JOZW30's 55 88 LS2 build
August 2nd, 2014, 07:25 AM
#82
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 696
A little progress to share. Got the frame powder coated (came out great!), my custom 9" rear was delivered (really cool!), and I got the electric fans figured out.
Will start assembling the chassis now. Hope to order the wheels and tires soon as I really need them to finalize stance and lock down the pinion angle for the rear.
Pics one at a time again.....
Will start assembling the chassis now. Hope to order the wheels and tires soon as I really need them to finalize stance and lock down the pinion angle for the rear.
Pics one at a time again.....
August 3rd, 2014, 08:20 PM
#86
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 696
Thanks Paul, put a few pieces together today. Also sandblasted some bits for the rear springs. I needed to cut the rear sway bar perches and leaf spring pads off of the original rear to reuse them. The shocks mount to the back of the spring pads and the generic pieces they sent with the 9" didn't have any provision for the lower shock mount.
I'll let you later in the week, I have been thinking about that hood.......
Wish I could see it mounted on a car. Isn't it hard to tell if they've sprung at the rear?
Joe
I'll let you later in the week, I have been thinking about that hood.......
Wish I could see it mounted on a car. Isn't it hard to tell if they've sprung at the rear?
Joe
August 4th, 2014, 04:09 AM
#87
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Posts: 210
Joe,
I did not look that close at the DV hoods (had my hands full). What they have looks good, but are not on the cars... I do have a solid 55-98 4 door hardtop on eBay. I've had it for a while, but will be a long time before I could do anything with it.
The car was on the side of the shop when you were out here last year (not sure if you remember it. If it doesn't sell I would consider parting it. Has a perfect hood, and chrome.
Paul.
I did not look that close at the DV hoods (had my hands full). What they have looks good, but are not on the cars... I do have a solid 55-98 4 door hardtop on eBay. I've had it for a while, but will be a long time before I could do anything with it.
The car was on the side of the shop when you were out here last year (not sure if you remember it. If it doesn't sell I would consider parting it. Has a perfect hood, and chrome.
Paul.
August 26th, 2014, 05:58 AM
#88
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 696
Made some progress this week. Got the 9" rear mocked up. Used the original spring pads to keep the stock shock mounts. Will also transfer the rear sway bar mounts once I get some weight on this thing so I can set the pinion angle.
Also assembled the rear disc brakes and will get started fabbing brake lines this weekend.
Need to get the wheels and tires for this thing really soon.......
Thanks for looking,
Joe
Also assembled the rear disc brakes and will get started fabbing brake lines this weekend.
Need to get the wheels and tires for this thing really soon.......
Thanks for looking,
Joe
August 26th, 2014, 06:07 AM
#92
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 696
Thanks Gordon! Appreciate it. I'm having fun. I've been doing the paint dab resto thing for so many years, it so refreshing to to not have a prescribed result forcing me to do things a certain way.
Joe
Joe
September 13th, 2014, 06:36 PM
#94
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 696
Got the brake and fuel lines made up and installed. Need to finish the front sections of the lines after I get the body back onto the chassis.
Ordered my wheels. Will take 4 weeks for those. Also have my tires picked out.
Plan is to get the bottom of the car stripped by the mobile guy, prime and paint the bottom, then mate the shell back up to the frame.
There is hardly any paint left on the outside, and the car was never painted so it'll be easy for the body shop to strip it mechanically.
That's the plan anyway.....
Ordered my wheels. Will take 4 weeks for those. Also have my tires picked out.
Plan is to get the bottom of the car stripped by the mobile guy, prime and paint the bottom, then mate the shell back up to the frame.
There is hardly any paint left on the outside, and the car was never painted so it'll be easy for the body shop to strip it mechanically.
That's the plan anyway.....
November 13th, 2014, 11:06 AM
#99
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 696
Finally able to upload pictures again.....
Few things to show, first is a peek at the wheels I hade made. Really happy with the look. The pictures don't do these justice.
