Project Obsession

[Todd in Vancouver]

Once the frame was welded and reinforced the way I wanted it then I put the tub in and secured it with some vice grips.







And now for the money shot and why all this work is worth the effort. I've now got 15 1/2" of inner wheel space for some HUGE rims and tires

[Dave Pratt]

Todd I just read your thread from start to finish...great work so far.I'm relatively new to the forum as well as my 69 Camaro I just picked up in April.This build of yours is an inspiration to a newbie like me but I'm getting there.The suspension and brakes on my car are getting done this winter with lowering springs front and back as well as new rear end.Now that appears to be the hard part finding a decent rear end to start building.My 8.2 is living on borrowed time!...cheers from Pitt Meadows

Dave

[Todd in Vancouver]

Well it's been a while since I've done any updates but the facts are I really haven't gotten to far. While getting the ZL1 was a great idea to start developing more driving experience, and it's been a blast, it's also taken some time away from building my '67. Well enough of the excuses.

So what I've managed to finish is fabricating the frame plates for the drivers side and cutting the floor pan and making room for the Mini-tub. Tonight I tack welded the new plates in place and did a final fit of the mini-tub housing and it looks like this;







So the next step will be to finish welding in the plates and grind and clean up. After this is done then I'll start on installing the TCI rear suspension. I've got some holiday time coming up with plans to spend a week in the garage getting back in touch with my sweet little SS and hopefully a step closer to getting it on it's own wheels.

[Todd in Vancouver]

Just realized I never posted the pictures of the assembled front end and engine with trans bolted on. What an adventure learning to clock the bell housing to the centre of the transmission. I had to go buy a magnetic base set up to find the centre and then install adjustable dowels to get the trans in just the right spot.

There are some great YouTube videos on how to do this so I highly recommend them as the directions were very confusing. At least to me.

Here is the assembly to find centre



Getting that reading just where I wanted it



TKO600 installed and torqued down and hopefully never to be removed again.



Engine and trans installed with everything powder coated and painted and ready to rock & roll

[bonecrrusher]

Todd was your car featured at the Riders section of an episode of Gearz?

I think I just saw it on Youtube...

[driveit]

Looking good so far. Love what you've done with the firewall. I am still trying to work out a way to hide my wiper motor and such so I can clean mine up for my Chevelle.

[gordonr1973]

Todd, anything new on the build?

[Todd in Vancouver]

Hey All,

Been gone a while and have been neglecting my build page so I will give a quick whats up and and try and get some pics. Two major things with the first being my purchase of my ZL1 and going out and getting involved in the local race scene. What a blast with AutoX and drivers training and track days I have learned a lot, but mostly that I was an above average drag racer but I have a lot to learn on road racing and car handling and dynamics. That has eaten up a bumch of time. Second , as I have mentioned I've been working through heath issues for over two years which leave me frankly without the energy to do much car fabing and work. My rheumatism had gotten really bad and two years of Chemo to try and control it finally reached a peak where I was just done with the fight and continued exaustion so I forced the hand of my new rheumatologist and they upped me to new stronger meds and dropped half the ones I was taking. Within 6'weeks it felt like a fog lifted and a lot of the pain went away so I'm finally feeling like working on the car. Please take a side piece of advise, if you don't believe what your doctors are telling you and your gut says he/she is not right go see someone else. YOU ARE YOUR BEST ADVOCATE.
So here goes onto the car;

It doesn't look any different but the the mini- tubs are in and I've layed out all the rear TCI suspension beside the car on the ground. I'm planning out the install and will be working on it this week and I will snap some pics along the way. One challenge I have with posting is the switch to an iPad and my pictures are too big on it so I'm having to transfer to my laptop and downsize the pics to use on here or they're giant whole page pictures. If anyone has suggestions please do say.

Thanks for all the foolow up posts, it is motivating to see people checking my build and I will be getting pics up this week and watch for some future updates on the car. My goal is to be back on my wheels by Spring.

[Todd in Vancouver]

Todd was your car featured at the Riders section of an episode of Gearz?

I think I just saw it on Youtube...

Yes that was me and the folks over on WAYWO were really, really nice people and treated me well. There was one error and they showed a picture od one of the replies on this build page as my car (blue car with LS engine) but all else was good. Even have the plate frame on my ZL saying I'm a gearhead.

Looking good so far. Love what you've done with the firewall. I am still trying to work out a way to hide my wiper motor and such so I can clean mine up for my Chevelle.

There are a number of companies building hidden wiper motors so it shouldn't be to hard to fab one into your car so nobody can see it. Even upgrade to intermittent wipers. Can't recall the one I looked at but it was Rain something or other and the motor went on the inside of the firewall under the cowl.

Todd, anything new on the build?

Thansk for the note Gordon, and yes soon more updates.

[no go nova]

Just went to this thread great build keep fighting until it pays off.

[Motown 454]

Hi Todd nice project, I just went through from the beginning. Looking good!

[OneOffDAN]

Looks Great man !

[xsboost90]

looks great- very similar to my stang build- cant wait to see it all done.

[Poopy]

Looks great! nice to see another BC car. ;)

[Todd in Vancouver]

Hey All,
Been a while since I've tuned in, a long while actually, so thought I'd do a quick update. Firstly I've been sidelined and turned down a few offers on the car and am determined to finish it. Someday. I've picked away at what I could then made the decision to install a hoist hoping it'll make it easier to work on, and it is.



Currently the front end is done and installed, mini-tubbing is finished, rear suspension mounts are installed along with the subframe connectors. I've trial fit the rear diff and got all my measurements for narrowing the diff ( after hours of prep and measuring it was exactly what TCI recommended, go figure).



Should get my 12 bolt dropped off in the next couple weeks for narrowing and then it'll become a roller.

[Todd in Vancouver]

And these babies are going to look AWESOME. I Re-love these wheels every time I look at them, such an beautiful set of wheels from Jason at Rushforth Wheels.



Even better on the car...



And one more....

[Peter Mc Mahon]

Keep plugging away Todd. One day at a time

[Todd in Vancouver]

Been a while since I've updated my thread and unfortunately there hasn't been a lot of movement. Health continues to hold me back so I took to just doing some small easy mods on my ZL1 with plans on doing some more racing in 2017 but I've only gotten out once. The '67 had the diff narrowed after measuring it what seemed like a 100x and I must say it turned out great.

12bolt GM diff with 3.90:1 gears, Auburn carrier, big Ford bearings and eliminated C-clips, 2.5" narrowed each side, Dutchman axles, diff was put in a jig and straightened with all the my brackets welded on. Moser cover installed and set up.





And this past Winter the Z got lowered 1.25", camber kits installed and all the front bushings replaced with Polyurethane and a lot more aggressive alignment. Sticks like glue in the corners and is so much more fun. And mods making 630whp definitely help.


More updates soon as I hope to get the diff installed soon and tires and wheels mounted making the 67 a roller again.

[Peter Mc Mahon]

Glad your still at it and waiting to see more!

[gator68428]

Awesome thread! Just got caught up. Looking forward to seeing this thing on the road. Nice choice on the chassis!

I'm intrigued by the mention of the hidden wiper motor. Some of my next mods include engine bay sprucing up--my D&E score at optima needs it. I didn't see the pic. Maybe i missed it?