I have thought about that... it is that one amenity that I would like to keep. If nothing else, I can use them to keep the bugs off the windshield!

After digging around a little bit, I ordered the SPW kit from Speedway. Once I get that in my hands, and get a better idea of how it works, I will cut up the cowl and start on the firewall. I keep thinking that I am finally done cutting, then I find more to cut!

It's been a couple weeks since I updated this. Haven't had much time to get out in the shop. Not a ton to show, but I did get the firewall roughed in, motor mounts built and A-Pillar/Roll cage supports built and installed. [ATTACH][ATTACH]Attachment 46068[/ATTACH][/ATTACH]
A buddy of mine runs Hell Yeah Hotrods. He is milling a set of decorative rings that will cover the bay bar/firewall.

The engine is still at the builder. Hopefully we will be able to make a decision on the final displacement so I can order engine parts.

Next up is to install my Wilwood pedals and steering column. Then I am going to build the exhaust system before I build the floor. I have done WAAYY to many street rods over the years that the exhaust is an after thought. I promised myself that the exhaust would NOT be a compromise and I would build additional clearance before I build the floor.

[ATTACH][ATTACH][ATTACH]Attachment 46691[/ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

Dash bar and steering column roughed in. Steering wheel should be here tomorrow so I can get a better feel of final position. I had a buddy cut up some trim rings for the bay bars. Had to make them out of two pieces but he installed .125" pins to keep them from deforming.
I am struggling with my Wilwood pedals. I am having a hard time finding any documents that will give me some direction on appropriate pedal height and positioning from the firewall. It's times like this where I wish I was building a Camaro so I could just copy someone else's good ideas!!

Looking good. I was wondering how it was going.


As far as pedal height, I like to get the gas pedal in first then see where you heal goes. Don't forget to take into account possible floor material, dyna mat or blast plate. Then set the rest of the pedals based on that.

Sometimes with the wilwood set up you have to put them where the masters will fit. Engine and header location can change that.

Thanks Vince. I am using reverse mount pedals so the MC's will be under the dash. I think your advice has some merit. I need to order a gas pedal.

Every time I get out to the garage I get a terrible case of A.D.D.
There are so many things to do that I get brain cramp! Tonight I just stood underneath it and stared at it for an hour trying to get my noodle around this thing! I start playing with the pedals then I am working on the transmission crossmember. Next thing I know, I am staring at the tail light panel trying to decide what I am going to use for a fuel filler! By the time I was ready to come in I was sweeping the floor. I hadn't done anything yet!!

Sweet project! I look forward to seeing the updates

Man, I have no idea how that must feel... that must suck.
:sarcasm_smiley:

The worst is that I sit and obsess about things you will never see when done.

I do what I can with what I have and try to knock it out fast. The longer you take will give you time to think about it too much. Nothing motivates me more than an empty box and an installed part.

Epic build that I have been following for a while now. I finally joined the forum because I wanted to post up a note of encouragement here for you. You have probably read the same warnings I have about this being a marathon not a sprint and that is so true. But even so I have suffered from the same ADD brain freeze out in the shop many times!

I have found the trick is to take the big picture view when I plan but when I head out to the shop just focus on one job at a time. When I don't the enormity of the project freezes my brain like a deer in the headlights every time. With so many systems and parts in process at once it is overwhelming but if I leave my to-do list in the house and just focus on one task in the shop I know exactly what to do next and how to proceed. So even though my list is huge it makes no difference because I only have one thing to work on tonight. And slowly but surely the day will come when that list is down to just a road test!

You are doing a hell of a good job on this build and it's not going to be amazing someday when you are done - it's amazing now! When you get down remember it’s really not rocket science it’s just a big rocket!

Thanks! It feels good to make a little progress every now and then. This dad-gum thing called work keeps getting in the way of rapid meaningful progress!

Thanks!
Everybody that builds a car in their garage wishes they could progress with the same level of speed, efficiency and quality that the pros do. Many guys can. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them!! Because my business eats up 11 hrs/day 6 days/week, I don't get as much time in the shop as I would like.
The time I do get out there is a form of relaxation for me. I have no misconceptions that this is an endurance race and not a drag race. But I am like everyone else, I would really like to get it done as soon as possible because I am stoked about the completed vision. Part of the goal of the this project is to do as much of it myself as I can. I am farming out the motor build to a builder that I have known for years. Other than that, I am going to do everything else myself, except upholstery.

Overdue update
 

I didnt realize that it had been 6 years since the last update. Progress has been slow but slowly steady. Paint and body work is done. I painted it myself in my back garage. We built a cheap, makeshift booth. All in all, Im really proud of the paint. After cleaning a few nibs and dirt, the first round of cutting and buffing came out very nice. I decided to wait for the final rounds of buffing until it is closer to complete. I will install all of the trim last.

Clutch arrived today. I ordered a Ram Dual Disc set up to put in front of the T56 Magnum. Fuel lines are all plumbed. I had to modify the factory dash to fit around the A-pillar bars and the Wilwood brake pedal assembly. I'm trying to utilize as much of the OE interior panels as possible.

I sprayed the entire chassis with Raptor liner. It worked really nice to cover up some of my sheet metal fitment foul ups.
I just ordered rotors and calipers. Hoping they will be here next week.

Nice build. Glad you did the update!

x2 Thanks for updating. The car looks good in white. Keep up the good work!

