Kevin ... I'm just using the collar on the floor shift vs the column shifted collar! I forgot about your column, thought you were using it?

You missed an awesome weekend at PPIR! You are running next year right?

Michael

All I need is a bigger money tree!:G-Dub:

Kevin

Gotta LOVE it
 

when a plan comes together!!! NEVER cut up headers before!

Well, the header looks like Frankenstein's Doc worked on him ... but it fits GREAT!! Planned for 1/8" above the frame and whola that's where it sits. Just have to find out where the steering shaft will intersect #7 tube and cut that to clear the shaft.

What a PITA getting all this done ... but it payed off big time, I won't be scrapping headers on exit or entry drives, ask Mr. Diaz what that sounds like!

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...661/1SgnYH.jpg
Not pretty... but functional!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...538/lAHHbW.jpg
Good clearance, nothing moved!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...540/scyNCx.jpg
JUST above the straight edge across the frame and crossmember .... HEY!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...907/4vsFhg.jpg
These will get JET HOT coated to make them better looking!



Thanks for looking ... cutting up the passenger side header next!

Glad to see the event gave you some motivation! I tell everyone that gets in a little slump, go to an event or even a car show. It lights the fire.

Great pics Michael, and good talking to you out there. We had a great time and trip to your beautiful state.

Thanks Aaron ... I've had the motivation all along its the dang school work getting in the way. School is out and I now have only two weeks before another class starts ....grrrrr. Better get off this computer and get that other header cut up.

Nice job Chief . You kept them tucked up tight.

Update 8/25!
 

:thankyou: In stock form they were a tube ...1 3/4" below the frame, NOT GOOD. If the headers drag now I have some pretty big problems :headscratch:

On to the passenger side I took a total of 1 3/4" out each tube to get where I'm close. It's not as complex as the driver's side but very limited space to work within. Installed the starter for reference. I'm really not liking these ball and socket connectors ... you lose a 1/4" clearance cuz the hardware, I may have to clock them a little.

Anyway ... three are really close, #2 comes across the top and runs straight down into the rear LCA bracket. I will have to be creative so solve this one.

Thinking of doing # 4 and 6 (cuz they are ready for welding) and then cut the tubes for #2 and 8 and angle them further back away from the bracket ... that'll be APITA!

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...661/IckUTB.jpg
Not so good on #2!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...661/BHd8pj.jpg
Contact with LCA bracket ...grrrrr!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...661/zBaroE.jpg
Need to change the angle of the dangle here and extend the upper tube!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...538/3roVZI.jpg
Sitting above the frame.

I'll be glad when the headers fit like I want them, this has been time consuming :waveflag:

Thanks for looking ...

Headers done!
 

Cutting up a new set of headers? Had to be done thou ... well, the other side is done .... just some finish filing and then clean up the welds on the driver's side to match!

Total of 8 cuts and 10 welds, hours of hand filing and some grinding. Nothing moved w the braces and she lines up just like I planned .... whew!

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...537/oM0QIL.jpg
Some action shots ... adding 3/8" is APITA!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...907/pbYqBs.jpg
Some finish work now!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...540/jtShro.jpg
Mo'Better!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...537/kCyBfU.jpg
Fits great!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...537/lIcsIQ.jpg
Gained plenty of clearance ..... I hand filed that inside radius, what APITA!


I don't want to do that again, I'm glad I don't have to worry about hanging up the exhaust on something ... sure wished they would have come from the factory fitting like this :idea:

Thanks for looking ....

Wow Chief. Your ambition and execution know no bounds.
Ya got some mad skills!
Just think of the conversational tour you will be able to give someone describing all YOU did to this beast.

:thankyou: :thankyou: I think it's more of the mad than the skills sometimes, seems you modify one thing and then it's another that needs modding :superhack:

Thanks for looking ...

nice work chief!!

Thanks .... she's getting there :popcorn2:


Little bit of scope creep today .... started making clearance for the steering joint, by the time there was clearance there was not much of the original mount left. SO ... I added a 1/4" plate to the engine mount, can't do just one side so I put one on the passenger side too!!

