I've heard the same thing about manual trans on another forum. Some of them can't handle the torque.:_paranoid

Great build man, should be a blast to drive :cheers:

1200 ft/lbs of torque is going to hurt any tranny LOL I think your thinking is right tough that a TH400 with gearvendor overdrive is one of the few boxes that can be built to take that much abuse. I would run a manual trans however I think I would probably have a little less power then you. hehehe

Tonny

The nice thing is the 400 can be built with engine breaking and the gear vendor gives you 6 speeds. If the auto (really a manual automatic) robs too much power I can just add more boost. :P I'm pretty sure it won't be an issue. I was also probably going with a bolt together torque converter so I can change the stall speed myself. If I do the 400 i'll let you know how it works out. :cheers:

Im running a 400TH with gearvendors on my big-block and love it. No issues with it and you can split shift as you said a 6 speed auto. Its a great set-up.:thumbsup:

Good to hear! :cheers:

Are you planning to drag race the car with the slicks or just road race it? I'd be willing to bet that if you're not planning to drag race it that Rockland Standard or Liberty can build you a transmission that will hold up. It's worth a call at least.

I do think the 400 with the GV unit would be a better choice though. You'll have enough on your mind while piloting to worry about. No since in making gear selection anything more complicated than just tapping up or down on a lever or paddle.

The car will be drag raced as well, mostly to tune it up for a 1 mile event. The problem is usually the same, and I have talked to liberty, jerico, lenco etc. They don't make the strong transmissions or gear sets with over drive. Thats the only way the car can reach its top end. There was one or 2 companies that did but it was barely an overdrive, something in the .9ish range. Thanks for the input though, I will check them all out again before I buy.

Your experience has been better than mine, I'm not happy with mine at all,noisey on down shifts ( clunks ) ,not enough overdrive,and gear vendors tech support has not been much help, kinda feel like they don't no their product very well. Just my.02 . love this project !

Hey...do I know you? Some guy that lives by me and calls my house at all hours of the day has the exact same car...if you are talking too him kindly tell him to F&*k off :)

all kidding aside..

This car is really fantastic up close as well. Steve's attention to detail has been unsurpased. I remember sitting in his living room and we were talking about this type of thing as a pipe dream and now its really comming together. Like anything this build has caused numerous frustrations, more money than expected, and some time frames didn't go as planned but when all is said and done he really has created a great piece of machinery ! Steve loves to go fast....so do I but I have my limits...not sure Steve has found his yet :)

I will stop writing now as I am getting teary eye'd :)

not bad for my first post eh Johnston :)

You know damn well I have a stock M12 Z06 tranny that we can slap in there...should hold for a good second or so :)

Killer --

Interesting rear end - should be hell for stout. I see THREE links - but I don't see anything that would act like a panhard bar... am I missing something??

If you look closely you can see its a 4 link with another 5th link at the top, center of the housing that keeps it all centered, but all joints will articulate. After it gets some initial testing I'm sure I will be adjusting/changing something.

Okay - will look at the pics again -- I was trying to find the "upper" bars but couldn't see them... but I'm old and don't see well.

Now I see 'em - the upper bars - not sure how I missed 'em the first time around... maybe I was too busy trying to find what was handling the side loads... :thumbsup:

The pics not that good. I'll post some better ones when i get it all looking pretty. :)

Don't know if you guys noticed, but I love the full adjustability of the front suspension so you can get the geometry "just right". Love the adjustable tie rod and idler arm height. No bump steer issues here.:unibrow:

Marc

Every piece is adjustable and the coil springs have hidden adjusters up inside the spring pockets to adjust ride height as well. A couple little tweaks and everything should work pretty good. :)

A small update. I managed to get some steering in it this weekend.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01424.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01432.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01433.jpg
The removeable steering wheel really helps getting in and out and I can remove it to make it less appealing to steal when I go to get my groceries. :lol:

'cuz you'l be hauling groceris all the time in that beast right?:D

Awesome car. Glad you are back on it again.:thumbsup:

The lower shaft. Both will crumple so I don't turn into a kabob.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01429.jpgSome of the lower shaft.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01428.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01427.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01426.jpg

