Chasing the Ghosts of LeMans - Thunder - Project 487 Super Snake

[Ripped]

Some cruise pics courtesy of Ryan. I have a few also, coming up soon!

http://s34.photobucket.com/user/Ryba...20Cause%202014

[Ripped]

Long time no update. Been busy with a massive home renovation, but hopefully the reno is completed this spring.

In anticipation of the reno being completed, and having the time to play with and drive the car more, I decided to do, what I've always wanted to do and change the transmission.

Out is coming the TKO 5 speed and sometime in the mid to late spring, in will go the T56 magnum.

I want the tall overdrive for the long high speed highways, and I also want the close ratio. Plus I find the 5 speed good, but not smooth enough for the track.

On order pretty quickly will be the scattershield.

[Kcrain]

Beautiful car you've got there Ripped. I went through your hole write up again and did not see it but who's headlights are those? Keith

[Ripped]

Those are motorcycle headlights, I think CJ Pony Parts has something similar, but not tribar.

[WSSix]

Glad you're enjoying the car and still making changes. Good luck!

[Rybar]

Cool update Doug hopefully the swap goes as planned!

[Ripped]

Thanks a lot guys!

My plan is to have this all ready for the spring.

I am going to have to re-fabricate the trans tunnel, and then completely redo the center console.

Plans for this year are to;
do the trans swap
console
custom quieter mufflers and resonators (Tired of going deaf driving the car lol)
and get the air conditioning back working.



That should go a long ways to making the car more fun to drive again.

[Ripped]

Along with making plans for my custom low clearance exhaust system, the scatter shield arrived on the weekend.



Instead of doing stainless steel on the first section of the exhaust I may end up doing regular steel tubing and then ceramic coating it.

A few goals; To reduce heat and noise, to make it easier to fabricate, to keep it looking cleaner (my stainless is extremely discouloured from heat right now) and to make the parts cost cheaper.

[Ripped]

I've been hunting around for an exhaust system that will work for the super low chassis I have.
I need 3" pipes to start, with the larger cubic inch engine.

No luck finding anything off the shelf, that will work, so I decided to make one.

The critical area is the X pipe. It hits a lot on speed bumps etc, so the extra clearance is needed. I am going to make up my own custom oval pipe.

Not too sure how I am going to radius the corners yet.
I don't have a TIG either, so I will possibly have someone else TIG it for me, or get my own TIG

This is the start of the mock up. After that is complete I am going to get some more stainless, and bend away

Looks like this will gain me a bunch of ground clearance.

[rickpaw]

Contact these guys. They may save you some time building the oval tubings.

http://www.spintechmufflers.com/tubi...ng/cat_41.html