1965 300 dr post "Project Track Car"

[chris_65]

I got the engine sitting back in the frame and started routing the reworked harness.

[chris_65]

Over the weekend, I got a lot accomplished:
Saturday - Brake and clutch master cylinders bolted on.



Trans Am's pedal assembly bolted in.





Computer and relays mounted nicely under the dash. I was able to use the original ECM holder and made brackets to mount it securely under the dash.








Sunday - Sanded the dash and a pillars and applied a couple of coats of paint (got tired of seeing the primer/aqua colored dash)

[chris_65]

What a productive past couple of days!!!
#1 Made a template and mounted the clutch reservoir.





#2 Finished all the harness wiring.







#3 (the BIG one) got the hear the engine start and run (just for a few seconds) on the first crank (using starting fluid, still deciding on fuel tank/pump).
#4 My cousin Norb (university automotive professor) hooked up his scan tool and all the sensors seem to be reading properly.
#5 Installed the power steering lines.





#6 Placed the car on jack stands and removed the old fuel tank in preparations for a new fuel system.










#7 Met with Jake Murry and his neighbor Steve, to discuss creating a rendering of the finished car.

Next up?
- Fuel system?
- Finish the trans tunnel?

[chris_65]

I met with Steve Woolard (the guy doing the rendering of my car) and did some final tweaking and this is what I ended up with:

Red with smoke grey Vintage Wheel Works V40s and the same color of grey on the grille -with a Ridetech logo on the 1/4 panel.



Without Logo on 1/4 panel.



The ultimate goal is to be able to:
#1 - Run the complete Ridetech suspension front and rear Level 3 kit w/ fully adjustable coil-overs.
#2 - Run either Vintage Wheel Works V40s or Forgeline 18" wheels (I really haven't decided yet)

But first things first, I've got to get it running on it's own power...

Next up -
- Fuel system
- Fuel tank
- run lines and mount filter/reg.
- Hear it run for more than a second

- Finish trans tunnel and floorboards

[chris_65]

Well, that didn't take long to get this thread caught up to date...

Small update: This past weekend, I had a meeting with a college buddy that's now a welding professor at the local university. We discussed building me a fuel tank that I can run the OEM style fuel pump. It will be deeper than stock (I was worried at first, but seeing how low a lot of the tanks hang on cars that are tearing up the track) mine should be fine. It will also have a recess in the top, so the lines won't hit the bottom of the trunk floor... Hopefully I'll have it in a couple of weeks.

While I'm waiting:

- I've installed the new Lokar throttle cable
- Modified the gas pedal rod to accept the new cable
- Still working on the trans tunnel

[rickpaw]

The rendering looks killer. Can't wait to see it finished.

[SixFivePost]

Hey, you over here too? :-) Can't wait to see it completed.

Dan

[WSSix]

I like the direction you're headed, Chris. Hard line with a C5 filter/regulator will work just fine for you. If you can build a tank or adapt the stock tank to hold a factory 4th gen fbody fuel pump assembly, that will work well for you, too. Good luck!

[chris_65]

Originally Posted by WSSix

I like the direction you're headed, Chris. Hard line with a C5 filter/regulator will work just fine for you. If you can build a tank or adapt the stock tank to hold a factory 4th gen fbody fuel pump assembly, that will work well for you, too. Good luck!

Thanks, Trey!

I'm going to have a friend make me a tank to accept the 4th gen pump and be recessed on the top to clear my lines and not hit the trunk floor. I would've had to highly modify a stock tank to make the pump fit. The stock tank is shorter than 7" @ the deepest point and the collapsed pump is roughly 9". I designed the profile of the tank and at first I was scared of the depth, but looking at other Chevelles tearing up the track, theirs hang pretty low without any issues. I'm hoping mine will hang just right.

On a 4th gen pump, how are people running a vent tube from the center port on top of the pump? Any companies making vents for tanks?
Once I get the tank back, I'll post some pics.

[chris_65]

It's been a while since my last up, so let me get you caught up...
I'm still waiting on my custom tank to be built by a friend of mine. He has it almost completed, but since I first approached him about building it, his welding business has really took off and my tank has taken a back burner to extremely high paying jobs. He's basically charging me for the material, so I guess I can't complain too much.

I decided to replace the rusty and patched floorboards, that were replaced by the previous owner (which didn't know much about welding or panel replacement). I ventured over to Flora IL. and saw a buddy of mine that sales Camaro, Chevelle and Nova parts. His shop is only a 45 min. drive and it saved me on all the freight cost.



While I've been away, I also got a sweet deal on a used Millermatic 130xp welder. It's about 4-5 yrs old and still works great. My old welder still worked ok, but I bought it 10 yrs ago, the same day I bought my 65 convertible. With all the welding coming up in my future, I knew I better invest in something better.