1969 Firebird TA clone track car build

[Cop Magnet]

Nice build! I think you are overthinking the pinion offset front to rear. As long as the drive angles of the trans and diff pinions are the same, the angle of the driveshaft side to side or up and down (within reason) shouldn't be much of a factor.

[jlwdvm]

It wouldn't be a factor as far as drive shaft vibration is concerned, but it would affect the overall handling of the car it the rear tires weren't traveling in a line that was parallel to the front tire track. http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/show...=42568&page=14 check out post #137...Ron said handling in right and left corners would be much different.

[jlwdvm]

I didn't have to touch the trans tunnel and I can get my hand in between the top of the trans and the tunnel! I can get you a picture of header clearance, but if I remember they barely hang lower than the subframe...if at all.

Great write up, thanks for the info so far on your build.
Did you have to cut the tunnel to get the T56 to fit? Any pics of the clearance it has with the tunnel? Would you be kind enough to take a picture of the headers from the side showing how much they hang down past the frame?

[Cop Magnet]

It wouldn't be a factor as far as drive shaft vibration is concerned, but it would affect the overall handling of the car it the rear tires weren't traveling in a line that was parallel to the front tire track. http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/show...=42568&page=14 check out post #137...Ron said handling in right and left corners would be much different.

I think we are talking about different things. The front and rear tire tracks have to be in sync, no question. The differential can be off center and this can still be accomplished, and I think this is what you were describing unless I missed something (axle housings were different lengths).

[Jedrattle]

Really nice build. You made the perfect wheel choice!

[jlwdvm]

Right. With The advice of Ron Sutton, I squared the front and rear wheel mounting surfaces as close to perfect as I could get by adjusting the front subframe as well as the rear axle (prior to welding 4-link tabs on). In the end, the tire clearance to fender lip on the rear is very close to being equal, the WMS is square, and the rear axle center line is off a little bit...but that is what u-joints are for! The axle tubes aren't equal length, but I believe that is how they came from the factory...Strange built the rear axle to factory specs.

I think we are talking about different things. The front and rear tire tracks have to be in sync, no question. The differential can be off center and this can still be accomplished, and I think this is what you were describing unless I missed something (axle housings were different lengths).

[jlwdvm]

Lots of header ground clearance

[rchaskin]

Man this thing is awesome!!

You will throw rocks at that Boss after you get this thing on the road!!

[jlwdvm]

The Boss is a awesome car. I'm selling my 67 firebird convertible in the hopes that the new GT350 will be worth buying. Finishing mocking up an access panel to get the the Bowler shifter on my T56 if needed.

[jlwdvm]

Finished up the shifter access panel and started looking at wiring, spark plug wires, coil relocation brackets, air intake tube...etc. Lots of projects to get done.

[jlwdvm]

Decided to run the wire harness through the blower motor hole that I left open when I was closing up openings on the fire wall. Thinking about mounting the coils under the dash too.

[jlwdvm]

It was a lot more difficult to get part numbers for hoses that would work with my application...I thought there would have been more info floating around for the right hoses! These work well, I had to cut about 4" off the end of the upper hose. The upper hose could be a little tighter at the radiator, but I think it will be ok. I also put a recipe together for a cold air intake that will place the 7" K&N cone filter behind the drivers head lights. only 1 cut to 2 sections of 4" exhaust pipe was needed! I ordered 60 and 60 degree bend sections to get the filter where I wanted it. I ordered the fittings coming off of the throttle body from Spectre/summit.

[jlwdvm]

Got the intake tube welded up. I need to make a mount to secure the far end to the inner fender well and get it painted. It will be drawing cool air from behind the driver's head light area. I was able to get the clutch master cylinder mounted up after removing a little metal from the original hole in the firewall. The adapter bracket is from Bowler. To get the brake master and proportioning valve mounted I had to remove the pedal mount from inside the car and replace the top 2 bolts with longer ones. Getting ready to mount up the new brakes after consulting with Ron Sutton. He figured out that for what I am going to be doing, I needed to go bigger. Pix are what I had, and what I went to.

[jlwdvm]

Starting to get the front brakes mocked up...I've been a little busy with other things lately.

[SamHatco]

Nice Buck. Kansas?

Sam

[jlwdvm]

That's how we do it in Iowa!

[Widetrax]

Joe,
Just finished reading the whole thread, your doing a great job! I am working on a 68 firebird so a lot of your work caries over to what I will be challenged with. Thanks for getting the answers to many questions I have without even having to ask! Like the tire track being more important than the u-joint side angles. Much appreciated. Keep up the awsome project.

[jlwdvm]

NO problem. I just sold my 67 firebird to make space for a 2016 GT350 that I got lined up with a local dealer. I did a lot of the work on that car before all this stuff was easily found on the internet. Thinking back, I did a lot of things the wrong way the first time!

I got the Goodridge fuel line ran from the tank to the engine bay, front brakes are mocked up, and now working on the rears....they're just a little bit bigger!

[Stovebolter]

The bird is looking great Joe!

[jlwdvm]

Thanks...the new goal is to have it running by spring...maybe! Just ordered a truckload of parts to get a lot of little projects done. The list never ends!