70 GTO.....part 2

[SDMAN]

pic for above.

[GM_muscle]

thats a bad a$$ frame. keep up the work.

[SDMAN]

Stay tuned. Looks like a parallel 4 bar for the rear with a watts link (instead of the Tri-4 bar setup). Ordering wheels on Monday with a 6-8 week turn. Should have the brakes (Baer monoblocks) in 2 weeks. So Ill be off line for a month while we get it into the roller stage. Will post progress pics, but likely wont have anything for several weeks. But hey.....at least the fun part has started.

[Kiddi]

Awsome!!!

Hey... Tom, please post the pic of the cnc'd block

[SDMAN]

Here they are.

[WS6]

Wow, that is gorgeous. Almost too nice to cover up and hide.

[absolom]

wow, looks amazing

[hotrdblder]

more pics please

[BretB]

That should be one awesome ride when finished. Can't wait to see it.

[SDMAN]

3 big boxes got dropped off today. Brakes are here! And they are very nice on the eyes. If they stop half as good as they look Ill be happy. Come on Budnik.....get those wheels done!

[Code Red]

bah you dont need those junk brakes just send them on over to me ;-)

[robert irvin]

Who did the block? Weston Machine?

Bob

[SDMAN]

The CNC work on the cylinder block was done by LSM. AllPontiac (the blocks manufacturer) works with them directly.

[ProTour69GTO]

Stay tuned. Looks like a parallel 4 bar for the rear with a watts link (instead of the Tri-4 bar setup). Ordering wheels on Monday with a 6-8 week turn. Should have the brakes (Baer monoblocks) in 2 weeks. So Ill be off line for a month while we get it into the roller stage. Will post progress pics, but likely wont have anything for several weeks. But hey.....at least the fun part has started.

Cough 3-link cough

[SDMAN]

I could have ordered the frame right from A/M with a 3 link and a watts. We didnt. I ordered the frame that had the friendliest rear seat components (as in, the rear seat was still useable). The 3 link invades the passenger compartment in a big way.

The tri-4 bar rear frame rails have a much gentler bend than either the 3 or 4 link rear frame rails do. I never intended to use the tri-4 bar suspension, but did want its rear seat friendly rear frame rails. From the beginning we planned on setting it up with an adjustable 4 bar and watts of our own making (using components from A/M). We have to fab our own watts link, as currently A/M will not sell just the link (even though I bought a frame). Dont think Ill ever get that, but its not like we cant make our own.

Handling is important, but straight line performance is equally (or maybe a little more) important, and the 4 bar/link's adjustability is superior in that application. With an easy 750 HP on the rear tires, the ability to optimize the rear geometry for traction is pretty critical. And it will still handle and ride just fine.

[SDMAN]

Its been a while, but lots of progress has been made. Budnik wheels are here. Brakes are here. Brakes fit in the wheels (imagine that). A quick front track measurement with all the C-5 components bolted onto the frame yields 69.5" wide, bulge to bulge, which is on the low side of our target (70" was the nominal).

And, I lucked out because the shop where I was going to have the rear suspension setup at had 2 race car builds delayed, and was able to move my project to the front of the line right on to one of the frame tables. Thats a first for me. So the 4 link brackets have been plotted and tacked on and the watts link is done and should be mounted in a day or two. Once thats all done we can get the rear coil overs mounted and then its time to get those rear frame rails narrowed in preparation for mounting the body.

I cant post pics right now as this shop does NOT allow cameras in their work area. These guys do mostly dragster frames and Pro stock/Pro mod stick cars, and are pretty tight lipped about who the cars are for.

And the owner has flat told me that my original plan to put a simple 8 point in it (to tech to 10.0) is a non starter. Based on his experience, he told me I should expect mid to low 9's in the quarter mile (at ~150mph). So it looks like the cage will need to be a tad bigger.

[SDMAN]

Its taking a lot longer than I want it to, but it is what it is. Were thru modifying the morrison frame. Rear rails are now where they need to be (for tire clearance) and the 4 link has been plotted on a frame table and installed by a pro. Need to fiddle a bit with the watts setup, but its a minor tweak. Its finally time to get the entire floor punched out of the GTO and get the body onto this new setup. And for you hardcore Pontiac guys, I made a small motor change. Instead of worked over Edelbrocks for the Procharged 542, I went with a set of the new CV-1 canted valve heads for the traditional Pontiac motor. Hey....I had to do something while the frame was sitting in the shop. A few pics.

[jackfrost]

the word 'steamroller' comes to mind for some reason...

[andrewb70]

What size are those tires, front and rear?

Andrew

[SDMAN]

All 4 are Mickey Thompson S/R's (street radials).
Fronts are 26" tall X 12" wide on 11" wide, 18" diameter rims.
Rears are 29.5" tall X 18" wide on 15" wide, 18" diameter rims.