Pontiac LeMans T-37, Project LeManiac

[DDY RCKT]

Sorry for the lack of updates, here, guys. My work and specifically travel for work schedule kills my ability to work on my projects. At least it funds them, right?

Anyway, I just got the new compressor and welder in shop, i added wheels to the rear suspension and have positioned it in place (I hope) so I know where I need to start cutting into the frame. I should be home this weekend to work, but as of next thursday I'll be on travel for 2.5 weeks.

But there should be an update this weekend with new pictures.

[DDY RCKT]

Wooo! what a day! I managed to notch out the frame for the new rear subframe, but there's some more massaging to be done. I need to figure out the spring perches, and get the car lowered to check alignments, centering, and clearances. Hopefully I can get to that tomorrow!

[DDY RCKT]

So if anyone is still interested in my project here, I've got some updates.

I literally have been on work travel for almost 5 months of this year, so not a lot of work has gotten done. But when I got back, I decided that there needed to be some separation, or I'd never be able to get to anything. So I spent a few hours pulling the frame out from under the body, and fitting stuff in place. I've got a little more trimming to do before the subrame is ready to be bolted up, but here's some teaser pics! (yes, I know, the garage is a mess. I've been gone! )

[PonchoJohn]

Looking good.
How close was the upper spring mount vs. the lower?

[DDY RCKT]

Originally Posted by PonchoJohn

Looking good.
How close was the upper spring mount vs. the lower?

In location, it's freaking spot on. Unfortunately the springs from the 2005 subframe are too short, by 4-5 inches. I have to retrieve the original springs to see if they are more the right size, but I haven't gone to get them yet. I'm planning, hoping, praying that I can figure out a rear coilover setup that will work. Still trying to figure that one out, though. I could re-configure the spring perches to support coilovers, or use the original shock mount on the subframe and fabricate something up. I'm going to work on the rear crossmember design for the diff mount, and see if it could be used to locate the uppers for the shocks/coilovers.

[DDY RCKT]

I managed to finish trimming the frame last night and set the subframe in place on jacks and jack stands. It looks good! It'll take some work to massage in the springs and shocks, but I feel that's minor vs the victory of placement. I'll start fabricating the mounts probably tonight. I hope to have the think rolling this weekend!

[DDY RCKT]

Ok guys, I'm getting ready to go down the path of building a crossmember to mount the rear of the diff. It's on a rubber mount, so the bracket that you see in the first pic of the earlier post with pics is what I'm working with. If there's anyone who has any ideas for what I should do to mount that up, please post up. otherwise I'm just going to do what I always do, and overthink it until I overdesign it.

Post up!

['02ta]

Hey DD RCKT, any progress on this build? I've got a '71 Lemans also and I'm looking at possibly swapping in an LS3 & T56.

[Mark_Lide]

I know this thread is old but I would like to hear of any updates. I'm looking to do the same rear suspension on a 72 Nova in the future.

[wellis77]

...and I just like seeing IRS put under old cars.