The Pigeon Forge Project

[trapin]

Actually, I know have a price for the exhaust. I just called Great Lakes Customs in Mount Clemens and the owner (Greg) who I've actually been acquainted with for over 16 years quoted me a price of around $600 for a complete mandrel bent exhaust. That's with the O2 sensors installed, 2.5 inch pipe, H-pipe crossover. So I guess it won't be that bad after all.

[Vinz68]

Awesome. Don't worry about exhaust. Save it for last. Pu it at the very end of your build plan (afer driveshaft and brake lines, right Vin?) Try to make your deadline August 1st so that you have time for overruns, test drives and do-overs.

I worried about the the driveshaft and brakelines so much it almost took me out...lol and towards the end it really wasn't a big deal.

[parsonsj]

Many times I've worried and analyzed some new step to the point that I lost sleep. It usually was less of a problem than I thought it would be.

jp

[MuscleRodz]

Tony, you might consider the electrical before interior in your schedule so your not doing anywork twice. Also if you have to buy a converter anyways, it will be cheaper in the long run to buy the Pro-torque converter and be done with it rather than buy a cheaper one and changing it out later. I always try to consider the cost of any rework when making sacrifices in a build. Maybe that is why my personal projects take so long, I HATE compromising!

Mike

[Steve Chryssos]

Actually, I know have a price for the exhaust. I just called Great Lakes Customs in Mount Clemens and the owner (Greg) who I've actually been acquainted with for over 16 years quoted me a price of around $600 for a complete mandrel bent exhaust. That's with the O2 sensors installed, 2.5 inch pipe, H-pipe crossover. So I guess it won't be that bad after all.

That's a good price and a worthwhile investment when considering the ground clearance issues we all face. A custom exhaust will go a long way towards eliminating the chance for scrapes as well as rattling and interference. Like I said--do the exhaust last.

[GT500KR_Vert]

That's funny; I do the same thing. I think it's an IT thing.

Good idea JP! As a project Manager (IT Application Development) there is a lot to be said for breaking the progress into iterations and mapping them. Creating a timeline with deliverables makes matching procress to the goal easier to track as well as helping it appear more attainable (nevermind the last minute rush it helps prevent). Time and money management are what project management is all about and it sounds like that is exactly what everyone wanting it done by a certain date needs. I have a lifetime parts list broken into iterations with associated dates based on funds and time availability. I won't get into capacity planning.

I look forward to following along with the progress.

[67SSDan]

Awesome man! Get it done!

Dan

[Kenova]

Tony,

One word of advice: buy parts as you go. Don't buy them months in advance because your plan will evolve and you will end up with parts you don't need or want. jp

JP is right. Don't ask me how I know.

Many times I've worried and analyzed some new step to the point that I lost sleep. It usually was less of a problem than I thought it would be.
jp

My number one problem. It can be outright paralizing.

Ken

[JWilson]

I do it to. Paralysis by analysis, I've heard it called.

$600 seems pretty reasonable for that much exhaust work. True duals from the headers to the back bumper with plain ole turbos cost me $250 installed on the '79.

[Kenova]

I do it to. Paralysis by analysis, I've heard it called.

Excellent! Now I have a name for it.
Have any cures?

Ken

[JWilson]

The only cure that I know of at this time is, as we say in the south, to "just by God do it". And my experience is that with a lot of other remedies the side effects can be pretty bad.

[trapin]

Big hurdle cleared today, finally got my heads. I opted to go with 243 castings (LS6) per Andrew Borodin's recommendation but got them as Stage II from Patriot Performance. They're not much to bragg about but should work great with my cam. They are CNC ported, have a competition valve job, double springs, 2.00/1.55, and were new castings. Now I just need a couple small things and I can start stitching the engine back together.

[Taylor1969]

$$$$$$$$$$$$

I don't have it figured in my budget yet because I don't know how much it will cost. I'm hoping the money just falls out of the sky. LOL!!!

How about do what I did... Pypes xpipe from Summit $125. 2 magnaflow mufflers - $120

Dump right in front of the rear

Total of $240

[Bill Howell]

I am reading this thread Tony, and loving the fact RTTH 3 inspired you. More than that though, here it is almost a month later and you are still on board....a true convert....hehe
You are thinking right too, get the car going then you can always go back and upgrade. Trust me, if coming to the event fired you up, imagine what driving the car will do....hehe
So many on this board over analyze their cars so much they will NEVER finish them.
The event is always the 3rd weekend in Sept. just FYI.
See ya then, IN THE CAMARO!!

[trapin]

Bill, I hope this thread does for others what RTH3 did for me and we have a major flood of new/finished cars.

We're gonna have us a religious revival the 3rd week of September.

It's gonna be like that scene from 'Close Encounters Of The Third Kind" where the alien ship lands and out comes all these people who have been missing for many years. Instead in our case it will be people's cars. LOL!!!!

[Steve1968LS2]

Hey Tony, you have a PM about some parts to help you on your way.

Steven

[Smock67]

good to see you have a plan of action. i wish i had done that. Goals are always good to have but i would agree and say shoot for august 1st for everything to be done. Then you have plenty of time for those unfortunate bugs that always seem to arise.

[trapin]

Folks...."The Mill"....she is done.

Here's what we got....

LS1/LS6 Hybrid
LS1 bottem end
LS6 Stage II heads
LS6 Intake
LS6 PVC System
LS6 Ported Oil Pump
LS2 Timing Chain
Thunder Racing 224/224 .563/.563 114
Hardened 7.4 pushrods
ARP Rod Bolts
ARP Head Bolts
AutoKraft Oil Pan

The engine was painted in Duplicolor Cast Aluminum engine paint. The serpentine drive and underpulley will be stock. I'm waiting on my Throttle Body, that's down in Tampa, FL right now being ported by Jeremy Formato at Fastproms. It's also awaiting two sensors which should be in Tuesday and I gotta get my balancer on. After it's in the car I'll bolt up the power steering pump, alternator, and harmonic balancer. I decided to keep the mill mostly stock looking. I like it like that, strictley business.

The motor and trans will be in the car next weekend and after that I will have my driveshaft modified at DTS and then I'm done for the year. 2008's gonna be fun.

[dropit69]

looking good Tony can't wait to see it at RTTH4..wohoooo

[67SSDan]

Sweet! Keep it up man!