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Glad you're back on the Z, Woody. Good luck with the plans.
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Look forward to seeing more, good luck with the build!
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Hey woody! I remember you from nasty z28 years ago, I cant remember what my name was on there. I think I bought calipers from you. Good to see you still have the car and going at it!
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It's nice to be working on it again. I've got a to-do list that is miles long, and some of this stuff has been waiting for too many years. The Camaro was getting neglected after the Beretta "frame off", the truck overhaul and buying a house...and that whole getting married thing. haha
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Finished up the exhaust today. Everything tucks up really nice. The bottom bolt on the header flanges hang just below the subframe, but that is it, and I rerouted the over the axle pipes for max suspension clearance. I modified the crossmember and the driver's header to keep everything up high. And those SpinTechs are fairly small so they aren't bad to locate. Should sound nasty too! Next thing will be the rear Hotchkis bar install and then cutting off & modifying the mount where the SFCs connect to the SF so it's removable for the rotisserie.
http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...0/IMG_9561.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...2/IMG_9578.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...0/IMG_9579.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...e/IMG_9581.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...3/IMG_9583.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...5/IMG_9590.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...1/IMG_9592.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...0/IMG_9591.jpg |
Big update! Been burning more metal with the car on the rotisserie...cleaning up some ugly from the 6spd swap and the rear end through the back seat. haha
http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...8/IMG_9612.jpg Reworked the Alston SFCs. I was amazed at how much I could flex them when I cut the ends off to remove the subframe. So I built some heavy brackets with a big gusset and put a couple braces on the SFC tubes to the floor bracing to make them stronger. Now it should be just as strong as the Rasmussen/DSE-style connectors without redoing it all. Welded in the Hotchkis plates for the rear sway bar too. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...4/IMG_9602.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...6/IMG_9625.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...2/IMG_9626.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...d/IMG_9624.jpg I finished the fab work on the 6spd hump and boxed in the floor bracing I had to cut for the shifter. Probably not an issue anyway given the solid SF bushings, but can't hurt. Also finished fab on the firewall for the clutch master bracket and filling/smoothing, and added an 1/8" band under the cowl seam where there was a lip. Should be a stronger spot to bolt my G-braces to and will look better when I grind & smooth it. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...2/IMG_9638.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...d/IMG_9627.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...1/IMG_9631.jpg Cut out the metal on the front lower quarter to access the rusted bracing. The pass side was repaired by the previous guy, but they didn't do anything with the bracing. I'm going to get both of those areas blasted when it goes to the blaster next week, and try to re-fab the bracing if I can see how it should have been. I already have the patch panels to close it back up. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...d/IMG_9661.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...8/IMG_9652.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...c/IMG_9653.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...d/IMG_9655.jpg There is also a hint of rust at the bottom of the doors. My body guy says it might not even be worth skinning. Have a look and see what you think. The other rusty spot is the heavy gauge toe box up by the subframe mount. Not sure of the best plan to tackle that. It needs to be structurally solid in that area. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...0/IMG_9659.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...3/IMG_9657.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...a/IMG_9643.jpg |
Got the car back from the sand blaster finally and I've gotta admit, I'm disappointed with the job. Looks like they half-assed it. Sent the boss at the blaster some pics and they are gonna take it back and do it right.
Not much for rust surprises. Got down to the fiberglass patches from the PO in a couple spots so I can fix it right. Did find a new spot on the cowl to cut up though. Didn't see that one coming. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...c/IMG_9676.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...d/IMG_9678.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...3/IMG_9680.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...0/IMG_9682.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...7/IMG_9683.jpg Doing a couple patches first. And cut out all the rust in the inner rocker/door jamb area of the quarter. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...5/IMG_9684.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...a/IMG_9700.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...b/IMG_9704.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...9/IMG_9697.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...5/IMG_9699.jpg So I knew the PO replaced the exterior sheet metal at the lower quarter...what I did not find out until just now was they wadded the holy rocker full of bondo. So I cut all of that out too. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...0/IMG_9705.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...f/IMG_9711.jpg I also cut out the rusty part of the cowl panel. Borrowed a friend's cheapo HF spot weld cutter and it worked amazing actually. Very impressed. I put a post in the NastyZ swap meet section looking for just that part of the cowl in case someone had to use just the driver side for something. If no luck I'll just buy one and sell off the other half. haha http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...4/IMG_9709.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...6/IMG_9710.jpg Finally got everything I need to finish up the underbody once I get it back from the re-blast job. I will be taking the car back over this week. I've got SPI primer and Lizardskin heat & sound coating. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...b/IMG_9713.jpg |
OK...been a while.
