Boss 427

Sorry I’ve been slack in updating every little detail. There’s just so much little stuff thats not very informative, nor impressive.

I replaced the alternator switch with a resettable 150amp breaker. Starting installing windshield wipers. Installed the Factory 5 badges on the nose and trunk. Lots of other little stuff.

Started her up today and backed her out of the garage. Took some pics. Monday evening she gets loaded on the trailer and Tuesday am we go to the MVA. Working on a VIN number, taxes, title and temp tags. Already have insurance through Midwest Classic Car.

Enough yakking…

Thank you again for being here.

Worked on the Boss all weekend. Got the rear splash panels all installed (4 of em) and wheel wells totally undercoated, 2 coats.

Worked a lot on the rear bumpers. I knew these would be a challenge. Here’s what I ended up with.

I had 2 threaded rods that screw into welded nuts inside the bumper. Access to the other ends of these rods are very limited, and the lower, you cant even get a wrench on it.

If you think about it, its a real head scratcher. How do you mount them when all you have are 2 holes, and the access is really bad?

I decided to install the top bolt, the one with good access since I put in a much larger fuel pump access panel. It would have its threaded rod, aluminum tube cover and nylon bushings all installed. I just adjusted the length so it came through the chassis by about 1/2″

So I was able to loosely assemble this part. Now I had the bottom. I installed a short 3/8″ bolt with a coupling nut. This made for a female thread for the lower mount to slip into. As I slid it into place, I installed 2 nuts with their washers. I screwed the rod in as far as it would go.

Then with the bumper in place, I reversed the rod, screwing it out of the coupling nut and into the bumper. It only required about 1/2″ to bottom out, and the coupling nut had something like 1.5 “. When it was bottomed out, I spearated the nuts and used them to loke the rod into the coupling nut and to lock the aluminum tube up against the bumper.

I think it looks pretty good. Tomorrow, I’ll do the left side.

Got a few things done and a few more pics.

I’m waiting on a backordered exhaust part, but I gotta keep moving, even if it means coming back and redoing.

I have installed the passenger sidepipe with a .25″ wedge (this angled wedge moves the final placement of the exhaust tip for alignment). Looks perfect. Nice testament to the Gas-N exhaust products… Headers, sidepipes and very little adjustment needed.

Got the front splashguards installed and installed / torqued the front wheels. When I get the backordered .25″ wedge for the drivers side, I’ll have to disassemble and work that.

Onward…. You see the back end is now on jackstands and the rear wheels are off. Not too much to do back here except fit, and install the rear splash guards (2 per wheelwell… I have front pieces made by Whitby’s). I am going to undercoat the entire wheelwell once everything is installed… a little different from the fronts.

Had some fun with the sunvisors. To keep it short, did a modified mounting by using square nuts in the frame channel instead of screws into the frame. Made my own correct length #6 screws and it all went together beautifully.

Tomorrow, lots more work in the rear wheel wells. Still looking to go legal Oct 8.

Thanks for reading….

More small work being done until some backordered parts show up…

Installed the door check straps that I vinegarooned 2 weeks ago…

Just installed with 3/16 pop rivets, but I may replace with some better looking stainless bolts later.

Installed the rear tag light / tag holder. I replaced the reg bulbs with LEDs, direct fit and better light. I did not do the mod that many others have done to make the fit better… I may do it later or simply notch the tag to fit. For now, it’s as is.

Installed the Factory 5 wind wings and Breeze side mirrors. Nice stuff, nice hardware, mirrors look great. I can see having to carry a few tools in case these come loose out on the road.

I have the center rearview mirror, but I’m not crazy about it and need to review my options before I drill into the body to install.

Built the sunvisors, but cant install yet because I need some hardware. Stop at ACE on the way home and finish those then.

Hopefully more tomorrow….

Been slowly working at some not-so-glamorous stuff.

Finally got 2 seats and 2 seat covers and the proper floor mounts. Got the mounts drilled and bolted up to the seats at a good angle, then the mounts bolted to the floor. Doing that required a bit of thinking, and I ended up drilling access holes in the seats so I could get a socket on the floor bolts.

I probably have about 25 hours labor in mounting seats, between the hibacks and now these.

Here’s a pic of the bare Kirkey 17″ wide 55V loback seat, with my seat heaters taped in place. On the bottom pan, you can see the 4 holes I drilled to be able to access the floor bolts for mounting.

With the seats finally installed. Looks pretty good, but I’m still not 100% crazy about em.

They are pretty comfy, and I like the way the roll bars really stand out now. Before, they were totally hidden behind the seats.

Got my Mike Everson / ReplicaParts roll bar trim rings installed. These are made just for the thicker Breeze bars and are beautiful pieces. Made me nervous about pre-drilling holes in the painted body, tho…

Spent more time trimming and taping down some loose carpet, adjusting the passenger shoulder belts, finish torquing the mounting bolts for the roll bars. The end of the angle bar is very close to the inside of the body, so a thru bolt wouldnt work. Had to drill and tap thru one side of the bar, then used a 3/8 gr8 bolt to secure it. It isnt going anywhere.

More detail work tomorrow…

Thanks for following.