milestone today

by pila on Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:54 pm

Today I bolted the Elco body back on the frame........big day in the restoration I think. I believe it was early June last year when I removed it and bolted it on the rotisserie. I mounted the engine and TH400 a few weeks ago.
Some interference issues that I knew I would have to deal with. The left rocker cover on the Caddy 500 is quite close, like maybe 5/8", to the brake booster, and the AC box with the evap core may have to be modified somewhat to get it mounted back on the firewall, since it looks like it will need room for the other (right) rocker cover.
I never thought it would be easy!! Very Happy

by TWBouska AKA Wooderson on Sat Jul 31, 2010 8:18 pm

i have been interested in a caddy swap for a long time, so please share as much are your willing to post while you continue your restoration.

by 1973 454 MONTE on Sat Jul 31, 2010 8:39 pm

its been a year since my buddy almost finished his 73 monte.

we finally put on the door window trim and weather strip and wheel well moldings that we got from a guy for 150.

boy what a difference a little trim makes.

by bigredlaguna on Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:51 pm

pila wrote:Today I bolted the Elco body back on the frame........big day in the restoration I think. I believe it was early June last year when I removed it and bolted it on the rotisserie. I mounted the engine and TH400 a few weeks ago.
Some interference issues that I knew I would have to deal with. The left rocker cover on the Caddy 500 is quite close, like maybe 5/8", to the brake booster, and the AC box with the evap core may have to be modified somewhat to get it mounted back on the firewall, since it looks like it will need room for the other (right) rocker cover.
I never thought it would be easy!!

Is the booster the original style? I think there are some later model boosters that are a smaller diameter that may work and give you better room.

by 74chick on Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:42 pm

Good to hear. Sounds like it is going easier then you thoght it would.

by 1973 454 MONTE on Sun Aug 01, 2010 8:02 am

bigredlaguna wrote:
pila wrote:Today I bolted the Elco body back on the frame........big day in the restoration I think. I believe it was early June last year when I removed it and bolted it on the rotisserie. I mounted the engine and TH400 a few weeks ago.
Some interference issues that I knew I would have to deal with. The left rocker cover on the Caddy 500 is quite close, like maybe 5/8", to the brake booster, and the AC box with the evap core may have to be modified somewhat to get it mounted back on the firewall, since it looks like it will need room for the other (right) rocker cover.
I never thought it would be easy!!

Is the booster the original style? I think there are some later model boosters that are a smaller diameter that may work and give you better room.

early 73 had thinner boosters,not as thick as the late 73-77. they do make smaller diameter after markets.

by pila on Sun Aug 01, 2010 6:51 pm

I think I saw somewhere that there is a 9" diameter booster available, but I'll have to research it to know it it will work on a '75. I didn't measure mine yet, but I believe it's the standard 11".

Lots of other things can get put back together, now that the body is back on. And there is still some body work on the numerous dings it had etc. At least there's no rust!! Smile

by pila on Wed Aug 11, 2010 9:08 pm

I found out today that I can actually roll the rocker cover off of the head and get it off past the booster. It didn't look like I could until I fooled with it.

by 77malibu77 on Thu Aug 12, 2010 3:47 pm

bigredlaguna wrote:
pila wrote:Today I bolted the Elco body back on the frame........big day in the restoration I think. I believe it was early June last year when I removed it and bolted it on the rotisserie. I mounted the engine and TH400 a few weeks ago.
Some interference issues that I knew I would have to deal with. The left rocker cover on the Caddy 500 is quite close, like maybe 5/8", to the brake booster, and the AC box with the evap core may have to be modified somewhat to get it mounted back on the firewall, since it looks like it will need room for the other (right) rocker cover.
I never thought it would be easy!!

Is the booster the original style? I think there are some later model boosters that are a smaller diameter that may work and give you better room.

wouldnt one off of an 80s camaro work?

by pila on Thu Aug 12, 2010 8:44 pm

Looks like I can stick with the 11 inch booster, which I would rather do.
Currently I'm sorting out the wiring, putting the harness back together. I'm actually using the harness from the '77 which I had to scrap last year. It had cruise etc, and the '75 harness was in tough shape. I replaced all the sockets in the harness for the lights, to preclude problems later with corrosion etc.
I have to get quite a few new parts yet, like a steering box, radiator, gas tank etc, and I'm just plugging along on other things, like putting the new windshield and rear window in . I wont be running out of things to do for quite a while Smile

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