Getting the front bucket seat mounts sorted out. Going with Honda Odyssee 2nd row buckets. Nice and solid, and tilt forward to allow rear seat access. Will look great once recovered in leather.
Smoothing the firewall and installing the 3-point seat belts this weekend.
Joe
Few things to show, first is a peek at the wheels I hade made. Really happy with the look. The pictures don't do these justice.
Getting the front bucket seat mounts sorted out. Going with Honda Odyssee 2nd row buckets. Nice and solid, and tilt forward to allow rear seat access. Will look great once recovered in leather.
Smoothing the firewall and installing the 3-point seat belts this weekend.
Joe
November 13th, 2014, 06:30 PM
#104
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 696
Thanks for the compliments guys! Really excited that I'm getting close to sending it off to the body shop. I have ton more to do but it'll be fun watching the body take shape.
Starting to research the electrical systems and harness/ECM mods I'll need.
I am looking a keyless entry, push button start system from a company here in AZ. Want to get his soon to make sure the proper hole is in the dash.
So many things to think about, sometimes it's overwhelming......
Starting to research the electrical systems and harness/ECM mods I'll need.
I am looking a keyless entry, push button start system from a company here in AZ. Want to get his soon to make sure the proper hole is in the dash.
So many things to think about, sometimes it's overwhelming......
November 14th, 2014, 06:57 AM
#106
Collector of Stray 55's
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: RI
Posts: 1,014
Webster falls short of words to describe how incredible that machine is.
Where did you get those wheels? How did you get the center hub correct to attach the factory dog dishes? That's exactly what I want to do with my 2 door sedan but can't seem to find a source.
Where did you get those wheels? How did you get the center hub correct to attach the factory dog dishes? That's exactly what I want to do with my 2 door sedan but can't seem to find a source.
November 14th, 2014, 08:09 AM
#107
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 696
Thanks Gordon!
The wheels were made by CRICLE RACING. They custom machined them for me to fit the 55 dog dish. They used a heavy spring clip that I assume is for this purpose. Seems like they will stay in place. In fact, I'm concerned with how I will take them off at this point although they did give me some pointers....
These were not cheap, but I have a picture in my head of what I want this car to look like and these wheels were an important piece of the puzzle. Love the looks of the NITTO tires too. Was able to get a tall enough sidewall to keep a bit of an old school look too.
Hopefully my calculations were correct and everything clears when I put the body back down....
If you call Circle Racing ask for Jeremy. He really helped me get this right.
Joe
The wheels were made by CRICLE RACING. They custom machined them for me to fit the 55 dog dish. They used a heavy spring clip that I assume is for this purpose. Seems like they will stay in place. In fact, I'm concerned with how I will take them off at this point although they did give me some pointers....
These were not cheap, but I have a picture in my head of what I want this car to look like and these wheels were an important piece of the puzzle. Love the looks of the NITTO tires too. Was able to get a tall enough sidewall to keep a bit of an old school look too.
Hopefully my calculations were correct and everything clears when I put the body back down....
If you call Circle Racing ask for Jeremy. He really helped me get this right.
Joe
November 15th, 2014, 02:42 PM
#111
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 696
Here's a picture of another car that I've been using for inspiration .....It's sort of a bootlegger/moonshine style I guess?
Will keep the trim and chrome shiny (minus the short spears at the back of the quarter panel. Never did understand why those weee there), but everything else is getting blacked out.
Will keep the trim and chrome shiny (minus the short spears at the back of the quarter panel. Never did understand why those weee there), but everything else is getting blacked out.
November 29th, 2014, 04:10 PM
#114
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 696
Got the firewall all welded up and ground. It came out pretty nice. It stayed pretty flat too.
Glad I did this. Here's some before (well actually a couple during) and after. Still have to locate electrical grommets and bulkhead fitting locations and such. Will do that after I get the body back on the chassis.
Glad I did this. Here's some before (well actually a couple during) and after. Still have to locate electrical grommets and bulkhead fitting locations and such. Will do that after I get the body back on the chassis.
