Above 1200 Sq/FT Blackbyrds Basement

[Blackbyrd]

Patch panels made, just ran outta time this weekend. I need some more bandfile belts before I can finish it out, but no surprises and everything is prepped to go! Then I can really do some stuff.





When i picked up my zl1 it didn't have floor mats, a buddy actually gave me his ss mats. I got these from Lloyd's but they dont quite match the interior and im not sure if my OCD can handle it




And we are apparently starting off 2026 with a bang....... my wife's lease was giving us some heartburn with over a year left and the intent was to trade it and own the next vehicle and maybe get her a fun car down the road. She had a c6 for while after we got married and this just so happened to be at the dealer we used for the lease and while the numbers weren't perfect, I didn't wanna gamble another years worth. 2015 z51 2lt auto with 38k, needs a little cosmetic TLC but great car and honestly surprised she wanted to do this. So her 2 door mercedes is gone and no more 1 hour trips for service.... and most importantly happy wife.




Her side of the garage needs some attention...

 

[loganb]

I married wrong if that's your wife's car and she's happy with it lol! Nicely done

When supercharger?

 

[Blackbyrd]

I was told we weren't moding it, my son already asked me to put it on my side of the garage so we could make it loud like my camaro.....

She claims the vette is the best grocery getter, while it doesnt have a actual trunk all the space behind the seats is just 1 big shelf.

We were casually talking about getting out of the lease and I jokingly said you ever juat wanna vette cause one had just pulled past us running errands..... im shocked its what she wanted, but id rather do it this way then get another SUV thays value is gonna tank.

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

Congrats on the new ride in the family. I don't know if you can let her side of the garage look like that, though, with that car in it now.

 

[Blackbyrd]

Congrats on the new ride in the family. I don't know if you can let her side of the garage look like that, though, with that car in it now.

I know.......

 

[Xti04]

What a score! I wish my wife wanted a vette instead a benz!

 

[loganb]

So a hidden button to actuate electric cutouts would make everyone happy?

 

[Blackbyrd]

Oh thats dangerous talk hahahahhahahha

 

[Cdubu52]

So a hidden button to actuate electric cutouts would make everyone happy?

Hidden? I think there are some kits that have a wireless system that comes with a fob. Just one press of a button gets you all of the noise, and then none of it!

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

Hidden? I think there are some kits that have a wireless system that comes with a fob. Just one press of a button gets you all of the noise, and then none of it!

I have valved mufflers like this on the V. One sounds just a tad louder than stock with just a hint of cam chop. The other sounds like a drag car. It is fun to mess with people in parking lots sometimes if it is in quiet mode as I call it and I remote start the car and then open the valves after the start.

 

[loganb]

I have valved mufflers like this on the V. One sounds just a tad louder than stock with just a hint of cam chop. The other sounds like a drag car. It is fun to mess with people in parking lots sometimes if it is in quiet mode as I call it and I remote start the car and then open the valves after the start.

Definitely not google searching "valved mufflers" on another tab as I mentally (and physically) add this to the "to do" list on the Nova....

 

[Blackbyrd]

Bad influence by proxy?

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

Definitely not google searching "valved mufflers" on another tab as I mentally (and physically) add this to the "to do" list on the Nova....

Always happy to try and help people spend their money.

 

[Bob Heine]

Oh thats dangerous talk hahahahhahahha

Adam, seems completely reasonable to me. If you don't go crazy...

To go with the custom bumpers, I decided to chop up a Magnaflow stainless dual exhaust system for my '72 big block Corvette so it has a quad center outlet like your wife's grocery-getter and while I had the welder out, added a pair of electric turn-down cutouts.
Concept:

Source:

Assembled:

Progress:

 

[Blackbyrd]

I actually love the way mangnaflow sounds, I might could sell her on that haha (probably not)

That said im friends with most of the people she works with and I can definitely have them heckle her for a quiet car hahaha.

