My '64 Nova SS build- from scratch.

[RADustin]

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/C2949A0B-B5D4-4429-AC09-D4CCDBC0DA57-732-000000E3AE2EC6D6_zps9c6eb07b.jpg




I picked this car up a few months back out of Fort Worth Tx. The plan was to get it running as is and enjoy it. Well, after I replaced the tires and the entire fuel system from fuel filler all the way to the carb, the condition of the wiring and the 250ci engine was just too rough.


I had plans to make this a hardcore driving machine since before I even bought it, so the time came to turn my visions into reality. The overall plan is basically pro-touring, but more racey. Amazing suspension, big power, cage, simple interior, simple exterior, super functional. My biggest goal for this car is functional. If I cant drive it to work in the rain it isn't want I want. At the same time, if it isn't easily made track legal, it isn't what I want either. I'm hoping to get the give and take just right. I managed to get it pretty much perfect on my last build when I shot for more of a sport truck build...as seen at many Good Guys shows and magazines.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/3175ABCB-6AF1-4116-BD1F-343FE7085D58-732-000000E3F61C1454_zps2b7a7b64.jpg


Unfortunately, I recently graduated college in mechanical engineering so money is super tight; off my parents payroll. Luckily, I have a want for creating things from scratch that is as good as or maybe even better than what is sold pre made.


I've been putting pen to paper for the last several months designing a complete front sub frame to get my build started with. I designed around c5/c6 corvette parts. Orignally I planned on only using the corvette uprights, wheel bearings, and brakes....but because I had to relocated away from my families wealth of tools, I opted for a redesign and will be using stock vette control arms.


In total, I have about 200 hours of design work in the sub frame. This includes setting up the geometry to actually drawing the front end in 3D space in a manor than I can fabricate myself with very limited tools. The hydraformed cross member of detroit speeds sub is probbably the most elegant solution, but I did what I could.


Heres some views of what I've come up with so far. As the build progresses so will my model.


http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/1_zpsec572b77.jpg


http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/2_zps3f3ccf8a.jpg


http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/3_zps0c299dd6.jpg


I will be using an LS engine with a T56 trans and I've incorporated the engine into the design so I have a good fit.


http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/5_zps054f6a87.jpg


http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/4_zps27a71df4.jpg


You can see the mustang manual rack in the last picture. The driver side mount naturally wants to exist where the lower bushing is on the vette control arm. To get by this problem I will be making a new mount further inboard as shown that clamps on the rack body. I'll cover this more this weekend.


So far I have completed the basic design and sent all my burn files to my brother, who fortunately has a cnc plasma table. Unfortunately, he lives 3 hours away.


The precision in these cuts are what will allow me to build this front end without intricate jigs.


http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/0445D290-112A-424A-BD1D-B1CEC661170E-2601-000002F6A543CED9_zpse2983226.jpg


They're many more pieces than this but these are all the pictures I have so far.


This weekend I will be traveling to pickup the cut parts from my brother and heading all the way back to my parents house where our lathe is, which I will use to move the mount on the steering rack.


I'll keep you guys updated as long as someone is paying attention. So stick around and let me know what yall think!

-Dustin

[AusMarty]

Hope you are using some seriously strong steel!

Looks cool so far, I'm jealous of your ability. lol

[BLACKLIST]

not bad. id design where the subframe is going to bolt to the body better. Im a engineer as well. are you using solid works or inventor? what are you going to do about the upper and lower control arms?

[RADustin]

What concerns you?

I use solidworks.

Control arms are stock vette c5/c6.

[AusMarty]

Wish I was smart enough and focused enough to be an engineer. lol

[GRNOVA]

Wow great ideas got my popcorn ready to enjoy!

[carlospiter]

was going to shoot the arms C5 prices on ebay! grand design!!

[RADustin]

got a ton done this weekend...but didn't take as many pictures as I thought. I will get some more tonight to help better explain what all happened. My brother helped me quite a bit so it was hard to keep up.

