|
Made some progress on the car today. The driver's side outer wheel house and deep tub are in.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0063.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00612.jpg It was easier just to cut the old bracket out so I just made new brackets where the wheel house supports the rear deck lid. http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0065.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0067.jpg I'm hoping to spend a couple hours in the shop tomorrow when my wife and daughter go to Kelowna, although I told her I would do some yard work also so we'll see. I should have the driver's side quarter panel on by the next update. Once the quarter panel is on, I will be replacing the driver's side cowel panel. I already have the old one off. It looked like someone had been in an accident as the old one was crushed in. I tried to straighten it the best I could. http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0004.jpg Once I get the cowel panel done, I will probably cut out the firewall and put a smooth one in. Right now I'm leaning towards the Mike's Custom Cars inserts. I was going to make them myself, but after looking at several different pics, I think I do like it with the factory seam reproduced. I find it beind completely smooth almost too much and the seam adds just enough. I'm going to replace the driver's side also and then hide the wiper motor under the driver's side fender. Here's a link to the firewall panels I'm looking at. $145 for both. http://www.mikescustomcars.com/proje...album=1&pic=10 http://www.mikescustomcars.com/proje...&album=1&pic=6 |
Well I made the wife happy, I got up early enough to do some yard work and take a load of garbage to the dump...now the shop is nice and clean again :D
She took the daughter to Kelowna for a girls trip so that left me some time in the shop. I got the driver's side quarter on and am about half way done welding it on. The next chance I'll get to finish it will be next Monday. Here's a pic: http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0072.jpg I also put both rear tires on to see how it looks. It looks awesome with the 285's, but I can't wait to get the rims widened and get some 315's, it will look sick :devil: Here's the 285's: http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0074.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0075.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0081.jpg |
Nice job. You are doing some serious metal work :thumbsup:
|
Quote:
|
Well today I only got to go into the shop for a couple hours so I thought I would work on the rotisserie to take a break from the car. I had already built most of it, but wanted to change some things and I finally got some good strong casters (capacity is 700lbs per caster). Once I get the rotisserie done, I'm going to put the Speed Tech subframe on it and do some cleaning up and then primer. Then I'm going to try a new product from Eastwood. It's a ceramic coat chassis coat. It has small pieces of ceramic in it and when it hardens, are you ready for this......................it's like a ceramic coat. I ordered some last week and hope to see it in the next couple days. Here's a link to it:
http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?i...rID=425&KICKER Once I get the subframe coated, I'll put the car shell onto it and I plan on putting two coats of POR15 and then a coat of Raptor bed liner on top of the POR15. Should stop the rust and help with sound. Here's a few pics of the rotisserie in progress: http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0082.jpg The bars that will bolt up to the car http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0083.jpg Bottle jacks (the same ones that I used to install the g-bar) http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0084.jpg |
Progress
Looks like your getting her done! the car looks great . Nie job on the rotisserie
|
Thanks WaynieZ.
Got a chance to spend a good portion of the day in the shop today. The driver's side cowel panel is on, I finished welding up the floors underneath and I started putting the new tranny tunnel in. I actually got to put my new TKO600 into the car, even if it was only for a few minutes while I cut the hole out in the tranny patch. Tomorrow I hope to finish the tranny tunnel, finish welding up the driver's side quarter panel and then I might even start smoothing the firewall. Hopefully by next week it will be on the rotisserie. Here's some pics from today: New cowel panel is in http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00023.jpg Putting the tranny in with motor mocked up http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00048.jpg TKO600 in the car http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00075.jpg New tranny tunnel http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00085.jpg |
I finished welding in the tranny tunnel today. I also took the stock subframe off for the last time. I was waiting until I have the tranny tunnel fit and the quarters in before I took it off. If anyone is looking for a stock subframe in really good shape, I have an extra one. I decided to start smoothing the firewall today also. Everytime I've seen pics of a smooth firewall, no one has posted an in between photo. They are always before and after. I have an in between photo to share for those who are debating about putting in a smooth firewall.
Tranny tunnel in http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00155.jpg Smooth firewall insert http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00095.jpg Firewall before http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00105.jpg Firewall cut up http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00124.jpg Smooth firewall in. It still needs to have some minor adjustments and to be welded in http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00136.jpg |
Here's a couple more pics from today. I'm going to weld in some plug welds to add some strength to the smooth firewall. I'm using 16 guage sheetmetal so I'm not as worried about it warping. I was also able to smooth out the infamous area where most cars with an HEI distrubutor get the hammer treatment. It's not perfect, but it's better. I'll probably spend a bit more time cleaning it up before I weld everything into place. Here's the pics:
Smooth firewall with plug weld holes and held in place with cleckos http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00165.jpg Smoothing out the hammer beating, will be easier to clean up with filler now http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00185.jpg The next area to be smoothed http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00176.jpg |
holy smokes Mike your making some serious progress...keep the pics coming.I installed the control arms I got from you and lovin them!! I should have also bought your coil overs too :lol: Keep up the great work!!
