Newman Car Creations latest project

[bosses son]

Hello all,
I would like to show you guys our latest project, a 55 Chevy. Our hope is to have a great all around car that excels at any open track or autox event but still be able to drive on the street and keep the ride bearable. The main purpose of this car will be driving events so we are keeping the creature comforts to a minimum to save on weight and really putting all our efforts into making the drivability and handling our main focus.
To start with we (Newman Car Creations) took the stock chassis and did our conversion on it so that it accepts C-4 Corvette suspension front and rear. We coated the underside of the frame with 10gage sheet metal to smooth out the skip weld that runs down the bottom of the frame and to give it some more strength. We also built a sheet metal X-member to give the frame as much rigidity as possible.

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The new power plant consists of a LS-376/480 with a T56 six speed. The motor is moved back 5” into the firewall and in doing that we were able to drop the front of the motor down and get the pulley sitting behind the rack and pinion (opposite of what the wagon has, motor sitting on top of the rack and much higher). We are trying to keep all the weight behind the front axle and keep the roll center low.



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We put one of our Newman Car Creations/ Dana 44 Replacement differential’s in the car with a .373 ring and pinion and True Track limited slip. We also installed our new Free Action Link Kit on the rear suspension which replaces all the stock Corvette links with a new billet link and spherical bearing’s. This and the independent rear suspension will help us keep the ride as plush and soft on the street as possible. We also gave the rear a mini-tub which allows us to run an 11” wheel. We were amazed at how little you really have to cut and go into the trunk.

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Our next weight saving idea was to put the exhaust in the front fenders. The idea behind it was that it will take less tubing and therefore cut down on weight. We don’t know how this will work and if it is going to get the front fenders too hot. It will be wrapped with some sort of insulation to try and cut down on heat. We are also hoping that it will be quiet (if you saw our 57 wagon run you will notice that it is not very loud and we like it that way!).

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Inside the car we are planning on keeping it very basic. The steering wheel got pushed up and back so that it is in a better driving position for me. We are hoping to run minimal interior, no back seat and in its place some sort of tire rack for track slicks and tools. The doors will get stock interior door panels with no frills. Hand role up windows, no heater, no A/C.

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brakes will be C-5/ C-6 hybrid

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Well I think you guys get the point on where this is going, we have had so much fun with our wagon with its under powered LT-1 and 6 speed that I can only imagine that this will be twice as fun! 2x power = 2x fun right? looking forward to feed back and thoughts.

Kyle Newman

[Chevrolaine]

Thoughts? Friggin Awesome! :eek:
Keep the pics comin! :yum:

[78 Type-LT]

Cool idea for tha exhaust

[blown9746]

that is going to be awsome

[454bug]

Great project!!

BTW, what's the starting weight on a '55 and what's the goal for the weight savings?

Great plan for the exhaust, pulling the drivetrain back 5", and the rear suspension...

SUBSCRIBED! :1st:

[Steve1968LS2]

Very cool.. given how well your wagon kicks ass this one should really rock!

I call shotgun for a ride!!

[bosses son]

Very cool.. given how well your wagon kicks ass this one should really rock!

I call shotgun for a ride!!


there is a seat with your name on it!

[MrQuick]

holy crapola, that is nutz.

vince

[tony byram]

Thats an interesting idea for the muffler location! Plus you wont have to worry about ground clearance.

[CruizinKev]

wow awesome work so far! looks sick! :twothumbs

[Dons67]

This is a work of art - I could just sit and stare for hours -- Excellent work!!

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[Yelcamino]

This looks like it's going to be an awesome car when it's done! :cool:

Food for thought... The very first time your windshield fogs up you'll regret not installing a heater. :dunno:

[98ssnova]

Not trying to down but i do have a question about the exhaust. wont the heat build up mess with the paint or am I not thinking straight. But it is a good idea alos like the frame alot

[Samckitt]

Lookin' great.

Where do you get the rubber isolators that hold the mufflers?

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[bosses son]

Not trying to down but i do have a question about the exhaust. wont the heat build up mess with the paint or am I not thinking straight. But it is a good idea alos like the frame alot

We are a little concerned about that as well, but we are not planning on painting the car at first. It was painted black sometime before we got it, and we are just going to run it till we have a good reason to repaint it. We have also been kicking around the idea of cutting some sort of louvers on top of the fender to help with the heat.

As for the fog on the window issue, we do have the defrost vents functional. Im hoping that cabin air will be enough to keep it clear.

[bosses son]

the exhaust isolators are from Bassani, i think they are called x-bones?

[Wesley J]

Beautiful work with inivative thinking!

My only critique would be the exhaust. Long tubes and exhaust out the back would likely weigh about the same as the iron manifolds/piping and would help out with the F/R weight bias.

Subscribed

[Samckitt]

I want one of those frames/suspensions for an 80's G body.

:cool:

[bosses son]

We had the 55 up on the scales today. We tried to put everything we have for the car but not installed in the car in its appropriate place. Total weight for now is 2,900lbs. We know we were missing: basic cabin wiring, front bumper, induction system, and fluids.
Our wagon weights 3,780lbs so we are well under that (for now).

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[ArtosDracon]

built in tire warmers for those winter races! lol.

[compos mentis]

Do you also put C-6 based suspensions under the tri-fives?

[bosses son]

Do you also put C-6 based suspensions under the tri-fives?

We have done a lot of research on this subject and this is what we have found.
The C-5/C-6 suspensions are around 6" wider than the
C-4's and don't fit under the 55-57 Chevy bodies. We are firm believers in GM's geometry and their "entire package" rather than using parts and pieces. To use the C-5/C-6 suspension would mean modifying the "cradle" and therefore have to find a different rack and pinion that is the correct length. In the rear of a 55-57 there is no room for a transaxle style rear end. You would have to do extensive floor reconstruction to accommodate it and most of our customers don't want to get into that big of a project. The great part about the C-4 suspension is that it fit with no modifications to the body! This means if you have a painted car that you are happy with looks wise its a simple chassis swap and you are back on the road.
The other point I need to make is "what are you gaining" by using the C-5/C-6 suspension over the C-4? If you have to modify the suspension and most of its components (rack and pinion, sway bars, transverse leaf springs, axles...) is it really worth it? You can go find a donor C-4 suspension from a wrecking yard, unbolt it and reinstall it into one of our chassis with all the stock hardware and above mentioned pieces with no modifications.

[rsk68]

Very nice build, I want a ride and a drive:)

I also am currious about the exhaust, the frame has the cutouts to keep it up high, just seems like a lot of heat under the fender, dont lean on it when hot stickers maybe, now dont laugh, maybe vents and ducting to get some of that heat under the fender to the cab for defrosting?

[coolwelder62]

Klye I have followed your work for some time and am very impressed with your talent & engineering skills.Real smart people know that GM spent millons on R&D designing the C-4 componets & they work the way GM intened.I like how you work within that.Scott

[bosses son]

Klye I have followed your work for some time and am very impressed with your talent & engineering skills.Real smart people know that GM spent millons on R&D designing the C-4 componets & they work the way GM intened.I like how you work within that.Scott

Scott you are right on!

[David Pozzi]

Great project!
I think you are trading a tiny amount of overall weight reduction for a more front weight bias, plus the heat issues.
Mufflers under the car at least have the weight low.

[meenaggie]

Nice project but I think you may regret the exhuast exit location the first time you are stuck in traffic and have to suck down those nasty fumes. Suspension looks killer by the way.

[beebee78]

You could louver the fenders and wrap everything but the exit muffler included and would reduce some of the heat i think the exhaust is a very cool idea. Nice project !

[Charley Lillard]

Nitrogen in those front tires for sure.... :-)

[CurtiSS 69]

Kyle,

After seeing how well you wheel around the wagon...This build gives the competition reason to worry... Nice job. Can't wait to see it on the track. How soon will it be done?

Regards

CurtiSS 69

[twosaturns]

thinking outside the box on that muffler location, I like it. although, much of the quietness of a system is in the length, so I wonder if it'll still be loud.
length is important, after all.

[justimagine]

Kyle, this is awesome - you guys are making a real name for yourselves. Can't wait to see how the ole wagon stacks up in Vegas!!

[E.rodz]

great looking project so far.I think the mufflers underneath would work better though just becouse you are taking weight off the car doesn't mean you are going to help the car handle better moving you low center of gravity weight items and moving them up and forward is not going to be much of a benefit. dont get me wrong here love people being inovative and don't stop doing somthing differn't than others. keep up the great work.

[bosses son]

We have been doing some work on the 55. The battery is now mounted in the trunk. The 24 gallon fuel tank mounting bracket is made and mounted. All that is left to do is strap it into place. We cut access holes in the floor to get to the fuel pump.

you can see the bracket we made here.
http://www.newmancarcreations.com/products/

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The battery is mounted. We centered it in the trunk.

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We have the intake system all together. It will need a little sheet metal work to get it fresh air, but that will come in time.

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Thanks for all the encouraging words on the car. Like i have said before non of us know how this exhaust thing is going to work out. The feeling we have is that if it does work awesome. It will be something different and innovative. if it doesn't work we can always make another system that exits in the rear of the car.

[1971CHEVELLE]

That is going to be awesome

[bosses son]

we got the exhaust outlet in place.
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[BrianP]

How about flipping the exhaust manifolds upside down? The pipes might have a little smoother look. Then mount the ignition coils on the side of the block...

[baggins]

where did you get those exhaust outlets?

[CraigT]

Sick car....love the exhaust routing!!

[Aschle]

Very cool !! Would you mind if I came by the shop and took a look at it myself? I am off of work next friday if you don't mind... If not, I will have to hold out until you bring it over to the bakery. :)

Jason

[70fireturd]

might as well utilize those honk'n fenders right? lol Nice build look forward to seeing your finished product.

[kp.touring]

Kyle, Congratulations on your other project, Kooper Newman!!!

Kevin

[POS71RS]

Simply. Amazing.

[Wesley J]

Those exhaust outlets are the bomb! I assume they're fabbed by you guys. Sweet.

[bosses son]

Hey guys, sorry I have been MIA. My wife and I (mostly my wife) just had a baby boy. Kooper Clutch Newman. So far he is a cool little guy!

I hope to have some updates on the car soon!

We tried flipping the manifolds upside down but we ran into clearance issues with the brake booster, steering shaft, and firewall. That would have been nice an clean and allot less work, but....

A guy by the name of Dave Wheeler is who has made the exhaust outlets. He is amazing!!!

[bosses son]

Very cool !! Would you mind if I came by the shop and took a look at it myself? I am off of work next friday if you don't mind... If not, I will have to hold out until you bring it over to the bakery. :)

Jason

Jason,
Feel free to stop by any time. Just call before you come. 805-226-9201

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, like i said i have been a little pre-occupied

[John Wright]

Hey guys, sorry I have been MIA. My wife and I (mostly my wife) just had a baby boy. Kooper Clutch Newman. So far he is a cool little guy!


Hey!...congrats on your new addition!:1st:

[bosses son]

We have come up with a name for the 55! "Bad Idea"

We have made some upgrades. Baer's 6P's up front.
We are going to have to make a wheel change to an 18" instead of the 17's to clear the new calipers.

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Dave Wheeler, made us a cool revisor for the radiator.

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We are thinking it should go here.

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[kp.touring]

So Paul opt'ed for the big brake after talking with me. I may come down and help out with the interior! Between Paul and I, we came up with some cool ideas that will keep the weight down, but still look finished. The coolant tank is way cool.
And once congrats on Kooper!

Kevin

[bosses son]

Thanks Kevin,
I think you should keep talking to Paul, every time you do the car gets more cool stuff added to the list!

[79PonchoUK]

Not trying to down but i do have a question about the exhaust. wont the heat build up mess with the paint or am I not thinking straight. But it is a good idea alos like the frame alot


They said they're heat wrapping it.

It's amazing how much heat that takes out of the equeation. You can touch an exhaust with good heat wrap on it.


Great build. I agree with the above about the weight distribution advantage, but it does tidy up the floor and helps with ground clearance.

I love that corvette rear suspension. On this side of the atlantic is still gets laughed at but it really is an excellent way of doing it IMO.

Look how low the weight is.

[POS71RS]

Hey guys, sorry I have been MIA. My wife and I (mostly my wife) just had a baby boy. Kooper Clutch Newman. So far he is a cool little guy!

I hope to have some updates on the car soon!

We tried flipping the manifolds upside down but we ran into clearance issues with the brake booster, steering shaft, and firewall. That would have been nice an clean and allot less work, but....

A guy by the name of Dave Wheeler is who has made the exhaust outlets. He is amazing!!!


CONGRATS on the new addition. Awesome name! :twothumbs

[MattG]

Congrats for the baby (hell I remember when you were still in college, what happend?)...
the car looks great and tell your Dad and Mom I said hi!!!

[bosses son]

Congrats for the baby (hell I remember when you were still in college, what happend?)...
the car looks great and tell your Dad and Mom I said hi!!!

Matt good to hear from you! Your Corvette is still one of my favorite cars, the wheels set it apart.

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[bosses son]

So it has been a while since i posted about the progress of the "Bad Idea" 55 but we have been working on it. Most of what has been going on has been wiring and plumbing. Today we did fire it up and take it for a drive! So far the mufflers have been great! We ran the car up and down the street a few time and got it up to temp. We let it sit and idle until the fan came on. We laser temp gunned the fender right above the muffler and it was a warm 150*. This is with no heat wrap or shields. The interesting part was that the roof of the car was at 125* just from sitting outside in the sun. I think it got up to 84 today so it was too bad. i hope to have some pictures and hopefully video soon! The car sounds awesome and feels much quicker and nimbler than the wagon. I cant wait to open it up and see what it will do!

[bosses son]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsO4897QWrU

here is a video update of where we are as of now.

[coolwelder62]

Kyle I think you should change the name of your project, to Great idea's. You are doing some awesome stuff.This Bud for you car builder guy.Scott

[bosses son]

We have finally got "Bad Idea" on the road. We did it a little backwards in the fact that the auto cross was its first real shake down. DMV was not open on Friday so we weren't able to even drive it on the road before hand. But with that said we did have a blast and it did pretty well. We found out that 12 year old Kumo's dont hook up as good as modern rubber. they would probably work ok at the track once you get some heat in them but in a 50 second run they are a little hard and slippery. As far we we can tell the 55 seams to be about on par with the wagon times. This is good news, i know the wagon inside and out and the 55 is all new to me. i know with some new tires, bedding in the brakes, and some seat time its going to be fast!

The fenders stayed cool enough touch, even right after the run.

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[kp.touring]

Cool stuff Kyle, You guys should of been at Good Guys on Sat, it was crazy packed! We had the Nomad on display and everyone dug it!!! So you my get some calls on the chassis.
Also I'm ready to build out some of the interior.

Kevin

[bosses son]

We have made a few changes to the "Bad Idea" 55. After taking it to its first auto cross and driving it around town, it became clear that we needed some more room between the muffler and tire. We flipped the mufflers over 90* to give us the clearance we needed. We Took the car to Button Willow for an open track day on Saturday and it did great! We got to meet a few of the people from the site and had a blast. We found out a few thing about the car
1. stock 55 Chevy gas caps dont hold up against slosh very well.
2. the paint over the mufflers is still in-tacked and dident melt off (even with the 95+ degree day we had)
3. the floor boards get hot enough to melt shoes (where the header pipe is)
4. its allot faster than the wagon is!

some pictures of how the mufflers are situated now


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some video of the day

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[sprintracer]

Afriend of mine worked for you Craig Dillard did you know him?

[bosses son]

Afriend of mine worked for you Craig Dillard did you know him?

Craig is actually my cousin! I have missed him since he moved!

[sprintracer]

i have been friends with jeff and craig way back in the san jose days and the old man still does all my paint work! small world. jim