Project Chili Pepper

[TomT]

Thanks Kevin and Andrew! I'm having a lot of fun with the jig. Designing parts up on AutoCad and then getting perfect parts back from the laser cutter is awesome. I'm getting the hang of TIG welding and grinding metal (and making sparks) is always therapeutic. JC at Holley helped me with a few of the parts that needed to be machined (the threaded DOM for the feet and stands and then some adapters made from round stock. I'll shoot some photos of the stands and post them when I get a chance. It's all more elaborate than it really needs to be but I wanted to be able to use the jig on any future projects so I've tried to design everything so there is a lot of adjustability built in.

[CRCRFT78]

Love the project your building. Do you have any more details on the frame jig? Materials used, dimensions I would like to build one.

[dusterbd13]

if youre doing tall ball joints on this, remember that there is a budget solution. UB machine makes tubular arms that take a c10 ball joint (same taper,.5 taller) and correct the caster and camber curves. power performance makes a .5 taller LBJ pair for 110.

keep up the good work. and i vote stock sheet metal and huge meats, but thats just me. i think id evem leave the factory paint....

Michael

[bhcustomdesigns]

Really cool project!

[Scarelane]

Cool man! Nice project! I had a 1978 Nova years ago that was kinda the same body style.

[TomT]

Love the project your building. Do you have any more details on the frame jig? Materials used, dimensions I would like to build one.

Thanks Joe! The jig is pretty much all mild steel. The basic jig framework is 15' X 5' and uses I-beams (the type that have parrallel inner top and bottom surfaces - not the tapered ones). As I recall the I-beams measure approximately 4" X 6" and I'm pretty sure the sections are about 1/4" thick. The transverse I-beams are 60" long and I mounted the longitudinal I-beams inward about an inch on each side (so the long I-beams measure 58" outside edge to oustide edge where they are sitting on the transverse I-beams). The fasteners are 7/16"-14 grade 8 with lengths as required.

The leveling feet are made from 1/4" plate that I had laser cut based on a design I drew up in AutoCad with a piece of DOM tubing in the center that was drilled and tapped for 3/4"-10 feet that I purchased directly from the manufacturer, Carr Lane (easily found thru a Google search).

The stations (crossmembers) are also constructed from 1/4" plate that I had laser cut to my design. The stands are similar to the leveling feet. I'll be posting photos of them when I get a chance but that should give you an idea of what it would take to get started.

[TomT]

if youre doing tall ball joints on this, remember that there is a budget solution. UB machine makes tubular arms that take a c10 ball joint (same taper,.5 taller) and correct the caster and camber curves. power performance makes a .5 taller LBJ pair for 110.

keep up the good work. and i vote stock sheet metal and huge meats, but thats just me. i think id evem leave the factory paint....

Michael

Michael - Thanks for the encouragement and the tips! I already have a set of the forged aluminum ATS AFX spindles that use the C5/C6 hub assemblies and although they are beautiful they most definately are not budget pieces. Anyone out there had any experience with them good or bad?

Unfortunately, Grace (the grandma that previously owned the Chili Pepper) left a few bumps and scuffs on her which she proceeded to touch up with finger nail polish which is a few shades off (guess her eye sight was failing). I love original paint but this one is going to need a re-spray. Our plan is to keep the sheetmetal stock (at least on the outside) and repaint it the original factory color.

[TomT]

Cool man! Nice project! I had a 1978 Nova years ago that was kinda the same body style.

Thanks! Love the Fairlane and the color!

[nekkidhillbilly]

never seen one of these cars this unequipped oem neat

[TomT]

never seen one of these cars this unequipped oem neat

Me neither! Especially the radio delete...I just think that's cool.

[32fenderless]

Any progress on the car Tom?

[daveybtv]

Any updates ?

[TomT]

Sorry guys...we've been unbelievably busy. Garage time has been pretty hard to come by but we have made some progress.

Here's a quick update.

The frame is fastened in the jig and braced.


We cut out the triangulating braces (we'll replace them later).




Crossmember marked for surgery.


We cut the kick-ups out (eek!!!).


The kick-ups were moved inboard 2.5" per side.


...and leveled up.


Excess material was removed and templates were made from cardboard and then transferred to 1/8" mild steel. The bottom plate is partially welded in in this photo.


We formed the sides to flow smoothly into the kick-ups and tacked everything together. We also installed a tube to make it easier to install the lower control arm bolt. The hole for the tube is not completely opened up yet. I couldn't wait to start grinding so the front of the side plate has already been blended into the original frame in this photo.

[bhcustomdesigns]

Very nice work!! what part of Kentucky are you located in?

[TomT]

Thanks...we're in Bowling Green.

[Norm Peterson]

Looks good.

I'm guessing that the axle-side LCA brackets are also going to move inward by the same 2.5" . . .


Norm

[andrewb70]

Looks good.

I'm guessing that the axle-side LCA brackets are also going to move inward by the same 2.5" . . .


Norm

I would assume that is the plan. It is similar to what Mark Stielow did on the Malitude Chevelle.

Tom, the project is moving along great. I am really digging the chassis table. Once I have a shop I need one of those!

Andrew

[TomT]

That's right Norm and Andrew. The LCA (lower control arm) brackets move in 2.5" on each side. We plan to order a 9" with just the upper brackets welded. We'll mock everything up in the chassis on the jig and tack the LCA brackets and then have them professionally welded.

The chassis table is working out great. Now I need to build a nice welding table and pick up some more tools.

[CruizinKev]

wow looks great!! nice work!!!

[TomT]

Thanks Kevin!