My little project that snowballed outta control...
#1
My little project that snowballed outta control...
OK, I am in the middle of a full on build turning a 91 Z28 T-top camaro into my own freaky creation. Basically I wanted it to look like the DUB grand national die cast toy with big wheel tucked up into the fenders, kinda like a pro street car with fat tires on the rear and skinnies on the front, but big wheel style. I couldn't come with the wheel and tire combo I wanted, but I guess I got a good compromise in the end.
The project started off with no intention of being one at all, I lent my buddy $1000 to help him out with some bills, long story short, he got addicted to pain killers after his injury and couldn't pay me back so he gave me his camaro as payment. Little did I know what I got myself into, this "Strong running 350" turned into a rod knocking 305 camaro that was so rotten I couldn't believe it! I came into a strong 4 bolt main 454 for $2000, bought my headers and small hei distributor and thought that was it.
Well let me tell you, things get outta hand pretty darn quick with me, I can't just slap stuff together, it has to be the best all the time. So I started stripping it down, torn seats into the garbage, rotten moldy carpet into the dump, oh crap rusted through floor pans, cut em out, rotten trunk gone, rear impact beam rotten had to use a torch to cut it off!! Transmission and rear end, caput yoink. Front fenders rotten, doors and trunk lid rotten, bought a parts car.
The project started off with no intention of being one at all, I lent my buddy $1000 to help him out with some bills, long story short, he got addicted to pain killers after his injury and couldn't pay me back so he gave me his camaro as payment. Little did I know what I got myself into, this "Strong running 350" turned into a rod knocking 305 camaro that was so rotten I couldn't believe it! I came into a strong 4 bolt main 454 for $2000, bought my headers and small hei distributor and thought that was it.
Well let me tell you, things get outta hand pretty darn quick with me, I can't just slap stuff together, it has to be the best all the time. So I started stripping it down, torn seats into the garbage, rotten moldy carpet into the dump, oh crap rusted through floor pans, cut em out, rotten trunk gone, rear impact beam rotten had to use a torch to cut it off!! Transmission and rear end, caput yoink. Front fenders rotten, doors and trunk lid rotten, bought a parts car.
#4
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
Then I though why not dress up the engine, that power steering pump is leaking anyways and the motor had no alternator... So I got a black anodized Billet Specialties surpentine setup....
#5
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
The front subframe looked weak, so why not plate it with 1/4" steel?
Last edited by canadiancarguy; 06-22-2011 at 11:01 PM. Reason: mistake
#6
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
Couple months ago when I asked for recommendations on what to do to stiffen up a T-top 3rd gen for a big block everyone recommended spohn performance torque with subrame connectors, so naturally I ordered every part spohn made that fit....
Tubulars k member
A arms
Coil over conversion
Moser 9 inch rear end complete
panhard bar
lower control arm with relocation brackets
Cross member mounted torque arm
solid motor mounts
poly bushing kit
subframe connectors
drag racing rear sway bar
and it goes on....
Tubulars k member
A arms
Coil over conversion
Moser 9 inch rear end complete
panhard bar
lower control arm with relocation brackets
Cross member mounted torque arm
solid motor mounts
poly bushing kit
subframe connectors
drag racing rear sway bar
and it goes on....
#7
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
So the spohn stuff arrives, and gee those subframe connectors look chinsy and the wheel and tire I want to run doesn't fit, so now the decision was made to turn the car from a unibody into a full framed car to take the abuse of drag racing with a big block.
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#10
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
Picture of the wheels and tires I wanna run for the street are in the staggered tires for my 91 camaro thread in the wheels and tires section
#11
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
Well now since I am going through all this trouble, I am not making enough power to justify all this fabrication, so the light bulb comes on, why not put a blower on? So I phoned up Dyers blowers and asked if their 8-71 kit would fit a billet specialties surpentine setup. No it doesn't, so I think crap so much for that. Then by fluke I notice that billet specialties and dyers are in the same town!! So I phone back and asked if they can modify the blower pulleys to work with a long water pump! Not a problem they did it for free and even went to billet specialties and picked up my surpentine pulleys to make sure everything fit perfect when I got it
#12
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
blower carbs are 2 750cfm quick fuel carbs already tuned just have to adjust idle and I am good to go. Also intake manifold pictured
The setup just sitting on top each other
The setup just sitting on top each other
#14
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
Well as of now I am successfully broke and this is as far as the project has come to date. I will add to the thread as it unfolds....
