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Tom Vilardi replied to the topic Original hood in the forum Chevy/Ford Kits 8 years, 8 months ago
If you try to go with an original hood (and I’m assuming you mean just the top) there will be slight variations btw. the ones fabricated for our cars and the 65+/- year old ones in both length and the way the sides curve.
I have a BCW and confirmed with an original hood top that the side curvature is exactly the same as an original, BUT the length… -
Tom Vilardi replied to the topic Questions for the Chevette Engine Folks in the forum Chevy/Ford Kits 8 years, 8 months ago
My BCW seems to still have ALL the HP sapping EPA crap on it from the 1980’s. Odometer only reads 16K miles – so if that number is correct and BCW was really installing brand new GM engines, the darn thing is barely broken in after almost 30 years!
Eventually I’ll hit a big pot-hole and the cat and air pipe will be gone! -
Tom Vilardi replied to the topic Questions for the Chevette Engine Folks in the forum Chevy/Ford Kits 8 years, 8 months ago
“cut out a portion” of the back of the existing boot, NOT “put out a portion”
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Tom Vilardi replied to the topic Questions for the Chevette Engine Folks in the forum Chevy/Ford Kits 8 years, 8 months ago
Thanks Ric and Court,
Eventually I’ll figure something out about the “trunk”. I guess another option would be to put out a portion of the panel that makes the behind the seat boot for access too.So does your catalytic converter double as a muffler too? That’s what it looks like on mine. Just the cat (with the air line going into it) and nothing else.Tom -
Tom Vilardi replied to the topic Volt Gauge in the forum Chevy/Ford Kits 8 years, 8 months ago
It’s wired directly to the battery (both hot and cold) so it maintains a steady read of the voltage – does not drop to zero when engine is off Total hack job I know, but it is the only way I was able to get a reading on it in real driving conditions without starting to cut wires under the dash and potentially doing more harm than good.I’ll ev…[Read more]
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Tom Vilardi replied to the topic Volt Gauge in the forum Chevy/Ford Kits 8 years, 8 months ago
It’s 6 AM – checked Volt Gauge and it still sits at 13.
That’s about 18 hours since it went in and I think an indicator that the Guage is just providing a reading and not drawing anything from the battery.It is analog, but if it had been digital I think there would be a drain.So for now (unless someone thinks something catastrophic will o… -
Tom Vilardi replied to the topic Volt Gauge in the forum Chevy/Ford Kits 8 years, 8 months ago
Thanks Court and Toller,
Leaving it alone for right now (been checking regularly) and the pointer still stays at 13 volts but I worry that there will be an eventual drain.Funny thing is that I tried to attach the ground to a portion of the GM engine block that already had what looked like a ground fastened to it (still a newbie and learning a… -
Tom Vilardi replied to the topic LED Light Bulbs in the forum My Project 8 years, 8 months ago
Thanks David and John,
David – the cheaper LED’s you posted look very much like the ones I bought. So I’m guessing that is indeed the problem.Tom -
Tom Vilardi replied to the topic Questions for the Chevette Engine Folks in the forum Chevy/Ford Kits 8 years, 8 months ago
Ric,
Title says 1987. Build number is 365. I’ve seen photos of yours – someone did a good job installing some original TD parts on yours (especially the dash), although the BCW’s seemed to use some original parts in the build anyway.The Cat seems to be doing double duty as a muffler too. I was thinking about removing it and some of the oth… -
Tom Vilardi replied to the topic LED Light Bulbs in the forum My Project 8 years, 8 months ago
David, How much did you spend on your LED’s?
My issue may be just that I purchased a cheap product (I only paid around $6 for the pair). I know you can spend alot more than that for LEDs, but figured I’d start at the bottom.At one point ther was a smaller variety incandescent double filament bulb (which probably wasn’t as bright) but that se… -
Tom Vilardi replied to the topic LED Light Bulbs in the forum My Project 8 years, 8 months ago
I’m thinking they are not as “plug and play” as I would have liked.
