Let the games begin.. work starts on Penny transformation
 

I have a sufficient pile of parts to start the process of turning Penny in a road warrior.. I'm just so damn ready to have a car to drive.. HARD! lol

Here you can see the 21st Century Street Machine Subframe, C5 parts, double adjustable Varishocks and AGR rack/pinion.. woot!

I have figured out my LS2 woes, the special T56 is in the house and brakes are on the way from Wilwood.. Afco is busy making the radiator and parts are flowing in.

Car is at a great shop in San Diego (Best in Show) and the she is just about ready for the new firewall and larger trans tunnel. After that she is off to party in Vegas with the guys at ATS then back here to get the front sheet metal hung.

So many details to keep track of but at least there's progress :thumbsup:

:thumbsup: Great job Steve.

Jody

Know your other cars, this one will be just as good.

Good luck with your project, can't wait to hear you tear up the track with it.

I love those 21st CSM subframe connectors.

It going to a keeper can't wait to see more. :bow:

Steve, What front sheet metal, When you shipped it out a few weeks back in had the front fenders on it. What are we talking about here? Why a new firewall? Did you have to move it back to fit the new engine?

Questions, questions, questions....

P.S. Its my feeling the R&D of a project is the most fun next to drving the car when finished.

R.P.

Its 1am where I am at right now and I hope you are assembling your parts, I want to know how the ride with the new C5 sub will be! :captain: And soon!

Awesoime Steve. :thumbsup: Keep us posted.

Sounds like you had an awesome Christmas!

Mike

Well, you know how I just can't leave well enough alone :)

we pulled the front sheet metal and we are completely smoothing the firewall.. the only remaining holes will be for the MC and the steering column, even the wire block is gone. the inner fenders and firewall will be shot in body color. I also have a core support closeout coming from DSE. I haven't decided what color I am gonna paint it.

The only mods needed for the subframe was a slight enlarging of the trans tunnel for the T56 (21st Century supplies the pre-formed parts).

The shop just recieved in their new tool to cut heavy gauge steel so my firewall should start next week.

As she sits now..

Those are trick. I'm looking forward to seeing the progress you make with the car. :thumbsup:

Since I am gonna run the AeroCatch hood pins I am thinking of ditching the factory hood latch.

If so I will weld up the center of the closeout. This will give a much cleaner look.

Here are the latches I am gonna run

http://www.aerocatch.com/automotive-home.html

Steve, if you remember, those came up when we were talking to Matt Delaney at SEMA about those very latches for my car. He said he was going to talk to them about having them machined out of aluminum. I'll give him a call and see if he's made any progress with that. :thumbsup:

Have you thought about mounting those on the underside of the front cowl, with the pin assemblies attached to the hood? This way, no visable latches on the top. I know they'd have to be set back & maybe a little grill trimming done- but it could work.

Either way- nice pieces...

how much do those 21st century subframes go for?

slownova
 

4000 bare, with only custom rack, inserts, sway bar and tranny crossmember, i believe near 7000 complete
jake

drive
 

I have driven 21st century's test mule...drives just like a corvette with a smoother ride.

Well Steve I guess the race is on...mine goes to paint this week.

I think that would be with the headers as well.. right aroud $5k with all the suspension parts and that's if you run brand new C5 stuff.

I need to brush up on my sway bar theory some so I can make the most of this splined swaybar deal.. Personally I think this is the nicest subframe currently on the market given it's features.

The real test however will be on the test track once it's all installed and dialed in :)

Steve, the car is coming along nicely. Have you planned any mods for the motor? Or is it staying stock?

thanks, i would of called but im more of a window shopper then a consumer at this point.

That does not include headers. The prices very on depending on exactly what type and of headers and material you want.

Yea, I talked to Ed today.. frame is $4k.. with everything including C5 brakes and suspension it's about $6500.. without brakes it's $6k.. headers are extra. Considering the prices of other frames and the features of this one the price does not seem out of line. Certainly not cheap but quality rarely is.

The guys at the coating shop today were digging the headers though, can't wait to test them on the dyno.

Oh, engine will not be "stock".. Will get AFR stage II heads, 230/232 114+2 COMP Cam. Will run the ATS oil pan, 21st long tubes and I am going to test the FAST intake. I will run the LS2 fly-by-wire throttle body.

Oh, got my brakes today.. sweet.. 6-piston Wilwoods (C5 kit) with 14" rotors and their new aluminum tandem master cylinder. We are still working out the back brakes.

