Project WidowMaker - The Chevelle Build Thread

[The WidowMaker]

got the dry sump stuff in the mail today. pan is acutally a little smaller than what i had mocked up, so i see no reason it wont fit. the side walls really slope in towards the bottom giving it a lot more clearance than it would seem. peterson is working on a quote and im still debating the aviaid pan baffle. some guys say that a good tank is all thats necessary. not sure its worth the 250 bucks.



still working out ideas for the injectors. the plan right now is for the ls9 injectors which are 52lbs. but they use a bent cone spray and im unsure if these would be optimal. pretty nice that you can get new ones for 200 bucks.

block is close to getting done. i was told 3 weeks and that was a couple weeks ago.

i finished up the edges of the bumper. i never liked the large radius of the fender and the tight radius of the bumper. i cut the heck out of the bumper and my .180 flows across the top and wraps around the sides now. still debating on what im going to do for a spoiler. id like to add an inch or so to the rocker, so it may require something up front to match.

i bought new inner fenders and have already cut up the drivers side to get tire clearance. its not the nicest looking mod, but you cant see it from the engine compartment and the tire hides it from the outside unless youre on your knees and really looking.

[cavmsg]

Tim,

Been keeping an eye on your build for a little while, I am amazed at the level of detail you have put into this car. This build is nothing short of art. Keep up the amazing work.

CAVMSG

[Flash68]

I really like and appreciate your approach Tim... spend the money in places you warrant, but not just throwing money at every area... really analyzing and finding the most cost effective solution FOR YOU.... I enjoy that part of this stuff... and you seem to do a great job at it. Keep it up.

[dusterbd13]

do you have a link for the ls9 injectors? thats a great price.
also, possibly some explanation on the bent cone pattern and maybe a picture demonstrating? these sound right up my alley for what im doing.
michael

[dusterbd13]

sorry. double post

[The WidowMaker]

I really like and appreciate your approach Tim... spend the money in places you warrant, but not just throwing money at every area... really analyzing and finding the most cost effective solution FOR YOU....

but my wife says that if i add up all my time wasted researching i would come out thousands ahead by just throwing big money at it. lol. women........

do you have a link for the ls9 injectors? thats a great price.
also, possibly some explanation on the bent cone pattern and maybe a picture demonstrating? these sound right up my alley for what im doing.

my understanding is minimal, but the stock ls injectors are all tilted at an angle front or back depending on right or left bank. this angle helps the fuel hit the back of the hot intake valve and atomize much better. i "believe" the ls9 bosses are oriented straight up and down, so to get the angle to the valve they angle the spray, not the injector. why? i dont know. ive read it has to do with packaging, but that doesnt make a lot of sense since its only 15* and <2". it doesnt seem like you gain much.

ive been concerned that this angled spray in an angled seat will spray to the wrong spot, but i guess theres actually parameters that can be changed within the ecm for "wall wetting". plus, the ls9 guys are all spending major bucks (1k+) for the ID injectors which are a straight cone. so, if they are replacing angled spray with straight, then i dont know why it couldnt be done the other way around.

ebay and the forums have them. all for 200 bucks are take offs from uninstalled superchargers and crates with 0 miles. i missed a set of new ones for 85 bucks the other day

[craigs73]

but my wife says that if i add up all my time wasted researching i would come out thousands ahead by just throwing big money at it. lol. women........

atleast she tells you to spend money lol....my wife hates when money goes towards car

[The WidowMaker]

ha. she'll tell me to spend money and then yell at me when she sees the credit card. ive given up. at this point i know what to expect.....

[Protournova]

ha. she'll tell me to spend money and then yell at me when she sees the credit card. ive given up. at this point i know what to expect.....

LOL... I can't wait to tell my wife I found her long lost twin..

[craigs73]

must be triplets then lol......she did tell me i could use the one cc and that i make sure it gets paid etc....so....bout to spend some $$$ lol

[The WidowMaker]

LOL... I can't wait to tell my wife I found her long lost twin..

must be triplets then lol

ha. that there is funny.......


small update. i was able to get the drivers side inner fender done. welded in a notch in the top and had to relocate all the holes. i have the passenger side cut up and a template made for the notch. i still only have 3" of bump travel with the wheels straight. anyone think this isnt enough?

i also picked up an old style ls7 water pump for my wegner front drive, new ls coils on ebay for 128 bucks, new (dyno time only) FIC 60lb injectors for 150 bucks and the ls7 pan fittings for $35. im still working on the aviaid pan baffle, peterson tank and a few other small parts. block is now supposed to be done in 2 weeks.

for those interested in the ls9 injectors, they are also labeled as magnuson, edelbrock and lsa 52 lb. most guys yank them during the installation of their aftermarket supercharger.

more later.....

