Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Loaded up the car on the trailer this morning so I can take it into a shop for suspension work on Monday. Bushings, ball joints and the Santhuff springs are all in the cab. This is also the first time that I've used this winch. Worked out pretty well for something I bought for little more than loose change at Harbor Freight. I'm doubtful if it'll last but we'll see.

Here I am posing with the car:

http://i.imgur.com/f7wZDv8.jpg

And here's my son posing by it trying to make it look like he's the one that did all the work:

http://i.imgur.com/x138FA0.jpg

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Good to see you are making progress. Keep up the good work. Congrads on your Sportsman win last week!!

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Thanks, Rob!

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

If anyone's wondering what's been happening with this car, the answer is not much. I have been sick much of the time for the past two months. Every time I started feeling good for a couple of days I'd turn around and get something else. Two colds followed by bronchitis. But I'm starting to think that I'm out of the woods now.

While I was still sick I had a day where I felt good enough to go out in the garage a bit, so I installed the alternator. I was originally going to build my own bracket but I decided to spend some money to save a bunch of time, and I think it may have been worth it. This is a really nice setup.

http://i.imgur.com/yAUlh5g.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ywLvjdq.jpg

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

That last bit of work was done about ten days ago. But today was the first day I felt good enough to put in a reasonably full day in the garage. My son came over to give me a hand putting the front end sheet metal together.

It's amazing how much pushing, pulling, prying and even hammering it takes to get all these bolts to line up, but it finally came together. The alignment is still off, as I couldn't find the shims. I'll get some new ones and tighten everything up in a few days. On the other hand I was able to greatly improve the left door alignment, so I think that will work out okay.

Tomorrow I think I'll just do some more sanding and buffing on the paint. It still needs a lot of work. Then I'll get into the fuel lines and regulator next. Maybe mounting the seats will follow.

http://i.imgur.com/s9CmNNk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/YMYGGEj.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Y7Lm2DP.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/fjAIzoJ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/XB2y99v.jpg

Hopefully I can figure out how the headlight buckets and grill attach. This car was a basket case, and I've never seen them together. But the exploded view in the body assembly book I have should help.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Hope you get feeling better soon Dave...I've been fighting respiratory problems this year also and it's been tough.

Do you mind me asking who's alternator bracket you used? I may need one as well for the '67 shortly. I had to assemble my front-end by myself and know exactly what you mean with the fighting lol. The grille on my '67 attaches underneath the fender...it appears on a '66 it bolts in on the exterior which should make it a bit easier.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Looks like the Eastcoast kit. 2407
http://www.ecae.com/alt-kits.html

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Yes, it's East Coast Electric.

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

Do you remember the kit # Dave?

Re: '66 Malibu N/SA
 

I didn't actually buy the kit, I think the kit had some minor hardware I didn't need and cost more than the total of the parts I did buy. Here's what I got (Summit part numbers here):

ECA-2025 Alternator
ECA-2233 Bracket
ECA-2251 Pulley
ECA-15265 Belt

While the belt they specifiy does work, it's really a little short. I bought a 15270 from the local auto parts and it's perfect. I'll keep the short one as a spare, it'll work in a pinch.