new project / already having a blast
 

Hey everyone, got a new project going, its a 69 camaro. I know another one, there like a bad disease, I just cant get past the body style. Anyway with me its about the build, some of you have seen my 67 camaro, it was a basket case that required a lot of my time welding but for me its like therapy and I cant get enough. So I begin another one, this time Im not going to weld any sheetmetal and subject my wife to the grinding/welding mess since I do all my work out of my basement/1 car garage. She's a trooper if you can imagine her white blouses hanging from the plumbing(laundry machines) and me grinding and welding non stop for months right next to them, needless to say I cant subject her to the black hue that fills the air and our noses. This is where Mike Riggs- Mikes custom cars enters the project, He's preparing a new body for me with the dse subframe connectors and we will do DSE's quad link and Full subframe. Frank from Prodigy Customs has been very helpful in getting me many of the needed parts to put it together. The brakes are the new wilwood ws calipers with 14" rotors all the way around, I should have them this week and will install them and update. The subframe is like a piece of jewelry, sometimes I just go down into the shop and just look at it for a while, its a shame that much of it is hidden once in the car. Today I cut metal and welded all afternoon and made a cart out of an old lakewood engine stand. When your tight on room its nice to be able to wheel things around to create room. Anway it was a ton of fun building it, I call it The DSE Subframe Super Cart.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...Picture172.jpg

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Rich

that's beautiful Rich.

Jody

That subframe is beautiful. I really wish the price tag for it fit in my budget.

Did DSE build the rear end for you? Is that their satin or gloss powder coat finish?

Very nice!! DSE makes killer stuff! Look forward to seeing the project come together...Even if it's another 69 Camaro! !:D Just kiiding. Keep us updated.

Brent

You're really going to love it once it's in your car.:D Looks awesome man. FYI Yellow is your high pressure port on that rack. I didn't get the directions with my frame and went with red.:unibrow:

Lots of nice parts there!! Have fun with the build!!

Rich,
You have one hell of a suspension and brake combo...what power plant are you going to run?

Thanks Guys- Dse did build the rear and it is the satin finish, although it looks more like a low gloss finish to me, I guess it depends how you define satin.

Going with an LS engine, struggling with choices but Im leaning towards the LS7 maybe an LS3 with a maggy, I want 500/500 at the rear wheels and want it to be extremely driveable/reliable. I really dont want to deal with the dry sump but if I have to so be it. Ive been getting estimates on 427 cuin. Ls engines using the ls7 block and heads/re-sleeved ls2 blocks in a wet sump application but the cost is about the same as an off the shelf GM crate ls7. I really like the idea of keeping the weight low over the nose usiing the alluminum block, should make for a well handling car.

Rich

Mike Riggs is the man!!! Your in great hands!!!! Im having Mike do my floor getting ready to send all my QUADRA LINK set up . Going with his 4 3/4 tubs and flat trunk floor.. Let see more pics:thumbsup:

Is the rear Wilwood kit using the W4A Caliper? If so where are you getting the kit, I haven't found a rear 14.25" rear with the W4A?
Everything looks like top notch parts, looks fun!

Man that is AWESOME!!!!:hail: :thumbsup:
I want to do the same set-up when I am ready to do my build as well.
LS7 sounds AWESOME, but we all know how expensive they are. A LS3 with the hotcam and some nice KOOKS headers should get you close up there for horses.
GOOD LUCK!!!!:cheers: :cheers:

Thought you guys might like to check out the new Wilwood W6A big brake kit with 14.25" rotors. This may be the first kit installed on a DSE frame, Frank at Prodigy put the kit together and it went together nicely. Im waiting for the left side caliper to complete it, but got the right side done for some pics. We set it up with 14 inch rotors on the rear and the 4 piston superlites, I dont think a W4A kit is available yet, Frank can probably shed some light on that subject. Overall Im very happy with the hardware so far, next stop is some Forglines and toyo r888s, I can't wait to see them, I will keep you posted.

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Rich

WOW.
Looking awesome!:thumbsup: :cheers:

Hey Rich, it was good talking to you. Pics look BadAss!! :hail:

Steve

Well the Forgelines arrived today, I'm blown away, they more than meet my expectations, thanks to Frank for giving me a great deal and working out little issues to make these monsters fit. These may be the first blind bolt forgelines from prodigy, Ive been second guessing myself since I ordered them, but when my son and I tore the raper off them we gasped, second guess GONE!

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Thanks Rich

NICE!!!!!


--Eric

Those look really good. :thumbsup: :cheers:

Wheels look Kick freakin A$$!!!:thumbsup: The 67' looks so sweet in person, it was a bummer you had to work on saturday. Oh well, maybe I can go for a ride next time. :( .
BTW the DSE sub and the HUGE freakin brakes look awesome! :D

Awesome choice on wheels!

I really like the look of the wilwood calipers behind the brushed centers.

Thanks guys

Steve, If I don't sell the 67 you may get that ride at Year One, would love to get the car down there for the show, awesome driving experiance wish I had the car ready last year. Show the pics to Tom. Thanks Rich

Looks killer. Lots of nice hardware. Keep the pictures coming :thumbsup:

Those are awesome wheels!!! I have the same ones on my 95 TA now, but they have the bolts (I had no idea you could order Forgelines without bolts). I took the S03P's off the TA and they are going to be used on my 69...
What wheel/tire sizes are they?

front- 18x10 6.125backspace tire-275/35zr18
rear- 18x12 6.125backspace tire 335/30zr18

Thanks Rich

Damn those are big freakin tires!

stunning! those wheels look amazing, keep up the good work

Doesn't get any better than that. That is one hell of a nice start to the project. I have had a chance to log 400 miles on mine since posting the first time. You think looking at that sub is fun....wait until you get into the twisties.:thumbsup:

Wow! Can't wait to see this one completed:thumbsup:

I agree. From what we're seeing already, it looks awesome.:thumbsup:

Hey Rich, I probably already mentioned it before, but I think you've got a killer project going. Any idea when you're going to get the body to drop over those those parts?

Have you thought about a 416 cu.in. LS3. We talked with the guys from Turnkey about running that basic setup on ours and they figured it would make around 600/540. Not sure if you'd want more torque, but I figured I'd throw out the suggestion of a stroked LS3.

It shouldn't be too long, Mike at mikes custom cars is building the body, he has progressed alot further than the project section of his web page shows, he's just about ready to shoot paint on the under side of the car. As you know these high end parts are real expensive, so Im saving my pennys for the engine/trans combo. I want 427 cubes would prefer wet sump and 500/500 rear wheel power. The 416 sounds like a good choice as well, Im sure cost will end up compromising exactly what I want, so i have a little time to decide. Right now the goal is to leave mikes shop with a fully painted roller,hopefully before spring.

Thanks Rich

Hey Rich, got a link to the pics of the body?

Hey Steve,

Check out the project section, scroll down to 69 pro touring(Rich Barbara)

www.mikescustomcars.com

The project section has not been updated to the current progress, but the build pics are cool to check out. Mikes welding skills and attention to detail is incredible. Should be shooting color real soon. Heres a pic of the shell at this point.

If I don't speak with you in the next couple weeks have a great christmas!

Rich

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...p/100_7570.jpg

Nice Progress!
 

Merry Christmas to you too!
Wayne

What color are you painting it? What are you using for power?
Wayne

Torch red w/black hockey stripes. Im thinking of having Erik at HKE build me an LS 427 wet sump engine but Im not sure yet, the cost to go 500+hp at the rear wheel with an LS engine is a lot more than most people relize. So its still to be determined, really want to keep the weight over the nose as light as possible and fuel injection, that means Alluminum block- $$$.

Rich

Rich I just checked Mike's site, are those bars he welded in for your Saftey belts? If so that is a great Idea.

Yes, it's a low speed harness bar. I've always struggled with the decision to install a roll bar just for the belts and after hearing all the arguments about safety regarding hitting your head on the main hoop, etc.--bla bla bla. I was looking at the inside of the quarter window area and started sketching a brace to attach a cross bar. I knew there would be enough structural material to attach the supports to and the bar comes out exactly where most people would have it if it were attached to a main hoop. So I shot it over to Mike and he really liked the idea and ran with it. It's really just for low speed events, and since the car is 95% street-driven, I figure it will keep me and the wife in the seats in the event of a front-end collision. It certainly makes her feel safe--she hates the fact that my '67 only has lap belts. Mike's welding skills are killer...I really enjoy looking at his work.

To tell you the truth, these types of bars always seem to cause a controversy, so I was reluctant to post pics of it. I like it and think it will serve its intended purpose. If you want to check it out, it's in album 16 or 17 on Mike's site under "Rich Barbara '69 pro-touring".

Thanks, Wayne. I'm glad you liked it.
Rich

Rich it looks great! Mike sure does nice work...and I like the harness bar idea! :thumbsup:

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Nice work!

What kind of side mirrors are those? Late 2nd gen?