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We're going to try either a 4.6 or 5.4 DOHC in this one, time to start learning EFI, body will be a 'glass roadster of some sort, have to get the blueprints, make a few changes on them and sort some things out on paper, then decide for sure what will fit the best....Quote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
You wouldn't be wrapping that chassis with a Chevrolet body would you Dave? :eek:
I can tease now. I'm a Ford/Chevrolet/Jeep/Dodge man now. :LOL:
David
Actually David, that is a consideration---friend of mine is in the process of upgrading his car to a 'glass Camaro body and has a Vette aftermarket race body that he might sell.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stovebolter
Very cool Chasis. Looks like the jungle gyms in the kids playground when I was little. Those things were very stout! A little bracket racer project sounds cool too!
Yeah, real nice chassis! It's an altered chassis set up for driver on the left instead of in the center. They're very compact and easy to work on, too. I'll have to make a few changes to get things the way they will work best for a bracket racer, but nothing real serious. They're also a very consistent chassis on how they hook and launch, when the chassis works the same every pass it makes it easier to evaluate how the tune-up on the engine is improving. Main reason for the new car would be having a good foundation to start learning this EFI stuff with, then once we get the tuneup data we can switch to a race version of the engine (the 5.0 Coyote) with the supercharger and already have a chassis capable of easily handling the quicker times and faster speeds.......At least that's the plan!!!!!:LOL::LOL::LOL:Quote:
Originally Posted by stovens
Sounds like a good, well thought out plan! :) These modern engines are incredible, but there is definately a learning curve for EFI, and the computer stuff that goes with it and the sensors too!
Dave------most of the customers we have done 4.6/5.4 stuff for have upgraded to Dart windsor type blocks 427 cid and blowers---more power, easier to work on, cheaper(one cam vs 4 cams?) after what you have been doing, if you don't want a ford bb anymore, switch to BBC. You certainly don't need that chassis to learn efi for brackets----I don't even think you can run quick enough to get into any $$$$$$$$$$$runs
I've ran Windsor's and Big Block Fords with and without blowers and decided it's time to step up to EFI and electronics. We have a local guy who is a Ford mod motor whiz, seen a number of his mod motor Mustangs with the Kenne-Bell Superchargers putting 600+ to the tires. The reason for starting with a basic 4.6 or 5.4 is to learn the tune up process for the EFI, then step up to a Coyote engine with Supercharger. Lots of "no brake, no delay box" bracket races around here that pay equal (or better) then the others. We're more interested in dialing in the improved consistency possible with EFI, not necessarily running fast as possible. I've ran diggers, center steer alterds, many combinations of door slammers and just decided to build a left side steer altered cuz I've always wanted one!!!!! As for me and the boys going racing with a BBC powered anything, well that just won't ever happen!!!!!!!:LOL::LOL::LOL:
You can learn efi on anything and a quad cam anything is not where its at----why not try the Ford modern big block --take a look at what Steve matusik is doing with his--------
That's just not the direction we want to go, Jerry. All I want in the new car is a lightweight, super consistent chassis with a DOHC engine and a C-4 transmission.....all the things that the majority of people say won't work!!!! A 2100 pound car only needs 400 horse to go mid 10's, a car that will do a mid 10 and maintain that + or - a few hundredths all day long is very, very tough to beat in bracket racing and with the ability of a well programmed ECM and electronics package holding that consistency is much easier! Besides, a strong, light chassis with a moderately priced engine is much more compatible with my budget then would be a mega-inch big block doorslammer.
Dave---you might wanta look at CoParts.com for salvage cars to get engine and computer wiring harness from--several Gts, Boss Mustangs and for anyone wanting or needing parts or cars--lots of cars from New York/ New Jersey area that have flood damage so were totaled out by insurance companies---also all over country some very nice 60s, 70s 80s stuff------
I've been watching there, great source for builders and donor cars!!!! Unfortunately, the only 2 Copart yards close to us out here in the boonies are about 250 miles away.... Transportation costs are terrible these days if it's not within range to go get it yourself! One guy I know here in town bought a donor car for his Cobra project off CoPart, hard to even say "buy", he dang near stole it considering the price he paid. There are a few rebuilder lots around here, I like to watch them, too---some really good deals show up in them from time to time!!!! One of our old sponsors who had to drop out a couple years back when the economy around here went in the toilet is quite interested in the prospect of a new car, hopefully things will improve enough that he'll come back with us again, too!
Got the last of the boo-boo's fixed on the pick-em-up and all the bare spots hit with epoxy primer. Think I'll hold off on the sealer and paint till it's a bit closer to spring. Mike will be bringing the Cutlass up on Sunday afternoon so I can get started on it! The Cutlass will be Mike's "other toy" for the summer, some sort of raspy, nasty big block going in it once the body work and paint is done!
I thought the outside work was over? Or, just finishing up a previous job?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Severson
Mike's a buddy for the last 40 years, more like family then outside work!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
Hmmmm... You're a better man than me! My family always expects me to work for free! 8-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Severson
Yeah, know what you mean there!!! I should have been more specific, part of the RACING family for 40 years!!!! Mike's a retired machinist, did all our racing stuff for many, many years and dumped a lot of sponsorship money and parts into our cars over the years, too. Anyway, Mike bought this Cutlass for his son Chad when Chad was 15. Unfortunately, Chad died last June at the age of 41 so know we're putting the car back together for Mike....Quote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
I remember the loss of Chad. Sad day for sure! Good of you to help out a buddy.
