Im finding the more I dig into my car the more cancer I find, and the more I realize I need to buy a plasma cutter.

I havent gotten the rear clip installed yet, Im waiting on some more parts...

One question, with the DSE firewall fill plate, is the general consensous to cut the firewall out or weld it in over the top?
- I was going to cut out the old firewall until I saw the rounded edges, and it looks like its designed to weld over the top of the existing firewall.

again any help is greatly appreciated, Im gonna cut and install in a couple of days unless someone can convince me otherwise.

I'm having shoulder surgery in 7 days and wont exactly be able to cut, hammer and weld after that...Im not sure how I'll spend my time.... Ill probably install my driver seat and make lots of engine noises during my recovery:unibrow:

I installed my DSE firewall fill plate over the top of the existing firewall. You will need to trim the flange off of your a/c hole in the existing firewall so that it will fit flush. Then again, if the firewall is rusted badly you could trim it out leaving about an inch or so below the seam at the top and also leaving that much on the rest of the profile fill plate. This will leave a flange to weld the new fill plate to. In my opinion, I think it depends on the shape that the firewall is in.
Either way is fine.

Be sure to prime the inside of the fill plate and the firewall that will be covered by the fill plate. Weld primer works really well for this.

If you look at DSE's site on their project page you can see how they walk around it when welding to keep it from warping. Be sure to grind the welds the same way, walk around it and take your time.

Good luck with the shoulder surgery. :cheers:

Of all the DSE firewall installs I've seen in the various threads here and elsewhere I felt Jay's approach was one of the best. His thread can be seen https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=9421 but it looks like some of his older pics aren't showing up any longer.

I think plenty of installs are done on top of the original sheetmetal and given the rolled edge I think it would work ok. I was just concerned about the risk of noise/vibration from the gap between the panels but that could be mitigated with some seam sealer probably.

Or you just cut most of it out like Jay did and not worry about it. In addition, he drilled the spot welds and completely removed that outermost layer of sheetmetal. The added benefit there is your fender mount isn't pushed out any like it would be if you just added another layer.

I found these in his other sites gallery

http://www.autobspec.com/gallery/alb...re_156%7E3.jpg
http://www.autobspec.com/gallery/alb...re_160%7E3.jpg

not a lot of progress on the car, I recieved my Floor pan and decided that it is not what im looking for....mostly because of the poor quality stamp.

I called NPD they are going to take it back without question and send off the one piece which i should have ordered to begin with as well as a full trunk floor.

Doctors said I'll have to wear a sling for 6 weeks...:mad: Im hoping to shorten that time up by about 4 weeks, we have an excellent Therapy program at my command that should have me back fully operational in 2 months instead of the doctor's guess of 4. Hopefully ill be able to cut and weld with one hand, I also have a few gearheads that are willing to help(Mopar guy) which should be interesting.

thanks for the help with the Firewall delete Im gonna try to get it in this weekend.

John

http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...6/a3b9d685.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...6/cd3a6527.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...6/e3fa0cb3.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...6/788c0dd4.jpg

The little progress I made today

Sorry about the iPhone pics

I finished welding the DSE plate yesterday and got a coat of primer.

I havent ground the welds down yet due to my lack of tools. Im having 2-220V outlets installed on Tuesday and some additional lighting in the garage.

I had my surgery this morning so I'm using my down time to collect parts and hopefully buy an air compressor.

here's a few pics of the plate before primer... :woot:


http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...-Camaro185.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...-Camaro183.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...-Camaro181.jpg

Looking good John, nice work.

Why'd you leave that bolt on the block off plate?

The plate ended up being slightly off center with the bolt hole, it's my temporary fix to the problem.... cover it up and pretend it's not there. I'll figure out a way to fix it when I can use two hands again

Just read your build thread, nice progress. FWIW, I think your Garage is bigger than mine! Since we're both in VB we should share build stories, hope to see you at Cars and Coffee Sat. I also have an engine that you may be interested it, it's a built 377 small block.

I'm gonna try to make it, I'll be the guy that looks out of place wearing a sling.

As for the engine I'm leaning pretty hard towards an LS3... we'll see where my money ends up in the next few Months

No new progress on the car...

I am however able to get out of my sling when I'm sitting around or typing on the computer which makes life much easier.

Here are some better pics of the rear clip

Everything inside me wants to slam my vendor for not getting my axles and third member to me yet, but I'm not going to hopefully that person reads this and realizes he's only losing business for the future. It’s only been 7 months since I ordered maybe I'm being impatient.

http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5090003.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5090005.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5090006.jpg
just for fun
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5090007.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5090008.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5090009.jpg

The rear clip looks great John. Sorry you have to wait so long for your parts. Hopefully they show up soon. Good luck!:thumbsup:

it appears as tho my Vendor has been kicked from Pro-touring .com.... apparently Im not the only person who is waiting on parts...

still not going to drop names I'm sure people can figure out who he is.

Sorry to jack your thread. I have been waiting on a brake kit for coming on seven months as well:mad: I am sure this is the same vendor, but the thing I don't understand is when I get in contact they tell me the package is pretty much ready to go, just need to get in touch with wilwood. fast forward a month, and now there is a problem with anodizing! Think its time to ask for our hard earned money back???

I received an email saying my stuff will ship Tuesday... I'm not holding my breath

If it doesn't come this time I'm getting my money back... Or maybe a vacation to Florida is in stead;)

Hope you get your parts soon. Looks good so far John!

Thats nice looking rear clip.

Thanks for the kind words everyone!

I should be able to get some work done later on this week, I can move my arm more now so I can at least crawl under the car. I've got a lead on a Plasma cutter I can use. I should have the frame mocked up this week. I'm not going to weld it in yet as I am still waiting to order new floors.