#17
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Car: 86 Iroc + 83 Firebird
Engine: Iroc 305 TPI, Firebird 305 4bbl
Transmission: 700r4 in both.
Axle/Gears: Iroc 3.27 Firebird 3.23
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
nice!! I like it
#18
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Car: 1987 Camaro
Engine: 350 hsr
Transmission: 700R4(blown)
Axle/Gears: 3:73
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
wow man good job wish i had more money to throw into my project....
#19
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Car: '89 RS camaro 305 TBI
Engine: LO3
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: yep, has those too (stock)
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
Perfect oppertunity to weld a rollcage in and connect it to the subframe?
Nice project and the parts look really shiny
Nice project and the parts look really shiny
#20
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
Yes the cage is going to be connected directly to the frame and the floor pans will be built around it and thinking of making them bolt in instead of welded in (the floor pans, the cage will be welded in of course!) The main hoop is already in.
Last edited by canadiancarguy; 06-23-2011 at 06:24 AM. Reason: added stuff
#22
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
I will try and get some pictures today up close to see some of the detail of the plating of the front subframe and how it is connected to the frame rails. Also gonna get some more pics of some of the other parts going in.
#23
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
Here are some of the rust areas that need addressing. These will be cut out tonight hopefully. I am planning on running 2x2 square stock along the inside of the rocker to add strength and give me something to put the floor pan on.
#24
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
Closer pictures of how the frame is routed and how it is attached to the front subframe. I hope that this will cure any flex that the blown big block could potentially cause. On the pic on the far right, I am planning on adding some more material from the subrame to the frame following the same angle as the subrame, that should stiffen things up more than just butt welding the two frames together, also it will look nicer
Last edited by canadiancarguy; 06-23-2011 at 07:48 PM. Reason: added comments
#25
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
The pic in the middle shows the rocker and frame.
The one on right shows the main hoop of the roll cage
The one on the left is the rear wheel well
The one on right shows the main hoop of the roll cage
The one on the left is the rear wheel well
#26
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
The pic on the left is how the car is mounted on the rotisserie from the rear
The one in the middle is the dash or where the dash was....
The one on right is rear of the frame. I plated the back where the two frames end on one peice of steel
The one in the middle is the dash or where the dash was....
The one on right is rear of the frame. I plated the back where the two frames end on one peice of steel
#29
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
My big block conversion long tube headers.
The parts that need to be painted
The k member (that is the colour that I am painting the parts)
The parts that need to be painted
The k member (that is the colour that I am painting the parts)
#30
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
The new front fenders
The fibreglass front bumper and cowl induction hood
The seat (I have a red and black seat cover for it)
The fibreglass front bumper and cowl induction hood
The seat (I have a red and black seat cover for it)
#31
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
Be Cool aluminum rad with dual electric fans on the other side
various wheel spacers I might need
steering wheel
There's lots more, I am tired of boxes of parts falling on me, I'll take pics as the project goes on....
various wheel spacers I might need
steering wheel
There's lots more, I am tired of boxes of parts falling on me, I'll take pics as the project goes on....
#32
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Car: 1990 IROC-Z (De-Badged-Carbon Hood)
Engine: Superram 383
Transmission: T-56 w/upgraded Viper Internals
Axle/Gears: 3.73 18x8 and 18x11 irocs
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
Wholly crap! This is going to be one awesome build! I love how you stripped it down and started over with how GM should have built these cars!
#33
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Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
Wow.... That is a LOT of work!
One of the few threads where "frame" can be used properly with an f-body!!
Looks fantastic so far. My only complaint is that you arent further along so we can see some payoff
Looking forward to seeing it finished and seeing that thing go down the road!
J.
One of the few threads where "frame" can be used properly with an f-body!!
Looks fantastic so far. My only complaint is that you arent further along so we can see some payoff
Looking forward to seeing it finished and seeing that thing go down the road!
J.
#35
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Car: 1985 Nascar Budweiser IROC replica
Engine: 358 CI .040 11.88 aluminum heads
Transmission: Muncie 4 speed
Axle/Gears: Moser Axles, Auburn Pro posi,410's
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
How is the quality on that fiberglass front bumper? I've been looking into getting one. What do you think of it?
#36
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
I think that the quality of the front bumper is really good, a heck of a lot better than my ebay cowl induction hood!!! Definately one of the better fibreglass parts I've seen in awhile, but I haven't tried to fit it as of yet!! Watch out for sharp edges though, the slivers are hard to get out.
