Thanks Chris for the write ups.

Would it be posible to get a couple of pictures of the trunk bars routing. I see how they mount, but can you get an overall picture of the routing of the bars in the trunk?

Thanks

Sure, I'll take a few more pics when I get home today.

Nice job it looks great in there.

Looking good Chris! Man, I'm sure you're going to be happy with this car once v2.0 is on the road. It's going to be a good performer. :thumbsup:

I also can't believe that you discovered some genuine bolt on parts that installed with basic hand tools. :willy:

Matt

Looks great as usual Chris! :thumbsup:

I've heard of latch fittment issue w Autorad, but not yet experienced it myself. You made it look easy tho...

Chris you are the man. Finally someone with better install and tech posts than Todd. :D

Seriously, she's gonna be the car you've wanted. :thumbsup:

Thanks Al. :thumbsup: I sure as hell hope so. :lol:

I'm trying to get somewhere with this thing, unfortunately somebody keeps changing the map. :lol: Appreciate the kind words. :thumbsup:

Thanks Wayne! Much appreciated. :thumbsup:

Thanks Matt! :thumbsup: I think it'll be a "solid performer with some rear traction issues". :lol: A fun street car regardless. Yep, I'm still waiting for a bucket of water to hit me in the face on the bolt-in claim actually being true, especially something with so many mount points and brackets.

Thanks Ron! :thumbsup: I'm not sure if you've done a full front-end assembly with your setup yet, but at least you've been warned if you haven't. :yes: At least that'll eliminate the surprise and head scratching for you if you bump into the same issue. Possible Cliffs notes for the next guy: move rear holes on latch assembly down 5/8" and trim off excess to allow it to go up into the crossbar slot by 5/8" more, open up slot under upper support crossbar to allow latch assembly to move forward 1/4"-3/8", and open up a few of the holes on the center vertical brace to allow a little wiggle room to get things to fit. Then that focker bolts right in. :lol:

Thanks Dave. I don't know, Todd's write-ups are pretty tough to beat. Always loved his details and honesty, peppered with a 'hint' of bravado. :lol: Can't wait to see him start a new build and give us some more material.

Look forward to getting through all this 'other stuff' and getting to work on that ZL block. That's the meat right there.

I thought we was bros? I thought we had worked past that ass slappin I have you at El Toro. :lol:

That's it. I'm putting the Cal Trac bars back on. :lol:

Well, I was thinking about my current Moser 12-bolt and the new 650ish HP/TQ engine, dual disc clutch, and stickier tires I'm about to change over to and my current 30-spline axles had me a little worried. Sure, they might have held up, but with my luck probably not and I'd be 'that guy' again calling AAA. So I bit the bullet today(a reoccuring theme in my life) and ordered a new Moser 12-bolt. I upgraded to the 33 spline TrueTrac unit with the big Torino-style housing ends. Also had it narrowed a little bit to make up for a slight error I made on wheel backspacing(magnified by the new lower rear ride height), so that'll save me some big re-hooping money on my 19x9.25 custom width rim(would've been $800, yikes). Also had them set the axle offset properly to maintain my Baer rear brake kit. Had to order a new set of caliper brackets from Baer though which they fortunately still had a few lying around. I definitely thought about the Wavetrac and 35 spline axles, but I think that's a little overkill for my mostly streetcar(occasional short road race or autoX) with 275 rear tires and would prefer to just save the rotational weight and additional expense. Moser said the unit would be shipped next week and will probably arrive to my house in 2.5 weeks.

And that means I now need to sell my current Moser 12 bolt which works perfectly and has been trouble-free from day one. Someone should be able make good use out of it like I did. Ad to be posted shortly in the For Sale section.

Also finished up re-installing the rear interior and Tiger Cage harness bar with new Sparco comp harnesses, and rear audio equipment. Had to make a few custom pieces to wrap around and cover up the roll bar mounting points. Good to have the interior all back together with the exception of the center console. Will post some pictures of that this evening for folks who might be wondering what a black tiger cage and harness bar looks like in a black interior.

So it's now rear suspension and differential this month along with the new EFI fuel system(tank, lines, reguator, venting, and $85,000 in AN fittings) late next month.

Great write up Chris. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to seeing it continue to come together.

New narrowed Rear and new wheels. No Mini-tubs... :unibrow:

LOL. Yep, get in line for the 'redicule Chris about no minitubs'. Actually, with the new rear coming in slightly narrower to correct my current rear-wheel rubbing issue, I may just stick with my current wheels. I considered swapping wheels because it was going to cost me $800 just to have the backs re-hooped to correct the offset/rubbing issue, but now that issue won't exist so maybe I'll just keep my Budniks. Not necessarily 'racing' wheels, but they're not overly heavy and look good, and it's still mainly a street car. Who knows. Running out of money with a ZL1 motor build on the horizon so that may be the deterrent.

...or you can just do like I did (don't, :yes: ). Wheels rub? Rear too long? Replace both :lol:

Great minds think alike, so I'll probably be there shortly. :lol:

They're never done Chris!