I've been talking with Virginia Speed (Local engine builder) about building an LS3. I plan to get that ordered sometime this summer or early fall before my deployment.

I wont be driving it anytime soon and thats a reality I'm willing to deal with to get it right and the way I want it.

I plan to make my way out to Cars and Coffee. Hope to see some of the locals and put a face to the names.

Hopefully you get your money back so you can move on with your build John. Great looking rear clip.
Good luck!

Your build is going along fast for a garage build. I'm on year 6! I'll be at cars and coffee in my WS6, I hope to see you out there. My name is Mills, I just got my LS1 this weekend so I'm jumping over the the LS side too.

I hope to see you at Cars and Coffee this weekend...

Are you by chance going to make it to the Autocross Sunday in Pungo? I've never been to one I thought I might check it out. One of the guys over at Pro-touring told me about it

The axles and center section have arrived Im waiting on a few small pieces now. I hope to have it assembled this weekend.

That's great news, glad he finally came through for you! What was it...8 months? :faint:

Today would be 8 months exactly...

That's just crazy! FWIW, he's still a sponsor at PT.com, just not here.
Your project looks great! Can't wait to see it with the rear clip installed! :thumbsup:

Im excited to get it in, Im trying not to jump the gun and go slow and make it right the first time. I used to be a bike mechanic, shop rule was you were never allowed to take out your personal bike if you built it until someone else did a quality check. I dont have that luxury on the Camaro.

I still need to order a trunk and floor pan before I weld it in. And I'll probably call the guys at Art Morrison to pick there brains enough in the next few weeks they will recognize my phone number when it rings.

Art Morrison make great parts Im just a Newb to suspension and dont want to mess up my new investment.

You are doing it with the right attitude!

I'm in construction and our shop saying is...if you don't have time to do it right the first time how do you expect to have time to do it twice? Because of this we rarely have to go back to 'fix' jobs and hardly have a punch list. Do it right the first time and move on! :thumbsup:

The studs and other misc parts I need are on the way. I by passed my problem and ate the cost of the stuff I needed, only 100 bucks. I'll get it back, but I'm not going to sit here at a stand still.

In other news I have spent the last two days removing shelving from the garage, and doing some remodeling to my bench. I ordered a 5HP 80 Gallon Air compressor 19CFM@100PSI with a 145PSI Max I hope it will do everything I need.

I’m having an electrician come in next week to add two 220 Outlets (air compressor and Welder), 2-3 new lights and I may add a couple 120's as well.

A buddy is donating a spray gun set up which I have yet to see it's new never used and free so I'll take it. I have to start somewhere right.

I'm not sure if I'm going to paint the garage I don’t really want to worry about the walls. Maybe when the car is done.

I can put it together now.

A big thanks goes to Kevin at Art Morrison for helping me get my order completed. He's a great guy to do business with.

and of course the compressor.

Pics... some of the parts I've had a while and have been waiting to put in.

http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P7010358.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P7010360.jpg

It's already been swallowed by the garage.
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P7010355.jpg

Just read the whole thread! Great job!

Here is how the car sits.

Before I get yelled at for not having the clip welded in I know It should be before its on the ground. but I need to move my car and dont have a cart anymore. Im replacing the Floor pans soon then Ill be finishing the install.

http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P7010369.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P7010370.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P7010371.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P7010372.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P7010374.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P7010375.jpg

Very Cool, looks great!!

Small change in plans
 

I've decided that there is no way I'll get it road worthy before deployment (Jan 12ish) if I go all out right now. Soo....

New plan is to get it driveable by deployment, then make it look good after i get back.

for now I have been patching the worthless quarters, and around the back glass. I have a couple more small patches on the back half of the car.

The A-Pillars need a little bit of work. Then on with the front half...

Thanks for the kind words everyone I'll post some pics up soon

Whats the story on the compressor . Im in the market for one . Any specs on it ?
Nice build btw

I got the metal around the rear glass patched up, needs a little filler but other than that its alright. the right side has a slight curve that shouldnt be there. I may rework that spot.

Im not sure when it was acceptable to put fiberglass and body filler over every blemish or hole in a car but whoever owned my car before me sure loved it.

Are the studs that look like a nail head used to hold on the chrome only? if so Im not going to re install them, however if they are more important im going to have to get creative.

I started hammering out my poor excuse for fenders as well, it looks like someone tried to remove them with a jack hammer and a bolt cutter. its a good place to learn how to use a hammer and dolly.

Heres some pics. enjoy

http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P7110377.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P7110378.jpg

heres the compressor I bought, they have a ton of different models, delivery was extremely quick.

Hey John,
Nice work! I'm a couple of hours north of you in Fredericksburg. I hear you about the vendor in FL. I ordered a set of Forgelines and a G-link from him and after three months of waiting I finally called Scott at Forgeline only to find my wheels had been setting in his warehouse for several weeks ready to ship. Needless to say I will not deal with that vendor again. While I was waiting on my wheels and G-link to arrive I purchased a DSE subframe and it was delivered 7 days later. I now have the car back on it's wheels again as a roller which makes it much easier to deal with since it can be moved now. If you'er interested I can post a couple of pics but I don't want to hijack your thread. I came very close to going with AME front and rear but there were some features of the DSE that I just liked better. What gear ratio did you settle on for the rear?

3.73 I'm not set on a tranny yet...I figured that would be the best bet for me...

Hey John, Looking good! Let me know if you need a hand anytime. Good seeing again at C&C, again my thoughts are with you on the recent events.

Back to car stuff, If you decide to replace the front sheet metal, let me know I may be interested in "recycling" your existing stuff.