Project Wheels and Stance gets a motor and trans!
 

Wheels and Stance Phase 2.0!

Last year right about this same time, I started the original thread for the Rushforth Wheels company car shortly after I bought the bone stock cream puff and compiled the parts list that was to become my somewhat unlikely pro-touring machine. If you aren't familiar with the first phase of this project, I think it's worth a read for anyone who appreciates a cool car with a good story, especially a somewhat unusual car. Read all about it here: https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=21361

I cruised, showed, ran errands, and autocrossed that car right up until the weather was just too wet to drive a car like this on a regular basis. I don't treat it like a sugar cube but surviving 45 years in the NW is a feat in and of itself so I'm going to baby it a little more from here on out.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/IMG_2498.jpg

The car's only shortcoming was the 2 barrel, aluminum headed 300" V8 and Powerglide. Although the car ran like a top and you never had to shift out of first on even the biggest autocross course, the go did not match the whoa provided by the Baer brakes and the Powerglide didn't exactly have long legs when trying to get down the road in the fast lane. I knew from day one that I would be addressing this issue and it all came together this year.

My good friend Chris Holstrom, Username: YouthPastor here had a take out LS2 from an 05 GTO that he passed along to me for a song so I had it rebuilt and stuck a little bigger Comp Cam in it to help it breathe. Behind it is a complete Keisler Magnum kit and I do mean complete! They provide everything with the kit from the shifter ball, to new clutch and brake pedals and even a custom made driveshaft built to my car's specs.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/100_1331.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/100_1475.jpg

A couple weeks ago, the car pulled into Chris' shop; Chris Holstrom Concepts where he is in the process of building a killer 68 Camaro for a client but the meat and potatoes of his business model is doing things exactly like my car where client's cars will only spend between 1 and 4 weeks or so doing things like LS swaps, brake and suspension upgrades and even general automotive repair for hot rods so a guy who might not have the time, skill, tools to do something like a brake job or a computer diagnosis to his hot rod but he doesn't want to leave it with an ex-convict at the local lube shop and have Ferris Bueller's Day off reenacted on his pride and joy, he can take it to Chris and have it treated right and repaired properly with peace of mind. Personally, I think it's a brilliant business model so if you live in the NW and don't want to tackle that complete LS swap install or Baer brake upgrade, etc, Chris is your man.

Out of the rain and into the shop
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/100_1465.jpg

Good bye little 300 and Godspeed on your 2nd life in a rat rod thanks to craigslist!
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/100_1468.jpg

Out with the old while the motor was still hot.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/100_1473.jpg

Awaiting it's new home an Night 1
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/100_1476.jpg

Awesome Autokraft pan and motor mounts from Don Hardy Racecars
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/100_1489.jpg

Dropping in!
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/100_1487.jpg

That's awesome bro---glad to see you are able to make progress on it---a new motor---that's killer. I love these types of projects---one piece at a time type---they are near to my own. Keep us posted!

Doug

Very cool Brother! Can't wait to see it in a few weeks at the GG's Show....and hopefully go for a little ride in it! BTW, we are bringing up the trailer again and will be doing lunch on Saturday again for our NW friends and family!! :cheers: :lateral:

Congrats my friend!!!!

Very awesome!! She better an even better car now! It is a sharp car Jason!:thumbsup:
I do remember Chris saying/mentioning that he wanted to do some minor build-ups at his house. Glad he got the ball rolling on that!:thumbsup:

Looking good man! Want me to do the rendering for it this time? :unibrow:

(Inside joke, folks...don't tell me the obvious :lol: )

I love this project :thumbsup:. Will you and the car be at GG columbus?

Jason --

You know it's a killer car... Now just a little bit mo' killer!

And you're right about Chris! He's the main event!

I asked him to come over and give me a hand one night... and he (with a little help from me) had that job, plus double done. He's a good man and knows his way around a car.

Will be fun to see everyone at GG again this summer.


:lateral: :cheers: :woot:

Dropping in!
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/100_1487.jpg[/QUOTE]


BTW ==== CHRIS! Pay attention!

I just ordered this for you (a new shop warming gift) to replace whatever the hell thing you have that nice engine hanging from. I'll call ya when I receive it and you can come get it or I'll bring it over. Can't have pics of that kind of old skool stuff floating around the 'net!

http://www.pitpal.com/products/Pit_P...ng-919-20.html


:woot:

You and I are on the same page, Doug! Don't let the car go down for too long so we don't go broke or miss out on a good time!

See you there, Tony! That was fun last year and this year will be even better. I'm working out my left leg just so I'm ready to cruise!

Thanks Ty!

Ha! I got it handled, Dave but thanks! Ironic that some of my most subtle work is my own car but there's plans afoot for some cool little visual elements so stay tuned.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...sc0381d9e6.jpg

Melanie and I will be at Columbus with the Rushforth Wheels display but the swap is going to be a little fresh for a 2600 mile shakedown cruise.


BTW ==== CHRIS! Pay attention!