Steve |
Thanks Steve. Glad to hear the control arms worked out for you. I was wondering how you made out.
I spent a couple hours between last night and this morning working on the firewall panel for the driver's side. It still needs a few adjustments before I weld it in. I'm going to put the wiper motor into the driver's side cowel panel so it's hidden under the fender. I'm just going to use the stock style as I really don't need to buy the DSE one. Here's some pics: Firewall panel http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00195.jpg Firewall before http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00176.jpg Firewall cut up http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00206.jpg Panel held in place with cleckos http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00216.jpg Full smooth firewall, still needs to be welded in to place http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00223.jpg |
Looks Good keep the updates coming
|
Thanks Wayne.
Today I spent about 4 hours welding on the smooth firewall panels. It sure takes a long time when you're trying to be careful and not warp. Hopefully the next time I post some pics, it will be of the car on the rotisserie. Tommorow I plan on getting as close to lifting her in the air as I can. Here's pics from today: Smooth firewall all welded in. Welds still need to be ground down and cleaned up http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00282.jpg It's a good thing I plan on replacing basically everything inside the car. I didn't get rid of all the insulation on the firewall and next thing I knew, there was a fire under the dash http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00303.jpg |
A few things have happened since my last update. Unfortunately I was in need of some money and I have been debating if the engine parts were the parts that I really wanted to use for my motor build, so I ended up selling all the engine stuff that I had. I still have the heads (AFR 210cc) though, which are for sale in the classified section. I've been looking at quite a few different options now. I was even looking at LS engines. The only thing about the LS engines...they're not shiny enough. I know I know....the shine doesnt make it go faster. That really doesn't matter when what ever motor I get it will be well over 500hp. I've also been looking at a Scott Shafiroff 434 crate engine that is 595hp. Right now I don't have the money to do the engine anyways, so I'm just throwing around ideas. Realistically I think I'll be ready for the engine by spring.
I did get some work done on the car (sort of). The way things were going I thought I'd never see the day when I would get it on the rotisserie, but here it is. I hope to get everything welded up tomorrow and hope to get a coat of POR15 on by Friday. Here's some pics: http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00106.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00115.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00125.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00137.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00146.jpg |
|
Nice work! Talk about memories!! I was right there just over a year ago!!
|
Scherp69 Keep plugging at it, your making good progress. As far as the engine goes, I have a beautiful World 454 sb and I still drool over these LS engines make sure what you want before you pull the trigger. Nice work!
|
Thanks guys. Thankfully I have a while before I actually need the engine, so I have lots of time to make up my mind.
I spent about 8 hours in the shop today. I was hoping to have it ready for under coating by tomorrow, but when I realized that's not going to happen, I figured I might as well call it a day. Only so much grinding and welding one can do in a day. I'm not trying to get a 10 point car or anything, I'm just trying to clean things up. I ended up getting the welding on the floor boards and tranny tunnel finished. The air bar is welded in place now also. I did come across one issue. Both the driver's side and passenger side front eye mount brackets were welded to the body (some of you may have seen my thread about this) so I had to grind them off. Once I had them off though, the metal underneath wasn't that bad. I was debating about cutting a new piece and welding it in, but after cleaning up the metal some, I think I'm just going to fill the little holes in with the welder. Here's some pics: Driver's side http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00242.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00272.jpg Passenger side http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00217.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00224.jpg |
|
I also decided to clean up the front where the new floor boards were welded in. I wanted it to look smooth and not see where the metal overlaps. I'm using Metal to Metal to fill it in. It's not done yet though.
Driver's side http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00343.jpg Passenger side http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00353.jpg The next picture, hopefully someone can help me. I'm going to have to fab up something to fill in this gap. If you've followed my build thread, you'll know that I replaced the quarter panels, trunk drop offs, outer wheels houses and put in deep tubs. I just noticed today that I have a big gap on both sides between the quarter panel and the trunk drop off. It's right below the deep tub. Is this common to have this gap when you replace everything??? Here's some pics: This is with the car sideways on the rotisserie. It's the passenger side. http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00443.jpg |
Well it's been a while since I posted an update. Unfortunately we've been having some family issues (15 year old step daughter!!! need I say more) so haven't had a whole lot of time in the shop.
