Work Begins

Finally, the cold has left Connecticut for good. It's not summer yet but it's a start and at least I can work outside on the Beast now. Over April Vacation I had a steering column delivered for the Beast, it came from Chuck & Eddies Junkyard in Southington, CT and only cost $79.00 for them to pull it out of the donor car and to deliver it all the way to Clinton, CT. Which for all of you who don't live near here is quite a haul. I hope to install the replacement steering column very soon, maybe even today after school. The guy I sold the Monty to, Adam Grey, is going to help me put it in. Once the steering column is in I just have to adjust the idle on the Rochester 4 barrel carb and have to either fix or replace the power bench seats, they don't work on the driver's side, which obviously to me is the important side. The windshield wipers also don't work at the moment, but for the time being I'll use Rain-X in my windshield wiper fluid and that should help my visibility. After all the necessary repairs are performed I plan on putting in a head unit, an amp and two 12 inch subs in a box in the trunk. Next I am going to tget a true dual exhaust set up, complete with headers, no cats, and flowmaster dyna 40s mufflers. All of this has to be done before I leave for Maine on the 1st of July because I am staying the whole summer up at my Grandma's house and will likely have little tools, time, or the place to work on the Beast. Also, my cousin gave me a cheapo digital camera over vacation so I will be putting up pictures next post. Well that's all for now. Wish me luck.

More to come...

An Update Finally...

You have all probably been wondering what's been happening with the Beast or with me for that matter. Well to tell you the truth nothing... for the past month I have been driving a 1989 Nissan Sentra, I know it is a Jap car but I needed something to get me from point A to point B and I needed it for cheap! I only paid $300 for the sucker and I have had no problems with it so far, except the fact that the whole rear frame rails are rotted through, just found that out yesterday, so it really isn't safe to have on the road anymore. This is where the Beast re-enters my life, the long winter has finally ended and it is warm enough to actually work outside now. Also, I have a steering column for it now, and I have already started to disassemble and remove the one from the Beast, I have the dash removed below the steering column, and hopefully today or tomorrow I will start removing the wires connected to the steering column, of course properly marking them when I do so. Next I will unbolt it from the cradle that holds it underneath the dash, then I will pop the hood and unbolt it from the rod that comes out of the power steering box, hopefully by the end of April vacation which is April 16th-25th I will have the Beast back on the road. Next to come is fixing the windshield wipers (Hopefully just a fuse), then I am gonna fix the driver's side of the power bench seat (Hopefully either a fuse, or just one of the motors shorting out), also I have to adjust the idle on the Rochester 4 barrel carb (Going 25mph without my foot on the gas is probably not good), and finally I have to tack up the drooping headliner. All this to come, plus if I finally get a digital camera, pictures!!!
This is all for now...

What Is The Hold Up?

Many of my readers may be wondering what is the hold up... Why haven't I started working on the Beast sooner, seeing as I have had it for almost 6 months. First of all I would have to go to Chuck & Eddies Junkyard in Southington, CT to get a replacement steering column. Also, the weather was getting colder and I just really didn't have the motivation to start on this project. I also am going to need to find a pair of bucket seats... I hope to find a Camaro at the Junkyard and rip the bucket seats and their mounts out. Then I have to take the bench seat out of the Beast line the bucket seats up and drill the holes for the mounting hardware. I am also going to have to lower the idle on the carb, right now without my foot on the gas the car gets up to an easy 25 m.p.h. Right now it is also lacking a battery because my 1984 Monte Carlo needed it. It as of late came to my attention though that my Monty was going to need more work than I was willing to do, the Beast on the other hand is in almost perfect condition body/frame wise. Right now the Monty is up for sale so if anyone out there lives near or in CT and wants a Monty for cheap, I'm selling it for $200 bucks, call me at (860)575-4356. Also right now I have another side project going on, I am building a 5hp minibike, I got a free 5hp B&S Motor, and I am buying a rolling frame for $20... So hopefully after I put some money and time into it I will have myself a minibike. Well thats it for right now... Got to work over the weekend, hopefully I'll have some free time over February vacation to get that steering column in. I'll keep you guys posted.

Next Step: (still) Steering Column

Before I Even Begin

First off before I even get the car registered and on the road I need to replace the battery, fix the idle on the carb, fix the power bench seat/replace it with buckets(I would rather replace the bench seat with buckets), and I need to replace the steering column. I hope to get most of this done over February vacation. Steering column is the first thing to be fixed, then the seats, then the idle and finally I need to get a new battery. When I start the process I will be sure to take pictures and write detailed explanations of each step. To come after the above is a full tune up which includes an oil change, replacing the air filter, spark plugs, ignition wires, starter coil, distributor cap and rotor. After that I plan on getting a true dual exhaust setup installed with no cats and Flowmaster Dyna 40s mufflers, then I am gonna be tearing apart the transmission replacing the gasket, filter and ATF(automatic transmission fluid). I will be installing a shift kit, probably a B&M Transpak, and after that a transmission cooler will be installed to lenghten the life of the tranny. Check back regularly to see this project unfold I will be updating this blog weekly.

Next Step: Steering Column

What is the Beast?

The Beast is my Navy Blue 1986 Chevrolet Caprice Classic that I paid $400.00 for in the Fall of 2004. The reason I call it the Beast is because it is a 4-dr Luxury Sedan weighing in at 4,000 lbs. Since then it has sat in my backyard accumulating dust but soon very soon I will begin to fix the little things wrong with it and eventually start doing performance modifications. The Beast came equipped with a 4.7 litre 305 small block Chevy motor pushing an amazing 150hp, and a TH-700 R-4 transmission. In it's prime it came equipped with all the current technology, a AM/FM radio, Power Windows, Power Doors, Power Seats, and a fully adjustable steering column. Many people do not believe in the 305 as a motor they call it a dog; They also don't like B-bodys or 4-drs. They say fodos meaning 4-drs. are for soccer moms and grandmas. I on the other hand believe in the potential of the 305 and I absolutely dig B-bodys whether or not they are 4-drs. I love B-bodys for their look and style. Now on to the reason for this BLOG; The reason for this BLOG is to keep a record of all the work done on the Beast and the performance gains/respect I gain from it.

more to come...