Re: 1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali

by pila Sun Nov 04, 2012 6:52 pm

Better to have used a bit too much, than the other extreme!! Cool

You are coming along good !! Very Happy

by 77mali Sun Nov 04, 2012 7:38 pm

Thanks- assembly is a PITA.

I did notice a little unevenness in 1 spot just under the passengers side of the timing cover. It was very slight...& the sealant makes it look worse that it was...just off a hair. Hard to see unless you're looking. We'll see, worse comes to worse, I'll just have to do it again.

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040910

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040910

by pila Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:29 pm

I doubt that it will be a problem. That sealant fills uneven areas quite well.

by 77mali Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:56 pm

I hope so...LOL, I just put the harmonic balancer on. Got a rental kit from Autozone to do it. Worked quite well just a back-breaker of a job.

by pila Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:02 pm

You are coming along fine, and getting some good experience also.

by 77mali Sat Nov 24, 2012 5:59 pm

Going to try some Por15 High-Temp "Factory Manifold Gray" & "Black Velvet" on these puppies. The other one is still coated with VHT Ceramic Black.
1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040911

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040911

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040912

VHT (Uncured & sat too long)
1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040915

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040916

by 77mali Sun Nov 25, 2012 5:28 pm

Not too shabby. Needs another coat after 24 hour cure. I'm liking the gray & works real good over the pits too.
1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040913

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040913

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040914

The after....Second coat is on & used leftovers on the trans tail housing
1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040917

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040918

& some other little projects:
1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1050010

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1050011

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1050013

by 1973 454 MONTE Sun Nov 25, 2012 8:40 pm

Lookin good

by 74MonteCarlo Mon Nov 26, 2012 10:11 am

Nice!

by pila Mon Nov 26, 2012 2:14 pm

Keeping paint on headers is a chore for sure. Even the high priced ceramic coating isn't gonna save them after some years in service......
Maybe yours can be touched up later, if they need some places painted.
My Malibu doesn't have 1000 miles on it since restoration, and the ceramic is showing a few pits on the headers. Stainless steel seems like a way to go, if available......

by 77mali Mon Nov 26, 2012 2:23 pm

Thanks guys- I'm lucky that they didn't look like these & they still have meat to them.

affraid

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 Exh11

I agree that stainless is the way to go if you have the money for it (maybe down the line for me but not now). I don't know for sure but I think that these start rotting from the inside out. Part of future maintenance will be to start the car in the winter months to warm the engine @ idle to get rid of condensation that may build up in the pipes (can't hurt). I will say this though, mine are Hooker Headers and they were made in Mexico in 1987 & I think I'll get a few more years yet.

by pila Mon Nov 26, 2012 7:28 pm

Headers aren't all that expensive to replace, for the normal steel type. The work to replace them is the pain in the butt part Very Happy

by 77mali Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:14 am

If I get 2 or 3 seasons out of them I'll be happy. Restoring them was cheap, I bought the smallest can of the paint they sell of each color for like $8.00 each. The rest is just sanding discs & pads to prep. The $$ I saved will go towards many of the little things that add up to a lot.

Edit:
I stand corrected they were cast in 1993...still that's almost 20 years. LOL
1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040919

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040919

by 77mali Tue Nov 27, 2012 5:50 pm

Made some edits to add pics on the previous page....and

Hey Pila, I installed my tail housing seal (finally) lol!

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040920

by ant7377 Tue Nov 27, 2012 6:20 pm

Paul,looks good! I have coated ones on my 77,they have been they probably have been on 10 years. the coating is coming off in spots.

by Dubie Wed Nov 28, 2012 9:39 pm

Great thread. You're a hard worker.

by 77mali Fri Nov 30, 2012 5:14 pm

Hey thanks guys. I did the other side last night & there's more pitting & more difficult to get the VHT off. Guess there was more heat coming out there. Oh well, ancient history now. Very Happy

Still needs paint geek

by 77mali Sun Dec 09, 2012 11:50 am

Well I had a nightmare. Mali was all done & I was cruising on the interstate and then it happened...no oil pressure and a horrible noise ensued. Therefore- I bought me one of these.

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040922

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040922

It's a Melling select oil pump that comes with a bolt in style pick up screen and not one of those stupid- @$$ press on style GM screen tubes that you still have to "tack weld", even after it's installed into the pump. After spending a little $$$$ on the engine rebuild, I feel this is one of the best investments available to insure against any potential problems. There are 3 pumps avail for the SBC: Standard factory pressure, +10 & +25% more volume. There are 3 pick up screens designed to bolt in to either pump for pan depths of 7, 7.5 & 8 inches respectively. Pretty cool.

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040923

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1040923

by ant7377 Sun Dec 09, 2012 11:55 am

Good move Paul. Oil pump is not where you want to save a buck,never.

by 77mali Tue Dec 18, 2012 7:11 pm

Yep Anthony- Some times I drive myself crazy with "Automotive neurosis". Rolling Eyes

But on the plus side- Bicknell Welding hooked up my old "Hooker" & now I can finish prep & paint the on the 2nd one. Another box checked off the long list. THANKS PHIL.

This must have been some heck of a clearance issue @ some point in it's life.
1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1050012

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1050012

1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic Progress Photo's aka Mali - Page 15 P1050014

by pila Tue Dec 18, 2012 10:45 pm

Oil pumps rarely ever fail, but a good one provides piece of mind.
I use the Moroso racing pumps, which are a bit pricey, but work really good.

by Laguna Budman Tue Dec 18, 2012 10:53 pm

Mali, just asking but would it have been cheaper to just get new headers and not blast, paint and fix those? Less hassle and running around??? I don't know.

by Brainstain Tue Dec 18, 2012 11:14 pm

I have a brand new set I don't need..

by 77mali Wed Dec 19, 2012 12:29 am

Laguna Budman wrote:Mali, just asking but would it have been cheaper to just get new headers and not blast, paint and fix those? Less hassle and running around??? I don't know.

I don't know Stan...last time I priced a set like mine they were like $350 I think- for uncoated steel. All it cost me was some elbow grease, a few sanding discs, a few sheets of sand paper, 1/2 a can of the coating (for both sides) and the 1 small repair to the single tube. I'm always afraid that with metal parts the quality nowadays is much thinner than what it used to be. I also like the practice for further skills development (for the upcoming body work, especially).

by 77mali Wed Dec 19, 2012 12:31 am

pila wrote:Oil pumps rarely ever fail, but a good one provides piece of mind.
I use the Moroso racing pumps, which are a bit pricey, but work really good.

I looked into those as well- they look really good too!

Brainstain wrote:I have a brand new set I don't need..

Were were you three weeks ago? LOL

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