1965 300 dr post "Project Track Car"
 

I guess it's time I started a build thread for my next project. This is my fourth build, but first time for the whole build thread thing, so bare with me...I started a build thread over on Team Chevelle several months ago and decided that I needed to start one here as well. I'll try and catch everyone up to speed on the build. I also have a build page on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chris...?ref=bookmarks) In the past 25 yrs, I've restored a 1970 Pontiac Lemans sport convertible 400/4spd, 1955 Chevy Bel-air 2dr sedan and recently a 1965 Malibu SS convertible (the car my father bought wrecked when I was 14yrs old. 20 yrs later, I located the car and restored it) I've always built the cars to a more original condition, but this build is going in a different direction.

Two years ago while at the Goodguys show in Indy, a friend of mine (Tom McBride) was driving the LS equipped Ridetech 66' Chevelle and asked if I wanted to do a ride a long. After the first lap, I was hooked. Then last year while attending the Bowler Transmission's carshow in southern IL. with my 65' convertible, I met Aaron Oberle and his LS powered 65' Chevelle on the autocross. I asked question after question and even tagged a long for a couple of laps. This was enough to re-spark my interest in building a autocross/road course car.

For this build, I was able to find a wrecked 2002 Trans-Am backed by a T56 6 speed trans and 41,000 miles on the odometer. I stripped the TA of everything I thought that I'd eventually need.

Next, it was time find the LS a home...
I spent several months, looking at reasonable priced bodies that were rusted in half or ones that were higher priced and too nice to cut up.
Then, I came across a 65' 300 Deluxe 2dr post car. It had been stripped to a bare shell, reworked floorboards and in primer. With it being just a shell and most of the original parts gone and a non SS, I wouldn't feel so bad when it came time to start cutting.

The plan is to build the car on a budget, do most the work myself with the help of a few friends and possibly look for some sponsorship.

Future plans for the car:
LS1 & T56
Boxed and narrowed frame for wider tires
Mini-tubs
9" Ford or GM posi rear-end
Front & rear complete Ridetech coil-over suspension kit
Ridetech tubular front & rear control arms
Brakes from either the TA, C6 or Wilwood
18" wheels front and rear (Forgeline or Vintage Wheel Works v40s)
Smoothed firewall
paint is undecided (either charcoal, 69' Chevelle blue or red)

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This is how the car looked when we picked it up in St.Louis

Nice, I love the post cars!! Let's some more?

3-15-14 Back home in Indiana...

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Getting acquainted with it's stable mate...

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Let the build begin!

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The LS is waiting to go in!

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Mocking up the section of the TA firewall that the clutch, brake and gas pedal assembly bolts to. This will also allow me to use the TA's brake and clutch MC.

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This will also allow me to use the TA's pedal assembly as well.

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The firewall section in place. I also noticed that I will have to relocate the wiper motor, it comes in contact with brake booster. I was going to smooth the firewall anyway,so I'll tackle that later...

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Since I got this car basically as a shell, I'm looking for a few items:

Rear seat
other misc. interior parts
drip rail moldings

A lot of this stuff will also work off a 64-65 4dr, I believe.

I finally got the engine plates!

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I read about a lot of A-body owners swapping their old steering box for one out of a mid 90's Grand Cherokee. So I made a trip to the U-pull -it yard and picked up one for $20 including the GC steering shaft. It's about 2.5 - 3 turns lock to lock. Cleaned and painted, it bolted right up. I also cut the original steering shaft and ground down the end, so I could bolt up the GC shaft. This is just for mock up, I'll be installing a new column from I Did It or Flaming Rivers in the near future. I also looks like I'll be able to thread the LS PS lines into the GC box.

The first of many attempts of getting the LS to sit down in it's new home. I ended up unbolting the frame mounts, bolt the to the engine and positioning the engine where I wanted it. As you can see, I'm still running the alt. in the stock lower position. I have about 1/2" clearance between the alt. and the GC steering box. I've got about 1" between the firewall and passenger side head. I also need to order a new PS pump pulley, the original got shattered in the TA's wreck.

