The Dismantling Begins

Last week, my dad called to give me the good news. The engine re builder had finally removed the 440 engine, and Torqueflite transmission from Red, and has started to strip it down, and rebuild it. Dad then delivered the 3 speed transmission to the transmission shop for a rebuild. In no time at all (one day, in fact), the transmission was rebuilt, with heavy duty parts, so it can handle higher horsepower. However, from what I understand, that transmission didn't need much in the way of new parts, as it had been engineered to handle higher horsepower. We'll see.

I have not talked to my dad in several days, so I do not know what kind of progress the engine re builder is making on the 440. Hopefully, it's moving along nicely. On a side note, I subscribe to the Online Imperial Club's email list, so I get all sorts of information regarding Imperials on a daily basis. I have been considering converting from a carbureted system to an electronic fuel injection (EFI) system. Just my luck, someone started an email trail concerning the availability of new EFI kits for Mopars, in particular, for the big block 440. Most Imperial owners, especially those owners with some engine technical background, didn't see the value in replacing a carb with an EFI system, as any gains in fuel economy would not offset the cost of installing the EFI system, and wouldn't provide any real gains in horsepower. The general consensus was 'don't bother with it'.

So I won't. I'll keep it naturally aspirated, and see what happens. It does have four barrel carb, so fuel will not have a problem getting to the ignition chambers. I could go all out, and find a six pack, but I'll keep it as it is now, rebuilt for more performance, and see if I am happy with that.

Back to the body shop. Both cars are now at the custom re builder shop in Lubbock, Texas. Hills Hot Rods on the Loop are currently stripping both cars down, taking the best parts from the two, and then will haul the necessary body parts to Arlington to have them media stripped to see where the problem areas are for rust. It will be interesting to see which car they chose to build with as a basis. While Red's lower body parts are relatively rust free, the roof has holes rusted through, due to the old vinyl top being in very poor shape. Blackie, on the other hand, has a great roof, in spite of the vinyl top, but has rust issues around the bottom of the car (door sills, front and rear fenders). Plus, Blackie's had some body work done in the past, so some of the body panels will probably not be usable. While Hill's is a relatively new shop, they do have experienced car restorers and custom builders in their employ, so at this point, I am not that concerned with quality or workmanship issues. We'll see if this holds true as the project moves forward. You can find Hill's here: http://www.hillshotrods.com .

There is one thing I am including is this restoration, and it's a center console from a 1970 Chrysler 300, with automatic stick shift. The early 1970's Chrysler's shared the same body style and basic body dimensions with the Imperials of the same period. The only difference being the Imperials were longer (longer fenders and hood). The interiors of both Chrysler's and Imperials had the same basic dimensions. The only differences were the trim level (of course, the Imperial had the top-of-the-line interior materials). 36 years later, tastes and needs have changed, so I am attempting to bring the more relevant changes to the restoration and customizing of this car. While there are some nice interior features (there are storage compartments underneath the arm rests in the doors), it is sadly lacking any other storage areas, especially in the floor area, where one would expect cup holders, and another storage area. I am attempting to change that by including a center console, which is from a 1970 Chrysler 300. Since the console also came with a floor shifter for the automatic transmission, I plan to convert the shifter from the steering column, to the floor shifter in the console. I like the idea of the floor shifter, especially since the car is a 2 door coupe. It should add a more sporty feel to the car. I have included pics of the console to give you a better idea of how it looks. Also, instead of the fake vinyl wood grain appliques that were used throughout the interior, I intend to replace those with real wood. The fake wood is supposed to be 'Rosewood'. I intend to replace it with real Rosewood, something like the Madagascar Rosewood sample seen here.

And last, while the decision for rims selection is a ways off, the owner of Hill's Hot Rods suggested this style rim for the car. I have been looking for something similar to these for quite awhile. I really like these, as they are styled for a luxury look, that the usual 'blade' style rims. These are definitely keepers, however, I want either a 17" or 18" rim, not a 20" rim. Mr. Hill thinks 20" rims would fit fine on the car, but I have my doubts. I do not want the rims to over take the overall style and look of the car. We'll see how that works out.

Thanks again for reading. Now that things are moving forward more quickly, the updates to this blog should be more frequent. Especially since both Hill's and the engine re builder promised to take pictures during the restoration process. Once I receive those, I will definitely post them here.

Lubbock or Bust!

