Metal Mech's Goblin #397 - 2.4L N/A Standard Frame (Project Phoenix)

[Metal Mech]

You can also just strip it in the car, other have done that. Moving it out is fun as it's super heavy and awkwardly shaped.

Gonna pull it out. I promised my kid that he could do the complete tear down of the dash. Hes still a bit akward with tools so rather it not be in the cry trying to take it apart. Plus once I get the dash and the wiring harness out I'm going to strip the hood, doors and trunk. I been trying to get water out of the car until I get those items out. Once they are out I don't care.

Also planning to strip the car down to the bare chassis. I realize there are bits we don't need and its kinda a waste of time remove everything, However my kid is having fun stripping down the chassis and wants to remove everything. Figured good practice for him and hes having fun doing it.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Have him collect as many bolts, nuts and washers as possible - you can never have too many. It will also keep him busy helping Dad.

 

[Metal Mech]

Have him collect as many bolts, nuts and washers as possible - you can never have too many. It will also keep him busy helping Dad.

Oh yeah I have him doing that. Even bought him a magnetic tray so he can collect them without losing them.
I have been bagging and tagging all the important ones. The rest are in a big pile but I plan to have him sort them by type eventually haha.

 

[Metal Mech]

Well I just got off the phone with the powder coat shop. Looks like its going to be another two weeks before its done. He is swamped with his normal work plus the extra load he is taking on from the customers of the shop that burnt down. I am sitting at six weeks currently with a total of eight weeks waiting between the two shops if he gets it done when he hopes to.
While I am not in a rush and I have other things I can work on this is just a painful process for me. I will be so freaking glad when I finally get this back from powder coat.

 

[jamesm]

Definitely hold on to every bolt, nut, and washer. I've used I don't how many of them on random stuff on the goblin along with numerous other car projects over the years...

 

[Metal Mech]

Mother Nature is not playing nice this weekend and hindering my efforts to remove the dash.

On the plus I scored a 98% rust free subframe for $25.
The guys says it wasn’t in an accident or anything. Not sure I would even know how to check other than bolting it up to the chassis. It doesn’t look tweaked to me.
Any suggesting as to areas to look at just to be sure?
Also got a new toy/tool. Finally got me a bench grinder and stand. This will make it much faster and easier to clean up all the nuts and bolts that are rusty.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Lay it down on a flat surface, upside down. All four corners should be touching. Then measure diagonal, corner to corner, it should measure within about 1/16 inch.

 

[Metal Mech]

Lay it down on a flat surface, upside down. All four corners should be touching. Then measure diagonal, corner to corner, it should measure within about 1/16 inch.

Awesome thank you I will do that as soon as I clear up space on the floor. I don’t have a lot of flat space. Actually I may just take it to work on Monday. I have nice open flat spots in the warehouse.

 

[Metal Mech]

Ok guys I got the dash out. Kids gonna be mad I didn’t wait for him but he is over at a friends house and I had a break in the weather. Pain in the butt solo let me tell you.

Sucks that I have two more weeks minimum for my frame to get done but I am gonna take advantage of the situation and strip down the engine/trans and dash. Gotta get the garage cleaned up and organized before the frame come back. Running out of room with all the spare parts lying around.

Couple of parts keep/discard questions.

Do I need to keep any part of the old shifter cables? Or does DF give me everything I need?

Do I need to keep the ABS hydraulic module that’s under the hood?

There is a clutch line that goes from the master cylinder to the slave cylinder. Do I need to keep that? I’m guessing we get new lines. I suspect I need to keep the inlet which sucks because it’s rusted to hell and I have to buy a whole new line just to get that part.

That’s all I can think of at the moment but I know there are more later.

 

[Ross]

Ok guys I got the dash out...
Couple of parts keep/discard questions.

Do I need to keep any part of the old shifter cables? Or does DF give me everything I need?

If you are keeping the stock shifter, then keep the ends of the shifter cables that go to the shifter. DF includes new longer shifter cables.
I'm not sure if you need the ends if you get a new DF shifter.

Do I need to keep the ABS hydraulic module that’s under the hood?

No need to keep it.

