Restoration Pics

Ed,
Sent you a PM regarding the antenna.
I finally found it.
Check your PM inbox.
Rick

That’s awesome, thanks!

First road trip with a partially assembled car was successful, 550 miles trouble free, it was a little loud minus the headliner and passenger seat it did the job nicely as I needed to transport some larger items home.
More pictures when I fix the laptop.

Fuel filter got refreshed, shook then dumped to see how dirty, not too bad




Thursday I drove 3.5 hrs to a buddy's house and took his truck and racecar for a weekend out, upon returning @ 3am Sunday I returned to this, no biggie but with this cars tree history I had to admire it for a second

/49548212637_2fc508dd44_c.jpg[/img]

Sometimes I come home from the track with goodies, not a big deal when using my own truck, this time I was going to take advantage of the half interior (still on its way out)



Lots of tarps and a blanket to be absolutely sure, but the trans was thoroughly drained/cleaned and wrapped with this in mind. (it was delivered to the track inside someones BMW so I was confident he did a good job)

albertj wrote:

albertj wrote:

As long as that rad was not full of crap (the odd walnut shell dust does not count) I would spend 0 time thinking about it.

Radiator did fine for the road trip, unfortunately water pump #2 has let go while parked a couple of days later



[/quote]

Whose WP do you plan to get for replacement?

albertj wrote:

Whose WP do you plan to get for replacement?

Have any suggestions?

Locally sourced in the $30 range, undecided, as a professional tech I have sworn off Gates Water pumps (everything else gates is fine), AC delco is china but to a decent spec, Murry was all USA, now assembled in USA with a mixed bag of parts from other country's ,GMB is a choice unexplored.

Internet shopping is scary, bought a AC Delco for my 6.0 GMC truck from amazon, box looked convincing,hologram and all, pump looked good till I found the familiar cheap china laser etched font that reminded me of the very cheapest stuff one can buy. Hope its genuine as I tow a racecar interstate.... time will tell.

98inWPB wrote:

albertj wrote:

Whose WP do you plan to get for replacement?

I have sworn off Gates Water pumps,

Guess who just put a Gates water pump on a few months ago?

maybe this NOS Airtex, but you'll need to get it *now*.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Airtex-Water-Pump-AW5075-Fits-GM-3-8L-3800cc-231-cu-in-V6-Gas-NEW-21D/151571019855

Alternatively I would get the Cardone: https://www.amazon.com/Cardone-58-531-Remanufactured-Domestic-Water/dp/B000C49PRI/

Last time I put on a WP was more than a decade ago, the dealer put on a GM OE unit, my WP was working but sounded like marbles in a can.  Parts counter guy said they run a real long time noisy.  I said I did not need the drama and order me one, put it on, and literally had forgotten about it until now.

Delco and China?  Mmmmm... might have to get over that, GM sells most of its cars in China now (makes them there too I think) - https://www.statista.com/statistics/304367/vehicle-sales-of-general-motors-by-country/.  China's local content contracts as a condition of doing business in the country pretty much guarantee that a good chunk of the spares business had to move to China.  Question is what spec will GM enforce?  The Chinese will hit or beat any spec you want to pay for, so the spec GM will get is the spec GM will pay for. Further point is that in the same way VW sells most of its vehicles outside Germany, GM sells most of its vehicles outside the US.

Jack the R wrote:

98inWPB wrote:

albertj wrote:

Whose WP do you plan to get for replacement?

I have sworn off Gates Water pumps,

Guess who just put a Gates water pump on a few months ago?  

You will be fine for a few years, all it will do is leak prematurely.

albertj wrote:

maybe this NOS Airtex, but you'll need to get it *now*.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Airtex-Water-Pump-AW5075-Fits-GM-3-8L-3800cc-231-cu-in-V6-Gas-NEW-21D/151571019855

Alternatively I would get the Cardone: https://www.amazon.com/Cardone-58-531-Remanufactured-Domestic-Water/dp/B000C49PRI/

Last time I put on a WP was more than a decade ago, the dealer put on a GM OE unit, my WP was working but sounded like marbles in a can.  Parts counter guy said they run a real long time noisy.  I said I did not need the drama and order me one, put it on, and literally had forgotten about it until now.

Delco and China?  Mmmmm... might have to get over that, GM sells most of its cars in China now (makes them there too I think) - https://www.statista.com/statistics/304367/vehicle-sales-of-general-motors-by-country/.  China's local content contracts as a condition of doing business in the county pretty much guarantee that a good chunk of the spares business had to move to China.  Question is what spec will GM enforce?  The Chinese will hit or beat any spec you want to pay for, so the spec GM will get is the spec GM will pay for. Further point is that in the same way VW sells most of its vehicles outside Germany, GM sells most of its vehicles outside the US.  