I ripped the flaming river quick ratio rack apart. Got it fixed up in the lathe and trued up the body for the clamp.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/th_7DBCB919-27FF-4FDE-9AFA-79B3E914C933-915-000001D0D5C507AF_zpsadd74678.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/th_43E0D3C1-BEC7-495C-BB25-603C0312B95D-915-000001D10449C168_zpsdda75f33.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/th_0D4E9A6E-258B-43BF-A6D1-5D0FBCA866ED-915-000001D0EFA2CB3F_zps54eec8aa.jpg

I also drilled and tapped a hole through each clamp half into the rack for better engagement. I'll get more pics of this. The clamp extended past the aluminum body of the rack and onto the steel center tube so I machined a plastic bushing to fill the gap instead of trim the clamp shorter.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/th_ED83283A-EC69-45A0-BDF9-8029BD6F4104-915-000001D0FBFD7FB0_zps9aee5711.jpg

I'll get more pics of how this installs.

machined 8 spacers for the UCA bushing mounts. these are my contingency plan since this is my first front end and the geometry isn't 100% confirmed...my model is only as accurate as the stock measurements I have from various sources.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/th_FC3E6923-CF4B-436E-8933-CF0191FD5DEA-915-000001D0DFD3F322_zps6a8d77b1.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/th_F8E00DB2-EBAD-4080-BA99-3B78683936A7-915-000001D0E817B0EA_zpsa38096c2.jpg

faced/drilled/tapped the LCA mounts. only have a pic of them mounted up in chuck though, I'll get some more...

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/th_7CDAA26F-6DD1-4F60-8844-530D7AFEFD96-915-000001D0C22442EA_zps03802c62.jpg

lastly we machined the pinion down shorter. machined a positive on one side and a socket in the other. Took ~3" out. Press them together and TIG welded. First pass fusion, then two filler passes.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/th_B3A88C9B-9477-4EEB-B759-5AEC5764241F-915-000001D10B4D4A17_zps6537f17c.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/th_FAB093E4-E1A6-4830-8D0D-F7C75EB80C79-915-000001D1133CA49B_zps84fc2bda.jpg

and that's all the pictures I have with me. I'll fill in the blanks tonight.

Should get building structure soon. I mocked some stuff up as well...but of course no pictures!

[RADustin]

whoops

[RADustin]

test- it's not letting me post an update? says a mod must approve?

got it....can't use thumbnail pictures?

[RADustin]

x2.

[RADustin]

x3.

[RADustin]

x4.

[RADustin]

Whoops

[RADustin]

Whoops x2.

[RADustin]

Got some non-car things done also. I need a solid foundation to build on so I made one.

solid 3/8 top with 1/4 everything else. 3'x4'...Its a beast. Adjustable feet so I can get it level easily. Big thanks to my brother for cutting (most of) it out.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/01761BCB-7CF8-42D5-A745-97D86F78F2AF-378-000000AD93F52079_zpsd110b21b.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/BD4E4FF7-4565-4655-A019-7A9C2A86153E-378-000000AD9BD5D904_zps59eb2199.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/CCD65648-AA7F-4001-9228-F1F841D5FCD0-378-000000ADA3850F43_zpsc4533c14.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/739452F9-5989-4351-8384-8936E1877CB4-378-000000ADAA5BD076_zpsbc22e758.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/F1452A4D-5C96-4E3C-9477-B0F3CE1C8578-378-000000ADB1F57D01_zps5a4e9e97.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/DA9E78F1-E92B-472F-AE96-8E955C31C447-378-000000ADB8ED10A8_zpsfa2d342b.jpg

I have an eyehook in the center so I can move it by myself with my hoist. Without this eyehook, I think it would take 3-4 guys at least.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/D3362F9D-92C3-4A1A-A4A9-6C3ADFF60686-378-000000ADC11776AE_zps0d721a26.jpg
loaded up with material for the subframe.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/3ACB91A5-66B0-47E3-840C-6E10B4C2E047-378-000000ADC5E07F90_zps4002a7f2.jpg

tonight I will start work on the main frame rails. hopefully I can get them cut and fit and tac'd up and positioned on the table. I'm going to build this subframe upside down until the lower crossmember is more or less 'done'. Then flip it over and do the upper control arm mounts.

