69 GTO Build

['71cutlasluvr]

She looks great Eric! It's such a shame that as nice as the body is and is gonna be, that beautiful chassis is hidden underneath. Sorry to hear she's off to the frame shop but at least you know what needs to be done and that you need a hand to get it done right. Another year? I might just catch up with you yet.... NOT!

I'm having second thoughts about going the RS chassis route. Between the cost of putting in the drainage system and plans to pave my huge driveway, available funds for my project car will be seriously depleted. (finally allowed to post pics... I probably didn't size them right last time. See below.

Since My car won't be put through the rigors of competition like yours, unless I hit the lottery or have a long lost aunt/uncle leave me $16k (which was the final tally with all the options I would want from RS) I will probably just modify the frame to accomodate coil overs. No notching, not even sure if mini tubbing will be needed. I'd love to emulate your goat with the 335's+, but at this time just can't justify the expense. Since I won't be putting on those big/huge/large meats like you are, I can get by with smaller rubber and skip the notch job. I will still add the boxing plates for stiffness.



Will have to check out Mike's thread. I think he got 295's on his goat without any frame mods? Perhaps the mini tubs will give me a bit more room, depending on how much the frame protrudes into the wheel well after minitubbing. Will have to research that.
Either way, since the frame is pretty much welded up from my one plasma cut, I'll leave it as is on the support stands and weld in the coil over bar that ABC provided for the rears. (have to cut out the stock rear spring perches... I can handle that at least!)

There's another builder, buryingthesun, doing a '67 firebird who really does his research. He came up with these for the front coil overs:

http://www.speedtechperformance.com/...rod/prd272.htm

This will keep me busy welding and prepping for body paint over the winter. I hope to make some serious progress this year.

You can be sure I'll be referencing yours, Mikes and buryingthesuns build threads. So much I don't know and will be learning as I go.

Once the coil over mods are in place and the body work is done, I can apply lizard skin to the body, clean up the firewall and we'll be fairly close to paint.

btw: -4 this morning! Sheesh. The good news is that Now that the driveway is frozen, no longer mud, I can move the body/cart up to the heated garage to pick away at the metal work. All the kids and mrs. cars have been maintained for the winter, the Miata will stay in the trailer until the spring, so hopefully no need to move the body for access to the lift.

Stay warm my friend. Hope you get your baby back soon. Mine may be in pieces but I can go out to the garage and see her anytime. I can understand your separation anxiety!

Hope you have a great 2015.