 

[Blackbyrd]

Playing with the 4 link. Realizing the axle housing is shifted about .5 inch towards the passenger side. Apparently this is normal of the era. So the jig for the upper perches lines up with the oe leaf springs holding the axle under the car. My plan was always to get the uppers tacked in and line it all up by removing the leafs but keeping the axle under the car. I can use ride hight Sims to get the new lower control arms in place and tacked onto tbe axle. This would still leave the housing shifted towards tbe driver.... decisions decisions

 

[Blackbyrd]

I had some extra light panels that I always intended to put up on the other side of the garage. I put the panels in just need to wire them.

Once I jave more light output.... I'll see what else I can do. Im really tempted to get an outdoor shed to get all the lawn equipment out and free up some space.

Ive about got the roof repair done! Then im gonna get my 4 link situated.

 

[Blackbyrd]

Its was cold and nasty here, finished wiring the lights in. I gotta get the rest of the junk outta here...

 

[Xti04]

Did you make it out of ice storm alive?

 

[Blackbyrd]

Did you make it out of ice storm alive?

Thanks for checking in! Im very fortunate, we didnt get much ice and didnt lose power. I also live less than a mile from the courthouse/jail so if they go down we get power back quick!



We got more snow after it was over when there was none in the forcast on Sunday then when the actual ice storm hit.

 

[madison069]

I thought I haven’t seen a post from this thread in awhile. I guess the cold weather just makes it hard to get in the garage.

 

[Xti04]

I have a friend in Hendersonville that had ice but didnt lose power. His buddy a mile down the road didnt have power for a week.

 

[Blackbyrd]

@madison069 you would be correct!! Its been too cold in the shop. When it stays in single didgets at night my basement stays pretty cool.


Have quite a few co workers and friends in the Nashville area that were out of power for a while.

 

[Blackbyrd]

Finally done with the rust repair on the t top roof. While im not done with sheetmetal or the welder. This feels like the end of a long journey of whipping this shell into shape.

 

[thetastelingers]

Can't believe it took me this long to check out your thread. Well actually I can believe it. Hard to get away and surf...
Anyway, seeing your ZL1 makes me miss mine.

Rust repair..... BLAH! My A.D.D. would be going crazy. Or whatever brain cells patience it takes to do that. I do not have it.
Nice work man.

 

[Blackbyrd]

Can't believe it took me this long to check out your thread. Well actually I can believe it. Hard to get away and surf...
Anyway, seeing your ZL1 makes me miss mine.

Rust repair..... BLAH! My A.D.D. would be going crazy. Or whatever brain cells patience it takes to do that. I do not have it.
Nice work man.

Thanks for stopping by, yeah I think i spend way to much time on the internet hahahaha.

Doing this sheetmetal repair has definitely challenged my patience and obsession over details. Im a little too meticulous for my own good i think.

 

[Blackbyrd]

Since I sent the floor mats back, decided to pick up some extra carbonfiber goodies. The plate on the bottom of the steering wheel was flaking so rather than disassemble the wheel to replace it, this cover was a great compromise. Start button area got an insert, and there's a plate between the guages was cheap and got me free shipping haha. I also got an xm antenna cover but didnt snag any pics yet.

 

[Blackbyrd]

I bought this on prime day and was pretty excited about it. The plan was to take the eyelet leads and leave them on the battery of the Firebird so it coukd stay charged over winter.

That said im pretty dissapointed that it didn't work, id noticed in December that it would randomly go into standby mode. I tried moving the eyelets to different locations as the terminal posts have a few options and still unable to charge. So I hooked up one of my old school diehard chargers that im now very thankful I kept and overnight the red top is back to a full charge.

Anyone else not had good luck with one of these?

 

[Cdubu52]

I bought this on prime day and was pretty excited about it. The plan was to take the eyelet leads and leave them on the battery of the Firebird so it coukd stay charged over winter.

That said im pretty dissapointed that it didn't work, id noticed in December that it would randomly go into standby mode. I tried moving the eyelets to different locations as the terminal posts have a few options and still unable to charge. So I hooked up one of my old school diehard chargers that im now very thankful I kept and overnight the red top is back to a full charge.

Anyone else not had good luck with one of these?

