I think I'm done

[dgumoe]

I think I've given up on the pro-touring bit. I can't see the money needed to do this car correctly. The straw that broke the camels back is my headers. They're hooker supercomps, and on a G-body they wrap around the frame into the fenderwell. My buddy has em on his car and even with a 205 tire on a 6" rim he rubs the header. So there's no way im gonna cram a 8 inch wheel up there. Besides that, i cant find an affordable wheel in a 17" size that doesnt require spacers. And since I decided that i just had to have corvette brakes i cant run anything but a 17. Looking at it now i think this is gonna turn into a dual purpose street/strip car. it just makes more sense for me i think. i dunno, whine whine whine, anyone got any cheese?:candle:

[mr5231]

I'm with you man. Wheels and PT parts in general are out of hand. Every time I turn around I'm spending $500 or $1000 for a part I hadn't planned on.:hand:

[rocketman]

build what you like and want,dont build it like everyone else's,just because the most think you you have to have 18's or,19's etc,6 pistion brakes etc,do it your way,thats the fun of cars,have fun.

[dgumoe]

well i thought it was gonna be fun having one of the only true PT g-bodies out there, an elcamino nonetheless, but dammit man, wheels alone im looking at 1600. 1500 for the suspension, on the front, god knows how much in paint, tires, incidentals. my budget doesnt allow for such things, not with a kid at home. so back to the drawing board i go, 1/4 mile drags here i come again.

[Bill Howell]

I feel your pain on the gbody headers, I bought 3 sets before we finally found a set that would fit/with modifications. In fact, I have a set like you are talking about sitting in the garage, powercoated and everything, but could not use.....urghhhhh!
I just bought a T56 for my car today, so I have a complete 700r4 with proper driveshaft if that would help you. It will be cheap even though it is new. I just wanted to row some gears......

[EFI69Cam]

Its more like po-touring. Cause it will make you poor.

[dgumoe]

hey bill, thanks, but i really think my mind is made up, maybe you oughta call phil and convince him to put OD in luv 3 or 2 whatever the hell number his truck is. although at the rate he's going, ill be retired before that truck ever hits the street again.

[Steve1968LS2]

Nothing wrong with type of car.. chances are that it will handle/brake/look better than stock so you can still be considered PT.. Build a bitchen car and don't worry so much about trying to fit into some definition derived by others..

Oh, and have fun!

[NvrDun71]

I feel your pain on the gbody headers, I bought 3 sets before we finally found a set that would fit/with modifications. In fact, I have a set like you are talking about sitting in the garage, powercoated and everything, but could not use.....urghhhhh!
I just bought a T56 for my car today, so I have a complete 700r4 with proper driveshaft if that would help you. It will be cheap even though it is new. I just wanted to row some gears......

Bill....How much are you looking to get for the 700r4 minus the driveshaft? Any specs on it? I've been looking for one for my Nova for some time now. Shoot me a PM w/ the specs if your interested.

[TonyD]

since im not building a fullout drag car, shorty headers work good for me on my g-body :)

[dgumoe]

thats another thing, the engine thats going in is just absurd to think i could drive it all the time, 13 to one compression. 650 cam, dart heads, and no im not gonna detune it, it runs too good as it is. this is the motor that was in the race car. i kid you not, it can sit for 6 months and i can go out charge the battery and kick the tires and it will start, so im not changing ANYTHING on the engine. so in all reality, it needs to be geared more towards drag strip use.

[JJSmitches]

I called my cardomain page "poor-touring Chevelle."

I dont have a problem being on a budget, its better than it was and thats the point. Even if I did drop $xxxxxx on my car there would almost certainly be someone with something better and if not it would motivate someone to build something better.

Be happy with what I have, thats my motto.

[Steve Firebird]

Maybe there should be a Budget Pro-Touring movement. I have to say I have taken the less expensive route on a lot of the parts on my car. I just look at where I need the "good” stuff and where I can use a less exotic part and still get the performance I want. My car is mostly street driven and will do some long hauls so the TKO 600 was something I will use but my factory suspension with urethane bushings gas shocks and OEM style disc brakes all the way around will do for now on the handling aspect of the build. I think it handled like it was on rails with that set up. Until I out drive my suspension it will stay like it is. It is easy to get caught up in wanting all the cool new stuff believe me If I had more money I would have it all but it is also fun to see if you cam make something cool out of what you can afford.