Then I aligned the braces I made for the shock tower mount and tacked them in ... not feeling confident in my vertical MIG welding 3/16" I decided to pull the subframe and weld on a horizontal plane and get plenty of penetration. Figured is was safer to do it now then when/if it failed later.

Well, anyway ... made a big mess, found a purpose for those ugly hospital socks they send you home with and I'll sleep better knowing I did the right thing. My nephew is coming up Friday to help put this thing back together and check for squareness.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...901/58f8cZ.jpg
That's a big hole!!!!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...661/rMFlq3.jpg
Added a brace to the engine mount!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...913/wpxZ9q.jpg
Had to do the other side too!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...661/zf6Yyv.jpg
Hospital socks for shock covers ....lol.
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...540/CdNGqN.jpg
20 minutes later .... what a mess!!

I'll finish welding all the mounts and the braces and get her back under the car tomorrow ... :popcorn2:

Thanks for looking ...

Hospital socks for shock covers ....lol.

I knew there had to be a good use for those things other than covering your feet ! Looks great.

Thanks for the compliment Chief but i have never really thought of myself as a "fierce competitor" but more of a guy with what's normally a super dependable and fun to drive Chevelle. I would like to note that when the road course picture was taken, i had a broken anti-swaybar end link bracket. Glad we were able to meet you and look forward to seeing your car on the road. Good times for sure!

Update 9/8
 

Tom ... I didn't mean no disrespect. Sorry! I will see you guys at the next PPIR Optima event fer sure.

Finished the welding on the engine mounts and my shock tower braces! Got the subframe under the car with the help of my engine hoist ... stabbed it in eye-balled each side and got the bolts started, and waited for my nephew to come up and help me check squareness. Well, that stab was within a 1/16" cross diagonal, guess my subframe connectors are dead nuts on :thumbsup: .

Went ahead and hung the front sheetmetal and installed all the trim before I finalize that corner. Went ahead and pulled the front end forward to gain access to the molding screw they hid.


http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...540/XCGz6g.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...538/bmvxEf.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...673/bKh7dl.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...540/nR3BxQ.jpg

Well, that's what I got done ... I'll finish welding that corner and get the roof ready for Lizard skin and then some SPI epoxy :popcorn2:

Thanks for looking ...

Im glad you got your subframe finished and installed. I am still working on mine. Getting everything squared and lined up has been quite a task.

GG Show
 

Stopped by the GG Colorado Nationals before work and what is the first car I see ....

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...538/mty0Af.jpg

Went straight over and said hi ... that made my whole weekend, Mary Pozzi in Colorado:headspin:

I'll post more pics later, I have to go to work tonight and then I'll be back over there tomorrow for more autoX!!!

Same here!! Walked over to talk to Blake and Jay (SpeedTech) and see Mary Pozzi -- she's on her way home from the Nationals in Nebraska or something or other....

My '33 (Gwen's) will be parked in the "Hall of Fame Tour" area with the others that are on that. Hope to see you!

Well ... I'll be looking for you, it'll be nice to put a face to the posts!

Michael
9702187791 text me your 20 sometime tomorrow, er today!

What a weekend!
 

Went back to the GG Colorado Nationals and met up with Greg, Charlie, and Ken .... it was a pleasure to meet them. Took a bunch of pics, nothing fancy ... take a look at my ImageShack for more!

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...540/Ka3Qis.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...905/IEdCJJ.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...673/YD9xNv.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...540/BPgXCT.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...673/dfmI4c.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...912/SaSC1r.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...540/WkGLom.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...538/TKrypF.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...905/1bNIdO.jpg


The GG put on a heck of a show, the AutoX was cool ... not many cars there thou. And having the GG Tour come through Colorado was really cool :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

The guys were heading out today for Bowling Green ... be safe guys and I'll see you next year with my car!!!

Nice pics

[QUOTE=Sonar Chief;616428][B] Took a bunch of pics, nothing fancy ... take a look at my ImageShack for more!

Yea nothing fancy in any of those pictures! ;)

Thanks, Nice cars too!:D


[QUOTE=waynieZ;616448]Yeah I guess there were some fancy cars there .... the good pics are engraved in my mind!!!:thumbsup:

Yeah, nothing to see here ... just move along!

