Conversion - Working Out the Details
When it was finally time to drive the car back from the chassis shop, there were still some bugs to work out. The engine was idling very high, around 1500-1800 RPM. We checked out the Idle Air Controller, but it wasn’t the problem. Ron could reset the IAC to where the engine would idle at 600 RPM with a sensor tester when not connected to the computer. Once the plug from the computer was hooked up, the idle speed went back up to over 1500 RPM. Also, we found the EGR solenoid lead from the computer was missing from the harness. I called Howell Engine Developments and spoke to the technician who built the harness. We determined the wires from the computer were reversed in the weather pack connector to the IAC. He immediately sent out a pigtail lead to correct the wiring to the IAC and a sub-harness to connect the EGR solenoid to the computer. Later, they replaced the entire harness with a correctly wired one.
The interior came looks better than the day it came from the factory. The new upholstery adds an up-to-date look to the interior. The B&M Megashifter was modified from the Gen 2 Camaro application and went into the Monza console to row the 700R4 through all four gears.
Interior with reupholstered seats, turned metal dash,
and modified B&M 71-82 Camaro Console Megashifter. Auto Meter Gauges,
note amber Check Engine light in old clock stem hole
Old 13" Wheels with New 14" Rally II's
Ready to go to the body shop-once the checkbook is full!
While waiting to get enough money saved to finish the paint and body work, I detailed out the engine compartment— rerouting and wrapping wire harnesses and hoses, cleaning and painting, and adding a Bow-Tie throttle body plate, chrome valve cover caps. I really wanted to drive the car before it went to the body shop to evaluate what needed to be made right on it. Since most of the front end was still off, I was worried about attracting too much attention from the local police. I remembered a white ’77 wagon in a wrecking yard in San Angelo, TX and negotiated a deal with them to pull all the parts I could for $85.00. Once I installed the temporary body panels, I felt better about driving the car around town. It also gave me a chance to evaluate the cooling system with everything closed up. Good news! I drove the car and let it idle on a 100-degree day and the gauge never went over 210 degreees. Fans kick on at 190, then run until the temperature drops to 185 or so.
Dress-up throttle body plate and chrome valve-cover caps
Note the LT1 and bow tie logos
My $85.00 body parts haul from San Angelo:
Starting to look like a Vega again!