1964 Wildcat to drive to South Bend.

OK so this is a quiz, but you are not being graded for it. Extra credit may be available.

I need some ideas on how far into this I am going. I have lots of time, not so much cash.

The story. Donna and I decided when driving home from Charlotte that for South Bend we would drive the 64 Cat and see if we could make it the whole way down and back with the top down. I know that is not a practical thing to expect, but if your dreaming, dream big, right? The thought was to enter it in the Archival Class. As far as I can tell, the car has never been painted, or anything large replaced. Barn fresh so to speak. I did trailer the car to Flint in 2003 because I knew little about the car then, but I have put some miles on it since and determined it ready for a 500 mile one way shot. Hopefully back home too!

One thing that will looked at is the air conditioning, if it is hot and rainy, we would prefer to keep cool. We will get to that later.

First thing to tackle is the crazy oil leakage going on here. I picked a fine 80% humidity morning to start this today.

So first I made sure I was prepared.

Then remove the intake.

Needed the wife to help remove it, a little heavy and unwieldy.

Next, the valve covers and the valley cover.

Looks like I have a little cleaning to do.

No heat to carb on a dual quad, no wonder it runs crappy cold.

So my dilemma is this, I got this far, I will be cleaning everything before reassembly. But, do I paint this manifold?

Rebuild and recad the carbs? Even though they work great.

Polish chrome, repaint brackets and tubes and such?

Here's the car after I disabled it today.

So, I would like to know what you guys think I should do considering our plans to drive car to South Bend and put in archival judging.

Are you allowed to paint the engine for an Archival Award?

I kinda don't think so, but I'm not sure.

Drop the top and go Daddio. The AC will only spoil you. We already know Donna is spoiled. Just think back to Charlotte and the kind of car she was able to talk her way into going to a junkyard in!!!

The AC will only spoil you. We already know Donna is spoiled. Just think back to Charlotte and the kind of car she was able to talk her way into going to a junkyard in!!!

You were just afraid to turn it on 'cuz your generator wern't generatin'.

Oh, and I finally resized the resized pictures so you can see 'em all.

Just clean what is apart and reinstal!! DO NOT GO DEEPER! THAT IS THE PROVERBIAL SLIPPERY SLOPE. Too far to get back up before South Bend.

Ben

Consider the future. If you want Archival, then does it make sense to restore later? As for engine paint, do so in that class at the cost of points. If you want an award, do not do it. Put it back together and drive like it is. Also you'll have more time that way to use and replenish your main supplies.

So first I made sure I was prepared.

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You need a bigger fridge.

You need a bigger fridge.

As usual you are right.

This is the one in the pole barn.

The bigger one is in the garage.

It does look like a replenish is necessary.

But, back to work.

Picked up the gaskets this morning.

Here's the greasy mess.

After unloading my cart, it is funny to note how few tools were needed to remove this stuff.

About one forth (fourth-Derek?) the amount of tools I used to do an intake on a 2003 Bonneville!

After a couple of hours of scrubbing, came out kinda OK. I think I will try little pieces of these scrubby wipes wrapped around a little screwdriver for the crevasses, they sure clean my paws up good.

Still some grease here and there, but a definite lack of paint in areas. I am at a loss at what to do there being that protective coat of grease to avoid rusting is gone.

The Archival Award is not a must have, just would be kinda cool to score one while I am there. Since I always volunteer to be a judge, I figured I would give that team something ugly to look at. Keep them busy you know.

Soooo... WWMBJDAAELHD? (What would Mike, Ben, Johnny D, and anyone else looking here do?) Over 100 views! I seen you looking Ted.

Since Archival is not an important quest, JohnD would paint it up. No point in doing it twice

Ding, ding!

+1

I had the same issue on my '58...removed that protective layer of grease on the valve covers, intake, and valley pan when I had it apart inspecting things. So, I painted before reassembly. I think it's a 10 point deduction.

There ya go, Paul.

10 points isn't a big deal.

Paint em!

OK,OK, I give. Paint the darn thing!