Ya gotta just keep improving and modifying... 'cause that is the hobby!

Here are those final install pics of the Tiger Cage, Sparco Comp harnesses and rear interior pieces. I added some small custom pieces for my custom package tray that will allow me to remove the package tray or the rollbar piece independent of each other. Considering how much I change my mind on things, that might come in handy later.

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share.../Rollbar12.JPG

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share.../Rollbar13.JPG

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share.../Rollbar14.JPG

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share.../Rollbar15.JPG

Chris,

Thanks for the pictures of the install of the Tiger Cage, it looks really nice in the car. I think I am going to bite the bullet and get it done this winter.

Your car is coming along.. cant wait to hear that motor.

Yep, I think it's a good setup. Yesterday I was jacking up the rear of the car and in the past I could hear my stainless window trim on the rear window creaking a little bit as the car was being jacked higher and higher. I guess because the body was tweaking just a little. Last night when I was jacking the car up from several different rear mount points it was as quiet as a mouse. So that's some immediate proof of the improved rigidity and I haven't even hit the road yet.

Chris,

Hey man that looks a lot better than I expected. Pretty clean install...better than I expected.

Looking forward to seeing the car in person!!

Man, I like the black Tiger Cage---(I wonder how the boys at Air Ride came up with that name). I love those pieces you came up with for the rear bars as they pass through the package tray---those are sweet. So your rear was too big I hear---:lol:

As always, you set the bar on write up, execution and attention to detail. Come up for Labor Day if you are able!

D

Lots of rear suspension work completed in the past 3 weeks including a new Moser 12-bolt, lowered rear, Global West Del-a-lum rear bushings, rear tow hook, and shifting some things around to solve some minor suspension travel issues. Also got the new Aeromotive Stealth tank ordered and my current stainless tank and AC delco pickup is out which will be up for sale shortly. The new tank arrives tomorrow, however all the Aeroquip fittings and PTFE fuel line doesn't arrive until later so I won't be installing it until those arrive. I was going to snap photos of the new rear setup but the new AFCO shocks that arrived were the wrong part number(should have been 3870CR instead of 3870CR-1), so I returned those and I'm waiting for the new ones and I'll get those installed and take some final photos of the rear setup with new tank and other goodies. Rear ride height is much better now also with the 1/2" further drop.

Was able to install my new Rennline front stainless tow hook(universal version) and then put my front bumper back on. For the tow hook's 9/16 shaft I used some thick 1/4" steel to make 2 attach points which I welded to the larger front bumper bracket on the passenger side. Getting those attach points just right is tricky because of everything going on in that area and the tight clearances, especially the front bumper and the upper and lower bolts that hold it down in that area. Took several rounds of install/uninstall/change/try again. Adding a thicker plastic washer to hoop allows you to tighten it down so it's not loose and you can actually fold it up against the valance and it tucks away nicely. A few shots for those who might be searching:

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share...nttowhook1.jpg

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share...nttowhook2.jpg

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share...nttowhook4.jpg

Rear suspension and Stealth Fuel tank setup photos coming shortly.

Making some more progress so it's time to sit down and post some photos and some install notes for the next guy...

My new AFCO front shocks came with heim joints for the lower mounts. That's normal for a lot racing coil over shocks, however I'm not running coil overs. I'm running standard coil springs with the shock running up through the middle, so that means there's absolutely no load on the shock. No load on the shock means a very noisy heim joint as there is slight play in it while it rides and bounces around on the shaft. They would 'clickity-clack' when I pressed up and down on the front of the car. Not good and not AFCO's fault of course. Fortunately, Energy Suspension makes a bushing that fits perfectly on the shaft and with a little work fits into the lower eyelet of the shock. The heim bushing presses right out and with a little fitting, the poly bushing presses in nicely. There are extra grooves/channels on the shaft to allow clips to lock the bushing in place also, so it was almost if AFCO made those for poly bushings also. All set and nice and quiet now:

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share...erBushing2.jpg

I switched the rear bushings on my rear leaf springs to GlobalWest Del-a-lum bushings to eliminate some deflection and keep my rear tires as centered as possible without a more expensive suspension solution. These are SOOOO much fun to install into the leaf springs and frame rails. NOT. Needed all the tricks to get them pressed in:

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share...f-bushings.jpg

Got the new Moser 12-bolt rearend installed along with the new AFCO rear shocks. The rear shocks also have heim joints on the bottom and will have no load on them also, however they're bolted and are snug up between the bolt head and some spacers versus riding freely on a shaft so they should be fairly quiet:

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share...earShocks1.jpg

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share...earShocks2.jpg

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share...RearSetup1.jpg

Also in the 2nd pic you can see that I replaced my 1/2" leaf spring lowering blocks with 1" blocks to drop the rear another 1/2". Because not much of the leaf spring is riding in the spring perch due to the 1" spacer, I added some aluminum bars to the u-bolts as some insurance to keep the springs centered and snug.

