A little progress on my Chevelle
 

Mods/Admin - I had started a thread months back but for some reason the update post were going above original post:willy: I thought I would start fresh and keep this one updated:

The roll cage is almost complete. I stopped by the shop and snapped a few pictures Today. I debated about material, size, roll bar or roll cage. I know this is a sticky topic of what is right or wrong etc. I tried to look at rules for something that over laps different types of events...wow there is no universal way. Rules, at least in my looking are confusing at best. So I elected to go with 1-3/4" DOM with 120 wall thickness. I also chose to weld to the frame. My frame is not boxed so we boxed/plated about a 7" section on the frame at each contact point. After talking with a few people about the floor pan I chose to leave a 5/16" gap and will later fill with seam sealer with hopes this may allow the body to flex a little.
I am using Delrin body bushings that I got from a board member here a while back.
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...perf/a7181.jpg
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...perf/a7182.jpg

I was in a hurry Today and did not realize how bad of pictures I took but these will give idea what it looks like..
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...erf/a71810.jpg
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...perf/a7187.jpg

In order to get the bar tuck as tight as possible he cut parts of the inner structure to push the bar inward.
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...perf/a7184.jpg

On the front bars going to engine we are using tube clamps that will allow them to be removed. We are waiting for UPS to deliver the M/C Today so we can no where to bend as it is real close.
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...perf/a7185.jpg

Just a few things left like picking seats and then will have to tie those to the cage. Here are a few more pics:
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...perf/a7183.jpg
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...perf/a7186.jpg

We also went through the dash
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...perf/a7189.jpg

Nice cage looks like a fun project, when do you plan on having it done?

Thanks. As far as being done I would hope by next year (summer) but it is amazing how much time flys on top how a budget flys out the window:lol:.
I am going to cut corners and paint it Hot Rod Flatz hugger orange for now. I figure I can thrash it for a while and then maybe down the road have it painted.

looks like it gonna be a ball................. :yes:

Jody

Lookin good! I check out your website on a regular basis too, great pics there as well! Inspiration for me on my 68" Malibu that I'm planning on starting this fall. :thumbsup:

Thanks Guy's :cheers:

Car is coming along nicely. Btw, does your cage weld to the frame or just to the floorpan? I read that for drag racing it needs to be welded to the frame on full frame cars. That is one reason I'm leaning away from doing a bar/cage.

Thanks. Yes it is welded to frame with about 7" of plate at each point where the frame is C sectioned. I have seen where some guy's have plated top and bottom of floor pan which I considered but since we welded it will have to be painted together. This car is going to be a beater anyway so will just mask the frame. How is your car? Is it back from paint and black?

Nice build. :thumbsup:

I wish. Painter just recently came by to look at what needs to be done. Hopefully he'll start by the end of August. Been working on stripping it down again. Work is going slowly this time around. Seeing your car gives me inspiration though. :yes:

I got some time to hang the front sheet metal. It's along ways away, but for me it feels like progress after seeing parts laying around
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...perf/a7301.jpg
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...perf/a7305.jpg
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...perf/a7304.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...perf/a7303.jpg
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...perf/a7302.jpg

:wow: That looks good. Is this your brothers shop?

Thanks, The cage work was done by a company called Top of the line Fab.The pictures above are at my brother's shop..but he does not own it. He is employed by a Family that owns about twelve tire stores here in the area. My brother has always been paint and body and builder guy by trade. The tire store family are a bunch of gear heads and all my brother does is work on their private stuff. They have several dozen cars from C6Z06 vettes, LSX desert cars and a bunch of hot rods. He turns out some cool cars but no pt stuff. Some of the cars they just fix up and turn. For the most it's a cool job because he does not deal with any customers..just the family. It's a great deal for the guy's to have him on the payroll when you factor what a paint job or fab cost these days. When you have hundreds of people on staff it seems like easy to bury the cost of one guy spread out. Plus if the tire store mechanics wreck customer's cars (which they do) my brother can fix at a better rate. I am just stoked that they let me store and work on my car there.

I fitted the hood Today. The whole front group fenders, hood, core support is all the Dynacorn Taiwan reproduction pieces. I have heard many horror stories with things not fitting. I took a chance as I did not want to spend the money for Nos sheet metal (I have also seen where Nos does not fit so great either). We just spent a little time so far working on gaps and I must say things are fitting much better than I expected.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...sperf/a111.jpg

One area I am a little concerned is the passenger fender where it meets the header panel is angled (see picture below the gray primer to the black panel above where the headlights go). You can see that it slopes where the driver side is more level. I need to get the grill and headlight eyebrows bought so I can see how much of an issue that is. Overall I am happy the way it is fitting as this car it just a driver anyway.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...sperf/a112.jpg

Not much of an update but I got the Hydraulic kit from Classic Motorsports (AKA Classic Chevy 5 Speed). I knew Jeff and the guy's had been working on the Chevelle application for a while so I waited. Finally last week they were finished up with first production pieces. The guy's over there are great and they won't hurry any products until they are totally happy with fitment and function. I was very pleased with their design of the bracket (Note: There are no current plans for them to sell as a stand alone item. It is only available when buying a full 5 speed conversion kit from them). The bracket mounts on the four brake booster stud and is nice and Strong. It comes into the left side of the clutch pedal unlike others that go between the brake and clutch pedals. Here is a few pictures. Sorry crummy cell phone pics as I did not have my camera.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...perf/1HYD1.jpg

My roll cage was close but cleared fine. This won't be an issue on most other Chevelles without a cage. It comes with remote reservoir and a direct mount. It appears the direct would fit if I did not have the bar through fire wall. I am using the remote. I not sure if I will leave it mounted like this or I may even use another type of remote. The hood does clear with plenty of room

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...perf/1HYD4.jpg

A little wider shot prior to adding remote. The bracket while hard to see in this picture comes way out to the left.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...perf/1HYD2.jpg



I have a few more things to fit and then I will be taking the front clip and engine out for some paint. Were going to add a crossbar to tie the two engine compartment bars together with a dimple die cover. I also think I am gonna add down bars that drop between the UCA and fire wall. I am thinking of adding tabs to the engine bars so we can make some kind of fender wells as the stock ones are not going to fit right

Tom, the car is looking awesome. :cheers:

She's coming along nicely.:thumbsup:

Thanks for the updates!! Nice cage work!

