Was it like an early Christmas ?

Bittersweet really. The 6-speed is another departure from my original plan. I spent some time taking the original hump off the floor, cleaning up the factory beaver sawed hole, fixing it all up nice, then welding it back on only to cut it all off again...so that’s a bit of an irritant.

But I am excited that it will make the car much more “drivable”, handle all the power I can offer it, and be dependable.


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This panel work sure is tedious. Managed to start welding them in.

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Threw some spray bomb paint over the primer on sides that would have limited access after they were in. Same for the cage/body/chassis. This adds a new dynamic to the process since you need to grind the paint off everywhere you are going to weld.


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Wow I am blown away at this build. So what is your background as it looks like you own or work for a shop.

Keep posting pics as my neighbor just home a rust free 74 Nova from Kentucky and your giving me some bad ideas here.


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Nope. I’m an mechanical/energy engineer. This is my 1st build. Been at this car, off an on, since 2011. Built a rotisserie and sand blaster in the process. I’ve been pushing much harder on it since last fall it seems. Lots of metal work. Before that, there was a lot of cage work. This project began as a very different plan.


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Put a few more panels on this afternoon.

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That makes this build even better knowing that your just a regular guy.

I am looking forward to more post and of course more pictures.

Still putting panels in. Finally have most of the tin for the 4-link sheet metal box welded in.

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Have all the 4-link box sheet metal welded in...finally.

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Finished filling all the openings and holes in the package tray.

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Primed and coated. Black is EW RE. Self etch on all the new steel.

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I’m well overdue for an update but what happened to all the pictures I uploaded/posted? Looks like a bunch of broken links?


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I just did a quick run through pages 1, 4, & 5 & all the images are still there on my screen.

I’m seeing all the pics as well.

I’ve done a lot of work on the car since I last posted. Following the interior sheet metal, I wanted to focus on the exterior metal, primarily the quarter panel skins. Was NOT looking forward to butt welding miles of sheet metal so I did some internet searching on different techniques. I found an interesting site where they were plug welding 1” backer strips along the seam and then stitch welding the panel on. Decided this was the way for me.

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Same thing on the driver side.

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Now, i haven’t welded them in yet because the back corners, especially the driver side, needs some special attention. I decided I wanted the rear tail light panel in place before I cut those corners out. I’m doing this just to keep the factory points of reference in place. This way, I can bring my replacement corners to the rear panel. I should mention that I put a trunk lid back on the car before starting any of this work to check/adjust body gaps. Once I was happy with that, I locked the quarters in place with some angle iron bracing between the quarters and the chassis.


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Next it was onto the tail light panel. This was a much bigger project than I had anticipated. The rear part of the trunk pan had sections that needed to be replaced, plus the funky hump/hole for the drop down license plate needed to be dealt with since I didn’t need that anymore. Then there was some tin work to close up the bottom area where the factory rear frame rail connects to everything.

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So, when I finally got to this point, I still didn’t weld it in because I had a section of the rear window channel/upper quarter/trunk gutter on the driver side to address. Decided to do that too before welding the exterior panels in place. The back half of the car is covered with cleco pins.


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Made the patch on the car.

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Had to use the shrinker to get it to lay down after welding the seam.


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Then cut out the rust and welded in the patch.

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After all that, I was ready to step away from sheet metal for a bit. Good news is, no more rusty metal left on the car!

I moved onto the engine next. Planned out the build, sold off some stuff, stripped the LQ4 down to the block. Heading to the machine shop this week.


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Now thats what I see when someone says Pro-touring!
Full chassis and roll cage are maybe not always necessary but the work and look are appreciated. My car is beyond this point but my build thread is not quite there yet, LOL.
Keep up the good work and lets show them how to do this stuff!

I just met you and already I like you...but am a little pissed at you.[emoji846] I checked out your build thread. I have a soft spot for that body. My cousin and I spent some time in Cornwall trying out for one of the local hockey teams. We rode in his 86 Turbo Coupe back and forth across the border for a few weeks. Cut to the chase on that Cougar already, I don’t like living in the past! [emoji38]

I gotta go bring my block to the machine shop. That’s happening today...in real time!


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Heading North to Concord, NC! Wonder what this thing will look like when it comes home? Still not 100% sure where their work will end and mine will begin. Depends on how good they are at sales and pricing I guess.

