[ Up ] [ 76 Vette Facts ] [ 76 Chassis Build ] [ 76 Engine Build ] [ 76 Body build ] [ 76 Interior ] [ New & Used Parts ] [ 76 Before & After ] '76 Engine & Transmission
Tear Down and Assembly
This car has been a complete pleasure so far. In two hours I had the radiator, shroud, motor, and tranny out. NO bolts sticking! The steering box & column, intake, carb, wiper motor, master cylinder, booster, alternator, and tranny are all working fine and will be reused. The motor will go to the machine shop next week. The block will get fluxed, bored, and baked. The heads will be fluxed and then given a total rebuild as well where the intake and exhaust valves will be enlarged a wee bit:) Intake and exhaust runners will get polished when they get home.
The ports have been polished and the motor assembled. The original intake cleaned up very nice and is compatible with the new 10.5:1 compression the motor has. I couldn't decide how to clean, polish, or paint the valve covers so I experimented with both. I ended up going the long route and cleaning and polishing them back to the original bare aluminum. The alternator is the original so it was rebuilt and put back on.
The headers are ceramic coated to help get the heat away from the engine and engine compartment, plus the look great. The exhaust pipes were supposed to line up perfect, but for any of you that have installed these you know nothing is perfect. I mocked everything up and made relief cuts by the header flange to allow the angle to line up perfect, then welded them in place. I had to make several bends in the pipes to get them to line up just right with the mufflers, then welding them in place. They are very close now, but final adjustment of the muffler position will take place after the body is back on the car.
The transmission was broke open and inspected, all is good. So this unit just got a good cleaning and lubing. A new Haye's clutch and pressure plate will complete this assembly. The shifter was adjusted also making it easier to slide into neutral and get into reverse. First through fourth are perfect.
The carb was torn down and rebuilt even though the motor was running well before. This an easy thing to do and will keep you from having to do it later in case more than 'minor' adjusting is necessary. Plus it's much easier to clean when torn down.
The Radiator has some damage although it doesn't leak, but will probably be replaced with aluminum. All of the actuators in the nose have good metal as does the frame and cross members. The firewall does not have any cracks and in general the fiberglass is in great shape. So far, all this engine compartment will need is a good cleaning, sanding and painting.
The AC Compressor and radiator air intake have been added to the engine compartment and she starts with just the bump of a key. Wiring is next for this car, then off to the body shop!
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