Hookup - Part 1 - 05/04/2020

Well, now that the motor is in, it's time to hook it up!


Car is at least in the garage so it's not too difficult to get things hooked up based on the weather outside. I'm mostly limited by my energy.


A spare radiator I forgot I had!


This is a somewhat universal radiator: it has the auto transmission cooler lines but it also has a return hose fitting and a probe point for temperature. Fortunately both are blocked off and not using some cheap rubber plug.


Fortunately the rubber feet were in the trunk!


And of course one of them is broken off and missing. Shouldn't cause a problem.


Not only does it go in, it actually fits. Yay!


Spray down all of the battry tray bolts with PB Blaster. Rather, what's left of the battry tray...


Fan, pulleys, and alternator bracket on. It's the little things to get excited over.


Compressor bracket on to be able to retain the dipstick. The Y-looking bracket holds the heater core return hose to avoid it getting munched by the control arm.


Cleaning up the factory battery cables.


Negative cable goes in through retaining loop. Makes it look good!


Lots of PB Blaster on the old rubber to get them off of the fuel lines without issue.


New fuel pump and fuel lines are installed.


My good spare power steering pump readied to go on.


Old fittings are loosened and old hoses removed. The plastic shield and zip tie was a factory\warranty repair to protect the steering joint from debris.


Power steering pump is installed.


New return line is installed. I had to re-use a low mileage car pressure hose that wasn't leaking as the "new" one in the box that I have had for... ever? ended up being for the wrong car. It's too short and at the wrong angle, no idea what car it should go to. Story of my life.


Installed the correct '72 front battery cable routing tube on the front of the block which will run under the manifolds and through a clip to hold it in place to the starter. The '71 cars originally ran a tube down between the exhaust manifold between cylinder 5 & 7. It was obviously changed for a reason... This tube is probably the wrong one but it's a good indication and placeholder for me to track down the right one in my stash.


The factory Delco-Remy coil is put in place and wired up to the distributor negative, plus the spark plug wires are all installed and routed properly. Loom retainers were used to keep everything looking pretty.

It's amazing how quickly tired I get doing some work over 2-3 hours... Progress is good though!

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Last updated May 4th, 2020