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Covalt - "Project 65 Valiant"
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35632		 Page 13 of 124
Author:  Rick Covalt [ Wed May 18, 2011 2:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Sure!
Lou,

Your welcome to stop by anytime.


Rick
Author:  Rick Covalt [ Fri May 27, 2011 4:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Trunk lid...etc
Many moons ago I cut all the trunk springs and associated hardware out of the car. I knew I would need something other than a prop to hold up the trunk and I needed to put it on the car soon. So, when my son Denny was going to junk his 86 Buick Century, I went over and robbed anything useful that I could. What I ended up with was the factory hood lift cylinder and mounting bracket. So I mounted it to the floor and put a bolt through the hinge arm. It works very well. I may look for a second one at the yard so it holds it up level, but for now it works just fine. I actually think I am going to try and mount 2 of them in behind the fenders to hold up the hood too.

Ryan also put a new steering wheel on his wife's Duster so I ended up with the old one for free. I also borrowed his wheels to see what they look like. Thanks to my boys for supplying me with free parts! :D

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Author:  1974duster kev [ Wed Jun 01, 2011 10:08 pm ]
Post subject: 
Awesome Rick looking good.

Kev
Author:  Rick Covalt [ Thu Jun 09, 2011 3:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Hood hinges
I did get another trunk cylinder mounted and now everything goes up even! :D

The plan as it stands now is to get the valiant painted the week after next. So before I put the fenders on for the final paint job I wanted to have whatever springs or lift cylinders I was going to use in place. I ended up getting a set of hood springs off Ebay and making some brackets to bolt them in place. They work like a charm. Here are some pics. Springs are off a 70's duster I think.

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Made this bracket with the holes. and welded a stud on it for the hinge pivot

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Another view

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Open position

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Mounting to the car. Each bolt has a rubber seal under it to keep things dry

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Closed position

Going on vacation for about 5 days , so when I get back, I want to drop the engine in and get everything buttoned up under there that I can before Robbie paints it.

Rick
Author:  Rob Simmons [ Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
Very nice work you do, Rick!

Have a great vacation! :D
Author:  Rick Covalt [ Thu Jun 16, 2011 5:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Hinge issue
Just a for your information.A while back I removed the hood hinges from the car so they could be painted. Those clips that hold them on the stud are a bear to get off! So I picked up some at the hardware store and put it all together. Bad Choice! One of them popped off while I was opening the hood and left me standing there with the hood in my hands! Luckily nothing was damaged. I removed the hinges again, drilled a hole through the stud, and put a washer and a cotter pin through it.

I finished mounting my fuel line to the frame up front and installed the cable operated throttle through the firewall. I also cleaned up some sharp edges in the bowl area of the cylinder head that was left after they installed the new valve seats. So tomorrow, I hope to clean up the head and install the valves and springs and mount the head on the engine. Once that is done I plan to slide it into its final home in the engine bay.

Rick
Author:  Rob Simmons [ Thu Jun 16, 2011 8:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
Schweeeet! :D
Author:  Rick Covalt [ Sat Jun 18, 2011 12:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Guess what this is??
3000 stall convertor - Thanks Lou
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Engine slid in like a charm!

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With the radiator support out it was really easy.

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Bolt in Radiator support ready to bolt back in.

Oh the answer to the guess? The first time this car has had an engine between the fenders in 28 years!!

More to come!!
Rick
Author:  Greg Ondayko [ Sat Jun 18, 2011 3:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
Looking Good Rick!


Cars with engines in them go better down the dragstrip.

:-)

Greg
Author:  Rick Covalt [ Sat Jun 25, 2011 8:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Engine
Dropped the engine in and thought I would mock up my headers and intake and see how they all fit. Everything looks good! The headers fit real well with 2 new motor mounts. :D I did paint the intake and valve cover and the headers. Paint color is Gun Metal over black. I installed a truck/Van drivers side motor mount to take advantage of the metal interlock they have. I don't want to run solid mounts. This way, I plan to cut a piece of heavy rubber and slide it in between the two metal tabs when I'm racing. That effectively takes away most all the movement without having a solid mount. I think it was like $3 at Rock auto.

It is starting to look more like a car every time I work on it!! :D

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New, but 25 year old Clifford long tubes. Discontinued. They fit real nice.

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Interlocking tabs will get a piece of rubber between them at the track
Author:  Rick Covalt [ Wed Jul 06, 2011 4:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Fenders are done
I just picked up the last pieces for the Valiant. Fenders look great! They have been blasted and primed, and the backs have a nice thin layer of bedliner sprayed on so they should last a good long time. Now to reassemble the fenders and hood and a few small things and it should be off to the paint shop to get the outside done. Plan to pick up some new door seals at Carlisle Friday. I'm not convinced my 25 year old universal ones aren't a tad to thick. The doors shut to hard for my liking.

Rick

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The backs look almost too good! Not!

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Author:  Rick Covalt [ Sat Jul 30, 2011 6:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Paint ?
Well the car didn't get painted last month as planned. Actually I changed the plans. There were still some things I needed to get done and I wanted to go to Elk Creek and support the race down there. Glad I did!!! :lol:

Anyway, I am still waiting on my new door seals. They should be here Monday or Tuesday. Then the fenders and doors all get their final alignments before paint. Paint is scheduled for 2nd week of August. :lol:

I repainted the fenders inside the engine compartment, because they had gotten scuffed up over the last 6 months. I also changed the filter in the tranny and adjusted the bands. With the pan back on the tranny for good, all the linkage could be bolted on permanently. And the headers could be mounted for good too. Everything fits nice. The only thing is my rerouted cooler line runs about 1" from the header for about 6 inches. Is this too close? I may need to wrap it for a little insulation from the heat.

More to come,

Rick
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Cooler line location

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Author:  Dart270 [ Mon Aug 01, 2011 5:55 am ]
Post subject: 
I would not worry about the cooler line 1" away. Fluid is moving fast and isn't there very long. If worried, you could zip tie a little metal tube heat shield around it, or even a piece of slitted hose.

Car is looking fabulous!

Lou
Author:  Rick Covalt [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 8:17 am ]
Post subject:  Woo Hoo!
The last two pics you will see of my Valiant before it gets painted. It headed out the road this evening and is setting in the body shop. I took off work all week next week to help with the final blocking, cleaning, taping and anything else I can do. Should be painted by Thursday

Stay Tuned,

Rick

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Author:  1974duster kev [ Tue Aug 09, 2011 5:49 am ]
Post subject: 
Thats awesome, the car should turn out great. Great choice in color that will look good cruisin around.

Kev
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