I use a Jaz cannister for my rear diff vent overflow/breather. I welded a small bracket to my muffler hanger and mounted it there, up nice and high.

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share...iffVentCan.JPG

The new rear ride height is much better. After I get some gas in the tank and my trunk panels installed and everything settles in, it'll probably be another 1/4" lower and be just right:

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share...ideHeight1.jpg

The new Aeromotive Stealth Tank arrived. So it's really just the fuel injection tank that "Tanks, Inc." sells and Aeromotive just puts their pump and pickup setup in it and puts it in a bigger "Aeromotive" box. You can buy the same tank from Tank, Inc. with a Walbro pump setup for a few hundred dollars less. Here's the Tanks Inc box inside the Aeromotive box:

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share...0/GasTank1.jpg

Here's my old stainless tank next to the new Aeromotive tank. To be honest, I like the look of the stainless tank better, but oh well. No big deal. The stainless OER tank with Delco pickup weighed 19lbs, and the Aeromotive tank with pickup and electric pump setup weighs 23.5lbs, so about the same. The tank installed very easily and the quality of the setup is very good.

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share...0/GasTank2.jpg

Here's the tank installed. I don't have a lift like all the other builders here so I don't get the nice camera angles. :(

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share...0/GasTank3.jpg

Purchased and installed the II Much Fabrication fuel vent. Hope it works as nice as it looks. Due to overlapping metal on my '69 original trunk, here's where I had to put it:

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share...sTankVent1.jpg

The gasket they ship with it was not sufficient to properly seal it against my trunk pan due to some overlapping metal so I made 2 thicker gaskets of my own that helped give it the seal I was looking for. From underneath:

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share...sTankVent2.jpg

Got the Aeromotive fuel filter installed along with hooking the vent, return, and supply lines up with new PTFE 6AN fuel lines and Aeroquip PTFE fittings. F'ing fittings and lines must have gold in them as much as they charge. This new EFI fuel system is going to run me nearly $2K.

http://www.69camaroproject.com/Share...uelFilter1.jpg

Need to complete some relay wiring and toggle switches for the fuel pump and dual radiator fans this week and then I can finally focus on the new ZL motor. Hell yah. :thumbsup:

How does a car that gets driven look so clean underneath? :thumbsup:

Great update Chris! Very clean install :cheers:

$4K in those yellow cloth towels at CostCo and a bucket load of OCD :lol:

Thanks brother. Just trying to keep up with you. Same thing will happen on the track. :cheers:

Looking good!

Your **** is to nice. :D :cheers:

Nice work Chris!

Nice upgrades, great looking car.

Just a overall great looking car/build. Look forward to the updates.

Love the tow hook setup Chris! :thumbsup:

Great detail and super clean work for a guy with no lift. :unibrow:

Chris your atention to deteil is amazing.Great job!!!!:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Some nice upgrades there Chris - car is coming along nice. Hope to see it out and about soon!

G.

Thanks G! Me too. Shooting for end of March.

Wow, coming from you and the quality of work I've seen you post here on this site, that's a very much appreciated compliment. Thank you! :cheers:

Thanks Dave. I was thinking about getting Brett to hook me up with one of the Cartier tow hooks that you and Doug have, but I went another direction. Hope you guys still want to hang out with me. :lol: Yep, it's jack stands and bricks for me. The back of my shirt keeps the garage floor clean as I slide around. :cheers:

Thanks! I appreciate that. :cheers: Hopefully my rediculously verbose updates and pictures will eventually help somebody one day. Not the most 'cutting edge' mods, but maybe they'll show up in somebody's search results one day.

Thanks Lenie. Your Foulplay is absolutely sick and a truly stunning build. Thanks for sharing so much in your own build thread. I've had 2 Trans Ams in my lifetime and I'm still a big Pontiac fan. :cheers:

Thanks Greg! Are you going to attend RTTC coming up here in early October? If so, I'll see you there. :thumbsup:

I said the same thing every time I looked in your engine compartment. Thanks for the inspiration. :cheers:

Thanks AJ. Much appreciated. :cheers:

Looking really good! Thanks for sharing the pics of the new tank. I am in the market so I might give you a call to hear more about your opinions on the installation, part numbers, etc. Your car is coming out GREAT!:thumbsup:

nice work... Can't wait to see it back on the road.

Not this year! I have a trip to AriDzona now that my new rig arrived... I just got done with a 4000 mile road trip - and on that road trip I bought a place in Sun Valley so am now dealing with the aftermath of that - with the inspection etc...

Thanks Jay. I'll be visiting you guys soon to get my fronts fattened up with a rehoop from 18x8 to 18x9 or 9.5 so I can run a 275 tire. The rears no longer need to be rehooped thanks to the new Moser's narrower width correcting my backspace issue. Will be chatting with you shortly. :thumbsup:

No worries. We'll catch up again soon I'm sure. Maybe RTTC in March. Congrats on the rig and the new crib in Sun Valley. With the spare change lying around in my accounts these days I couldn't even afford a place in Death Valley. Look forward to hearing some more stories from you soon. :thumbsup: