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After welding in the last couple patches and some bumping and shrinking, I’m going to call this panel done. It’s not perfect but , It’s the best I can do at this time…Either way, the car will have about 50lbs less bondo in this corner.
Rinse and repeat for the left side…
Last edited by gear head; Apr 2, 2019 at 06:43 PM.
Nice workmanship. Project is coming along pretty good. What rear discs and brakes did you end up using that fit your 15 inch wheels
Thanks Glen
My vote is for Matador Red but that's probably bias
Although I do really like the Matador Red, The car will be blacked out completely and painted in a Mitsubishi Tarmac Black (x42 code) with the 442 stripes ghosted in....
Thanks man, much more goodness to come. The sheet metal wheel tubs are enroute. After I install them, I can cut out the trunk floor and tub it for the fuel cell and battery. Getting closer to building the cage!
Not much of an update but, I did get some time to play with the old turd through the holidays. The left rear quarter panel is done, wheel tubs are fitted and ready to weld in and I got started on the fuel cell mounting. As always, questions, comments and constructive criticism are welcome.
Last edited by gear head; Apr 2, 2019 at 07:14 PM.
I somehow ended up with the day off today, so I took advantage of it and built the frame support for the fuel cell. As per NHRA rules I still need to make a sheet metal enclosure for the exposed part of the cell under the vehicle. I am also going to notch the trunk floor 1" forward of the cell for the battery box.
Last edited by gear head; Apr 2, 2019 at 07:27 PM.
I got the day off tomorrow so, I can get the left side A-pillar done. After that I'll either tackle the lower windshield channel or start shaving the drip rails.
On a side note, I still need to track down the rear tulip panel and a left door...lol, I hate body work.
Last edited by gear head; Apr 2, 2019 at 07:59 PM.
I got the day off tomorrow so, I can get the right side A-pillar done. After that I'll either tackle the lower windshield channel or start shaving the drip rails.
On a side note, I still need to track down the rear tulip panel and a left door...lol, I hate body work.
Thank you, welding/fabrication and wiring are my favorite parts of building a car. I'm looking forward to more fun Parts of the project... not so much on the mindless body work.
Last edited by gear head; Jun 27, 2017 at 06:48 PM.
hey congrats just stay diligent on the bodywork not everybody is cut out for it. I like your idea of a street strip machine it is what I do too. keep the body stock looking with some things hidden and use factory parts where you can they do work trust me but heavy duty too. with the engine trans rear suspension and brakes make sure it is balanced and matched for use. I would also think everything through along all areas like dialing back ignition lead to run decent gas even on bad days. good luck that's the way it used to be but streetable at the same time and faster with a slick change and maybe a shot of nos when needed for real competition. it will be worth it in the end and it will be a guaranteed modern day bad *** if balanced and thought through.
It's not that I'm incapable of doing the bodywork, I just don't like to do it. The flip side of that coin is that I trust no one to do it so, in this instance, I am my own worst enemy. I am actually using very little as far as the factory parts go, just the dash a few interior panels and the glass...everything else will be sold or scrapped. I have been building, modifying and tuning cars my entire life and have also done a 15 year stint with a pro road race team so planning a build is nothing new to me.
I have not been very forthcoming about the plan or details for this car, so here it is in a nutshell...
The main goal for the car is to compete competitively at drag week in the Street Machine Eliminator class. After that I will mainly hit PSCA events until I can get my *** moved back to PA. This will mainly be a race car with some street manners, however, it will not see all that much driving. Some of the details for the car are as follows.
Engine: 440ci Diesel based small block
Billet crank
GRP aluminium rods
Diamond pistons
Rocket Racing heads
Speedtech Nitrous system
The engine will be capable of a reliable 900-1000hp but I will only be running enough to put the car in the high 9's leaving myself plenty of headroom to grow.
Transmission/Driveline: JW competition TH-400 with Ultra-bell.
Carbon fiber driveshaft
Coan torque converter
Chevy 12 bolt with 35 spline strange axles, spool and
9" housing ends
Trans and ring and pinion gearing will be decided after the engine dyno's.
