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Updated 05-12-2020



PROJECT 442 PICTURE SERIES: PAGE 2





I record the repairs and modifications needed to bring this car back to life. Newest pics are on top (Click here to see from the beginning of the page)



PROJECT 442: PISTONS AND CONNECTING RODS







I got my Speed Pro Pistons today. They are .060 Over stock. This will take the 455 out to 468ci.





Here is the Part number and specs for the pistons.





The Pistons come with a DurOshield skirt coating that helps to reduce cylinder wall friction. It also lets the company put their logo on the side :-)





The Piston top has a -18cc dish. With the heads and head gaskets I plan to use (along with the deck height) should yield me a 10.3:1 compression ratio.





I bought a Torque Plate for the Olds BB from J&S Machine. This is used during the machining process to mimic the force applied to the block when the heads are bolted on.





I make my own jig to weigh the rods. I check to see if they are all within spec. The big end is considered the "Rotational" weight. The little end is the "Reciprocating" weight.





Here is a pic of the Connecting Rods spec card. I got the rods from PAW (has since gone out of business)



PROJECT 442: ASSEMBLING MY TWO PIECE BILLET SSIII WHEELS







I set up a jig on my bench to mount the centers on to. I then used a Digital Height Gauge to check the run out of my fixture.





I bought an aluminum Deck Plate as a base. I had to use a few pieces of thin aluminum sheet to get the exact backspace (4") I wanted.





I test fit the center and double checked the backspacing before commiting to the next step.





Here we go! The centers go in the freezer for 3 hours to help them shrink just a little. At the 2 hour mark, the hoop goes in the oven for an hour.





The hoop is in the oven for an hour at 400 degrees. When the hour is up the center bolts on to the fixture and the hoop goes from the oven straight on the center.





When the frozen center and heated hoop are put together, they are left to cool for a few hours. Once they reach room temp they are stuck together in a pres fit.





This is all four done and ready to go out for TIG welding. The back sides will get welded together to make it one piece.





I plan to dress all four wheels in traditional SSIII Stripes and Olds Rocket Center Decals.



PROJECT 442: PICKED UP SOME ROLLER ROCKERS AND VALVE COVERS







I got a good deal on some Harland Sharp Oldsmobile Roller Rockers.





A great Olds guy from GBodyForum sold me a set of 67-72 Olds Big Block Valve Covers.





There are issues with fitting Rollers under stock Valve Covers, and Tall VC's can have issues with clearing the A/C Box.





The 67-72 Covers have a taller profile and recesses where the A/C Box and the Brake Booster are located.





I need to clean them up and check for clearance when the time comes. I also may transfer the "Olds" stamping from my stockers.





PROJECT 442: INSTALLING THE FRONT STEERING PARTS







I lay out all the parts I'll be using. Baer Bump Steer Kit and a bunch of Moog goodies. I use Eastwood's Diamond Clear to coat the bare cast iron parts.





I hung on to the old steering setup that came off the 442 to get an idea of the measurement from Inner to Outer Tie Rod.





The new parts assembled on the bench.





My rebuilt Saginaw 800 off a 1984 Monte Carlo SS. (12.7:1 Constant Effort)





Some pics of the front steering installed. I even threw on the UMI Front Sway Bar







PROJECT 442: REAR SUSPENSION AND DIFF INSTALL







The diff with all the suspension parts laid out. Hotchkis Control Arms, UMI Rear Shock Tower Brace and Sway Bar, and QA1 Coil Overs.





A close up of the freshly painted 9 inch.





The rear in place with control arms attached.





QA1 Coil Over Shocks and UMI Shock Tower Brace installed.









UMI Sway Bar installed.





Glam shot of the rear suspension intalled.





Couldn't help putting my 18" SSIII on to get a feel of how it looks.





Remember, one side of a two car garage. (I did have to evict my better half for a few hours to make room). Time to clean up.



PROJECT 442: PREPPING THE F**D 9 INCH







Here's the specs:

3:50 Posi, 1350 Yoke, 31 Spline Strange S/S Axles, Ford Racing M2300 Rear Disc Kit.





The Rear Disc Kit uses factory parts from a 94-02 Ford Explorer.





The rotors are 11.8 inches. I had to have them drilled for a 5 x 4.75 bolt pattern.





The stainless brake lines are pre-bent for stock rear drums. Gonna have to do some creative bending to get them to fit rear discs.





The GM 8.5 rear has a mounting pad cast in for the rear brake hose "T" block. I need to recreate that in a bracket to mount it. I use an index card to check the shape.





Bending Brake Lines to get them to fit. I use zip ties to temporarily hold them for testing.





The drivers side was as easy as flipping the line around and using it backwards.





Both lines bent and positioned. The bracket is installed too.





Taking my index card and tracing it out on metal, I cut and bend my bracket. Then it's just weld a nut on to accept the bolt.





The bracket installed on one of the center section studs.





The two rear lines had to be cut and flared to work. I used Eastwood's flaring tool. It made short work of the lines. I practiced on some short pieces I made from what I cut off.





If you have stainless line and can flare off the car (this thing is big and goes in a vise) this tool works great! I practiced on 6-10 pieces before doing the final lines and they all turned out like this.





I was going to make my own brake line tabs, but Inline Tube sell these, so I just ordered a set of four.





I sanded the areas to weld to bare metal and then shot a coat of weld through primer on them.





Here are the brake line tabs and caliper hose brackets welded in place.







A shot of the 9 inch with the brake modifications done.





A pic of the rear with the lines, hoses, calipers, discs, and 18 inch wheel installed.





PROJECT 442: THE FRONT SUSPENSION INSTALLED







A bunch of pics of the front suspension installed.





I had to add a bunch of weight on to the frame to get the front springs to compress enough to start the top nuts.













PROJECT 442: PREPPING FOR FRONT SUSPENSION







All the boxed parts laying out.





Breaking open the boxes like a kid at Christmas!





All the parts laid out on the bench.





The UMI Performance Upper and Lower Control Arms and their C5 Big Brake Kit.





The modified G-Body Spindles cut and ready for painting. Moog Spring Isolators too.





QA1 bolt in Coil Over Shocks and some anti-seize.





The Wilwood hubs from the UMI Performance Corvette C5 Brake Kit.





The modified G-Body Spindles painted gloss black to match the other suspension pieces.





I used a block of wood as a jig to torque the wheel studs. This kept me from using a vise to hold them.





Red Loctite and then torque the studs to 77 lb-ft. I mark the stud heads to show they've been torqued.



PROJECT 442: PREPPING FOR CORVETTE C5 BRAKES







After tearing apart the stock calipers and rotors I clean the stock spindles to modify them.





The UMI Performance big brake kit gives detailed instruction on where to cut the stock caliper mounts.





Here is one cut and the other stock. The mounting bracket bolts to two of the dust shield mounting holes.





Stock G-Body Caliper.





Corvette C5 Caliper that will fit on a 12.8 inch rotor. That's a far cry from the tiny stock 1 piston caliper and 10.5 inch rotor.





Big difference!!





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