[The Stickman]

Ok time for a tiny update as I haven't done much. But I did a very simple cheap mod that I thought I should pass on. I thought the rear sat a touch higher than I liked and someone here on the forum let me in on a secret, Thanx Squeek . Seems G-Body rear springs work in a B-Body and lower it quite nicely. It gave me anoth inch drop over my Eibachs. Not only that but it slightly softened up the ride on the front suspension. I thought they would be too weak to hold the rear up and not bounce. But it worked quite nicely. Still have to see how it corners but the ride seems great.

 

[The Stickman]

hows that temp controller work? and what do they run?

I love it as it let's you set exactly where you want the fans to come on. I think they are around $30-$45

 

[Shamu]

I ran the adjustable temp control unit too but have had 2 of them go out. I dont run them now but still constantly stare at the temp gauge. I was not that happy with them. If I had run them thru a relay instead of straight to the fans I may have not had any problems. My .02$

 

[The Stickman]

Well I am bored and my carb won't be done till monday so I figured why not get something done. SO I worked on getting some of the paint off of my aluminum hood. Take a look and judge for yourselves.

To bad I am light sensitive so I couldn't drive with it stripped. It would probably blind anyone. Now this hood is 5 foot by 5 1/2 foot but is seriously lightweight. As are the hinges. These I will leave polished

When My car is running again I think I'll throw the hood on and see what she weighs.

 

[L.D.S.]

Cool looking wagon, yo.

 

[GN 1220]

When My car is running again I think I'll throw the hood on and see what she weighs.

Can you weigh the stock hood and the aluminum hood and let us know how much lighter the aluminum hood is? Maybe the hinges also?

 

[Stationwagonguy]

Dumb question- what is the aluminum hood from?

 

[The Stickman]

Dumb question- what is the aluminum hood from?

The hood is from an Oldsmobile Delta 88 which is the Olds version of the B-Body sedan. But I am sure they can be found on some Custom Cruiser wagons. They will only fit the early B-Body Olds though.

 

[Got_Tork]

Didn't those only come on the diesel cars?

 

[The Stickman]

Didn't those only come on the diesel cars?

The one I got mine off of wasn't a diesel. I also saw one other that was gas that had one. Still haven't found the all ellusive plastic tailgate though.

 

[Stationwagonguy]

The one I got mine off of wasn't a diesel. I also saw one other that was gas that had one. Still haven't found the all ellusive plastic tailgate though.

Plastic tailgate? What?cwm3

Sounds interesting. Are you sure that hood doesn't match early Caprice/Impala? Because that, visibly, looks fairly close to the hood on my '78.

Edit- Google pictures make the olds hood look like the two side creases/bumps are less steep than those on my '78. I'll have to peek at one in a junkyard and check it out. Are the aluminum hoods common?

 

[The Stickman]

Plastic tailgate? What?cwm3

Sounds interesting. Are you sure that hood doesn't match early Caprice/Impala? Because that, visibly, looks fairly close to the hood on my '78.

Edit- Google pictures make the olds hood look like the two side creases/bumps are less steep than those on my '78. I'll have to peek at one in a junkyard and check it out. Are the aluminum hoods common?

There is a lightweight "plastic" tailgate. It's probably a version of fiberglass. It weighs alot less much like the hood. They do exist because I know someone who has one. Every Caprice hood I have seen the center section is raised compared to the outer parts. On the Olds the center part is sunken. And yea they are pretty rare.

 

[rogers9c1]

Very cool ride! Thanks for taking the time and posting this thread.

 

[The Stickman]

Can you weigh the stock hood and the aluminum hood and let us know how much lighter the aluminum hood is? Maybe the hinges also?

I will weigh them when I get a chance. But I have been told that the G-body aluminum hoods save 30lbs, so I am betting I save atleast 50lbs.

 

[The Stickman]

Very cool ride! Thanks for taking the time and posting this thread.

It's been my pleasure. I love sharing what I have done and maybe it helps someone in the process.

 

[The Stickman]

Well Christmas came early this year for me. My new swaybars arrived today. They are made by Hellwig and the front bar is from the catalog but the rear bar is a custom bend based of the old Herb Adams design but is special for the B-Body wagons. The front bar is 1 5/16th and the rear bar is 1 1/2 inches. Here are some comparison pics of the bars that were on it and the new ones. These are the rears.

And the fronts

And I had to install them right away. Here are some shots of the rear while it was still up in the air.

And the front.

The rear on the ground.

 

[Stationwagonguy]

Nice. Dare I ask what those cost?

 

[The Stickman]

Nice. Dare I ask what those cost?

I bought them from a group buy here on the forum. There may still be some availible. Paid $466.50 for both of them.

http://www.impalassforum.com/vBulletin/showthread.php?t=233386

 

[Navy Lifer]

Neil, if you've driven the car, what are your impressions with the new bars?

On second thought, maybe the weather isn't "right" for taking the car out for a "bar test"....

By the way, the front bar you got, which SHOULD be 1-3/8", is not in the standard Hellwig line, AFAIK. It is possible that the box was labeled 1-5/16", which I was told may have been the case with one of the front bars shipped out.

One way to be sure about the front bar size--measure it and let us know.

 

[The Stickman]

Neil, if you've driven the car, what are your impressions with the new bars?

On second thought, maybe the weather isn't "right" for taking the car out for a "bar test"....

By the way, the front bar you got, which SHOULD be 1-3/8", is not in the standard Hellwig line, AFAIK. It is possible that the box was labeled 1-5/16", which I was told may have been the case with one of the front bars shipped out.

One way to be sure about the front bar size--measure it and let us know.

I haven't taken the car out yet, but not because of the weather closing in. The front bearings started to go and I was planning on a set of Vette brakes from Kore3 but really can't afford them yet. I had to take you up on the offer for these bars so that kinda side tracked some funds. Ok so would they want this bar back if it is the 1 3/8? If not it would be cool to have since the rear is not in their standard line. Now there is a slight problem with the rear bar. Where it was pressed flat for the ends there is a slight bend. It made it about impossible to use the bolt they set with both washers one top one bottom. ANd it left a gap between it and the bar. I figured if I tightened it down it might stress the Metco aluminum arms right at where they are drilled for the swaybar. SO I simply used the bolts and thick spacers Metco supplied and it works fine. Doesn't really hang any lower since I flipped the bar so the squished end of the bar is now up taking up some of the height of the spacer. I really do love the bars. I am sure they will make the car even better and it was prettty damn good as it was.