Thread: Everybody that is currently building a car...

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Originally Posted by falconvan

I hear you, Bobby. Dave must have hit the lottery at some point, I couldn't afford half of what he does!

I used 16 gauge on my last firewall; seemed to be strong enough but I wouldn't go any thinner. How 'bout some pictures of that beast?

Not getting old, I AM old!!!!!!! Haven't got in to the expensive parts yet, the sheetmetal and fab work is never all that expensive but it sure as heck is time consuming... Sometimes you can work all week and it doesn't look like you got anything done!!!!!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Not getting old, I AM old!!!!!!! Haven't got in to the expensive parts yet, the sheetmetal and fab work is never all that expensive but it sure as heck is time consuming... Sometimes you can work all week and it doesn't look like you got anything done!!!!!

Isn't that the truth! I spent the whole day gathering parts at three different boneyards Monday. Now the car and the motor look the same plus there's another pile of crappy looking parts laying on the floor!

[QUOTE=Dave Severson;338210]Not getting old, I AM old!!!!!!!


Dave,

Well if your old than what am I?

I don't get on my computer very much any more, they are running me ragged down here in Orlando. Planning to go to the drag races this Saturday though.

How's the doors coming along? I was thinking maybe you should wait untill I get home this spring before you work on them..... I'll make a templete off my stock doors so you'll be able to get the right bend on them.

A cool day here only in the 70s

I started out planning to put a Ford into a Mopar so I dont know if a GM is a step up or not.Your motor looks good! Is that going into or coming out of your car? Some years ago Hot Rod stuffed a 500 Caddillac into a Chevette. Theres probably pictures of it on the internet somewhere.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_1000
for the details and photos

Originally Posted by falconvan

I started out planning to put a Ford into a Mopar so I dont know if a GM is a step up or not.Your motor looks good! Is that going into or coming out of your car? Some years ago Hot Rod stuffed a 500 Caddillac into a Chevette. Theres probably pictures of it on the internet somewhere.

That picture was when it was a little crusty and sittin on the floor, but thanks. This has been gone over and put in. I have a season on it so far. I Love the torque of the 340 and that 509 M/P cam works well too.

Here's the whole article. These guys must have been nuts to dive this thing down the dragstrip.
http://www.dieselchevettes.com/chevette_tech.htm

Went out and worked on the 'maro a bit today.... Made some more templates for some of the suspension brackets, almost have everything figured out for the rear end. Got to go visit my buddy Brian at Laser Cut and turn all my templates into brackets.

Also did a bit of work on the dash, made a gauge panel for the center of the dash that will hold 4-2 5/8" gauges and a few switches, the center panel will be a 5" tach and speedo, along with the hi beam and turn lights. Installed some plugs to close off the A/C vents...the old vent openings will be filled and smoothed. Not sure what I'll do to finish the aluminum gauge and switch panels, maybe just powder coat them a charcoal color to contrast the dash which will be painted grey to match the seats and headliner that were in the car when I got it.....

Steering column will be an aluminum housing with the standard race car style 3/4" heavy wall tubing for a steering shaft with a quick detach steering wheel...Still have to build a support for both ends of the column.

Looks good in there!! Never have ran anything with a 340 in it, had a few cars that were Mopars, but always had the 440's in them....

Maro is looking great, Dave! You engine looks awesome, Mopar. I'll be glad when I can get back on the Plymouth. Hopefully this Chevy wont take too long, maybe a few months or so. I worked on the steering column today, it was definately going to be in the way. I pulled the lower shaft off of a Astrovan at the boneyard this week, cut the bottom 10 inches off the Chevette column and grafted it on. It gave me a decent offset, should be able to wedge a V8 in there now. I've got the motor set up with a early small block short water pump and pulleys, and the radiator came in today and looks like it's going to fit fine. On a humerous note, some kids broke into my work car and stole the stereo right in my driveway. What a bunch of idiots. The CD player has been broke for a long time and it only picked up 3 AM stations. They did a real clean job removing it, didnt break a thing. The dumbasses did me a favor by taking it out. I had a new one I was being lazy about installing cause I didn't feel like pulling the old one as long as it worked. The cops nabbed them breaking into some other cars in the neighborhood that night.

Looks good Falcon!!! Hope you're going to at least send the thieves a thank you note, could even include your favorite lawyer's business card!!!!!!

Did a little messing around with the 'maro today, started fabbing up a steering column and some mounts for it..... Yeah, I know. Nothing wrong with the stock one, but I just don't like it!!!!! Sure do wish somebody wanted to buy the thing, would be a lot easier working with someone else's money then mine!!!!

Dave,
where do you get steering column bearings? The Chevette shaft didnt have a lower bearing because the shaft didn't have a u-joint. Now that it does, I need to support the shaft where it comes out the bottom of the column tube, The I.D of the tube is about 1 7/8" and the O.D of the shaft is just a hair over an inch.

I use 3/4" OD DOM tubing for the steering shaft, then use the slightly oversized 3/4" heim joints made for circle burners... For a bearing between the housing and the shaft, we have a company locally called Malloy bearing, I just get the OD of the shaft, and the ID of the housing and go find one that fits..... I've also just used a chunk of bronze and the lathe to make bushings to go in the housing and support the shaft.....

Thanks, I'll check that out.

Decided the 'maro needed a bit more engine set back so it doesn't plow thru a turn as bad.... Just did some cutting and mock up for now and set in a sbc hooked to a 700R4. In the pictures, the engine is back about 5" further then stock which locates the front cylinder about 1 1/2" behind the spindle centerline.... Still have to go find some junk heads and intake for mockup but it will end up in this area. Have to do some more cutting and build a recess for the distributor, too bad chebbie set it on the wrong end of the engine, things would be easier!!!! Going to have to raise it up a bit, the trans pan is a bit lower then the lowest point on the car.... Also going to have to do a bit of fab work on the firewall....

Anyway, just a mock up to see where I'm at. Lots of work to do on these cold, nasty, snowy days anyway.....