Sent: January 23, 2007 4:08 PM
Subject: Update - 33 Chevy Rebuild - 11

It is alive, it's alive!! ;-))

A good couple of days so far this week - I take off tomorrow for our weekly Costco / Medford / eat with Jenn day. So no more work till Thursday.

Yesterday I set the radiator in place to make sure the hood still fit, etc. I had to move the radiator 3/4 inch back to make good hood clearances. Then I bushed up the radiator a couple of shims and set the headlight bars in place to hold the alignment.

I adjusted the ride height up because as when they were installed they hit the fender braces. So up 1 1/4 inches for now - looks like I will need to lower them some when we get the fenders on so will end up with good clearances - I thought I might have trouble getting 2" dropped spindles.

So today I put on new radiator hoses and hooked up the whole engine where it needed to be, trans lines, A/C lines, routing of the headlight wire looms, overflow tube and finally the anti-freeze. It took a couple of filings to get the air all out. Then I drove it outside. Only exhaust leak is in one of the pipes where it had been before - doesn't look like the headers are leaking.

I was ready to drive it around the block but the trans shifter was backwards. I later reset it, I had put it on backwards so to speak and in the wrong adjusting hole, finally with Ann's help we just finished re setting it. Now I could drive it around the block but might wait now for the rain the end of the week to pass.

The next thing is to put the fenders back on. I had them on once but expect they'll give me trouble like they always do. I ground the joint mark off the new fenders today so they are ready to install again.

Bill & Ann

Sent: January 26, 2007 4:19 PM
Subject: Update - 33 Chevy Rebuild - 12

A good couple of days. I put away the battery, it's cover with new seal and the floor carpet and mat back in place. It's looks almost as it did before.

I made a couple of straps to go around the boxed frame to hold down the wiring loom and brake lines near the steering coupling and exhaust header. It should keep them out of the u-joint and max heat. I may still have to modify it if it still warms up the loom too much. I put some of that high temp tape over the loom to see if it might reduce the heat, we'll have to see as time goes on that.

I had to make a couple of special mounts on the fenders into some of the drilled and welded nuts, neat thing to have available - put them in when I boxed the frame.

Today I put on both fenders. I had to cut an inch off the new fender where it goes by the headers on the right side. It was hitting the header before I cut it. Couldn't see the interference before without the engine in place,

I repaired the two holes to be covered on the old fender and painted the new fender before I installed them. Now they appear to be in fine shape with solid mounting to the radiator and an equal distance off the ground at the fender openings. So unless something odd happens the fenders are in place to stay. I wondered whether I'd be tempted to take them off for final paint, but they are so hard to fit up I think I'll paint them in place like I did originally(?)

So next week the headlights will be mounted and possibly the front bumper and license plate. I'll then have to decide what height to adjust the coil over springs. I'll have to actually drive it to determine that, so if I get a good day next week we may be on the road for the first of many road test, checks.

The rear fenders, remaining body and top splits around Ann's door will be to come. With all the mess bondo and Fiberglas make I may delay some of the finally body work till I can open the doors and do it in front of the shop. But I may have to do it inside if it stays cold.

Bill & Ann

----- Original Message -----
From: Bill 'Butch' Keef
To: Bill Method
Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 1:52 AM
Subject: Re: Update - 33 Chevy Rebuild -12

Hi Bill, Your web pages have just been UPDATED, eh!!
... http://keefbiz.com/BM33ChevyRebuild_06.htm ...
Man oh man. Looking so good now. Soon you'll be testing
it out on the road too, eh!! Amen, brother!! ;-))
Later, Butch

Following is in reply to my email above, eh!! ;-))

Sent: January 27, 2007 4:38 PM
Subject: Update - 33 Chevy Rebuild - 12 continued . . . .

How about tomorrow? Here's a peak at update 13.

Our daughter didn't want to come to Merlin today so Ann & I took four hours or so, fired up the heater and bolted on the headlights, bumper and clearance / turn lights and front license plate.

I talked Ann into cleaning the gal up like we were going to a car show, all the grim off the rest of the car. We plan to take our daughter sometime Sunday on it's first road trip maybe up to a Rouge River view point? Suppose to be sunny in the afternoon.

I was ready today but Ann said no let's wait for Jenn.

Bill

Sent: February 1, 2007 4:29 PM
Subject: Update - 33 Chevy Rebuild - 13

I've never considered 13 an unlucky number, so here's update 13. This time it's more lucky as it includes the first drive of the car last Sunday Jan 28th, just about 3 months into the rebuild effort. This was a check out of major systems and we still have a lot to complete including the windshield and remaining body work, but most of the big items are done.

This week I worked on the two rear fenders with the first effort of body work and prime. Boy I forget how dusty Bondo is, as well as the prime paint in closed area.

I still have to finish the items we found in the trip such as; steering wheel center, directional didn't work, and a noise in the upper right self.

Tomorrow I plan to work on the final alignment and directional and maybe drive it to Steve Simmons to get advice on setting of my new TCI front end. Like the sway bar adjustment and setting of the coil over shock 'rebound rate'? Things I've not had to mess with before.

As I said we still have the windshield to replace, the work on body tears in the roof area above Ann's door as well as the final body work and paint eventually.

But it is now drivable and on the road to final mending.

Bill & Ann

Sent: February 2, 2007 3:34 PM
Subject: Update - 33 Chevy Rebuild - 13

An extra thoughts on the car to this point in time.

I fixed the directionals this morning as well as the horn so it was not ready to take a longer test drive this afternoon while we still had sun.

The car runs and performs great. Ann & I both agreed the first leg on the freeway was a little scary. We hadn't gotten above 40 mph and hadn't really tested out the new improved things.

We filled up with gas and took it up to Steve's to get his knowledge on the setting of the ride height and sway bars. We've also got a shock rebound setting on the coil overs that we have to play with for a setting that will seem good to us, so that's more reason for test drives.

But by the time we got home we love our old '33 Eagle more than ever. The steering is now able to be done in a tighter circle, the new power brakes boosters and new front big calipers all feel and brake super. There's no steering or brake pull just straight down the road. Ann already feels the improvement in the ride.

So now as we finish the car we can drive it around for further test drives, we love the new feel. Onward and upward.

Bill & Ann

Sent: February 9, 2007 3:01 PM
Subject: Update - 33 Chevy Rebuild - 14

Well, to make sure we get by the number 13 if anyone cares, here's 14. ;-))

Today I put in the new windshield. What days we live in - we had put off the windshield (since it wasn't critical) but decided a couple of days to go ahead and replace it now. So we went on the internet and bought the new rubber from "The Filling Station" (an old Chevy parts suppler) then when we received it in a couple of days we took out the windshield and went downtown to Debs Auto glass where they cut the new one in just a few hours. Use to have to plan way ahead like the first time through, now the stuff is so available it's amazing, We've replaced many parts during the rebuild, one was the power brake booster and master cylinder unit from the '74 Chevelle we used as a donor car 15 years ago. No problem, it was an over night delivery from Auto Zone - again what a deal now to get these what were before odd parts.

Anyway this may be the last update for a while since as you can see we have the radiator splash pan repaired and in place as well as the first go around on the rear fenders. This along with the new windshield encompass the last of the visual changes. We have a nice size list of items to do before we take it on the road but we can now drive it while we fix them. The next visual change would be the new lower body paint. I'll be doing detailed repair on many of the small areas but they won't show in pics, so this may be the last update for a while. I may show some of the white paint repairs along the way.

I've enclosed four pics - enjoy.

Bill & Ann