Frankie's '70 RS/SS

[chuck_skywalker]

xxx

[Zoomin]

Great looking car!

Plans?

[Jimbo1367]

Great looking car!

Plans?

Agreed. Plans?

[Rolling_Thunder]

Bolsa Chica Beach ?

[Later-A-body]

Beautiful car and unique color. Looks like a great one to start with.

[andrewb70]

Love the color!

Andrew

[chuck_skywalker]

Great looking car!

Plans?

So i've decided the 1st thing i need to upgrade is suspension and steering, since it drives like a boat. I've been thinking about doing a ridetech LVL2 package and then doing a Delphi 600 quick ratio gear box, everything i've read sounds good. I've also thought about doing a DSE front subframe but i think i might be doing a little to much since i'm not going to race or anything. I really just want the car to handle well.

I've also been looking at motors, i cant decide if i want to stick the 350 or go with something like A LS2+T56 combo, but it seems that requires alot more work than knowledge i have, so maybe ill have to do my HW before going that route. More than anything i want a clean looking engine bay, so i'd want to clean up the firewall and get rid of the unnecessary things under the hood.

What i'm really trying to avoid is spending unnecessary amounts of money, so if i'm going to do something i want to do it right the 1st time instead of having to go back and do it again. Maybe you guys have some opinions i can take into consideration.

Bolsa Chica Beach ?

Actually i was at Dockweiler beach near LAX. Not too far from Huntington.

[andrewb70]

Chuck,

If you actually plan to drive the car a lot then doing a LSx swap with a T56 will make the car very streetable. I bet even a 5.3L makes more power than that old 350...

LS swaps are very well documented so don't be afraid. Holley makes a very well engineered set of swap components that are all designed to work together. They have the engine mounts, oil pan, transmission crossmember, headers, and full exhaust.

Andrew

[chuck_skywalker]

Chuck,

If you actually plan to drive the car a lot then doing a LSx swap with a T56 will make the car very streetable. I bet even a 5.3L makes more power than that old 350...

LS swaps are very well documented so don't be afraid. Holley makes a very well engineered set of swap components that are all designed to work together. They have the engine mounts, oil pan, transmission crossmember, headers, and full exhaust.

Andrew

Yeah, keeping the car streetable is exactly what i want. The car wasn't numbers matching when i bought it anyways so thats why i was thinking LS2. Currently it has a LT1, (from what year i have no idea) but it runs like a champ. It has 12bolt rear end with 3.08 gears so if i swap out the gears and go with a 3.73 set up with the T56 i think that would make a great combo. i dont need a crazy 800HP to drive around. Not that there is an wrong with having 800HP but i'd be more than happy with about 450 to the wheels which im sure i could achieve that no problem with a LS motor. I'm just trying to stay realistic in my plans and manage expectations. Thanks for the advice.

[Zoomin]

So i've decided the 1st thing i need to upgrade is suspension and steering, since it drives like a boat. I've been thinking about doing a ridetech LVL2 package and then doing a Delphi 600 quick ratio gear box, everything i've read sounds good. I've also thought about doing a DSE front subframe but i think i might be doing a little to much since i'm not going to race or anything. I really just want the car to handle well.

I've also been looking at motors, i cant decide if i want to stick the 350 or go with something like A LS2+T56 combo, but it seems that requires alot more work than knowledge i have, so maybe ill have to do my HW before going that route. More than anything i want a clean looking engine bay, so i'd want to clean up the firewall and get rid of the unnecessary things under the hood.

What i'm really trying to avoid is spending unnecessary amounts of money, so if i'm going to do something i want to do it right the 1st time instead of having to go back and do it again. Maybe you guys have some opinions i can take into consideration.



Actually i was at Dockweiler beach near LAX. Not too far from Huntington.

The only thing I would add to the Ride Tech Lvl 2 would be a sway bar of some sort. The Detroit Speed setup is awesome but is overkill for guys like us that will see more street than track time.

I agree with Andrew, the LS swaps are now so easy even I can do it. Do that, you'll be glad you did.

[andrewb70]

Yeah, keeping the car streetable is exactly what i want. The car wasn't numbers matching when i bought it anyways so thats why i was thinking LS2. Currently it has a LT1, (from what year i have no idea) but it runs like a champ. It has 12bolt rear end with 3.08 gears so if i swap out the gears and go with a 3.73 set up with the T56 i think that would make a great combo. i dont need a crazy 800HP to drive around. Not that there is an wrong with having 800HP but i'd be more than happy with about 450 to the wheels which im sure i could achieve that no problem with a LS motor. I'm just trying to stay realistic in my plans and manage expectations. Thanks for the advice.

I think you'd be very happy with something like a 480HP LS3 crate engine. It would make for an excellent driver with the 3.73 gears and a T56...keeping tire diameter around 26 inches...

Also, your car seems to be begging for the new ridetech street grip system. Keep it simple...the 2 gen geometry is pretty good already.

Andrew

[chuck_skywalker]

Hey folks! After a tune up the car is running better than ever. The rear suspension was sagging so i installed some new air shocks to hold me over until i order the ridetech system. Now, i'm just having a small issue when the car is cold it backfires at the carb like crazy. Not sure if its running too rich but thats my initial guess.



While im at it i figure i might as well get headers. I'm going the mids route as i want to lower the car. i've heard longtubes hang too low. I'm just having a hard time trying to find some that will fit. i did some digging and found that I have a 350 small block with the L31 vortech heads from a 88 Camaro. I was thinking about ordering the following headers but i was hoping if you guys could help me to see if they'll fit. Any help is appreciated!

http://www.jegs.com/i/Hedman/500/63608/10002/-1

[kevvingib]

Those headers fit the GEN 1 SBC not the Gen 2 motor that you have. This link will work for your motor http://www.jegs.com/i/Hedman/500/68476/10002/-1

These also work are are like the ones you first looked at ( Elite) http://www.jegs.com/i/Hedman/500/63478/10002/-1

[chuck_skywalker]

xxx

[Motown 454]

That breakes my heart. Sorry to see this. They can do some good things when they pull the frame, sometimes it will help with the quarter some too. Good luck.

[Bugzilla]

I know that feeling all too well. My 70 Camaro got rear ended by a retard too. I had the same creases in the quarter panels. The body shop pulled most of it back straight but it was never the same car again. The trunk lid would never seal right and you could tell the rear was a little twisted.

Sorry for your loss but I hope for the best outcome!

[Zoomin]

Sorry for the bad luck!

I doubt the frame got tweaked too much.

[chuck_skywalker]

Hey Everyone!

So after a few months of looking for a body shop and going back and forth with the insurance we're finally going to start with the repairs! I got the insurance to budge on all new metal for any damaged parts, new gas tank and a respray of the whole car! Its been almost 3 months since the initial accident and i should be getting it back around the 1st week of march!! As soon as i can get some pictures in, ill be sure to share!

As soon as the car comes back ill be ready to go ahead and start upgrades: if you guys have any suggestions comments on what im going with feel free to put your 2c in.

Headers (unsure)
Exhaust (Blackwidow)
Steering box (thinking of going with DSE)
ridetech LVL2 + sway bar
Looking to upgrade breaks but not sure which route to go?

I have a question, has anyone done the clear bra on their car? i was thinking of getting it done since i'll have fresh new paint, kind of want to keep the front end rock chip free for as long as possible haha.

[Zoomin]

Just a few observations FWIW - on the clear bra, I always see the line where the coverage stops, which looks as bad or worse than paint to me. Just get a bottle of touch up paint. I use the Ride Tech and Wilwood brakes on my builds and I think you get a lot of quality and capability for the price.

[Jimbo1367]

WOW. So sorry to hear. I'd insist on new NOS GM panels if avail. If not, AMD. I'd be VERY picky of the body shop too. Hopefully they had good insurance.