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Now to relocate the wiper motor and body harness holes. The wiper motor will go under the driver side fender and the body harness will move over a couple of inches for now. Once I smooth the fire wall, I'll wait until I see what wiring harness I use before making that hole.

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On 6-3-14 - I sent my LS engine harness and ECM out to Jeff @ my-efi.com in New York. He received it Thursday and gave me a call to go over what all I wanted done. He's going to trim down the harness, add relays, ORBII port and it will be a 3 wire hook up. He's also going to flash the computer, but is going to leave the stock specs for now until I find another rear end and figure out what tire/wheel I'll be running. He said that I should get it back in a couple of weeks. My cousin and I were going to tackle the harness ourselves, but for the price Jeff is doing them for, it was a no-brainier.

Making a template for the firewall...

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With the help from my cousin Norb, an automotive professor at our local college, we used their metal shear to cut the metal for the firewall. Hope to start tacking it in, the next day or so...
I also pulled out the engine again, so I could have better access for welding up the firewall.

Small update: I've just got back from taking the family on a much needed vacation. Before we left, I was able to start tacking in the firewall (pics to follow). Also while we were gone, I received the reworked harness and computer, from My-EFI.Com. When I opened the box, I was pleasantly surprised... Everything was clearly marked and re-loomed.
Now I'm trying to figure out the easiest fuel system, without breaking the bank.
I know a lot of people are running Rick's tanks, but that's way out of my budget. I'll be doing some research and explore my options

I'm planning on running hard lines and a Corvette filter/reg.
I need your feed back or suggestions...

Thanks,

Starting to get the firewall tacked in...

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Pictures of the reworked harness I received from my-efi.com out of New York. So far I'm pleased with service.

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Small update: Finally have some paint on the smoothed out firewall. I'll have to finish the lower areas of the toe boards, when I get to point where I can take the body off the frame. I'll also have to finish the trans tunnel once the engine is where I want it. Next step is to get the engine reinstalled so I can lay out the reworked harness and see where everything is going to go. Still trying to decide which way I'm going to go as far as fuel tank/pump.

Final prime:

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Paint:

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I got the engine sitting back in the frame and started routing the reworked harness.

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Over the weekend, I got a lot accomplished:
Saturday - Brake and clutch master cylinders bolted on.

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Trans Am's pedal assembly bolted in.

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Computer and relays mounted nicely under the dash. I was able to use the original ECM holder and made brackets to mount it securely under the dash.

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Sunday - Sanded the dash and a pillars and applied a couple of coats of paint (got tired of seeing the primer/aqua colored dash)

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What a productive past couple of days!!!
#1 Made a template and mounted the clutch reservoir.

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#2 Finished all the harness wiring.

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#3 (the BIG one) got the hear the engine start and run (just for a few seconds) on the first crank (using starting fluid, still deciding on fuel tank/pump).
#4 My cousin Norb (university automotive professor) hooked up his scan tool and all the sensors seem to be reading properly.
#5 Installed the power steering lines.

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#6 Placed the car on jack stands and removed the old fuel tank in preparations for a new fuel system.

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#7 Met with Jake Murry and his neighbor Steve, to discuss creating a rendering of the finished car.

Next up?
- Fuel system?
- Finish the trans tunnel?

I met with Steve Woolard (the guy doing the rendering of my car) and did some final tweaking and this is what I ended up with: :whenitsdone:

Red with smoke grey Vintage Wheel Works V40s and the same color of grey on the grille -with a Ridetech logo on the 1/4 panel.

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Without Logo on 1/4 panel.

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The ultimate goal is to be able to:
#1 - Run the complete Ridetech suspension front and rear Level 3 kit w/ fully adjustable coil-overs.
#2 - Run either Vintage Wheel Works V40s or Forgeline 18" wheels (I really haven't decided yet)

But first things first, I've got to get it running on it's own power...

