Project 'Overtime': Pro-Touring 68 Acadian (Nova) with L92 swap

[scherp69]

Originally Posted by killer69

looks like a Exoskeleton for a rock crawler!!!

how are you going to finish it Fiberglass??

should be cool

don't forget the cup holders

Thanks Blake. I know what you mean about the rock crawler. I was looking at it and thinking I could add a couple axles and a RC motor and I'd have a mini crawler. I was originally planning on using sheet metal, but the more I think about it, I like the idea of using fiberglass and then wrap it all in leather.

Originally Posted by waynieZ

It looks great Mike. You got some nice tools to play with and putting them to good use I see. I'm glad you remembered the A/C ,it would have been a pain in the butt to think of it after. Nice work..

Thanks Wayne. Yeah I remembered at the last second. I was actually mocking up the frame, looked over and thought 'oh yeah, the AC'. That would've sucked if I forgot about it.

Originally Posted by GregWeld

MIKE!


WHERE ARE THE CUP HOLDERS???


Looks to me like you're having way too much fun!

Don't worry...the cup holders will be there. I'm thinking about getting a couple aluminum ones from Eddie Motor Sports. Just not sure if I need the large ones or if the medium ones will work. And, yes I am having fun building this.

Originally Posted by Chicken Louie

Mike
Looking good!! You could always start a side business designing roll cages for rodents, squirrels and such? Just kidding.

Thanks.

[70rs]

Mike,
Very nice work so far on the console...
Try your local marine supply store for cup holders. Most sell aluminum ones that lok good and wont break the bank. No shipping B.S. either.

[scherp69]

Originally Posted by 70rs

Mike,
Very nice work so far on the console...
Try your local marine supply store for cup holders. Most sell aluminum ones that lok good and wont break the bank. No shipping B.S. either.

Thanks Eric. I didn't even think of that. I went to one of the local boat places today and they had some nice stainless steel ones. I had them order a couple in and hopefully they will be here tomorrow.

[70rs]

Thats great. Im glad that worked out for you.
You realize we will want pictures of course right?

[scherp69]

Got more done on the console today and yesterday. First thing I did was mock it up with some carpet and underlay. Found out that it was too high so I took off about 1/2" more. I also had to make some modifications around the a/c unit. It will be snug now, but once it gets bolted down, it should look good. The other issue I found was regarding the depth of it. I was talking to a friend of mine who manages a electronics store. For the head unit I want to put in, he recommended close to 10" depth. Well I had a bit of ways to go. I got it to about 9 1/2". I was looking at the specs of the Alpine units, they are just under 6 1/2" deep, then wiring. I think I'll be good with it now.

I also spoke to an upholsterer about getting it wrapped in leather. After taking with him, I've decided that overall it will be easier to wrap it in sheet metal first, then leather. As much fun as it would have been trying fiberglass, I think it will be less headaches, now and in the future, with sheet metal.

Here's some pics.

Added to the front section







I think I might try and move the upper part in a bit to make it on more of angle so I will be able to see the screen better once it's in.



Got the two pieces connected





I'm going to have the ebrake handle sunk in a bit













And the most important part.....................................cup holders



What do you guys think so far?

I was also looking at the GTO seats. I finally got them hooked up to a good battery and made sure they were all the way down. I find they do sit quite high. Has anyone found a way to get them lower and still keep the power options. Couple things I was thinking to gain some room:

Move the base tight up against the bottom of the seat



I'm also thinking about cutting down the foam on the bottom part. Right now there is almost 6 1/2" of foam. I'm sure I could get rid of a bit.



Anyone else have any ideas?

[GregWeld]

Cup holders are absolutely CRITICAL!


EEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[67rstbkt]

That's looking real good; that console gives me some ideas for mine. I have the same seats and was thinking about maybe trying to switch to a manual track assembly to lower them some. I'm a ways off from interior, so I guess you'll just have to be the test subject on this for now....