My fender turn signals have the big amber lenses (which I dislike) but I have a pair of clear Lucas lenses (not the OEM milk-looking glass with metal rim) that fit the fender “pods”, but these clear Lucas lenses are shorter than the Amber AND the big 1157 bulb interferes with… -
Tom Vilardi replied to the topic LED Light Bulbs in the forum My Project 8 years, 8 months ago
Hi Folks, I’ve been messing around with some lower-end (like $6.00 for a pair) of LED lights the last week or so. 1157 double contact directional signal/brake lights to be exact.
They are very bright BUT the issue I have with them is the directionals do not work unless you have the headlights/taillights on?!?!I then moved them to my third br… -
Tom Vilardi replied to the topic Manufacturer Comparison in the forum Manufacturer Comparison 8 years, 9 months ago
ASC consolidated all it’s resources to Southgate Michigan (next to Detriot) in 1970. My Title includes a reference to “ASC” but the body plates on the car show it as BCW build number 365.
Somewhere there must have been some sort of “ASC” reference – I wondered if some of the Chevette’s were perhaps obtained through ASC.Didn’t someone post that th… -
Tom Vilardi replied to the topic Manufacturer Comparison in the forum Manufacturer Comparison 8 years, 9 months ago
Ed, Fussenneggers did not own ASC but I’m wondering if they had them make the body panels to their specifications or even provide the stripped down Chevette’s because of their connections with Detroit.
ASC had it’s start as a distributorship of an earlier German company that made those old sliding/folding canvas sunroofs for VW’s in the late 1… -
Tom Vilardi replied to the topic Manufacturer Comparison in the forum Manufacturer Comparison 8 years, 9 months ago
Hey Folks,
Not sure if this is the sub-category for this but iIn looking over the paperwork (Title and Insurance) for my BCW, I noticed a reference to “ASC” (which stands for American Sunroof Corporation).In addition to providing sunroofs and t-tops to automakers in Detroit and overseas, as well as some short run customizations (1980’s Buick R… -
Tom Vilardi replied to the topic Questions for the Chevette Engine Folks in the forum Chevy/Ford Kits 8 years, 9 months ago
And here’s another thing I need to ask the 1.6 liter Chevette folks.
Looks like the BCW TDr is using the Catalytic Converter as a muffler as well?The Chevette maintenance book shows amuffler right after the Cat, but on my car there’s only a Cat?!?Is everyones like that?Tom -
Tom Vilardi replied to the topic Questions for the Chevette Engine Folks in the forum Chevy/Ford Kits 8 years, 9 months ago
Thanks Ed.
I welcome any and all suggestions, recommendations, etc.Always wanted a TD but didn’t want the issues my Dad had with his 1950’s English Cars (Hillmans).So long ago I decided something more “turn-key” would allow me to have some fun rather than spend every weekend going to the local Lucas Electric distributor (usually a motorcycle s… -
Tom Vilardi replied to the topic Windwing Hardware in the forum General Discussion 8 years, 9 months ago
Dave, I saw those but they are not the same as the ones shown in the assembly manual drawing in for the Dutchess manual I posted earlier. The one I’m looking for has just one bolt for the wing and then a grub-screw (or two) to fasten to the frame of the windshield.
I think the ones you will be using will interfere with the side curtain when cl… -
Tom Vilardi replied to the topic Fog Lights in the forum General Discussion 8 years, 9 months ago
@ Kent and Paul. The bezel’s actually pry off from the bottom, but you do need to remove the light to see that. Bulb looked fine, so it’s probably an electrical issue.
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Tom Vilardi replied to the topic Fog Lights in the forum General Discussion 8 years, 9 months ago
I felt all around the chrome bezel and didn’t notice anything.
They had been encased in this ugly black plastic lense protector which made me think they were some sort of cheap Jeep-type add-on (which I had planned to get rid of) but once I pulled the plastic protectors off and realized they were actualy metal, I liked the look of them. Here’s a… - Load More