I received an email from my dad earlier this week, informing me that he and my mother drove Blackie to the body shop in Lubbock. Dad also said the engine rebuilder is to pull the 440 from Red, and then have Red delivered to Lubbock later next week. I hope this holds true. I am getting a little frustrated that the engine rebuilder is taking his time with pulling the engine from Red, and then rebuilding it. The body shop in Lubbock will not start on the project until both cars are in the shop to be evaluated on which body to build. So I hope next week brings good news as far as Red being towed to Lubbock for the rebuild. *crosses fingers*

On another note, I have been shopping for a limited slip differential, and have found one at Mancini Racing, which specializes in Mopar racing parts and accessories. I also bought a rear disc brake conversion kit from Summit Racing. So the old rear drum brakes will be history. I had thought about installing an aftermarket anti-lock brake system, but as I understand it, no one manufactures after market anti-lock brake systems due to potential liabilities should said brake system fail, so that is out of the picture for now.

Now it's time to research new suspension systems and geometries for better handling characteristics. I do not want this car to be only a straight line runner. It would be awesome to throw it into a curve, or twisty road, and it not feel like its about to tilt on its side. Blackie currently leans like a drunk on a lamp post during Mardi Gras. Stiffer shocks and springs would help, along with wider tires , but the suspension will need more than those 'tricks' to attain the handling characteristics I want.

So we will see what this next week holds. I am hoping for the best. Also, both the engine rebuilder and the body shop promised me progress pictures of the car as it goes through the restoration and customzing process. I will definitely post those once I get those.

Thanks for the read!!

The Road to Restoration, Part 2

With my trip to Texas in April, I delivered most of the car parts I had collected within the past 3 years (please see the below posts) to my parents house, with the intention of handing everything over to the body man that Dad had found, who was willing to work on the car, and start the restoration process. However, the gentleman in question developed health problems, and is now unable to do the body work required for this restoration/customization.

As luck would have it, at the time when I was visiting my parents, the annual antique auto show, held in Snyder, Texas was being held. So dad and I made a trip to Snyder to check out the cars, and talk to the owners of cars which had been restored, to see if they could make any recommendations of body shops who do restoration/customization work. We did talk to a few folks, some who knew of a shop in either Abilene or Lubbock who could do the work, but they did not provide any direct references.

However, there were representatives from a hot rod shop from Lubbock, who were at the Snyder antique auto show, who had brought in a 18 wheel trailer, with cars they had restored and customized. Dad and I immediately started the conversation with both representatives (one does the interior work, the other does exterior work). Since dad and I had driven Blackie to this event, we asked the body expert to walk over with us to the parking lot where Blackie was sitting, and give it a look, to get feedback on what he thought could be done, and I bounced some ideas off of him to get a good feel about his level of interest in this project. I did inform him that I have two cars, and Red does have the better lower body. He did seem interested in taking a look at both cars to see which would work best as the basis for the restoration.

Dad and I have both been in contact with this hot rod shop in Lubbock, and they are willing to do the work, so a HUGE hurdle has been overcome with this chance meeting in Snyder. Dad is scheduled to drive Blackie to Lubbock, and the hot rod shop is scheduled to start dismantling Blackie sometime after that.

Red, on the other hand......

Dad had also found an engine rebuilder in Snyder, who's had experience building, and rebuilding race car engines. Again, while I was in Texas, dad and I had lunch with the engine guy, and discussed what I wanted in the engine rebuild (electronic fuel injections, performance parts, etc) in order to acheive 450-550 horsepower. He said he could do it, and it wouldn't be a problem. We agreed on a plan of action, and dad had Red towed to the engine guy's house for a total engine rebuild. The plan was for the engine to be taken out of Red, and the rebuilder would work on it in his shop, and then Red's body would then be towed to Lubbock to the hot rod shop.

However, as of this posting, the engine has yet to be pulled from Red. Red is still sitting in the engine guy's driveway, waiting for the engine to be pulled. Red was towed to the engine guys place 3 weeks ago. I am not especially happy that it has taken nearly a month to have an engine pulled; but for now, I will deal with the situation as best as I can, and give him a few more days in order to pull it and start work on the engine.

Related to the drive train, dad and I also located a transmission shop in Lubbock, who is willing to rebuild the transmission to handle that kind of horsepower. I was hoping to upgrade the transmission to an over-drive set up, but after the transmission shop looked at Blackies current transmission set up, the transmission bell housing is not configured to accept an over-drive unit, and the suspension torsion bars are located in a position that prohibits any add on equipment to the transmission for over-drive. So I am stuck with a 3-speed automatic, but at least it will be built to handle the additional horsepower. Not the best set up, but at least it will run as it should when the accelerator is punched.

