I'm pretty excited to see progress and pics? Any update?

 

Yeah Monty! Please tell me that those threats of quitting were just that - threats! :cheers:

 

I went down there Friday and they have finally started working on it. I didn't take any pics because there wasn't enough done yet. Basically they've measured everything out, marked the inner fenders where they are going to pass the plumbing through it, around the radiator. They've also mocked up the intercooler location to ensure that it fits and doesn't interfere with the opening if the hood or headlights. The intercooler with end tanks is about 28" x 20" x 3.5", so it's about the size of another radiator.

He also fabricating a tubular tranny crossmember for the 4L80E, as well as to accomodate the dual 3" exhaust. He's probably going to do that first, to ensure the engine/transmission is properly located in the chassis before building the headers and turbo plumbing since it's all such a tight fit.

I'll be going down there again next week (again), there definitely should be some good progress by then, if not almost complete.

I bought some new equipment for my garage this past week, so I haven't been to worried about the car. I bought a new Lincoln Square Wave 175 Pro TIG/Stick welder, a 80 gallon 8hp 2 stage air compressor, a drill press, and band saw (for cutting metal). I spent yesterday wiring up a 60 amp 240volt outlet in the garage for the welder, and practicing welding some scrap aluminum pieces together. I've stick welded before, but this is my first TIG welder.

When I get the car back, I'm gonna start working on a new brake system. I'm going to upgrade to 13" or so rotors with some 6 piston Alcons, Brembo, or AP calipers and hats. With the new equipment, I pretty much have everything I need, except a milling machine, to fab the brackets and stuff myself.

Steve, you've often mentioned incirporating titanium into your projects. I am looking into welding titanium as well. I'm going to start with some small brackets and stuff first obviously, but a full frame and/or suspension components could be in the future. I found a local source for titanium here in Chicago. They don't keep a lot in stock, since it's so expensive and little demand, but they can get almost anything you need in a matter of days.


[Modified by Monty, 9:39 AM 3/10/2002]

 

Excellent! Hey, at least they did some work, right? Last I checked, titanium was about 10:1 the cost of chrome molly. So basically a $10,000 frame from Art would cost six figures in titanium. Still not worth it. You can make an amazingly strong frame out of molly. I wish you could see some of the frames he makes. They are unreal. As for adding titanium to some of the smaller parts - especially ones that are prone to breakage, I'm all for it! Now if we can just learn to shape boron...

 

I'm not sure if I would call it a substantial amount of work they've accomplished in the past week, like he promised me last Monday, but like you say, at least they did some work.

What are you trying to do with Boron? It's been a long time since I took chemistry, so I don't even remember what Boron's properties and characteristics are...

 

As you know, composites seem to trickle down from military/helicopter applications to bicycles, motorcycles, golf etc & seem to end up in cars last. Not sure why. The first titanium just started appearing in the C-5's, but in limited amounts. Check this site: http://www.golfcel.com.tw/ Notice they are already selling boron shafts. For my next project I am going to try & do what the Mclaren did & drop weight every where I can. For the frame, it's not yet practical to use some of the wilders metals & composites, but there are some cool things just around the corner. Fishing rods are now made in boron: http://www.winstonrods.com/Catalog/boron.html It is super strong & very light. I'm thinking it's not too long before we start exploring making cars from it...

 

Sounds like things are starting to move along fo ya. I finally got mine started today, and let me tell ya, I don't think there is a better sound in the world than the T4's beginning to spool. I didn't go into boost yet however.. have other issues to handle first.

 

Well, I got a call from TRZ this morning, the first time they've called me in 2 months, asking me a question about how I wanted them to do something. It sounds like it's really coming together now, they are actually finally building the headers. I'm going down again this Friday and I really think I'll finally see some significant progress.

