Taking the mini tub plunge
 

Funny how these things happen. I was just about ready to finish up the last bit of wiring and install the interior on my 68. Then I decided that the rear wheels just did not fit in the wells like I had hoped. I also had started to dislike the 17-18 combo on the rims and a seed planted some time ago in my sick brain took root and stated to grow.
Tuesday the 27th I am taking my car to AutoKraft and it is going to get a few upgrades. Minitubs and a G bar are going in. I have some new Budnik GTX rims 17 X 11 and a set of 315/35 17 tires to go on the car. They will also install my new exhaust which is made up of 2.5” ovalized tubing with a X pipe and a set of spin tech mufflers. While it is there I am going to have them install the head liner and adjust the new smoked windows I all ready installed. Hopefully when I get it back I can have it on the road right away. Wish me luck Steve

good luck Steve, but you don't need it with Kurt. He does fantastic work, you're in great hands.

Anxious for pics.............. :thumbsup:

Jody

Great choice in Kurt and mini tubbing. Your car will have a whole new look. Congrats.

I am doing pretty much the same thing thing, mini-tubbing and G-Bar in the rear. So far the progress on my mini-tub I have all the old inner tubs out and the frame rails notched and the new tubs fit in there nice and tight when clamped down, it is amazing how much more space you have!

I bet you will be very happy with your decision!

Thanks for the comments. I am hoping I can get Kurt to take some pictures so I can post them and have them for my self. I was a little nervouse about spending so much but felt in the long run it will be well worth it. Steve

Good luck Steve. Keep us updated on the pics, I can't wait to see the wheels.

I started doing the mini tub on mine but pulled off to finish up some rust issues on the main shell (what's left). I have to get the rockers mounted on so I can attach the shell to the floor pans before I can complete the mini tub.

you will be very happy im sure.the new tire and wheel combo with that suspension mod will give the car a whole new look and ride.my friend has the same exhaust on his ride.sounds sweet.

Kurt and Paul at Autokraft do incredible work. You will be more than happy with the finished product and Kurt is great with taking pics/documenting the progress.

Cool.....

I remember when you started your build asking "are you going to minitub it" and people anwsering "it doesnt't have to be, its nice as it is... bla bla bla" hehe, glad to see you finally came to it. Going to look good!

New question now...are you really going with "only" 315's...How about 335's while your at it?.... Or wait, maybe in a few months... :lol: (there is that seed thing again!)

Nice job man,

Lead.

I dropped the car off today at AutoKraft. Kurt is a great guy and I wasted way to much of his time looking at projects and discusing the work I want done. I looked over a killer 69 Camaro he is working on that has 335 tires on it and they look sweet. I am going to stick with my skinny little 315 for now but after I burn the 315s off who knows. When I left I felt good about taking it to Kurt and can't wait for the finished product. I wish I would have had him working on it from the start. Hopefully pictures will follow before to long. Steve

Attababy Steve:thumbsup:

The cutting has begun.
 

I had to run over to Kurts shop today because I forgot the rear seat when I brought the car to him. I took a few pictures of the progress. I had put bedliner in the rear wheel wells and it made more work for Kurt and Paul. Sorry Guys!

Pictures of the wheels & tires
 

Tires are on the new rims.

Wow, they dont waste any time anyway. Great progress steve. Nive wheels thumbsup:

One small set back but it is taken care of I think. When Kurt had the tires mounted on the rims the tires were so out of round they could not be balanced. Well I guess one could have been but it would have taken 16 oz of weights to do it. I called Discount Tire Direct and they were very cool about it and a new set on the way so hopefully this set will work out. They are sending UPS to Kurt’s shop to pick up the bad tires on Monday so all is well. I hope.

Looking great Steve! As said before, Kurt does aswesome work...you're in good hands!!