[jschaecher]

Originally Posted by scherp69

Got more done on the console today and yesterday. First thing I did was mock it up with some carpet and underlay. Found out that it was too high so I took off about 1/2" more. I also had to make some modifications around the a/c unit. It will be snug now, but once it gets bolted down, it should look good. The other issue I found was regarding the depth of it. I was talking to a friend of mine who manages a electronics store. For the head unit I want to put in, he recommended close to 10" depth. Well I had a bit of ways to go. I got it to about 9 1/2". I was looking at the specs of the Alpine units, they are just under 6 1/2" deep, then wiring. I think I'll be good with it now.

I also spoke to an upholsterer about getting it wrapped in leather. After taking with him, I've decided that overall it will be easier to wrap it in sheet metal first, then leather. As much fun as it would have been trying fiberglass, I think it will be less headaches, now and in the future, with sheet metal.

Here's some pics.

Added to the front section







I think I might try and move the upper part in a bit to make it on more of angle so I will be able to see the screen better once it's in.



Got the two pieces connected





I'm going to have the ebrake handle sunk in a bit













And the most important part.....................................cup holders



What do you guys think so far?

I was also looking at the GTO seats. I finally got them hooked up to a good battery and made sure they were all the way down. I find they do sit quite high. Has anyone found a way to get them lower and still keep the power options. Couple things I was thinking to gain some room:

Move the base tight up against the bottom of the seat



I'm also thinking about cutting down the foam on the bottom part. Right now there is almost 6 1/2" of foam. I'm sure I could get rid of a bit.



Anyone else have any ideas?

The only time I have seen GTO front seats is with the power removed I was really hoping you were going to be able to get them to work! I have a set of seats and would love to use them in my Nova. Have you had any luck with the back seat yet? I'm probably going with recardo fronts but would love to still use the back seat from the GTO. Keep up the awsome work you are my motivation to get my nova done!

[scherp69]

Thanks for the comments guys. I haven't had a chance to do any more work on the seats. I still hope to use the fronts, but I think it might take a fair bit of work and customizing to do it. I'll keep you updated when I do.

Well time for an update. It's been a while. Unfortunately I haven't actually gotten much done on the car. Been working a ton of overtime (good for parts though) and other things going on. I took two weeks off from work to spend time working on the car. I go back to work on Saturday and I ended up working on the car about 6 hours during my holidays. Oh well, here's what I did get done.

Started stripping the trunk lid. I want to start working on the gaps.



The trunk was in really good shape with only a little rust starting along the top where it would sit near the window channel.



So I cut out a couple spots and welded in new metal. The rest cleaned up with the die grinder.



And that's all I've gotten done.

I sold the stock doors from car (thanks again Jeff). Now I'm committed to going with doors from a 73 or 74. Still trying to find a pair that aren't really expensive. I also sold the door skins that I bought (thanks again Tyler)

But onto the good part of the update. It was that time of the year again. PARTS RUN!!!!! I got a few of the parts over the past week and the rest I picked up today.

Here's today's haul:



Finally got my stainless bolt kit from Prodigy Customs. Better late than never. Pretty thorough kit.



Billet Specialties a/c louvers



Sold the QA1 shocks and decided to get....



This things are sweet. I only have picks of the back ones, but I did get them all around. They are the single adjustable. Got them for Speed Tech.



I really like how they have the bolt holes. They swivel and adjust if the bolt is on an angle at all.



Some of you may have saw that I sold my FAST 102mm intake. After doing some more research and seeing results of how it has done, I found that it really wasn't worth the money. If I kept it, it would have cost me another $500 for the throttle body and I would still have to get injectors and fuel rails. So I sold the intake and with the money I got:

A LS3 intake taken off a 2010 Camaro. Got it from Hennessey Motor Sports for $200 on Ebay. It included the stock injectors, fuel rails, intake bolts and gaskets. Can't beat that for $200. I'm going to sand it down and paint it body color



A LS3 throttle body. Was also new and taken off a crate motor. I ended up getting a really good deal on the intake as the guy I got it from bought a few of them from Ebay. He then ported and polished it and powder coated it chrome. If anyone is interested in getting one or having yours powder coated, here's a link to his thread on LS1Tech.com: http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/gen-5-...le-bodies.html Mine is the one he used in his pics on the thread. Here's some more pics of it that I took.