The Cal-look Lounge

Cal-look/High Performance => In Da Werks => Topic started by: Matt Tobias on February 22, 2011, 02:03:36 am



Title: My '65 Looker getting redone
Post by: Matt Tobias on February 22, 2011, 02:03:36 am
I've owned this baby since 1999.  I bought it in Grand Prairie, TX after coming home from a 4 year assignment to RAF Mildenhall UK.  I then drove it straight through the night to Alamagordo NM in January, in the freezing cold, with the front windows rolled down because of the leaking gas line in the tunnel was pushing fumes so bad into the car I thought I would pass out.  That was a SHITTY 14 hr drive. 
I then proceeded to beat the piss out of the poor 1200 that came with the car, its fateful end coming back from Phx Bugorama just outside of Deming NM when one of the rods decided it wanted it's freedom.  Hy Koch can tell you just how I drive this car, he couldn't believe a 1200 could be flogged so badly!
Then I built a nice little 1600 with home worked heads and Kads.  I loved that engine, it was pretty quick for what it was and dead NUTS reliable.  My wife and I drove it from NM to Seattle up the PCH for our honeymoon so we could drop it at the shippers to take it to our next tour, in Misawa Japan. 
It was a great car to have in Japan, but getting it to pass their stupid safety tests was an absolute nightmare.   It even handled the 12ft of annual snow fall admirably.  In Japan I finally got started on my 2L.  The engine I'd always wanted.
It took six years to save up all the parts and I finally got it running once I got back to AZ and had my heads done at CE.
82x94
FK8
9.5:1
Mike Fischer ported Street Eliminators with 42x37.5 valves
IDA's with welded manifolds
010 Distributor
1 5/8 Kymco merged header with turbo muffler
The engine was such a surprise in how unbelievably fast it was.  The rear end would squat to the ground and then launch like a #*!)$* rocketship!  Unfortunately I overlapped the oil expander rings on two pistons(!!!!).  So sparkplugs would only last for a mile on 2 cylinders before they'd foul out.  So I have the oil burning monster apart to re-ring it and clean a few things up. 
I figured while the engine was out I'd finally take care of all the things that I've put off for too long.
So the body is off for a respray, the chassis is getting rebuilt to new and I'm actually switching from early fenders to a set of '67 fenders I just bought from Zach.  I've always liked the upright headlights and I picked up a nice set of original rock guards for the headlights that I've always dug. 
Also on the list is a few patch panels in the rear quarters, nothing too drastic.
building a wiring harness from scratch
welding the trim holes closed
new interior
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/tobiism/Josie/DSC08814.jpg)
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/tobiism/Josie/DSC08859.jpg)
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/tobiism/Josie/DSC08860.jpg)
The fenders that picked up had a few dents in them.  I've never worked with original German fenders before, and I was amazed at how easy they are to work the dents out of.  The thinner repros do not like to be hammered on!
This fender had a crease in it that you could lay your pinky in.  It took about 20 minutes of hammering, filing, and shrinking to get this way.  With some high build primer it probably won't need any filler.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/tobiism/Josie/DSC08863.jpg)
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/tobiism/Josie/DSC08862.jpg)


Title: Re: My '65 Looker getting redone
Post by: Zach Gomulka on February 22, 2011, 02:19:08 am
Glad they went to a good home!

When you're ready for interior, let me know. I'm moving back to the valley soon [as I find a job] ;)


Title: Re: My '65 Looker getting redone
Post by: Matt Tobias on February 22, 2011, 02:49:42 am
Glad they went to a good home!

When you're ready for interior, let me know. I'm moving back to the valley soon [as I find a job] ;)

Nice, you do custom interiors?  Where in the valley are you thinking of moving?  I live in Chandler and really like it here.


Title: Re: My '65 Looker getting redone
Post by: Zach Gomulka on February 22, 2011, 17:23:03 pm
I'll be living around 7th Ave & Indian School. I will be moving as soon as I find employment, so if you know anyone... ;)

Yep, I do interiors. Here's some of my work on VW's ;)

http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,13356.0.html

http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,13471.0.html

And the big one...
http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,5626.0.html


Title: Re: My '65 Looker getting redone
Post by: 71CALRIPPER on February 22, 2011, 17:43:36 pm
Glad they went to a good home!

When you're ready for interior, let me know. I'm moving to the UK soon [as I find a job] ;)

About time ;)


Title: Re: My '65 Looker getting redone
Post by: Zach Gomulka on February 22, 2011, 18:10:36 pm
Glad they went to a good home!

When you're ready for interior, let me know. I'm moving to the UK soon [as I find a job] ;)

About time ;)

Ugh... I wish!!! That will happen someday, just not now :-\


Title: Re: My '65 Looker getting redone
Post by: Matt Tobias on February 23, 2011, 00:19:50 am
GREAT Work!  I love the Hurst shifter boot!

I'll be living around 7th Ave & Indian School. I will be moving as soon as I find employment, so if you know anyone... ;)

Yep, I do interiors. Here's some of my work on VW's ;)

http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,13356.0.html

http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,13471.0.html

And the big one...
http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,5626.0.html


Title: Re: My '65 Looker getting redone
Post by: Zach Gomulka on February 23, 2011, 01:32:06 am
GREAT Work!  I love the Hurst shifter boot!

Thanks! I'm selling the boots if you (or anyone) is interested ;)


Title: Re: My '65 Looker getting redone
Post by: Matt Tobias on March 25, 2011, 06:47:21 am
I dropped the chassis off at the sandblaster today, I can't wait to get it back nice and clean!
Time to start putting parts on a diet before they go back on the pan!
Here is the handbrake and pivot pin.  It may get shortened at the handle a couple of inches.
Sorry I don't have the exact weight, but that pivot pin was really heavy for what it was!
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/tobiism/Josie/DSC09112.jpg)
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/tobiism/Josie/DSC09113.jpg)
next up is the pan washers!


Title: Re: My '65 Looker getting redone
Post by: Matt Tobias on March 27, 2011, 04:33:33 am
Got the pan back from the blaster yesterday and I'm very happy with the job they did.  It only cost $80 and they got EVERYTHING! 
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/tobiism/Josie/DSC09183.jpg)
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/tobiism/Josie/DSC09182.jpg)


Title: Re: My '65 Looker getting redone
Post by: Matt Tobias on March 30, 2011, 05:47:20 am
Time to replace the fuel line.  It was tricky but I was able to run a 1/4" copper line through the tunnel, with 1/4 barb x 1/8NPT barbed fittings sweated to either end.  When I open up the tunnel to brace the clutch cable I'll put braces in for the fuel line. 
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/tobiism/Josie/DSC09226.jpg)
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/tobiism/Josie/DSC09227.jpg)