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Z16 Red, Black top Restoration Progress, May 12, 2005 www.Z16Chevelle.com |
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A great deal has been accomplished in the last
month. The bodywork is nearly complete on the body shell and hood, doors,
fenders and deck lid are back from the media blaster. The frame has been
stripped, blasted, primed and painted and reassembly has begun. The
transmission is ready for assembly and the rear axle awaits final details and
paint. The dash has been sent out for new chrome as has the
console and door windwing posts. New date coded glass has been received
making just about every part needed for the restoration now in hand. Many,
many parts are NOS and have been searched for diligently. |
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“OL” stenciled in white, upside down on LH frame
kickup over rear axle. This is the 1965 Chevelle convertible frame code.
Frames were assembled with suspension components upside down on the Chevrolet
line, hence this code would read
correctly. |
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Bare and blasted……………. |
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Etch prime……………….. |
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Semi-gloss black (not semi-flat) and being
assembled. |
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Brake line and properly restored, original muffler
hanger. The hangers, both muffler and tailpipe, were all original on this
car. Their original finish is plain, bare steel. Bolts are grey phosphatized
(bare steel shown incorrectly in photo). |
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Muncie M20 4 speed transmission cleaned, inspected
and ready for assembly. Two new gears (2nd and 3rd), sliders and all of the
normal rebuild items (blocking rings, bearings, seals, bushings, etc.) will
make this transmission like new. The aluminum main case, tailshaft housing and side
cover have not been bead blasted. This destroys the original finish which
can’t be accurately duplicated. This trans has it’s original finish: die cast
“shell” on tailshaft and side cover, bright look on sand cast main case. |
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Bare front, lower A-arms ready for bushings.
Bushings and ball joint were installed after painting. |
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Lower A-arms had yellow paint marker randomly
applied at various places on the bare steel, then painted semi-gloss black.
Yellow marker IS NOT visible in final part since it is under black. |
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Brake boosters on 1965 Chevelles have a chromate
coloring that is very “washed out” (silver) appearing as opposed to the later
Chevelle’s more golden appearance. Current reproductions of this 9” booster
are incorrect with the later “golden” look. This is also true of the master
cylinder cap. |
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Body shell after blasting, etch priming and
primer-surfacer. More block sanding and surfacer to follow, then doors and
deck lid installed and aligned. Grey primer-surfacer is used as original although
original was lacquer type. Urethane catalized type used now has many improved
qualities. |
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NOS wheel opening moldings await. |