As for the car, I've sold all the engine parts that I had so now the crate motor is more likely. I see GM is coming out with a LSX 454 soon. That's got me thinking!!! I sent the arms for my air bar set up to Frank at Prodigy Customs/gpsuperstore.com to have them converted to adjustable ones. Hopefully will have them soon and will post pics. I also ordered a rear sway bar set up. I thought I better get it ordered as I need to drill holes through the rear brace on the M9 housing for the brackets. Once that is done, I can get the housing powder coated. I got to spend some time in the shop today. I was able to get both gaps between the fender, trunk drop off and inner wells done. I also decided to used Metal to Metal filler and do more of the floor. I don't want a perfect car, I just don't want it that obvious that the floors have been replaced. Tomorrow I hope to sandblast the rest of the floor and finish up some grinding and clean up work. Maybe next week I'll be able to start putting on a coat of POR15. It will be so nice when I can put an update on that isn't about body work. Here's some pics: Piece of sheet metal used to fill in gap: http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00613.jpg Passenger side. I decided to weld it to the deep tub so it all blends together. http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00632.jpg Driver's side http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00652.jpg Cleaning up the front floors and trans tunnel. http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00662.jpg |
Incredible work, I will be watching this one.
|
I was playing around the other day and thought I'd take some pics of the car upside down. I hope to never see the car like this again :D
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0086.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0085.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0087.jpg |
It feels like it took me forever to get to this point, but I actually started undercoating the car. I decided to go with two coats of POR15 first to stop any rust. I was going to use POR15's new bed liner until I saw the price. It's $255 US or if I get it in Canada it will cost me $350. I was hoping to use it to save a step, but I think I'll have to do that step anyways. With the POR product on top of POR15, you don't have to use a primer. Now I'll likely end up having to use their primer, then put another brand of bed liner to finish the undercoating. For those that wonder why I chose to use POR15, I wanted to use something that will stop any rust from coming back. The other nice thing is since I replaced the floor pans, POR15 helps hide my ugly welds as it's quite thick.
My next step is to get the bed liner done. Once that's done, I found a powder coating place in Kelowna that will do my subframe for $175. They will sandblast, prime and then powder coat. He'll do the rear end housing for about $75. I'm just waiting for a rear sway bar to be shipped to me and once I get that I can drill the holes in the back brace and get the brackets mounted, then off to powder coating. Enough of that and onto the pictures. I had to pull the car out of the shop to rinse of the POR degreaser and oxidizer. http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0088.jpg After it was cleaned with degreaser http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0091.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0092.jpg Finally some progress!! This is after 2 coats of POR15. The white dots all over are because the lens on my camera was dirty. http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0093.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0094.jpg |
Here's the tranny tunnel after using metal to metal to clean it up. Can't even tell there's new floor pans. It's not that grey in color. I tried not using the flash to get better detail and that's how it turned out.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0099.jpg |
I finally got around to getting the POR15 tie coat primer on today. They recommend it when you are putting a non POR product on top of the POR15. The annoying thing is, the stuff cures with heat and not moisture so I had to get my shop nice and toasty. Those that are in cold climates will appreciate what I'm talking about. I had to get my shop to a minimum 12 degrees celcius. With the help of two 240v construction heaters and two halogen work lights, it got quite warm in there. I even put a cheap thermometer in the shop to make sure. Next week I hope to get the undercoating on. I'm going to use U-Pol's Raptor bed liner. Once that's done, I hope to get the subframe done and mounted to the car so I can actually start putting parts on.
Construction heater #1 http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00024.jpg Construction heater #2 http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00049.jpg After a couple hours, it was at 18 degrees celcius, by the time I was done it had gone up to about 24. My wife is going to be so mad when we get the hydro bill :devil: http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00058.jpg I had to sand the entire underside before applying the primer http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00016.jpg With the POR tie coat primer on it. The nice thing about the POR products is they can be applied with a brush. http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00076.jpg |
Looks real good, I painted my front clip on my camaro with rust Bullet, basically same as POR 15. Came out pretty nice. hard as nails.
|
I finished up the undercoating today. I ended up using Hippo bed liner instead of Rhino. It's a two part urethane caoting so it should be pretty good. I know some guys will say to stay away from do it yourself liners, but the paint guy at the shop I bought it from (which I go to a lot) swore by it. He said their store alone sold over 120 kits last year and he didn't have a single complaint about it. The only time he's ever seen an issue with the stuff is when the surface area wasn't prepped properly. The other nice thing was that it usually sells for about $105 a case and you need 2 cases to finish the whole underside. They were having a trade show and I ended up getting them for about 1/2 price. Now hopefully I had it prepped right.
I was going to roll the liner on, but I figured for $25 bucks for a gun, I couldn't go wrong in spraying it. So far I'm pretty happy with the outcome. Next week I'm going to start prepping the subframe so I can get it painted and bolt it back on (finally and hopefully for the last time). I was going to use the Eastwood ceramic paint, then I decided I was going to have it powder coated. Well what a shock, I've changed my mind again. When I went to put the POR15 on the underside of the car, I opened the can I had and found it was hard as a rock so I ended up buying another gallon of it. I barely used 1/2 the gallon to put 2 coats on the underside so I have over 1/2 gallon left. I liked the way the stock subframe turned out with the POR15 so I'm going to do the new subframe the same way. I'll put 2 coats of POR15 and then a coat of the POR chassis coat to help with UV rays. Car masked off http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00096.jpg Liner is on http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00107.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00138.jpg Close up of the texture http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00126.jpg |
It looks like it came out nice. You should never have a problem under there.