[AusMarty]

Triple post.


LOL
Looking good man.

[RADustin]

Ah! I have been having problems posting.

Thanks!

[RADustin]

got busy on the frame rails yesterday.

cut all the 2x4 down to size then shaped the front pieces. My rail is higher than stock so that I can have shorter upper control arm mounts and more steering rack clearance, which means I needed to step the rail down for the core support. I also angle cut the front to fit in the core support and capped the front of the rails so that box tube would hole its shape better. It was wanting to flare out when I cut the ends. eventually I will cap the angle but I'm going to plug weld in some 1/4 material to the backside of the 1/8 tube so that when I finish drilling and tapping the bumper and core support holes, there is ~3/8" of material to thread.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/D878489E-B740-4497-B83C-FA8285CF5DFC-1153-000001871076C966_zps6866e25c.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/7FC9D561-07CE-4EF7-80EB-67FAA5385CF4-1153-0000018718699C02_zpsde95cfc5.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/38F3C9EB-33F9-4563-AF11-3755D0CA03A3-1153-000001871F994149_zpseaf52862.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/E3E840AB-2B3C-406D-B206-20AC0EF5E83B-1153-000001872A2BD0F9_zps497de72f.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/4262B038-63FD-4C99-9D98-E4ADE40C473D-1153-00000187325B53EB_zpsd7a815cd.jpg

I used some extra tube to clamp against when forming the rails. The front pieces are offset to get the correct width at the bumper so I used pieces of flat plate as spacers. Worked well.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/50584B98-970B-41C1-A41A-09235056CE8E-1153-000001873997C154_zps8a127be9.jpg

welded and ground the top, then flipped it over and did the bottom.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/92555D47-2134-4B74-B797-1CD9BF3519B9-1153-00000187407ACA7D_zpsc7fccdc0.jpg

ready for the scab plates to finish the offset.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/77A61088-2B59-452D-858B-0D4C4094C9FF-1153-00000187466633B0_zps9f1a567f.jpg

I'll get the rails finished today probably. Then I can clean the table and start setting up the fun stuff.

[Oldskool442]

Looks great, nice job on the CAD design and fabrication. I'm also a mechanical engineer and have done a bit of CAD designing on my cars, but havent gotten to fabbing anything yet having just bought a house. I need to build me a table like that to get me motivated!

Where did you get the CAD models of the engine and rear?

[RADustin]

thanks!

Got the models just through google searches and finding people who were willing to trade models I already had with models I wanted. I also have a friend that can get them through the SEMA program so that helps.

I got the rails pretty much done yesterday, laid them on the table and tac'd up the front and back of the crossmember. Didn't have too long to work but I'm hoping to get the crossmember close to finished up this afternoon along with getting the rear firewall mounting plates on.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/9A7D1EC9-6A02-4EC2-9500-083D0EA53694-1884-0000027389EB9EDF_zpse8e291ca.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/965BA186-8A89-4783-B21A-53AF9E05D86D-1884-00000273937A3A8C_zpsa53c3e76.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/4E34B10E-BE6B-4CC7-A980-ABE862E73FCB-1884-000002739ADD86DB_zps17d37d9e.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/9D51F02A-1EE6-4E5E-8A71-0606650FF1FB-1884-00000273A6930804_zps7c514bfc.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/0B5DC73C-0D7D-4162-9D9C-576B31FC066C-1884-00000273AFC07E88_zps5feba801.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/85210316-4805-4F69-87D6-C5FD5E5EF6E7-1884-00000273B751E16E_zps00d61625.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/12405DC9-8217-4CD8-93F2-E3D1BC3818FD-1884-00000273BD2B8E40_zps7ad60105.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/6157ED80-8E70-4569-9C83-A36CDDA07F1C-1884-00000273C2E1396C_zps4e1fa103.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/55713B13-1491-41FD-9EF3-0D1E9E871C2A-1884-00000273C9330C8C_zpse3365aa7.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/0DF94587-A6F7-410E-A88A-78681F0B4CCE-1884-00000273CEFFC630_zpsaafb684d.jpg