Exterior: Fiberglass front/rear bumpers, deck lid and w25 hood with raised
scoops
Shaved drip rails
Mitsubishi tarmac black paint with the 442 stripes ghosted in. The car will be completely blacked out.
Obviously there are more details...damn, I think this is the longest post I have ever made on any forum.
Last edited by gear head; Jun 28, 2017 at 08:31 PM.
I would think with your combo you will be at a high nine without nitrous system with low nine. A lot will be the weight factor. I will be tagging along on this thread. Have you seen my tube chassis car in my album? It is Black.
I'm looking to have the car in the 10's without the nitrous and I'll just spray as much as needed to hit high 9's. The Speed Tech kit will flow a 500 shot without breaking a sweat and the cage will be certified to 8.50 so that leaves a bunch of room to grow if I ever decide to do so. Obviously, I would have to make a few upgrades to run that quick. The weight factor for the finished car is still unknown, I haven't even scaled the bare car yet.
I think I did see that at one time, looked like a nice car. How's the progress going with it?
Last edited by gear head; Jun 30, 2017 at 03:49 PM.
Made it home early from work today and started shaving. The only reason I'm doing this is because the rails were completely rotted out and I didn't want to go through all the work to repair them properly.
Unfortunately, the damage goes a bit farther than just the drip rail on the right side.
Hopefully I can get both sides complete this weekend. Enough with the car for now, it's time to focus on beer...
Last edited by gear head; Apr 2, 2019 at 08:19 PM.
I am on hold for eight months waiting on the 62 social security. I have no job. I plan on having the car at the track in fall of 2018 for a shake down run. The motor should get me in the tens. The other motor i have planned to put in it will not be ready. The whole front end is fiberglass and both doors, back bumper,front bumper. The front end is set up to tilt.
Not sure why you didn't put fiberglass quarters on it to save weight. But it looks great. Next time call me in Calif. for a rust free car I can find them here. I should talk my 65 Cutlass has rust around windows but a Or. car.
I am on hold for eight months waiting on the 62 social security. I have no job. I plan on having the car at the track in fall of 2018 for a shake down run. The motor should get me in the tens. The other motor i have planned to put in it will not be ready. The whole front end is fiberglass and both doors, back bumper,front bumper. The front end is set up to tilt.
Nice, there's never enough Oldsmobiles at the track. Can't wait to see it done.
Not sure why you didn't put fiberglass quarters on it to save weight. But it looks great. Next time call me in Calif. for a rust free car I can find them here. I should talk my 65 Cutlass has rust around windows but a Or. car.
Thanks man.
The thought of glass quarters did cross my mind but, I just wasn't sure about the longevity/quality of the bonding and didn't want to take a chance on future repairs after I dump a wad on getting it painted. I may take you up on that offer...my youngest daughter is really into wagons and loves the '70 Vista, I may build her one when she graduates from Dartmouth in a couple years. Oldsmobiles and olds parts for that matter are very scarce here in Utah.
I agree with all of you but I built mine according to old super stock rules and lightened. I like the stock and beautiful but fast approach. The idea of a fast and stock looking musclecar always struck me hard.
Honestly, that was the original plan for the car. The person who I had look over it for me before purchasing did a **** poor job of reporting the condition back to me so, upon delivery and looking it over with my own eyes, that ship set sail quickly. I don't blame anybody but myself for not flying out and looking at it, however if I ever see that person, he will get a kick square in the *****. I could bitch all I want but that won't change anything and I'm completely over it. The only saving grace is that I didn't over pay for the car and it will be done proper.
Last edited by gear head; Jul 8, 2017 at 06:15 AM.
Well, I finished the right side today. I don't think it turned out too terrible for such a tedious task. The left side should go much faster since I won't have to do any extra repair.
So far so good with the pictures still working...
Last edited by gear head; Apr 2, 2019 at 08:24 PM.
I can upload straight from my phone, I'm just not enthused to go through and figure out which pictures go where and re-uploaded everything. Maybe one day I'll get ambitious enough to do that and bring this thread back to life...
