[jal]

Well, I've made the decision to mini-tub my 69' along with an 8pt roll bar over the winter.
Guess I need something to keep me from going NUTS during the winter months.

Anyway, the project hopefully will be done in time for VMP next year. Gotta have a goal...
I'm hoping to squeeze an M/T 325/50/15 under the car when complete.
I'll be using a few of the DSE parts but, fabbing a few along the way also.
Finally moved into a house this summer that has a garage that will allow me these types of projects.

So, if anyone on the forums here is interested, I'll try and take as many pics as I can along the way along with, details/issues that may crop up of the entire deal. Start to Finish.
I think I'm pretty well stocked right now on Single Malt Scotch and cigars to get me through December.
Hopefully, all goes well and, I can have some fun at the events next season......

Maybe, I'll even get that freakin white Super 400 hood painted.. Driving me nuts.......

`joe

[jal]

Okay,
Here we go. These pics are all pretty much self explanatory.
They're just the before pics prior to the disassembly this weekend.
Then all the cutting starts. Hopefully, this will help anyone else thinking about it.

`joe

It looks like it'll take 2 posts for all the pics...

[jal]

And the rest of the before pics...

[Jonsey]

I'm very interested in seeing your progress. I'd like to minitub my 69 firebird this winter too. Here's a thread with some good pictures(you probably already saw it): http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46900

I wonder how the DSE stuff works with caltracs.

[jal]

Jonsey,
I actually spoke to DSE before starting this project since, the drag racing thing is more important to me than the street. Even though I love taking the car to the local Cruise Nights and, screwing with the ricers.

They told me no problem with the CalTracs.

`joe

[jal]

I started disassembling the car this past weekend for the mini-tub. I'm going to install the DSE tubs but, use my own springs, Caltracs and perches.
In the pics included, it shows general shots of removing my rear firewall and starting the cutting of the factory spot welds.
I'm using a spot weld cutter to remove most of the spot welds. I used a wire wheel of sorts plus a hand scraper to remove as much of the undercoating in the wheel wells to expose the welds. I then center punched them to use the cutter to remove the welds.

Per the DSE instructions, you need to keep the trunk lid supports to reattach to the new tubs. Since I'm keeping my stock trunk lid, I cut the welds and removed the passenger side support. Haven't gotten to the driver side yet.
Also started cutting many of the welds on the passenger wheel well.
Most of this is shown in the attached pics.
There will also be a few more pics in the next post since, you can only upload 5 at a time.

joe

[jal]

More pics described from the previous post.

`joe

[Region Warrior]

I'll be follow'n along.
My slicks are rub'n the inner whl hse.
Turns out it's rusted along the trunk pan seam.
Have Cal Trac's w/split mono's.
Shocks are already moved inboard on a cross bar.

[Jonsey]

It's looking good. Can't wait to see those stock wheel tubs out.

[jal]

Mike,
What shock cross member did you use and, what shocks.
I think I'm going to use the Comp Engineering cross member but, haven't figured out shock travel/compression yet at that location.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Ralph,
Hopefully this weekend at least one of the tubs will be out. Looks like it's going to take some time to cut all the factory spot welds.
Right now I'm targeting mid-November to finish up the tubs. That way, I'll have the rest of the off-season to weld in the 8-pt and, be ready by late March.
Gotta have a plan.....

`joe

[Region Warrior]

Competition Engineering C2032 with Edelbrock shocks(have find the #).
They bottom out on hard bumps, so have to do some research and replace'm.

Did you buy a mini-tub kit?

[jal]

No, I haven't actually purchased a mini-tub kit since, I won't be using all the items.
I will be buying the tubs and offset leaf spring shackles from DSE.
I'll end up cutting the welds off my current spring perches and rewelding to the new locations once the leaf springs are back in place.

`joe

[jal]

Okay All,
Only got one day this past weekend to work on the Bird..
Basically, I got both inner wheel wells cut out of the car.

Per DSE's instructions, using the original wheel well as your reference, scribe a line 2 3/4" inboard of the original well. This will become the new cut line for the installation of the bigger tubs.
You'll see a blue line in the pics where I used a blue Sharpie to highlight the scribed line. I used a divider set at 2 5/8" for the line so, I left myself a little extra material that I can grind or cut once the new tubs are delivered. Just want to make sure all fits correctly. There is also a flange that is spot welded for the inner / outer wheel wells that I need to separate. It is the top of the wells. I'll then use the original top outer well flange to weld the new tubs. PITA area to have to cut more spot welds. WAs going to just weld to both flanges, however, a buddy of mine helping me immensly with all of this suggested we separate them in case there is any rust. Now's the tim to fix it since, it'll be easier now than later.
On the scribed line that is in the back seat area, DSE instructs to then draw another line 3/4" outboard of the original line. This outboard line will be the cut line so that, you can bend the 3/4" of material down at a 90 deg angle, to create another flange to weld to.
You'll see in the one pic taken from inside the car where the double line is drawn for this purpose.

Do yourselves a favor if you decide to do this and, purchase a few new spot weld cutters. I spent the $20 on a new set and probably cut all the spot welds on the driver side in an 1/8 the time it took with the old cutter.
I'll post the other pics I took in the next reply.
I took a pic of the two inner wells that were removed.
This week, I'm hoping to separate the top well flanges and possibly make the next cut to the scribed line.

`joe

[jal]

Here's the rest of the pics of the cut out inner wells.

[Cammer-6]

I need part of the passenger side inner if its still good

[jal]

All,
Finally back to work on the bird this weekend. The included pics are not a whole lot different from the last installment with the exception of the frame notching.
Basically, I'll finish the final cuts based on the DSE measurements today. That is all the trunk floor cuts and all the areas where the frame gets notched.
You can see in a few shots where I started the frame cuts.
After I finish those today, I'll be ordering the mini-tubs from DSE.
Hopefully, I'll them this week so, I can start the fit process next weekend.

`joe

[jal]

Pics from previous post

[Jonsey]

How much extra space does notching the frame give you?

[jal]

Notching the frame by itself doesn't yield a whole lot. About an inch I figure.
But, ntoching the frame along with the wider wells seems to about 3 inches.
You're only notching the frame mostly in the area where it tails off to the outside of the car.
If you're under the back of your 69 look at the frame. The back end angles out towards the quarters. You're notching the frame at the point where the frame begins that direction change to give the tire the extra room.
Hope that helps.

I took some rough measurements yesterday and, it looks like when this is complete, I'll have about 15" of room under the well.

joe

[BILTIT]

Nice, i have the same project ahead of me this winter. Hoping to fit a 325 aswell. I am tempted to make my own wheelwells but undecided at this point.