A-1 Cardone has a special place with me, their rebulids do not inspire confidence but sometimes they are the only choice. Lets just say, if one of my suppliers primary line is Cardone I find another supplier:sad:

Thanks for the research, you helped solidify my decision to shop locally for a delco unit.

Someone on a Corvette forum posted that the GM Delco OE units (from dealers, Amazon) are made in Canada, (they are likely actually Gates) and the Delco 'professional' aftermarket units are made in China.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c5-tech/3987997-need-advises-on-water-pump-and-thermostat.html

The Corvette pump is (very) different.

Not one to be caught up on analysis paralysis, past the point of my A-1 cardone and Gates bias, I pulled the trigger @ O'Reillys auto parts store like I would do for any other job, all I specified was AC Delco

This arrived, as predicated, Professional line is made in China



Decent looking casting, nice machine surface



Attractive but the Delco is nothing more then stickers



Up close we have the cheap china laser printing, no matter, it will prob last long enough to forget about.

...cast iron impellers generally flow less and weigh more than steel ones - and supposedly quit sooner.

Here one list member argues for electric pump, others point out the iron vs steel experiences:

https://www.impalassforum.com/threads/waterpump-cast-iron-vs-steel-impeller.277685/

One voice in the wilderness actually sounds sensible:

https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=518982

My opinion -- I like the looks of the cast one but I wonder if they made the spindle oversize and heated the impeller before install (expansion) on the steel spindle or just pressed it on.

If I'm posting in the wrong spot just say so, I'm trying to keep all aspects of this revival in one place.

Never had a cooling issue so impeller design/efficiency never crossed the mind, I could see how a heavier cast impeller may shorten lifespan but can anyone recall seeing differing designs on the series II?

I saw no sign of heating to fit either end, I'm ASSuming its just pressed together.

Today:

Side by side old pump



Almost forgot I modded (ground upon) the front bottom bolt when doing this last time to skip pulling the mount bracket



Book calls for taking the thing all apart to clear the blower idler pulley (lower right barely in frame)



Cleaned up ready to go back, yeah funky angle



Another funky angle stuffing the modded bolt back in place



Blower belt grooved idler pulley didn't feel great, not real loud but starting to throw rust dust, a trip to the parts car got something better, may have to revisit before torching the belt and being forced to pull the mount.



2 hours, a can of brake cleaner, and a gallon of green antifreeze later (dexcool aint cool)

No updates past tossing the old passenger seat back in for a special night out with the wife, the typical pattern of my work randomly provides cars to drive home, attention drops off till time spare time presents.
Headliner still out, have to get the windshield pillars pulled to get wrapped but it appears the dash pad is pinning them in place, anyone have a way to get them out of there without breaking stuff or pulling the pad?

It's *really* nice to read this thread and see updates, Ed. Thanks.

Albertj

Just a quick check in, I have not fallen off the planet, life has a way of getting in the way, have had many customer cars to drive lately witch means the riv has been sitting 50% of the time. The interior is still half done and now it seems my 2nd set of A/C compressor manifold hoses are cracked, first set got welded 3-4 times before giving up, looked at the engine mounts but they are solid, literally, not broken just hard.

Any ideas why this problem repeats?

98inWPB wrote:

No updates past tossing the old passenger seat back in for a special night out with the wife, the typical pattern of my work randomly provides cars to drive home, attention drops off till time spare time presents.
Headliner still out, have to get the windshield pillars pulled to get wrapped but it appears the dash pad is pinning them in place, anyone have a way to get them out of there without breaking stuff or pulling the pad?

The A pillar covers are held by plastic push pins top center and bottom. you have to pull the tops toward the center console shifter, the bottoms will pretty much stay in place. Once you get the tops loose the middle and bottom push pins are not hard to find.

It is *easier* to remove them with the dash pad out; to do that you have to remove the dash fascia to get to the screws that hold the pad down. Not difficult in the least, just time consuming, move slow so you don't bust the plastics and consider using flat washers under the screws on reassembly (again to avoid busting the plastic). See the FSM for details. Last I checked Au-Ve-Co still has the fasteners (or at least compatible replacements) if you break any.

98inWPB wrote:

Just a quick check in, I have not fallen off the planet, life has a way of getting in the way, have had many customer cars to drive lately witch means the riv has been sitting 50% of the time. The interior is still half done and now it seems my 2nd set of A/C compressor manifold hoses are cracked, first set got welded 3-4 times before giving up, looked at the engine mounts but they are solid, literally, not broken just hard.

Any ideas why this problem repeats?

I imagine AC hoses can get embrittled over time with heating and cooling but I wonder if yours were damaged some other way. Mine are still original, maybe because I run the AC in AUTO mode all the time. Many years ago I was told by a GM R&D engineer that the system was designed and materials selected intending to be run all the time. When my kids would drive the car they'd turn it off - you would not believe the cascade of problems that ensued. Absolutely dessicated the seals.