I just ordered this for you (a new shop warming gift) to replace whatever the hell thing you have that nice engine hanging from. I'll call ya when I receive it and you can come get it or I'll bring it over. Can't have pics of that kind of old skool stuff floating around the 'net!

http://www.pitpal.com/products/Pit_P...ng-919-20.html


:woot:[/QUOTE]

LMAO! You're one of the good ones, Greg! You're right, that motor is way too pretty and Chris way too talented for that rusty old chain. You should bring it down in person and hang out with us for an evening!

BTW ==== CHRIS! Pay attention!

I just ordered this for you (a new shop warming gift) to replace whatever the hell thing you have that nice engine hanging from. I'll call ya when I receive it and you can come get it or I'll bring it over. Can't have pics of that kind of old skool stuff floating around the 'net!

http://www.pitpal.com/products/Pit_P...ng-919-20.html


:woot:[/QUOTE]

Thanks man! ....I had that one coming- low tech at it's finest- can't wait for the new present:D

That is such a gorgeous car. Nice to see a proper engine and trans in it:thumbsup:

I vote for "Olds Gold" valvecovers!!!! :thumbsup:

It's a Buick!

:rofl: I KNOW!!! LOL But that old nailhead blue/green would clash with the lighter blue on the car!
I've got a few cans of Pontiac Baby Blue I can send you though! :rofl: It's pretty close to the right color actually! (c:]

I always thought that if I ever did an LSx swap in my Firebird I'd paint the valvecovers Pontiac Baby Blue and run a carb so
I could run a functional Ram Air aircleaner!

You going with a carb or FI? With a carb you could run a "Star Wars" style Buick air cleaner! Just a thought...

Can't wait to see it all together Jason!! :thumbsup:

I love the car Jay. Its going to be a sweet ride with this engine combo.
Wayne

more pics
 

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...0Buick/022.jpg
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...0Buick/001.jpg
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...0Buick/004.jpg

Looks like the firewall and inners got a little needed love as well!! :thumbsup:

Very nice!!:thumbsup:

Mama said knock you out----LOL.

Motor and trans goin in---that is bootyliscious---keep the pics coming bro.

Doug

LOOKING GOOD....Dinner car at Del Mar next year:thumbsup:

Thanks everyone especially Chris for posting those extra pics. Sometimes we get the progress going and I forget to grab the camera!

The car was so clean, we actually contemplated dropping it into the original patina'd engine compartment but I couldn't do it. She got a real good scrubbing and a careful application of semi-flat black.

Oof, I don't know, Tracy. That's a LONG ways from Tacoma! Definitely Pleasanton once or twice a year though or why don't you guys fly out in July for Puyallup!

Got Tools
 

Let me know if you need to make any thing..Just got the shop remodeled ,,,,it is a fabricators dream..your welcome to it...Lathe.mill,all welders and every sander known to man..also tube bending stuff...got it all..talk to you soon Trav

Nice shop Travs!:thumbsup:

ok...where are you at!! we need a shop tour! - Chris

Chris, That would be our old friend, Travis Moore whose screen name you don't recognize because he secretly lurks a dozen different boards in anonymity!

It's great to have good friends like Chris, Travis, Brett A and the crew at J-Rod and Custom right here in the NW who are down to help a brother out on the projects. Thanks Everyone! We may be calling on you, Travis!

Headed up to the shop tonight to work on the car and this time, I'll remember the camera to show J-Rod's handiwork on the trans tunnel that is almost too nice to cover in carpet and sound deadener.

Looking good Jay...
 

Man that's such a killer clean Buick...have you posted pics on any Buick sites,damn those guys are rabid-loyal...ask me how I know,lol.:yes:

Man those are some nice wheels... Who make those???? :rofl:
J/k

Car looks really nice, good work and can't wait to see it done!


:hail:

We ran into a little hiccup that was resolved by an awesome vendor. In the picture, you can see the killer CTS-V accessory drive system that keeps everything in close and mounts the alternator way down low on the driver's side..... Right on top of my Lee steering box. The car and the motor were never in the same room until the swap started and bonehead me immediately went for the cool looking drive never thinking about side effects so I called Pace Performance to see if just by chance they might have a relocation bracket to save me from having to replace a $500 drive and they simply said to pack it back up and we'll swap you straight across for a Corvette drive! I'm so grateful so that is why there's no drive in some of these pics but that will get fixed very shortly.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...100_1407-2.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...100_1504-1.jpg

The Powerglide crossmember actually works with the new 6 speed with a couple slight modifications including cutting a tiny notch in the dead center and scooting it rearward a few inches.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/100_1616.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/100_1617.jpg

Yes, I'm going to paint those framerails but getting running is first priority!

Paint is added weight and will only slow you down. LOL
Looks good man.... like it belongs in there !

It does belong in there! LOL

look at you do'in it. keep up the good work!

lurking is not a felony,touching is !
 

just watching from afar

Jay, I'm really glad you got this project going. What a sweet ride. :cheers:

Super excited to see the project happening. 64 Skylark was my first car boy do I miss it! Hows the daily running?

Jason, awesome to see your "real world" type build...can't wait to see more! You provide inspiration to guys that can't afford the high-dollar type build.

Thanks Mark! If you ever come back here. we'll go for a ride!

Come over anytime and dive in, Kendrick! I could use your skills! Daily is doing good!

Thanks Corey, glad you get it!

Headed out today to plumb the fuel system. Wish me luck!