A year of work on my '70 - The "pre-build" Thread

[Airmapper]

First of all, to the people who have helped me over the past year with advice, ideas, instructions, and patience, a huge THANK YOU is in order.

A lot of work I've dug into over the past year I couldn't have learned about without some good information to get me started, and some good shoves to keep me going.

Just over a year ago I was making arrangements to get my '70, and the first week of January I had it in my yard. Immediately I started thinking how I had just gone and went in over my head. I got my '66 which needs a lot as well, but I really wanted something to go wheeling in, and molesting an uncut, and mostly untouched early '66 just felt wrong. This showed up on CL within easy driving distance, and it looked like something to learn on.

I don't have a lot of photos, and to be honest it probably "looks" worse now than it did with everything in the middle of being worked on, but everything I tear apart and put back together, is definitely better than it was and I learned something while doing it.

Here is some of my progress over the past year. Not exactly a build thread, as I do more re-building than building, but it's coming along, very slowly.

Overall before:

Overall at it's best point:

Gauge Cluster before:

After:

Engine Bay Before:

Work in progress:

Dash before:

Dash now:

Still a lot more to go. With any luck I might be able to drive it some in 2012.

 

[Bronco717274]

Everything looks good but the engine compartment had less wires in the before pic. still a work in progress I know keep up the good work.

 

[Airmapper]

Well, it's hard to tell in photos, and some stuff I've done since I last took photos. Might seem like nothing to some, but most of this I've had no prior experience with or skill in.

Here are some of 2011's projects. Stuff in bold people here directly helped in some way, as in sold me parts, answered questions in a thread, or gave me ideas. Without the forums help it would be a slower process.

Stripped out PO's nasty indoor carpeting. General cleanup.
Rebuilt Edelbrock.
Fuel line pressure reg. (not sure if completely needed, but just in case.)
"Alice" Mod.
Hella lights on the front bar.
New battery, cables, and terminals.
Gathered all major parts for a future NP435 swap.
New valve covers, new PCV setup.
3G alternator upgrade.
Remove, repair, and where needed rewire the entire electrical system / harness.
Custom switch panel w/ lights.
Strip out some PO's stupid wiring jobs.
Added re-wired power distribution block with fuses and relays.
Replaced steering column, rebuilt a good used one.
Removed dash pad (and I don't plan to put it back.)
Removed dash, painted and rebuilt gauge cluster. Added volt meter.
New radiator pressure cap, new thermostat housing and thermostat. Flushed coolant. (Needs another one for good measure.)
New lower radiator hose that wasn't kinked in half.
Had radiator serviced, sealed and pressure checked.
New re-routed heater hose.
New heater core, in process of rebuilding heater box.

And remember like that other guys thread mentioned, donations in money or parts are always welcome.

 

[Bronc-n-Bird]

Good progress! Keep up the momentum.

 

[Izzy]

It's all a learning process but it is fun when things come together.

 

[mattyq17]

Progess looks good keep it up!

 

[sprdv1]

come a long way man.. Looks great and will get even better