Brent

Thanks guys. :cheers:

Not much of an update, but I got my new wheels. I had to dig deep to find this thread :lol: Family & work take priority over the car. However I use this site to get inspired everyday. It's the next best thing too see other members car's come together.
The wheels are Fikse Profil 13. I waffled about a choice for months and in the end picked these at the last minute. Thanks to Frank @ Prodigy Customs for the deal:thumbsup: I had called to get another brand originally.
Rears: 18 x 11 (6"BS) and front 18 x 9-1/2" (5.25" BS). I did not have the brake rotors on but it appears everything will clear good.
Also thanks to Jon @ Driverz Inc as he supplied the the Nitto tires and mounting. He is local too me. I wanted somebody that would not scratch or rough them up. He is a good guy and handled them with care.
Tires are 305/35/18 Nitto DR in rear and 275/40/18 in front. I was thinking Toyo R888's but maybe later if I actually make track days.
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...90228-1318.jpg

I think the car will need to come down a little lower to look right.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...90228-1307.jpg

Love the new wheels car is looking good.

Looks good. The 305/40 would have filled the wheelwell a little better.:cheers:

Looks good.
Those wheels will look good on her.:thumbsup:

Maybe, but some like to have a closely matched sidewall. :)

Looking great Tom. Keep those updates coming!

Thanks guy's. Dave is correct as I was trying to get close on side walls. However I also did think about the 305/40/18 as these from the direct side view look a little short. I will use them for now.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...90228-1308.jpg

Hot Rod Flatz "Hugger Orange" is ugly
 

Well after hours of blocking, guide coats and wet sanding (I got cherries for finger tips :yes:) we shot the Hugger Orange Hot Rod Flatz which is a satin paint Today.
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...90328-1131.jpg
My brother has been helping/guiding me on the body work because it is what hes does. For the record the body still really needs more work but getting time to work on it is limited for me. The plan was for the Hot Rod Flatz to be temporary anyway. He had never shot this stuff before but his friend had and said that he could not get it to flow and lay down. We had the same problem almost like zebra stripes with a very uneven result. The picture does not really show how crappy it looks. I suspect it was something we did as I know they sell allot of this paint so I am not bashing the product. In any case we don't care to explore why or how because the color is awful looking IMO.
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...328-1709-1.jpg
I think I will just put it in primer for now and try and get it together. My attention span on this car is passing quickly. I figure once I get going I will want change things anyway.

That's a really nice Chevelle Tom. I have always liked that body style and the stance and wheels just add to it. Nice!
What happened to the old wheels? (the grey 5 spoke set)
Are they for sale?? If so, what brand, model, size and backspace? They are pretty much the same style and color I've been wanting for my project.
This may sound like a rookie question but do the second gen Camaro and your Chevelle have the same lug spacing?
Sorry for the hi-jack on the thread.
Eric

Thanks Eric, I sold the old wheels and tires a while back. As for the lug pattern it would be the same for your camaro, however the width and back spacing is also a thing to consider when buying wheels.

Thanks for the quick reply Tom. I'll keep the width and back spacing in mind.:thumbsup:

Sorry to hear the paint didn't work out too well. Your car will still be pretty bad@$$ even in primer. Hang in there!!!! :thumbsup:

ditto!
So what color primer will you be sporting?

I am thinking anything but gray. Maybe white tinted primer. I know to some it may seem silly not to finish the paint but I really don't want to stick more money in this car at the moment. Don't tell my fellow chevelle builders but I kinda want a first gen camaro ;) My wife even told me that I should have built a 68 camaro:lol:.

Naaaahhh, who the hell would want one of those!? :lol:

Funny you should say that since I've been working on a '68 Camaro project with my brother.

Well I brought my car back from my Brother's shop mainly because our schedules would rarely match where I could work on my car. My wife loves when I spray in my gararge..not :D . In any case I have got more done in the last few weeks than I have done in the last 6-8 months and it feels good. I scuffed it down after having the problems with the Hot Rod Flatz and had a guy at the paint store mix up something greenish in primer. It's not for everybody but good enough for me for now. The firewall is a semi gloss black. I am not a painter so it is likely below some peoples standard but again it's all about getting it on the road DIY style. The cage and floor board is POR-15 gray. The cage is like painting a golf ball so it has some sags and a few holidays. I had planned to just use it as a base anyway. I have most of the front suspension on except for the sway bar. Gonna start plumbing and routing wire soon. I have to do a little sheet metal work where the back seat used to be. I need to get some shears and maybe build a DIY sheet metal break. Hopefully more updates coming in weeks ahead instead of years :lol:
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...erf/chev23.jpg
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...erf/chev25.jpg
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...erf/chev24.jpg

Nice work Tom. That thing is gonna be rigid! :thumbsup:

Car is coming along great! nice work!

Wow she looks great:thumbsup: