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Hi everyone.
Well it only took 10yrs of sitting around for me and the car to get the body off the frame.
At 2:30 pm today we had separation of the fiberglass module from the frame module.
The plan is to take the best features that I like from the C3 series and incorporate it into a racer style vehicle.
The frame will get sandblasted, reinforced and then either powder coated or painted with Por15.
All aftermarket suspension, brakes and steering will be installed.
A Super 10 rear built by Gary Ramadei in 4.11 gears will finish off the back end. I will build a 383 stroker SBC with a target of 550-600hp. I'll connect the 2 ends with a T56 out of a 97 Camaro beefed up and improved. Side exhaust from Doug's headers. Inside will have removable rear window, C5 seats, 78 dash. Body will have 2" flares on front and 4" flares on rear. Converting the rear bumper to the 68-72 style with chrome bumpers. Front bumper will be a 74 with no license plate frame but original 73 grill pieces. A stinger hood (Ecklers) will give me the look and room I need. And a set of FIA fixed headlights from Jim at Classic Aircraft will light up the road.
Projected completion time is 2018 as I have 95% of what I need in parts right now. Car will be Yellow with black stripe up over top from stinger and flared out over the rear.
As some of you may know, I just acquired from my very good friend David Howard, another 75 frame and body. That will be the companion project to this one but I think I will go with daily driver style. Plus I'll paint it in the dark green that is my favorite color.
I took a bunch of pics over the years and a bunch today as the body came off.
Like I told David H. many people here have shared their projects, trials and tribulations over the years. A lot of inspiration and information gets shared freely. I will do the same here.
And I will be bugging some of the more experienced folks with questions as I get into fiberglass. I have over time done everything on a car except for fiberglassing. So look out...I'll be a calling.
Ill post pics later after I download them but wanted to get this on here as a milestone was just reached by me today.
Thanks to you all.
Peace
Dennis (Bman)
WOOHOO!!! So glad you got it going Dennis! Can't wait to see the pics! And it gives me hope, having been slowly collecting parts - that you have helped with a bunch, thanks man!- and slowly working on knowing it will all come together one day. Your day has come! May the parts all go together smoothing and without causing you to lose your hair!
As the title says, congratulations on your lift-off Dennis. one of my favorite activities on these cars for sure. Looking forward to seeing your pictures and learning from you as you go forward with your projects.
Here's to you.
Congratulation my friend!!! Good luck with your forward progress. Juggling 2 cars at the same time can be a ton of fun - bounce back and forth so you don't lose interest!
GL with the build, Dennis. I'm interested in your choice of green colour. Have you finalized a particular shade? I will be painting mine dark green sometime in the next few years.
So nice to have built this outside shed attached to my shop just for this project.
The sides roll up for warm weather. Tarp to go across back for cool weather and painting.
Part of the reason this car sat so long was I really needed some place dedicated just for it.
Pulled the tank out after removing the back bumper and then the shield. This meant I did not have to lift it so high to clear the frame.
As it turned out the engine hoist was just about maxed out when I finally got it off. Could have gone out one more bolt hole on boom but wanted to keep it at the weight limit for 2nd hole.
Even with soaking the mount bolts I had to cut off #3 and #4 driver's side mount bolts. And #4 passenger bolt. All others came out with air ratchet. Using the ratchet was a big help as the number 2 and 3 bolts are inside a small access space. Put the ratchet on the bolt head and give a quarter turn and the ratchet kicks in and takes the bolts all the way out. You can see the ones I had to cut off still in the frame. Will need to replace the nut when it comes time to reassemble.
Took 2 hrs to get the tank out, set the straps (forgot to take pics of them), make sure nothing stuck and then lift the body off the frame.
The dolly is not a perfect match. I'll need to do some mount support modifications but for now it is resting comfortably and the nose is supported so as not to sag.
Next step will be to disassemble the frame.
I'll be concentrating on that aspect first.
Built the dolly a little higher than most so I can work on it with doors open and standing up. Will really facilitate the interior work and the fiber glass modifications.
But frame will be sandblasted after disassembling and braces added. Found a crack in one of the lower front a-arm mounts. Good time to fix that. Time to practice my welding skills.
Got done just before a light rain moved into the area.
Temps are dropping back down to the 50's but I have plenty to do with a rear end for 2nd project car.
More pics to come.......txs for looking.
Any suggestions are most welcome.
Looking good Dennis, nice job. I have #2 and #3 body mounts in the stuff I am bringing you. The body mounts on the extra frame are good so you will have this set for the frame you have there. Also, I have two sets of #1 body mounts, one for the new/existing frame here, and one for your frame there, so put those off until I come and you will have lots of mounts, okay?
I like that body dolly, very nicely done. You going to build a second one? We could move the second body onto it while I am there if you wish. Just a thought, free labor.
I highly recommend powdercoating versus POR. The guy I used had exactly the right sheen, and it has been very durable. It fills in minor imperfections, and just looks great. See pics.
Last edited by Torqued Off; 02-03-2017 at 07:32 AM.
Very nice looking frame work there with the powder coat.
I have my own setup but am limited by oven size.
I'll do all the smaller stuff but was not sure about the frame.
You don't have your location in your avatar, so I don't know where you are located.
Where are you? And who did the work?
Any chance you could give me idea on cost? Did he sandblast it for you also?
Txs again for any info.
That's why I posted here...have lots of stored info and lots of helpful friends here but always looking for more info.
Looking good Dennis, nice job. I have #2 and #3 body mounts in the stuff I am bringing you. The body mounts on the extra frame are good so you will have this set for the frame you have there. Also, I have two sets of #1 body mounts, one for the new/existing frame here, and one for your frame there, so put those off until I come and you will have lots of mounts, okay?
I like that body dolly, very nicely done. You going to build a second one? We could move the second body onto it while I am there if you wish. Just a thought, free labor.
See you soon.
David
Thanks David for all your offers/help.
We are trying to finalize frame decisions right now.
I see you had the body on a dolly you made. If it is easier to transport it that way, lets go that way.
One dolly here will be for storage and other one can be for working on.
But if you have a need for yours then by all means keep it.
And I will build a 2nd one before you get here.
You bringing your gantry with you also?????........
Very nice looking frame work there with the powder coat.
I have my own setup but am limited by oven size.
I'll do all the smaller stuff but was not sure about the frame.
You don't have your location in your avatar, so I don't know where you are located.
Where are you? And who did the work?
Any chance you could give me idea on cost? Did he sandblast it for you also?
Txs again for any info.
That's why I posted here...have lots of stored info and lots of helpful friends here but always looking for more info.
Txs
Dennis (Bman)
Hey Dennis, up here in NE Ohio I had my frame blasted & coated (about 3-4 years ago) along with a handfull of other suspension parts for, if I can remember correctly, around $800.
02-02-2017, 03:59 PM
Bman's frame off resto-mod project begins!