the rack kind of mocked up...you can see all the work I did this weekend getting the clamp on.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/BB35D238-DB61-43D6-B4EC-B70E6F69291B-1884-00000273D47BA3CD_zpse328eec1.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/F250D09A-B5C6-4C19-881D-40125A580421-1884-00000273D9F7656C_zps6d36cba8.jpg

I should really have something to look at this afternoon.

[RADustin]

model update. Put the down bars in and am working on the upper firewall mounts and hood hinge mounts. Will continue tweaking them. Hopefully get them burned out this weekend or early next week.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/11_zpsbd143709.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/12_zps551c82fc.jpg

[RADustin]

got the bottom welded on the crossmember last night. Also got the firewall mounts on.

the top and bottom plates have little teeth that align them off the front and back. I just center everything up and bend it around.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/5228F47A-66F1-4023-95D2-506A43A9144E-142-0000000694F3F51F_zps4e06e795.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/692611CD-9125-468A-B2A9-A96EA7F8B03B-142-00000006AB47A406_zps439f4885.jpg

as the bend got tighter it was impossible to do by hand so I welded on a scrap piece and used a wrench to bend it down.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/591C2404-7607-4433-9508-1F5CA2C20D56-142-00000006B2476AC6_zpse5fedff2.jpg

welded and ground.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/861C73F4-A986-4A68-A492-2F3ADF4B8E00-142-00000006BAD4E54A_zps468c7877.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/FD0D8084-DF91-41A3-9B3A-91484BBFBD59-142-00000006C6C0F18F_zpsbced907d.jpg

setting up the firewall plates.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/C0812F63-D3E1-41B6-9D68-68915FCA9325-142-00000006D38D434C_zps6ea44d0a.jpg

general overview

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/07A13A41-E2DF-4E3A-8BAD-C852075A1855-142-00000006DFCA3896_zpsa90abe67.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/1BE733D8-8CCB-43AE-B603-201B2FFEDDBE-142-00000006E6603863_zpsa96550be.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/B5ED2D34-DC7B-4CE7-93E0-FFC3947F065E-142-00000006EC62795E_zps8a49cd41.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/22B833B0-EF0A-468A-B064-5049A26BEB84-142-00000006F2878BA5_zpsc30a0733.jpg

I couldn't resist a quick mock up.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/1E0D2D04-DB22-4B77-9164-201C2A5779D3-142-00000006FA8BC9E4_zps0f7611e6.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/DCA40FE0-259C-43A1-BF88-F1CB46B1E2AB-142-000000070149DB1E_zps48ba1c24.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/39FEB28D-491F-4AAE-9EEC-08D50AC444BF-142-0000000706E5C30E_zpsc464fdb6.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/E76C4D1F-5CCC-4846-8EF3-667ADD6F2432-142-000000070C91A012_zps217f57ff.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/B9B5E6C8-4D17-4DF7-A526-9BD88FD92FB3-142-0000000712845ADF_zps3aebd591.jpg

this weekend I hope to finish it all. Next week I can hopefully do the down bars and wrap everything up.

[CruizinKev]

wow good work man!!! looks awesome!!

[RADustin]

happy Monday to everyone.

I worked pretty hard this weekend. Didn't get to my goal but worked through some major issues. I'll take you guys through the weekend and show my mistakes.

got the top put on the crossmember.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/33D52292-8CAE-4502-89EB-92EBD1864D6B-2095-000002FB043542E8_zps3bcf7333.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/50A9F39B-7950-4635-BF51-F30BAB91EB9E-2095-000002FB17142E12_zps0236e0dc.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/204C9919-0E7B-454C-A1D2-84A9F0F6D9A6-2095-000002FB289D788C_zpsede09526.jpg

setup the upper control arm plates.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/C80026D6-F813-4864-A186-4EB278E73A23-2095-000002FB3EA92056_zps02f7e253.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/5CF87353-022D-4C76-B580-549E32AB448C-2095-000002FB4D8C5B2C_zps52a9630f.jpg

checked camber at the hub. its at 0. this is expected and shows my model geometry is spot on.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/2B9BC29A-862D-4786-A49B-0A210777F274-2095-000002FB561B8C54_zpsfaef2f60.jpg

setup the rack in its original position. I later figured out on full suspension compression and turned full lock the lower arms hit the actual rack(inner tie rod pivot). So I had to move it...

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/F8B73F43-BF22-4B7B-BBC7-B299AA809DE7-2095-000002FB63A06E6E_zps881c0b90.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/7EAA48FA-B60B-44AA-ABDF-442E82635B7E-2095-000002FB736FF614_zpsdb05f5f8.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/BE678F9A-03E6-40D7-8E1C-B02A83706177-2095-000002FB81594D54_zps887b95b6.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/DD99D46A-3D44-40A2-BF22-C657EF38B5BF-2095-000002FB99DC1C1B_zps4f3af66e.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/08729248-7D83-4D6B-AAE1-1F88102F2C6F-2095-000002FBA53888F6_zps682dfdfe.jpg

the plastic bushing and clamp that holds the rack...

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/919A1186-691B-42ED-AE75-065FB00C693A-2095-000002FBADA298EA_zpseb37ed71.jpg

some generals

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/05D8A469-1E9F-4F7A-91E9-7A8A0965426B-2095-000002FBB7801D9F_zps172fa827.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/AE4BEE47-BC2D-4D68-83A3-F0D3C1C84646-2095-000002FBC40242F5_zpsbfb6b245.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/69192164-B4E1-41D1-A169-5B9A62B2C4E8-2095-000002FBD83898C8_zpsf6a42581.jpg

made these pieces of rosette weld in the tubes to give me more thread engagement for the bumper mounts.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/7F66374D-FBE8-4763-B4E0-A69AB3974676-2095-000002FC006B9C23_zps37b9ddad.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/5BB5BEBD-E5BB-4589-B13B-66253121BA5C-2095-000002FC08EC8060_zps665a0169.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/9173D3F9-EA60-41C1-8FB2-07D296E78FA7-2095-000002FBEF144285_zpsc85c6313.jpg

capped the ends

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/D3D4C54E-2CB8-44EA-9E9D-D6DDDF68A341-2095-000002FC10B250F4_zps51e2a88c.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/78E3179E-8DF4-4DD4-A445-11E8075D52E3-2095-000002FC1E18BF36_zpsd3463b60.jpg

welded up LCA plates.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/13FE94D0-1E49-45FE-A107-A1A6DBDC0761-2095-000002FC26EB9001_zps4f3f6c52.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/4C1FB95B-60C6-4F0D-8751-048ACF9237A9-2095-000002FC2E676441_zps75445ee9.jpg

my weld setup(lol!)

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/4217E960-7B44-4C52-BAAA-3A6394CBA1CB-2095-000002FC35B54949_zpsebefe698.jpg

rough ride height(measuring)

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/DF18EC27-D20B-4A7B-8AA8-E539BAA5C4B7-2095-000002FC3E769CF6_zps03fe1749.jpg

checking tie rods(where I found my screwup)

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/2F960809-CD0E-42CE-A877-F02B62C8B563-2095-000002FC47421D6F_zpsa9bb61a9.jpg

[RADustin]

measured to move the rack...had to notch for tie rods..

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/3CFDD418-C375-4207-AC9A-D4D371DBD5E2-2095-000002FC51781787_zps8d0e79f8.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/CE3CA972-FB06-44FC-B392-B3CDC34CA0EA-2095-000002FC590CB8FB_zps2eaadcc7.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/F28C104B-E2EC-4D59-9530-867190B90D1D-2095-000002FC631E54FF_zpsdb5ba75a.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/1BFAB71F-DE2A-444B-B844-C522D5E297C5-2095-000002FC6D0E026F_zps3489f8b9.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/FDA2EA58-CE1A-48D6-82ED-E7D7A0A49998-2095-000002FC7432520F_zpsb2b93d13.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/DA905564-3D13-4B5A-8267-B2998A83A128-2095-000002FC8297FB2F_zps0077ba27.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/F75017AF-A26E-4FFE-93D8-5FA3999199D1-2095-000002FC89B3A73A_zps7124d7cf.jpg

setting the rack up again...

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/3C59CFC2-5BB7-474D-B5C8-A8BE6A9F0F62-2095-000002FC90E3A537_zps71617e6e.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/477DF470-5A2C-43EC-9387-E258858A2356-2095-000002FC973DE08D_zps9135b3d9.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/A9CC68D4-CFC4-4090-8B4F-F84EB78439DE-2095-000002FC9E657623_zps08151d04.jpg


what I ended up with for rack mounts....its ok.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/B7826DBE-9714-487F-BEC9-67C755F2B479-2095-000002FCA44F1A9D_zpsd44a82d3.jpg

tossed on the firewall for an end of the weekend encouragement.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/0E1AC9D1-77A9-472F-A310-FCD70A86AE6C-2095-000002FCAA8F1675_zpsc2e3944b.jpg

that's all for now!

[19,69camaro]

That is a ton of progress for one weekend! Also I don't beat yourself up on having to notch the frame. I did the same damn thing!

[RADustin]

I've bagged quite a few trucks/ notched for many tie rods so it doesn't bother me tooo much. I'm just mad at myself for being lazy and not modeling the control arms and swinging the suspension in CAD and finding the problem there. I could have designed around having to do all that work!

I also have to sit now and re-figure the tie rod length and location at the spindle for the new rack placement. I had the toe gain perfect so I'm hoping I can get it back where I want it.

[RADustin]

Its funny you mention getting quite a bit done....I feel like I am moving at a snails pace.

I'm so used to having super sweet tools and now pretty much the only tool I have is my dewalt grinder and my miller 250.

[RADustin]

last night I put the cheek plates on. The rears went on as planned but the fronts I had to improvise.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/CA4424AC-D854-4430-B907-810CC25C4E22-3192-00000453B46E2E2F_zps9ff35597.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/266ED005-0A29-485F-B275-F860C0E17563-3192-00000453BBF608C4_zps30848fb8.jpg

for the front passenger I started by making a cardboard template. Then I bent/cut it to how I wanted. Then transferred to the pre-cut metal tab.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/6E0E9240-E18C-4629-816B-B16FE391A11F-3192-00000453C3303F94_zps37f54d16.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/8A250EAF-3BC5-46C4-B435-588160895C72-3192-00000453C905F3EC_zps730526b9.jpg

for the drivers side I drilled another hole in the pre cut tab and trimed it back tagging it off of the rack bolt.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/42D7ECEF-82DD-4580-8D4D-C6B0B1C937D4-3192-00000453CFD71E31_zps1ee7e42e.jpg

with everything being asymmetrical it bothers me but its kind of neat at the same time.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/4A541B23-73C6-4387-BE63-D476C9A93D2D-3192-00000453D66BA919_zps2f73b266.jpg

drilled and tapped holes for the coresupport.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/BB62B065-C1B4-47C9-A927-B460C57E9776-3192-00000453DE449F9D_zpsca5bf5df.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/ECE49FB8-B6DB-452E-90BE-4A493C0E6E27-3192-00000453E3E40AD9_zps7623e386.jpg

this weekend I am running back to my parents for the LSU-Florida game, so I'll sneak in some machine time while I'm there and get some more parts made.

[RADustin]

also got the tie rod adapters for the spindles designed up after I redid the tie rod calculations.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/tierod_zps873d3d65.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/tierod1_zps69ad48b0.jpg

on a complete spindle..

