seeing on the monte. It has a slightly different shape. Here is a side by side comparison of the arm most commonly seen on these cars.

The shifter linkage appears to be galvanized or plated a silver color.

Steering idler arm is black too.

Check out how much sand was in the frame.