66 Ponitac Tempest LS1 Build

[rickpaw]

You may want to look into switching to a 9" dual diaphram booster. It will give you the clearance you need. I ran into similar issue when I did the swap on my Firebird.

[66Tempest326]

Thanks Rick. That was my thoughts if we cant get this coil relocated on the cheap. I don't relish the thought of spending money on something twice. Other mistakes likes this: tail lights (lost the first set, I don't know where or how); flywheel (after I read the wrong torque spec and pulled the threads out of it!); engine and transmission (just greedy); transmission again (Borg Warner Viper 6-speed vs. Hawk's Third Gen Camaro T56 upgraded rebuild); AC compressor and brackets (factory GM stuff looks good if you clearance your cross member before painting it) and on and on...

[66Tempest326]

Good lord this car is huge. Each spray was 2 plus quarts of color and clear. The satin clear coat really required a more experience touch to lay down. It is definitely a painters material; not something your typical insurance body shop would be able to spray. So here's some porn:

[Godbolt]

Oh yeah! Awesome. That colour really suits it.

[64G-lark]

Nice Tempest. Keep up the good work.

[Mr. White]

Looks GREAT! Love the color and stain clear!

[Zoomin]

Those tires and wheels... The whole project is great.

On the master cylinder, consider using a Wilwood manual master - they are so clean, free up tons of room and you'll love the feel of them. I've used them a couple times now with great results.

[rohrt]

Car looks bad @ss.

[Josh@Ridetech]

Cool! I love a built Tempest.

[66Tempest326]

Starting to get the pieces back on. Funny no one makes anything for a 66 Tempest/Lemans for tail light to body seals, guess I'll be making those.

Better look at the stance. I did push it a bit with the front wheel backspace, which is huge, pushing the wheels as far out as possible. Looks like we'll have to ratchet up the coil overs a tad and roll what little lip we can on the fenders.

I'll have to fight the brake booster issue later next year, the wallet is officially drained for this year.

[66Tempest326]

Not much new going on, just sitting waiting for parts to come in.

Hooking up all of the vacuum and PCV lines. Of course 97-98 LS1's are different than EVERY OTHER FREAKING LS MOTOR OUT THERE. Ended up at a salvage yard and had to buy a whole valve cover just to get the PCV connector plug for the driver's side.

Got my Entropy radiator in today; fits like a glove. Now to route that new spider web of wiring. Overall great looking piece, just be prepared to wait a while for it. I also don't recommend using the website interface to order; call them directly. It felt like I got lost in the shuffle and they were a little weird about it (just my 2 cents).

Got the interior bits in the garage in a pile of boxes. Vintage Recaro seats out for reupholstering.

Exhaust routing started.

Wiring the car starts next week if the stars line up right. Hoping for first fire and drive in July.

Looks like it doesn't like me uploading pictures, so no port this post I guess.

[Bugzilla]

I didn't really like the body color at first, but man. That last picture you posted, beautiful car! Keep up the good work!

[67goatman455]

this is awesome!!! those wheels go perfect with the car too!

[Gil]

beautiful ! Perfect taste....
Love it...

[66Tempest326]

I didn't really like the body color at first, but man. That last picture you posted, beautiful car! Keep up the good work!

I was pretty scared too when he started spraying. Been thinking of the factory pin stripes to break up the 19 ft of bronze.

[66Tempest326]

Phone works but computer doesn't, go figure.

[66Tempest326]

Thinking about a GPS receiver in that big empty space in the Rolling Thunder dash bezel.

Also got an E-stopp electronic parking brake. Need somewhere for that button to go as well as vintage air controller.

[wfo guy]

You're getting there.

[juicypop]

Car looks sick great build!

[66Tempest326]

So bad news, even jacked all the way up on the coilovers, I don't have room to turn the wheels. I forgot to account for the little tiny number on the wilwood instructions for the brakes that said it adds 19mm of backspace. Combine that with the drop spindles (I know I shouldn't have combined coilovers and drop spindles) there's no adjustment we have tried that will work.

So I've ordered some heavier springs to get it up a little and ordered new wheel hoops from CCW (3-piece design) and take a half-inch out of the outer shell and add it to the inner shell. Keeping my fingers crossed that I won't need new spindles too.

Hopefully when this debacle is through it will be in upholstery by mid-August.