Really nice work on that frame!

Thanks guys. I finally got some input from HPI on the trans mount not allowing the trans to move back far enough. They are going to redesign their kit and send me some parts to alleviate my issue. Tyler is a pretty good guy in my book.:trophy-1302:

I will get out there a little this weekend between soccer tournaments to make the adjustments and get some engine mounts drawn up for the vendor I work with to do some cuts.

Really getting anxious to get some work done.:thankyou:

HEEP

Alright guys, I'm finally setting the engine. do we point the trans down 3*? Need to know fairly quick so I can get measurements for engine mounts.

thanks in advance.

HEEP

I am pretty sure you want to be between 2 to 3 degrees.

yep, 2.5 worked for me ('65). But,what is most important is the drive shaft working angles on either end are equal, or close to it. So, ride height and rear end type (pinion height and angle) affect it.

Great story and project, you will get it done just keep at it and save your pennies!

alright, thanks for the quick replies. Just verified what I thought was correct. So measuing the door jamb, it is 2.7* pointed down in the rear. Measuring the engine on the valley cover, I am at 5.5* pointed down in the rear. I think I will let it stand there. I can now start measuring and drawing out the frame mounts for the engine mounts. I'll get that done and get the metal next week.

So here is what I have been up to the last couple of days. I had to modify the HPI trans mount. It wouldn't let me slide the engine back where I wanted it at. Tyler was very helpful, send a couple of tube mounts for me to use, but I decided to go a different route. Had some metal cutout and I added it to the crossmember.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psd5da2547.jpg

Of course, I had to do both sides.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psf2bec27b.jpg

Now it fits in there better.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps1606c222.jpg

It spreads the load over the side brackets better.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps2fa0533c.jpg

HEEP

So after buying the "muscle car oil pan", i was not very happy. Most of you that have gone this route weren't either. didn't know that until after I had already purchased it. So I ended up getting a 4th gen pan and going that route instead. I had seen Aaron use this with his 65' so I found the cheapest one I could. found the whole thing for about $260 with free shipping. I went from this
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psbdc0f555.jpg


http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...pscc9e4686.jpg

Modified the front crossmember
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps0c0950c3.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps95f49c74.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psdf66705a.jpg

So I solved my issue with the drag link hitting the pan.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psd2167492.jpg

And we are not going to drag the pan
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps5e47ef73.jpg

HEEP

Way to put in some hard work buddy. Looking good!

Looking really good! I like the crossmember mods. I would think that the longer mounting tabs would cut down on twisting, but I'm not an engineer.

Thanks guys, It was good getting out there and getting my hands dirty. Therapy is what I call it. I'lll box that area in when I pull the engine out again. I'm sure it will be out and in a few more times.:)
yes, the longer tabs were needed for the twisting of the trans mount. I will probably hold it in with 3 bolts on each side just for good measure.

So after engine mounts, I guess I'll tackle the trans tunnel and firewall smoothing.

Thanks,
Bill

Well, It's time for a little update. Got the engine mounting completed. Kind of like a milestone with swapping the engine out to the late model stuff.

First I took a little tip from FAB53 and built a hanger. This was to get the engine off the spacers I put in when I got it set where I needed it.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps9beb42ba.jpg

Had some plates made to bolt to the frame itself. Kind of going the Stielow route.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps6a10a3cd.jpg

Installed the uprights with some spacers to make sure I had enough room for it to slide in.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psd9689baa.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psde06771c.jpg

Passenger Side

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psddf4b9c1.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps26f1e0d3.jpg

Finished product

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps11623757.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps6216e6d0.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps6f4cd1fc.jpg

Great progress!

Those mounts turned out really nice!

Thanks guys..... It took too long to get them taken care of. Probably going to install the front suspension next, then work on the rear tubs.

Bill, I see you have some skills, huh? Looking good!! :popcorn2:

Not sure what skills I have. We will see when I start on these tubs. Yes, get that popcorn and have a seat. We will see how this goes.:hairpullout:

Rear end question
 

Heep, Love the work on your frame looking at doing a similar setup. I am looking to order the ABC kit shortly, what are your plans for you rear suspension / rear end.

Thanks for the props. As for the rear end, it's just a 12 bot posi with 3:73 gears. Air ride suspension with a H/O racing Specialties rear bar. It's probably over kill at 1-3/8" :secret: I will just have to see.

So I finally got to work on the ride today. Got my nerve up to do the rear tub cutting. And of coarse, I hit a road block. I'm cut all the way through to tub itself, except down to the lower area of the tubs front and rear.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psc400b93f.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psaeb5e0af.jpg

So the little snag is, where you see the line on the trunk floor that is where I will be cutting back the 2", that is right over the trunk brace in this picture.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps72a926af.jpg

so. I'm guessing that I need to not cut back so far on my first cut. Then after i band the tub, I can cut back more as I need to. Is my thought correct?