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...661/YXBaHT.jpg
One of Pinkee's Hot Rod Shop builds


I'll upload some more pics to the Imageshack album. Take a look!!

Michael -- Was really great that you came out and found us!! Enjoyed our time together!

Nice pics!!!

We made it to Trinidad this afternoon -- a few mishaps - Ken had a flat right off the bat!! I thought I smelled hot rubber - pulled up closer to him and his passenger rear was just about on the rim!! Pulled up and waved to him so he could pull off the freeway (25).... Goolsby sweeper trailer was 2 miles behind us -- he load up Ken - took him to Costco - put new tires on and in 45 minutes was back on the road!!

A '57 Chevy pulled in to the Sinclair where Charlie and I had stopped and his LS motor must have puked a rear main seal .... oil pouring out of it... but by then we were only 58 miles out -- so he filled it with oil and made it to the hotel - they'll load him up and he has another car coming to Amarillo!

I'll definitely be back to the Colorado show!! Perfect time of year - great facilities - super nice people... I was very impressed! Next year we'll park side by side!

Wow!
 

I'm glad you made it there fine! There is something to say about TPS in the newer cars and it would have helped Ken with his low tire!

I would have to agree with you, the GG show in Colorado is one heck of a show and that attracts some nice cars that you would not normally see .... the down side is hardly any vendors attend the show :headscratch:

Good luck with the rest of your trip and be safe! Ask Charlie if he plans on starting a build thread on his 67?

I was humbled meeting the gang there, thanks for being car guys!!

Michael

Nice pictures Chief, I actually took the Camaro to Collins muffler wed morning and stopped by Pinkees Thursday morning. I was surprised when I walked in the shop to see Hellfire, Visited a few and had to get back to wyo, I hope to have my car done and attend GG for sure next year. Hope yours is done as well.

Travis ... should have called me! Yeah, Hellfire is a work of art :king:

Post some updates will ya .... sounds like a plan, I'll be there!

Michael

was a quick trip. Down wed afternoon, back thurs morning. I have a bunch of pictures, My car is ready for paint when it gets back. I will try to add some pictures the next few days.

Update 9/22
 

Been awhile since I updated this .... ! Slow progress due to a diagnosis of osteoarthritis in my left wrist (eroded ligaments and a bone spur), very painful fer sure, wearing a wrist brace 24/7. So, I have the passenger roof corner almost ready, still need to lift up the roof and finish the welds, that's tomorrow's goal after my ortho appt.


http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...673/q7Iu3g.jpg
Installed rear window to make sure the roof is square ... yes!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...673/KpPpBW.jpg
How do you like my window tint? lol.
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...673/Ch07YD.jpg
Still need to weld up the relief cuts.
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...540/SPz9FN.jpg
That's 'mo better than what AMD sent me!

I'll finish this tomorrow and hopefully get some lizard skin on the underside this weekend.

Thanks for looking ....

You don't want to hear my comments about why you have a bad hand.... LOL



Looks really good Michael!!

Looking good man!

You're right ... thanks Greg, it'll be slow but I gotta keep rolling before the weather gets to cold to paint.

Got a steroid shot in the wrist this morning ... fun!

Thanks alot, gotta keep plugging away to get her done.

Like Greg said if something looks difficult you just gotta jump in and get it figured out. That's what I'm doing :bang: sometimes one thing leads to another needing fixing.

Michael

Like Greg said if something looks difficult you just gotta jump in and get it figured out. That's what I'm doing :bang: sometimes one thing leads to another needing fixing.

Michael[/QUOTE]

You've done very well so far, so keep jumping in the deep side!

looks great!!! how is the quality of that AMD glass??

AMD glass!
 

You've done very well so far, so keep jumping in the deep side![/QUOTE]


Thanks Wayne .... never been this far with body work, I think I have the hang of it now!



Thanks! That's a good question, summary: the back glass is the only one that survived tear down. The OEM glass is thicker by 0.015, the AMD glass is shorter by 3/16, width is same ... BUT the curvature doesn't quite match up (left to right or top to bottom), AMD GLASS IS FLATTER... let me show you (GM glass is on top).