Blaster re-blasted the car and some more stuff. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...e/IMG_9714.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...3/IMG_9717.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...5/IMG_9718.jpg Thanks to Kevin Tetz and a guy on the NastyZ facebook I ended up smoothing the firewall further and relocating the wiper motor while I was finishing metal repair. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...1/IMG_9719.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...5/IMG_9730.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...9/IMG_9728.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...c/IMG_9773.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...a/IMG_9784.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...2/IMG_9785.jpg |
Braced & stitch welded the subframe, and had to add a plate to get the Hotchkis brackets to fit.
http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...9/IMG_9776.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...2/IMG_9780.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...0/IMG_9795.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...d/IMG_9801.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...8/IMG_9807.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...9/IMG_9809.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...c/IMG_9810.jpg Melted the lead out of the quarters. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...0/IMG_9812.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...9/IMG_9815.jpg And thinking about changing plans now and stripping all the exterior sheet metal now too before laying primer & insulation on the underbody & interior. It would probably end up working out better. |
That is alot of work. But you know at the end of the day, you'll be very satisfied with the results.....I saw the Hotchkis mod on Nasty Z last week.
So with the wiper relocation, is there any links you can send me on that mod? thinkin about it on my 2nd gen.....I like the looks of it. |
sway bar mount looks good, Woody. Should also help keep from ripping the mounts out under hard cornering. You may also want to consider Keith's 2G bar that goes in front of the sway bar while you're there.
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Here's the post where I did it: http://nastyz28.com/forum/showpost.p...&postcount=428 and in that post there's a link to Kevin's version of the same thing. Quote:
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I'm sure whatever you can do will work well. I can't honestly point to one item in particular that really strengthened my car, but I can say I am very happy with everything I have done. The car feels great and is very rigid now.
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sweet rig
Not a lot of love for those years in the mainstream..but that one will scream around!
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Wow, haven't updated this in a long time. So I'll catch it up.
Seam welded the whole B-pillar, and then welded a strip in the recessed area. So instead of 2 layers of sheet metal with 8 spot welds, now I've got 3 layers with 8 spot welds and 3 continuous beads. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...4/IMG_9820.jpg Fixed the quarter bracing with 16gauge and closed it back in and stripped the whole body. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...7/IMG_9821.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...9/IMG_9836.jpg Got done slinging filler on the whole shell. And then condomed the garage so I could spray. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...7/IMG_9870.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...5/IMG_9875.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...3/IMG_9876.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...1/IMG_9908.jpg |
Nice work, Woody. Is color next or do you have a lot left to do with the body before then?
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I also got some new parts in this week. DIY C5/C6 kit and SPC upper arms from Custom Works, and rotors & calipers from Amazon. I went Z51 spec withthe 13.4" rotors. The calipers came naked without the "Corvette" on them which is nice, because I had already planned on sanding that off and making them say "Camaro". I took the 4th-gen Camaro logotype and modified it slightly and arched it for the calipers. I think it will look pretty sweet...kinda stockish. The SPC arms will be nice for alignment adjustment in them without using shims, which is a nice solution since my G-braces mount to the A-arm studs.
http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...c/IMG_9919.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...2/IMG_9921.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...8/IMG_9956.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...b/IMG_9953.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...G_9954blue.jpg ^ Photoshop of a blue caliper and bare aluminum "Camaro". I think it should look pretty good. I have an order in at Speedhut for a set of gauges if they ever get here. haha I designed them all from scratch. Also saw Holley's touch screen for the EFI. I really like it and it would fit perfect in the dash! Not sure if I can spare the coin for it though. I'll decide later on that as funds allow... http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...91/mph-rpm.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...s_psi_fuel.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...igitaldash.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...c71d1/dash.jpg |
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Seems like it never ends... |
Nice job it's looking great!
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You're right, it never ends. I like the gauges you designed. I'm considering going back to modified stock gauges myself. I've seen some of Guagemarks work and am impressed. I'd like to try to clean my dash panel up some more first though and see if I can get it looking more professional.
