'71 Chevelle

New Year = Emission Testing

2011-01-28T05:43:00.000-08:00

The Chevelle has been running great! The only major problem at the moment is that it is leaking oil out of the valve covers. Because the valve covers get so hot it burns the oil and makes the engine smoke and smell pretty bad lol.

Emissions:
Hydrocarbons 197/450 PASS; Idle 247/450 PASS
Carbon Monoxide 2.49/3.75 PASS; Idle 2.56/5.00PASS

(scroll down a few posts to compare this years results with last years)

The readings are very similar to last years except for the idle because we tuned it up just a little bit because of the winter months.

Bondo & Primer

2010-08-22T11:49:00.001-07:00

Sanded the bondo and primed it all up. Just need to wet sand and give it a coat of paint.

More Work

2010-08-10T07:29:00.000-07:00

Well the carburetor has been leaking fuel like crazy out of one of the many bolts in it. We put some lock tight around the bolt which stopped the leak. As we were looking at the puddles of gas sitting on the engine, we noticed that my right upper control was very loose. We could just move it side to side which is not good. One my bushings fell out. So this got us started in a project we really didnt want to do lol.

After going to auto zone quite a few times and as well as pep boys, Sun Devil Auto, and Napa, We were able to install the ball joint and had the new bushing put into place. We put the ball joint in and start filling it with grease and of course the seal starts leaking like the rest of my 39 year old joints! So we had to pry it out again and get a new one. It was a pain in the butt project but was so worth it! The car is driving smooth but does pull some to the right now.

Wednesday is the first day of school so I am trying to get some body work done before then. I will be sanding, bondoing, hammering and painting probably all day today. I will most definitely take some pics!

Car is running great!

2010-04-06T21:08:00.001-07:00

title says it all! of course there are interior an exterior problems but hey it runs well!

Fuel Gauge....Driver Window

2009-10-07T07:02:00.000-07:00

pulling off fuel tank

fixing driver window

It has been awhile since we last worked on the car cuz we have been so busy. The car still runs great! Need a new battery though. The driver window finally gave up. The tracks and stuff were breaking, along with the wheels. We took everything off of the window and replaced it with new parts. We also took off the fuel tank to try to find out why the fuel gauge in the car isn't working. Unsuccessful there. Last night me and my dad disassemble the dash to try to see if the gauge was stuck but t wasn't... The car probably has some electrical issues. Hopefully that will be solved.

Now we are still needing a paint job along with lots of body work, and the interior (roof and floor) need to be replaced with new material. The main priority now is to fix that fuel gauge.

Emissions

2009-09-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we took the car to the emissions testing place to see if we would pass since the Chevelle has been running really good lately.

Here are the results for our previousEmissions Test on 4-01-05:

Hydrocarbons-

Loaded reading: 269 - passing is 450: Pass

Idle reading: 608 - passing is 450: FAIL

Carbon Monoxide

Loaded reading: 6.72 -passing is 3.75: FAIL

Idle reading: 11.41 - passing is 5.0: FAIL

Saturday's Results:

Hydrocarbons-
Loaded reading: 240 - passing is 450: Pass
Idle reading: 228 - passing is 450: Pass

Carbon Monoxide
Loaded reading: 2.64-passing is 3.75: Pass
Idle reading: .19- passing is 5.0: Pass

WE PASSED!!!!!!! I was so nervous when we took it in! I cant believe how much lower our results were from our last test.

Our next project will be to replace the brake shoes since we are hearing some squeaks and feeling some vibrations that arent normal. I LOVE the chevelle!! haha.

The car is still running very smooth and sounds great.

Insurance!

2009-09-18T06:41:00.000-07:00

For my dads birthday my mom got him insurance for the chevelle (i new this for a few days and it was so hard not to tell him haha). Then my dad bought himself a 30day pemit! So whenever we go somewhere with out the entire family we are always taking the chevelle. WEewent to auto zone last night and bought 2 mirrors, since we dont have any side mirrors, and some wing nuts to keep that air filter from falling off. The car is still running great and it is also not blowing the black or white smoke our of the tail pipe which is very good and it also doesnt stink as bad as it used too!

Our next project will be finding the time to go and get the car emissioned test.

Update!

2009-09-16T07:45:00.000-07:00

Last night my dad and I started up the car and turned the idle down a little cuz it was a little too high. The car is running really nice right now. My dad took it out to the church parking lot and back to the house. Its been like a week or so since we last started it and normally by then trans-mission fluid will have leaked out and it hasnt so woohoo for that!

We just now need to get insured and get a 30 day permit and drive it around for a few hours then get it emissioned tested!

2009-09-08T09:26:00.001-07:00

Update - we adjusted the carb on labor day, and also got the brake lines bled out. Running much better and the brakes are working again. Emission test here we come.

The Oil Change

2009-09-06T10:33:00.001-07:00

So last night Me and my Dad gave an oil change to the Chevelle. Is was actually quite fun. It was pretty hard getting under the car since its a low rider lol. We didnt spill as much as we did when we did the suburban. The car is running alot smoother with the clean oil. Im sure the car is quite happy for that. Thanks for letting me do the majority of the work Dad!! :)

Our next project for the chevelle is bleeding the brakes, and adjusting the fuel mixture along with the idle so it runs a little better. And we also need to get a few gallons of gasoline in the car as well. :)

Seat Cover

2009-09-04T15:21:00.000-07:00

This is what the seat cover looks like. I think it looks pretty good. It definitely makes the inside look better. Now its on to the oil change.

Oil, Seat Cover

2009-09-02T21:27:00.000-07:00

(the oil and filter is beind the seat cover :])

Ok so me and my dad went and bought, octane boost, stop oil leak, Mobile 5000 oil, and a seat cover. The octane and oil leak will help us bring down all the crap we are blowing our of the exhaust pipe so we can pass emissions, and the oil currently in the car is 5 years old so that needs to be changed. All of this will be done on friday!

Our next project...

2009-08-30T19:12:00.000-07:00

Our next project for the Chevelle is do give it an oil change. When I cash my check we will go and buy some oil and an oil filter.

Progress since we first bought the car...

2009-08-28T06:20:00.000-07:00

History of The Malibu Since Its Purchase

Acquired on Dec 16th 2004
Dec 18 : Replaced sparkplugs and got engine running.
News Years Week Pounded out dent in door enough to get door to open.
Jan 11 : Finally got title.
Jan 12 : Tried to pass emissions but failed.
Jan 16 : Rebuilt carb to correct emission problems.
Jan 18 : Retested for emissions, failed again.
June 9, 2006 : parked in garage with a dead carb, not going anywhere for a while. :(
Outa time-Outa money
Sept 26, 2006: Jump started car and still runs but carb still leaking gas.
Oct 1, 2006: Found a replacement door

Oct 4, 2006: Bought door from Desert Valley Auto Parts in Phoenix. check it out at this site; http://www.dvap.com/
Oct 4: Another good link to the same lot http://www.azclassics.com/
Oct 4 : Put door on.
Aug, 08’: Drove on freeway, lots of power still. Moved to new house.
Aug 22, 09: Drove around the block, took out rear deck. Washed and vacuumed interior. Greased broken door hinge. Cut down headliner.
Aug 24, 09: Ran out of gas with kids in the car. Embarrassing….
Aug 27, 09: Replaced all spark plugs and spark plug wires

Yesterday we changed all the spark plugs and spark plug wires and the car is running alot smoother.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION :)

2009-08-27T19:17:00.000-07:00

The blog for the '71 Chevelle is currently under maintenance and will be running ASAP.