Better Late Than Never

[RBARNES496]

Hello all,
I finally got my dream car well not my dream car yet but it will be. I bought this 1969 running/driving only to 100% disassemble it to start over. I don't have any of the details worked out yet but the motor is a 496 BBC w/ F1-c pro charger ( had it laying around ).
I am starting the rust repair as we speak. So far only needs half pans in the front floor and maybe pass quarter. Seeing all the really nice cars on here helps motivate me and others so to all of you keep up the good work.

[Rod]

awesome!! lets get going

[TT302Z28]

Very cool...keep the updates coming!

[dmc69]

Nice! What part of Alabama are you in?

[srh3trinity]

Nice car and Roll Tide!

[RBARNES496]

Nice! What part of Alabama are you in?

Thanks, I am In Huntsville also.



So here are a few pictures of the car last week i hope to have the floors fixed by this weekend.

[RBARNES496]

Thanks and i will give you a big ol ROLL TIDE even though I bleed blue and orange.

[srh3trinity]

That is big of you, glad to see another project from Alabama around here. Sounds like the engine is going to be a beast.

[RBARNES496]

That is big of you, glad to see another project from Alabama around here. Sounds like the engine is going to be a beast.

To be honest it is way overkill. The motor made 580hp on pump gas that was without blower a crappy intake. I think 750hp
is a reasonable target running low boost. Either way it is going to be enough.






Made good progress got both pans installed with a little help (thanks dad). Got the outer cowl panels removed going to blast the inners seal the metal and install the new panels hope to have them done next week. Kicking around rear suspension what is everyone using? I have looked and i dont like the looks of most i am thinking art morrison rear clip or smith racecraft bolt-in 4 link (thoughts).Threw in a picture of the 1968 gto we just got done with.

[DButler]

cool to see you are in Huntsville. I am in Florence.

[RBARNES496]

Well its been a while my car has been in media blasting jail for the last 4 months! I dont know how some people stay in business.Anyway on to the fun stuff decided to go with a front and rear clip from Art Morrison and all i can say is wow the craftsmanship is second to none. I dont have the rear in yet but i had to put the front together w/rims and motor just to get a look.I also pulled the outer cowls off to kill rust and seal with por-15 before replacing them.Lots of progress coming up(i hope). Also want to thank MCB for hooking me up on the Morrison stuff good people.

[LeighP]

Nice work...are you going to stay with the Hugger Orange?

[RBARNES496]

Thanks,
No orange for me I am thinking something dark grey heavy metallic with black stripes. Not sure yet got a while to figure it out.

[RBARNES496]

Decided to go with a hydroboost brake system. Great looking piece and Jim at Hydratech is a wealth of knowledge/patience. Filled most the holes in the firewall and relocated the wiper motor into the wheel can. Next is the steering and clutch.Sorry pictures are with cell camera.

[AintQik]

Nice ride. If you see "Big D" running around the car scene there in H-town, tell him he owes me $7k for the motor he stole and I'd really like to have my Cobra back too. POS.

Anyway Love the car and I really love F1s.

I'm running the "bolt in" 4 link on my 67, but its welded in. No matter what I kept hearing I was scared to run anything bolt in back there. If you want to cut the car up, DSE, if not I like the ridetech/Prodigy 4 link, or Speedtech.

[bonecrrusher]

Did you have to minitub for the Vette wheels?

[RBARNES496]

Nice ride. If you see "Big D" running around the car scene there in H-town, tell him he owes me $7k for the motor he stole and I'd really like to have my Cobra back too. POS.

( I have to be honest I have no idea who big d is but if he has your car and motor I am sure you are ready to kill someone)
Anyway Love the car and I really love F1s.

(Thanks and I can't wait to hear that bbc w/the pro charger)

I'm running the "bolt in" 4 link on my 67, but its welded in. No matter what I kept hearing I was scared to run anything bolt in back there. If you want to cut the car up, DSE, if not I like the ridetech/Prodigy 4 link, or Speedtech.

( Did you get an art Morrison bolt in? Mine is weld in but it is supposed to fit under factory trunk, too bad I just got done cutting it out!!)

[RBARNES496]

Did you have to minitub for the Vette wheels?

I haven't done the rear yet but I do have dse mini tubs.

[AintQik]

I've got ridetech/Prodigy 4 link with coils not air bags. Overall I'm pretty happy about how it went in but I have not had the chance to beat the hell out of it yet. Military has a way of putting kinks in all your fun plans. A couple of things I wish I would have done different. I would have raised the trans tunnel to get a better ds angle at ride height. With a 69 you will probably not have this issue, but my 67 with the larger wheel openings did. I like my car low, as we all probably do here. To do that on a 1st gen is tough, and the 67/68s tougher because they have to be lower to look low. Mock it all up real good before paint. I had a suspension change that went from mild to stupid and I was stuck trying to be as un-invasive to a fresh car as I could be. I also kept the big block in mine, just because there is something about a carb'd big block that makes me smile. I ran a Weir's bellhousing and throwout bearing set-up in front of a T56. No real surprises there, but check your tranny to floor clearance WITH the proper ds angle at ride height. I'd like to move mine up an inch, but I aint got an inch to give.

[RBARNES496]

I haven't got the whole thing mocked up yet but I am going as low as i can. I had already planned on moving the tunnel up a bit to clear tranny. Thanks for the tips. Quit talking bout your car and post up a pic.

BTW -Thank you for doing what you do so I can do what I do.