DSE Minitub 1970 Nova install with pics

[ls1 nova]

Just started my install tonight. This will be a slow project, but will post many pics. Tonight I worked for about 1 hr and removed the rear end and drilled out the spot welds on the drivers side at the trunk support mount and the rear seat support.

1. Step 1 Pull the rear end and any interior that may get hurt by cutting,grinding,welding.

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This is the spot weld cutter I am using. It is a WIVCO "SPOT-EZE"

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3. Third Drill the spot welds for the trunk support mount and the back seat bracing.


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These are just a couple before pics.

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[Young Gun]

looks good! I will be following this closely as I am going to be doing this within the next few months... Well after I replace the quarters, trunk, floor, firewall, toe boards, part of the roof, package tray, and the tail panel... So I'll be starting kinds soon haha... I've subscribed tho!

[grump]

Looks like your off to a great start.I remember when i did mine i couldn't get over how many spotwelds there are holding the tubs in.Keep posting pictures:twothumbs

[yoboy sawyer]

Man that looks great can you do mine !

[69LT1Nova]

I like the color of your Nova. ;)

[ls1 nova]

Just spent a couple more hours on the tubs. Here is the progress.

4. I drilled the spot welds in this area.

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5. I started cutting with a sawzall to get the majority of the tub out of the way. This part went very quickly. I cut right along side of the joint between the inner and the outer. Between this and drilling the for mentioined spot welds most of the tub was out.

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Notice I did not cut all the way to the trunkpan in the rear. These are NOT full wheelhouses. There will be a splice along the trunk line. Just not sure exactly where yet.

6. The next step was to get the small section of the tub at the front -bottom. I found there were patches welded in here at some point, so it wasn't just a matter of drilling spotwelds. I had to grind/cut this out.

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7. With the tub out of the way this was a good time to drill the spot welds on the trunk lid support bracket. A right angle drill comes in handy. I have a cage installed in the car. It looks like the rear bars are going to have to move. Hopefully a can just suck them in a little?

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Make sure you save this piece.

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8. Next I started drilling spot welds where the inner and outer join. I have found this really bites my ass! If anybody knows of a better way to seperate these please let me know(air chisel??) This is where I quite for the night and started drinking.

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Just some pics of whats left of the tub and pics of wheel opening inside the car.

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I will post somemore when I get done drilling spot welds.

[Young Gun]

still looking awesome! keep it up! think you'll have them mocked up and tacked in by the end of this weekend?

[MrQuick]

8. Next I started drilling spot welds where the inner and outer join. I have found this really bites my ass! If anybody knows of a better way to seperate these please let me know(air chisel??) This is where I quite for the night and started drinking.

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I usually cut the horizontal section out right at the vertical section starts and then use a big angle grinder to flatten out the section that the new tub tacks too...its adds a tiny bit more tire room and more meat to the section to make welding a bit easier.

Your doing great. :cheers:

[WILWAXU]

Great shots!

Thanks!

[grump]

I usually cut the horizontal section out right at the vertical section starts and then use a big angle grinder to flatten out the section that the new tub tacks too...its adds a tiny bit more tire room and more meat to the section to make welding a bit easier.

Your doing great. :cheers:



Exactly what MrQuick said makes things so much easier.

[scherp69]

8. Next I started drilling spot welds where the inner and outer join. I have found this really bites my ass! If anybody knows of a better way to seperate these please let me know(air chisel??) This is where I quite for the night and started drinking.

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I used an air chisel...it worked great. The nice thing is both pieces are fairly thick and the chisel shouldn't damage either piece. It cut right through the welds when I did it. Looking good. I'm doing the same thing to mine right now so I'm appreciating what you're doing and feeling your pain at the same time.

[ls1 nova]

Just put in an evenings worth of work. Here is the update.

9. I went with Mr. Quick and stopped drilling spot welds and just smoothed the lip. Great idea. A little more room never hurts.

10. I cut the flange in the interior part of the car. Measure in 2 1/2" from the original tub and scribe a line. I measured outward 1" and scribed another line. Cut back on the ends to your 2 1/2" line. Then cut lenthwise on your 1" outward line. At this point I took 3 4" duckbill vise grips and bent the flange down 90 degrees.

Some pics.

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11. Next step was to cut the trunk section but I had an issue with my roll bar being in the way. Here is some pics with the 2 1/2" line scribed and the bar pulled away.

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I cut the bar with a saw zall. I was shocked it did an amazing job. Went through 1 blade real quick. I then used cutting oil and she sliced right through!

Pics after 2 1/2" section cut.

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12. Next step was to do the frame notch. I used the trial and fit method to get the gaps nice.

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13. Next I cut the seat brace.

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14. Next was fitting the tub. I left all my cuts 1/16" - 1/8" short. I then ground to fit. Here is what it looks like.

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Next step will be installing all the frame closeouts.

[SatisTraction]

looking good!! it is a lot of work but way worth it!

[MrQuick]

phenomenal work. Looking good. Your hired! HAA!! I beat Frank to it.

[Motown 454]

Nice job looks like youv'e been doing these all your life.
Wayne

[ls1 nova]

Just a question. That small piece of shock mount left, have you guys been removing it? The tub fits fine but seems like the fill in piece would be cleaner without it?

[WILWAXU]

When your done... I have another one for you ;)

[MrQuick]

Just a question. That small piece of shock mount left, have you guys been removing it? The tub fits fine but seems like the fill in piece would be cleaner without it? yep, you cut it all the way out.

[Part Time]

Looks awesome! Nice work. I'm glad that I'm finished with the deep tubs. Are you going to run the DSE upper shock cross member?

[LT1Nova]

Are you planning on using the stock spring locations?

[craigs73]

9. I went with Mr. Quick and stopped drilling spot welds and just smoothed the lip. Great idea. A little more room never hurts.


what part exactly are you talking about you have any pics of what your talking about i am waiting on my dse tubs and going to start here in the next few weeks:jump:

[silver69camaro]

what part exactly are you talking about you have any pics of what your talking about i am waiting on my dse tubs and going to start here in the next few weeks:jump:

He talking about the spotwelds that run on the top of the wheeltubs - the vertical flange. Instead of drilling out the 6 million spotwelds, just cut the tub out and leave the inner flange spotwelded in place. Smooth with a grinder and prepare for welding. We did this as well and saved us hours. You can't even tell the old flange is there when you're done.

[absintheisfun]

He talking about the spotwelds that run on the top of the wheeltubs - the vertical flange. Instead of drilling out the 6 million spotwelds, just cut the tub out and leave the inner flange spotwelded in place. Smooth with a grinder and prepare for welding. We did this as well and saved us hours. You can't even tell the old flange is there when you're done.

I just went from underneath with my air hammer...the only thing to be careful about is that if you get carried away, you can tear the spotweld from the flange you want to keep.

if I felt as though it was going to tear through, I slipped the air hammer between two spot welds and used my saws-all to sever the two pieces.

[Part Time]

Any progress?

[ls1 nova]

Found some more time to work on the passenger side today. It pretty much goes the same as the driver side.

Here is a bunch of pics. If anybody has any questions let me know, but like I said before same as drivers side.

Original tub

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Spotwelds that I drilled out

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Tub came out almost in one piece.


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Had to spot weld drivers bar so I could pull passenger side.
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Interior cut made
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Pulling passenger bar
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Approx frame notch. Not complete yet
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Interior flange bent down.
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Had to stop at this piont as I sliced my finger pretty good with the cut-off wheel. Should have been wearing gloves!! Only a little more trimming and this tub will be in. As I get time to work on the tubs I will post pics. I was going to start welding the closeouts but the DSE quadralink crossmember will have to be mocked up first.

Still looking for some more pics or ideas for 17x11's to fill these holes!

[huffhinesce]

Does that kit require you to knotch out the frame? It looks like this in the pic. How do you keep the strength in the frame there? I'm thinking of doing the same thing with my nova is why I'm asking and I'm just wondering what all is in store for me. Great pics!!

[ls1 nova]

Yes you do have to notch the frame. Everything gets reinforced with 1/8" plate plus there is a crossmember that gets welded between and on top of the frame rails. Pretty substantial.

[WILWAXU]

Great stuff! Thanks for all the pictures.

[huffhinesce]

Yes you do have to notch the frame. Everything gets reinforced with 1/8" plate plus there is a crossmember that gets welded between and on top of the frame rails. Pretty substantial.

I appreciate the info. I noticed the pictures of it after I posted that. How wide of a tire do they say you can fit in there?

[ls1 nova]

On a Nova an 11" rim. I have 14 5/8" between the quarter panel lip and inner wheelwell. I am going to run 17's so DSE suggests a 315-35-17. On a Camaro I believe you can run a 12" wide rim with 335-35-17's.

[Motown 454]

Nice work Those tires will look sweet under there.

[huffhinesce]

LS1Nova What are your plans for the rearend and suspension. Did you get the kit with the relocated leaf springs and everything or are you switching it up? I think I am going to go with a triangulated four link with coil overs on mine. I will have to post pics.

[ls1 nova]

No, running the DSE quadralink suspension. Trying to decide whether DSE can fit the rear end correctly, or do I order the rims and give them a measurement and put it on the spot. Really up in the air!! Would like to "rent" 17x11 with 315-35-11 " Please respond!! Need help here.(backspace questionable) Some say 5.5 bs is perfect others say bs should match front? Input pleaase?

Thanks,
Erik

[huffhinesce]

I got my tubs started. After seeing yours with the knotched frame I may have to redo them though. You can see mine under project updates. I'm questioning the size of tire that I can run now.

[ls1 nova]

Well, after talking to Jason at DSE they claim they can put the rear end width spot on. As of now I will be ordering the quadralink and the 9" with the S case center section tommorow when I come home from work. Any nay sayers please speak up! Dont want to mess this up. Anybody with a bad experiance?

[MrQuick]

With DSE....yeah.




They're all the way across the country. LOL


You should be in good hands.

[Nicks67GTO]

LS1- I have questions

When you order this miinitub kit you get a video, is the video very detailed on removal, install, and tools necessary?

[ls1 nova]

No, pretty much a promosional video. That is why I am posting as many pics of my experiance as I can. It does come with printout cutouts but I am making those up as needed. Its only $25 dollars and it made me feel better buying it. I will say the tubs are excellent quality and fit very well. I just purchased the quadralink and will have upcoming pics of that also.

[1969CamaroRS]

Awesome pics! Anymore updates? I can appreciate all of this a lot after having done it myself as well.

I'm curious are you planning on laying a bead on the inside of the tubs (in the trunk)? Or just spot welding it? Also are you planning on painting the inside of the tubs when you are done? Curious what you are thinking of doing.

[snackbar]

Looks like your an animal! I am doing the same with my camaro and appreciated the pics. I will be into mine tomorrow since we got snow today and 1" to 6" expected tomorrow...no fishing = welding and fab

[ls1 nova]

Not sure how I am going to finish or weld the tubs. I am basicly mocking the rear end. I have to install the quadralink crossmember and weld up the frame notches. I have not worked on it much lately. I am not a bodyman! I am trying to decide whether or not to have the quarters replaced. The quarters have been patched with a wheel lip section and it kills me seeing the seam inside the trunk. I guess for now I am going to do the fab work and if I decide to have the quarters replaced I will let the bodyman finalize the inners, outers, and quarters? Any input. Whoever did the patches did a nice job and the quarters are otherwise solid. I do hate to cut away that much good metal for chineese quarters!