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I finally got my custom Speedhut gauges and I'm excited/disappointed. The quality is very nice and the electroluminescence is awesome. I like that they are all electrical gauges and the daisy chained quick connect wiring is super clean. Unfortunately - they used the wrong blue compared to what I spec'd and approved. They used the middle "Giants" blue for the dials rather than the lighter "Panthers" blue like I wanted. I double checked their emails and it is correct in the proof I approved...so we'll see what they do about it. It might be picky, but it's what I designed...and being a designer makes me a little anal about that stuff. The middle blue won't match my stripes very well...
http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...3/IMG_0093.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...8/IMG_0097.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...a/IMG_0095.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...1/IMG_0098.jpg |
Got the car of the rotisserie and back on all 4 wheels. Temporarily. I will have to pull the front end back off and spray it once the final mockup/fab is done.
The rear should be in for good. I did the Herb Adams spring pocket relocation which was tough with the Slide-A-Links, but the extra 3/4" ground clearance, 3/8" ride height drop and modified instant center for free was too much to pass up. haha http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...0/IMG_0013.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...6/IMG_0029.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...1/IMG_0041.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...e/IMG_0054.jpg Had to drill the balljoints to fit the SPC arms and modify the spindles for the C6 brakes. Now my balljoint is the droop limiter and the bj plate hits the wheel and full droop, full lock (ok at ride height). So when I get the steering linkage on I'll see how far full lock actually is, because the tires hit the Hotchkis bar in front as expected...so that will be my steering stop. haha I may use a shorter shock to be my droop limiter (that's the cleanest option) or fabricate some sort of adjustable stop. I also mocked up my rollbar tube for under the rad support with cardboard. I'll get the template to a local shop and get it bent. Will require some surgery on the rad support, but it will fit nicely. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...d/IMG_0067.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...0/IMG_0069.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...a/IMG_0076.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...1/IMG_0077.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...3/IMG_0085.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...3/IMG_0090.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...7/IMG_0091.jpg |
Congrats on getting it on the wheels again. Hopefully, Speedhut comes through on correcting the error. The gauges do look good though.
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Woody,
The car is looking good.But I have point out about the drivers side upper control arm.From my understanding the bolt for the link on the ball joint mount needs to go in the back,because the bolt can possibly shear due to much load on it.There was a guy on a another message board a while ago that had a failure due to the mount being in backwards.I hate to see you get hurt and wreck the car. |
Really nice job with everything. Did you already ask Keith (Customworks) if he could find a buyer as hes a speedhut dealer too? I'm gonna buy that setup when i redo my interior in the next couple of years...
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I got my test fender back from my painter and I'm still undecided on a color. All these dark/slate blues tend to be very metameric. They look quite different in sunlight/flash/fluorescent. And I seem to like different samples best in each light source... I did cut up pieces of the hood decal I won't be using to see how the tri-color stripes will look. Colors here are Volvo#492/80 Camaro #29/modified Volvo#492/13 Corvette "Night Race Blue" http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...5/IMG_0102.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...1/IMG_0106.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...7/IMG_0110.jpg |
To me, deep blue on these cars look best. I'll be going with a deep, dark blue on mine when I finally repaint it. So my choice would be the Camaro or Corvette blue. Leaning towards to the Camaro blue because of the flakes.
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These are both supposed to be the stock #29 Dark Blue...and they look quite a bit different:
http://img.mecum.com/auctions/HA0414...4-178989_1.jpg http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...aug2007_03.jpg |
Needs the Corvette Mightnight Race Blue - and the disco stickers - and the panthers blue gauges!
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Back to hot rodding! Spent the last week (and all the long weekend) doing a whole new roof on my parents' new house. Glad I'm not a roofer for a living.
I got my bar bent by a local shop. It's 1.5" .120 wall tubing. For $30! Can't beat it. Had some 3/16 left over to plate the frame where it mounts. Welded the perimeter of the plate and the center hole of the frame to the plate. Super strong. Thinking about adding a cage nut to the frame where the rad support mounts. Would make it really easy to bolt in since my access hole from the bottom is gone now. This thing should keep the subframe square and be a nice spot to jack the front of the car up. haha I had to cut up the core support some to get the best fitment. I'll see how that goes this weekend getting the radiator situated again. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...9/IMG_0127.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...3/IMG_0133.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...d/IMG_0136.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...8/IMG_0138.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...1/IMG_0139.jpg |
I like it! You certainly did a better job than I did on mine.
