Hello all. Well little background. I have been on this site on and off over the last 20 years. Back in the day it was an awesome place to learn and push one another to be better. I started with modifying my 89 corvette - first mod was an airfoil for the throttle body...lol. Still remember being sick after spending the money. Back then things were a little tighter for me. I then quickly went to seeing how fast I could get the car. First a 406 CI motor - went 11.0s. Then a 434 CI motor that went 10.0s on IRS. I then came up with a bolt in 12 bolt system that really got things more reliable and quicker. At that point, I had gone 9.7s with the street driven 434. You might recall some of the videos of it going 330ft down the track on the back bumper - some 12 years ago. After I blew up that motor I put in a 555ci motor to keep my bracket racing season going. Invested in a toter home, 2 jr dragsters and took the family every weekend to the track racing for the past 4 years. The worked flawless running 1.24 60ft times, 9.0s@153MPH. I was pretty successful running points the first time at PRP last year and staying at 3 in the points until I had a family event that caused me to miss the last two races. I hit some big dollar races and also did well. All in all, I was happy with the car but this winter I got the bug to completely half back the car. I race a few "no-prep" races and with the big motor and small tires, it makes it hard. and I don't like loosing. Built a 615CI nova for a buddy with big tires and he beat me last race in the finals - that can't happen again. LOL. So I am half backing the car and putting 32.5x17 slicks on her.

Here I will document the build. So basically going from a perfectly working car on the strip to cutting the car in half. LOL. I needed a project this winter.

So here you go.

Day 1 remove the 12 bolt from the car and all wiring to the rear.

 

The before.














After about 8 hours of working on removing everything. And some handy work with a saw.























The pile of removed materials that will be trashed. Probaby 150lbs of stuff.

The new setup will all by chromoly even the rear fabricated 9 inch housing. Gun Drilled axles, aluminum center section.



Got the wheels mounted and fit under the car. Very happy with the look


Those should hook up!

 

I'm in! Keep it coming. I assume your going to integrate bars and chutes (as opposed to doing wheelies)?

What differential are you going to use? Inquiring minds want to know! Cage design? This is a huge undertaking.

I drool at the chance to have a solid diff. like the one you make, can't imagine back halfing the car.

 

What are you doing with the 12 bolt setup you are removing? Will it be for sale?

 

Yes it will be. Everything will be. Wheels / tires. Etc. Great setup and my buddies are telling me in nuts for touching it.

 

Good luck Will.

 

Little update on the project.

Sorta at a standstill awaiting some key items to start my measuring. These items at the tires. I went with Hoosier 18300 32.5x15x17wide slick. Those should give me almost another whole tire of traction over what I had prior! lol.

Went with the Weld Racing Alpha1 15x15 wheel - these things are sick!

https://www.jegs.com/i/Weld-Racing/9...80MBS/10002/-1

Once these come in I can position them under the car and determine axle flange to axle flange and get the rear subframe ordered, housing, axles, and thirdmember. - not to mention the tubs etc.

 

Whoa this is going to be legit. Subscribed! Pardon my ignorance, what does half-back mean?

 

Looks like fun, good luck. You do nice work.

 

Thanks, fellas. Looking forward to it. Slicks should be here today for semi mock-up - wheels are special order so won't be made and shipped for weeks.

Anxious to see what it will look like with the big slicks and wheels! Once I have them I can start laying out the rear subframe and get that on order thru S&W racecars. I am sure it will be custom size since the area I have for the 4 link to the centerline of axle is so short. Going to push it forward as much as possible to get as long of 4 link bars as possible. Their frames are standard 27inch but that would put it on my lap.

 

Usually called "back halfing"....refers to the rear portion of the car being modified with an aftermarket/custom fabricated frame assembly (ladder bar, 4 linke, etc.) to accept the larger wheels and tires and the narrowed rearend.

 

Updated photos

 

Looks great! You are talented.

Steve

 

I probably missed it is it a 9" Dana, or?

 

Will be a chromoly fab 9. Chromoly subframe and all brackets. Will take photos once I get everything

 

What are you running for a trans crossmember? I thought I saw some of the c beam sticking out.

 

Nice!!!

 

Update:

 

Very impressive.

 

..... Nice Plumbing ! … … Looking good there …..