[Hondo78]

Very nice detail on the car you have quite an eye for what is out of place in the original design.

Keep it up.

[The WidowMaker]

just another small update. both front wheel tubs are done and ive moved back to the bumper. ive finished machining the second part of the inserts and have now moved on to gettting them mounted. i have a few more small projects on the body, but i think my next plan is to start the interior. i want to get the trunk and rear package tray roughed in and start on a center console. i just want the mounts done and welded before i spray the coating on the bottom. im hoping that marquez is close to done with their interior. i called them the end of last year and they hadnt started yet but planned to have it by this time.

the block still isnt done, but ive now been told the end of this week. i started talking with wegner again, but they are a few grand more than hke. the plan is still to ship the block to erik at hke and get this thing done.

[The WidowMaker]

i mocked up the new hellas last night to check clearance for the peterson tank. the h4's fit perfect with no cutting needed, but the h1's need a hole in the core support and stick further out the back. in addition, my hellas fit different in the trim ring with one sitting about 1/4" out further than the other. since the h4 fit without cutting and they look different, im thinking about running all h4's and having the inner h4 hooked just to the brights.

and for those that are interested, check out lehigh valley (<-- short version)...... ive always used my 4.5" variable speed grinder to do all the work (grinding, cutting, blending, etc) and switch back and forth tons of times a day. finally, last year i picked up a second cheaper one speed grinder that i only used with the harbor freight cut off wheels. after running through about 100 dics, i finally decided to give the dewalt wheels a chance at twice the price. ive found that i get more than twice the use and i havent had one gernade yet. i wont use the hf again. they worked, but a slight bind on a deep straight cut an they were toast.

so back to the first sentence and lehigh valley..... home depot used to stock norton abrasives and had flap wheels for ~6 bucks a pop. expensive, but cheaper than dewalt and they didnt compare to the HF stuff. they recently switched suppliers and jacked up the price again. i went looking and found lehigh valley. ended up with 50 bucks worth of stuff at my door and gave them a shot yesterday. VERY VERY impressed. it seems like they last a little longer although the rumor is they use norton abrasives. they have a thin and thick version, but the thick is only $2.50 ea and is thicker than the old nortons. check them out.

[Che70velle]

Give us an update...

[The WidowMaker]

Give us an update...

sure....

now that the bumpers done, ive turned my attention to the interior. going to start work on the trunk, build a sub box for through the rear deck and build a panel for the rear deck as well. once thats all done i'll start on the door panels and the dash.

ive also been working on the ring bros door handles. im a tall guy with huge hands and ive never liked how my hand fit the handles. i would literally have to use just two fingers behind the pull which isnt an option. i also didnt like how they didnt fully cover the recessed hole in the door. so, ive added 3/8 to the back of the handles for a full 4 finger fit and ive massaged the door to remove the recess. the only thing left is to cut my 3/8 spacer at an angle. right now the handles stick up at too far of an angle. the stock handles are backcut at an angle, but the ring bros are not. they werent really designed for our car and i knew that, so its not an issue with their product.

i also picked up the block from steve and plan on shipping it out in a few weeks. i want to wait on valve covers from wegner and some more little parts before it ships.

more to come.

[KnightMare]

Need a picture update for my favorite Chevelle on here lol

[Rantheman]

Tim

Great job on the chevelle I have been watching your project for a long time. you have given me inspiration and ideas on my chevelle project. hood luck and i'll be watching

[The WidowMaker]

i got a bunch of work done yesterday and will get some pics up.....

[The WidowMaker]

made some progress on the trunk. i decided to use mdf since i have all the tools and somewhat know what im doing. so far the pieces around the latch are 1/2 and the uprights are all 5/8". both are ultralight mdf with the 1/2" at 42lbs per sheet and the 5/8" at 52lbs (3/4 regular is ~96lbs). the side pieces you see now have the inlaid portion cut out, but there is still more to cut. they currently weigh ~1.2lbs. im using 1/8" mdf for the inlay and should have these panels under 2 lbs. i know i could have saved some more weight with foam, but it would have been a lot more time and money and im not sure i would have gained that much. i will end up routing a portion of the bottom piece out to save weight as well.

i talked to the local shop and they want $75 an hour and $450 a hide to cover. ive looked around online and found hides around $150 shipped. ive already recieved some samples and they look really good (although not sure what im looking for). i plan on getting one and covering the trunk myself. i might do the rear shelf as well, but i have a feeling the door panels, dash and center console will be left to the pros.

i'll post more pics later.