how about some help on a sticky,,this thread deserves it ,look at stats

I'll try to keep it to the top. Here is the frame of my Chevelle. Welding in the HPI frame kit.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...E/IMG_5059.jpg

HEEP

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Thanks Weld. I hope to start a build thread soon. Just too much going on right now.

HEEP

Thanks Jody!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Thanks !!Let's see it grow !!!

P1800 Gt
 

still plugging away on mine:
http://www.daemoncustomauto.com/P180...ine%20wrap.jpg

mine is apart again!

Jaded had a minor setback after the Dyno tune.... rear splines lost the battle in the 9 Inch. (twisted off... not enough engagement... some moron forgot how to use a measuring tape when I narrowed the rear axel housing.... DOH!!!) New axles, and some newly minted swearwords later, She's on 4 wheels again. Hope to be able to drive it this weekend... It's fine for it to be presentable at SEMA, but we gots-ta get some seat time in soon!!!

I posted this in my Build thread, this is the first time it's been out of my Garage since I started the build, Hope this doesn't kick me out of the Garage built thread! LOL

ok, here's some pics and vids from the "spa" day at All Aspects. She lined up perfectly straight, set the front camber at -2.5 and the rear at -2, put some shims in the upper A-arms so I can go more positive if I need too. The frame is built so that I can get -5 in the front if I want, and +2 on the other end.

On the Dyno, She put down 407 HP and 385Lbs of really flat TQ across the RPM range. Was hoping for a few more HP, but I'll take it on a 125K bottom end! Click on the last pic for a video on the dyno.

http://i539.photobucket.com/albums/f...psf69d1d54.jpg
http://i539.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps466f696a.jpg
http://i539.photobucket.com/albums/f...psd8689dde.jpg
http://i539.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps61e1d9d4.jpg
http://i539.photobucket.com/albums/f...pscd075598.jpg


http://i539.photobucket.com/albums/f...psdcf4fad3.jpg

garage build
 

Just started my thread on here and I'm doing as much of my own build as possible and probably a few things that I shouldn't be trying. But Hey, like my signature says, "how hard can it be?" If someone else can do it I sure can at least try my best to do it on my own and figure it out. That's where sites like these come in so handy because when I get stuck there is a whole world of experts and advice only a computer click away.

And here is the latest picture of my car being built in my garage;
http://imageshack.us/a/img833/8731/cr1hf.jpg

much to my wife's dissappointment since she now has to park her car outside. :poke:

Oh, come on... They love when that happens!!!:warning:

man I love this thread ! I would not have guessed there was that many garage built cars out there that makes me proud!!!!!! I have a dream on building 10 top notch cars in a row out of my garage and I must say you guys are going to make this very difficult to make them a cut above because there is some really nice car on here but the love is in the journey as well. here was my first attempt of top notch notice I said attempt it only took 13 years for this one looks like I might have to live till 125 hope to pick up the pace on the next one. LOL.
http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/u...20custom/4.jpg

http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/u...custom/2-3.jpg

http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/u...0custom/58.jpg
http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/u...DSCF6714-3.jpg

For those of you with no prior automotive experience that jumped off the cliff and tackled your own cars......how do you build the courage to handle something huge like quarter panel replacement and know if you're doing it right or wrong?

I'd love to try and do it myself, I think its half the fun but getting over that question i posed is a tough thing. I mean how do you know your welds will hold? how do you know if you're doing it correctly?

sigh

Hang out on here and see if you can pick up how others are doing it... or take a class at the community college... There's books you can buy.... there's videos on YouTube... and there's got to be somebody around you that's been there and done that.


Just my .02


I figure if other guys can do something and can do it right - then I should be able to as well. Most get into trouble because they don't START the job correctly -- that's where you need to learn a little bit before you get it screwed up.


:thumbsup:

I have a neighbor did the same on a 70 Bronco . He started from the front and went to the rear with new fenders ,doors & quarters ,then door hinges :bang:
He welded that puppy up solid too . cant get the doors to fit Hmmmmmm
Get the quarter and door to fit before welding the thing up solid .

The way I approach a new skill is by looking at the project, assessing how badly things could be if I "F" something up, and seeking guidance. I've never taken any kind of automotive training, other than some things Dad showed me as a kid, and I have made PLENTY of mistakes (oh, the stories I could tell)! But just like with everything else - failures are your best instructors!
Funny you should mention quarter panels, I'm considering tackling one myself and have never done so!

Personally I look at it as an opportunity for personal growth and being able to learn some new skills. If I can do it than anyone can and I won't bore you with the details but I've had to overcome some huge obstacles to work on my car. So what happens if I mess up installing the rear quarters on my car? Well,worse case is I have to pay someone to install them properly, and maybe the cost of another set of skins if I wreck these ones beyond use. Big deal! I would have had to buy them and pay for the install if I never tried.

There are tons of resources, youTube, V8TV, forums, etc. so there is no reason not to try. If I throw away the money because of an extra set of skins in the big picture it means nothing . What you need to ask yourself is what if it turns out OK ?

Replacing floors and installing mini tubs in the garage as we speak. Will tackle the interior and body work, but final paint will be by others.

