cypher
11-28-2017, 03:35 PM
So eleven or twelve years ago i got this bright idea, i want to get another chevelle ( sold the original 72 ss i had while i was in college, i know, stupid me for selling it) but would love to put one of the new LS chevy motors in it so i would FI. I started lots of research and decided that a pro touring car was what i wanted, even though back then i had no idea thats what it was called. About 6 to 8 months later found a car that i could afford.... which i wont get into its problems here, and a wrecked 02 T/A about 5 miles down the road from my house and bought it and the project was on like Donkey Kong. Fast forward over 10 years; growing kids, lose of job, finding new job, moving , the list goes on and on and i have stalled out and nearly going in reverse project.... BUT i want to change that and start moving forward again.. But where to start.
Things i have:
1) i have the car i want..but the car body, frame, suspension, etc needs a metric ton to get "complete".
2) i have a 58k mile LS1 and an unknown T56 condition sitting in front of the car
3) I have brand new front suspension pieces...tubular UCA & LCA,afx spindles from scandc, vette brakes calipers from a friend donating to the build all sitting in a box inside the car.
4) I have Hellwig FrameFX bought and sitting in box on floor
The car/project needs everything else.
no interior, no fuel system at all, no other braking system minus front calipers, no wiring other than dash/column (which needs changed)
Now to the real part of this post... where and what to start on. I feel like over the last 10 years this project went from a somewhat uncommon at the time LS swap to now a complete car overhaul; meanwhile i havent gotten anything but quarter panels and trunk replaced and bought a few random pieces as they were on sale over the years. Its taking way longer than i thought when i started so my end goal/wants seems to be moving as the times change. I have zero technical or physical issues with doing this build as im very mechanically minded and was a part time mechanic in my earlier years but the project just never seems to move forward. Like any good project you need to have a plan of attack so you stay on coarse and for the most part, its still the same. Ive contemplated upgrading some aspects of the car to newer versions of what was available to me back 10 years ago (ls1 to ls3, t56 to t56 magnum, etc) but all of those would just be back tracking and im afraid that will even further delay the build.
1) Is it worth back tracking to newer things to make the end result of the car what i want now compared to back then or just start with what i currently have to motivate forward and replace down the road as needed?
2) The good running low mileage engine i bought 10 years ago has sat for the last 6 years. All intake and exhaust ports has been fully sealed, but should i worry about a partial tear down before installing?
3) Is the frameFX kit even worth welding on the frame?
4) Fuel system: If your building everything from scratch, would you go with the slightly less expensive tanksinc tank and pump or upgrade to the ricks restomod tank and gen 5 camaro pump assembly? Return or returnless lines? Old style corvette filter\regulator or other.
If you were in my shoes, where would you go/start? I think if i dont start soon, ill never get off the ground. Sorry for such a scatter brained post, but i guess thats what i get when i do this just after getting off work before heading home.
Things i have:
1) i have the car i want..but the car body, frame, suspension, etc needs a metric ton to get "complete".
2) i have a 58k mile LS1 and an unknown T56 condition sitting in front of the car
3) I have brand new front suspension pieces...tubular UCA & LCA,afx spindles from scandc, vette brakes calipers from a friend donating to the build all sitting in a box inside the car.
4) I have Hellwig FrameFX bought and sitting in box on floor
The car/project needs everything else.
no interior, no fuel system at all, no other braking system minus front calipers, no wiring other than dash/column (which needs changed)
Now to the real part of this post... where and what to start on. I feel like over the last 10 years this project went from a somewhat uncommon at the time LS swap to now a complete car overhaul; meanwhile i havent gotten anything but quarter panels and trunk replaced and bought a few random pieces as they were on sale over the years. Its taking way longer than i thought when i started so my end goal/wants seems to be moving as the times change. I have zero technical or physical issues with doing this build as im very mechanically minded and was a part time mechanic in my earlier years but the project just never seems to move forward. Like any good project you need to have a plan of attack so you stay on coarse and for the most part, its still the same. Ive contemplated upgrading some aspects of the car to newer versions of what was available to me back 10 years ago (ls1 to ls3, t56 to t56 magnum, etc) but all of those would just be back tracking and im afraid that will even further delay the build.
1) Is it worth back tracking to newer things to make the end result of the car what i want now compared to back then or just start with what i currently have to motivate forward and replace down the road as needed?
2) The good running low mileage engine i bought 10 years ago has sat for the last 6 years. All intake and exhaust ports has been fully sealed, but should i worry about a partial tear down before installing?
3) Is the frameFX kit even worth welding on the frame?
4) Fuel system: If your building everything from scratch, would you go with the slightly less expensive tanksinc tank and pump or upgrade to the ricks restomod tank and gen 5 camaro pump assembly? Return or returnless lines? Old style corvette filter\regulator or other.
If you were in my shoes, where would you go/start? I think if i dont start soon, ill never get off the ground. Sorry for such a scatter brained post, but i guess thats what i get when i do this just after getting off work before heading home.