Transition Camaro

[MX145]

I welded the UCA mounts to the frame on both sides.

[MX145]

I'm pretty happy with the progress this week. Still need to box in the coilover mounts and add some gussets.

[MX145]

The Wilwood brake kit I picked up from MCB came with these nice billet hubs and new bearings.

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I test fit the brakes the other day. The Wilwood kit is well designed and includes all of the parts and spacers to properly align the caliper radially and side to side to center on the rotor.

[MX145]

I cut and welded in reinforcement pieces between the coilover mount ears and added gussets to the longer UCA tab. I decided reinforcing the coilover side of the bracket would be stronger than boxing the top side as the force is primarily going upward. The 1/2" coilover bolt and spacers are a press fit and pinch the coilover ball mount so the ears will be strong as a finished unit.

[MX145]

Here's the gusset.

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I welded in the driver's side cowl box. I need to finish grinding and sanding for final epoxy and seam sealer so I can close up both sides.

[WSSix]

Looking good. Are you sure those gussets will be plenty?

[MX145]

Originally Posted by WSSix

Looking good. Are you sure those gussets will be plenty?

LOL. No. But I think they will. I'm confident in the UCA mount and gusset as its similar to DSE's which has gone through finite element analysis but the upper coilover mount is based on my own madness. I'll keep a close eye on them.

I should add the coilover gusset goes all the way down to the bottom of the UCA plate beneath the surface of the subframe. I did this to resist stretching or tearing with vertical force and should prevent buckling sideways. I think the weakest point is the ears bending sideways in the top area but I'm confident the bolt and press fit spacers under tension will prevent that. The packaging requirements made this tough as the UCA shaft is on the motor side and I need the clearance on the ears for the coilovers to fit. I formed some more pieces out of 1/8" to box in the top too if I need them. The UCA mounting plate is 1/4". The UCA gusset and coilover mount ears are 3/16" and the reinforcement I added is 1/8".

[MX145]

My wife came across this hotrod on the freeway the other day