1970 Roadster LS7 Conversion

[7TRoadster]

Thanks..........

Why would you ever need them.

I truly hope I never do, from my experience it's better to plan for the worst and hope for the best. The main reason is basically trouble lights and an occasional evening car show at the local drive in where lighting isn't usually all that great.

[7TRoadster]

The hood and surrounding glass is ready for primer. Getting that hood correct was important and now that it is done I am pleased with the turnout.

I was tired of working in the dust so decided to do some other stuff today. I picked up some LED Daytime Running/Fog Lights. White for daytime and yellow for fog.

The TCS power circuit was used for fused power, switched thru two micro switches in the driver side radio cover panel. The two wires then extended to the bulkhead wire connection through the firewall bulkhead under the fuse panel. I used a couple of vacant slots.

I also made the brackets to mount them behind the grille sections. They mount parallel with the bottom row of grille sections and will be easily removable (two screws) for replacement and service.

The current headlight harness has to be pulled and opened up to add the power wires for the lights. I ran out of time before completing the wiring from the firewall forward. Will have to do that over the next few days.

Here is a photo of a light installed. The angle is off a little in the photo, if you look at it directly head on it will shine directly through the bottom row of openings.

[7TRoadster]

427 Hood Numeral Placement turned out to be a problem. The AIM for the 1970 Big Block hood had dimensions for the 454 lettering. Information in other posts revealed the 1968-9 AIM manuals didn't include location dimensions, rather referencing the use of pre-drilled holes.

I got out the micrometer and went to measuring letters. The letters measured are listed as GM parts. #4: 03900325, #2: 03900326, #7: 03900327. I understand from my local Corvette dealer that the NOS originals are boxed. The numerals I have come in GM bags with correct part numbers. I'm thinking that what I have is a set of licensed reproductions. This is what I used for the basis of these measurements.

I suggest laying these out and drilling on a sheet of aluminum. Then if fit, alignment and spacing are good transfer to the hood.

The 1970 AIM shows a -25 as the center location. If you measure up 25" from the tip of the hood it appears to be the correct location; however, the AIM doesn't specifically call this out. The @25 lines position the numerals front to back, lines in the drawing show left and right sides.

Attached to this post is the drawing itself. The photos that follow show the template I made and the numbers in the template. Soon I will post a photo of the numbers on the hood too.

Hope this helps someone looking to do the same task.

[7TRoadster]

Here is the template drilled and ready.

[7TRoadster]

And here it is with numerals installed in the holes.

[KacyC3]

couldnt you cut the the post/screw off and use doubled sided tape, so you dont have to drill holes int he hood and they can be repositioned with out damaging the hood till you get them right?

[7TRoadster]

Kacy,

Yes that is an option, it is actually mentioned in the notes of the drawing page.

I wanted to drill them. I am an old guy that doesn't fully trust the chemical bond of adhesives. I like that the idea of them being mechanically held in place with no chance to come off or sag down in the sun.

Here is a photo of the numbers in place on my hood.

[GS81vett]

Looks good man!

[Richard454]

Originally Posted by 7TRoadster

Kacy,

Yes that is an option, it is actually mentioned in the notes of the drawing page.

I wanted to drill them. I am an old guy that doesn't fully trust the chemical bond of adhesives. I like that the idea of them being mechanically held in place with no chance to come off or sag down in the sun.

Here is a photo of the numbers in place on my hood.

Me too- I just like the idea of something bolted down...

I have a template for some 327 emblems (off a Camaro) fitted to a L88 hood...I know...I know- What a poser!!!


Richard

[7TRoadster]

Richard,

I like the 327 it's a good engine, we used to run modified production and ran 283 cranks in the 327 blocks to come up with a 292 that would spin like a 302. It really screamed, Roland our driver was shifting at 9500rmp. And yes we blew one up every so often, they really grenade when they go at that speed.

Anyway, today in the shop was mostly fiddling around. Finished the forward wiring on the running/fog lights. Only thing left to do on those is to remove and re-wrap the headlight harness.

I also installed speakers, defrost grill and mounting clips onto the new dash pad. I drilled the side radio cover for micro toggle switches. Cleaned up and organized parts into bags.

One for seat parts, one for under hood parts, one for door parts, etc. Some days it seems I spend half my work time looking for parts. I'm hoping this helps.

I sanded the wiper transmission cover with 220 and it is ready for a coat of primer. What else, oh yea...... installed the new wheel locks I received this week.

That was about it for today...........tomorrow is another day in the shop.

[riggs 74]

Your Always making good progress, it won't be long before you are out on the streets enjoying this fine Vette.

Riggs

[slofut]

Originally Posted by Richard454

Me too- I just like the idea of something bolted down...

I have a template for some 327 emblems (off a Camaro) fitted to a L88 hood...I know...I know- What a poser!!!


Richard

Hey this gives me an idea... Since Pontiac made a 326ci engine, and my LS1 is from a GTO, and the LS1 is essentially a 326ci engine should I ...well, yea I'd probably do something like that.
Bill

[7TRoadster]

Two steps back in the shop today. I tried to put on a starter heat blanket thinking that would be a good thing. Well the outside is some kind of metal fabric and with the exposed hot electrics around the starter.............pop, pop. Uh oh, what was that.......... It didn't take me very long to figure out this was a bad idea. Of course not before cutting into it to make it fit. There goes another $30 for parts I can't use.

Then I went to work on the new dash pad. All was going along ok, I had a couple issues with mounting points being short. A longer screw and spacer fixed the first one. I didn't know about the second until I broke the plastic A/C ball mount trying to tighten it up. Another $20 shot.

Then I discovered the vent control wasn't drilled. What? Why wouldn't they drill that. I tried drilling from the front and it went ok for about 1/4" then it hit the hard backing and the drill bit started to slide sideways. I stopped and went to the rear and drilled from there. I got it as square as I could but it wasn't close enough and I ruined my new lower dash pad.

Some days it just doesn't work, sullen over the loss of the ($300) dash pad I quit mid afternoon before I screwed something else up. Why wouldn't they have drilled that? I plan on calling them tomorrow to see what can be done. I'm hoping the mounting post defects will be enough to warranty the part.

[Sly Vette]

Mine were drilled on my lower pad but not correctly. The angle was all wrong and now they bind. Interior parts are some of the hardest replacement parts to work with on these cars. Seems to be no quality control what so ever.
I wish my originals would have been serviceable!

[7TRoadster]

The customer service I received at Al Knoch Corvette Interiors was over the top outstanding. My experience was very positive. I told them of the minor issues with the lower dash and that I ruined it by attempting to drill out the vent control hole.

They not only offered to make it right, they offered to do the instrument and A/C vent installs at no charge. All I have to do is ship the parts back to them. Customer service like this is rare today, I will recommend and use their products again without concern. They certainly came to the rescue in this case, great job.

I will be sending the parts to them sometime this week. I'll keep you posted on how they come out.