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time for an update: other than painting the frame and getting axles for the housing, i decided to start on the body. There's a very good chance that i will be going down to the birdcage since the body mounts are a bit crusty:
removed the rocker, the metal looks much better than anticipated
Since the back floor of the car will need to be cut out, I'm looking to find if there is a bonding strip that would be there, but thus far i think the floor is one piece from the firewall to the back... or is it?
time for an update: other than painting the frame and getting axles for the housing, i decided to start on the body. There's a very good chance that i will be going down to the birdcage since the body mounts are a bit crusty:
removed the rocker, the metal looks much better than anticipated
Since the back floor of the car will need to be cut out, I'm looking to find if there is a bonding strip that would be there, but thus far i think the floor is one piece from the firewall to the back... or is it?
Great project!! If you get into the birdcage take plenty of measurements. The floor from the firewall base to the back is pretty much one piece. I took plenty of pictures when I opened my birdcage up for rust repairs. Problem is lost most due to corrupt camera card, so write em' down and back up your pictures . Best of luck keep the updates coming.
I certainly don't mean to intrude on this thread, but based on your last comment, I can sympathize with what must be running through your mind, and I thought these pics might help. I have more pics available, but I tried to include what would be most useful.
The 3 new panels you see going into the floor were supplied by SRIII, but you have to just figure out how best to cut and make things fit. You can see that I had the body hanging over the frame as a trial to fit things.
For reference and what you can barely see in the pics...the large flat fiberglass piece is fixed the an aluminum angle channel that is bolted and bonded to the rear of the 'cockpit' area. It is fixed at a height that allowed a flat floor area. I then bolted and bonded the existing floor panel to the new panel...then finally bonded in the side pieces. NOTE: the aluminum angle piece is only visible in the finished pics...you can barely make it out through the undercoating.
My thoughts are that it might be easiest for you to build a flat floor center section and then connect inside to outside for your inner fenders...hope that makes sense and I hope this can help.
You do amazing work! I'm stoked to see another '68 getting special treatments. Best of luck and if I can be of any assistance don't hesitate to send a PM or reply in the thread.
My apologies for any duplicate pics...
Rob
Last edited by Postal123; Jul 31, 2014 at 04:17 AM.
Oh yes, by "removing" the rear of the car, I quite literally mean exactly that:
"WTH the back fell off!!!!":
So really the pics are out of order, today I got to reglass all of that…well not all of it, since the back half of the car is getting its floor removed entirely so that the narrowed frame rails (24" wide) can fit in there…then gotta figure wheel tubs…but that's for later, I've decided I'd do most of the outside body work done first…I've attacked the front nose and the pesky raised rivets…didn't get far, about 13 rivets in…but yes now that the 'maro is gone, this projects is right back onto the hot burners...
Last edited by mirage2991; Apr 24, 2015 at 11:19 PM.
Sorry I've not replied to this! I was really busy getting one of my other cars ready:
OMG that is a sweet 69!
love the first gens I have a 68. I did the Barret Jackson experience once and its insane. That guy on the left looks familiar. Your work is way out of our league, thanks for sharing this build with us.
Thanks Jr73!
owned the 69 for 15 years, this was the second time I restored it….had enough, was time for a new home and it went to a great guy too. I enjoyed BJ, I think the car would have done better had it not been a sunday car….but, first time out there doing this, so I've learned a lot and I didn't loose my shirt on it so we're all good.
I think the 68 will go to Scotsdale 2016….was thinking Vegas but I think that's pushing a little too much (like I did for the 69 and trust me the last month was no joy ride…)
I spent most of Friday and today finishing unbolting everything from the frame, including lines, I now have a bare frame omit one bracket on the trans x-member and those two darn tire holder bolts (which don't want to come out -what a surprise! (Pun intended)-
I also spent some time moving a couple cars around and tucked the body in the back of the garage out of the way:
Frame:
I also spent an incredible amount of time taking off the a-frame apart thanks to those awesome rivet at the ball joints. The bushings were removed with a torch.
I started sandblasting one of them but my little 30 gal just can't keep up. Now I get to figure out which compressor upgrade I'm gonna need to do, since even my cutting wheel is using too much cfm for what my compressor can support.
I also figured out that I have a 3.08 gear in the pumpkin...haven't opened it, simply counted the turns. Was hoping for more gears so this will be addressed as well.
I still haven't figure out which direction to take but I need to make up my mind pronto, going to have the frame blasted in the next couple weeks or so.
I went out and bought a 60 gallon Husky air compressor at Home Depot. It works all my air tools and I really like it.
Thanks Jr73!
owned the 69 for 15 years, this was the second time I restored it….had enough, was time for a new home and it went to a great guy too. I enjoyed BJ, I think the car would have done better had it not been a sunday car….but, first time out there doing this, so I've learned a lot and I didn't loose my shirt on it so we're all good.
I think the 68 will go to Scotsdale 2016….was thinking Vegas but I think that's pushing a little too much (like I did for the 69 and trust me the last month was no joy ride…)
Is that your garage or your shop or both. It looks interesting.
not a whole lot of progress, I ran out of parts, to "add" to it, but managed to get the front end together (suspension wise) and final mock up on the rear suspension….about to go back half the body….slowly….measure 8 time cut twice….lol
doing body work on and off as well, got rid of those popping front rivets and other small things:
glassing the back of the car on
smoothing things out
cracks repairs at the hood hinge mount
rivet repair (removed from underside, top had to be smoothed out a little bit)
Glad to see you're still making progress! This is an incredible build and many here are anxious to see the results. I've been on a hiatus myself between work and a non-car project, so your post helps more than you know
Glad to see you're still making progress! This is an incredible build and many here are anxious to see the results. I've been on a hiatus myself between work and a non-car project, so your post helps more than you know
Thanks!
It's been fairly mondaying lately, more brain storming than doing, but I'm getting a few more parts here and there. I have a friend who's going to lend me a 15x14 Welds racing rim for mock up before I go order the rims I want. I should be working on some engine stuff and rear brake stuff this week…
Oh so obviously, my original idea of using my 489 BBC out of the 69 camaro with its TH400 is no longer (since they stayed in said camaro). What I'm doing now is an LS 5.3 single (but could be twin) turbos, TH400 and EFI….3:25 gears (ordered the third member, should be here in 2-3 weeks). I'm running an LS6 intake and TB on it, goal is about 700-750hp. Haven't decided on which EFI to use (stock ecm, Micro / Mega squirt or the holley efi stuff).
Last edited by mirage2991; Jun 7, 2015 at 11:48 PM.
Motor is done:
Tick performance stage 3 turbo 5.3 cam with chromoly pushords, matching dual springs, ARP head studs and LS9 gaskets. Jeg's muscle car oil pan kit.
Fabed some brackets to mount the stock rear calipers:
. Best of luck keep the updates coming.