[Bill Howell]

I like what I am reading here guys. There is NOTHING wrong with budget builds. Build your car for you, not someone else. Building something you can not afford will only cause issues elsewhere. Those that know me well, know I enjoy the malibu as much or more than the goat. Honestly, the goat is too expensive to drive much, I am too worried it will get damaged in a parking lot or by an idiot with no insurance. The bu is just as fun to drive in most situations, gets plenty thumbs up and if it does get a scratch, just not a big deal. NO ONE should ever feel bad about their rides, or never finish their project because they are afraid it will not meet someone else's expectations. Building what you can afford and driving the car is much more fun than having a car taking up space somewhere, in project hell. Build it, ride now, redo later.....:3gears:

[bobbaganoosh]

Hedman makes an under chassis g-body header for the bbc. Part number 65200, they have 2" primaries and 3 1/2" collectors. I had a set of these on a Buick regal with a bbc in it, fit was pretty good.

[importkiller69ss]

i second the shortys on my 70 chevelle i had shorty's and they sounded great to me at 16 years old with flow masters but i didnt had any cleareance or problems with them

[Steven]

There's nothing wrong with a budget build g-body. So don't go the big block. Build a on a small block. Lot's of headers and big brakes that will stop you.

[80superbu]

Don't let it get you down. Not every has cash to have a car built and just buy whatever they need when they need it...trust me, I know.
Any other headers you can use besides the Hookers? Maybe sell them and get the others??

[CRCRFT78]

I say stick with your plan but revise it a little. Spend a little more on the essentials and update those parts you can get away with using now later on. I think that is one of the reasons alot of projects don't get finished. We all try to live up to others expectations and realize its just not feasible. I first hand have had to watch my Nova sit for 10 years, and 2 of my Malibus for 3 years. Now that I've come to my senses I will finally start 1 of the Malibus this summer. Sites like this are great resources especially during a build. The parts, the knowledge and the people willing to help out each other is unbelievable. Sorry for the rambling.
Joe

[dgumoe]

big block?? lol, sorry guys, its a small block engine. i think what im gonna do is build it for street/strip duty for now, maybe in a couple years when i have more footing in my field and am making decent cash, ill go all out and do the suspension, brakes, wheels, minitub, all that good stuff. for right now, i think i can get it done for around 5000. you see ive already got a drivetrain handed to me from the race car, so thats no problem, basically, i need a rollcage, some gages, and redo the body work. i figure if all goes ok ill be done by the turkey run. DONT get me wrong guys, i think PT cars are where its at and i admire just about all the cars you guys are putting together, but for me to do this car the way i want it done its just not gonna be economically feasible for a long ass time. so since im basically a drag race addict anyway im gonna set it up that way for now.

[TPI Monte SS]

Check my sig. I've called my '88 Monte SS "BudgetTouring" for years. Almost everything that's on my car is factory-type parts, but for different cars. This kept costs down, but still lets me drive the wee out of it. Even with the 305, it cooks along pretty good, and I was hanging right in the curves with Ralph LoGrasso's 4th-gen F-body and Mr. Angry's '68 Charger.

Bill, we have to keep this secret to ourselves - the G-body is the best bang-for-the-buck on the street! And congrats on the T56, you will love rowing gears. My car is 10x more entertaining since I yanked the auto and swapped in the World Class T5.

[Dan Sherwood]

I think Bills (and others) comments were right on the mark. I started with a primered 67 camaro for the street/strip and over the course of 4 years found it tough to make it do everything I really wanted. I decided my top priority was racing it both at the dragstrip and the roadcourse, and that's been tough enough for both venues, but I can run the road course friday morning with some really high dollar german cars (a certain $450,000 porsche I spanked comes to mind) and then set the shocks a little looser, put on the skinnies and slicks and go run 9's at the dragstrip. That car is finished out in a way I can't tell if it's got a new paint chip or not, and I don't care-I put it together to beat on, and that's what I do.

On the other hand, I have the 69 camaro that like Bill's goat, makes me nervous to drive it down the street, where I park it, or how hard I push it when I do take it to the track. It has somewhat taken the fun out of the build, especially when you figure the idiot in the next lane weaving his honda fart banger in and out of traffic may just take out your $60,000+ project you've spent screwing with the last few years.

I'm at the point I either sell the pt 69 or come to grips with driving it like I want and quit worrying about the $ invested. On the other hand, the 67 may not win any shows (I think you have to enter to win?) but I drive it like my sons would if I let them, don't worry about a ding or dent, and have half the $ into it, and would not think of selling it cuz I'm having too much fun with it. I think we're on to something! (remembering the FUN part)