Can you modify the 79 front end to be like the 73?
#21
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Jul 2005
Location: winter haven florida
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 0
Received 40 Likes
on
35 Posts
St. Jude Donor '12
you can take most of the front bumper out if you want to. i took a plasma cutter to mine. i left in the section that bolts the front to the body and cut out the rest. you will loose close to 75lbs with all that stuff gone. this is what i did with mine. its not close to being done yet but you can get an idea of what you can do if you want to.
#22
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2005
Location: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Posts: 3,932
Received 543 Likes
on
198 Posts
you can take most of the front bumper out if you want to. i took a plasma cutter to mine. i left in the section that bolts the front to the body and cut out the rest. you will loose close to 75lbs with all that stuff gone. this is what i did with mine. its not close to being done yet but you can get an idea of what you can do if you want to.
Bee Jay
The following users liked this post:
56resto (09-14-2019)
#23
Burning Brakes
I eliminated the honeycomb and brace also.
I have to admit I kept the vacuum tank and the triangular front bumper brace. I wasn't really after shaving a bunch of weight, just making it a little easier to work on the lights and such in the nose.
Up untill two days ago I had the grill opening covered by black screening backed by a piece if 1/8" open cell foam. The outside temps have been in the low 90's and the car got hot (220) I pulled into a parking lot and cut the screen and foam out. The engine temp immediately dropped to 180. Now all I've got is the 1/4" chicken wire I was using to back the foam up and hold it in place.
I reckon I'll shoot a little matte black on that shiney wire and try to make it a little less noticeable. I need to put my valence back on and buy a stock air deflector to put back underneath. It'd probably help with the heat too.
John
I have to admit I kept the vacuum tank and the triangular front bumper brace. I wasn't really after shaving a bunch of weight, just making it a little easier to work on the lights and such in the nose.
Up untill two days ago I had the grill opening covered by black screening backed by a piece if 1/8" open cell foam. The outside temps have been in the low 90's and the car got hot (220) I pulled into a parking lot and cut the screen and foam out. The engine temp immediately dropped to 180. Now all I've got is the 1/4" chicken wire I was using to back the foam up and hold it in place.
I reckon I'll shoot a little matte black on that shiney wire and try to make it a little less noticeable. I need to put my valence back on and buy a stock air deflector to put back underneath. It'd probably help with the heat too.
John
#24
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2005
Location: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Posts: 3,932
Received 543 Likes
on
198 Posts
I eliminated the honeycomb and brace also.
I have to admit I kept the vacuum tank and the triangular front bumper brace. I wasn't really after shaving a bunch of weight, just making it a little easier to work on the lights and such in the nose.
Up untill two days ago I had the grill opening covered by black screening backed by a piece if 1/8" open cell foam. The outside temps have been in the low 90's and the car got hot (220) I pulled into a parking lot and cut the screen and foam out. The engine temp immediately dropped to 180. Now all I've got is the 1/4" chicken wire I was using to back the foam up and hold it in place.
I reckon I'll shoot a little matte black on that shiney wire and try to make it a little less noticeable. I need to put my valence back on and buy a stock air deflector to put back underneath. It'd probably help with the heat too.
John
I have to admit I kept the vacuum tank and the triangular front bumper brace. I wasn't really after shaving a bunch of weight, just making it a little easier to work on the lights and such in the nose.
Up untill two days ago I had the grill opening covered by black screening backed by a piece if 1/8" open cell foam. The outside temps have been in the low 90's and the car got hot (220) I pulled into a parking lot and cut the screen and foam out. The engine temp immediately dropped to 180. Now all I've got is the 1/4" chicken wire I was using to back the foam up and hold it in place.
I reckon I'll shoot a little matte black on that shiney wire and try to make it a little less noticeable. I need to put my valence back on and buy a stock air deflector to put back underneath. It'd probably help with the heat too.
John
Your water temp would not have shot up if you had the valence and spoiler in place. I ran aluminum block off plates behind the grill and the temps stayed fine. I can't find the link, my old posts aren't so easy to find.
#25
Burning Brakes
You might be able to use a center grill piece like this one I got off e-bay awhile back. I was going to use it when I was just bobbing the bumperettes off. Just a thought.
John
John
#26
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Jul 2005
Location: winter haven florida
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 0
Received 40 Likes
on
35 Posts
St. Jude Donor '12
fiberglass your own brackets to the inside of the bumper and you can mount the stock grills with no problem.
#27
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2005
Location: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Posts: 3,932
Received 543 Likes
on
198 Posts
I got the bumper and spoilers today. I get the car back tomorow. Check out the plate area. My next task is to cut this area out. Then I will cut out the same area on the front crossmember when I get the car back. I will need to make some kind of grill.
Bee Jay
Bee Jay
#30
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2005
Location: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Posts: 3,932
Received 543 Likes
on
198 Posts
I did not get the car back this week. Long story, but when I get it back, the repair will be perfect and the paint will blend perfectly. I can't be too mad that it wasn't ready, I'm just a picky pain in the a$$, besides, they gave me rental car for the weekend. I took the wife and a few nieces and nephews to the beach in it today.
I went shopping this morning for a few materials. I bought a metal license plate frame at Kragen's for $5, and a black metal screen waste basket and in box tray from Staples for $11 and $6. The in basket will go back because it wasn't needed. The wire screen is really easy to cut. This is what I ended up with. I can easily remove this grill and replace with a genuine license plate if needed. What do you guys think? Should I used a different grill material? Should I bid a few hundred dollars for a 73 middle grill? I'm sure that trimming that metal cross member will be more challenging. I've been watching a cooling thread really closely. I guess big block 68-74s really cool better when they remove the license plate. So maybe this is a cosmetic, weight saving, and functional cooling improvement. The beauty of this is that it can easily be removed, like a license plate, and replaced with a license plate. I will prolly switch between the two to gather some comparison temp data.
Bee Jay
I went shopping this morning for a few materials. I bought a metal license plate frame at Kragen's for $5, and a black metal screen waste basket and in box tray from Staples for $11 and $6. The in basket will go back because it wasn't needed. The wire screen is really easy to cut. This is what I ended up with. I can easily remove this grill and replace with a genuine license plate if needed. What do you guys think? Should I used a different grill material? Should I bid a few hundred dollars for a 73 middle grill? I'm sure that trimming that metal cross member will be more challenging. I've been watching a cooling thread really closely. I guess big block 68-74s really cool better when they remove the license plate. So maybe this is a cosmetic, weight saving, and functional cooling improvement. The beauty of this is that it can easily be removed, like a license plate, and replaced with a license plate. I will prolly switch between the two to gather some comparison temp data.
Bee Jay
Last edited by Bee Jay; 07-26-2009 at 12:47 AM.
#31
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2005
Location: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Posts: 3,932
Received 543 Likes
on
198 Posts
One of my co-workers just gave me a great idea. He drives a C4 and they use the license plate area for cold air induction to their tuned port injection system. The C3 is limited here because of the limited space between the radiator and hood. But wouldn't a high rise hood solve that problem. Hmmm, something to think about.
Bee Jay
Bee Jay
#32
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2005
Location: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Posts: 3,932
Received 543 Likes
on
198 Posts
I got the car back on Friday. Over the weekend I worked on the crossmember/brace. This sucker weighed 18 lbs. I used my hole saw and saber saw and hacked on it untill it only weighed 10 lbs. I prolly could have gotten another 2-3 lbs with another 2-3 hours of drilling and hacking, but I got tired. Check it out. Norvall would be proud. Hey, where is he? The coragated plastic/rubber support only weighs 6 lbs, so it can stay.
Also, here is a picture of 20+ lbs of trash that is not going back in. I think I am saving about 25 lbs with this mod.
Bee Jay
Also, here is a picture of 20+ lbs of trash that is not going back in. I think I am saving about 25 lbs with this mod.
Bee Jay
Last edited by Bee Jay; 08-03-2009 at 09:06 PM.
#33
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2005
Location: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Posts: 3,932
Received 543 Likes
on
198 Posts
I got the bumper and grills installed. Putting that bumper on is just as big a PITA as taking it off. I only have to reinstall the front spoiler. What do you guys think? I lost 25lbs and made the center grill area functional. I think it would look better with a 73 Vette type middle grill. Maybe I can make a duplicate, or find a used one cheap. I wonder if the engine will run cooler with the increased air intake. I'll find out this weekend.
Bee Jay
Bee Jay
#34
Le Mans Master
That looks really good. I like it.
Don't get too carried away with discarding parts. A lot of those actually support the front end fiberglass. The vacuum reservoir holds the radiator support and ties in the farthest forward parts on the car back into the frame. If all that is removed and nothing is put in its place you are going to have the entire nose unsupported and it will crack off the firewall or it will break at the tops of the fenders (top of the wheel arch where it is the thinnest section width).
Don't get too carried away with discarding parts. A lot of those actually support the front end fiberglass. The vacuum reservoir holds the radiator support and ties in the farthest forward parts on the car back into the frame. If all that is removed and nothing is put in its place you are going to have the entire nose unsupported and it will crack off the firewall or it will break at the tops of the fenders (top of the wheel arch where it is the thinnest section width).
#35
Burning Brakes
Member Since: May 2009
Location: Tucson AZ
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
3 Posts
St. Jude Donor '12
If it matters, I think this thing is called an "energy absorber". However, being a fan of word clanging, I really like seventysixvette's "Bumper Lumps"
I removed most of the stuff you're talking about an installed a glass bumper front and rear. I'm also smoothing out the seam line so the bumper and body appear as one. Yours went back on looking great!
I removed most of the stuff you're talking about an installed a glass bumper front and rear. I'm also smoothing out the seam line so the bumper and body appear as one. Yours went back on looking great!
Last edited by RobbSalzmann; 08-06-2009 at 12:08 PM.
#36
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2005
Location: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Posts: 3,932
Received 543 Likes
on
198 Posts
That looks really good. I like it.
Don't get too carried away with discarding parts. A lot of those actually support the front end fiberglass. The vacuum reservoir holds the radiator support and ties in the farthest forward parts on the car back into the frame. If all that is removed and nothing is put in its place you are going to have the entire nose unsupported and it will crack off the firewall or it will break at the tops of the fenders (top of the wheel arch where it is the thinnest section width).
Don't get too carried away with discarding parts. A lot of those actually support the front end fiberglass. The vacuum reservoir holds the radiator support and ties in the farthest forward parts on the car back into the frame. If all that is removed and nothing is put in its place you are going to have the entire nose unsupported and it will crack off the firewall or it will break at the tops of the fenders (top of the wheel arch where it is the thinnest section width).
I lost 45lbs with that mod and 25 lbs with this mod, so thats 70 lbs off of the front end. And additional cooling from the open plate area and no air reservoir in the air stream either.
Bee Jay
#37
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2005
Location: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Posts: 3,932
Received 543 Likes
on
198 Posts
I've been driving the car for about a week now, and the water temp has yet to get over 180 degrees. I used to run 190-195 no matter what, but now the oil temp and water temp are way down. And this is without the spoiler. I put the spoiler back on last night and I'll drive it today. The spoiler usually lowers the temp even more. I'm ready for my hot 396 ci small block.
Bee Jay
Bee Jay
#39
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2005
Location: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Posts: 3,932
Received 543 Likes
on
198 Posts
Today was the hottest in this area all summer. 95 degrees here on the coast, and prolly 15 degrees hotter inland. I drove the car to Santa Maria at lunch, about 20 miles away. I did my normal hyper cruise, and with the road surface approaching 100 degrees the water temp never got above 180 degrees. When I got into Santa Maria in stop and go traffic and traffic lights, the temperture appoached 195 degrees, but came down quickly when I got up to hiway speeds again. This mod really cools the car down. I would have been 210-220 degrees before easily. The oil temp never went above 180 degrees either.
Once while doing double the speed limit last week, one of the headlights popped up on me, but as soon as I backed off, it went back down. I don't have a air reservoir up front, so at wot, the vacuum approached zero, and at high speeds the air pressure in front of the radiator, which is sealed quite well, popped the headlight up momentarily.
Bee Jay
Once while doing double the speed limit last week, one of the headlights popped up on me, but as soon as I backed off, it went back down. I don't have a air reservoir up front, so at wot, the vacuum approached zero, and at high speeds the air pressure in front of the radiator, which is sealed quite well, popped the headlight up momentarily.
Bee Jay