Project WidowMaker - The Chevelle Build Thread

[Danny lindstrand]

great work , nice build thread.

[bryster]

Great metal finnishing skills...Keep it up...

[sprintracer]

nice job!

[The WidowMaker]

got a call today, and the bolts are going to be done on monday!!! it sucks that im working a 72 starting tomorrow and then im in a class m-f. i dont think the wife is going to be too happy if i sneak out to the garage to start putting it back together.

i also ordered up the power windows from mike at musclerodz. after hearing all the bad stories with the electric life stuff, i went with a set up from nu-relic. they are supposed to be way better and no need to open the door to get the window up that last 1/4". i bought them without the harness and i plan to get some billet switches and make my own harness. the plan is to put all the controls in the center console, but i need to figure out the layout with the vintage air controller, power door lock switches, window switches, start button, head unit, cup holders..........

im also debating on what to do about the radiator and it will be next months purchase. since the plan is to run the mast 416, their pcm controls the fans so there is no need for a special harness. therefore i can pick up a ron davis for 1060 or a prc for 800 both with dual 16" spal fans. 260 is a ton of money that can be used elsewhere, but i really want the welds that RD is famous for. everyone says that the prc are just as pretty, but i havent seen one in person.

if i still have any money left to my name, november will be stereo month. im going to get the amps, speakers and subs now, and wait on the head unit until the car is done. they seem to be changing really quickly and i dont want another regret. im undecided between the infinity kappas, infinity kappa perfects, alpine spx or focal vr's for the speakers. amps will most likely be the infinity kappa 1 and 4, and the 10" sub will match the speakers. i still need to do a bunch of research, but i do have time.

maybe i'll have a couple pictures tuesday night????

[The WidowMaker]

just another small update. i got all the bolts and various parts back.... all i can say is wow. they look killer. i havent had time to sort through the 500+ pieces, but i hope to get them organized tomorrow night and start assembly on sunday. i included pics of the spc upper arms. i still need to install the bjs, but the black/grey combo is KILLER. i am almost thinking i now need to paint it black.......

i also got the speakers today. cartoys is giving 10% off already killer prices on this set. front and rear will both get the components, and i still need a couple amps and a 10" sub.

here are a few pics. more to come on sunday!!!!

[chaz75]

Nice stuff.

[1badchevelle]

Glad you liked the coating.Keep the pics coming.

just another small update. i got all the bolts and various parts back.... all i can say is wow. they look killer. i havent had time to sort through the 500+ pieces, but i hope to get them organized tomorrow night and start assembly on sunday. i included pics of the spc upper arms. i still need to install the bjs, but the black/grey combo is KILLER. i am almost thinking i now need to paint it black.......

[The WidowMaker]

i got all the front suspension assembled today. i didnt finish until almost dark, so i'll get some better pics tomorrow. i still need to brush the tie rod connectors and figure out what to do with the sway bar heims to get rid of the gold zinc. i also need to feel out the red bump stops a little more. they look really out of place now, and if they dont tie together a little better as it comes back together i will replace them with some black ones.

the rear suspension should be mostly done tomorrow. im also still waiting to get the wheels back. i didnt like the color even though i gave them the code, so they are being stripped and reshot. i should be getting them back in a couple weeks.

i hope to have the frame under the body sometime in the next week. i need to work a couple areas including the raised fuel filler neck relief before i drop it on.

[Flash68]

Man, that is lookin sweet. Love this thread.

[bullitt4110]

Looking good! I personally like the red bump stops, kinda breaks up the black and gray some.

[The WidowMaker]

so its on the ground now. ive assembled this thing countless times, but i ran into some more snags that need to be worked out.

first, i hate the speedway adjusters. im going to be making some permanent spacers that register on the spring od, not the id. but since those arent done i reused the speedway ones and didnt tack them to the springs like i did last time. so, one doesnt want to sit flat and is hitting the top of the shock. not a huge deal for the shock since there isnt any weight, but it wont sit like its supposed to. so, now i need to research the new spacers and will be making those in the next few weeks.

next, i never fully assembled the rear brake kit from kore3 since the rotor wont sit inside my 15" wheels. this time, i decided to put the parking brake on even though i wasnt using the rotors. i started to read the directions and found that the 1.5" T bolts that currie supplied wont be long enough. so i need to use the 2" bolts from the kit, but, BIG but, there is only 1.5" between the axle tube flange and the lower control arm braket (because i narrowed so much) for one bolt per side. so, all i need to do is flip a bolt around and put it in from the outside. but (another but, its a trend), since the t-bolts head is the same width as the shank on two of its sides it fits in the correct location. a hex head bolts head is larger than that of the shank and needs to be ground down on one side. so i now have 3 bolts solved. the 4th that comes in backwards needs the nut ground. this just makes me uncomfortable because i will end up making the nut pretty thin. i have some ideas, i just need to work them out.

also, i spec'd a bearing from currie and ordered my kore3 kit at the same time. tobin sent the right kit, currie put in the wrong bearing. luckly for me, currie put in the set20 tapered bearing which seems to perform the best in a non floater application so it actually works out better. but it means that the recess that is milled on the kore 3 brackets for the set20 is not there because i wasnt supposed to be getting that bearing and there is about .090 too much preload space. tobin is taking care of me though. im shipping the brackets back and hes going to get them milled. i would have just swapped mine out, but they are now coated black.

finally, i need to take the axles back to currie to have them drill the access hole to allow me to get a socket on the axle retaining bolts. its a pain without the parking brake in place, and its supposed to be nearly impossible with it on. it seems that this should have been done in the first place since they knew i was running a drum in hat style parking brake.

here are some pics though. i havent heard back about the wheels, but i hope to have them soon.

[1badchevelle]

man you wasted no time. Since you are done on your frame I will drop mine off to get the "Tim" treatment. I am sure Brandon(brans72) can get in inline. LOL

Why did you weld in the motor mounts & is that the ride tech muscle bar?

[The WidowMaker]

dude, i cant thank you enough for the coating. it is friggin sick and holds up really well to the abuse from my tools. it wouldnt look the same without it.

Why did you weld in the motor mounts

i got pissed at having to fish the friggin nuts out of the crossmember everytime i dropped one. plus, the sandblasting couldnt get to some areas that old grease or my fingers could, and i dont like to get dirty.

is that the ride tech muscle bar?

the front sway? thats a bunch of speedway engineering pieces and too much of my time. i would pay the $800 for the dse bar if i had to do it over. cost about $400 to build and it took a TON of time for the pillow block mounts, delrin bushings (that i need to remake) and to get the damn arms bent correctly. i should have also spent the money on the ridetech heims which would have allowed for a little more room.

its 38.25" long, 1.5" .120 wall, 49 spline. they wouldnt sell me the 48 spline since it was too close to the dse bar, and they supply them to dse.

I like it...keeping the room for the kids to have fun with dad!!! How old are they?

my little big guy just turned 1 last week and my oldest will turn 3 on the 25th. i have a pretty busy job keeping my 1 yo from kicking the crap out of my 3yo.

[1badchevelle]

800 for a bar I think I will pass.


I am just happy you liked the coating and that I was able to help out. what are the plans for the fuel system? lines fittings...

I am going to start working on my lines and want to see what you have in mind.

[67goatman455]

whats your address? Im having my frame shipped to you

this is porn for an A-Body guy.....

[brans72]

67 there are 2 in front of you already hahahha!!! Tim awesome job can you get more pics of bracing and mufflers clearance. Like Fabian said damn you wasted 0 time putting it back together!!! Brandon

[78 Type-LT]

That frame is almost to sexy to put a body on...nice work

[Zanie]

WOW!! That is super nice.

[The WidowMaker]

800 for a bar I think I will pass.

i thought so as well. in fact i thought my $400 was over the top. but i spent a bunch of time building mine which could have been spent with the kids.

thats actually another reason im now going to farm out the paint. my oldest is only 3 and it just seems like yesterday he was born. i want to have fun building this car, but i dont want to miss out on the family either. and, theres still TONS of time left for me to invest. i still have lots of small details to take care of.

[srh3trinity]

The frame looks great. I love the color combo, nice and clean but definitely has a performance vibe.