There is a clutch line that goes from the master cylinder to the slave cylinder. Do I need to keep that? I’m guessing we get new lines. I suspect I need to keep the inlet which sucks because it’s rusted to hell and I have to buy a whole new line just to get that part.
...

DF includes new, longer, clutch lines. Keep the rubber O ring off the slave cylinder side, where it enters the Chevy distribution block, and keep the metal retaining clip.

 

[Metal Mech]

Yeah I am not keeping the factory shifter, but maybe I will hang on to them till I get done with that part to be safe.
I added a photo of the part that I removed from the transmission. I am guessing I need to keep that part but I the bleeder and nuts are super rusted. So I may still need to get a new hose. I did keep the clips but they aren’t in the best of shape.

 

[Metal Mech]

Ok so I took the sub frame to work. Frame won’t sit flat on the ground because of the rear transmission mount.
So I improvised. Considering what I had to work with it was flat enough. Also based on measurements it’s square as well.
Rust is minimal thank fully. Will still probably give this the sandblast and powder coat treatment. Just depends on what the shop quotes me.
There is a small dent in the bottom, looks like it bottomed out on something. Does not look that bad to me. Posting a photo of it for opinions from others.
I think it’s safe to move forward with this subframe

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Your probably good to use that subframe - actually looks to be pretty good shape for a rust-belt part.

 

[Metal Mech]

Your probably good to use that subframe - actually looks to be pretty good shape for a rust-belt part.

Yeah other then that dent in the bottom that actually looks worse in photos it’s in prey good shape.

 

[Metal Mech]

Finally some nice weather.

We got the main wiring harness completely out.
Working in the dash disassembly. It’s stressing me out just a bit because there are things not consistent in the video.
For one thing there are three plugs to the ignition switch. Only two were plugged in and I don’t even see the part of the harness the third should have plugged into. Maybe an option not used on my car?
Then I get to the turn signal switch. Only one of the two plugs were plugged in. Make me wonder why. I am getting a new switch since mine is broken as far as signal release.
I did post up a question in the parts ID section about something that’s not in the video.
So if you get a chance check it out and let me know what it is

 

[SmsDetroit]

Finally some nice weather.

We got the main wiring harness completely out.
Working in the dash disassembly. It’s stressing me out just a bit because there are things not consistent in the video.
For one thing there are three plugs to the ignition switch. Only two were plugged in and I don’t even see the part of the harness the third should have plugged into. Maybe an option not used on my car?
Then I get to the turn signal switch. Only one of the two plugs were plugged in. Make me wonder why. I am getting a new switch since mine is broken as far as signal release.
I did post up a question in the parts ID section about something that’s not in the video.
So if you get a chance check it out and let me know what it is

May I be the first to say it. Don’t forget your parking brake tubes

 

[Metal Mech]

May I be the first to say it. Don’t forget your parking brake tubes

You might be the first on the forum but I’ve been told many times by others I talk to so yeah I won’t forget those. I just don’t need them out yet but I needed to get the dash done to free up space in the garage. My frame may be done next weekend and i have made a mess of the garage with all the stripped parts haha.

My drive way is currently a mess but a mess that makes me smile.

 

[Metal Mech]

Also I gotta appreciate my neighbors.
I keep the donor car covered out of curtesy to keep things looking nice. Pretty much all my neighbors love watching project progress and come over to check out the donor car and the progress we are making.

 

[jirwin]

Keep it covered as much as possible. I found out there's an ordinance against it because its a "blight". I don't live in a ritzy place either. They had no problem when it was covered because they had no idea. The tarp ripped so I just removed it. That was enough. Had 2 weeks to ditch it or get fined.

 

[Metal Mech]

Keep it covered as much as possible. I found out there's an ordinance against it because its a "blight". I don't live in a ritzy place either. They had no problem when it was covered because they had no idea. The tarp ripped so I just removed it. That was enough. Had 2 weeks to ditch it or get fined.

Yeah I plan to. I did find out there is an ordinance against parking cars in your yard. And the bad part is the city can fine you. Not notify you and keep racking up fines until they get to an extreme level. It’s a couple thousand dollars it’s crazy.