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/tierod2_zps1442fd8b.jpg

My brother should be able to burn all these parts and the down bar parts out this weekend. so next week I can get everything finished up.

[BLACKLIST]

lot of progess since I was last in here. subframe is looking good.

[RADustin]

thanks!

[Rod]

I'm liking it!!!

[RADustin]

worked a little bit last night...

got the subframe mounted up to the car and bolted some stuff up. Put one of my 14's on it to see how it looked but the 14" rim doesn't clear the spindle. This is a bummer because I was hoping to use these as some roll around wheels/tires.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/94C725D3-57E2-48BD-B88C-18D9217C67C6-3908-00000550BEF601FB_zpse6f02c42.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/F4D8431E-CA4A-4762-A9B0-B60C72D2AE1D-3908-00000550C6466113_zps7f78b7e7.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/395079CF-CB13-4A56-A71B-EAD107C8CA56-3908-00000550CC283C61_zpsec346b06.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/922E91C3-C181-4EB1-A78F-0BBE13F84E0F-3908-00000550D796D27B_zps3c18f5e0.jpg

[CruizinKev]

wow awesome! good work!!

[RADustin]

started working on the steering column this weekend. Decided to make my own so it was exactly what I wanted, and wouldn't cost a fortune.

here I setup the spline for the steering wheel and the top shaft collar prior to welding.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/IMG_1820_zpsbb014969.jpg

kind of a lapse in pictures but I cut down an aluminum tube to length and machined the ends to accept some bearings.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/IMG_1824_zpsa7d3d920.jpg

the top collar pushes on a heavy spring that pushes on the top bearing to hold everything tight.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/IMG_1825_zpsdd0d9959.jpg[/img]

bottom view of the column.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/IMG_1826_zps5b881e85.jpg

cut the splined end off an old shaft and machined it down to fit in the steerer tube.

[img]http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/IMG_1832_zps51b6d964.jpg

what it looks like finished off with the u-joint.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/IMG_1830_zps0a54c507.jpg

and I made the tie rod bungs. machined some stock and then reamed it with a 7° taper.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/IMG_1823_zpsd6cbbdf7.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/RADustin/IMG_1827_zpsc1dfe953.jpg

my brother also burned out a whole bunch of pieces so I have plenty to do this week.

[RADustin]

well all my pictures died so I guess you guys are here checkin me out!

Going to switch to imageshack and see if it works better.

finished out all the tabs I need for the down bars...took forever since I didn't have a die grinder.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

got the firewall plates bent and mounted.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

hard to see but they are bent to follow the firewall. I used one mounting shim behind each tab.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

sent a tab on the crossmember. These will get welded and then the holes will be drill out through the box tube and tapped.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

tac'd up hood hinge plate.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

all tac'd up

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

bottom flange welded. Will weld all the way around when I take everything back apart. The holes are tapped and everything is ready for tube.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[RADustin]

well imageshack is a pain in the butt to use, so lets try picturetrail...I did figure out the problem with my pictures being huge on photobucket. so next month I'll start with photobucket again.

lots of progress over the past couple of days...

got the down bar flanges done and bent some tube. anyone who has bent tube before, in all 3 dimensions knows its pretty hard to land both ends exactly where you want. Needless to say it took me one 'practice' one then I got them figured out.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858955-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858956-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858957-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858959-1.jpg

welded up the steerer arms..

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858960-1.jpg

on car...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858961-1.jpg

cut the original steer arms off..

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858967-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858966-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858965-1.jpg

with steerer arm...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858964-1.jpg

hood hinge mounts

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858968-1.jpg

started mounting the column...cut off the rolled lip

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858968-1.jpg

template for filler

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858974-1.jpg

metal

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858973-1.jpg

fitted

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858972-1.jpg

welded up

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858971-1.jpg

drilled hole for column

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858970-1.jpg

mocked in there with seal

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858969-1.jpg

used the stock upper mount and threw a wheel on. hopefully when the rest of the interior is done the red wheel is toned down.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/407858979-1.jpg