abadsvt

In this last pic did you use lead to fill around the 2 holes to add the contour? Looks amazing! Enjoying your progress!!!!

Josh

sonksen_design

I’ve posted very little in the last 9 months or so. The bodywork took a long time at my rate, but I’m pleased with how it looks sealed in epoxy. I think everyone has seen the progressions of bodywork, so I wasn’t excited to share any of it. My shop is a mess and I’ve got another bodyman weekend coming up helping my cousin Nathan repair rear quarters on my uncle Carl’s ’57 vette. July will have my shop free of the body dust and then I’ll finally be able to detail out my ’67 SS Chevy II so I can get it sold. Sad, but sacrificial lambs are required when you're not rolling in money.

Anyway, here’s the prep’d body sitting there with a brand spanking new 525hp LS3 with the Phoenix Trans 4L60E. I have the Compushift / Twist paddle shifter stuff to boot. FYI- since I think I’m the only nut putting an auto in a restomod, you may be interested in knowing it fit without mods to the tunnel. And if anyone wants to talk smack with my choice, just pull up to me at a light and we’ll see how things go for you.

A ton of stuff to purchase and fit now. Front drive system, radiator, VA A/C, ECM and much, much, much more. I also am talking with upholsters about stitching up all of my custom interior and hope somehow to have that done by the end of ’16.

Y0GI

That roadster looks killer with the LS-3 sitting in it! The paint looks really nice, too!

I hadn't heard of "Phoenix Transmissions" before so I Googled 'em. Is this your tranny? http://www.phoenixtrans.com/catalog/...l65esx4l70esx/ I took a guess at that one because it is the only one rated for the 525 HP. They sure are proud of 'em! ($3412 to $3587) but they do include the TC, which sounds like a good idea.

I thought that LS-3 was more like 400 to 420 HP? http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/gm-engines/ls3/ Has your been modded with a power adder?

Keep up the good work!

Yogi

Ausbrian

Good to hear the body work is done, look forward to seeing this progress. Thanks for sharing.

sonksen_design

PT built up a 4L60E for my project. I worked with Mike Hoy of Compushift / Twist Machine and had the package done.

GM Performance has LS3 options in 430/480/525 HP.

Thanks!

USAF

A Phoenix rises.

USAF

Marks Hotrod Garage

Looks awesome Scott!!

Beggers

That trans is a great choice, I loved the auto behind my LS-3 in the 56, makes for a great cruiser while it shifts crisp and quick off the line. Brian

sonksen_design

I had to be a little patient on the CNC work. Took two shops until I found a source that could deliver! The grills will get polished and have a black perforated 'mesh' behind it. The goal is to get some actual functionality out of the hood grills and there is some work to make that a reality. I like it... what say you?



The wife and I met with Bob and his team at Vintage Fabrication in Independence, MO last week and I had some of the interior parts in the initial stages of foam work. I can't wait for this winter to have them stitch everything up in red leather, but I have a lot to get done so that can happen. Now you guys can finally start to see what I've had in my head for a couple years now that the perf sheet steel is getting covered.

Bob's comments: Well, I was worried about some guy building his interior and wanting us to fix a mess and cover it. I feel a lot better seeing what you've done! It's surprisingly light.

alexandervdr

looks fabulous
What foam did you use to cover the perforated metal structure? Looking at the dust on the floor, it was modelled to shape with an orbital sander?

Beggers

Those grills are going to be one of a kind beautiful, very nice machining work.
The interior has really come along nice, I can't wait to see it in color.
Brian

sonksen_design

The upholstery guys refer to it as Black Landau Foam. (All foam matters) Get with a shop and they can supply you with foam, glue and sprayer or where to buy it. Lots of various tools both power and hand used to shape the foam. Not what I refer to as 'easy' to shape.

Fat Mike

I really like the idea of adding functionality to the hood grills. Two thumbs up. You have fantastic skills and really enjoying seeing your progress.

sonksen_design

Whoo-Hoo! Nice to have 'Rae' sitting on wheels of her very own finally! HRBB HR-74 19x10 P285-35ZR19 and 18x9 P245-40ZR18. Before you judge our choice (my wife actually had the idea) of the unusual coating design, you'll have to wait until you see them on the silver painted and finished car. Yes, I take risks.

Again, I'm cheating and following SRIII's mods to get a C6 cold air intake on the LS3. I do think my C5 convert hatch hinges are placed differently than what they did and buddy, it wasn't easy to get it worked out. Along with allowing the 525 ponies to suck fresh air, the CAI will allow me room to vent air up through the custom hood vents. More post to come on that since I'm anxious to get all that 'fleshed out' soon.

Beggers

nice job on the latches and hood, your patience and effort are producing cool results. Where is the air from the hood grills being directed to? I cant tell from the picture, very cool. Brian

sonksen_design

Thanks! Terrible location to draw air aerodynamically, so I'm planning on 'exiting air' passing through the radiator up through the vents... in a space-limited manner

vjjack04

Can you tell us what those wheels are, and specifications, including offsets?

sonksen_design

19x10's have 7.75" backspace (57.78mm offset)
18x10's have 6.625" backspace (41.91mm offset)

Note that I'm running GTS rear quarters and stock front fenders

j_66chevelle

Very cool, I was thinking of doing the same however I thought I remember reading that is what GM had originally done and they had lot of road dirt came through.

sonksen_design

Anyone want to sponsor this build? Man, the credit card use is mind boggling lately! In order to get everything plumbed and wired up, I've picked up the engine harness, vintage air unit, headers, radiator w/fans, condenser, power master cylinder and more. I've got a lot to work on now while my bank account recovers.

I'm really happy with how the cold air intake worked out, but it wasn't easy to fabricate and weld up the extension and mounting tabs. See previous posts about how tricky the hood hinges were as well. Getting the radiator to clear the CAI wasn't a huge deal since DeWitts was great to work with. It's still up in the air if I can pull off any kind of venting through the hood grills.