61 Lark Convertible And The 7 Day (Un)Reality Build off

[SScopelli]

Welocome:

DAY 1:

Yesterday I picked up this 61 Lark Convertible from Tucson:

There was a car show coming up next week and I wanted to bring this Lucky find to it. A little TLC was all she needed to be the bell of the ball.

John said I was crazy for trying, but I had five great guys helping me with this build so it should be a snap.


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I brought it home and started to disassemble it:


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Since I was taking the body off the frame, I built in support to keep the body from warping while being worked on.



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Mark thoes special shims, pads and bolt placements:


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800 puonds of glory

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Body is up and frame is out

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Body is off to the media blast

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Frame is off to get the powdercoat..


Good thing the sun does not go down in Phoenix until 8PM!

Now it is time to tear the engine down.

[swvalcon]

Ok Chip Fooze. Man is that body ever clean compaired to Mn standards. I just bought two 62 hawk bodys from a guy in AZ. Az muscle cars. Ever hear or him? Hope their that nice. Keep posting pictures.

[warrlaw1]

It took my good ol boy two years to get that far. Nice work.

[Roscomacaw]

Wow! Way to go!

[SScopelli]

Thanks for the compliments.

Here is the block. A nice replacement full flow block.



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And the heads.


Off to the machine shop for +0.030 bore.

[SweetSixtyn]

I love it!!! I'm going to stay up for the next five days straight and watch every post. Hmmm, maybe just check it out every day. I think my wife would like a five day build like this this for my daughters car rather the five YEARS I have planned.

[StudeRich]

That is a great looking Car, and some amazingly Fast work, good job!

I do have to wonder if that original 259 was a lot better engine though, it appears to have had a recent Valve Grind at least, if not more. The Replacement full flow looks to be in terrible shape.

[SScopelli]

DAY 2

Sorry, I'm running a day behind on posting.

Got the body back from the media strip place.

That is raw metal, its not primed yet!
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Can you believe you can fit the whole body inside the car? He bloted the 1/4 panels on but they will fit in there as well..

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.Got it home and found some terrible rust issues.. Didn't know I got a rust bucket..

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Well, I guess its time for some major surgery!


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Bottom primed and seam sealed

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Bottom painted with tintable bed liner

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Since I had the welder out, I also welded up any 6cyl holes in the firewall and any other holes not needed for a V8 Automatic

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Firewall painted with single stage paint, as will the rockers, door jams and inside.

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On the Rotisserie it was easy to get inside the cowl vent area

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Using the same spray gun as the bed liner, POR15 was sprayed inside the rocker panels


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Rockers all painted

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Had to make lunch for the children, but after that, It was time for the inside floor.
Sanded and primed!

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Inside seams sealed as well

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Had the left over paint from the firewall this morning, so the inside firewall painted as well and the trunk hinges..


While all that dries, Its time to work on the engine!

[Roscomacaw]

Amazing! I'd feel good to have gotten the doors and fenders off in one day. Hope this is going to be an article in Hemmings!

[SScopelli]

DAY 2 Continued.

Block is ready for painting:

First get the guptal on the inside:
With the help from my younger son we got the block all painted;



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The engine will be built as an R1, but since it is 61, The block will be silver


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The pistons are 0.030 over. The wrist pins are over-sized to be a pinch fit in the rod. Both piston and rod had to be re-sized to achieve this

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All the pistons are in and torqued

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A little bit of valve and chamber work..With old valves next to the new valves

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Setting up the cam Gear and Thrust spacing.


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Pan all painted.. and installed with the timing cover are on.


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Head gaskets installed and the heads..



I'll post more, but I Have to go and make diner..
(271)

[Dick Steinkamp]

Sebastian does beautiful work, but keep in mind it IS a "7 day (un) reality build off"

Keep them coming Sebastian!

[2R2]

Seb, what can I say, other than amazing.... You are going to rebuild a whole car in less time then it takes me to do a tune up! You are really making me feel lazy...

[jlmccuan]

Pretty fast to find out you need floor panels, order, receive them and then install them in one day.

[stude1964]

SScopelli
Great work! I became dizzy just looking at the pics. Can I get first dibs on the door braces when you're done as I will need those and more when I get time to do my '64 conv.? Keep us posted with more pics.
Rob in PA.

[Jerry Forrester]

Maybe he made his own floor patch panels. I know I do, with all the correct stiffening beads.

BTW Jim, do you have my valve covers that Kent Fedor placed in Jim Turner's booth at York?

Pretty fast to find out you need floor panels, order, receive them and then install them in one day.