Project: Love 69 - My Corvette Build Thread

[Twin_Turbo]

Looks good but I don't like how the tube sits over the open area between the slugs. Would be better if you welded that area up to be 1 big flush surface

[vette427-sbc]

I agree its not ideal, but I dont think it will be too much of an issue... the plate the tubing is welded to is as thick or thicker than the frame material so I dont think there is any strength difference (in compression) compared to welding the tube right to the frame. A side load is going to be slightly weaker due to the plate overhanging the surface in some areas but if you look at this pic it shows how close the main hoop tubing is to the slugs. It doesnt overhang on the front, just the back.

Rear bar is fully welded and ready for a quick spray paint then back in to get the front half done.

[BlowAMouse]

Nice work Chris !!

I am a little curious how you fit in the car with helmet on.

[the dan]

Guys good. Looks good, sorry my brother is so lazy he never got on doing it. Still waiting on him to get a truck out of my shop from October. His loss. Your gain

[Oramac]

Great build so far!! My dad and I restored a 76 Vette when I was in high school. Broke my heart when he had to sell it.

Yours looks great! I love the wheels and splitter. Definitely don't envy the interior work, though. I hope you're short. Myself and my dad are both 6'4", so crawling under the dash to install stuff was a huge pain.

One question: do you have any issues with road debris getting into the brake cooling ducts and messing things up?

[vette427-sbc]

Nice work Chris !!

I am a little curious how you fit in the car with helmet on.

It is going to be close, but I am planning to have the cage routed in a way that should not make it any tighter than having the stock interior pieces in (not running any headliner pieces). The rear hoop is 1/8" away from the top of the birdcage and the rest of the cage will be just as tight. It helps that I am pretty short but I mocked everything up with a helmet on in my driving position and still had some room to move around.

Guys good. Looks good, sorry my brother is so lazy he never got on doing it. Still waiting on him to get a truck out of my shop from October. His loss. Your gain

Thanks Dan. No worries, not something I would want to rush someone on anyway. Good to hear that you guys are keeping busy too! Ill see you in a week...

Great build so far!! My dad and I restored a 76 Vette when I was in high school. Broke my heart when he had to sell it.

Yours looks great! I love the wheels and splitter. Definitely don't envy the interior work, though. I hope you're short. Myself and my dad are both 6'4", so crawling under the dash to install stuff was a huge pain.

One question: do you have any issues with road debris getting into the brake cooling ducts and messing things up?

Thanks! People think Im crazy when they see my feet coming out of the t-tops when Im working under the dash. They must have had contortionists working at GM when they put these things together
I have some screens that cover the ducts, and I do see leaves and stuff collect there sometimes but I dont think Ive had any rocks or anything get up there... The tubing goes up pretty far so the debris would have to have some serious velocity to go up then over then back down to the rotor.

I feel like Im making good progress but my list of things to do (and buy ) keeps getting longer. I dont think the muncie will be going back in this time... Ive got a few T56 parts gathered up so I think im going to go through with that when the motor goes back in. I may take the radiator out and see what kind of fitment issues I would have if I went for a heat extractor hood/radiator setup.

[the dan]

is that the JB welded rad still?

[vette427-sbc]

is that the JB welded rad still?

Traded it for this lightweight cardboard one



This is pretty close to the stock size radiator (about 16" X 29"). This will not work with the reverse opening hood though. I would really like to use something like a 13" x 30" (less weight and will probably work with my stock hood opening configuration). Im just worried it wont keep the car cool enough when Im sitting in beach traffic. Is there a rule of thumb on radiator size/ hp or something like that?

[cornfedbill]

Traded it for this lightweight cardboard one



This is pretty close to the stock size radiator (about 16" X 29"). This will not work with the reverse opening hood though. I would really like to use something like a 13" x 30" (less weight and will probably work with my stock hood opening configuration). Im just worried it wont keep the car cool enough when Im sitting in beach traffic. Is there a rule of thumb on radiator size/ hp or something like that?

Have you looked into a double pass aluminum radiator? http://www.kmjent.com/cart/race-pro-...ass-style.html

I really like that upper control arm support. I wish I had room for one in my Nova.

[rfalker1]

It lives! I took it for a test drive at 3am last night. Made it to the fathers day car show with my dad with no issues. I need to work out a few bugs still, but once everything is up to par its time to get to another track day

Now this is one beautiful car!! Love the wheels and the exhaust!!!

[vette427-sbc]

Have you looked into a double pass aluminum radiator? http://www.kmjent.com/cart/race-pro-...ass-style.html

I really like that upper control arm support. I wish I had room for one in my Nova.

Yes I would prefer to use the double pass since I want the inlet and outlet on the same side (passenger) BUT I dont know if they make a double pass that is 13" or shorter. If they do I havent found one yet.
And thanks! The "spreader bar" between the control arms makes a big difference in frame flex. Very popular mod to these vettes since the motor sits so far back in the frame.

Now this is one beautiful car!! Love the wheels and the exhaust!!!

Thanks!

[Flash68]

Killer car !

[vette427-sbc]

Thank you!

Isnt there a member here that builds custom radiators? Is it Sparky RnD or something like that? Its not looking like I have many (if any) options in terms of off the shelf radiators

[vette427-sbc]

So close, yet so far... got the main interior pieces mocked up for cage fitment. The guy building my cage is going to kill me when I tell him I want a dash bar to fit behind all my gauges, under the dash pad, over the steering column and around everything else behind the dash. And yes, I sat in it for a while pretending to drive. Im getting anxious. Lots of things have been changed, which means lots more to go wrong upon startup...

[Oramac]

The guy building my cage is going to kill me when I tell him I want a dash bar to fit behind all my gauges, under the dash pad, over the steering column and around everything else behind the dash.

That is evil! What would the bar be for?

[Flash68]

The guy building my cage is going to kill me when I tell him I want a dash bar to fit behind all my gauges, under the dash pad, over the steering column and around everything else behind the dash.

I was just looking at this last week on my Camaro and I want to do the exact same thing. Want to tie in the lateral bars and connect the A-pillar bars and also have something for the engine bay down bars to tie into for full rigidity.

Def doesn't look easy!

[vette427-sbc]

That is evil! What would the bar be for?

I was just looking at this last week on my Camaro and I want to do the exact same thing. Want to tie in the lateral bars and connect the A-pillar bars and also have something for the engine bay down bars to tie into for full rigidity.

Def doesn't look easy!

Like Flash said, to provide more torsional resistance by adding some "height" to the frame structure. I think Im going to have to do something like 1.25" tubing across instead of the 1.75 like the rest. Anything is better than nothing.

[vette427-sbc]

More changes happening! Picked this up from craigslist. 04 GTO with 0 miles since the Tick rebuild. Any advise on a clutch/flywheel setup? I have a quicktime bell and Im using the factory hydraulics behind my SBC

[2Loose]

Fun following your build.
Had a '63 split window in the 70's, sold it when the kids started coming along, needed something "more practical"....
Guess my '55 Chevy hardtop will have to do, at least it has room for the grandkids to go riding with me....
Aloha,
Willy

https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...pe-396-LT1-T56

[Aficionado]

Given any more thought to having a mold made for that front spoiler?