I am envious.

Ben

OK, so after two and a half hours (a few breaks here and there), we have this.

Holy crap can that crud get stuck in all those little corners.

Maybe the first cleaning in 49 years!

OK, now to the left valve cover...

Well less time on this one.

I guess I should get in there a little more, but enough for today.

Nice! Sure wish they had put those on all the nailheads!

They WILL fit all Nailheads.

They WILL fit all Nailheads.

As long as you don't have Air conditioning with the big A6 compressor.

Then you need one of these.

The finned covers do not fit under the rear compressor bracket on cars with round covers.

But I guess that shouldn't stop you if you really want 'em on there.

Correct, Sir.

OK, progress has slowed a bit due to other commitments and a side trip to get some stuff done on the 99.

The boss wanted some stuff touched up, actually turned into much bigger project. I am lucky to have a friendly body guy (does great work too).

Back to the 64, it was interesting to note, Buick bolted bare iron intake onto engine and then painted it. Check out the paint breaks and runs.

Alright, don't get mad at me guys, but all I did was clean, clean, clean. No paint yet. Got a show to drive to this weekend, and really this stuff is pretty easy to remove again. The heads and block would look really crappy if I did paint 'em. Besides, I got really slow today when a sliced a chunk of skin off the pad of my right index finger (no picture, sorry). Can only work left handed for a while. The edge of that valley cover is sharp! So here's what she looks like for now.

Time to get these carbs clean.

Just a few sprays on the front carb are encouraging.

A little more scrubbing (left handed only) and a half hour got me here.

Getting hungry, I will tackle this one tomorrow (hopefully with some healing on my finger).

Looks good Paul.

I like the clean unrestored look, personally.

I DON'T like pictures of damaged phalanges. Thanks for keeping them private

I can't even imagine the power of 2 4 bbls! What an awesome car. Wonder what type of MPG you'll get.

I can't even imagine the power of 2 4 bbls! What an awesome car. Wonder what type of MPG you'll get.

"If you have to ask you can't afford it"

"If you have to ask you can't afford it"

Well, the power is pretty good, but I doubt the car was any faster than my 64 Riv with one carb.

I really can't afford the gas for this thing either. I am sure the mileage is not too bad as long as the go pedal only goes down 1/4 of the way. The problem is, the sound from under the hood at WOT sounds so damn cool, and it happens way to often for good mileage. :cool:

I will keep track on my way down to SB and let you guys know what the mileage is.

Alrighty, got myself some progress today, mostly left handed so not too fast. Also had two clients to flash today away from the house.

Got every thing ready for carb installs.

Rear carb cleaned (whew) and torqued down.

A few hours later, scrub a dub dub, front carb ready for bolt down.

Added some fresh new heater hoses, didn't like how the old ones look.

Now we are ready to partay!

Now I need some quality time with boss moving cars out so I can get the pipes facing out the door and get the coolant filled and burped. Boss says she will help me move cars Saturday. Planning on hitting the all GM Show here on Sunday. Crap weather already becoming the forcast, that Murphy guy can get under my skin sometimes! I suppose tomorrow I will do a smack down on the 84 Turbo (The one I drove to Charlotte). Might start a new thread with that one.

Time to feed fat belly.

Dayum! I go to the body shop this morning to go help him on the 84, and I find this.

Guess that one is not gonna be my Sunday rainy car show back up.

Any how back to the 64.

Donna got home and helped me do the pole barn shuffle-loo. The car is now parked where I wont gas myself while burping the cooling system. The wall behind the car slides aside.

And. And. I got a present from the UPS man. Check 'em out, what do you think?

I like how now you can see the damn thing has two carbs. And. And, I won't worry that someone will lift the stock air cleaner assembly (which I apparently cannot afford to replace).

Well it has been said, that one out of three people, will be either DISHONEST, or TOLERATE DISHONESTY....by not telling on them.

Sad state, so I understand why you would protect your valued piece.

Dale in Indy

"I like how now you can see the damn thing has two carbs."....and now you can hear them!