Well, it runs! For the first time since the engine was on the dyno, three years ago, we put fire in the pipes. It felt good to hear it run again for the first time since 1992.
I installed the brakes, built brake lines and measured for wheels. I ended up ordering Budnick wheels yesterday. Probably the second most stressful decision I've had to make on this. Measuring for parts that take 3 months to arrive and cost a bunch doesnt leave alot of room for mistakes, makes a guy second guess everything!
This weekend we will recover the factory dash pad and reinstall the remainder of the OE upholstery. 90% will get reused. It is still in great shape and I like the idea of trying to keep it look simple inside.

Awesome!

Congrats on hearing it come alive! Keep up the good work!

Looks great

Nice build

Thats beyond cool! I love this build!This is exactly along the lines of what I want to build with 69 Camaro

But I think that Javelin looks ten times cooler.The Ring Brothers built one recently the gold/black build...beyond cool!

Thanks Dave! It's so close I can taste it now. But, regardless, I get to wait until spring to test drive it.

I was able to get more of the interior put together. I have learned that I am horrible at upholstery. I am going to have to pull the dash top off and have it upholsted properly by someone much more talented than me to make it look proper. I also learned that buying cheap seats to save money doesnt work. I am on the hunt for some aftermarket seats that fit my needs better. The driveshaft was ordered. I am going to run a QA1 Carbon Fiber shaft. The windshield and back window were installed last week. I was able to find a new windshield but the rear is no longer being produced. We cleaned up the rear but it still has some scratches in it. Not bad enough to be of a major concern. Still waiting for my Budnick wheels but they arent due for a couple more weeks. Door glass and door panels will hopefully go in this weekend, along with the weather stripping. I am slowly running out of parts. I need to order a different steering wheel. The one in the photo came with the steering column I purchased used.

Finally received wheels and got the first drive
 

After waiting for wheels for what felt likes decades, they finally arrived. I decided on Budnik Pivot's for it. Once they were on, I didnt have anymore excuses to drive it. It was either going to move under its own power, or I was going to have to answer for screwing something up!
After sitting in my garage since 1992, it backed out and drove around the block on its own. Pretty emotional feeling after working on it, mostly on my own, for 10 years.
It made it two trips around the block, then the MAP sensor on the FAST 2.0 ate itself alive. I have to say, FAST's support is absolute ****. I fully understand that I bought the unit 7 years ago. I wasnt expecting any warranty. I was just hoping to get some information to make it work. That went no where.
Luckily the googler was able to chase down an aftermarket MAP sensor, I swapped it. It ran. For a minute. Next was a brand new Aeromotive Phantom pump that got eerily quiet and quit making pressure. After having the wife tow me home, a quick test showed proper signal to the pump but no go. I ordered a replacement pump, swapped it and all is good.
Because of my complete and utter lack of trust in the FAST set up, I ordered a Holley Sniper for it. It's going on this weekend.

Turned out great!

Last night, we were able to take it to a local Wednesday night car show for the first time. It was 98 degrees and humid when I backed it out of the garage. I was concerned about overheating it since I had very little time on it. It made the 7 or 8 mile trek both ways perfectly! Engine temp stayed right about 200-205 which I'll gladly take given the ambient temp. One of our daughters brought the Grandkids to hang out for a bit. It was a hot but fun evening.

Very well done! It's nice to see something other than a 1st gen camaro.

First drive!

First drive, excited wife!
 

This is the car we left our wedding in, 1984. It has some history

Congrats! Must feel great.

Turned out great!

More miles
 

We took the car up to a local Saturday evening cruise in last night. Hung out there for a couple hours, then headed to a buddies house to check on his project. Overall put 40 miles on the car. It ran flawless. The more I drive the car, the more comfortable I am. I still am playing with shock settings and I have to reconfigure the front upper shock mounts. I need to add an inch of travel and put a set of softer springs in. The only issue that I ran into was my 9 inch rear diff decided to burp diff fluid thru the breather that I have mounted above the axle housing on the shock crossmember. Fluid level was not overfull, but it made big stink after misting the exhaust system. Diff did not feel overly hot when I got home so I am at a loss why it puked all over itself.
I am going to pull the center section just to give it a look. I ordered a breather/catch can set up from Speedway, but I am at a loss for a reason.

Other than that, I am thrilled with the car! It is everything I had hoped it would be.

On another note. I started the car to be more race car than street car. 10 years of build time, it turned into more street car than race car.... I wish I had put AC in it.... it's been in the 90's the last couple weeks up here...

A couple fresh photos from this weekend.
 

I've been putting some miles on the car, trying to sort it out. Now have over 100 road miles on it. I joined a local motorsports club to get back into auto-x after a long absence. Working to get it prepped for the next practice day and auto-x the following day. We took it to a local show over the weekend for an excuse to go drive it.

Turned out great! Love the backstory here. Lots of guys would give anything they own to get “that” car back, and you were smart enough to keep yours. Good on you sir!

Bad a$$!! The brushed lips compliment the car so well.

More poser shots
 

First shot was leaving the QA1 open house last Friday on the way to Street Machine Nats in St. Paul.
The other shots are from a photo shoot done with photograper Duane Lage. Excited to see the final product from that shoot.
Next week we are doing a driving instructor day with the local Autox club to work out the rust on the driver.

Was able to get it to the last track event of the season locally in early October.
Car worked well. Driver needs more seat time...

Looks like a lot of fun. Tried looking for your car on Friday at the Street Machine Nationals, but didn't find it, maybe next year...