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Here's a pic of my clearance cut. Wouldn't need to clearance it at all if I hadn't modified the core support to work with the wedged subframe.
http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...b/IMG_0142.jpg Made a template and then killed another shelf to make it. I love electric shears. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...4/IMG_0144.jpg Went a little overboard welding...but overkill is perfect in my book. Had about an inch overlap on what was left, so I fully welded the top and then welded the bottom as far as it followed the straight edge. It's super strong now. I will weld in the rubber isolator mounts once I get a pair...mine are MIA. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...5/IMG_0148.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...b/IMG_0149.jpg Radiator (3rd gen) & fan (Volvo something) fit like a glove now. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...d/IMG_0147.jpg Also ended up getting a pair of door skins locally. Got a good deal on them and I'm gonna try it myself. Gonna need some youtube research. haha http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...6/IMG_0150.jpg |
Found my color! Finally. That BMW Midnight Blue looks great. Very similar to the stock 80 Dark Blue, but it doesn't turn blurple and the pearls give the metallic a little more flop. So depending on the light it's a little darker than the stock, or brighter reflection than the stock. I really like it a lot. I was almost getting ready to make a compromise on color...so I'm glad I don't have to!
http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...f/IMG_0195.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...a/IMG_0196.jpg I'm taking the rest of the body panels down to bare metal now. I got the door frames and the core support blasted. And I'm going to shoot epoxy on the fenders and trunk lid too while I'm doing the doors. The pass fender got creased and repaired at some point...and the driver's fender had an antenna hole removed. Didn't these all come with the antenna in the glass? I wonder if someone added a CB at some point to outrun the smokies... http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...3/IMG_0198.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...6/IMG_0200.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...4/IMG_0201.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...4/IMG_0202.jpg I also found a surprise on the trunk closeout panel. I see the replacements are cheap, but I wonder about fitment. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...4/IMG_0204.jpg |
And here's an update from a while back I missed posting here:
So the door frames are getting blasted and my test fender is at the painter's with 8oz of BMW B38 and another batch of custom Volvo 492. I've been busy trying to build a better mousetrap. I cut a new bezel for the Speedhut gauges and the fit was good - like always. I've done like 3 different stages over the years. But with the whole dash out I saw a way to make it better...so I started using some scrap stock and making changes. Now it's deeper and the gauge panel is angled up to your viewing angle. I'm on rev4 right now and have a couple of little tweaks to make, but it's getting really close. The last version is all made in one piece and thermoformed on a hot wire. Changed the gauge placement too...I think it looks more modern now. And my replacement faces came in so I swapped out the "Giants" blue for the new "Panthers" blue stuff. Much better. 2006: http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...d/100_3473.jpg 2008: http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...e/100_5342.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...3/100_5347.jpg 2015: http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...7/IMG_0188.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...b/IMG_0168.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...f/IMG_0176.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...c/IMG_0177.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...4/IMG_0178.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...8/IMG_0182.jpg I'm going to backlight the "Camaro" in the center like I did the "SS" on my Beretta project. And I just bought some SPDT 3-pos rocker switches that I can wire in for the fan etc as ecm/off/override on. with an LED indicator each. The big round holes in the center part are for Vintage air vents. Hoping I don't need to add AC, but I'll have the vents to do it if I do. The LEDs in the gauge face are the signals, highs, parking brake, alt light and check engine light. And here's what I did with the Beretta. Same plan of attack for "CAMARO" but with blue LEDs. http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...3/IMG_9439.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...7/IMG_9440.jpg http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/...8/IMG_0007.jpg |
You do great work, Woody. Glad you stuck with a stockish dark blue. Power antennas were an option from what I can tell on our cars. If ordered, it was put in the driver's side fender. My car has the same hole in the same spot.
Do you know anyone that can do a custom gauge panel for my car? I like how I have done my gauges but the panel itself is obviously an amateur effort. I want it to have a more professional look which means it's beyond my abilities. Thanks |
Looking great!! That will be one nice big bumper love when your done...keep it up. Looking forward to more results...
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Beautiful job! The dashes look way better than factory ever did. nice job on the radiator support too. Very impressive!
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Thanks guys. I'm working now on replacing the factory pull headlight switch with a rotary dial. Jetta, Caravan and Saab are looking like the best options...hahaha I asked a seller on ebay of each to get me a total diameter measurement to make sure it will fit, whichever I choose. And I also found a Mack truck wiper rocker switch that could work.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111712011878...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT http://www.ebay.com/itm/252015785769...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT http://www.ebay.com/itm/361133521118...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Quote:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/250712070500 |
Thanks Woody. Changing over to a more modern switch is a good idea.
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