Well...took a day off work today to get some of this project complete and got the bulk of my welding done for the solid axle install. I am very pleased with the way the project is turning out and can't wait to hit the track with the car. Up till last week we had snow, but today it was in the 70s and I REALLY have the itch to do some bracket racin and test out the new setup.

Here are some photos:



















I absolutely love welding and always wanted to learn and be able to fabricate stuff out of metal. Some of the brackets you see there I cut out with my milling maching and that is equally enjoyable. To some it might seem like a lot of work...but when its something you enjoy to the nth degree...its not work at all. Its my outlet to everything...

The wishbone also seen along with the bracing and bolt in mounting bar leaning against the horsesl turned out real well and the unit is ROCK solid when its mounted in the car. Plus leaves TONS of room for my exhaust.

All that is left to do now is install the cross-member for the trans and the project will be complete and ready for testing!

Let me know your thoughts....any welding experts here please feel free to comment on the "BEADS". The wife just said they look pretty...but I was looking for some more technical feedback.

 

Hows this for technical feedback!!!! They look very pretty.... J/K You have done a very nice job there.

 

jeese the beads look very good for someone just learning how to weld. better than some people who have been welding for years. looks like you used a mig gun. if you really enjoy welding you should learn how to tig weld. you'll never want to do any other kind again. i've welded at power plants for weeks on end , the more practice the better you'll get. to bad you live a good distance away or i'd bring my miller maxstar down and teach you how to tig. it's definitly easier when someone is showing what and what not to do. your solid rear conversion looks great, at least you'll have some sort of reliability now. keep us posted.

 

rrr

 

i've always like millers equipment. the maxstar 200 is a perfect all around machine. it can weld all kind of metals including stainless. you can weld razors blades together with that machine but it will also do schedule 80 steel pipe. i like that is 3 phase , which you can run 110,220,or 480 volts. i'll be in touch with you in the near future as i will need a new tune on my car. i just purchased a procharger.

 

rrr

 

jeese that machine will not do aluminum. it's strickly a dc machine. if your wanting to do aluminum . the econotig is going to be your best bet. it's a ac and dc machine. and it's not as much money as the syncrowave machines. but will definitly handle what you want to do.

 

Pretty impressive stuff Ski!

 

Looks god, good job.

But i dont think i like the straight axle. If I wanted that i would go back to a mustang.

They funny part is the mustang guys want the vette set up, and now your going to the straight.

I dont know all the info about this, but im sure you have your reasons!

 

rrr

 

Basically stopped drag racing my car with sticky tires because I've experienced so many broken rearend related items. Just something about about the tow truck ride home and the looks from my neighbors and wife that didn't sit well for som reason.

If you're a serious drag racer making decent power, I don't know what else you would do except what your doing. Nice job!!

 

I agree 100% with ski_dwn_it

I'm not making nearly the power he is, around 430 at the crank, and I'm snapping wheel spindles left and right with this new Mcleod clutch.

I don't have the skills to do it myself so I'm planning on having a local guy (that builds race car chassis) do mine.

Though I'm a long way from running 9's (or 10's) I want to have things in place before I go that fast.

Oh - and I don't want a Mustang. Who does? How awesome would it be to go the track and see an old C4 running 10's or even 9's? As ski_dwn_it has already said the IRS is not long for this world at that power level. He's living proof.

Ski_dwn_it - I would love to see some dyno numbers after you do this!

Keep us posted! I hope to have mine in place by the fall if I'm lucky.

 

Looking good, Ski.. However, I do have a question. How did you weld the brackets to the tubes? By that, I mean how much welding at one time? You should run about an inch of bead and let it cool a bit to prevent warping the axle tubes, unless you're using a narrowing jig to help keep the tubes straight.

Aside from that, it looks like you're in good shape.

 

Looks great for a beginner, I want to weld like that when I grow up!

Actually Jesse, I hope you put the housing ends on after you welded all the brackets on it. Sometimes the heat of welding will distort the housing so the ends need to be done last then checked with the axles or a narrowing jig.

Hope to see ya' out soon,
Dave

 

rrr.

 

Great work ski! Can't wait to see your vette looking up at the sky when launching!