That *****. I was looking at one of those for my cars that sit a lot. I saw some iffy reviews on amazon, and never pulled the trigger. However, I have 3 of their battery jump boxes and they work great with zero issues.

 

[Blackbyrd]

That *****. I was looking at one of those for my cars that sit a lot. I saw some iffy reviews on amazon, and never pulled the trigger. However, I have 3 of their battery jump boxes and they work great with zero issues.

I saw good reviews and have a local friend that used the single version of this on his mustang and had great results.

All my internet searches seems to blame either long extension leads (which they include in the kit) or poor connections to the battery terminals. My red top has top posts thst im using and side facing threaded ports that im not. Im tempted to use those just for the charger to see if that helps, but I just dont think its gonna matter. It does include a set of gator clips instead I could use which is what the older charger has, but again a bolt through eyelet connection should be better than the gator clips....

 

[Cdubu52]

I saw good reviews and have a local friend that used the single version of this on his mustang and had great results.

All my internet searches seems to blame either long extension leads (which they include in the kit) or poor connections to the battery terminals. My red top has top posts thst im using and side facing threaded ports that im not. Im tempted to use those just for the charger to see if that helps, but I just dont think its gonna matter. It does include a set of gator clips instead I could use which is what the older charger has, but again a bolt through eyelet connection should be better than the gator clips....

I was looking at the single version. Like I said, the jump boxes are great. Im surprised you are having these issues.

 

[GRN96WS6]

I don't have a dual version but have a 2 - 2amp versions that I use to charge cars and never have had any issues with them. One is using the eyelets that I leave on the batter of my diesel truck to keep it topped off and the other is alligator clips that I use on my BMW car during winter in the garage.

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

I have one of the sinlge 2amp models, which has been going strong for 3+ years now after I started having issues with my battery tender ones killing AGM batteries, even though they stated they were rated for them. Hopefully, it is just an issue with the double one.

 

[madison069]

Let me know what you find out on the charger, I need to get one for the mother in law’s car.

 

[Blackbyrd]

Let me know what you find out on the charger, I need to get one for the mother in law’s car.

From my continued investigating it seems the reason nit went into stand by is because the battery voltage dropped below a certain threshold at the noco cant sense it. It supposed to have a force mode but I couldn't get it into the mode.

So the low voltage thing makes sense, but dont understand why it ended up low when the charger should have been maintaining it in the first place.

This maybe a long drawn out thing, as the battery is charged now, but im hesitant to luae the noco again after that. I have a non agm battery hooked up on the other leg and it seems to be maintaining as intended.

 

[Swanny1953]

I have one NOCO that came with the '57 Cameo. ALL my other chargers (and there are a bunch) are Battery Savers - https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Saver-Premium-Maintainer-3015L-G3/dp/B0B41CZ9V8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Blackbyrd]

I have one NOCO that came with the '57 Cameo. ALL my other chargers (and there are a bunch) are Battery Savers - https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Saver-Premium-Maintainer-3015L-G3/dp/B0B41CZ9V8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Thanks for sharing that Gary!

I think ive narrowed it down to either poor material of the eyelets reducing contact area, or this brand just isnt great with agm batteries.

Ill look into the one you suggested though. At this point my trust level is broken with the noco.

 

[Blackbyrd]

Noco still not charging red top.... gonna try gator clips and see if it has an impact.... if not I guess its off to the trash for this thing.

Needed a break from.the camaro cause other tasks were piling up. So I thought swapping bumpers will be quick....




Unfortunately getting the original one off was the easy part, between siezed bolts bent brackets and bolts that needed threads re cut this took way more time than the 45 minutes I expected.





But swapping to a denali paint matched bumper was a good choice. Its not pristine but neither is the rest of the truck so its a perfect match haha.



My wifes dog Piper decided to be a shop dog while my wife is outta town

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

Color matched bumper looks good on the truck. Always fun when the simple task we think we can knock out quick to get something off the list, ends up taking 2-3x what we expect.

 

[madison069]

Black trucks always look better with color match bumpers!