Steve that is really looking nice!

steve
 

i told ya, :yes:

I bow to your knowledge

:hail: Jake

If this was The Price Is Right you would be coming back tomorrow night and I would have the consolation toaster.. lol

lmao
 

"your funny" :D
:yes:

so not knowing the price, means you must have gotten a killer deal, care to enlighten us??? lol

Sometimes these things take time.
 

Steve,
It is certainly interesting watching these projects come together.
However I also enjoy following the evolution of peoples thought processes in regards to what they really desire from their Toys.
I remember following your Z069 project. As the car was nearing completion you decided that the project had kind of taken on a mind of its own and although it was a great car it was not exactly what you wanted.
I am thinking that this time you have nailed down what you are looking for.
Keep us posted.
Scott

I don't think it's any secret that magazine guys pay far less than retail for parts they are doing stories on. :D

I still don't get the price though.. it's $4k for the basic frame with rack.. then you need some brakes and C5 parts. If you hunted your own parts (used) off Ebay you could get the whole deal, ready to go, for closer to $5k. Of course in the story I will list the retail price.

Yea, on the '69 l let my "showcar" side take over a bit and the car came out more blingy than I wanted. It still performed good and I was still proud of it, but it didn't have that "angry look" that I wanted. I have also learned a lot about suspensions and handling since then, so I will be able to get this ride closer to my "vision".

I was also less than happy with the body on that car, this car has pristine original sheetmetal.

Steve,
I agree that having a car with great original sheetmetal makes it easier to "invest" more money into the project...
It has become increasingly difficult to find cars from the 60's with a solid foundation to start with..
This issue became an important factor in my search for a car as well.
Good luck with Bad Penny.
I am sure she will be nasty enough for you. :lol:
Scott

As does mine.

PSYCHED!

steve
 

ya, i hope to have under 6 in mine if i got that route.
i got c5 upper and lowers with knuckles for 300, bearings for 300, then i need coil overs and brakes, i already have 13.5 inch c5 base brakes so i will be into it for around 5500, which like you said a pretty good buy, compared to others out there.
when will yours be on the road??
jake

Damn.. $300 for those parts is a steal.. I had a hard time finding good used ones (bent arms) so I just went with new. Who's shocks are you going with? I am going to try some AFCO's and then swap to some double-adjust VeraShocks.

Hmmm.. I am hoping March for "on the road" and April for "done".. First story should be in the July issue and run for about 4 or 5 stories.

Then I will be ready to start my low-buck Mustang project.. I'm sure I will get hate mail for doing an expensive Camaro, but we need to do the nice stuff along with the low dollar stuff.

When should yours be on the road?

steve
 

i am shooting for mid may to get a few miles on it before power tour, a opurtunity may come up that may delay it, but i highly doubt it, my motor will be done and on dyno by end of feb, waiting on wiseco to get me my custom pistons, and the rest is ready, well block has been align honed and decked, and bored to within .005 waiting on pistons for internal balance and final torque plate hone. have t-56, also need to -pull trigger on subframe if my other source does not pan out, i hope it does. the body is rock solid, all i need is a tulip panel (panel betwen trunk and rear window, and a 1/4 (by my choice it had a previous repair thats fine but i want a untouched 1/4 on it)
so cross your fingers, lol
oh ya which afcos you looking at?? i was looking too, maybe something mid level, let me know
jake

Sounds like you are on track.. I am just waiting for my AFR heads. I got the 230/232 cam, rockers and pushrods today from Comp.

I was looking at the cheaper 1350SR's.. they are reccomended for the 21st Century frame. I will most likely sway durring the story to double adjustable Varishocks. It's a long story.

The adjustable AFCO's are nice but damn.. they are pricey..

Most of the parts are in.. now I just have to put them on the car! lol

Gonna go check on the bodywork tomorrow and see how the firewall is progressing. I am also going to beef up where the fuel cell mounts.

Still waiting on the AFR heads, McLeod shifter, FAST intake and the wiring harness with the fly by wire pedal.. Oh, and the fuel tank by Ricks :)

So many parts to keep track of.. :willy:

Wow. That's a nice little pile of toys. Now I'm jealous. Thanks.

Well.. she isn't 2/3rds the car she used to be.. :rofl:


All the bumps have been cut off the firewall, looks like I am commited to running the fly by wire throttle body now since the factory gas pedal mount is GONE. A solid plate of steel is going to be welded over the factory firewall.

And to think you wasn't going to make this one "nice". :rolleyes: Should be twice the car it was before. :thumbsup:

Mike

Steve,

That car is just plain bad-ass :yes: :captain:

J.T.