Next up -
- Fuel system
- Fuel tank
- run lines and mount filter/reg.
- Hear it run for more than a second

- Finish trans tunnel and floorboards

Well, that didn't take long to get this thread caught up to date...

Small update: This past weekend, I had a meeting with a college buddy that's now a welding professor at the local university. We discussed building me a fuel tank that I can run the OEM style fuel pump. It will be deeper than stock (I was worried at first, but seeing how low a lot of the tanks hang on cars that are tearing up the track) mine should be fine. It will also have a recess in the top, so the lines won't hit the bottom of the trunk floor... Hopefully I'll have it in a couple of weeks.

While I'm waiting:

- I've installed the new Lokar throttle cable
- Modified the gas pedal rod to accept the new cable
- Still working on the trans tunnel

The rendering looks killer. Can't wait to see it finished.

Hey, you over here too? :-) Can't wait to see it completed.

Dan

I like the direction you're headed, Chris. Hard line with a C5 filter/regulator will work just fine for you. If you can build a tank or adapt the stock tank to hold a factory 4th gen fbody fuel pump assembly, that will work well for you, too. Good luck!

Thanks, Trey! :thankyou:

I'm going to have a friend make me a tank to accept the 4th gen pump and be recessed on the top to clear my lines and not hit the trunk floor. I would've had to highly modify a stock tank to make the pump fit. The stock tank is shorter than 7" @ the deepest point and the collapsed pump is roughly 9". I designed the profile of the tank and at first I was scared of the depth, but looking at other Chevelles tearing up the track, theirs hang pretty low without any issues. I'm hoping mine will hang just right.

On a 4th gen pump, how are people running a vent tube from the center port on top of the pump? Any companies making vents for tanks?
Once I get the tank back, I'll post some pics.

It's been a while since my last up, so let me get you caught up...
I'm still waiting on my custom tank to be built by a friend of mine. He has it almost completed, but since I first approached him about building it, his welding business has really took off and my tank has taken a back burner to extremely high paying jobs. He's basically charging me for the material, so I guess I can't complain too much.

I decided to replace the rusty and patched floorboards, that were replaced by the previous owner (which didn't know much about welding or panel replacement). I ventured over to Flora IL. and saw a buddy of mine that sales Camaro, Chevelle and Nova parts. His shop is only a 45 min. drive and it saved me on all the freight cost.

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While I've been away, I also got a sweet deal on a used Millermatic 130xp welder. It's about 4-5 yrs old and still works great. My old welder still worked ok, but I bought it 10 yrs ago, the same day I bought my 65 convertible. With all the welding coming up in my future, I knew I better invest in something better.

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Over the past month or so, I've been able to cut out the old floorboards and install the new ones.

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Next up - fab a trans tunnel

I also reached out to Aaron Oberle aka Project "G-Velle" and he was nice enough to sell me his old harness bar from the "G-Velle". Since he upgraded to the awesome "Tiger Cage", he wasn't going to use the harness bar.

Here's the harness bar in Aaron's 65'

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I'll work on getting it mounted in my car, once the floorboards are completed...

Thanks again, Aaron! It's going to a good home.

I was able to spend some time in the garage yesterday:

I finished fabricating the transmission tunnel and got it welded in. I made the panel on top removable, so if I needed to, I can remove the panel and get to the four bolts holding the shifter to the transmission.

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A little grinding, seam sealer and paint and the floors will be ready for sound deadening.

Next up harness bar install and then seat mounts...

good luck! you're moving along nicely.

Thanks Trey!

Tonight I was able to get the harness bar welded in. Thanks Aaron for the information on my height making a difference on how high to mount the bar. I mounted it at your specs, but once I get the seats mounted, I can adjust the bar if I need to.

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Cant wait to see it done
 

Like many others on here!

Chris, looking good!

Thanks Wayne!

2-8-15 I was able to get the driver's seat bolted in. The seat track for the passenger's seat will have to be replaced (track won't slide)
These seats will work great for the first stage of the build.

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