Our 69 Yenko Chevelle restoration

[SS427]

Last night was the steering column and firewall mounting installation. I have included several original photos of how it looked and how we restored that area and the hardware.

The Quietride firewall pad comes with the pad that goes around the steering column just like the original though it does need to be cut out for the steering column, clutch rod and brake rod.

The speedometer cable clip was on the original cable but not attached to the firewall plate. When I tried to attach it, it would pull the cable up tight against the clutch rod so I left it off just like it was originally.

Oddly enough the accelerator pedal attachment bolts were zinc as I usually always find them black oxide on 70 Chevelles. Regardless we restored them as found. The accelerator pedal rod and retainer were both a dark grey phosphate and were restored as such.

[SS427]

Finished up the steering column tonight and installed the under hood insulation.

Notice that the steering column cover and ashtray are slightly duller than the main dash. This is normal and I see it all the time on the 70 Chevelles. None of these pieces were repainted, only cleaned thoroughly and reinstalled.

The rear seat divider was not perfect but was reusable and since it was the original I elected to use it instead of the wannabe reproduction. I do not like the looks of those when looking thru the trunk so this works for me.

Tonights project is to finish up the firewall forward wiring then onto the carpet and window regulator installation.

[cheveslakr]

It's interesting your rear seat divider has the 2 large holes punched out Rick. My '69 sedan had that in excellent shape and the round holes weren't punched out. They were perf'd, that's it. Maybe a difference in the "cabin pressure" between the sedan and hardtop??

[SS427]

Virtually very 70 I have torn down had both holes punched and usually when I have looked in the trunk of any survivors (both 69 and 70) I can always see seat springs. I know this as I usually use that as an access point for my bore scope when looking for a build sheet.

I did check my files and Phil Woj's survivor does not have them punched. Hmmmm, I wonder if the Racoons had anything to do with mine being punched out? (seriously) I do not recall finding the cutouts laying in the car however...….

Damn, now maybe I will have to use that garbage reproduction. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

[tunes]

My Chevelle had the holes knocked out of the seat divider when I first got it with 19,000 miles on it. It's a Kansas City car though.

[cheveslakr]

I can't think of a reason they'd be knocked out other than cabin pressure. Same reason they added the door jamb reliefs with astro ventilation. My sedan doesn't have astro ventilation so there's no need to equalize pressure.
I'll thumb through the Fisher manual later. Certainly could have been missed by some line workers.

[Woj]

Rick,

If your original divider board was punched out, I’d leave it. I just checked my file photos and my 4A car was not punched out. Maybe Grady can chime I with what his car has. I’ve seen them both ways on Baltimore cars. I don’t recall off hand what my COPO has. Will find out later.

Nice job on saving the package tray insulation. I did that on one of my cars and was surprised at how easy it was. You have to have good insulation to start with though.

You are really cruising on this project!

Very nice.

Phil

[SS427]

Both Grady's blue COPO and 300 are punched. He messaged me earlier. I decided many years ago that I would not restore our cars per popular vote or majority rule but rather how we found them if we knew for sure they were unmolested. Doing anything else messes with the history of these cars.

[X66 714]

67-69 Camaros have a rectangular holes in the same area of the divider. I heard it has something with air being able to escape when people sit down ..Joe

[SS427]

Phil, we are making good progress but working nights and weekends is getting old. I'm hoping we can wrap this thing up in a month or two. Still need a few parts and will post a wanted ad soon. I just realized tonight that I believe these hoods use a rear V shaped weatherstrip across its entire width. That will not be fun to locate and the repos are nothing close.