This past weekend I picked up a fairly complete car but will be very much like a new build due to its condition. This car was started in 2011 as a Stage 1 Kit by Paul Pisani of Harrison, NY. Paul added a Ebay sourced rebuilt 347 stroker, rebuilt T5 and 8.8 rear. It was sold in 2012 to Don Harris of Boerne, TX who ordered the Stage 2 kit and got it to a running driving car. My understanding is at that point Don decided he wanted to turn it into a show car and turned it over to Texas Hot Rods in San Antonio, TX for customization. Not sure completely what Don's vision was as unfortunately he passed away 2 years ago.
The car is currently a non running roller as the wiring harness was completely removed from the car along with the brake lines, pedals, glass, seats. Its a well optioned car with A/C, Electric PS, Electric PB, Bauer Big Brakes. What I do know is that Don intended the car to be a full time coupe as he deleted the Roadster windshield from the Stage 2 Kit and the hard top is currently screwed onto the body. I do know that some of the custom work completed by Texas Hot Rods for Don included cutting the window frames from the hard top and attaching them to the doors, cutting the hood for the bug scoop and adding matching insets to the hood and engine side panels that matched the bug scoop. They also added an electric actuator to open and close the hood and crafted the fenders from steel. I'm sure there are many other custom features I will find over time as this is the first 33 Kit I have seen in person.
Now for the name Cruella de Vil, my wife names all our cars so that is all I can say about that. Attached are some photos including my wife doing her best Cruella impression. Also here is a photo of Don when he first got the car to go kart. Fortunately for me at some point he got rid of the pastel wagon wheels I did get the air cleaner but that accidentally fell into the trash.
The pickup of the car had a little excitement, made the trip with a Uhaul Auto Transport from Dallas to San Antonio in a record 4.5 hours. Loaded up pretty easily with the help from Don's family and got turned around in an hour. Unfortunately 1.5 hours into the return trip the trailer blew a tire. This resulted in a 4 hour wait for UHaul Roadside Assistance to get to me but fortunately no damage to anything but the tire.
Spent the first day doing inventory and cleaning up all the boxed parts. Looks like a few years in the body shop uncovered as everything had a thick coating of dust on it. Good news is mostly complete just missing seats which son in law accidentally threw out and rollbar. Next on the list is cleanup of the car itself top to bottom as it suffers from the same thick coating of dust.
Judging by how bald the rear tires are on the 33, it looks like someone had some fun with it at one point unless they are race slicks or possibly donors off another car.
First order of business was a complete cleaning and assessment top to bottom. 6 dirty water buckets later it's clean and ready to begin. Installed the clutch and brake pedal again last nite. Not an easy task with the body on. Still have the old offset clutch quadrant. Bought the new style from a member and will convert to the top of clutch pedal style at some point. Plan is to install enough of the mechanical and wiring including new brake lines to get it neighborhood running and driving again to assess the mechanicals.
Nothing too exciting but making progress slowly towards my goal of running driving in the neighborhood by end of summer.
1. Got the clutch and brake pedals mounted, clutch cable adjusted
2. Shifter handle installed
3. Engine filled with oil and remote oil filter installed with new hoses
4. Rear end was bone dry, first attempt at adding gear oil showed why it was bone dry. Replaced gasket, gear oil and friction modifier. No more leaks
5. Gas pedal and throttle cable installed and working good
6. Traced all the fuel lines and reattached the fuel line to EFI unit
7. Tightened all the radiator hoses, I think I have found all the hoses to the firewall for heater and A/C lines
The brake lines are all steel braided so debating on whether to replace those with steel lines or go with them temporarily. Same with the fuel lines all rubber hoses will probably go with those temporarily but replace with steel lines also.
Haven't posted for a while but have been working on the car a couple hours here and there when I can. Big milestone today.
1. Got fuse box and wiring harness back into the car, only wiring motor and gauges at this time
2. My no more leaks comment on the rear diff was premature the rear cover no longer leaked but the pinion seal did. Replaced it and waiting on a new pinion flange to reassemble.
3. Pulled distributor and ran the drill on the oil pump to verify oil pressure. Removed valve cover to verify the rockers were getting oil.
4. Rigged up a battery and have enough wiring in place to do diagnostics on the MSD Atomic EFI and crank the motor over.
5. No fuel and I assume the tank is dry. Did not hear the fuel pump running so need to check that out next.
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The brake lines are all steel braided so debating on whether to replace those with steel lines or go with them temporarily. Same with the fuel lines all rubber hoses will probably go with those temporarily but replace with steel lines also.
I was considering using braided steel brake lines. Do you have a reason for not wanting to use them?
-- Mike -- TxMike64 -- @TxMGarage Gen1.5 Hot Rod '33 #1094 (Stage 1) - 302/AOD '15 IRS - Quad Built - Build Thread
I was considering using braided steel brake lines. Do you have a reason for not wanting to use them?
Hey Mike
They would probably be fine but I am missing some lines in the rear of the car and I already have the tools needed to bend and form steel lines. So if nothing else I'm already comfortable with the steel lines and its likely cheaper for me personally given I have the tools needed.
Some progress this weekend.
1. New fuel pump installed. It officially runs but have not run it for more than 30 seconds till I get the radiator plumbed.
2. Need to take the AC Compressor off to remove the fancy AN fittings for the heater and plug them for now.
3. Remote oil filter leaking so I had to remove the electric power steering to get the adapter off the block. Had to cut off the fittings as I didn't have enough room to spin the adapter off and couldn't get a wrench on one of them.
4. Ordered a new set of tires for the front wheels. Both existing ones look brand new but are 10 years old and leaking around the seal probably from sitting flat for several years.
Next up:
1. Exhaust clamps for the tailpipes
2. Reassemble the remote filter adapter and try it with new hose clamps.
3. Reinstall the electric power steering
4. Get the cooling system completed
5. Reinstall drive shaft
6. Get the brakes plumbed and bled
7. Either run manual cables for parking brake or install the electric unit
8. Drive it off the lift!
Got the new front tires mounted so no need for airing them up every 3 days. And I got numbers 1-4 in the Next Up accomplished this weekend although #4 turned out to be a pain. The PO had AN fittings and Hoses installed on all coolant lines. However the shop that installed them either neglected or forgot one, the lower water pump. Had to take most of the serpentine belt system apart to get to it. Anyway my 30 minutes of install thermostat and fill with coolant turned into a 4 hour adventure. Still have an oil leak from the front seal so not looking forward to fixing that.
Got the new front tires mounted so no need for airing them up every 3 days. And I got numbers 1-4 in the Next Up accomplished this weekend although #4 turned out to be a pain. The PO had AN fittings and Hoses installed on all coolant lines. However the shop that installed them either neglected or forgot one, the lower water pump. Had to take most of the serpentine belt system apart to get to it. Anyway my 30 minutes of install thermostat and fill with coolant turned into a 4 hour adventure. Still have an oil leak from the front seal so not looking forward to fixing that.
That is very cool. There was a little time/money spent on that. Once you have this thing all reassembled you'll have to take a video of the hood actually going up and down.
3 months from the day I towed it home and winched it onto the lift its a runner. Lots to do still but running and driving makes everything else so much easier IMO. Not sure how many years its been since moving under its own power but like 3+ years ago.