Accessory Drive

Last week I received the CTS accessory brackets from Team Chevrolet, and got some aluminum plate and block at Sackin Metal Recycling in Huntington Beach. The CTS bracket will work for the power steering pump. Because of truck accessories, the brackets need to be spaced out from the block an inch. I've got a solid block behind the power steering bracket to bring it in line. I'll trim and lighten the bracket after I figure out where the idler will sit to bring the belt below the throttle body. It started as a 4 lb block, and is probably around 3 lbs now. The alternator will work on the passenger head. I'm using some 5/16 plate to make the mounting bracket. The lower alternator bracket bolts into one hole on the water pump, and will be triangulated with two other holes. The rear bracket catches two of the holes, and the front will catch all three. I still need to drill the front hole for the common bolt for front and rear, and make a 2" spacer to join the plates, and need to make a 7/8" spacer and locate the final hole on the front plate.


Here's the CTS alternator bracket. Unfortunately the steering shaft runs right through the middle of the alternator. I'll use it to mount an idler and tensioner.

Got Fenders

This morning I got the first look at the body sans paint. Unfortunately, the blaster also removed all the gel-coat, including the gel-coat on the aftermarket fender and hood. The hood had more ripples than the land along the San Andreas fault, and will be much cheaper to replace than to repair. The fender will need significant massaging as well to be brought back to it's original form. My 200 hour estimate looks like it took a quick jump to 300 hours of labor at the shop. Hopefully we can hold it there.

Swapped the fenders for the old LT1 with Nick yesterday, and brought them by the body shop this morning. They dropped right over the existing fenders, though install will be a cut and paste, with a large seam across the top of the body along the trunk opening.

Fenders will pull out the side of the car a good 1 1/2 inches, to help accommodate 275/40R17 rubber. You can see the delta here. Finished fender won't be out quite as far, since it's laying on top of the existing fender here, but it will be pretty close.

While I was looking over Mutt, I also got to take a look at another Newman conversion. The owner of that car spent a good $200K on that build-up. It doesn't take long when you're paying someone else to do all the fabrication. The aluminized exhaust was nicely done. I also noticed a few improvements Paul made over the years - the new LS1 mounts, the revised torque arm that doesn't require grinding to clear the driveshaft - little details like that.

Moving On

Finished up the prep work and had a local tow company haul the body over to a local shop that does Soda Blasting. They'll remove all the paint and grime, then it will be towed over to the bodyshop for prep and paint. Now I can turn my attention to the chassis and powertrain, electrical, then the interior prep.