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...661/gUlDoW.jpg
AMD glass!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...913/y9sbqZ.jpg
GM glass.
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...540/8XKWYN.jpg
That's the outside edge measurement!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...913/MH0GpE.jpg
This is the middle of the lower glass!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...673/uWC8MF.jpg
Clamped the bottom edge to see the difference in the top!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...537/rjDVbE.jpg
And there you have it ...


My opinion ... fits the opening ok, wished it were closer to GM specs! No one will be able to see the differences on the car. I don't have the front to have a metric against, it is 0.250 thick and seems to follow the roof line and the upper dash pretty close .... anyone else used AMD glass?

Is there a glass that matches GM OEM glass?

Thanks for asking ... hope this helps someone else too!

Michael

Thanks Wayne .... never been this far with body work, I think I have the hang of it now!





Thanks! That's a good question, summary: the back glass is the only one that survived tear down. The OEM glass is thicker by 0.015, the AMD glass is shorter by 3/16, width is same ... BUT the curvature doesn't quite match up (left to right or top to bottom), AMD GLASS IS FLATTER... let me show you (GM glass is on top).

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...661/gUlDoW.jpg
AMD glass!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...913/y9sbqZ.jpg
GM glass.
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...540/8XKWYN.jpg
That's the outside edge measurement!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...913/MH0GpE.jpg
This is the middle of the lower glass!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...673/uWC8MF.jpg
Clamped the bottom edge to see the difference in the top!
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...537/rjDVbE.jpg
And there you have it ...


My opinion ... fits the opening ok, wished it were closer to GM specs! No one will be able to see the differences on the car. I don't have the front to have a metric against, it is 0.250 thick and seems to follow the roof line and the upper dash pretty close .... anyone else used AMD glass?

Is there a glass that matches GM OEM glass?

Thanks for asking ... hope this helps someone else too!

Michael[/QUOTE]

Thank you so much that is great info and even better pictures. Man I love watching this car car along!!!

Nice work so far! question, what did you use to strip the Car with?
Chemical blasting DA?

Thank you so much that is great info and even better pictures. Man I love watching this car car along!!![/QUOTE]


You are welcome! I am glad to give back a little .... with the info I've learned here on Lat-G I'm going to suceed!


I stripped most of the car with a orange fiber disc from HF on my DeWalt drill (I'm on my SECOND drill now) ...slow going fer sure but I didn't want to introduce a substance into the metal that wasn't there before, so it's just time consuming :gitrdun:

I did do the door jambs, upper dash, and sills w CitrusStrip and a wire brush (kinda messy) and then followed it up w the fiber disc for some bite before etching primer.

Hope that helps ....

Spraying SPI Epoxy
 

on the backside of the roof, driver's quarter and deck filler! Had to put it in epoxy because the Lizard Skin products are water borne so ... no bare metal!

First time spraying SPI ... I put down two coats following their directions and it came out nice. The sheen will be just right for interior panels and the roll bar as I am going to leave everything in SPI Black for maintenance if needed!

Once I got the roof off I started sanding the etching primer and cleaning the roll bar in preps for epoxy .... I will get Lizard Skin on these parts first and then move onto getting all the roof braces, behind the quarter, under the speaker tray and the roll bar in black epoxy. Supposed to rain overnite and maybe tomorrow, we'll see if that happens and adjust accordingly.

Seems ImageShack is having a lobotomy right now .. I'll upload pics later!

ImageShack is back!
 

Thought I'd upload some pics from last post, applying the SPI epoxy and the Lizard Skin finale!

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...912/HlsD8J.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...903/wcODPe.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...901/oXK0uD.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...909/ArVsbG.jpg

As per Rusty's advice I waited for the epoxy to cure before I sprayed the Lizard Skin ... went on flawless of course and looks great! Take a look. I masked off the areas that still need to be worked over and all areas that will get welded on final assembly.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...912/qb9B0q.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...903/ZJqsGY.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...909/UxsWra.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...909/6v4RgS.jpg

The weather is not cooperating here ... just in the 60's and rainy for this weekend. I picked up a new spray gun for the epoxy to do the interior panels and the roll bar and I can't use it yet...grrrr!

Anyway, we'll see how the weather unfolds and go from there.

Thanks for looking ....