And I was happy to have an NHRA tech at my house today and have the car certified to go as fast as 7.50 in the 1/4 mile. I allready had the silver state classic guys ok the chassis pending a letter from my chassis builder wich I have.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01423.jpg

You have to get the groceries at least once, just to say you did. :lol:
I should have afew more updates over the next couple weeks. parts are on the way. :)

Good deal. Keep us posted.
Nice to see some updates on this bad boy.:thumbsup:

I have been working on little tidbits, putting things on the front suspension together and taking them apart. Had a few brackets added and fitted these up today.
After several attempts at trying to fit stock car style spring cups with spc lower control arms and my shocks, it didn't seem to work to well. The shocks would hit the cups, the spring would rub against the side of the frame because it sat on the cup and the cup adjusting nut sat loose.
I had the cup thread cut off and relocated a half inch over to clear the shock and center it in the pocket better.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01464.jpg
Then my neighbour Stu (best neighbour in the world ;) ) made me these spring cup adjusting nuts to make a better fit and a way to adjust them easily without removing all the suspension. A little heavier then stock, but in this case I think they are worth the extra ounces.
This is the old and new side by side.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01446.jpg
Then inside the spring pocket.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01461.jpg
And then with the spring in place.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01463.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01451.jpg

Oh yeah. Thanks Stu!! :morepower

I also had some brackets welded in to hold the sway bar in place, a 'u' chanel for future use, and a cap added to the front of the crossmember where I had to chop it off to clear the new center link.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01453.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01455.jpg
So tomorrow I paint these parts and start the finished assembly instead of fitting and tearing apart again. Crossing my fingers. :lol:

This is just too crazy man! I love it. :thumbsup:

Looks like you have a PS box there...where and what set-up were you going to use for the pump?

Thanks,
Dave

Very nice. She's moving right along.
Keep us posted.:thumbsup:

I have a Lee box, but the older style bigger one because they could do more with the valving for my application. I got it through Mark Savitske and it uses the type 2 pump that was put on a little steering dyno to get the feel that I want. It also has a slower ratio for the high speed stuff so my twitching won't put me in the weeds.

Thanks for the detailed pictures...just awesome.

I got a little more work done this week with some paint touch ups to the new welded on parts and started hopefully for the last time final install of the front suspension components. I got some RCD Billstein shocks, and even though they are mounted in the stock location, I had to modify the bottom round bracket of the spc arms to clear the shock under full compression. A few minutes of grinding and a little touch up paint and all was good.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...n/DSC01468.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...n/DSC01469.jpg
and the spindles mounted with my steering arms also by my friend and good neighbour Stu
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...n/DSC01474.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...n/DSC01472.jpg
Sway bar is also mounted, at least the main bar anyway after spending about 2 hours pounding those bushings in place. :omg:
I have to get the arms pressed into shape and install the rod ends. The holes on the bars have to be drilled out after, and I'll have to make brackets to hold the lower rod ends. If anyone has any pics with a link to how they did it let me know. :cheers:

I did as DSE does on their sway bars, and use Ridetech posi links for sway bar connections.

http://www.detroitspeed.com/images/n...y-front-lg.jpg

I did straits on the bar end, and the control arm end.

They allow more motion then a rod end. And by going vertical through the arm, they take up less space.

Thats a good idea. I like how little space they use. Too bad I allready have the other links, but maybe I'll toss them in favour of this idea. Thanks! :cheers:

Who makes the steering linkage parts like the crossbar and the piece that bolts to the frame?

wow!!! This is an awesome build.Look out new unfair camaro you might have some one that will shoot you down.Keep up the good work.:thumbsup:

The tie rod ends, idler arm, center link and steering box arm are all made by Howe. I purchased them from mark Savitske. The links between the tie rod ends I got from a local stock car place and I think they are made by Coleman. Just be aware they were made for stock cars and other mods may have to be made depending on what you are using them for. :thumbsup:

Thanks! :)

thanks for the info!

Getting a little more work done with the brakes mounted both sides and permanently. A little shimming was needed to center the caliper and a spacer under the radial bolts to keep the pads and retaining clip for the pads from rubbing.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01476.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01477.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/DSC01478.jpg