#37
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Car: GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Aussie 9-bolt/3.27 posi
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
As much as your putting into the car, I'm surprised to see spacer adapters & not wheels that are built to fit right with only 20 lug nuts. Instead of 40 lug nuts + extra parts.
Money is obviously not an issue for you, so why not get wheels that are not a direct fit?
Money is obviously not an issue for you, so why not get wheels that are not a direct fit?
#38
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Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
Curious, why did you get a glass bumper? I'm only guessing since I've not really handled any of the polyurethane parts, but I would think the stock nose wouldn't be all that heavy.
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Car: 1985 Nascar Budweiser IROC replica
Engine: 358 CI .040 11.88 aluminum heads
Transmission: Muncie 4 speed
Axle/Gears: Moser Axles, Auburn Pro posi,410's
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
I think that the quality of the front bumper is really good, a heck of a lot better than my ebay cowl induction hood!!! Definately one of the better fibreglass parts I've seen in awhile, but I haven't tried to fit it as of yet!! Watch out for sharp edges though, the slivers are hard to get out.
#40
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Car: 1987 Camaro
Engine: 350 hsr
Transmission: 700R4(blown)
Axle/Gears: 3:73
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
Since your putting a cage in and the back seats won't be able to used,you might want to think about making the rear seat buckets like the floor pan flat or something like that? so their is no back seat and it doesn't look like you are missing anything. that is what I would do if I cut the floor out already. Great job so far!
#41
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
I got the spacers and went with the fibreglass bumper becuase I simply couldn't come up with the right parts. I tried for months to get wheels made in the size and offset that fit, try phoning wheel manufacturers and getting 1 off wheels made, not an easy thing to accomplish. As for the bumper, I couldn't find the lower piece that bolted onto the bumper, so I jumped at the chance when I come across the stinger 1 piece unit. Most of the companies that had the parts I needed weren't willing to ship to Canada either.
The backseat is in the garbage dump! A huge fibreglass sub box might be going in there to take up the extra space down the road.
I was thinking of adding a third seat in the middle and raised slightly so the person could look out the windshield.
The backseat is in the garbage dump! A huge fibreglass sub box might be going in there to take up the extra space down the road.
I was thinking of adding a third seat in the middle and raised slightly so the person could look out the windshield.
Last edited by canadiancarguy; 06-25-2011 at 02:57 AM. Reason: added stuff
#42
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Car: Faster
Engine: Than
Transmission: You!
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
A back-halfed car doesn't need a back seat! Plus the wheel tubs and cage are going to take up most of that area anyway.
#43
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Car: '89 RS camaro 305 TBI
Engine: LO3
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: yep, has those too (stock)
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
There is not a lot of space there. I think I measured less then 75cm between trans tunnel and roof.
Adding a plexiglas bowl to fit in the roof might allow the person seated there to have a panoramic view though
http://www.modelingmadness.com/revie...sonjetsonb.jpg
Only joking. But as said, I doubt it would work having anyone but a small child sit there given the limited amount of space.
#46
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Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
WOW you are the man I wish I had 1/10th of your skill
#47
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Car: 1985 Z28
Engine: '69 350 4 Bolt Main .30 Over
Transmission: 700r4/B&M Shift Kit and Flywheel
Axle/Gears: GM 10 Bolt 3.23 Gears
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
Awesome build..Keep up the good work.I can't wait to see it finished,and hear it!
#48
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Car: 1987 Trans Am
Engine: LQ9/L92
Transmission: 4L60E
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
wow, that is a crazy build and you've got some great fabbing skills. good luck and waiting for more photos!
#49
Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
I am not the one doing the fab work, it is my friend and his brothers doing the welding and most of the fabrication, I am only helping out, this is a little beyond my skill level I am more into mechanics than fabbing. My buddy wanted to do the car up as a door slammer pro street style, and I wanted to do a grand touring build, so we put the 2 ideas together and came up with this. If the car wasn't so rotten we would not have gone this far with it. We literally HAD to cut the floor out. Not really much getting done, where the subframe meets with the frame got cleaned up a blended more, The rot has been cut from the rockers, hopefully the square tubing gets welded to the rockers and and frame. Other than that things are going quite slow, might be using a spohn lower control arm as a torque arm rather than cutting their nice long piece.
#50
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Re: My little project that snowballed outta control...
subscribed!