Hitch on my 68 Firebird

[gator68428]

For track days I decided it would be nice to be able to bring all my tools and the kitchen sink and track tires. This particular hitch design was made possible largely because I do not have a stock gas tank (I have a fuel cell in the trunk). I removed the stock gas tank to make room for my dual mode C6 ZR1 mufflers (that are awesome--quiet under cruise and high performance when open(vacuum actuated with solenoid valve)). Fortuitously, when it came time to install a hitch, the extra room between the mufflers came in handy.

I welded it together from scratch out of angle iron and square tubing. It has three beams: one that goes forward to the square tubing cross bar that is a part of the TCI rear suspension; one that goes left to right, and one that goes up and down--so all three directions are supported. The vertical support grabs on to the thick plate that is the middle mount of the rear bumper behind the license plate. It can easily support 300 lbs tongue weight and probably tow 2k + pounds. Bolts up to the car for easy install or removal.

The square tubing that mounts the ball is removable with two 1/2 in bolts. And can install a tow loop for the track or leave it bare and completely hidden for cruising down the street.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/09/20160215_221834_zpscnh0hkyc-1.jpg (http://s393.photobucket.com/user/mitch_mac1/media/20160215_221834_zpscnh0hkyc.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/09/20160216_185508_zpsjisylpig-1.jpg (http://s393.photobucket.com/user/mitch_mac1/media/20160216_185508_zpsjisylpig.jpg.html)


More than half of the weight is the ball mount, which comes off at the track.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/09/20160216_190134_zpsohhirf6f-1.jpg (http://s393.photobucket.com/user/mitch_mac1/media/20160216_190134_zpsohhirf6f.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/09/20160216_205021_zpswahz8zua-1.jpg (http://s393.photobucket.com/user/mitch_mac1/media/20160216_205021_zpswahz8zua.jpg.html)

With square tubing ball mount receiver removed the structure is completely hidden behind license plate and body metal.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/09/20160216_205657_zpsblszsgaz-1.jpg (http://s393.photobucket.com/user/mitch_mac1/media/20160216_205657_zpsblszsgaz.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/09/20160216_205712_zpsjjjn4d6o-1.jpg (http://s393.photobucket.com/user/mitch_mac1/media/20160216_205712_zpsjjjn4d6o.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/09/20160216_210027_zps9b2ru6s2-1.jpg (http://s393.photobucket.com/user/mitch_mac1/media/20160216_210027_zps9b2ru6s2.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/09/20160216_210727_zpsw61x0paw-1.jpg (http://s393.photobucket.com/user/mitch_mac1/media/20160216_210727_zpsw61x0paw.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/09/20160407_100416_zpslfjmndek-1.jpg (http://s393.photobucket.com/user/mitch_mac1/media/20160407_100416_zpslfjmndek.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/09/20160407_100351_zpsm0u7ixq6-1.jpg (http://s393.photobucket.com/user/mitch_mac1/media/20160407_100351_zpsm0u7ixq6.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/09/20160407_162856_zpskralfkoq-1.jpg (http://s393.photobucket.com/user/mitch_mac1/media/20160407_162856_zpskralfkoq.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/09/20160410_154224_zpsbipzv3vp-1.jpg (http://s393.photobucket.com/user/mitch_mac1/media/20160410_154224_zpsbipzv3vp.jpg.html)

[hotrodneb]

"It's like hooking a race horse to a plow"

---But I get it.....I've thought of fabricating a hidden hitch for MY '68 bird to haul my Harley on trips.

[HandOverFist]

If you could lose that TSC trailer and find one of these U-Haul's for sale it would be perfect.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/09/UHaul20trailer2_zpshez7kgyh-1.jpg

[gator68428]

I need to work on my trailer swag! haha

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s393.photobucket.com/user/mitch_mac1/media/TrailerSwag2_zpspgtlm5vv.jpg.html)

[F-Body International]

Badass...

[Mr Nick]

Nice! All my cars get hitches for my bike rack. This is my old GTO, I have a hitch sitting in the garage waiting to be installed on the current daily driver, an 09 G8.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/09/2qav0k8-1.jpg

[expensivehobby22]

Thanks for posting this thread!

I want one for the same reason you have yours.

-Ray

[gator68428]

Thanks and you're welcome.

The square tubing ball mount receiver is easy on easy off, b/c i welded the nuts to the angle iron, so the half inch bolts go on and off quickly and easily.

It doesn't show it in the up-close pics (they were just mock up) but i did add lock washers to all mounting hardware during final install. Also not shown is the license plate, which, when mounted is not affected by the hitch structure, and hides it well.