To handle the horsepower conversion to the rear wheels, I have found an outlet who sells the Sure Grip differential, so I will have the differential rebuilt with a Sure Grip differential installed. Then all I would need are new bearings installed on each back wheel to again handle the power transfered from the engine.

There is much work to be done, but aside from the engine rebuild issues, things are beginning to fall into place. I am very excited in finding a reputable shop who can restore and customize the Imperial.

As of now, I will not release any information regarding the hot rod shop, or the engine rebuilder, until the car is complete, and I am satisfied with the restoration. If anything goes seriously wrong with either the engine rebuilder, or the hot rod shop, I will post that information as well.

Sorry that I do not have any pictures at this time, but I have been promised by both the hot rod shop, and the engine rebuileder that they will forward me photos of their progress on this project, and I will post those photos here for you to see.

Now that this project is moving forward, the postings to this blog should be more frequent.

Thanks for your patience, and Happy Motoring!

The Road to Restoration

know this is long overdue, but I have been very busy with other things in my life. Not to say there isn't anything new on the Imperial front. Last October, my dad and I decided to tackle the issue of Red not starting. We replaced just about every component imaginable to try and get it started. We even installed a new starter. No luck. Earlier this year, I asked my dad to tow Red to a mechanic he knows, and see if he could troubleshoot the problem, and get the car started. The car was towed to Tommy's garage, and Tommy started on the work.

As it turns out, the wiring harness for the ignition switch is fried. It was melted to the steering column, and there was no connectivity from the ignition switch to the electrical system to start the car (or at least any good connectivity). It needed a new wiring harness. Unfortunately, an online search revealed the only harnesses available for 1973 Imperials were for the non-tilt wheel ignition switches. So I had to turn to my parts man Bob in Nebraska for a complete steering wheel and column (which he conveniently had in his storage area). I bought the whole assembly, and had it shipped to my place. Earlier this spring, my dad and uncle flew to DC to pick up Blackie, and also the steering column, so the wiring harness could be transferred from the 'new' steering column to Red's steering column. Please see the attached pictures for what I have to work with. So hopefully, the wiring harness from the 'new' steering column will be in good enough shape to work on Red.

Speaking of dad's recent trip to DC, he and my uncle (dad's brother) flew out to pick up Blackie, and drive it to Texas to start the restoration/customization process. This was the final long cruise for Blackie in her current state. She will no longer be the same (if she exists at all) after this process is complete. Blackie has been a wonderful car, and I already miss it. I love cruising around on a Saturday afternoon in her, and all the questions, comments and shout outs from the street. There is nothing like her on the road. However, I know the finished car will be in much better shape from a body/chassis/suspension/handling/engine standpoint. I truely can't wait until the final car is ready to drive (whichever car we use as the base car). Again, I fear Blackie has too many rust issues to use it as the base car, but it will be a very good parts car.

To start the restoration process on my end, I also purchased a complete dash for a 1973 Imperial from Bob in Nebraska. It has all the options I have been searching for (another stereo 8 track tape player, automatic headlights, and headlight dimmer, along with the delayed timer to turn off the lights when you've finished driving). I took this dash apart, and started fabricating new speaker mounts for the new speakers. Again, please see the attached pictures. It took some work to get everything to fit properly, but I think the extra work is necessary to have everything look as stock as possible. I have included 'before' pictures, to show how it looked, and after pictures, on the progress of the work currently performed.

Please note, this is not the dash I will use on Red. This dash is a hideous interior color Chrysler used in 1973 called 'Parchment' Yikes! I am only using components from the dash that I know I will need for Red's dash. This dash is basically a 'mule' to test my fabrications to ensure every thing will work, once they are transfered to Red. Also, check out the amount of wiring included on this dash. The engineers who designed this thing must had a few sleepless nights to make this work correctly.

I have also included pictures of the current state of the dash, and instrument panel. You'll see where the new speaker fit into the old speaker locations, and you'll see what I've saved from the instrument panel to use in Red. I have attempted to label all the wiring and locations of some of the components, so the change over to Red's dash should not be an issue (I hope!).

Next up on this project: I will be traveling to Texas in April to drop off the dash and dual A/C system, and meet the two men who will be working on the cars for restoration. One will be rebuilding the 440 engine, and the other will be doing the body work. However, I do not know when they will be starting on the project at this time. Hopefully by late April, I will have a better idea on the time frame for starting this project, and have more pictures to share of the progress.

Thanks for checking in!