Had a busy few days, helped my pal Craig do some work on the front sheet metal for his '49 Chevy pickup and shot primer on the parts so they don't gather a bunch of surface rust during the build. Did some rearranging in the garage to make room for the Cutlass, still more stuff to put away then it's time to line up the "posse" and get the car pushed inside! While looking the Cutlass over yesterday, I was reminded that Chad got this car when he was 15, and the car shows evidence of young kids doing things in a big hurry!!!!!:LOL::LOL: I guess we were all that way once, just make it go fast and to heck with everything else!!!! Oh well, it's going to be a fun build, lots of good memories with this car and all the changes it went through over the 25+ years Chad and his buddies campaigned it!!!!
Probably buried in the thread somewhere, but what year's the Cutlass?
It's a '69 Roger, actually it's a genuine 442! Got it in the garage now and starting it's final rebuild!!!!! Mike and the boys were up yesterday, decided to go back with a variation of the original gold color that the car was when Mike bought it.... We'll keep the cage and narrowed rear end, probably a few custom touches here and there.Quote:
Originally Posted by rspears
Dave a friend of mine had a newer model of the 442 with swivel front seats, boy that was the coolest car back then!. Loved to feel my neck snap as he hit the gas.
Doing the sanding thing on the Cutlass, no big surprises on the body. At one time, the left quarter panel has been repaired---would seem the shop that did it didn't bother pounding out any dents, just used a lot of filler!!!! Ground all the filler off and doing the ding and ping on the dents, coming out ok. Also, the right side of the windshield channel is all rusted out, must have had a leak for a lot of years so I'll have to make some new panels for that area. All things considered the body is in decent shape considering it's age and the life it's lived!!!!! Knowing so much of the history on the car, lot of mixed emotions while I'm working on the car....
No major accomplishments, did manage to get the windshield out without breaking it! Drilled all the spot welds holding the rusted dash panel in place and got it out of the way, it could be repaired but Mike has decided he wants a custom dash in it so the old piece hit the junk metal pile! More fun building a new one then fixing up the stock dash anyway! Turning out to be a really fun build!
Dave we gotta get you a new camera so you can post some pics! :)
Yeah, I've got to go shopping one of these days, just having too much fun in the garage.....and I HATE shopping!!!!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by stovens
Do ya prefer sandin' to shoppin'..??..??
I prefer most anything to shopping!!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
Still sanding on the Cutlass, lots of the interior metal has some light surface rust on it so I've been alternating between working on that and blocking on the doors... Got to get a sheet of 20ga. and do some repair work on the firewall, someone previously had really cobbled it up, lots of extra holes all over the place so I'll just cut out the worst spots and weld in some new panels.
Well at least welding is a lot better than sanding or shopping!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Severson
Geez Mike!!!!! One would get the idea that you just plain don't like to sand!!!!!!!:LOL::LOL::LOL:Quote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
To be honest about it Dave... I'd surely rather be shopping than sanding!!! Sad. But true!Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Severson
I have most of the sanding done inside and out on the Cutlass, a few more days to finish up blocking on the car. Going to start rebuilding the firewall, the dash, and plugging a whole bunch of unnecessary holes in the floor!!! In the 26 years that Chad had the car I think he must have had a dozen different shifters and an equal amount of different seats in the car----and drilled new holes in the floor for every change!!!!:LOL::LOL:
Well, I guess this pain of sanding will pass soon enough! 8-)
At least welding I'd find more interesting... sigh.. OK, back to finding distributor specs and measurements! HAH!!!
Good goin Dave. Been idling away with different hobbies this winter. Waiting for some spring sun to roll the truck out for engine replacement!
The Cultass sounds cool, Dave. We're going to have to take up a collection to get you a camera; your work is too cool for us to not be able to check it out.!
But I hate going shopping, even for a camera!!!!!:LOL::LOL: I'll get hold of a loner camera and shoot some pics, the Cutlass is a very special build for me knowing it's history and the people involved!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by falconvan
Job Security, whether I want it or not!!!!!:LOL::LOL::LOL:
My pal Mike just called, closed the deal on a '69 Olds Cutlass convertible!!!! Has it loaded on the trailer and headed home now. Mike said it runs like a top, but the body will need a rotisserie rebuild. Oh well, I sure do love building the late 60's muscle cars!!!! I think this one will go in line behind the '66 Impala that Mike and I own together.....
HMmmmm.. I don't remember a 66 impala, but I do remember a Pickup, and a Bronco and a 57 chebby... and a ???? I know there was something else..;):rolleyes::HMMM::LOL:Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Severson
Yeah, you missed a few, '82 Camaro, '63 Riviera, '54 Buick, '57 Olds, '67 Ranchero, and a few more not worth mentioning. Some I own, some Mike and I own, and some are owned by a few of us who went together years ago and keep trying to save the keepers from the crusher. Anyway, it's a long and distinguished list......:LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL::whacked::whacked:Quote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
I was being kind!!!:LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL: