1970 LeMans... project Grudge

[car_guy]

So I probably should have been working on finishing up the pass side quarter last night, but I just couldn't help myself and mounted up the rears for a sneak peek. Besides the car having the stance of a baha truck, they look good, other than rolling will still be needed as I suspected. I would like the car to be low enough to just tuck the tires later on. The fronts should be out of the tire shop today. Then I can finally bolt on the front brakes for good!

[67speedfreak]

Looks good !

[car_guy]

So i started hunting around for 12 bolt adds recently, but just went out to the garage last night and decided to have a better look at the 10 bolt in the car. Until recently I though I had an 8.2". Now im pretty sure its an 8.5". So far from what ive found, its got an 1-1/4" pinion nut, with bolts and straps for the universal joint, scalloped ears at 5 and 7 o clock on the housing, and left hand thread .437 sized ring gear bolts with crappy 2.56 gear, non posi. There are a few casting numers ive found; such as 9799100 on the lower drivers side webbing of the pumpkin, with 1049 above that. On the top left side there is a cast N and D, and on the pass side top webbing there is a cast B. From what i read there should be a number somewhere on the pass side axle tube, but im not sure. Hopefully someone can chime in and help me figure out what year the diff is, and if in fact im correct in thinking its an 8.5". The only down side is now the rear end is worth keeping vs finding an narrower early 12 bolt, being that the 8.5 bop rear should be a stout peice once built (down side being id want to narrow the rear 1-1.5" per side, but ive never tackled anything like that before). At least finding 8.5 gear, and carriers should be plentiful.

[car_guy]

Its been a little while since I updated. Going off the last post, I spent too much time trying to figure out info on 8.5" vs 8.2" diffs. I guess its good, and now i'm a little more educated on the differences. Mine is an 8.2", as much as I wish it wasn't. That being said, I am still at a cross roads as what to replace it with. Whatever route I choose, it will have to be narrowed a little bit. I would really like to do some hands on stuff, as I have never built a rear end before. It might be all the other awesome fab updates, and seeing jigs built lately that's got me thinking I need to learn the art of building a jig etc. I really want to take a stab at scratch building a rear for the car, and narrowing it. Currie sells 9" mounting kits for cheap, so I might try and find a donor, trim it to size, and mount it up. Budget more than ever has come into play these days. So I'm going to try to keep moving ahead while I can, and try to save some bucks.

I put more time into the quarters, and I am happy to report that for now the metal work on the shell is done. The weather here has been kicking my ass, so for the most part, its been too cold to work in the garage. This summer will be the time to re-evaluate some electrical, and heating needs for the man cave! It sucks being stalled due to mother nature for a month at a time! Once it comes around though, I'm going to finish sanding the shell properly, as I didn't touch the roof etc, and prep it and finish it off in epoxy sealer for now. The more It starts to look like a car again, the more impatient I grow. I've been struggling with thoughts of getting it in primer, and just starting to have fun with it. Who knows for sure, haha. I did manage to take some better pics of it a couple days ago . I had to swap bays with the Trans am, so that I can go mad scientist on the rest of the sheet metal on it! What a mess hey!!



It was pretty cool to think that the last time it was on the driveway on all fours is when I first brought it home. It was cool just to roll it outside and take a step back and marvel at it for a little bit.





As you can see, the body needs to be centered a little better, as its .5" over to the passenger side. It really shows though that the wheels need to move in, as there is no way they would tuck. I would have to trim almost all the lip, and roll the remainder flat, and it would still rub. From where its sits, Id like rear ride height to be at least 2" lower than now, maybe 3".







Got to get it to sit something like this...good ole ms paint!







I sure love how the view is from the rear! Although its not a max effort rear tire size, it does look tough enough.

[joshhedden07]

Wow amazing work! I'm doing the same thing to my 72 lemans I'm in Niagara falls and trying to find doors or fenders is impossible so i know the struggle your going through haha

[aidanfancystang]

so are you getting out of the hobby? it looks like you are selling everything on kijiji. both cars and your truck?

[car_guy]

so are you getting out of the hobby? it looks like you are selling everything on kijiji. both cars and your truck?

I wouldn't say I'm getting out of the hobby, but for now Im getting rid of my stuff, and am going to be focusing on finishing a couple of my father in-laws fords for him. I want to get the lemans in primer soon, and bolted all back together. Id like to save one of the motors, but more than likely I will have to package the Le Mans with the ZZ4, or the 6.0L, or the poncho 400 to get interest.The T/A will go whole, or in peices...what ever is easiest.