Thanks,

Can't help with the tubbing part, Bill. Just wanted to say I'm glad to see you're able to make some progress with the car.

Way to man up Bill. Tackle it head on. Good luck!:thumbsup:

Thanks guys..... I think I am going to call Tony today at ABC to see if he has his tubs ready yet. I think it will be better if I don't try to band them myself.

I was hoping some of the professionals would chime in and steer me a little.

Bill, what rear tire width are you shooting for? Glad to see you making progress.

Scott, I am shooting for as wide as I can get. 335 would be nice, but I am not sure at this point. I figure that I have spent the money on the frame work and now the tubs need to be done. I'll get as much tire back there as I can. I have been told that stock can handle 315, but I have not measured anything at this point.

By the way, good to hear from you. Haven't seen anything on your car lately...
Any updates?

Yeah stock tubs with a rolled lip, or in my case a cut back lip, 315's will go. There is 14" of real estate available with stock tubs.
I'm chasing a gremlin right now with mine. Been working on trying to fix since April, as time has allowed me. Long story short, I started with GM electronics, and have moved to the Mast M90 setup, but there's a problem we can't find. I had the owner of Vengeance Racing in my shop, and we still can't pinpoint what's up.
My painter wants the car running. No shell this time, no parts this time. The whole car running. He's done our ISCA jobs through the years, and is getting tired of painting "parts". It's the whole car or nothing, running and drivable.
It's fine by me, but Geesh, if my engine woes didn't exist, I'd be done by now.
I've bought everything I need to finish, except gauges and a steering wheel. I've spent some major dough this year on the car.
I'll get some updates in, as soon as we get car started. Hopefully that happens tomorrow.

Well, part of it is out. Now to move everything in. problem I have now is Tony at ABC is on the Power Tour. would really love to order some tubs from him. I guess I can wait another week. HAHA

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psfbe87b26.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps449d296a.jpg

I do think now that I wil be putting a quarter in this side. That will be anothe daunting task for me.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps4e98e07b.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...pse3637b93.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps1437221d.jpg

The outer tub is also eat up, so that will get replaced also.

Ouch! Rust is one of those four letter words that your not supposed to say. Keep your head up bill, and stay at it. A little at a time, and your done before you know it.

Alright, so I have been pricing metal and found a great deal with Tony G at ABC performance. Before I do the order, I have a question, and I asked this before about the car. Should I have the body blasted before I install this quarter panel? Right now the task is inner and outer wheel tubs and the quarter. Not sure of the other side just yet. I thought it would be better to do one side at a time. Thoughts?:drowninga:

No one has an answer for me? Should I blast first and then install the quarter? Leaning toward installing first, but I need to make sure.

Another option: cut out most of the quarter to get open area for the blaster to get in there, then do the new quarter afterwards. Just a thought.

Good to see you making some progress Bill.

Aaron, thanks for the input. I hadn't thought about doing it that way. At this point, I would have to pull the body back off the frame and would be concerned about movement without the quarter on it. Just thinking out loud here. I might take the idea from Kevin l and buy a small blaster and clean it up at the house.

By the way, when I rode with you in Nashville, did you have a goPro running from the back seat/ If so, I would love to see that video.

Bill, I agree with what Aaron said. If your going to remove a quarter panel there is no sense in blasting it to throw it out. Clean up the metal behind it and treat it. Weld in some bracing to keep the twist down.
As far as your tubs go, I would give it a shot. It sounds like your thinking of replacing them anyway, so practice with the bad one and see what you think. You might be surprised with how you do!
Good luck and glad your moving forward!!

Hmm, thought I did have a video, but couldn't find one Bill. Or any from Nashville, sorry.

Bill, just cut out the bad areas of metal, leave all the upper and front and back structure of the qtrs and you will still have lots of strength to keep it from moving around. As stated it doesn't make sense to blast metal that will go to the scraper. Glad to see its coming along. As long as you do "something" on each day it will get done.

So do I need to put the door on before I start the quarter replacement for line up purposes?

Well you will want them on at some point. Yes you need them to line up the qtrs, I like to have all the sheet metal on at some point before I start to weld anything permanently. It's much easier to move stuff around before you final weld.

If your using the org doors and still have the org qtrs on line them up first to old quarters as this will help you determine if your new quarters are going on in the org spot.

Same goes for you have new doors but still have the org qtrs on.

Here's my as I'm getting all the sheet metal lined up

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...ps32f3fa05.jpg

Junk fender!!!

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...psba688735.jpg

Thanks Rick. that was what I had in my mind. I'll get the door down and start lining it up with the new hinges I got also.

Well, I actually got out there and got a little done. First, I got everything out of the boxes. Bought some new hinges from AMD....

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psff3c8d7b.jpg

Got a RH quarter panel, and outer tubs....

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psc5ee75fe.jpg

Also got a set of the inner fender tubs from ABC performance. Tony does a good job on these.... There is no way I could have done this.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps45bb04f3.jpg