[Colin Frolick]

so i have done some work finally on this car i haven't driven since 2006. it's starting to come together really well. i wanted to share some of the things i have been doing. many of you on this forum have helped me a lot so far with my pontiac.

the engine is a new ls3, the transmission is my old 6 speed richmond.

[Colin Frolick]

i tried to copy andrewB on the clutch, or at least the quarter master hydraulic throwout bearing. the bellhousing is a quick time 6036 to mount a muncie on a sb or ls motor. i got that mcleod 0.4" thicker "ls conversion" flywheel and a mcleod clutch, but it would not all fit together... there was no room for the bearing between the trans and pressure plate. maybe this bell is shallower than the 621 bellhousing alot of people use.

anyway so i tried an ls7 clutch and aluminum flywheel and it fits. the ls7 is on the right, it's also a larger diameter so that's good.

[Colin Frolick]

i set the engine/trans in and immediately realized i was going to be cutting the firewall out for some more engine setback. i was deleting the heater anyway.

[Colin Frolick]

this fits better. it is set back probably 6". i had put on the oil pan from mast, but there is plenty o room to use the c6 vette pan that came on the motor. i'd even try a c5 batwing pan if i could score one cheap. the motor is on tall/narrow mounts, and it's as low as it can get, and the common tie rod clearance issue is nonexistent.

[Colin Frolick]

oil pans. the c6 pan holds more, has better ground clearance, has the "structural" bolt holes for the bellhousing, and the filter fits. the mast pan takes a different filter, which i thought was lame. if this car can pull enough g's to need it, a dry sump would be an option.

[Colin Frolick]

i hope the front suspension works. i used the coilover brackets global west sells. they are nice pieces, but they were a biotch to install. from what i can tell the 65 has a narrower framerail around the spring pocket to i had to open it up a bunch to get the thing in. then i had a big gap to fill.

[Colin Frolick]

the shocks are afco 3850c with 600# springs. the lower arms are from ubmachine.com the spindles are afx... with which my 10 year old global west a arms don't work. they are too short to allow any less than about 2* static camber. apparently the kingpin inclination is different than the b-body spindle. http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=215205

i eyeballed with my tape measure and figured i needed an upper a-arm about 1/2 inch longer. i know b-man used spc upper arms with these spindles, but those wouldn't clear my new shock towers. ubmachine made me these for $55 each. they use a screw in mopar ball joint. i was ready to ream the spindles' taper out, then i found howe racing make a hybrid k772/k5208 balljoint that connects the puzzle.

also, my helper

[Colin Frolick]

fuel cell in the trunk. it holds 22 gallons and there's trap doors and an electric pump inside.

[Colin Frolick]

still alot to do, though i'm really enjoying it

[kainedogg]

Looking good friend. Finishing up an LS swap myself. Keep up the good work and nice looking welder there.

[elefantrider]

Looks like you've made good progress. Nice color combo, looks to be the same colors as b-man's. What wheels are those?

[dutch injun]

That has got to be my dream car buildup. Classic looks and modern performance. I too would like to know what wheels you'll be using..

[Colin Frolick]

thanks all. the wheels on it now are old 15x7 rally 2's i fogged black to see how black would look. i think i'd like some 18" CCWs, either classic or LM20.

[Colin Frolick]

tonight i spent some time "stringing" the car to align the engine/trans in the chassis. i was also having fun taking pictures of my laser. I set the pinion angle on the transmission to match the rear end... if this is right wow that thing is up there and it looks like i'm building a new driveshaft tunnel. which, would be a good opportunity to build a sort of backbone or spine into the chassis.

[Sirrotica]

I can't see the rear suspension in any of the pictures, did you go with the HTH truck arm suspension? I know reading about your car a few years back you were contemplating using it.

I'm figuring on using it in my next chassis for my 84 GP NASCAR clone.

[Colin Frolick]

i had HTH install the kit when they were still in Burbank... it's been a while! it is very well put together and fits the car like a glove. we'll see how it handles.

[Colin Frolick]

about time eh. it's taken me some time to decide what to do about this car.

i decided it needed a roll cage so i bought a kit. besides the main hoop it fit badly. so i got a bender and i was practicing making some stuff around the house and some toys for the kids. also i've been practicing practicing practicing on my welding. then i was trying to figure out how i was going to get all these bars in there and welded to the frame with the body in the way. so i cut the floor out and picked up the shell with some chain hoists from the garage ceiling.

[Colin Frolick]

also i'm channeling the body about 2" down on the frame. if you cut the floor just at the edge of the rocker panel it slips right on.

[Colin Frolick]

maybe i should have done all this before i painted.

today i got the first few cage bars in. i'm trying to follow the NASA rulebook since i want to road race this car. i'm also trying to copy the "chevelle from hell" built by HTH, that's the picture of the backbone chassis. should help with the torsional rigidity... exhaust routing... transmission mounting... ground clearance.

i'm waiting to get some more 1.75 x 0.120 dom tubing then i can work on the halo bar and the front. i was kind of on fire today in the garage so i figured i'd post these up.

Cheers

[Colin Frolick]

man why is that picture upside down.