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Dropped off the block on Thursday. Met Jeff, unloaded and talked about the build sheet. He showed me around his shop, checked out their dyno room. The shop is unbelievable! Full of machinery. Really cool experience and Jeff was great!

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Why are there not more people clamoring for updates?
Like I said before THIS is pro touring! If wretched excess isn't your plan its just a restomod. Those cars can also be amazing but just like the pro street movement of the 80s and 90s, there is a reason the "Pro" is attached to the title.
GIMME MORE!

Since last update:

Had to deal with my fuel cell can. Cut it in half and extended the length by 1/2”. My 22gal. fuel cell fits now. Added some handles to the retainer bars and integrated the install straps into the design for lifting the cell out of the can. Currently working on closing up the trunk pan around the fuel cell can.

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Decided to add some gusset tabs to the panhard bar chassis structure. Not sure why, just looked like it needed it. Better safe than sorry kept going through my mind. The Strongarm tools Mag tab tool is the ticket for gusset and tab work on tube chassis!

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Niiiiiiiiiiice

Fuel cell can in permanently
 

I finally finished getting the fuel cell can welded into the trunk plus closed in with sheet metal. The sides took some thought to figure out how to deal with the sloping trunk pan.

Are you going to use one of the Holley fuel cell insert pumps?
https://www.holley.com/products/fuel...s/parts/12-146

Planning on using an Aeromotive Phantom 340 fuel pump along with an A1000 regulator. I'll be installing one of Jaz's sending units too. Will also need to order a foam kit for it.

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I have looked at both. I am a ways off from having to choose. I understand the permanent magnet ones will not need upgraded wiring?

I assume you are referring to the brushless motor fuel pumps? I looked at them very briefly, excessively priced for my budget. I think I read that they are quiet and durable. It seems like if you had to go with an external pump, they were the way to go?

I like the Phantom because it has a built in sump. If not for that, I'd be looking at the hydramat, which may actually be better than the sump. I'm really trying to avoid any fueling issues plus I can go EFI in the future.

Since this will be a return style system, I'm considering a cooler of some sort, in the loop. I imagine it will build heat recirculating fuel constantly. Also considering one of the Fitch catalyst systems. How's that for overcomplication? I'm thinking the return line is the best place for these accessories.

Since we are talking plumbing, the oiling system will have an external cooler as well. Would love to add a supplemental external oil pump for start-up pre-lube. Shutdown post-lube through the cooler would be fanatically unnecessary but neat to have, especially for turbo applications. I may just try to incorporate an accumulator with an electric solenoid.

Amp Rack in trunk
 

Been trying to get to a point where I can spray some coatings in the trunk and quarter-panel cavities before welding the quarters onto the car. Thought of one more trunk project I needed to do before I could paint...Amp rack for the stereo.

Gotta love progress!

Right on. Ran out of motivation lately. My kid keeps coming up with projects to do to his truck which is wearing me out.

I've been struggling with the sound system speaker placements. I have a rough design on the system but the rear speakers/sub enclosure puzzle are still not finalized. I actually hired Mark from CAF for help with this. I can either use off the shelf enclosures or build custom. Neither is very appealing. Off the shelf means 3 separate (2 for component speakers, 1 for sub) enclosures. Custom = decent sized project! I'm not even remotely thrilled about the prospect of using fiberglass.

Most of my engine components finally arrived, got the heads yesterday. That's going to push the engine build forward at least. Just waiting on the front suspension, still, from CPP. Once that stuff shows up, and there is a fresh engine on the stand...I have a feeling my motivation factor will go up.

Finally painted the trunk/inside quarter panel areas. Flat black rustoleum oil based enamel mixed with acetone, hardener and japan dryer then sprayed on.

Been hoping for an update on this. I bought some Steel it paint for the under-stuff during bodywork. The guy on fab forums recommended it and apparently its a weld through epoxy. Not cheap though.

Update:

Seam sealed the trunk area and sprayed Lizard Skin. Painted the inside surfaces of the tail light panel and both quarter skins. Next, masked off the quarter skins and shot Lizard Skin on the inside of them. Top coated the trunk area and cage bars with flat black engine enamel. Then I fitted and welded the tail light panel in. After that, I welded in the DS rear corner section I had to fabricate followed by the DS quarter skin.

Lots of work going on there.
Was the backing strip of material strictly put in place to ease panel alignment?