After talking with the owner this morning, I found out why they didn't get as much done last week as they promised. As usual the delay/setback was due to a justifiable reason - they went down to Steve Grebeck's funeral. If you're not a fan of 'street legal' NMCA/NSCA and NMRA racing, you might not know who he is, be he was a racer/race car builder who got killed 2 weeks ago at the Fast Fords event in Orlando. He was a real pioneer in the 'street legal' racing scene. I don't know if I would say he was comparable to what Dale Earnhardt was to NASCAR, but he was prominent.

 

Monty & Merlin, You know he had the best of roll cage systems.

We are deeply saddened to hear the news of the loss of Steve Grebeck in an accident at the from the FFW race this weekend at Orlando. Steve was a pioneer in Ford Drag Racing, pushing the limits and setting precedents. He was well respected by his peers and put on exciting performances for the fans. Our condolences and prayers go out to his family, racing crew, and friends. He will truly be missed.

The accident was during a run against Bill Rimmer, Jr. Towards the end of the track, the reports are that Grebeck lost control and came into contact with the wall, becoming airborne. The car went over to the other lane and came in contact with Rimmer's car, causing an explosion. Reports are saying that Rimmer was not severely injured.

We again send our condolences and prayers to the family and friends of Steve Grebeck. We must all remember how dangerous this sport can be, even when all safety precautions are taken.

 

It was certainly a freak thing, but as both Grebeck's and Earnhardt's deaths have shown, 200mph speeds are dangerous even for professionals in controlled environments with the best safety equipment.


[Modified by Monty, 1:42 PM 3/12/2002]

 

If you all don't already know this, I believe boron dust is very poisionous. So, if you are even thinking about working with it be VERY careful.

I'm no expert... I design computers, but I remember my college professor talking about in one of my engineering classes about 10 years ago.

 

I can't believe that about Steve Grebeck!!(I remember He ran the SAAC Mustang,and saw it NUMEROUS TIMES) First Jason, now Him?(Racin' Jason was a pioneer with the first seven second TT Duttweiler Mustang who was killed in 1999(I think) when on a run trying an experimental tire 10.5"W(no wing on the back) and made a left turn then went end over end. He was killed instantly from what I was told on impact. I wasn't there, this is what I was told. It's a sad one regardless.

 

Just got back from the chassis shop. I didn't take any pics because everything was kinda spread out and not on the car. The headers are almost complete. They're just tack welded (TIG) right now, when they're finished they'll remove them and complete the welds with 347 filler rod on the bench where they can back purge the tubes with Argon.

Appearantly, they had to spend almost half a day getting the engine straight in the car before they could continue on. The tranny tailhoising was about 3/4" over too far. So he had to basically lift the engine up a little to remove the weight off the engine mounts, loosen the engine mount cross bolts, and move it over. Good thing he checked that first, or I would have probably had vibration and ujoint wear issues when I install the driveshaft.

He's also fabricating a tubular crossmember for the 4L80E transmission, as well as to accomodate the 3" dual exhaust without reducing ground clearance. He wanted to do that first, and ensure the engine is in straight, before getting too far with the headers so that there wouldn't be any potential interference later.

He said he's gonna work on it all weekend, and invited me done either saturday or sunday to take a look. I'll probably take some pics then as things will be more together and mroe meaningful. He promised to have the car done by next Friday, at which time I'll drive down and 'approve it' and pay for it :(. He'll then drop it off next saturday at my house, and I can begin pulling the motor and get it disassembled to ahve the new pistons and cam installed.

While the motor is at Fast Times, the car is going to get painted, so it looks like a real strong possibility I may be able to make this years Corvetteforum Cruise-in with it. My wife will be at a horse show Memorial Day weekend, so I'm going.




[Modified by Monty, 1:42 PM 3/21/2002]

 

Yeah, I know it's off-topic, but my grandfather had a boron fishing rod, about 1979-1980. It's super light, amazingly strong.

:cheers:

 

which small pieces are prone to breaking specificly on a vette are you thinking of fabricating?

 

I am glad that you see some progressssss.
Even more glad that soon you will have it home and running :D

Ziggy