The 14 Car Performance Therapy Project Rushforths, Baers, Yokohamas, and more

[WSSix]

Nice to see a quantitative deflection difference. Sure, the testing conditions may not be exact or ideal, but it still proves the parts work.

For what it's worth, I've always heard the shaker scoop on the TAs are too far forward to have any benefit from the low pressure area in front of the windshield. I'd be worried if your testing can show it's pulling air out of the scoop at high speeds.

[gofastwclass]

I love the real world testing. Even if it isn't lab grade testing, it is good enough to get you going in the proper direction.

[NOT A TA]

Originally Posted by WSSix

Nice to see a quantitative deflection difference. Sure, the testing conditions may not be exact or ideal, but it still proves the parts work.

For what it's worth, I've always heard the shaker scoop on the TAs are too far forward to have any benefit from the low pressure area in front of the windshield. I'd be worried if your testing can show it's pulling air out of the scoop at high speeds.

Ya I'd always figured the scoop was way too far forward but wanted proof. Wouldn't surprise me if the scoop pulled air from the engine compartment at high speed right through the air cleaner assembly.

[NOT A TA]

I got side tracked on this Firebird project by working on my 67 Camaro. What started as a small project of replacing the rear springs and shocks quickly developed into cutting out the whole trunk floor, drop offs, frame rails, torque boxes etc. due to rust. I knew the back of the car would eventually need attention because of rust but once I started cutting out the old springs and found the torque boxes rusted out where the spring pockets bolt in I knew I was in much deeper than I wanted to be but reluctantly ordered new sheet metal.

While working on the Camaro as time between customer projects allowed I had a heart attack which stopped progress on both cars completely. Had an operation to install a couple stents in my heart and the docs said I better take it easy for a month to let the heart muscles heal. So the bad news is both car projects came to a temporary halt but the good news is I'm still alive and someone didn't have to come post about my demise in this thread. I've been expecting a heart attack due to my age and family history so it wasn't a surprise. I have older and younger cousins who've had up to 9 stents and others who had quadruple bypass surgery. No disruption to Lab-14 and no shipping delays. All items (including some new ones) are currently in stock www.lab-14.com

I did get a small project done for the Firebird before the heart attack I can share. I blasted and painted the headlight assembly parts which is kinda boring by itself if they're stock but since I have special headlights and protective screens they're a bit different and even if you saw pics of my car before I took it apart for this project you probably didn't see the light modifications so I'll share them now.

About 10 years ago I decided I wanted to use the front parking light/turn signal openings for brake ducts. So I bought some plastic halogen headlights with built in LED park/turn lights from a hot rod supplier. This was back before all the crazy headlight options we have now. The lights themselves required modifying the headlight mounts and wiring, they're not a simple swap. I also wanted to avoid having to put blue tape over my headlights for road track days as required by some tracks and like the look of screens. So I bought some stainless headlight screens made for off road Jeeps and modified them so I could use them on my bird. Then I cut pieces out of some extra stock grills to use in the park/turn openings so they'd appear kinda factory looking.

[Panteracer]

John,
Glad to hear you are doing ok....
I have found with my back problems it just
takes longer to get things done. That being
said working on the cars and figuring things out
is a therapy for me

Take care and keep working away

Bob-Dreamin Tas

[gofastwclass]

I wondered what happened and missed your updates and fact based logic in your build. Overall I'm glad to see you are still kicking!

Thank you for sharing your creative ideas with us. I'm glad this book isn't finished and I look forward to the next update.

[carbuff]

Also count me as glad to hear you are ok!

Question on the headlights: do you remember any details about the stainless mesh you used, and how you installed it? You mentions that they were from off-road Jeeps, so I'll go hunt for those. I like that look, might consider something like that for TOW...

[WSSix]

Glad to hear you're ok, John. Keep up the good work and take your time recovering.

[Doug1]

John,

Good to hear you are recovering! I had no idea you'd had a heart attack. Glad you are okay.

Doug

[NOT A TA]

Thanks guys! I'm feeling good and started back to work a couple days ago. Self employed with no insurance, so a month of no pay and a stack of medical bills combined with pay as I go office visits to doctors for follow up provided a lot of incentive to get back at it.

Carbuff; the screens are designed to hold the headlight in place like the stock ring with 3 mounting tabs. The issue is that the 3 tabs for the Jeep application don't line up quite where you'd want them on the Firebird buckets in order to have the screen grid horizontal/vertical. So you need to modify the tabs a bit and drill a couple holes in order to make them look nice and straight.