The wife already complains about the smells from the garage, I think paint would put her over the top.

My 68 was built by me in my garage and has the following major upgrades:
* ZZ502 with an Edelbrock RPM Air Gap intake and Edelbrock Performer 825cfm carb, Holley blue electric fuel pump (makes about 550HP and 575TQ)
* TKO-600 5 speed, 12" McLeod clutch, McLeod scatter shield, Centerforce flywheel
* Global west tubular upper and lower control arms with del alum bushings, Hotchkiss sway bar, fast ratio steering box and power steering
* Moser 12 bolt rear end with Detroit True Trak limited slip, 33 spline axels with tapered ends and pressed on bearings, Ford 9" housing ends
* 3 leaf rear springs with Poly bushings
* SSBC 4 wheel power disc brakes
* Be Cool aluminum radiator
* Flaming River stainless steel steering column with tilt and a Grant Boomerang steering wheel
* Covan Classics Dash insert with all electric gauges (Speedo, Tach, Fuel, Oil, Temp, Amps)
* Solid body mounts
* All new M&H wiring harnesses installed
* Painless Performance Extra 11 circuit fuse block
* Lots of other stuff and extra parts.
* Fiberglass hood with a 96/97 SS Camaro scoop
* 5 spoke 17" wheels with new Kuhmo tires

Still needs body and paint.

It runs strong and pulls like a freight train. I've never had it to the track but it has outrun a C6 Z06 Vette all the way up to about 145mph. Based on the feel compared to my 87 Grand National, I'd guess it will run in the mid to low 11's in the 1/4 mile as is...as long as it's launched well.

In the corners it handles very well. I kept pretty close to a BMW M3 on a local canyon road...he'd pull me a little in the turns and Id get it back between the turns. The M3 driver was blown away at the other end. ;-)

If you go to my youtube page meanchicken87 there are a couple brief clips with the Camaro there.

Here's my 67 Firebird. I tackled everything (sheet metal work, body work, final assembly). The only things that were sent out were final paint and engine machining.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...9_23_08002.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...w/DSCN0506.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ofDSC_0030.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ofDSC_0111.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...t/P1000007.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...w/P1020116.jpg

Prior to this, I have not done any welding or bodywork. Kind of dove in head first.

Tu

And a damn fine job you did... Looks great!!!

cudo's on a great job and tackling this yourself ! Many hours of learning when you do that but you get that satisfaction !!

Maybe a dumb question, but on your picture that shows the 'new' quarter screwed in place for tack/welding, I noticed the screws are on what's left of the existing quarter. Are the two overlapped as in lap welded? I've always wondered. I know when I did my trunk pan, I overlapped, used metal screws to hold in place and used an air body saw to cut through the old and tack as I went along.

The two were overlapped, but I cut the overlapped pieces and butt welded them together as I went along. I used a black marker to draw up the cut lines. You can see it in the picture. Afterwards I went back and welded up the screw holes.

Tu

Mine was an outside build.... Only just got moved into the garage.
67 SS. AES398. 2x T-netics mid frame 72's. TCI PT F&R clips. T56. Recaros. Digital stuff. etc etc etc.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...ps4903d84c.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...ps92faf458.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...ps6c389a8c.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...psc8f07a43.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...psb6c584fe.jpg

Thought I'd add this here!

Completely home built start to finish

Video of build

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBMM0u5eCqg&fmt=18

Engine Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3f0xRlEI6g&fmt=18

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...coors/ba4a.jpg

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...rs/stance1.jpg

^^^^^^^^^^^^ very impressive!!! Way to go!

Wow, Very nice complete build on the red firebird

Final blocking next getting there.......
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...mtom/045-4.jpg

My car is almost 'done' after close to 4 years. I should have started a build thread for it a long time ago...

I've done everything myself except for the paint job, alignment, and dyno tune.

Car needed floor pan, firewall, trunk pan, frame rails, minitub, and tail panel.

I basically tore it down to a bare shell and rebuilt everything from there.

On the dyno it did 655rwhp, and 550rwtq.

For the little bit I've driven it (to dmv and alignment shop), its a pretty fun little ride....

And it looks fantastic! Great build!!!

car looks awesome all the way around. Nice job

Thanks guys!!!

We have been posting pics of a car that was mostly garage built on our Facebook page this week. It's a '66 Chevy II with our complete Street Machine chassis. It definitely leans more toward Pro-Street but it's still a really nice car. The owner did all the chassis, electrical, and body work. He had a friend spray the paint and his local upholsterer did the stitching.

Click Here To See The Build Album. More pictures will be posted as the week goes by.

100% home built, couldn't afford to have it if i didnt learn and do the work myself.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...ps1a417c7b.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1.../WP_000291.jpg

Oooooohh man that looks fun! Nice job.

I'm starting to become a Firebird fan.:thumbsup:

Dan

You car is rocking my world! I have a 1970 Firebird in the garage with a '76 Formula hood, I hope my car ends up looking half as sweet as yours!!!

that is bad!! I like reading about all the home built cars. Gave me some inspiration to dive in :) Hopefully i will master some of these skills you guys have! :king:

Ok these are both very nice great job guys :hello: