"ROARVETTE" '64 Corvette Coupe Garage Built
 

Many of you have seen some of my photos on this web-site since 2005. I am at the stage of begining paint and have a completed rolling chassis all nice and ready to drop the body on. I have had this car for 5 years, and if you have any doubt how things change, my son Rocky in the photos is now driving and is 6 feet tall!
Over the next few weeks, I will post the entire project for those of you that are into that sort of thing.
The saga begins with this "prime" piece of Corvette history. A 64 coupe sitting on a 67 chassis which had been a drag car for many years. From the looks of the welding on the frame, it probably had a solid rear at some point as well as a cage.
The body had only minor issues for what was basically a basket case. The chassis was also solid. But let's not kid ourselves here, it was basically a 40 Year Old POS.
But since I am cursed with a vivid imagination I thought it looked great...

Current Status
 

This is what the chassis looks like now, as well as a mock-up shot of the complete car... I will fill in all the gaps in the construction.

There is nothing cooler then a Midyear Vette.very cool build.Ron

Looks bad ass!

:thumbsup: :cheers:

Sweet I love mid year coupe's

My First Love, go with a Grand Sport Theme.

I've been waiting for ever to see an update! :D

Looks good! I would have hated to clean out the inside of the Escalade after hauling all those parts...:D

Fuel Cell Installation
 

The first job I tackled was to remove the body. I made a contraption that went inside the car and fastened to the door hindge and door latch areas. I then put the arm of my hoist in the door and lifted away.
I then assessed the situation and jumped in. First tool, Plasma Cutter. I cut away the rear portion of the frame and the crossmember that holds the rear suspension was bisected. I the built a plate and tube structure to strengthen the area and to provide the front of the fuel cell compartment.
Then with 1X2 tube, I built a cradle for the cell and welded it on.
The benefits of the cell are lower center of gravity, saftey, and a built in fuel pump for the 502 Ramjet. The cell has a 22Gal. capacity and has all the fuel return lines, sender, and vent. Fuel pickup was placed in the rear center of the cell.

The quote is awesome and the car is just as cool.

502 Ramjet and T-56 Viper Transmission
 

Well, a nice clean new engine can brighten up anybody's day. Here I am mounting the accessories with a Concept One Serpentine kit. Sme modification was necessary to the water pump to clear the pully.
I also took off the flex plate and put on the flywheel and the Centerforce Clutch assy.
The Transmission is from Dodge and has the 2.92 first gear and the 50% overdrive. I am running a 3.70 rear gear and 25" tall tires.
Next installment, Clean engine meets rusty frame... tune in to see who wins...

That serpentine set up look very nice and so does that cobra! :thumbsup:

Transmission Mount and other Chassis Mods.
 

The engine/transmission assy. are about 1.5" longer than stock. This required that the transmission support be modified. At this point, it just became easier just to build a new one. I made 4" ID exhaust pass through tubes so the 3" exhaust could be accomodated, and made the center section removable.
I also added some clearance for one of the header tubes that came too close to the frame, and made clearance for the PS pump.
On the bottom of the crossmember, I made a "Bash Box", which should protect the oil pan from any "Smokey and the Bandit, or Dukes of Hazzard" moments.
All seams were welded on the entire chassis for strength.

:thumbsup: Nothing cooler than a mid-year hot rodded with fat rubber. :bow:

Guldstrand 5 link rear suspension
 

The next step on the chassis was to install the 5 link rear suspension. A lot of welding was required. I incorporated the main rollbar hoop and the forward links to the 4 length wise suspension links. I figured that there would be a lot of load on those links when I put them between my left foot and the pavement.
The roll cage is next...

Awesome build ! very nice work.

Roll Cage...
 

I decided that if I was going to stiffen up my chassis to deal with the extra power and tire forces, a cage might be a good idea. After doing some research, I found out the John Greenwood of Corvette racing fame didn't run forward of the dash area with any of his cages, I decided to do the same, so 10 point became 8 point. The corvette body construction causes a problem for any cages. Either you weld one in through holes in the floor to the chassis, or you have to make a cage that sits in the body, but bolts to the chassis. That is the method that I chose. It is a little bit like building a ship in a bottle.
The pictures explain most of what I did. I have added door bars which go from the main tube but end at the transmission crossmember.
Adding a roll cage points out exactly how small a car the Corvette Coupe really is.
As you can see from the pics., I was able to put the windshield bars in such a way, that there is no blocking of your view out from the drivers seat. I had to bend the drivers side bar 5 times to get it right!!!

Finally Painted
 

If I ever see another piece of 320 grit sandpaper I am going to scream...
After taking out a second on the house to pay for the indispensible green masking tape, I finally put the color and clear on and pulled the car into day light.
So What do you think about the color choice?
It is a GT40 color, Tungsten and Satin Silver on the stripe.

Awesome build, there is nothing cooler than a midyear Vette with a ton of rubber under it. Can't wait to see it all together, amazing work so far.

All that sanding looks like it was worth it. Nice work.

The color is spot on, my GS will be very similar. I love the Tungsten grey on GT's. :thumbsup: