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Project Three Times Dead has in fact been dead at least three times. It was dead when I bought it, it became dead again not long thereafter when I realized what I had in front of me and it became dead yet again in 2016 when my interests in the car and life took a significant shift. Later last year the car became for sale as I was wanting a Z51 convertible. Alas the sale didn't transpire and when the planets lined and a good friend agreed to paint the car for me I quickly became inspired to work on it again.
For reasons more personal than practical I decided to close "Project Peer Pressure". https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-pressure.html
So yes, "Project Peer Pressure" is in fact dead but "Project Three Times Dead" is alive and breathing.
When the opportunity materialized to get the car painted the decision was made to remove the carpet (I shouldn't have installed it, don't know what I was thinking) and install the engine. Once those two items were complete I reinstalled the hood. Seeing car with the hood back on it gave me even more inspiration. It also made me wonder why I hadn't already completed this task. I really believe it would have sold had I had the car in this state:
I must give a big thumps up to Ms. Mudbone64. She did a sterling job operating the engine hoist while I dealt with the transmission. Also, carburetor lift plates>>>>>>that engine tilters. They're cheaper, easier to install (no chains) and are easier to lift the engine higher with. Though the engine install only took about twenty minutes, the time I spent working on the clutch installation was significant. Learning how to install Heli-Coils slowed things down a bit.
I'll give some additional details hopefully tomorrow. It's late.
Amazing how life and situations change. I can relate to where you have been. The car looks great and very worthy of your new founded interest. I have always referred to my 58 restoration journey more appropriately as my "58 rescue" effort,,,from a miserable basketcase to pristine and correct. Your post helps keep me inspired too. Nice work and stay motivated.
Having never loaded a car onto a trailer or hauling one put me in a situation where I didn't know everything to expect. I'd helped my Corvette Sensei load, haul and load them but it's been a while and I'd never been wholly responsible for the operation. Again with the help of Ms. Mudbone we were able to get the car safely loaded and battened down. I have to say the Colorado kicked butt. My trip takes me up and down some large hills (I'm in Kentucky fer cryin' out loud) and the Colorado proved to be more than up for the challenge.
Somewhere at a nondescript body-shop in southern Kentucky:
I don't know and don't really care how long the process will take but I have no doubt it's going to look awesome.
I think inspiration rolls up and down for many of us with classic cars, but you are on the UP part now. When it's done you will wonder why it all happened. A side note for you. I hope you already had the throttle bell crank bolted in the trans tunnel before you put the engine back. Dennis
I think inspiration rolls up and down for many of us with classic cars, but you are on the UP part now. When it's done you will wonder why it all happened. A side note for you. I hope you already had the throttle bell crank bolted in the trans tunnel before you put the engine back. Dennis
Glad your back at it Mudbone, hope it turns out great, you are way ahead of me on your project.
On your 3.6l they are nice engines but don’t trust the GM oil life gauge. Many of these fail early because the owner trusts the oil life gauge. Change it every 5,000 max and keep the oil level full and you won’t have issues. Great little engine, spunky.
Last edited by Westlotorn; 06-02-2021 at 07:09 PM.
Reason: spell check errors!
Mudbone, getting the two bolt in that hold the bel crank are almost impossible to get to due to the bell housing and body being so close and fitting you hand in there. You have real challenge on your hands. Dennis
Mudbone, getting the two bolt in that hold the bel crank are almost impossible to get to due to the bell housing and body being so close and fitting you hand in there. You have real challenge on your hands. Dennis
Perhaps Ms. Mudbone and her smallish hands can resolve the situation. If not Ms. Mudbone then I can guarantee Mr. Cherry Picker can help. But thanks for the warning. This will be one of the first issues I tackle when the car comes back.
Glad your back at it Mudbone, hope it turns out great, you Alpert way ahead of me.
on your 3.6l they are nice engines but don’t trust the GM oil life gauge. Many of these fail early because the owner trusts the oil life gauge. Change it every 5,000 max and keep the oil level full and you won’t have issues. Great little engine, spunky.
Yep, back at it. Thanks for checking in.
Well, so far I've sold my soul to the oil life gauge but for the life of me I can't remember what the mileage has been between oil changes. I'll definitely keep the mileage under 5,000. Thanks for the tip.
3.6 liter, 308 horsepower, 275lb-ft. I love my truck.
Thanks, I bought one in December, same engine but in LT trim. I'm pretty happy with mine as well, but I haven't towed with it yet. Glad to hear the positive report.
Are the body side emblems like the ones seen above chromed or polished everywhere they're not painted? Those are very dull and though I tried to polish one of them I couldn't get it to the level of shine I prefer..
I have seen several of the 3.6L with Spun Rod bearings or separately cam chain failure. All were the result of owners trusting the Oil Life gauge and they all have a story like, " The car said the oil had 25% life left when it broke". Not sure what parameters GM used on the oil life but it is not reliable.
I rebuilt a GMC Acadia, same engine. They are impressive in structure and technology. The high pressure direct injected fuel pump is Bosch, same unit you find in Porsche or Audi.
PS: There is a new type of oil spec out there, it is designed to help prevent carbon build up on the backside of the intake valves. Use the new oil or by 80,000 miles your power will drop off because carbon T Pee's are building up on the back of the intake valves. All Direct Injected engines face this issue. Solutions are still being found to this. Only downside to direct injection.
Last edited by Westlotorn; 06-01-2021 at 04:09 PM.
“The car said the oil had 25% life left when it broke".
And here in lies the problem. Owners think it also means “I don’t need to check the oil”. I have been a Master Mechanic for both Honda, Volvo and BMW during my lifetime and here is where BMW is the winner with an oil level light (when functioning). Doesn’t matter what the oil service interval is, it lets you know the system is low. Honda was the worst, due to their deserved Quality ratings, but the service interval for the last 10 years or so has been at 10K miles with synthetic oil. Most any engine will have problems if the oil level is ignored, Honda’s included.
05-30-2021, 11:27 PM
Project Three Times Dead
Dennis