I think you will like the fitment of the 315 on your car...a 335 on a 67-8 needs fender lip work as the fenderwell is a little narrower than a 69. I opted for the 315 on my car as I wanted the lips untouched and the 315 is a better match for the 245 front tire.

Have fun with all the upgrades, it will really change the car!! :cheers:

Progress pictures
 

Kurt sent me some pictures today. It’s like Christmas

Kurt and Paul do amazing work. There's a lot of pride in their work and it shows. :thumbsup:

Those look nice, I hope I can get mine to look like that!

G bar to be deliverd today
 

I just checked the UPS tracking and the G- bar should be deliverd today which is perfect timing since Kurt just finished up the tubs yesterday. The replacement 315 tires are suspose to show up today as well but they never sent me a tracking number. Its a good thing Kurt and Paul are 150 miles away or I would be over there every day bugging them and checking out the progress.

More pictures
 

Kurt and Paul really kicked butt today. They seam sealed the trunk and splatter painted it and undercoated the wheel wells AND got the G-Bar welded in. Next they well prep the rear end to get it shortend.

What paint did you use to undercoat the wheel wells?

Looks real nice...they sure do awesome work!!

Coming along nicely Steve!
by the way I ordered some new tires today.

I am not sure what he used maybe he will chime in

Thats cool what did you order?

The Michelin pilot sport 2
335/30/18, and 275/35/18

Any new progress?

Those fat tires should look great. The axles were sent to get shortened the rear end housing is ready to be narrowed. The headliner is in and the windows are all adjusted. When the axles come back they should be ready to put them back in and bolt the rear end in so they can start on the exhaust. I am hping to be able to pick it up the week of the 16th

Sounds like its coming great. I am hoping the tires aren't too wide..... I might have to make more room:_paranoid
Keep us updated.

Tire mock up
 

A few shots of the tire/wheel mock up. I had to order a new set of axles because the old ones would not really work out plus the new ones are stronger. I plan to have a set of wheel/tires set up for drag racing for summer of 09 so better to have the stronger axles.

do you have a pic of the rear wheel straight on?.. Heres why. My g bar lower control arms seem to be a 1 inch to short. I can not get the rear wheels centered in the opening. Tryed everything.:_paranoid

the g bar never allows the tire to be centered it is always forward in the rear wheel well.
should have made the link adjustable

Steve, Looks good.:thumbsup:

If you don't mind me asking. How hard is it to modify the link to make it center the rear end in the wheel well? I might have to call Kurt tomorrow.

Thats just a picture of the wheels in the wells the rear end is sitting on the floor behind the car. I guess I will have to do some checking into that.

Right on Steve, thats what I wanted to see! those wheels needed to go on a blue car..I can hardly wait to see it sitting on the ground.:thumbsup:

Got tired of being squeezed by the design. Going with my own version. And the new bushings are in (from Ridetech still) to make the lower arms adjustable.

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q...9/DSC09310.jpg

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q...9/DSC09305.jpg

They know about the problems/ situation (cause its not really a problem but it could be so much better so simply) and don't change anything, i don't get it 'cause they sure are a top notch gang.

This way, Its letting me run as wide a tire you can find now too. The lower arms are inside the rails now so they don't hit anything...Its just getting crowdy with the 3.5 inch exhausts and all...


Lead.

Couldn't you just use an adjustable rod end and the housing bracket? How much needed adjustment are we talking to center the wheel?

i've talked to air ride and chris alston and both told me that they never have heard of this problem..

Now with my car, it has the driveshaft to far in, so either I shorten the driveshaft by another 1", or make adjustable lower control arms.

I'm going to make the lower control arms adjustable as well.. I can get the pinion angle spot on at that point.

Not trying to scare you steve, I hope yours comes out 10 times better then mine.. Probally will since you have a professional shop doing awesome work..

Also, any chance you can find out how much the rear was narrowed, and back spacing on the rear rims when you get a chance.. I want to mini tub mine as well, and that sure would help me.:cheers: