Engine Bay Restoration

RPO L34

First impressions of just about any muscle car are usually made under the hood.

At first glance, everything looked in good shape... then when you look a little closer you start to notice there is work to be done.

Short of pulling the motor completely, I decided to basically disassemble everything down to the bare block and start from there. During this stage the carb was removed and sent out to be rebuilt. The exhaust manifolds (although pitted) were removed, sand blasted and repainted. The original alternator was disassembled to have the silver spray paint removed as well as stripping the black paint off the water pump and crank pulleys.

Other detail items included installation of french locks on the exhaust manifolds, stripping of the black paint off the original dip stick and tube along with restoring the distributor hold down clamp and bolt.

After soaking in Evaporust for 24 hours... just like new!

Original 1966 (3877660) thermostat housing with part number on the flange instead of the neck like in 1970

Original motor mounts

Properly restored distributor claw style hold down with square washer.

Original dipstick denoted by the 'E" stamped in the blade just above 'Engine Oil". Original dipsticks also had solid lines in indicate Add and Full marks.

Original 2 1/4" aluminum fan spacer.

Touch to make it out due to pitting but Oct 7, 1965 casting date for a 3rd week of April build. Who says dates have to be within 3 months?

Manifolds painted with POR-15 high temp manifold paint. French locks installed.

The 3843342AJ alternator fan could have been painted black or gray phosphate. Mine had evidence of black paint.

1100693 alternator with April 12, 1966 date. The car was built April 22, 1966

Thankfully my '66 still had the original oil dip stick that had been painted black. After stripping the paint the original salmon tip was still in remarkably great shape

Pulleys installed along with the 93829282) 4 blade fan. note the reinforcing washer mounted on the outside of the water pump.

Left side of the Holley 3886087 carb showing manual choke, vacuum advance connection and PVC hose clip

Correct orientation of the carb return spring. Also note the return spring located on the lower hole of the alt bracket. (correct for L34)

And.... done