Project: Love 69 - My Corvette Build Thread

[vette427-sbc]

Little more progress:

[71VETTEWI]

I have been doing a similar mod to my 71 Vette. While your in there. Beef up the kick up area of frame. It is a weak point in the frame. I was able to weld 2 pieces of square tubing to the rear crossmember and tie it to the main crossmember that the front of the diff. Basically doubling the kick up section. I did it down the middle. I did it so it fits under the floor. I have also seen small square tubing used outside of the kick ups to triangulate the kick up area to that same main crossmember.
Great Work on the car! Looks Awesome.

[Aficionado]

Re: beefing up the frame. Do you have the Chevy Power manual? It gives instructions on how/where to beef it up. If you don't have it, I've got a PDF (if I can find it...) of it that I'd happy to email you.

[t-rex001]

Wheel adapters/spacers finally came! The front wheels fit perfect... Rear suspension is still out so I didnt get to mock them up.

Motorsport Tech Wheel adapters with ARP 1/2" x 2" studs


285/35/18 stuffed up front!





The oil cooler is done too. Just need to figure out where and how I am going to secure the lines. Heads are coming off for the new gaskets and the rear suspension is almost ready to go back in. Getting close to being able to beat it up at another track day!

Absolutely stunning build. Just picked up a set of M-Parallel's and was wondering what thickness spacer/adapters you used.

[BuildFan]

BuildFan here from BuildThreads, Inc.

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[opnwide]

Looking good. I finally hit my '72 with a little fiberglass work last week. My poor vette has been off the street for about 10 years now. I finally got my new garage!
On those trailing arms, how about welding some nuts on the backside and using safety wire to hold the bolts in place? I wouldn't want to cut a window in that kickup. I'd keep it fully boxed.

[windhamjk]

I love this build how much do you want to sell it for?

[vette427-sbc]

[vette427-sbc]

So finally an update!! First, sorry for the non chronological photos... Im uploading from my phone so its a bit cumbersome.

July 4th weekend 2017, DMP FAB (the_dan on here) picked up my frame to finish (read: re-do) the fab work for all that I had mocked up. After speaking with Ron Sutton, I have scrapped the C5 front suspension idea and decided to go with one of his TA series front clips. The clip was shipped to DMP FAB in NH and is scheduled to be ready for delivery back home in a couple weeks.

A few things worth noting about the frame mods being done... the trans and diff (pinion mount side) have been flushed to the rest of the frame rails so that I can get a *mostly* smooth underside. both of these crossmembers were designed with weight and strength in mind, so the vertical sections are made from .188" plate, while the top and bottom sides are .090". The front clip is designed for 335's under my stock front fenders, and the rear frame rails have been clearanced to fit 345's with a subtle 2" flare. I cant say enough good things about both Dan @DMP FAB and Ron Sutton getting my project back in motion and turning out better than I could have imagined!

[J. Chris Davis]

Very cool! I look forward to future updates.

[vette427-sbc]

[vette427-sbc]

Pics are in reverse chronological... But!... The RSRT front clip is pseudo assembled for mockup. Looks like it will be pretty close to matching up to my original frame. Some modifications have to be made to clear the floor/firewall and my sidepipe headers. Full confidence that dan @DMP will make it work perfect!

[vette427-sbc]

[vette427-sbc]

[J. Chris Davis]

That's some great looking work! If I had any where near that fabrication talent I'd love to do something like this to my 76. Bet this thing will be a beast on the road when it's done.

[vette427-sbc]

That's some great looking work! If I had any where near that fabrication talent I'd love to do something like this to my 76. Bet this thing will be a beast on the road when it's done.

Thanks, Chris! If I had to give you one piece of advice for your corvette, buy a second frame so you can still drive and enjoy yours while you work on the frame fab... Im close to 4 years without driving this car and that is depressing. Never less, Im beyond happy with the fab work that Dan has done for me... Only a few more days until its back in my hands and ready for plumbing, belly pan, cage mounts, etc...

[J. Chris Davis]

That is some very good advice. I don't think I could go that long without driving it, lol. One day it will be completed and you can enjoy it. I look forward to seeing more progress.

[the dan]

Holy ***** its been so long since either of us have updated that our pictures dont work anymore!

Glad you're happy with the work I did!

[the dan]

Some more details on the vette

[vette427-sbc]

Getting moving with plumbing... rear brake line mock up and Teves MK60 ABS pump mounting location