I also was told that over time the soft parts of the hoses tend to very slowly leak refrigerant. It's best to evac and refill not just top up, but all one has to do is top the system up with plain refrigerant (NOT stop leak that's a whole other family of woe and it won't stop the hoses seeping), assuming there are not other problems.

Consider replacing those hardened engine mounts, although I am not sure if that's a big deal - thinking about it.

The AC lines have plagued me since 60K, funny a second set died the same way,in S. Fl the air never gets turned off.... parts car will be donating its lines as this is a hardline crack, leak started with a month between topping, then week, now 2 days, optimistically I changed the sealing washers when oil showed up there but I knew better as this is not a gradual seep.

Work and life still in the way, car still exactly as it has been... In typical fashion it got parked a month because other things needed driven, pulled it out drove a week, now have another to drive for half this week.

AC will likely get attention first but there are still loose ends on the exterior trim and most of the interior still need swapped out. Need to find that youtube vid somewhere around here and order that amazing leather conditioner before putting in mint seats that have not been used in 15 years.

PS: have yet to get the antenna working but do have a money order to send out.

98inWPB wrote:

Need to find that youtube vid somewhere around here and order that amazing leather conditioner before putting in mint seats that have not been used in 15 years.

If it's the Sweet Project Cars video where they recommend Leather Love, that product did nothing for me.

AlbertJ likes Lexol for cleaning and Leatherique for restoration. I purchased Lexol on his recommendation but haven't used it yet.

Have used Lexol in the past but was sold on that video (if its the same one Im thinking of with the cream) Ill just get more Lexol.

98inWPB wrote:

The AC lines have plagued me since 60K, funny a second set died the same way,in S. Fl the air never gets turned off.... parts car will be donating its lines as this is a hardline crack, leak started with a month between topping, then week, now 2 days, optimistically I changed the sealing washers when oil showed up there but I knew better as this is not a gradual seep.

Work and life still in the way, car still exactly as it has been... In typical fashion it got parked a month because other things needed driven, pulled it out drove a week, now have another to drive for half this week.

AC will likely get attention first but there are still loose ends on the exterior trim and most of the interior still need swapped out. Need to find that youtube vid somewhere around here and order that amazing leather conditioner before putting in mint seats that have not been used in 15 years.

PS: have yet to get the antenna working but do have a money order to send out.

When I had my seats out of my car for a body overhaul, I slathered on Lexol and 303 Leather Conditioner and let it soak it. When it soaked in I added more, and more. Over the span of a couple weeks. Darkened the seat a little bit _ but - it even softened the leather on the headrests, which had become stiff (it still flexed a bit and did not crack) in spite of regular cleaning/treatment. Instead of using a rag to wipe the stuff on, use your hands or maybe your hands in nitrile gloves and slather enough on to coat the surfaces wet. Then leave it a few days. Repeat. I had to repeat twice (nothing to lose, right.... maybe...) and after the 2nd repeat the leather had resoftened.

Phew.

Are you done with this build?

Calvin90 wrote:

Are you done with this build?

It gets worked on in bursts, Life and work often get in the way, only recently got motivated when a Riv owning customer needed a seat motor repair at the same time a decent parts car showed up at the junkyard. For various reasons, rather then rely on my already picked over personal parts car, I leaned on that fresh junkyard unit for exterior trim clips, the a/c manifold, ABS pump, power antenna, newer air shocks/compressor and seat parts.

As of a month ago, with the manifold hoses installed, the A/C is back up running, 2 days ago the headliner finally made it back in, sun visors and window pillar trim go in possibly today but have to run some wires to re purpose the sunroof slide switch as a horn button (deleted sunroof when the roof got changed, airbag horn button is stuck on both red airbags I have)

Still have to transfer carpet and seats from parts car, perhaps today Ill finally slather everything in Lexol to start getting them ready.

98inWPB wrote:

Calvin90 wrote:

Are you done with this build?

It gets worked on in bursts, Life and work often get in the way, only recently got motivated when a Riv owning customer needed a seat motor repair at the same time a decent parts car showed up at the junkyard. For various reasons, rather then rely on my already picked over personal parts car, I leaned on that fresh junkyard unit for exterior trim clips, the a/c manifold, ABS pump, power antenna, newer air shocks/compressor and seat parts.

As of a month ago, with the manifold hoses installed, the A/C is back up running, 2 days ago the headliner finally made it back in, sun visors and window pillar trim go in possibly today but have to run some wires to re purpose the sunroof slide switch as a horn button (deleted sunroof when the roof got changed, airbag horn button is stuck on both red airbags I have)

Still have to transfer carpet and seats from parts car, perhaps today Ill finally slather everything in Lexol to start getting them ready.

I dimly recall, but could be wrong, that buried among these posts somewhere is a how-to-fix the airbag horn button. Apparently the membrane switch material is available as yardage (well, footage) and connecting it isn't that difficult (although I am not spoiling for to have to do that).