Wayne |
Project is making some nice progress, not sure how you are working in that temp but nice work. Keep the pictures coming
|
Very Impressive work. Thanks for all the pix and keep em coming.:thumbsup:
|
Thanks for the comments guys. That's what keeps me motivated to keep going.
Quote:
Here's an update: I finally got my rear sway bar package and converted arms for my air bar set up. The arms have been converted by Frank at www.gpsuperstore.com so they are adjustable now. These are what come with his prodigy bar rear suspension set up. The rear sway bar is a Hellwig package. I was able to get the rear suspension mocked up again today. Hopefully that's the last time for a mock up. It was definitely a lot easier to put together with the adjustable arms. I'm going to get the rear sway bar mounted over the next couple days so I can take a bunch of stuff, including the subframe and rear end housing, to get powder coated. Hope to have everything back mid next week after I get back from Las Vegas. Here's some pics: Arms have been converted so now they are adjustable http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00483.jpg Close up of the short arms http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00492.jpg Rear sway bar package http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00502.jpg Rear suspension mocked up with converted arms http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00513.jpg |
Keep up the great work.
You're making great progress, in the cold, none-the-less!!!:thumbsup: |
Quote:
Today I got the rear sway bar mocked up. Because of the back brace on the rear housing, I wasn't able to use the U-bolts. If I hadn't sold my plasma cutter, I'm sure I could have got the U-bolts to work. Instead I thought I would just weld the brackets to the housing. I also did a bit of clean up work on the subframe and got it ready for powder coating. Tomorrow morning I plan on heading to Summerland to Sunview coating and get the subframe and rear housing coated. I hope to head back down next week when I'm back from Las Vegas and pick everything up. Will post pics when I get everything. Here's some pics of what I did today: Rear sway bar mocked up. I still have to adjust it to make it level. http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00563.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...PICT0058-1.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00594.jpg Brackets welded onto housing http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00605.jpg |
Subframe ready for powder coating
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00712.jpg Motor mounts, trans cross member and c-clips also getting powder coated http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00722.jpg |
I picked up the subframe and rear end housing from the powder coaters today. It cost me more than they originally quoted me a few months ago, but it included sandblasting, priming and coating so I guess I can't complain. It ended up costing me $480 to get the subframe, rear end housing, motor mounts, trans cross member and c-clips done. I love the way it turned out with one exception, which is my fault. This is the first time I've had anything powder coated and I got so used to how thick POR15 is. POR15 fills in a lot of blemishes and small dents and such. There are a couple small areas where I assumed the powder coating would have filled in, but it wasn't as thick as I thought it was. I wish I would have spent a little more time doing body work on the frame so I wouldn't have the few little spots. But on the other hand, if anyone sees the spots that I'm referring to, I better be at the car too cause they're way too close. Anyways, here's some pics. Hope to start putting some of it back on Friday.
Rear end housing http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0073.jpg Close up http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00742.jpg Subframe http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00772.jpg Motor mounts, trans cross member and c-clips http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00752.jpg |
looks awesome!
you going to have it done in time to bring it to our car show at the begining of June????:unibrow: |
Thanks Blake. The beginning of June....2011?? Oh wait, you meant this year. No unfortunately won't be ready. I need to start picking up all the overtime I can to get the LSX454 budget higher. I'm just happy to be putting parts back on that will stay on.
|
wow.. I just found this thread now.
Great project and great work ! That looks like its gonna be a killer on the street. |
I think I sold my Foose wheels and Falken tires to a guy I work with. Now that I have so much more room with the deep tubs, I want go with 315's. My buddy doesn't want his wife to know about buying the rims, so he's asked to pay in installments. Hopefully he doesn't take too long to pay. Here's the rims I think I'm going to replace them with. I'm looking at 17x11 in the back with 315's and 17x8 in the front with 255's.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...s_fastlane.jpg I got some new leaf spring perches as the old ones were welded to the car and were ugly when I took them off http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d.../PICT00025.jpg I got to spend some time in the shop today. Some of you may find this update boring as it's going to look very similar to some other pics, but it's exciting for me as I finally got the car completely off the rotisserie and got the rear housing and rear suspension put in for the last time. I just need to get the rear sway bar, axles, centre section and brakes in and the rear end is all done. Here's some pics of today's accomplishments. Car finally completely off the rotisserie http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/PICT0005.jpg Spring perches painted http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...PICT0004-1.jpg |
| All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:21 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2026, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright Lateral-g.net